CasaSugar

Have You Ever Taken a Navy Shower?

CasaSugar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:00:16 -0700

In a recent New York Times article, writer Stephen Treffinger tested 17 low-flow shower heads. The Waterpik shower head he tested features a dial that essentially lets you take a "Navy shower." In a Navy shower, you stop the flow of water to soap or shampoo up, and then turn the water back on and rinse off. Would you ever take a Navy shower?

Casa Verde: Ed Begley's Top 5 Ideas For Going Green at Home

CasaSugar — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 07:00:31 -0700

Environmentalist extraordinaire and star of hit eco show Living With Ed, Ed Begley Jr. recently chatted with Green Muze about his ideas for green living. Ed also shared his ideas for the top five ways that people can go green. Many of them are surprisingly easy! Check out Ed's ideas below.

Get out of your car as much as you can. Walk, take public transportation, or ride a bike as much as you can.
Get energy-efficient lighting for your house. The earth and your wallet will both thank you.
Put weather stripping up around your doors and windows, making your home tight and efficient.
Start a compost container or pile, and use it for starting a home garden - it will deliver great food through a great pastime. If you live in an apartment, get part of a community garden!
Practice the 3 Rs - reduce, reuse, recycle.

Source

Casa Quickie: Lemon Fresh Kitchen

CasaSugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 07:00:00 -0700

To keep your garbage disposal smelling fresh, take half of a lemon and pop it into the disposal. If you do this monthly, it'll help prevent icky odors from building up, and keep your sink, disposal, and kitchen all smelling fresh. I've found that using a lemon that's already been juiced works fine as well.

If you already have an odor issue in your disposal, try using half of a lemon followed by a handful or two of baking soda.

How-To: Be the Hostess With the Eco Mostess

CasaSugar — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:00:38 -0700

Want to learn how to make your Summer soirees a little more eco friendly? Elizabeth Rogers, the best-selling author of The Green Book, recently gave me some tips for throwing parties that won't negatively impact the planet. So many times when we're busy organizing a backyard bash or a big dinner party, we forget the impact that all of our disposable cups and plastic party favors can have on the environment. But not to fear! Just because you're keeping the earth in mind doesn't mean that your party has to be any less fun. In fact, it can be even more so - and these tips are even budget friendly! Elizabeth recommends that, "While preparing for your party, stop by a local swap meet or thrift store for fun vintage items you can reuse all summer long."

Want to hear Elizabeth's smart entertaining tips? Then read more.

Instead of running through dozens of plastic cups and paper plates, vintage glass-wear and dishes found at swap meets, will add a unique touch to your dinner party. Using dishes already in existence instead of buying brand new ones or disposable is 100% eco friendly. Plus they can be reused all summer long, saving you upwards of $100 in disposable paper, plastic and Styrofoam products.
Approximately 70 million bottles of water are drunk in America everyday and, because petroleum is used to manufacture these bottles, the impact on the environment is significant. For your party use vintage glass pitchers filled with filtered water. My favorite is PUR because it adds an extra level of filtration, so it has a crisp taste. Your guests will love the vintage feel, and you’ll be saving yourself the cost of buying all those plastic water bottles.
Vintage tablecloths and napkins, found on your swap meet excursion, are a more fashionable way to set your table than paper or plastic throw-away table covers. Antique lace will lend a summery elegance to your party, and after a quick spin through the washing machine it will be ready for your next soiree. Paper napkins and paper towels are two of the reasons paper waste in the US has jumped from 30 million tons to 84 million tons a year since the '60s. So, as well as being more durable, cloth napkins will prevent your party from ending in the trash.
Centerpieces are a sophisticated finishing touch, when decorating for your party. Instead of buying cut flowers that travel in gas-guzzling cooler trucks, and will be wilted and gone before the end of the week, potted plants are a beautiful alternative. Potted orchids require little care and will look stunning in your home after the party has ended. The cost of purchasing several potted plants for your table tends to be less than purchasing bouquets of cut flowers from a florist or the grocery store, plus the flowers will be ready to shine again at your next party.
Light your party with soy candles in Mason jars. You’ll save on electricity, plus soy candles don’t emit carbon or smoke as they burn and purchasing soy candles supports soy farmers. Mason jars, have been used for canning since the 1850’s and these antique glass jars can be purchased for a few dollars at local flee markets. The soft candlelight will lend a charming Midsummer Night’s Eve quality to the evening.

For more excellent tips, as well as to learn more about Elizabeth and The Green Book, check out her website.

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Casa Quickie: Garbage Disposal

CasaSugar — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:00:07 -0700

To keep your garbage disposal smelling fresh, take half of a lemon and pop it into the disposal. If you do this monthly, it'll help prevent icky odors from building up, and keep your sink, disposal, and kitchen all smelling fresh. I've found that using a lemon that's already been juiced works fine as well. If you already have an odor issue in your disposal, try using half of a lemon followed by a handful or two of baking soda.

Source

Casa Quickie: Turn Off the Tap!

CasaSugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:30:22 -0700

Did you know that running the bathroom tap for only two minutes while brushing your teeth can waste more than two gallons of water? If you run water for your morning and night-time toothbrushing, as well as for shaving, this can really add up. To get into the habit of turning off the tap, leave an inspirational photo of a lake or the ocean tucked into your bathroom mirror, to help you remember the necessity of conserving water. If you get into this habit, you can save up to 8,540 gallons of water!
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Recipe For Clean: Furniture Polish

CasaSugar — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 09:00:23 -0700

Have you assembled your home cleaning kit yet? If you have, you're in luck, because I have a great Recipe For Clean for furniture polish. Use it to get your home so fresh and so clean.

Supplies

4 oz. oil (2 1/2 ounces olive oil or jojoba, 1 1/2 ounces coconut oil)
1 oz. beeswax
1 oz. carnauba wax
4 oz. distilled water
double boiler
hand mixer

To find out the steps for this DIY, just read more.

Melt the oils and waxes in a double boiler over medium heat.
Remove from heat, pour in water, and mix with a hand mixer until thick and creamy.
Dab some cream onto a soft cotton rag and rub into the furniture.
Buff and polish until the oils are well worked into the wood.

This polish has a shelf life of six months to a year.

Source

Recipe For Clean: Oven Cleaner

CasaSugar — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 06:45:08 -0700

Is your oven crusty and gross? Does it send up a smoke signal every time you try to bake cookies? Then take your home cleaning kit and whip up a batch of natural oven cleaner. This easy Recipe For Clean will get your oven looking and smelling so fresh and so clean.

Supplies

1 cup or more baking soda
A few squirts of liquid detergent
Water

To find out the steps for this DIY, just read more

Sprinkle or spray a generous amount of water on the bottom of your oven.
Cover all of the gross baked-on bits on the bottom of your oven with baking soda until it's covered.
Sprinkle or spray more water on the top.
Let sit overnight, so it will loosen.
Use a sponge, with a squirt of liquid detergent on it, to clean up the mess.
Use a heavy-duty sponge with an abrasive surface for best results.

Source

Recipe For Clean: Window Cleaner

CasaSugar — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 09:00:23 -0700

Have you assembled your home cleaning kit yet? If you have, you're in luck, because I have a great Recipe For Clean for getting your windows sparkling. Use it on glass surfaces, windows, and mirrors to get all of these reflective surfaces so fresh and so clean.

Supplies

1/4-1/2 teaspoon liquid detergent
3 tablespoons white vinegar
2 cups water
Spray bottle

To find out the steps for this DIY, just read more

Carefully pour all of the ingredients into a spray bottle.
Put the bottle top on, and give the mixture a good shake.
Use just as you would a regular glass cleaner!

Source

Recipe For Clean: Bathtub Cleaner

CasaSugar — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:00:26 -0700

Have you assembled your home-cleaning kit yet? If you have, you're in luck, because I have a great Recipe For Clean for getting your bathtub sparkling. Use it to get your bathroom so fresh and so clean.

Supplies

1/2 cup of baking soda
liquid detergent
bowl
sponge

To find out the steps for this DIY, just read more.

Pour about 1/2 cup of baking soda into a bowl.
Add enough liquid detergent so the mixture has a frosting-like texture
Scoop the mixture onto a sponge and scrub your bathtub clean!
Rinse thoroughly.
You can add one teaspoon of vegetable glycerin to this cleaner if you want to store it in a glass jar.

Source

BioBags - Kitchen Compost Liner - set of 3 - $18.00	Ceramic Compost Filters, Set of 2 - $8.50
Indoor Composter - $399.00	Compost Pails - $39.95
Rezek by Artemide Ariel Floor Lamp - $275.00	Urbancase Station Pendant Lamp - $150.00
HOM - Escape In Style Thuma Table Lantern - $432.00	Sutter 1-Light Outdoor Sconce - $119.00
Gemini Plus Copper Solar Light - $24.99	Winslow 1-Light Energy Star® Outdoor Sconce - $119.00