Come Clean

Happy New Year everyone (or at least all 3 of you who read this)! Hope you all survived and enjoyed the holidays.

Some of my resolutions are to stop wasting money. Especially if it means being a little friendlier to the planet as well (watch out here comes a list!):

1. Last week, I already got a head start with window weatherstripping.

2. I'd also like to drastically cut down on paper towel and paper napkin use with these suckers:


They are microfiber cleaning cloths. There is one for windows and mirrors, furniture, general cleaning, and stainless steel (not shown, it's dirty right now since I'm actually using them! Go me!).

I've already cut down a ton by using cloth napkins:


3. Compost more. Admittedly, sometimes I get too lazy to empty out the bucket in the kitchen, to the bin outside. I will get off my lazy butt and just do this simple task.


4. And hopefully as a result of resolutions 2 and 3, I will reach resolution 4, which is to reduce waste in general.

Less paper towels and more composting = less trash. Even though less trash won't necessarily mean less expense, it is better for the environment (we pay a monthly fee for trash removal but we opt for the cheaper and smaller trash bin). Sometimes I skip a week putting the trash bins out. And we only set out the recycle bin every other week at most, only whenever it's full (see? No recycle bin this last week. Disregard that it's an overwhelming amount of trash and remember that it's a mini trash bin!). I figure this saves some energy and emissions from the trucks, at least a little right? Like half if I put them out only half the time?

And I always recycle everything possible (motor oil, used batteries, old CFL bulbs, old paint, junk mail, water bottles). My city holds e-waste collection every once in a while, and once a month holds a hazardous waste collection. And old CFL and battery drop off bins are found at Home Depot and grocery stores.

5. Either cut down on designer coffee drinks (bf if you are reading this, hint hint - this would be ideal) or at least bring along one of these:

Those disposable coffee cups are never recycled. And are used for like a second. And don't keep the beverage hot for very long. And you'll save a tiny bit of money for bringing your own mug. And best of all, no one will have to know that you are one of those people that order a triple-grande-nonfat-double shot-two pump-soy milk-decaf-caf-venti-white chocolate-mocha-frap-no whip*.

*I'm well aware this example does not make any sense and includes 2 different milks, 2 different sizes and contradictory numbers of shots, with caffeine and beverage temperature confusion. Just focus on the point that I am making.

These should be attainable resolutions. I mean I partly do them already. Maybe this is part of a bigger resolution of sticking to things? Let's not get too deep now. Anyway, if I can partly do these few resolutions already, anyone can achieve them fully in a year right?

See in New Night Light

Today is the shortest day of the year. That means it is the darkest day of the year (technically, not metaphorically). So naturally, I think about nighttime lighting in the bathroom. Don't you?

None of our 3 bathrooms have natural lighting due to a lack of windows. So I put nightlights in each of them, big deal right? Here are the ones I got:

Image from Home Depot

I figured since they lighted the bathroom enough that they'd be fine. And they are. But then I discovered my anal retentiveness in regards to my night-lighting needs and these no longer fit the bill (since I opened them, I couldn't return them. So I gave them away to a friend who did like them). Shall I list my very specific lighting needs?

1. Must be incandescent or energy-saving LED (I'm not willing to have this tiny thing be an energy waster)
   
2. Must have an automatic sensor (who's seriously going to turn this thing on each night?)
   
3. Must have a small footprint (I don't want it to interfere with the second outlet)
4. Must point light downward as not be harsh on the eyes (who wants to be blinded during a mid-night potty break?)
5. Must be decent looking (these are going to be a fixture in all 3 bathrooms)
   
6. Must be under $5 each (because I have 3 bathrooms. And better things to spend money on)

So this became a mission. And surprisingly hard to accomplish. There was no selection in any of the hardware stores (and I went to several). And here's the best I could find online (in order of preference):

Image found here

This one is very close to being perfect. It lays pretty flat against the wall, occupies 1 electrical outlet, under $5, and shines down, however it also shines up.

Image found here

This fulfills all my requirements but it sticks too far out from the wall.

Image found here

This one fulfills all but 1 requirement and at the same time has a bonus. I really like the little clock, that's pretty convenient. But that clock runs on a battery which will require replacing at some point, and I'm sure it won't be easy to find. And I don't want to deal with looking at a clock that's not running. And then I'll always think of the night light as only half working. And it's also expensive!

Since my best online findings were a big failure, are you wondering what I did to deal with my nocturnal loo lighting?

Well I actually found some decent ones at Wal-Mart, of all places. Although they do not perform any bonus functions, and aren't the most gorgeous lighting contraptions available, they didn't break the bank and I could finally be done with this ridiculous mission I created for myself.




Have you been overly picky for something rather insignificant? Given a higher priority for something most would consider barely a priority at all? Am I on crazy pills again?

Wish List

Each year for the past several years, we've requested no gifts for the holidays. Why? Well here, let me list the reasons, I love any opportunity for a list:

1. We don't live near any family, so everything would have to be shipped
2. Space is precious and limited (especially when we still lived in the apartment) so we don't need any more 'stuff'
3. This automatically eliminates any possible stress (did I mention I hate shopping?) on what to get us
4. This saves everyone money (we couldn't be happy knowing our gifts are breaking our loves ones' banks)
5. If gifts are a must we've suggested options of consumable items, handmade items, or inexpensive items
6. This directs the holiday's focus on the more important things rather than the materialistic, like sending a card with a nice message that we are missed and loved
   
7. And if a card was forgotten, a phone call would make us just as happy
8. Cash. We will accept cold hard cash. Just kidding. Or are we?
   

Since we've started this tradition of breaking tradition, we've received handmade items, food baskets, wine. And everyone has been on board with the idea!

Even though we request no gifts, it doesn't mean we don't like to dream. Here is my wish list of items I need or would love to have! Uh oh, I sense a list forming:

Image from Amazon.com

1. Bathroom vent because the one in the powder room is about to die any minute now, and it would be nice to upgrade to an integrated light
   
2. Pendant chandelier to replace the ancient one in our stairway
   
3. 2 storage ottomans to replace our coffee table which is heavy and bulky
   
4. TV console because ours is currently too low and Rylie has gnawed on the edges (thanks Rylie)
   
5. 3 bar stools to replace the ones that I sold. These have a smaller footprint.
6. Lever for the entryway door to the garage, it's the only one left in the house to switch out
7. Dimmable CFL bulbs for the chandelier in the dining room, surprisingly expensive and hard to find
8. Area rug for the living room that actually matches stuff and didn't come from a dead guy's house (we bought our current one at an estate sale where the homeowner passed away)
9. Buffet/sideboard/credenza/server/console/bar cabinet to store infrequently used kitchen things that are currently in the back of the coat closet
10. Electric hedge trimmer to keep the Creeping Fig in check
11. Roundup to show Creeping Fig who's boss
12. Power core aerator to loosen our compacted lawn (thanks dogs)
    
13. Soil pH and moisture tester to know what amendments our lawn needs
    
14. Fireplace draft stop balloon to well, stop drafts
15. Latex Window Glazing, because if you haven't noticed it's really drafty here
16. Caulking gun to apply said glazing
    
17. mailbox and new post because our mail box is rusty and won't close all the way and attached to a post that is hanging onto a retaining wall by 1 loose nail
    
18. A hard-sided cooler with drain plug to keep beers in during parties, and to keep our food in at flyball tournaments
    
19. Chiminea or outdoor fireplace because the firepit is really smokey on windy nights
    
20. More solar lights
21. Outdoor lights over our garage
22. An integrated hose and reel for the front spigot, so I can stop toting the one from the back
    
23. Artificial grass for the incline
24. Wheelbarrow for future lawn redo and possibly to cart around a dog or two around the neighborhoods so that we can cement our role as the neighborhood dog freaks

What's on your wish list? It's fun to come up with one even if no one reads it...

Bag Lady (part 2)

My favorite plastic hardware store bags, in order of preference are:

1. Do-It (strongest, and large capacity)
   
2. Lowe's (stronger than it's biggest competitor's)
   
3. Home Depot (for some reason I hate the nude color and transparency of its thinness. It reminds me of old lady panty hose)
   

Do-It and Lowe's also offer different size bags (for different sized stuff, obviously). So far, I haven't seen that from Home Depot, boo for them.

Do-It also offers shopping baskets in their stores, props to them.

Am I missing any store?

Bag Lady (part 1)

I try to bring my own canvas bags (for obvious reasons) to the grocery store but often times forget. Since grocery shopping is my addiction, they easily accumulate in this household. Not all plastic bags are created equal - some are larger, some are stronger, and some just look nicer.


My favorite plastic store bags, in order of preference are (including stores where errands are run for good measure):

1. Whole Foods (strongest, and large capacity)
   
2. Fresh and Easy (ranked 2nd because Whole Foods has been around longer, it only seemed fair)
   
3. Target (large capacity, decent strength, and I like the red target pattern)
   
4. World Market (can have large capacity, but mostly because I like the pattern)
   
5. Wal-Mart (stronger than it looks)
   
6. Gelsons (strong, large capacity)
   
7. Vons (this is where my list takes a dramatic dip because of being prone to holes and small capacity)
   
8. Ralphs (holes, small capacity, ugly logo)
9. Albertsons (holes, small capacity, and falls last on the list because these make up the majority in this house and I'm sick of looking at them)

Trader Joe's is also another place I frequent but they do not offer plastic bags, and aside from the obvious 2 categories in which all paper bags fall in (with handles, without handles), I find them to be rather equal.

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