Friday Finds: Found Myself in Books This Week

I'm at a loss for words this morning. I am computered out. And frankly tired of hearing about our weakening economy. To cope and not worry so much I have lost myself in books.

I am reading The Secret Life of Bees. I started it because the movie will be released soon and I want to try to read the book before the release. I never do that. I mean read books. I read blogs and internet articles but rarely novels.

I am about half way through and it is a great story. It takes place in South Carolina, 1964. The author does a wonderful job of describing the South during a time of Civil Rights upheaval but manages to keep the tone positive and the intertwined stories interesting while using the beautiful imagery of bees.

As if that is not enough I almost finished with The Girl's Guide to Starting Your Own Business. Yes, I am looking into starting a business. The economy is throwing a wrench in it but I am in the research part of starting so I still have some time for the economy to strengthen. I won't tell you what I want to do just yet, some day.

Anyway, this book is awesome. The author's take a bland subject and makes it fun. It addresses serious business with a girlfriend's advice. I love it!

And lastly, I was at the book store yesterday and found this materpiece. I went against all my green morals and bought a new book. I had to have it. I usually go to the book store to get lists of books I like then go home and order them used online. But this book wanted me to take it home.

I haven't started it yet. Actually, it is not a novel. It is a "how to" book. The whole book is hand written, even the copyright page.

Keri Smith, the author, seems to trully be an "color outside of the lines" girl. I am looking forward to exploring this book and exploring my word through different eyes.

How to Be An Explorer of Your World:

p. 5 Keri Smith

1. Always be looking. (Notice the ground beneath your feet.)

2. Consider everything alive and animated.

3. Everything is interesting. Look closer.

It goes on for 10 more. You gotta get the book to read the rest.

Have a green weekend.

Friday Finds: GSG

I am going to take a break until Monday for my Green Saves Green posts. And I haven't done my Friday Finds for a while. Call me lazy and busy, I'm sorry.

But today I will stay with my October theme and I found blogs that posted about being green and saving money.

• I'll start with Robin. Her post Thursday reminded us that being energy efficient saves money.
• Melinda at One Green Generation hit the theme right on the head and started her own challenge called The Buy Sustainably Challenge. I joined, you can too.
• Green SAHM posted about eating less meat. Good for the pocketbook, environment and your health.
• TreeHugger helps out with Fugal Green Living tips.

Friday Finds

My beans, romas and zuch

It has been a busy morning. When you own a 7 year old vehicle things start to break down. My brakes have been squeaking for a couple of days now. And then the radiator started to leak yesterday, what a horrible, toxic smell! Needless to say, I had to take my blazer in this morning and hope I don't get ripped off at the mechanic. I took it to the shop and walked home. At least it was a pleasant walk. I beat the heat, it is suppose to reach 104 degrees today here.

So my Friday Finds are being pushed back to noon.

• Furoshiki anyone?
• What an easy solution to plastic bag recycling. Earth 911.
• Are you DIY material? If so, build your own Passive Solar Water Heater.
• Could the Amish be greener?
• Support green celebrities.
• Yes! A greener way to remove ink from recycled paper.

Be green. Enjoy your weekend.

Friday Finds: Vinegar, Sewing

Maggy hogging the fan.

Good Morning. I am out walking right now but you can read up on what I found interesting this week. Have a great weekend.

• Wiki How: How to Sew Your Own iPod Carrying Case
• 1001 Uses For White Distilled Vinegar
• Green and Clean Mom wants you to vote for her
• Eco-brighten your clothes at Green Planet Discovery
• Treehugger posts the funniest way to fight climate change
  

Be Green.

Friday Finds

I am not interested in Friday Finds this week. Well maybe. I am not in the mood for reading about "green". Post summer life has started and frankly I am busy trying to raise my children right and keep my husband happy. My life style gets in the way of being green. I try to shop for local food but I don't have time to visit 3 stores for my groceries. I try to shop at thrift stores but I don't find much and end up at the big box stores (not Walmart, I refuse to support them.) I try to ride my bike but it has a flat tire. I try to conserve gas but I have to take my son to football practice 5 times a week. I try to keep the air conditioning off but it is 90 to 100 degrees the last 2 weeks. What's a mom to do?

I do make green choices given my circumstances. You know, recycle, carpool, buy only what I need. Honestly, if it were up to me I would be a hermit in the woods. I would be the crazy lady in the woods. But I wouldn't be crazy, that's just the name the local kids would give me. But my husband didn't like that idea. And I guess I would eventually go crazy living in the woods without access to Starbuck's, just kidding, no really.

Since living as a hermit in the woods is not an option I go about my daily life all middle class, suburban, SUV driving (smallest SUV), day-time soap watching (OLTL), blogging mom and wife. I love my life. It is the most precious gift. I don't think I would change a thing. (Except I would have been a park ranger and marry Brad Pitt.)

You know, I need to back up. My life style does not get in the way of being green. My lifestyle is just fine, there just aren't that many green options. I strive to be green but what about people who really don't give a crap, they need green products readily available and cheap so they will buy it too. We need more renewable energy, greener building, more local farmers, and more education to the public about being green. I guess that takes me full circle. I can try to encourage the politicians and corporations to create more environmentally sound products but blogging is my way of getting the word out to be a better human to our planet. And Friday Finds does just that.

So here are some interesting articles and stories I have found.

• Big Green Purse discusses confused green consumers.


• FYI, I know most of you know this but Earth 911 will help you find a place to recycle pretty much anything.


• Hydrogen peroxide tips at Green Living Tips. (This is an older article but I found it useful and wanted to pass it on.)


• Mother Earth News wants you to have strong bones.

Have a good weekend. Be Green.

Friday Finds: Water Toys, Green Give Away, Bioplastics

My dog Maggy making faces.

Last week I was gone so I missed Friday Finds. And this week I am posting it later in the day so it doesn't cover up my Waterways post.

TGIF

• Canada defines "green".
• Safer plastic water toys at Plenty Mag.
• Like gadgets? Here are 10 greener ones.
• Alternative Consumer is having a green school supply give away.
• Where are all the salmon? The National Marine Fisheries Service pesticides are harming them.
• Bioplastic?? What do you think?
  

Have a great weekend.

Friday Finds:

Canadian Geese at Lake Chabot, CA

TGIF...

• A woman's perspective on Peak Oil from Crunchy Chicken is in the National Post.
• Is it too late for China to clean the air during the Olympics? Treehugger.
• Mother Earth News reminds you to check your make-up at the EWG.
• Vehicle emission acronyms explained at The Green Motorist.
• West Coast governors oppose off-shore drilling.
• Are e-textbooks green?
• Mother Earth News helps you choose a food dehydrator.

Be Green.

Friday Finds: Staycations,Greenwash your Drycleaning, Olympic Recycling

TGIF...

• Naturally Savvy has tips on how to stay green during tough economic time.


• California has the first-in-the-nation statewide green building code. TriplePundit has it broken down for you.


• Can you make a recycled raft?


• DIYLife has great ideas to enhance your staycation.


• Beijing is pledging to recycle half of Olympic Waste.


• Is your granite countertop radioactive?


• Plenty Magazine shows your true greenwashing.


• Can you make a recycled raft?

Have a green weekend.