When it comes to green cleaning, salt is an under-used superstar...and you thought it just made food taste delicious! From scrubbing and scouring to unclogging drains, plain old salt is a super useful tool in your natural cleaning arsenal. Unlike in cooking, when we're talking ...read more
Cleaning the toilet is not the sexiest housekeeping duty, but the toilet volcano method almost makes this mundane cleaning task a little bit fun. Don't worry - there are no harmful chemicals and no fancy beakers required to make this green cleaner. When it comes to cleaning the ...read more
You know that rice is delicious to eat, but did you know that it's also useful around the house? From cleaning and crafting to natural skincare, check out these unusual ways to use rice. I love a good rice dish, don't you? Whether it's a decadent bowl of mango sticky rice or a ...read more
Has the winter weather wreaked havoc on your face? Grapefruit scrub to the rescue! Cold, dry weather is hard on your skin. Chances are, your face is pretty dry after so many chilly months, and a scrub can help slough away dead skin cells, leaving you with smooth, soft skin. ...read more
Why spend the big bucks on expensive green cleaning supplies when you can make your own? We spend more than half of our lives indoors, and that means that the air quality in our homes and offices have a huge impact on our health. Chemical cleaners can not only contain harmful ...read more
Isn't olive oil amazing? It's heart-heathy, you can use it for baking and frying, salad dressings, and even drizzle some to add richness to a soup. But olive oil has lots of uses beyond food. From cleaning the house to moisturizing skin to even washing your face, olive oil is ...read more
Does your dog have a sore or wound that she won't leave alone? You can deter that chewing behavior with lavender essential oil. Have you ever had a scab that you couldn't leave alone? You know it will heal faster if you stop messing with it, but you just...can't. Our dogs are ...read more
No matter what space you're organizing - whether it's one drawer or a whole room - the keys to truly decluttering are basically the same. Busting clutter and getting organized might seem a little bit daunting, and the trick to getting started is to break things down into ...read more
So! You've picked out that organic nursery fabric to make your own curtains and crib sheets, but have you taken a hard look at the mattress that you're going to use? The sad truth is that most conventional crib mattresses contain harmful chemicals like toxic flame retardents ...read more
Is your house making you sick? We try so hard to eat a healthy diet, but so often we neglect the health of our living spaces. Materials in your home - from cleaning supplies to your sofa - can contribute to poor indoor air quality. Check out these tips to creating a healthier ...read more
We have a baby on the way this spring, so decking out our nursery in organic style has been at the top of my to-do list! I've been looking high and low for organic fabrics to use in our nursery...check out a few of my favorite finds! I want the fabric in my baby's room to help ...read more
Are you planning a holiday shindig? This year, we have family coming into town on Christmas Day. Since we don't host family gatherings very often, I wanted this one to be extra special. We've got the menu all planned, and we're going to spruce up the table with a sweet, simple ...read more
We waste between 30 and 50 percent of the food that we produce. That is pretty scary, especially considering rising food prices and that so many people here in the U.S. and worldwide go to bed hungry. We know there are ways that we as consumers can reduce the amount of food ...read more
Traditional gift wrap feels like such a huge waste, doesn't it? I remember Christmas morning when I was a kid: after the gifts were open, it was time to clean up, and that meant picking up heaps of single-use disposable paper, ribbons, and bows and tossing them in the trash and ...read more
Have you gotten your Christmas tree yet? If you've gone to the trouble of choosing a sustainable tree, it wouldn't do to cover it in mass-produced ornaments from the big box store, right? Instead of heading to the mall for your Christmas ornaments, it's simple and fun to make ...read more
There's something so rustic and classic about an orange pomander, isn't there? What I love about this simple holiday decoration is that it's cheap and easy to make, and it's something you can create on your own or with the kids. If you're not familiar with a pomander, it's a ...read more
We can get so caught up in the food and the general holiday craziness sometimes that we forget what Thanksgiving is all about: gratitude. I love the tradition of going around the table and sharing something that you're thankful for, and this year why not preserve those memories ...read more
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and if you're hosting supper this year, chances are you're also planning the finishing touches for your holiday table. Place cards are such a sweet way to make the meal feel a little bit fancier, and DIY place cards that you make from ...read more
Here on the east coast of the U.S., temperatures dropped last week when Hurricane Sandy rolled in. They've rebounded a bit now, but that taste of winter has a lot of folks thinking about our energy bills! Winterizing your home can range from the simple to the complex, and ...read more
Your refrigerator is one of the top energy-using devices in your home, so keeping this large appliance running efficiently can help you reduce your energy bills and save you some cash! Cleaning your refrigerator properly can take a couple of hours, but you can also break this ...read more
Are the leaves still changing where you are? Here in Atlanta, we've still got a little bit of green, but the trees - and the sidewalk! - have lots of beautiful fall yellows, reds, and oranges, too. This DIY leaf garland is a great way to bring those hues of fall into your home. ...read more
It's pumpkin season, and Halloween is right around the corner. If you're planning a carve up a Jack-o-lantern this year, we've got some tips to make this year's carving easy, fun, and even less wasteful! Carving a pumpkin is pretty simple, but when you've splurged on an organic ...read more
Single-use plastic, like plastic grocery bags, is a scourge on our environment. It pollutes our oceans, it's often not recyclable, and when it does make it to the landfill, it takes hundreds of years to break down. Obviously, avoiding this stuff in the first place is the best ...read more
There is a drawer in my bathroom that is stuffed full of different natural deodorants. Some have worked reasonably well, others, not so much. My quest for an effective eco-friendly deodorant has been a long, expensive one. Until recently! I started playing around with making my ...read more
Confession: I love incense! There's something about the smell of Nag Champa that's just relaxing and rejuvenating, but burning incense is bad for your indoor air quality and for your health. Luckily, you can still have a great-smelling home without all of that smoke! Just like ...read more
When you think of DIY green cleaning recipes, you probably picture whipping up recipes with vinegar, baking soda, salt, lemon, and maybe a little borax, but did you know that you can use vodka for cleaning in pretty much any room of your house? The alcohol in vodka makes it a ...read more
Here in Atlanta, the weather is cooling down. Have you pulled your fall sweaters out yet? Chances are, there's at least one sweater from last year that you're not too excited about wearing. Maybe it fits a little strangely or you accidentally sent it through the dryer, and now ...read more