CRAZY ABOUT GREEN

It's Times Like These

2012-01-28T16:21:00.000-08:00

I started out today ranting about the world..... I deleted it! There is enough bad stuff out there I don't need to add to it.

Instead I will make a suggestion... Hey everyone go check on your neighbor. Ask them how they are doing? Would they like to stop over for a cup of coffee and a friendly chat?

I think its time to reintroduce the concept of neighborhood. We've become so technically advanced that we don't even talk to each other any more. Have you ever been in a restaurant and seen two people sitting together hunched over their phones and wonder if they are texting each other?

I think we have cut ourselves off a little too much with technology and we need to start talking to real people again. Maybe if each person cared for the people right next to to them and remembered to offer others help when they need it the world would be a little brighter in the process.

Quilting ... From Scraps to Cozy

2012-01-17T14:09:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday I had my first quilting class. The classes were a Christmas present from my Hubby. I will hopefully be turning those lovely scraps you see into a cute little quilt. I had started to learn how once before but the friend who was teaching me was also part of the military and had been stationed someplace else before we got very far. Now I'm trying again it won't be a very large quilt but I'm hoping the colors and the chicken pattern will turn out nice.

I love the idea of turning little scraps of fabric we would normally throw away into something so useful. When I finish it up I'll post a picture and you can tell me what you think. If I can become proficient enough I can give them out as gifts and maybe even give one away here... OH the possibilities of a few scraps of cloth it just boggles the mind. Of course I'll have to have some help since I've never been what you would call a fashion plate.... jeans and a shirt ... that about sums up my style. I'm absolutely terrible at matching up colors and patterns and what not so I'll probably have to enlist the aid of the in-laws and my hubby to help with the mixing and matching, but that's what family is for right?

Wish me luck... Ok?

Walking In a Winter Wonderland

2012-01-14T03:59:00.000-08:00

Ok.... without the snow it's not much of a wonderland but with the cold air finally descending on us this is the perfect opportunity to discuss spending time outside in the cold.

As you may know if you've been reading for a while, I walk to work as often as I can. It's not HAVE to it's WANT to. I know every step I take gets me one step closer to buy the home with a nice piece of property so I can finally have my chickens. Heck with the cost of gas right now each step is two steps closer!

But as Mother Nature reminded me yesterday no matter how much time you spend outside this winter be prepared. Yesterday I wasn't so prepared and froze my tushy off on the walk home. It was a beautiful morning and I headed out to work with just my light coat on. Usually I wear a fleece sweater underneath but it was so warm I left it home. MY mistake was not checking with the nice weather folks because by the time I left work the temperature had dropped low and a wicked wind picked up. I was cold the moment I walked out the door.

Lucky for me there are plenty of stores on the way home so I did a little browsing in several stores on the way home to warm up.

My mistake is not an uncommon one. Many people have gotten stuck with out proper preparation and sometimes fatally so. It's always best to be prepared for the unexpected in my case layers of clothes to keep the wind out and the heat in, and I could have stuffed a hat and gloves in my pocket just in case. Which would have save me cold fingers and ears. So make sure you cover all the winter time bases before you head out the door. It's better to be prepared for the unexpected and not need it then to need it and not have it.

Trust me today I will have my layers, my hat, gloves, sunglasses (keeps the wind out of my eyes) and maybe even a pair of leggings in my backpack so I can add an extra layer to my legs if its really cold after work.

The Humbling Power Of Nature

2012-01-08T07:07:00.000-08:00

I'm not talking about the Hurricanes or the Tornadoes, Earthquakes or Volcanoes, though each of those are spectacular in their own rights.

I'm talking about Germs!

These microscopic lifeforms who have the power to lay us flat with out us knowing we are under attack until it's too late.

I am now in the final stage of such an attack. My nose is still stuffy and I can still feel a weight in my chest that makes me have to take a deep breath because of the feeling of lack of oxygen.

Though it is impossible to totally prevent such an assault all together there are things you can do to help keep them at bay.

With the crazy weather we've been having, switching between warm and cold from day to day I thought it would be a good time to go over the simple steps to help keep everyone a little more health this winter.

Washing your hands.This is the number one preventative for keeping the germs at bay. It is my personal suggestion you use plain soap not the antibacterial soap. They both work just as well but there have been studies that show antibacterial soap can make the germs that survive stronger and who wants a stronger cold germ.
Carry Hand Sanitizer . This Alcohol based gel can kill the germs when you can't get to the sink.
Keeping your hands away from your face. Eyes and Ear and Mouth and Nose .. keeping your hands away from these body parts is essential to keeping colds at bay.
Using your own stuff. Don't use someone else's phone, keyboard, pen, drinking glass, or any other item where a cold virus can lie in wait. If you must borrow from someone else the take some of that hand sanitizer you're carrying around and put it on a tissue and wipe said object with it before using. Since it is alcohol based it won't damage electronics.... just don't go overboard!
Eat Right and Exercise. The healthier your body the better it can fight off those tiny invaders and keep you healthy.
Avoid crowds. Coughs and sneezes can travel pretty far from the body so if you can manage it stay away from crowds during the cold season since not everyone is polite enough to cover up.
Disinfect. There are common areas touched by everyone such as a door knob. Wiping or spraying these area with disinfectant will help keep everyone healthy.

When and if you get sick these steps can also help you prevent the further spread of illness to your family and co-workers. Don't forget to be polite and cover your cough or sneeze with your elbow not your hand. Your hands touch everything ....Your elbow ...Not so much!

Take a Step Back and Watch the World Go By....Then

2011-12-05T14:40:00.000-08:00

This has got to be the most hectic, crazy and totally insane time of the year. If you don't believe me then stop your shopping for one moment and watch the crowd go by.

People are so intent on themselves they push, shove, grumble about those who are moving slower, complain about long lines and utter rudeness rules the day. Every year it seems to get worse you can see it in the head lines... Lady Pepper Sprays other shoppers, A robber shot a Black Friday shopper, a man was stabbed outside a Sacramento mall.

Try these ideas for a change.

Slow down and smile at the next person you see. REALLY mean it .. Put your whole heart into it. Then do it again and again. Watch as you see face after face smile back and a little of their grumpiness fades away.

Start up a conversation with the person next to you while you wait in line. Not a negative one about how horrible the wait is or how someone tried to grab a sweater you selected out of your hands. Find something happy to chat about. Did you see how beautiful they decorated the town tree this year?

Volunteer... Need I say more. Well I will anyway. One of the best ways to help you feel better and help others is to volunteer. We human beings are social creatures and we are happiest when we are helping each other out. Don't believe me? Go ahead and try it then tell me how you feel.

It's The Most Spendiest Time Of The Year

2011-12-01T07:44:00.000-08:00

Well it's finally December so I guess I'm ready to talk about Christmas.

I find myself hating media outlets more and more this time of year. The commercials are so obnoxious especially the ones that stress Gifting Yourself. Their whole goal seems to be to turn the Season of giving into the Season of Greedy!

So I've decided in order to combat the Season of Greedy I will use this month to explore all the heart felt home made gifts people can come up with to share their love for their family and friends without breaking the bank.

Lets start with your local library. There are so many creative books out their that you can use to find inspiration for your creations. Here is a list of a few of my favorites to help you start your search.

Simply Homemade Food Gifts by Jennifer Darling

Christmas Gifts from the Kitchen by Georgeanne Brennan

Food for Friends : Homemade Gifts for Every Season by Sally Pasley Vargas

These are just a few of the wonderful books available for Free at your local library and a great place to start your search for a Homemade Christmas.

Vegetable Container Garden: Last Gift of the Season

2011-11-30T11:15:00.000-08:00

I don't think I ever mentioned here but I have decided to combine my Vegetable Container Garden blog and this one. That being said. One of the vegetables I was growing was lettuce. Since it was hot very early in the Spring one of my heads of lettuce went to seed rather quickly.

Now with the exceptionally warm Fall weather I found this little guy growing between the cracks in the driveway next to the garage.

One very determined seed waited in the crack till things cooled down then shot up. He will make a very nice last fresh salad of the season.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T04:55:00.000-08:00

May everyone have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving and may we all remember all that we have to be Thankful for.

It's The Only Way

2011-11-21T15:28:00.000-08:00

Every year the marketing industry trys to start the Christmas stampede earlier and earlier. This year some obnoxious stores have decided their employees don't need to have time with there families and have decided to open on Thanksgiving. What's next Scary good deals on Halloween or how about Christmas on the Forth of July? It is time as consumers we take a stand. If we don't stand together we shall surly have our pockets emptied alone. I know they are promising so good deal or another but so what ... What ever gadget or toy they have now will be obsolete by Christmas anyway. The only way to stop this nonsense and take back our Holidays is to say NO and stay home on Thanksgiving.

If there is no profit they will stop doing it and we can all then be truly Thankful.

Pumpkin Ginger Parfaits

2011-11-19T04:29:00.000-08:00

Found this most excellent recipe for pumpkin ginger parfaits over at hobbyfarms.com. Its the place I go browse when I'm sick of living right on top of my neighbors here on Long Island. I'm going to swap out the canned pumpkin for pumpkin puree since I have tons of it in the freezer. I can't wait to serve it for Thanksgiving.

Pumpkin Ginger Parfaits

Ingredients
1 15-ounce can pumpkin
1 7-ounce jar marshmallow crème
½ tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 8-ounce container frozen whipped topping, thawed
¼ cup crystallized ginger, finely chopped
40 ginger snap cookies

Preparation
Working in batches, crush ginger snaps in food processor until they form fine crumbs.

Using an electric mixer, beat pumpkin, marshmallow crème and pumpkin pie spice until smooth. Fold in 2 cups of the whipped topping and crystallized ginger.

Place 2 Tablespoons crumbs in bottom of each glass. Top with a generous ¼ cup of pumpkin mixture, using a spoon to press out air bubbles and smooth the top. Repeat layers in each glass. Refrigerate until firm, at least two hours. Garnish with remaining whipped topping. Serves 6

Portion Control Made Easy

2011-11-16T15:38:00.000-08:00

Well I hope this works out I found this great video from eating well on a quick way to watch your portions.

Tip 8 On How To Winterize a House

2011-11-06T05:43:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again for most of us in the United States. Time to turn the clocks back an hour for daylight savings time. Man I do miss living in Tucson where we didn't do that but I don;t so I have to.

Anyway that leads us to tip 8

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

1. Change the battery in your smoke detectors.

2. Consider adding smoke detectors to every room. The sooner you know there is a problem the better chance you have of getting everyone out.

3. If you don't have a carbon monoxide detector get one and place it near your furnace and depending on the type of water heater you have place one there.

4. If you have a carbon monoxide detector and it is older the 6 years or is making a small chirping noise then its time to replace it.

5. Check all fire extinguishers to make sure they are still charged. Replace any that need it.

Tip 7 On How to Winterize your Home

2011-11-04T11:15:00.000-07:00

It's a beautiful day here in Long Island. Perfect for finishing up any outdoor stuff before winter kicks in. So head outside and get things ready for winter.

Prepare Landscaping and Outdoor Surfaces

1. Trim trees if branches are dead or hang too close to the house or electrical wires.

2. Seal driveways, brick patios and wood decks. Water that gets into the cracks and crevices will expand and contract as things cool down and heat up causing more damage. Sealing these surfaces will help prefent the damage

3. Move sensitive potted plants indoors or to a sheltered area

4. Remove vegetation and debris away from the foundation. Then seal up any small cracks around the foundation to keep unwanted visitors out.

Tip 6 On How To Winterize A House

2011-11-03T03:41:00.000-07:00

Baby it's getting COLD outside and its time to clean up you summer supplies and get the winter ones ready for service.

Service Weather-Specific Equipment and Store your Summer Fun

1. Drain gas from lawnmowers, trimmers and other gas powered summer maintenance equipement.

2. Clean, dry and store summer gardening equipment. Store and cover your grill and patio furniture to keep them safe from the winter weather

3. Replace worn rakes and snow shovels.

4. Service or tune-up snow blowers. Of course for us this means lots of Hot chocolate for warming up after digging out but for those of you who have them make sure they are working before the storms hit.5. Sharpen ice choppers and buy bags of ice-melt / sand. If you have pets use the sand or pet specific salts to help keep their paws safe.

Tip 5 On How To Winterize a House

2011-11-02T06:04:00.000-07:00

Inspect Roof, Gutters & Downspouts

If your afraid of heights then consider one of the many service people to help you out. When I need expert help I always try to higher someone local since it helps the community.

1. If your weather temperature will fall below 32 degrees in the winter, adding extra insulation to the attic will prevent warm air from creeping to your roof and causing ice dams.

2. Check flashing to ensure water cannot enter the home.

3. Replace worn roof shingles or tiles.

4. Clean out the gutters and use a hose to spray water down the downspouts to clear away debris.

5. Consider installing leaf guards on the gutters or extensions on the downspouts to direct water away from the home.

Tip 4 On How To Winterize a House

2011-11-01T03:51:00.000-07:00

I'm heading out to the Home Depot today to pick up some weather stripping for around the front door. During that little storm we had blow through I could feel the cold pouring under the Front Door. Now since I'm renting I'm very picky on the things I fix up around here. It's not my house and I not going to make improvements that the home owner should be making. That being said weather striping is a fairly cheap way to save me lots of money on heating this winter so I'm going to go ahead and fix it. I'm also going to ask if there is some way to fix the area around one of our light switches, I can feel the cold coming in from out side there too but I have to be careful what I use since I don't want to start a fire. Any way here is the next tip for getting snug for winter:

Check the Exterior, Doors and Windows

1. Inspect exterior for crevice cracks and exposed entry points around pipes; seal them. This will not only keep the cold out it will also keep out any unwanted visitors looking for a warm place to bunk down for the winter.
2. Use weather stripping around doors to prevent cold air from entering the home and caulk windows.
3. Replace cracked glass in windows and, if you end up replacing the entire window, prime and paint exposed wood. If this is not in your budget right now try one or all of the following which can also help with single pain windows that don't keep out the cold well:

* window insulation film sticks on with double sided tape and uses a
shrink wrap plastic you heat with a hair dryer*layers of curtains (make sure they aren't covering the heat vents.
*build a frame that fits on the outside of the window and cover with heavy duty plastic
to keep the cold away from the window.
I remember my dad doing this and it made the house warm and snug all winter and
was easy to remove and replace with screens in the summer.

4. If your home has a basement, consider protecting its window wells by covering them with plastic shields.
5. Cover your Air conditioner. It doesn't matter if its a window or central, covering it will save you money.

Tip 3 on How to Winterize a House

2011-10-29T16:24:00.000-07:00

Well Winter just jumped up and smacked us in the face here in the North East and I've been getting things done that I thought I would have more time to do.

Now I don't have a fireplace anymore but I can smell the neighbors burning away and remember what I did when I had one. So for a warm safe winter it's time to:

Get the Fireplace Ready

1. Cap or screen the top of the chimney to keep out rodents and birds. This should be on in the summer too. You don't want to give your wild neighbors free access to your home do you?
2. If the chimney hasn't been cleaned for a while, call a chimney sweep to remove soot and creosote. It is very important to get this stuff cleaned out as it can spark up and start a fire.
3. Get your firewood or chop wood. Store it in a dry place away from the exterior of your home.
4. Inspect the fireplace damper for proper opening and closing. Don't forget to keep it close when not using the fire place to keep your heat from going up the chimney.
5. Check the mortar between bricks and tuckpoint, if necessary.

Pumpkin Bread

2011-10-29T06:01:00.000-07:00

Ok I promised Pumpkin Recipes so here is my first one. It's for Pumpkin Bread and I use this same recipe for making muffins or mini muffins. The Bread gets served when ever the muffins are frozen for a Quick Healthy Breakfast (normal sized muffins) or tossed straight into a lunch box(mini muffins).

2 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pumpkin spice
1 1/2 c sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 c cooked pumpkin
1/4 c water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Sift the dry ingredients together (except sugar)
Blend everything else together then slowly add dry ingredients.
Grease and flour 9X5 loaf pan and bake for 1 hour and 10 min. Enjoy

For muffins bake for 30 min and mini muffins 12 min.

Tip 2 On How to Winterize a House

2011-10-28T03:22:00.000-07:00

Time to Schedule a Furnace Inspection.

The last thing you want is for you source of heat to break down and lets face it you know it's going to happen on the coldest day of the year. Murphy said so.

1. Call an HVAC professional to inspect your furnace and clean ducts.

2. Stock up on furnace filters and change them monthly. This will help keep the air flowing smoothly and your furnace will not have to work so hard.

3. Consider switching out your thermostat for a programmable thermostat. You can set it to warm the house when you need it warm. (just before you wake up or get home) and set it at a cooler temperature when you don't need it. (bed time or while at work) This will save you some cash and help use less resources.

3. If your home is heated by a hot-water radiator, bleed the valves by opening them slightly and when water appears, close them.

4. Remove all flammable material from the area surrounding your furnace.

Tip 1 On How To Winterize A Home

2011-10-27T03:52:00.000-07:00

The weather is getting colder and now it the time to start preparing your home for the long cold days of winter. I'm going to offer a tip every day for the next few days to help you with getting started. By doing or scheduling to have done one a day it makes it a easy chore for anyone. Just one step at a time for a warm comfy energy saving winter.

First Tip

Drain your automatic sprinkler system. As the weather get colder and wetter the last thing your grass needs is more water. Now is a good time to drain it so when the frost kicks in you won't have pipes bursting at the seams that can cost you flooding in your home and costly repairs come spring.

1. Turn off the water supply
2. Place bucket under drain valve
3. Open drain valve and keep an eye on it. You don't want your bucket to over flow or get so full you can't lift it.
4 Leave the water off and the valve in the open position. ( I like to leave the bucket under the valve too just in case).

And your done with your first step toward winterizing your home. If you don't have an automatic sprinkler then you can obviously skip this step but don't forget to stop in tomorrow for step two.

Pumpkin Seeds

2011-10-24T05:32:00.001-07:00

Ok as promised how to cook up those tasty pumpkin seeds. The first thing I do is soak them for about 10 minutes. I find it easier to remove all the strings and goop if they soak for a little bit. Then rinse a couple times till the water is no longer orange. Preheat oven to 350

Next use paper towels ,or ( I use my kitchen microfiber clothes ) and dry them off.

Place in a bowl and spray with cooking spray and salt if desired.

Place in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Set timer for 10 min then stir them around and set it for another 10 min. Cook until browned. If you want to use other seasoning besides salt add them on the last 10 minutes I find they tend to burn it left in longer.

Then should have a lovely brown color and sound dry when you stir them up.

Let them cool and enjoy! I find they keep well in the freezer and you can take them out and eat them with no need to thaw. It helps keep the moisture out and the crunchy in.

How To Make Your Own Pumpkin Puree from Scratch

2011-10-22T11:03:00.000-07:00

It was baking day on Thursday and while I was waiting for some bread to come out of the oven I was looking at some of my favorite blogs. Over at Housewife Eclectic they had a guest writer: Megan from Kitschy Suburbia and she posted a yummy recipe for Pumpkin French Toast. In the story leading up to the recipe she explained how the can of pumpkin puree she was using came from her mothers kitchen in California and she was using it in New Mexico. She was hard pressed to find any in New Mexico. That got me to thinking why doesn't she just get (or grow) a whole pumpkin and make her own puree, I do it every year.

This of course gave me a DUH moment as my memory kicked in and realized maybe she doesn't know how to make it. It was only a few years ago when I figured out how to do it.

Now for me it wasn't just a matter of using the freshest ingredients possible but that is a wonderful bonus as it has much better flavor then the stuff in a can.

For me it was all about a WHO THE HECK DOES SHE THINK SHE IS ... Moment. I was sitting at the school waiting to pick up my kids for the walk home and I was listening to a older lady talk about how she was making pumpkin pie using fresh pumpkin. I told her That sounds wonderful how do you cook the pumpkin to use it. (if you've ever carve a pumpkin you know it's one Hard squash). She had the NERVE to look at me and tell me "It's too hard for you dear you should stick to the canned pumpkin from the store"

WHAT??? Really!!!

Well to heck with her I'll figure it out for myself!

It turns out it's really pretty easy to take a whole pumpkin and make pumpkin puree for all your pumpkin needs.

First select your pumpkin. You don't want one of the really large ones since you'll have a hard time fitting it in your oven.

Cut off the stem like your making a Jack - O - Lantern. It will make it easier to cut it in half.

Cut it in half

and remove the seeds. Don't throw them away and I'll share the recipe for pumpkin seeds.

Place the cut pumpkin, cut side down, on a cookie sheet and pour 1 cup water around it.
(this well keep it from drying out while it bakes)

Cook at 350 for 1 hour it will turn a darker brown.
and when you push on the skin it will leave an indentation.

Let it cool off.

Then Peal the skin off. It's alot like pealing a banana.

Finally Mash or whip up in a food processor. Use it cup for cup in your Recipes and Enjoy.

Found this wonderful Idea

2011-10-20T10:19:00.000-07:00

Hop on Over to Happy Healthy Family for a great idea on a Do It Yourself Angel Wings. They are Really cute:

happy healthy families: Last Minute Costume Help: DIY Angel Wings: Got a DIY Angel Costume in mind for Halloween this year for your little one? Since my two little goblins are boys, and my daughter is de...

Tip Of The Day

2011-10-20T05:58:00.000-07:00

Keeping your refrigerator and freezer running efficiently is a great way to save on your electric bill and here are the things you need to do to keep it in tip top shape.

1. Pull your fridge or freezer from the wall and Vacuum the condenser coils at least once a year. When the condenser coils are dirty they can't release the heat from the fridge into the air so they don't work as well.

2. Check your gasket. This is easy just take a dollar bill and close it in the door with part of it sticking out. if you can easily slide the dollar out they your gasket isn't keeping in the cold air and needs replacing. Also make sure you clean any dirt out of the little grooves on the gasket to help prevent wear and tear.

3. If your fridge is really really old then it may be time to consider buying a new one. Look at those Sunday sales ads and decide what you're looking for before you head out to the store. This will help you get exactly what you want. Keep in mind all those extra features may just suck down more electricity so decide before hand if you really need them.

4 Defrost the Freezer. If you don't have a frost-free freezer and you have more than a half inch of freezer frost then it's time for the Great Thaw. Put all your food in a cooler the fuller the better and unplug your freezer. You can help speed things up with a couple pans of hot water. Never use a knife or other tool to remove ice you can damage the inside of your freezer.

Another "small" thing you can do: when you are putting away your groceries after a trip to the store, gather all your items for the fridge in one place. Then you can open the refrigerator one time and put everything inside.

Now that it's clean and defrosted, keep your freezer efficient by filling empty spaces with old milk jugs filled with water (remember to leave an inch at the top for expansion). These jugs are great for camping trips or picnics to keep things cold without the water mess of ice cubes.

Pumpkin Picking Recycling and Elmo

2011-10-02T05:09:00.000-07:00

We went to the opening day of Fink's Farm Fall Festival for some good ol fashion farm fun. It's a pretty good place to spend the day though most things are geared around the younger children. My kids still had a good time on the hay ride and the corn maze and of course picking the perfect pumpkin. Though my son got stung on the cheek by a wasp, he still would go back any day.

My Daughter picked this 31 pound monstrosity that I think will have to use as a jack - o - lantern instead of for baking it is just too big to fit into my oven.

The second largest was my sons at 19 pounds, large but will still fit in the oven for pies, cakes, breads, cookies, and pumpkin soup .... YUM!

I thought this was some very clever recycling in action this old gas tank became a piggy and and this old oil tank and milk can became a clever cow.
My kids have out grown Elmo but Elmo hasn't out grown them as he traps them in the corn t-pee trying to get a hug. It was a lot of fun watching Elmo play with the little ones some were brave and walked right up for hugs others were more leery of the giant Elmo others just cried. It was like a little flash back to when mine were little.

Fall Is Here

2011-09-30T12:15:00.000-07:00

The Cooler air has me throwing open my window to let as much fresh air in as possible before winter cold sets in and has the house closed up for the winter. It also has me searching through the farms at pickyourown.org for the freshest in season fruits and veggies. Its a great resource for those who want to shop locally. It also includes picking tips, canning and freezing tips, and a whole heap or recipes for those delectable goodies you find. Right now I have my heart set on some fresh apples and pumpkins. But these aren't the only in season fruits and veggies right now but I have some fabulous recipes for them and when the picking is done I'll share my favorite with you pictures and all.

Tip Of the Day

2011-08-19T15:09:00.000-07:00

Baby its HOT outside. If you aren't under a drought warning and are still haven't changed your front lawn into a vegetable garden (Hey its all the rage right now) then your going to want to water it. Right?

Make sure you water in the early morning. This allows your grass time before the hot sun comes up to absorb the water and keeps the water from magnifing the suns rays which can burn the grass.

Along with this tip goes make sure you don't cut your grass shorter then 3 inches. The taller blades will shade the ground keeping it roots cool and moist longer. It will also inhibit weed growth allowing you to skip that environmentally poisoning weed killer. (Hey if its designed to kill something its a poison!)

Tip of The Day

2011-08-18T03:54:00.000-07:00

Finding More Coupons

There are plenty of other places to find those money saving coupons your looking for and once you get the basics down then start taking a look.

The internet is a great place to start looking around. There are several websites that have printable coupons for grocerys. Now a lot of them have the exact same coupons and you can only print them out once or twice. Next check the website of your favorite foods many of them have coupons for their products. I like using the Newman's Own site. They have 3 or 4 coupons you can print out monthly. Another source is your favorite magazine. I don't use this one personally since I read the magazines at the library and the kind of frown on people cutting the up.

Some other options look for or start a local coupon trading co-op. Not everyone uses the same coupons and there is no point in throwing them out if someone else can use them. Check the inside of product packing before you recycle or throw them away some time the manufacture will print a coupon on the inside. Check your favorite grocery store web site sometimes they put up their own coupon which can be combine with your manufactures coupon.

The last to try is E-Bay. Now it is actually illegal to sell coupons but it is not illegal to sell your time so there are multiple listings for coupons there. It is a great way to get a bulk amount of coupons for products you need. Just remember to read the seller reviews, its the best way to tell the good sellers from the phonies.

Tip of the Day

2011-08-15T06:36:00.000-07:00

So I've been trying to improve my couponing skills I am blown away by the show extreme couponing. Of course the bad thing about the show is that now that they have gotten their 15 minutes of fame retailers will be changing the way they do things so they stop losing money and others will have a hard time following in their foot steps.

Now I'm not saying I want to be an Extreme couponer since it looks an awful lot like hoarding and I simple don't have the kind of storage space needed for that kind of stuff. I won't take up all the family space for toilet paper ... can't see it happening!

What I would like is to increase my savings using coupons on stuff I can use everyday. That being said my tip of the day is for all you beginning couponers. A great site for all new (or those looking of more savings) couponers is Couponmom.com.

She takes several of the major supermarkets and posts the sales along with any matching coupons that you might have gotten from your newspaper or online coupon sites. You can get lots of tips and can even print out the deals you want to take advantage of.

Now the reason I said it was for beginners is that it doesn't include every supermarket so once you get the hang of it your going to want to start checking out the ads of the other supermarkets near you to see if you can get a better deal. It also doesn't include all coupon sources for example. After checking the sales I googled Newmans Own (one of my favorite companies) and found they have coupons available on their site as well. This kind of coupon is not included on coupon mom and you will have to look for these other sources of coupons for yourself.

Tip of the Day

2011-06-29T03:41:00.001-07:00

Generic groceries are a great way to save money but never just assume they are cheaper. Keep an eye on your stores Loss - Leaders ( they are on the first page of the ad) they are usually brand name items only. The store may not make any money on these products, but you can snag your favorite brands for far below even generic pricing. Add a coupon and watch your price go even lower—something you typically can’t do for generics.

Tip of the Day

2011-06-04T04:25:00.000-07:00

Avoid Malls when Bored!

That goes for lonely, sad, celebrating etc ... Shopping as entertainment is a enormous waste of time and money. Your buying things to keep busy not because you actual need it. There are so many other things you could be doing that won't make you broke and feel guilty afterwords.

Trying taking a class about something you've always wanted to learn. Volunteer to help clean up your local park or help at a homeless center. Hit the library to find a new hobby.

Invest in yourself instead of more stuff you're wallet and the environment will Thank You!

I'm a happy gardener

2011-06-02T10:45:00.001-07:00

I got the best deal over the Memorial day weekend. Buy one get one free on earth boxes.

I was thinking of making my own since normally these self watering boxes are about 60 bucks each. But I was browsing at the local nursery and saw a sign up for buy one get one free on all pots and planters.

The Earth Boxes weren't located near the sign but in another room so I wasn't sure they were part of the deal. I had to ask 6 people before I got an answer most of them didn't even know they were having that sale. Finally I found someone who said they were.

Of course when I got to the register they had to call back to find out since they didn't know about the sale either but I finally got out of the store with my planters. I think I should have grabbed two more so I could try my had at some new veggies but I my wallet said NO!

I'm using them for tomatoes, zucchini, and watermelon (I got one last year) but next year I think I"m going to give Corn a go. According to the directions you can grow 16 stocks in each one.

Quick Tip Of The Day

2011-06-02T10:26:00.000-07:00

Well it's been a while and obviously I didn't do so well with my New Years resolution though the weight is coming off. Since it's never too late in the year to do better I'm going to be offering a daily quick tip to go along with my normal posts. These tips will be things you can start doing immediately to save money and the environment. Hopefully you will find them as useful as I do.

Quick Tip 1: Take it with you.... Your lunch that is! My hubby use to spend about $5 a day on lunches at work that would consist of a soda and some soup or salad. He was trying to eat as cheap as possible. Now I spend about 5 bucks a week on his lunches consisting of salads and healthy leftovers. I try to make sure I don't give him the leftovers from the night before so he's not getting the same thing two days in a row. That is approximately $20 in savings. I can think of a lot of things I would rather be doing with that cash.

Wanna knock up the savings even more?

Take your coffee with you too! Invest in a good thermos, one large enough to hold however much coffee you would normally buy. Even if you buy the flavored creamers to go with it you will be saving a veritable fortune throughout the year.

Spring is Bursting out all Over!

2011-04-11T12:42:00.001-07:00

Spring is here and I've been as lazy as a hibernating bear. I'm not only behind on my posting but I haven't even started my seedlings.
I have however been spending my long winters rest learning more about gardening and have plenty to share.

I'll start with my forgotton seedlings. I've been trying for years to get a good batch of seedlings started but have met with skinny scraggly seedlings that don't produce well. It turns out that when you start seeds indoors your supposed to have a light positioned a couple of inches away from the plants. This is to keep the seedlings from "stretching" to reach the light. This allows for a sturdier seedling. I have an extra lamp with a hanger for our turtle I think I will repurpose it as a day lamp for my seedlings. Since tomorrow is my day off it will be a good time to get started!

Baking Soda To Melt Snow?

2011-02-05T05:15:00.000-08:00

I was checking out First Magazine at the library. It has a tip from readers section where one reader sent in that baking soda was good for melting ice. I thought this would be great if it works because I could use it on the back steps and not have to worry about irritation to Crickets paws. Yesterday I gave it a try. Unfortunately It didn't work. What I got was baking soda paw prints all over my kitchen floor. So I will be sticking to coating the ice with sand for traction and save the baking soda for my muffins.

My Seed Catalogs Have Arrived

2011-02-05T04:09:00.001-08:00

Only three of them but it has me thinking of spring. I'm got my first order set... I just need to place it. I'm ordering from the Gurney catalog and taking advantage of the free $25 coupon it has. I'll have to spend $50 total but they have some really nice looking patio blueberry bushing I want to get. I'm also ordering some strawberries. I wanted to plant some last year but the only plants I could find were sold individually from about $5 a piece I couldn't find anyone who was selling them in the packs.

I Love Snow

2011-02-01T03:57:00.000-08:00

I really do. I love how beautiful everything looks right after a fresh snow. I love watching the kids ride their sleds down the hill laughing and screaming with glee. I love snowmen and women though getting that head on top can be a pain. I love the look of icicles handing from the trees and roof tops. Although if you have icicles hanging from your roof top make sure you get your gutter looked at right away. Since it means the melting snow is not going down the but over the top and that can lead to roof damage.

BUT.....

Even I will admit we have way to much snow here. The worse part not being the mounds of snow everywhere since I think it looks cool but the fact that not all the sidewalks are clear which means I can't walk to work.

I find it absolutely astounding that people who shovel their walks beautifully will leave that one foot one the property line unshoveled. Neither side taking responsibility for that last piece and when the snow is up to your knees that one foot of sidewalk is a pain to navigate. Then there is the areas that are suppose to be shoveled by the city ( I assume since there is no home owner or business to shovel them.) Especially under the bridges... what a nightmare! You cant safely walk on the sidewalk so you are force into the road which is much more narrow then the rest of the road, placing you that much closer to traffic. ( If you could see the way they drive here you would know the further away from them you can get the better.)

I tried walking a couple of times before the last snow storm. After some ankle twisting and a semi blasting past me under the bridge, I gave up! Now I"m driving and I feel terrible. Not just using precious resources (gas and money) but I'm missing out on the great exercise I was getting. Now I'm stuck driving with people who are apparently crazier then I am (when they get behind the wheel) watching them run stop signs (not even bothering to pretend to stop), illegal passing and turning. The stuff some of these people do should lose them their license but the cops are too busy texting and talking on their cell phones and activity that is illegal here but you can watch them driving down the road doing it.

I can't wait till spring and the sidewalks become safe for walking again or better still my hubby gets assigned someplace else hopefully away from the giant mass of people crammed onto this Island.

Thinks Are Going to Change

2011-01-22T06:56:00.000-08:00

Well I'm going through a changing period in my life. Now that I'm getting back into the blogging game. I want to change my look. I'm also considering a name change but all the good information I have will be the same. I'm also thinking of adding more posts on environmental news. I read about a lot of interesting things and would like to share them. I also need to find more ways to put money into savings. I've been working on meal planning and its been helping a lot with savings. Knowing just what I'm going to make when I get home stops many trips to the store to pick something up. Which of course prevents unplanned impulse purchase, but more on that later.

I'm thinking of the name Crazy About Green instead of The Crazy Green Cheapskate...What do you think?

Was I Really Gone That LONG???

2011-01-19T11:05:00.001-08:00

Hello all

That was a short lived resolution. I didn't even make it back the second day. Here is what happened...

After posting the first thing I did was open my list of favorites and click my top number one favorite only to find the extraordinary writer of this blog had lost his battle with cancer and passed away...

FIVE Months Ago

I felt and still feel horrible! I loved reading Barry's Blog and the adventures he had with Lindsey his beautiful dog. I stayed away too long and missed the opportunity to be part of the time he had left. He was a wonderful story teller and was wonderful at responding to the comments people made and even stopped by to comment on mine. I don't get a ton of comments and his were worth every person who stopped by and said nothing and he will be sorely missed.