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By eliza_cross, on May 4th, 2011%
“I am thankful for a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home…. I am thankful for the piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby.”
~ Nancie J. Carmody
Spring has sprung, and while some of us no longer adhere to the whole-house spring cleaning rituals of our grandparents’ generation I do notice that winter has taken its toll on our windows. Professional window cleaning can cost upwards of $7 per window, which doesn’t include deep cleaning. Instead, you can wash your own windows with materials you probably already have around the house — and pocket the savings. Better yet, the cleaning solution and supplies are completely eco-friendly!
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap (this tiny amount helps get the windows really clean)
- spray bottle
- newspapers
- sponge or rag
- dishwashing or work gloves (optional)
 Combine the water, vinegar and dishwashing soap and pour the mixture in the spray bottle. If there are odd bits of crud on the windows, use a wet sponge to gently remove them. If you don’t want to get newsprint on your hands, now’s the time to don the gloves. Fold two pieces of newspaper into a paper towel-sized rectangle, and fold in half. (In case you’re wondering, newspaper is the perfect medium for washing windows because the newsprint’s slightly abrasive texture gets the glass squeaky clean.)
Spray some of the cleaner on the windows and use a horizontal stroke to wipe down the outside of the windows. Switch to a vertical stroke for the inside of the windows and continue cleaning. Avoid the window frames, because newsprint can sometimes leave a mark on the frames.
Keep a sponge or rag handy to wipe the window sill and catch drips. When the newspaper becomes dirty and soaked, put it in the recycling bin and grab a fresh piece. Check your work; horizontal streaks mean you need to go over the outside, and vertical streaks mean you need to go over the inside. With a little elbow grease, your windows will soon be sparkling and streak-free!
Are you doing any spring cleaning this May? I’d love to hear about your projects.
By eliza_cross, on March 26th, 2011%
“It is more rewarding to watch money change the world than to watch it accumulate.” ~ Gloria Steinem
I just signed up for the ‘One in a Million’ Movement over at Big Green Purse. The idea is that if a million people pledge to shift $1,000 of spending to more environmentally-friendly products, we’ll have a one billion dollar impact in the marketplace.
When you make the pledge, you’re given a checklist of things to commit to switching:
- organic fruits & vegetables
- phthalate-free cosmetics
- fuel-efficient car
- energy-efficient appliances
- shade-grown coffee
- energy-saving home repairs
- organic cotton/hemp clothing
- organic milk
- recycled paper products
- safer toys
- compact fluorescent light bulbs
- furniture made from eco-certified wood
- water-saving appliances
I’ve been increasingly choosing environmentally friendly products anyway, but I love the organized effort and the impact a million committed people can make.
How about you? What switches are you making for eco-friendly products, and are you happy with your choices?
By eliza_cross, on March 19th, 2011%
“What amazes me is that most days feel useless. I don’t seem to accomplish anything – just a few pages, most of which don’t seem very good. Yet, when I put all those wasted days together, I somehow end up with a book of which I’m very proud.” ~ Louis Sachar, author of more than 20 books
Why I Began Thinking About The Value of Small Steps
I recently decided to open a separate investment account to begin saving for our next car. I don’t plan to buy an automobile for many years, but I like the idea of having the money set aside so it’s there when the time comes.
For now I’ve been putting aside $25 a month, and I was a little discouraged when I reviewed the account statement recently and saw that the balance had reached just $175.00. “What’s the use?” that negative little voice in my head said. “At the rate you’re going, it’ll never amount to anything.”
“Not so fast, Kemosabe,” the positive little voice in my head said. “Stick with your plan.” Thank goodness the wise voice is the one I try to listen to. After all, I’ve lived and breathed the benefits of incremental acts and persistence, from writing books to saving money to paying off debt. You probably have, too.
After I told the negative voice to beat it, I made a list of some of the amazing things that can be accomplished with small steps, consistency and perseverance:
1. Learn a new skill. Got 15 minutes a day? You could learn how to speak a foreign language, play an instrument or Continue reading 15 Amazing Benefits of Small Steps, Consistency and Perseverance
By eliza_cross, on March 6th, 2011%
 Homemade organic Greek yogurt with Colorado honey and granola I first had Greek yogurt when we visited Aunt Sara and Uncle Myron at their beautiful home on the Chesapeake Bay last summer. Each morning Aunt Sara would lay out a big breakfast buffet with fresh melons, cereals, crispy bacon, eggs, juices, pastries, breads, jams….well, you get the idea. One morning I got into the FAGE Greek Yogurt — and I was completely hooked. Greek yogurt compares to regular yogurt like home-grown tomatoes compare to February tomatoes in the grocery store – about a kazillion times better. Greek yogurt – even the nonfat version – is thick and creamy.
However, it also costs substantially more than regular yogurt — a 32 ounce container of FAGE is $7.49 at my grocery store, and it’s not organic — which is why I decided to try and make some myself here at the urban homestead. I spent $2.69 for organic milk and 99 cents for a container of plain organic yogurt to use as starter (I already had cheesecloth) so I saved over 50% — and produced an organic product, to boot. When I make the next batch, I’ll use 2 tablespoons of the yogurt from this batch for the starter so the cost will be even less. This project was one of my most successful culinary experiments, and if you’re a fan of Greek yogurt you’re going to love making your own.
After some online research, I mostly followed the basic yogurt recipe in Continue reading Make Your Own Homemade Greek Yogurt
By eliza_cross, on February 24th, 2011%
Okay, I know potato chips aren’t exactly healthy – but I do love them. We have them here occasionally as a treat, and it makes me happy that you can readily find potato chips made without preservatives or artificial ingredients. Natural potato chips taste best on the day you open the bag, but they tend to have a short shelf life and I often find that we end up with a quarter-bag of broken chips in the pantry that no one wants to eat.
Potato Chip Chicken is the perfect way to use those broken chips, and you can also make this recipe using crushed tortilla chips or corn chips. It’s an easy weekday meal that both the adults and kids will like, and I love the fact that it helps us not be wasteful by using up the chips at the bottom of the bag.
Potato Chip Chicken
- 1 pound thin-sliced chicken cutlets
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 bag potato chips
- freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Grease a baking sheet and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Trim the fat off the chicken breasts, and beat the egg and milk together in a shallow bowl. Fold over the top of the potato chip bag and crush the chips with a rolling pin.
Dip the chicken cutlets in the egg mixture and drop them one at a time in the potato chip bag. Fold the top over, give the bag a quick shake, and arrange the coated chicken on the greased baking sheet. After you’ve coated and arranged all the chicken pieces, take any of the leftover chip pieces from the bag and arrange them artfully over the top of the chicken pieces. Sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper and paprika. Bake the chicken for 20 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. Makes 4 servings. (Variation: You can cut the chicken into strips or ‘nuggets’ before breading; kids seem to like it this way.)
For other creative ideas about using up leftovers and odd ingredients, you might enjoy visiting one of my favorite sites from the UK, Love Food Hate Waste (with much-appreciated quantities provided in imperial measure for us Yanks, too).
Enjoy the weekend,
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Combine the water, vinegar and dishwashing soap and pour the mixture in the spray bottle. If there are odd bits of crud on the windows, use a wet sponge to gently remove them. If you don’t want to get newsprint on your hands, now’s the time to don the gloves. Fold two pieces of newspaper into a paper towel-sized rectangle, and fold in half. (In case you’re wondering, newspaper is the perfect medium for washing windows because the newsprint’s slightly abrasive texture gets the glass squeaky clean.)
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