Living Green
The negative impact on the environment, the economy, our health and our time is taking its toll on all of us. No one can possibly make time for all the suggestions you find online and in magazines; but we want to lessen our personal carbon footprint and still have time for ourselves. Not many of us can spend all day sorting the recycle pile, composting for our personal vegetable garden but just a few tips in a few places can lower some “impact”.
One of the best (and easiest!) ways to make a positive change is by reviewing your shopping habits. A little bit of research can help you make a greener choice before you spend your money.
For example, when I want to buy appliances, electronics or do home improvements I find that going to the Energy Star website helps me save time when I go shopping. If I am looking for eco friendly things for home, office, friends or family I have found that the eco-friendly internet directory ShopGreen is a great time saver.
One thing that slows me down when making decisions is when I do not know how to ask the right questions to get the right answers. I need to know how stuff works so I can make an informed decision. Time is one of the most valuable assets we have so learning how stuff works helps out so that my time and money are spent wisely.
It would be nice if we all had the time to do the most eco friendly things to help out but each of us can do some things that total up to a lot!
Lately making decisions that “impact” my health are taking precedent as I have to deal with chronic pain issues. With so many pressures impacting our lives our health is bound to suffer. So food decisions take precedent but who has time to leaf through Cookbooks? I find that the Food Network offers a quick, easy solution to this. No need to buy a new book, drive to a book store, or even visit the library. Everything I need is available for free in my own home via the internet!
I also want to feel good! Everyone wants to feel pretty even while we are struggling with the pressures of life and the economic recession. Pampering yourself can be done in a sustainable way, without spending a lot of money or using chemical-laden ingredients. Keeping yourself rejuvinated will give you the energy you need to take care of the planet!
A friend of mine shared the following facial and pedicure information and recommended that I buy out an hour on a Sunday and just indulge. So I want to share her recommendation with you:
- Begin by bringing about an inch of water to just below boil. You want the water to be steaming but not a rolling boil that will be too hot for your face. Once you get it the correct temperature so that it is hot and steamy but not boiling, make a tent with a towel over your head and over the pan and steam your face for 5 minutes. Be careful to not get the towel on the hot burner and create a fire! Sometimes I add a couple drops of some scented oil, like jasmine, grapefruit or eucalyptus. I use something that smells good or is useful for a reason, like the eucalyptus helps clear the sinuses along with the steam from the water.
- After the five minutes turn off the water, then splash your face with cold water. Then I use a peel off mask like Freeman’s cucumber that you find at most stores. However, any mask product that strikes your fancy will do. You can even make one with a couple beaten eggs! I leave that on for about 30 minutes, making a thick coating on my face and neck (don’t forget your neck—that’s why women get turkey neck, they do not remember to take care of that skin, too.)
- After 30 minutes peel off the facial mask and then wash with an apricot scrub or you can use sea salt, followed with an astringent. I use witch hazel for my astringent. You can use rubbing alcohol, which I feel is too harsh for me, or some store product of your liking. Then I splash my face again and then wash with Noxzema Deep Cleansing Cream (you can use any cleansing product you usually use to wash your face) and then finished with Pond’s Dry Skin Cream (again use whatever product you usually use to soften your facial skin.)
- Manicure: If you have nail polish on, first remove it with nail polish and wash your hands so the polish remover is no longer on your nails.
- Soak your finger tips in a warm, not hot bowl of water with a ½ teaspoon each of glycerin and vitamin E oil for five minutes. Then lightly dry your hands and dab some cuticle cream or oil on your cuticles and very softly push them back. You could even use olive oil for your cuticles.
- I then use Mary Kay Satin Hands kit. The first is the hand scrub. If you do not have the Satin Hands kit or chose not to buy it (can be on the pricey end) you can use the apricot scrub or mix sea salt with olive oil and use that. The apricot scrub might be a little harsh on your delicate hand skin. Follow with lightly scrubbing your hands then rinse. Use the Extra Emollient Night Cream, or you can use Vaseline, then put on a pair of cotton gloves for about 15-20 minutes. After that put on the hand cream or lotion of your choice, and let that soak in for about 10 minutes before polishing your nails again.
(Facial Instructions Contributed by Trisha Schelbe–thanks Trish!)
Posted in Shop Till Your Drop!
