It's today and you're invited!

Come join in the fun! It's today, it's free to get in and there will be music, crafts and fun people!

What's the most recycled item in the U.S.?

According to the EPA, ONLY ONE THIRD of of rubbish in the U.S. is recycled or repurposed. The most recycled item is currently lead acid car batteries. Wow, who knew? To read the whole article and learn more about current recycling trends, check out the whole article here.

Eco Monday: Green Living Tips

In honor of Earth Day, everyone has been trying to add new things to their lives to be more green. This site has some great ideas and information about how you can increase your green factor.

They have a section dedicated to finding discounts on green services. Check it out here. There's also a simple recipe for an all purpose cleaner for your home that smells great! Most of the ingredients are things you probably already have around the house. There are tons of tips to make laundry greener too.

Check out their blog regularly for more great green information. Every Day is Earth Day!

SQUEE!

I was in a treasury that made it to the front page! So Excited!!

Saturday Search: Music

I found this fun record bowl from elizabethnormand on Etsy for the Lab Rats Team. At a mere $2.50 -- it's a total bargain! What a cool way to recycle something that not many people use anymore.

Squeak!

Way Cool for Earth Day!

I read about this great giveaway on twitter from figsandginger. It's a total win-win-win. You plant a tree, take a picture, submit it and get free jewelry! How cool is that? Read all the details here.

This is the image and narration I submitted;

Please meet Jane Juniper. I was pleased to meet her at the nursery and HAD to adopt her. She likes to sit outside with me and watch the sunset. She cleans the air. She's not a big talker but she has already made friends with a pink origami crane. One of my friends has agreed to plant her in their yard when she outgrows my balcony.

I absolutely love this idea for Earth Day! So fun!

Goody Bags at the Bash - A Sneak Peek

Each vendor particpating in the Spring Bash has the opportunity to contribute goodies for the goody bags. The first 50 shoppers to arrive at the Spring Bash will receive a goody bag filled with crafty goodness.

Here's a sneak peek at what I am contributing to the bags. They're one of a kind bobby pins decorated with paper gems. Get there early to get a bag. Totally worth the wait! :)

Earth Day Give Away!

If you haven't popped over to Cosa Verde to read about the 2nd Annual Earth Day Give Away -- whatcha waiting for? There's some great green stuff in the giveaway! There are four packages worth $400 each that are be given away! Don't miss out!

TAX DAY!

Tax Day has finally arrived. Wow, is it just me or did that realy get here in a hurry? If you have last minute questions or need to download forms today to get it all finished up, hop on over to the IRS website.

Eco Monday: Human Nest Chair

Check out this incredible creation -- eco friendly, comfy chair. Made with a bamboo frame and fabric scraps -- it's great eco fun place to sit. I wonder if Big Bird would be envious?

I originally saw this chair on the inhabitat website. Hop over there to see more fun eco stuff.

Saturday Search: Button

This tea bag cozy from KarmaCrochet is adorable. Wouldn't this make a sweet gift for a coworker with their favorite tea and a fun note tucked inside?

I'm totally enjoying my discoveries on Saturday's searches. I hope you are too!

Eco Monday: Candy Wrapper Headband

Check out this fun tootsie roll wrapper headband from my shop.

It's made from reclaimed Tootsie Roll Wrappers and elastic. The waxy paper is very durable and stands up to wear and tear while the elastic will make sure it stays on your head to show the whole world how green your are -- right down to your hair accessories.

Saturday Search: Spring Greens

Ok, it's official, I have spring fever! These beautiful green pearls and peridot from beadznbling are just bursting with spring green!

Hippity Hop!

Happy April Fool's!

LOL! This morning I signed onto Etsy.com only to notice that the "Etsy" in the orange box was mispelled. I totally forgot it was April Fool's. For a minute I really thought I saw wrong. I tweeted about it and @TheRita reminded me of the date today! :) Thank you for the gentle reminder kind tweeter. The reminder helped me be more aware of the April Fool's pranks.

EcoMonday: Veggie Meals

A group of friends and I have made a pact to eat at least three all veggie meals a week. Aside from being healthier for us, it's also healthier for our planet. Some of us do them all in one day, others spread them out through the week. Our goal is to gradually increase our number of veggie meals per week.

I was reading recently about how vegetarians generally have a lower carbon footprint. As I read further I realized how much fossil fuel it takes to raise livestock -- this hadn't occured ot me before. I also learned that methane the second most harmful greenhouse gas is largely produced by cows.

Wow! That gave me a lot to think about and a whole new thought about what's on my personal menu.

These fun knitted vegetables are from pecansandies shop on etsy.

Saturday Search: Lotus

Today when I searched "lotus" I found this lovely pendant from omclayartist. At just $10, it's a total deal! You can see these beauties in person later this Spring at the Amon Carter Museum Gift Shop in Fort Worth. Happy Shopping!

Eco Monday: Check Out Bulk Section

I'm always looking for ways to make my shopping a more green experience. Now when I go to the grocery or pretty much any other store, I bring my own bags, look for items with minimum packaging, products made with sustainable materials, etc.

Something I have recently become a HUGE fan of is the BULK SECTION at the grocery. There are tons of items to choose from. Grains like rice, quinoa and wheat berries are available in several different varieties.

Since the only packaging is the plastic bag (which is totally recyclable) and the twist tie (also recyclable) there is less guilt associated with shopping this way. You can buy exactly the amount you need and the bulk price is usually a bit less than the prepackaged equivalent item.

You can buy enough pink rice for the dinner you'll make this evening with that new recipe. Recipes with pink rice aren't super popular, so you won't end up with a bunch of extra pink rice and no way to use it. If you decide pink rice is your new favorite, you know exactly where to get more.

The spice section is full of wonderful yummies. There's a wide variety available that are fresh and you don't have to buy a set amount. They are much more fresh and flavorful than what's been in your cabinet for WAY too long. Many stores offer tours of their bulk section and a printed resource with all the information about ingredients, country of origin etc.

I started with things that are common like rice, salt and sugar. Then I became little more adventurous at a time. Next I tried buying a small amount of cardamon and other spices to make my own chai. It came out great. I have been really happy with my bulk purchases.

There are also whole stores dedicated to buying in bulk -- like 10 pounds of rice at a time. It would most likely take my household several years to finish off such a supply, so I'm buying just what I need.

What's your fave thing about buying in bulk?

Saturday Search: Hedgehog

I recently saw DearSukie on the Martha Show. She did a great demo of how to make of of her cute wallets. I found this one on her site today and fell in love with the cutie little hedgehog card holder.

Happy Saturday!

Happy Birthday Cosa Verde!

Wow, has it been a year already? That really flew by. Check out the Cosa Verde Blog for more details about their birthday celebration. It's a great place to find earth friendly items from independent artists.

If you want to check out opening a shop, tell 'em I sent you by clicking here. I've totally enjoyed my time so far on the Cosa Verde site. :)

Happy Birthday, guys! Here's to many more, Cheers!

Mark Your Calendar!

It'll be here before you know it -- that's right -- the Bash! Mark your calendar so you don't miss out. You can sign up for email updates to arrive in your inbox periodically sans spam! This is a 100% handmade show and will be super fun!

Eco Monday: House of Bottles

This unique house is in Argentina. Please click here to read more at Planet Magazine. I'm totally impressed with their crativity and ingenuity.

2010 Etsy Dallas Team Members

The 2010 Etsy Dallas Team Members have been announced. Click here to check them all out!

TerraCycle is Turning Old Pens into Trash Bins

Terracycle has announced it will make trash bins from reclaimed plastics from pens and markers as well and cookie and chip bags and milk jugs. I can't wait to see what they look like! ;)

To read more about this, jump on over to greenbiz to read more.

Eco Monday: Club Soda Shine Up

Are you shining up your domicile for Spring? Dusting things off and just incredibly ready for Winter to end? I certainly am. Shining up those faucets helps add a little shine to your most used sink areas. Put club soda in a spray bottle and spray on faucets and handles and polish with a clean, dry, cotton towel. You'll be amazed how shined up they become. Be sure not to stare directly into the shine. :)

This trick is very economical as well. Mostly groceries you can purchase a small bottle of club soda for less than $1 USD and a spray bottle for about $2 or you might have one already around the house. This is much better for the earth than using toxic chemicals!

Recycled: Olympic Medals!

The valuable metals Gold, Silver and Bronze are reclaimed from old TVs and computers to create Olympic Medals his year. What an awesome idea! LOVE IT! Although the medals also have other medals mixed in -- they're gorgeous. I love that the Olympics went out of it's way to be green! I wish more groups would take these kinds of steps.

Read more about it here.

Saturday Search: Wabbit

Meet Lionel. He's an adorable wabbit. He had my heart right away. From his eyelids to his over sized carrot -- he is truly one of a kind and looking for a loving home. He's temporarily living in chuckychooky's shop. Go ahead, pay him a visit.

Saturday Search: Fortune Cookie

How cute are these baby slippers from sushibooties? They have them in adult sizes as well! I couldn't help but squeal when I saw them! The even come with a custom fortune! He ehe he! This shop has some great items sure to make you smile!

Have you heard of Eco3p.com?

I learned about this interesting site recently and began posting a few things on the site. All the items sold on the site are earth friendly. Have a browse through the site to see their other eco-friendly vendors.

Recently Posted...

I've been busy latey and have been posting new items in my Etsy shop. I was asked to create a custom order for Chris for Candy wrapper headbands for her daughters and their cousin. These were super fun to work on and I hope the girls are thrilled with them. If you're interested in a candy wrapper headband, drop me a line.

Eco Monday: pests

It seems like as Spring is arriving (someplaces earlier than others), there are a lot of pests that arrive with it. Roaches and ants seem to come out to play as the winter starts to melt and there is a suggestion of warmer weather. You can keep these pests away using natural ingredients you probably already have in your home. Borax (20 Mule Team Borax can be found in your groceries laundry aisle in a green box), ground cinnamon and chili pepper can be combined and put in a shaker jar to use when theses pests show up. Investigate where they pest seem to be coming in and sprinkle the pest potion in that area as well as wherever they seem to be hanging out. Be sure there isn't anything around that's somehow inviting them in -- food scraps, standing water or silver engraved invitation, etc. It's a great chemical free way to keep pests away. Happy Spring!

Saturday Search: Banana

Check out this great photo of a banana flower from ChristadeMayo from the Costa Rican rain forest. The texture and shapes are beautiful -- it's not what you normally think of when you think "banana". Check out the rest of her great shop as well.

the Zebra wears Scarlet

It's always nice to hear you're in a treasury! This one totally made my Friday. I was delighted to see that my eco chic handbag in this fun collection.

The Olympics

I love the Olympics and I have been watching and recording all my fave events. I noticed today the fun banners Google has on it's site for the Olympics. Not sure who the illustrator is -- but they are BEAUTIFUL!

GO USA!!

Mark Your Calendar! The Spring Bash is coming!

Saturday Search: Apple

Delicious Play Food is so fun! This little apple was just begging to be featured! What a lovely gift this would make to a little person in your life -- sure to bring a smile to their face. Check out fairtradefamily for more fun food items.

Valentine's Day Gift Guide for Him

I put together a Gift Guide for the Etsy Dallas Blog. Check it out. It features members of the 2010 Etsy Dallas Team.

Valentine's Day Gift Guide for Her

Here's another gift guide -- this time for her. Check out these great Etsy Dallas Members items.

Saturday Search: Heart RIng

If you're looking for a place to start shoping for that special Valentine's Day gift, here's the place to start. This beautiful ring from AnnukCreations is lovely and unique -- the perfect gift.

Stephanie Fizer: Flourish

I'm so totally excited to be taking this online course beginning this week. It's an e-course for creative people who want to make their creative passion their fulltime job. I'm so excited to see what all I can learn and experiment with this year. I'll be sure to let you know how it's going as we progress!

In the meantime, check out Stephanie Fizer's work.

Eco Monday: Chocolate

Who doesn't LOVE chocolate? It doesn't have to be Valentine's Day to enjoy it either.

Not only is this Divine chocolate delicious, it's beautifully packaged. Sure to make you smile even before you get it into your mouth.

Organic Panama Extra Dark Chocolate, it's EXTRA dark. Doctors say the darker the better for your heart. Hey, it tastes great too!


What's your fave fairtrade chocolate? Do you give/receive chocolate at Valentine's Day and other occasions?

Etsy Saturday Search: Cherry

This lip balm from theplaidmushroom is delish and 100% vegan -- at $4 -- it's a steal!

Etsy Dallas 2010 Team

January 12-19, 2010 Etsy Dallas was accepting applications for new members. The application process is now closed and new members will be announced soon. Keep an eye on the Etsy Dallas Blog for new postings about upcoming events, members and all kinds of other new exciting fun stuff.

Shop of the Week

OMGosh, I was so delighted to see that I am shop of the week on Cosa Verde this week! Weee!

Eco Monday: reusabe bags

Check out some great reusable bags available from these sellers on Etsy. The more people who adopt these as a part of everyday life, the less pollution and energy will be wasted on making things made to just throw away.


Using fabric grocery bags (this one from bagsbyg) saves plastic and then you don't have to decide what to do with all those pesky plastic bags when you get home.



Start them young. By putting lunch and snack items in reusable bags (these by hannahsboutique), you'll help your kids learn early to be eco friendly.

Etsy Saturday Search: here kitty kitty

This Kitty Coal from dancingintherains just made me smile. At 8" tall, perfect size for snuggling.

Etsy Lab Rats Team Treasury

Check out this Etsy Lab Rats Team Treasury! I'm so excited that my headbands were included! To learn more about the team, check out the blog. There's a wide variety of creativity on the team!

Texas Sales Taxes Due!

Today is the deadline! Be sure to get it in today so you don't have to pay late penalties! You can file and pay online here.

Eco Monday: the shower

While no one likes a cold shower, taking shorter cooler showers can save lots of water and energy. Regular shower heads use about 5 gpm (gallons per minute). Installing an aerator shower head adds air to the water making it still feel like a strong stream of water while using less water and reducing overall water usage by half. That's a substantial savings in water, energy and water that needs to be treated.

Cool image from helveticaneue on Etsy.

Last Day to Apply!

We're coming up on the last day to apply for Etsy Dallas membership! There's one more day...so if you'd like to apply...get it done here!

Etsy Saturday Search: Snow

This print from djkart is so sweet. Although the weather has been cold, this print will warm your heart.

The Deadline is Just 3 Months Away!

You guessed it! Taxes! To make it less painful, I was delighted to find this great blog post on the Fabulous and Frugal Blog - IRS Tips from a CPA. There's great information including a link to a not well know publication that has tons of answers to those wonky tax questions like -- what deductions am I eligible for, etc. Check it out and take a deep breath!