Condo Blues

6 Bottled Water Alternatives

noreply@blogger.com (Condo Blues) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Bottled water is a greenies worst nightmare. The plastic bottles take a lot of energy and resources to make and the bottles aren't always recycled. Especially in areas that don’t have municipal...

Make Business Cards from Reclaimed Materials

noreply@blogger.com (Condo Blues) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:00:00 +0000

I needed some business cards to promote Condo Blues at BlogHer. I opened up Photoshop and stared a hole through that stupid blinking cursor on my computer screen. Nothing I came up with said...

Does Your Washing Machine Smell Musty? (Review and Giveaway)

noreply@blogger.com (Condo Blues) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Since I wipe it down the inside gaskets on my washing machine and let it air dry after each use, I figured I was OK in the musty smelling washing machine department even though I didn’t run the...

I’m a Superhero!

noreply@blogger.com (Condo Blues) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:14:00 +0000

I’m a 4R’s Superhero. What’s that you ask? It’s an award that Rob of Rob’s World gives to those who do something to repair, recycle, reuse, or reduce waste. And Rob was kind enough to bestow his...

Martini Tote Bag Revamp

noreply@blogger.com (Condo Blues) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:00:00 +0000

I got a freebie tote bag with a mesh water bottle pocket at The Pet Expo. This bag would be perfect for carrying around town if it didn’t have a big ol’ logo on it. I contimplated sewing some sort...

Forth of July Doo Dah Parade!

noreply@blogger.com (Condo Blues) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:36:00 +0000

This Independence Day Husband, Blitzkrieg, and I celebrated our First Amendment right (that’s Freedom of Speech for all of you who flunked history) and watched the insanity that is Columbus’ Forth of...

Craftsman Tool Innovation Showcase Contest

noreply@blogger.com (Condo Blues) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0000

I’m always amazed at inventors and inventions. Some of my favorite TV shows are ones where they feature the latest and greatest drooblables at industry home and garden expos. I look at some of these...

8 Tips for Great Staycation Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Condo Blues) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:00:00 +0000

Staycations don’t have to stink! Really. I should know I’m veteran of staycations. Sometimes by my choice and sometimes the choice was made for me by outside forces, for example on my honeymoon. I...

How to Break Up Concrete or, Sometimes Gardening Requires a Jackhammer

noreply@blogger.com (Condo Blues) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:00:00 +0000

When we last visited our intrepid gardeners (that would be Husband and I) they wanted to build a raised garden bed, a relatively simple project. Looks like we pissed off the gardening gods (again)...

I Took My Dog to Work Today!

noreply@blogger.com (Condo Blues) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:47:00 +0000

Husband and his co-workers talked about taking their dogs to the office for Take Your Dog to Work Day. Blitzkrieg is very well behaved and would make an excellent candidate. Blitzkrieg LOVES nothing...

A Baby Food Jar Chandelier?

noreply@blogger.com (Condo Blues) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:32:00 +0000

I’m always on the lookout for ideas and ways to reuse empty baby food jars. Let me tell you I have one of the most organized Condos around thanks to baby food jars! “Um, Lisa,” you say, “We know the...

What Can You Do with Mint?

noreply@blogger.com (Condo Blues) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:00:00 +0000

I grow mint in a pot on my patio and as the saying goes, you never grow just a little mint – it grows like a weed and quickly turns into a lot of mint. Needless to say, my one little mint plant as...

Mushrooms Growing on My CHAIRS?

noreply@blogger.com (Condo Blues) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0000

I walked onto the patio and saw a dark blob on one of the chairs. Thinking it was a leaf, I tried to brush it off. It didn’t work because… … mushrooms are growing in between the tiles of my...

Show Us Your Trash! Plastic Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Condo Blues) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0000

I don’t try to avoid plastic like my friend and fellow Green Carnival Mom Fake Plastic Fish, but I do try to limit the amount I use. I try to avoid sending plastic along with everything else that...

Why the Best Tool in My Toolbox is a Book

noreply@blogger.com (Condo Blues) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0000

I was conducting a little house tour and showing off a few of my decorating and DIY projects “How do you know how to fix all of this stuff?” asked my girlfriend. I thought about it for a sec and...

Stylish DIY Dog Toy Storage

noreply@blogger.com (Condo Blues) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:06:00 +0000

I have a dog. He has toys. He likes to help me decorate The Condo by artfully placing his toys all over the living room and our bedroom. Blitzkrieg clearly needed a toy box. Most dog toy boxes have...

10 Not So Green Confessions or Non-Eco Indulgences - Take Your Pick

noreply@blogger.com (Condo Blues) — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0000

This month’s topic for the Green Moms Carnival is Green Confessions. It’s nice to know that I’m not alone and that even the green super heroines that make up the Green Moms Carnival all have their...

5 Nontoxic and Natural Bleach Alternatives

noreply@blogger.com (Condo Blues) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0000

I like bright white laundry but I don’t like to use chlorine bleach. Chlorine bleach has some nasty chemicals in it and if you’re not careful you could ruin your clothes (looks pointedly at Husband...

How to Save Money and Make Things Last – Date It!

noreply@blogger.com (Condo Blues) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0000

The Condo Blues Law of Oops dictates that I will run out of something only when I’m in the middle of using it to do something like cleaning, baking, or in a project. Just so I won’t run out of...

How is the Economy Treating You?

noreply@blogger.com (Condo Blues) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:56:00 +0000

Not to be too nosy, but how is the economy treating you? Are things still good for you? Bad? Sorta Bad? Looking up? Some smart savers are able to take advantage of the deals out there and take dream...

Pet Promise Rescue Run 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Condo Blues) — Fri, 29 May 2009 04:00:00 +0000

Husband runs 5Ks (and as of last summer 10ks and half marathons) to stay in shape. The races help motivate him to get out and run in even the crappiest of weather. Running offers great health...

Peanut Butter Cupcakes with Mocha Icing

noreply@blogger.com (Condo Blues) — Wed, 27 May 2009 13:24:00 +0000

Cupcakes. Everywhere I turn I’m surrounded by cupcakes! Renovation Therapy makes all sorts of cupcake goodness. Conundrum Cupcakery features vegan cupcakes that look yummy – even to this nonvegan....

Can You Recycle Concrete?

noreply@blogger.com (Condo Blues) — Mon, 25 May 2009 04:00:00 +0000

Many people celebrate Memorial Day by starting a summer DIY project. We’ve go that one covered. We’re still working on breaking up the spillage of concrete in our front flower beds. Instead of...

Homemade Soaps Good Enough to Eat?

noreply@blogger.com (Condo Blues) — Sat, 23 May 2009 04:00:00 +0000

Swine Flu. Oh, wait. We’re not supposed to call it Swine Flu anymore but H1N1 because H1N1 sounds less scary. Which isn’t true because it doesn’t make the flu any less serious. However the new name...

Make a Garden Border Out of Old Bricks!

noreply@blogger.com (Condo Blues) — Thu, 21 May 2009 04:00:00 +0000

The arrangement goes that the Homeowner’s Association is responsible for mowing our lawns and common areas but we Condo owners are responsible for the maintaining the flowerbeds in front of our...