1.  Buy paper sets. I like to buy AC Cardstock sets when they go on clearance (75% off!!!) All the papers in the packs coordnate and the backs are white so when you fold them you can easily write on the inside.

2. Keep your scraps to make the next card. If you don’t have time to make 2 cards and your using 12×12 paper chances are you have enought paper left to make a second card. Keep those scraps together for quick card making in the future. This card was made quickly from the scraps left over from my Grandmas birthday card.

 3. Use vinyl instead of paper. I just thought of this last night, how have I never thought about it before?!? If you use paper you have to cut it then use double sided tape to attach it. If your using small or skinny pieces that can be annoying.  So I used my cricut to cut out the phrase and the outline from two different colors and then just used them as stickers.

4. Quick embelishments. Keep a stock of brads buttons and other items you can quickly add to give your card some pop. My Sizzix Texture Boutique adds embosing and texture to a card really quickly.

5. Make Bulk Cards. Then when you have some extra time make a bulk batch of cards with blank areas for quick stamping Get Well, Happy Birthday or Thank You!

Well not long ago on of my friends became a Mary-Kay consultant. After getting her first package from them she excitedly posted on my facebook wall that the packing peanuts they use are water soluble! Now if you dump tem in your tub and just rinse them away your still ‘wasting water’ but what is worse that or the insoluble ones sitting in a landfill? My solution throw them in the tub and the beginning of your shower and then jump in with them.

So with that information in hand I googled it and found the Pink Doing Green page on their website and found they had a number of initiates in place. Compact recycling when they launched their new ones you could send in the old ones to be recycling. Tree planting, corporate recycling, and using a min 20% recycled materials in their packaging . I think the thing that impressed me most was their efforts to reduce energy consumption check this out:

“Energy Conservation – We have reduced energy consumption at our global corporate facilities by 12.8 percent with a decline of almost 6.5 million kwh – enough energy to power more than 1,000 average homes for one year.”

I’m excited to see big well known companies like this doing a few things to be a little more green. If all the companies just made a little effort, wow would this be a different place. When Mac and I were watching Dirty Jobs this week we saw a onion processing plant that used onion juice as 40% of their power and the San Fransisco Fire Department uses wooden ladders because they are repairable instead of replaceable!

Coming up this week

• Another great giveaway (I’m SUPER excited about this one guys)
• The Husband Challenge (get your posts ready to link up!)
• Plus I’m going to tell you about the bet I’ve got going on with a friend.

I would love to know about other companies making an effort to be more ‘green’ let me know of any so I can check them out.

The reason I decided to do this was honestly because of the great outlet section. I would love to show you a few things that I’m hoping to get along with a few great outlet deals! (Host Information Search for Amber De it will find me

First off is this great ice cream scoop, I have it I paid full price for it and I would again. It can can go in the dishwasher and gets through the hardest frozen stuff you can throw at it. Plus its on sale! $14.96 Now $7.96

This Petite Arrange -it-easyVase is so cute and makes it easy to arange fresh cut flowers from the garden. Again on sale $24.96 now $9.96

Another item I have and use ALL THE TIME is this Peerless Peeler, its so heavy duty and makes quick work of everything. I paid full price but you don’t have to! Was $19.96 Now $4.96!

The last thing I have and love is this Napa Vinaigrette Set, I like to  buy them and then use them as wedding gifts and on this sale you should stock up (I know I will be!) I’ve also heard of people using them for dish liquid instead. I used glass etch cream and a vinyl stencil to lable mine with Olive and Veggie and keep the oils next to my stove. Was $39.96 Now $19.96

Now for my wish list from the current catalog (I’ll just show you in pictures.)

Humm do you notice the same trend I do?

Anyway stop on over and see if anything catches your eye. (Host information just search for Amber De it will find me)

Well Valentines Day just past and I”m sure many of you got some big romantic gestures and that is very cool, in fact its so cool I want to hear all about them please leave me a comment below letting me know what you did for Valentines Day.

However this week I want to talk about the not so fancy things. Dates don’t have to be big expensive ordeals (although it can be fun and have their place.) Last night for Valentines day  we went to an ‘everyday’ Italian restaurant, not a super fancy one, in fact its one that you stand in line cafeteria style and then go find a table upstairs. It cost us $26.00 or something like that. Then we went to a hockey game, this is super fun yes but nothing uber special for us we have already been to a few this season and we buy the cheapest seats we can find. Plus we won a gift card from Chevy for Ticketmaster so they were free!

Anyway what made the night great wasn’t expensive food or a winning Hockey team it was the dedicated time together, focused on each other no distractions. It was the funny detour into a store with a whole back room painted and filled with posters that reacted to a black light and 3-d glasses. It was Mac laughing when I jumped as a mechanical mummy started moving when I walked by. It was the conversation at dinner and the goofiness of competing against each other to see who could beat Where’s my Water first.  It was Mac driving home (something he isn’t fond of in downtown because he doesn’t know the area) so that I could take my sleeping pill before we left the game. Lastly it was the few min of snuggling before I went to bed and he went down to his office.

It was simple, cheap and honestly the best valentines date we have had!

My mom over at Treasure to Treasure, has reached out to her friends and collected a good amount of memorable dates from them, most simple but all memorable. You would check them out!

So now tell me what was the most memorable thing from your Valentines Day?

Mood-boosting Bacteria Found in Dirt

“Even if you don’t love gardening, digging in the dirt may be good for your health — and it has nothing to do with a love of nature or the wonder of watching things grow. The secret may be in the dirt itself: A bacteria called Mycobacterium vaccae that acts like an antidepressant once it gets into your system. “

Quote from By Lylah M. Alphonse, Senior Editor, Yahoo! Shine | Healthy Living

My Thoughts

With this being such a mild winter I”m aleady looking outside and seeing all the ‘clean up’ I didn’t do last year and I”m ready to start in! Gardening is already gree, heathier, cheaper and now maybe good for the mind too? Sounds great! Based on this information its un known how much fo the ‘good bactiera’ we actually inhale but hey it can’t hurt right? Just being out side and in the sun is good for your mental heath to so no matter what its good for you.

Don’t be Stupid Cupid

“For holidays tainted by commercialism, Valentine’s Day gives Christmas a run for the money — big money. The National Retail Federation estimates Americans will spend $17.6 billion on Valentine’s gifts this year, including $4.1 billion on jewelry, $1.8 billion on flowers and $1.5 billion on candy. But for consumers with a conscience, the very things Madison Avenue markets as expressions of love are some of the worst stuff you can buy.”

Found on the Huffington Post by Annie Leonard Director, the Story of Stuff Project

My Thoughts

This post was depressing for me to read, but true and sadly something I don’t think about often. I think about WHERE my stuff comes from as far as transportation and global impact but not WHO my stuff comes from. Not to mention, chocolate and jewelry are two things I hadn’t even thought of the where of those items. Humm sad, I guess I will start thinking about them now.

The Greenest Car of 2012

“American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has published its 14th annual Greenest Cars List and for the first time an electric vehicle takes the number one spot. The new Mitsubishi i-MIEV bested the Honda Civic Natural Gas, which held the number one spot for eight straight years.”

Found on the Huffington Post From Mother Nature Networks’ Melissa Hincha-Ownby

My Thoughts

My first thought was wow the Honda Civic Natural Gas healed the title for 8 years? it might have been the greenest but natural gas pumps are harder to find than electric car stations. ( or so I thunk I really have no idea.) I’m glad they are looking at their rating system and adjusting it according to the times. I’m also really happy that they are including at least part of the manufacturing process in their scoring. looks like Toyota and Honda have a strong grip non this category with Mitsubishi not far behind. I was also super happy to see the Prius in 4th since that is what I drive.

Well that is all for this month have you seen anything green in the news lately?

There is this super cool chick over at Wobisobi who last year did 52 Re-Style projects, so many of them are on my to do list. Well this one is now on my done list! Just in time to wear it on my valentines day date tonight (under my Wild sweatshirt of course.) Check out the inspiration. Wobisobi’s  Heart Shaped , Off The Shoulder Tee-Shirt.

Check out Wobisobi’s post for full instructions but I’ll point out a few things I did differently.

I started with one of Mac’s old Tee-Shirts and one of my old too short tank tops. Along with some clips and a heart pattern (since I stink at free handing.)

I clipped the shirt to a magazine and then traced around the heart with pencil.

The rest I did step by step and here is what I ended up with

Not bad huh? How do you think it compares?

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 236

Author: Deborah Hilleren

 

In the new decade, the world gathers in Stockholm for a controversial climate forum. The stakes are high, as violent and unpredictable storms increasingly plague the earth and sea levels encroach on coastal shorelines. Nicole Hunter, head of the richly endowed Everson Foundation, leads the charge to invest in promising research that will hopefully impede environmental devastation. But her contentious stance has been questioned by others, and now her career and her life are both in jeopardy. Meanwhile, unseen forces assemble to sabotage any breakthrough that could challenge existing global energy markets. Oliver Odin, a mysterious international agent, is sent by the Security Alliance to investigate ominous threats intercepted by intelligence sources. The evidence leads him to the beautiful, strong-willed Nicole and the brainy scientists attending the forum. But when scientists on the verge of a promising discovery are gunned down at a reception held by a United States senator, it becomes apparent that powerful forces will stop at nothing to prevent the world from being saved. As a few brave souls attempt to rescue the planet from environmental calamity, they soon realize that their mission comes with a price-and some will pay with their lives.

 

Pick it up you will enjoy it!

{Giveaway Time}

• I’m going to make this giveaway extra easy so anyone can win. Just leave me a comment below saying “I want to Win

A lot of sitcoms these days are awful, funny, and entertaining yes, but as far as learning lifes lessons like we did from Family Matters and Full House umm no.

One of the worst things in my opinion is how they portray marriages. Yeah I’ll just stop myself right there I could go on for a while. However I’ve been watching a new show and generaly speaking their portral of marriage is great. Then smack in the middle of a silly episode I hear this gem of a quote:

“I understand, those are your feelings and you have every right to them.” ~Mike from Last Man Standing season 1 Episode 15 “House of Spirits” (15:45)

They were said genuinly and without judgment it was honestly to me it was amazing.

Lets face it boys and girls are different (if you haven’t figure that out by now…) we process differently have different emotions and try to problem solve differently. We need to accept those differences as part of a good relationship.

I know my husband means good when he tries to ‘fix’ my emotions/problems/whatever. But sometimes I don’t need something fixed maybe it can’t be fixed I just need someone to validate my feelings. I know sometimes he dosen’t understand my fears when for all practical pourposes they are irrational. But I love that 99% of the time he accepts them anyway because they are mine.

He is still learning how to show that acceptance but I know that is what he is trying to do when he is ‘fixing things’ I honestly wish people, not just married people,around the world would learn from this little quote above. You don’t have to get it, you just need to know that is affecting them and that makes those emotions valid, no matter how irrational

On the other hand I as the girl in this relationship need to understand that he just isn’t going to get somethings the way I do and when he is trying to help/fix/whatever that is his way of trying to validate my emotions. This like everyother part of a relationship is a two way street.

Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Flower Decorations

One way of environmental protection is using sustainable and Eco-friendly flower decorations to make places beautiful. Flowers are found naturally and abundantly, thus they will be less expensive than the artificial decorations that are in use today during weddings, get-together parties, graduation ceremonies, and many other celebration parties.
These functions are usually colorful but modernity has made the decorations to consist of less natural materials such as shiny paper and plastic flowers. Unlike naturally growing flowers, such materials contribute to environmental degradation.

Benefits of Environmental Sustainability

It is common in these day and age for people to be conscious of the benefits of sustaining our environment. For example, the water towers that we have today will still be in existence many years from now. There will be plenty of clean water for domestic and agricultural use.
Likewise, environmental sustainability reduces the occurrence of greenhouse gases, which contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer, which protects us from the harmful Ultra Violet rays of the sun.

These advantages are being enjoyed in this generation, and will be felt by the coming generations. They will inherit a world that could otherwise have been destroyed if Eco-friendly measures were not taken earlier. For the sake of humanity, people are being educated on how they can contribute to saving the natural environment.

Dangers of Non Eco-friendly Decorations

The use of artificial products such as balloons and plastic bags has caused a lot of harm to the environment. Some of these materials are blown many miles away to the sea where they cause the deaths of millions of marine life.
They cannot decompose after use or dissolve into harmless substances like plants and animal products. Therefore, it is wise for things such as balloons be replaced by flowers, which are beautiful, have no chemicals in them, and nurture life instead of destroying it.

What Materials to Look For When Using Faux Flowers

It can be extremely costly to replace live flowers, which only last a couple of weeks, (if one is lucky). Real flowers are typically more expensive to begin with because they are so delicate, and must be purchased in season. Faux bouquets and arrangements can be collected and stored, and displayed in season. They can also be rearranged and mixed for a fresh, new look. It can be fun to experiment and find the inner decorator within. Another plus with faux, is there are no messes such as spills, or petals dropping. Forget worrying about them dying or wilting, they are perfect for anyone with a busy lifestyle. There is no worry about allergies because there is no pollen. If the household has animals, some plants and flowers are toxic to them when ingested. Lastly, there is the fact the flowers will not be picked from the earth, and therefore one can be proud they are sustaining the planets natural resources.

Many flowers today are made from organic and green materials. All that is required is a little information from the supplier of flowers online, to determine if they contain earth-friendly fabrics. Some of them are:

Bamboo – Bamboo grass is made into a pulp, and in turn produced into a strong fiber. This fiber is in most cases stronger and longer lasting than many textile fabrics.

Cork – Cork can be adapted to a textile, and also used in arrangements in place of Styrofoam.

Hemp – Hemp is grown pesticide and fertilizer free. It has been a popular organic material for many years.

Soybean or Soy Material

Organic Cotton

Recycled Polyester

Sending Flowers

Sending flowers is also easier and faster than it was before. Although fewer people are still romantic enough to send flowers to loved ones, the tradition is far from dying. There are still romantic people at heart who cannot resist the occasional bouquet of roses to send to their sweet women. However, instead of the usual bunch of roses, one can send flowers that are still growing inside a pot and the recipient can watch their love grow as days pass. The pots can further be painted in Eco-friendly colors that match well with the colors of the flowers growing in them.

The living decorations will continue to bloom and the lucky woman will enjoy their fresh fragrance everyday as she waters them. Instead of using balloons, they can be used as well to decorate events and they be taken care of even after the event is over.
After the party, guests can carry home living gifts of the potted flowers that were used in the decorations. That will lead to the spread of the green idea as each guest will go to their homes and try hard to keep their gifts alive. They will, in turn keep sending flowers to their friends and relatives to stay faithful to the green cause.
Flower decorations used in parties are organic and thus do not need chemicals to create them. Kids and pets will be safe and so will the soil on which they are planted. If you are not decorating with live flowers, the flowers that are arranged to follow different shapes should also make good decorations. For instance, the flowers can be arranged to be heart-shaped.

About the Author

Patricia Hall works part-time for a florist and flower delivery but loves to surround herself with flowers at any given point of time. Even in her free time she loves to involve herself with everything flora and fauna.
‘To me there is nothing more beautiful and global as the language of flowers – it is the easiest to understand all around the world in the same way. That is one reason why I truly admire flowers for what they represent in some ways – unity of all mankind!’