i am me.....

Happy Earth Day & a Great Book RAK!

Reducing Your Carbon Footprint

A “carbon footprint” is a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gases (carbon dioxide, or CO, emitted through the combustion of fossil fuels) their daily activities produce. The concept is meant to be useful for individuals and organizations to understand their impact in contributing to global warming.

This colorful handbook is the world citizen’s guide to pushing back the advance of global warming. Here are 500 practical, easily achievable ideas that conserve energy, prevent pollution, and save money.

Did you know that unplugging appliances and cell phone chargers when not in use can reduce electricity bills by 10 percent?

Or that recycling just one glass bottle saves enough power to run a computer for 30 minutes?

Whether the subject is jet travel, dishwashing, or any of the 50 topics in the book, surprising statistics will inspire action and demonstrate that simple habits can lead to big results.

My goal is for Earth Day to be celebrated EVERY day, so I want to do my part by giving this book to someone. On Sunday at 7pm PST I will pull a name from all the comments on this post and that person will receive their very own copy of this book. The only thing I ask in return is that you share tips in the book with others.

Today's Small Change: Just say no.

Wonderful advice from Ellie Krieger's Healthy Living Newsletter:

There's one magic word that can change your life, give you back your time, and help you lead a happier life. That word is no.

Do you have trouble saying no? You're not alone. But sometimes you have to say no to protect yourself, your time, and your energy.

How do you do this? Here are six tips to help you say no and not feel bad about it:

1.     Use "No, thanks." Thank the person for the opportunity before you turn him or her down: "I really appreciate your thinking of me, but no, thank you."

2.     Ask for stalling time. Too often we agree on the spur of the moment. When asked to do something, tell the person you need to think about it and you'll let him or her know. Then you can decide whether you want to take on the responsibility.

3.     Counter with an alternative. If you're not interested in the job or task but are willing to do something else, say so. This allows you to participate in something you want to do in your own way.

4.     Give a reason.Sometimes you have to say no and you've got a good reason for doing so. If you're comfortable sharing, let the person know — or say that you've been overextending yourself lately and need to cut back.

5.     Or don't. "I'm sorry, but I can't." That's it. Yes, you'll feel guilty for a few minutes, but think how relieved you'll be afterward.

6.     Suggest someone else. You can't do it, but you know someone who might be interested. Pass along the person's name — it may be just right for him or her.

Your small change for today is to take control of your time by starting to say no to things that don't fit your priorities.

April is National Toss Your Makeup Month.....who knew??

Who knew? I certainly didn't. People who know me know that I consider Sephora my crack house. Yes, I know I don't wear a lot of makeup, but I love playing with it anyway. Even though I love makeup I don't love germs so out it goes. And I purge more than once a year. When in doubt, throw it out!!

Do yourself a favor and print about the Good Housekeep article below and keep it for a reference. If you don't have time to read the entire article here are the general "tossing" guidelines:

- Mascara after 3 months to avoid bacteria & maximize performance.
- Skin care products after 6 months when ingredients degrade.
- Sunscreen after 6 months to ensure UV protection.
- Liquid foundations after 6 months to prevent breakouts and irritation, and your loose and pressed powder foundations after 2 years.
- Powder eye shadow after 2 years, cream eye shadow after 6 months, and eye liner after three months to avoid bacteria.
- Nail polish after 1 to 2 years.
- Lipstick after 2 years to avoid bacteria & preserve moisture.

Good Housekeeping Article

Bad, BAD, Blogger!!

Alrighty......

I realize and have also been reminded (Thanx Erin & Lori) ;-) that my blog is WAY over due for a post. I most certainly agree!

Stay tuned........normal programming will resume shortly