I know it seems like fall is fast approaching, but it is imperative to remember to keep up the good work to reduce your energy bills.
Unplug all unused appliances like toasters, coffee makers, blenders, etc.
ALWAYS UNPLUG YOUR CELL PHONE CHARGER WHEN NOT IN USE!!!
Try to turn off any excess indoor and outdoor lights and stay in one or two rooms of your home with only a few electronics max in use simultaneously.
Change the temperature to a lower heat on your water heater if it is too high, most people can stand to lose 10 to 20 degrees without noticing much difference.
WASH CLOTHES AND ANYTHING NOT SUPER SOILED IN COLD WATER ONLY...use hot for only really gross loads like rags from cleaning or towels and whites if needed; keep in mind that hot water breaks down fabric fibers much more quickly so your fave jeans won't last if you don't use cold water regularly.
Try a night of candle light for a fun date night or a celebration of the olden days when we didn't have the luxury of electric lights, and truly appreciate the glow of a soy or other natural, lead free wick candle set. Find fun containers , especially with cutouts that cast lovely patterns, and place at least one candle in each room so that your night is lit until bedtime.
Call for energy rebates on any new appliances that may apply for credits and make sure to take advantage of any store mail in rebates...every penny counts in this economy!
And LAST BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, MAKE SURE TO CARE FOR FURRY FRIENDS WITH PROPER DIET, EXERCISE, FLEA/TICK/HEARTWORM CONTROL, SUPPLEMENTS, AND HEALTHY TREATS FOR MAKING IT THROUGH ANOTHER WONDERFUL SUMMER! Take the time on a sunny day for an outdoor doggie wash with some all natural shampoo and a good brushing to get rid of that residual summer shedding...it is a great time to bond and enjoy the summer coming to a close.
XOXO
Chi
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
Back to the Grindstone!!! Summer is coming to a close...
Apologies for being off the radar for a bit longer than expected...but the famous Chi is back with a ton of great advice to help you get organized and be environmentally friendly!
Summer is quickly coming to a close and we all have much to be grateful for as well as upcoming seasons to plan. I celebrated my 5th birthday and am so happy to wake up each day and be a dog.
September is my mom's fave time to organize because it is a bit cooler for working and it is a wonderful time to purge excess items or put things in a designated GIFT DRAWER/BOX/AREA, so when you need that quick Bday or hostess gift, you have choices at the ready!
Storage tip: Take out old or unused suitcases, even ones with broken zippers, to be reused to store your seasonal wardrobe items. Fold summer wear neatly and pack away with a contents tag on the luggage so you can drag out an item in a pinch from the cases if needed. Put some cedar or dryer sheets in with clothes to help keep fresh. If you want to be eco friendly and smell lovely, try a lavender sachet or a cloth with some essential oil on it and folded into a corner of the drawer.
Also, fleas and ticks are at their prime in these summer months here in CA and it is imperative to stay on top of controlling them. I like lots of baths from Mom and also a combo of natural and chemical meds to kill the fleas, larvae, and eggs. Don't forget to put it on your calendar and keep a stocked supply. 1.800.PETMEDS is a great way to order fast without a vet visit and get what you need with discounts. Try them if you haven't yet, my mom loves the easy customer service online or on phone.
DON'T FORGET!!! Keep up with filtered water for pets if possible as it really helps eliminate excess chlorine, etc from poor quality tap water without breaking the bank. High quality kibble and raw food diets plus proper supplementation can extend the life of your furry friend as it has mine and my sister Sapphire's life, as she is going on 14+ now.
Many more eco topics to discuss and post so thanks for keeping up as Chi has time to address them!
xoxo Chi
Summer is quickly coming to a close and we all have much to be grateful for as well as upcoming seasons to plan. I celebrated my 5th birthday and am so happy to wake up each day and be a dog.
September is my mom's fave time to organize because it is a bit cooler for working and it is a wonderful time to purge excess items or put things in a designated GIFT DRAWER/BOX/AREA, so when you need that quick Bday or hostess gift, you have choices at the ready!
Storage tip: Take out old or unused suitcases, even ones with broken zippers, to be reused to store your seasonal wardrobe items. Fold summer wear neatly and pack away with a contents tag on the luggage so you can drag out an item in a pinch from the cases if needed. Put some cedar or dryer sheets in with clothes to help keep fresh. If you want to be eco friendly and smell lovely, try a lavender sachet or a cloth with some essential oil on it and folded into a corner of the drawer.
Also, fleas and ticks are at their prime in these summer months here in CA and it is imperative to stay on top of controlling them. I like lots of baths from Mom and also a combo of natural and chemical meds to kill the fleas, larvae, and eggs. Don't forget to put it on your calendar and keep a stocked supply. 1.800.PETMEDS is a great way to order fast without a vet visit and get what you need with discounts. Try them if you haven't yet, my mom loves the easy customer service online or on phone.
DON'T FORGET!!! Keep up with filtered water for pets if possible as it really helps eliminate excess chlorine, etc from poor quality tap water without breaking the bank. High quality kibble and raw food diets plus proper supplementation can extend the life of your furry friend as it has mine and my sister Sapphire's life, as she is going on 14+ now.
Many more eco topics to discuss and post so thanks for keeping up as Chi has time to address them!
xoxo Chi
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Chi's Tips to Save Green This Summer!
So here are a few of my favorite ideas for the summer savings on money and your carbon footprint. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle everyday in every way you can! It saves lives!
1. Turn off lights every time you leave the room/the house.
2. Put 2 pitchers of water for human drinking and for pet bowls in the refrigerator to have super cool water at hand without running the tap and wasting the runoff.
3. Make sure all your laundry loads are full or if not, at least choose a lower water fill level on the machine for small delicate loads. And only use cold/cold and warm/cold cycles for normal laundry, never hot/hot, as it is a huge waste of heating energy unless REALLY necessary for germ-killing in a certain load. Double check all controls to make sure its washing and drying in the most efficient way and choose the shortest cycles possible. Just hang-dry delicates .
4. Keep a stash of either permanent grocery bags in your car or grab last trip's bundle as you go out the door to the store again and reuse those until they are worn. You will save SO many bags and those ones everyone has you don't really travel with but love to keep can have a second life as store bags for all your errands. Just don't let mom or dad forget to say, "I have my own bag, thank you..." before the eager checker stuffs their precious stuff in a new bag.
5. Scrape plates clean right after eating and put in dishwasher, skip the sink rinse to save a ton of tap water. Most dishwashers will get off small amounts of food if you don't let it dry on for days! Make loads as full as possible, but cycle regularly to ensure clean dishes.
6. Try not to open the oven to peek! It can lower internal cooking temp by 25 degrees and lengthen or change expected cook time and results on baked goods. Repair that broken light bulb and just use the internal light to see how things are cooking!
7. Don't use the oven at all for small meals or if you are cooking light alone...try the microwave to steam veggies or cook other dishes. Use the internet for modern and tasty, realistic micro recipes that you may actually eat. Or just use up those frozen meals taking up room in your freezer and scrape out the ice and lower the setting a bit...your frozen things won't get so icy and your bill may reflect a savings over the month and year.
8. Make sure your tires are properly and evenly inflated to save gasoline in your car.
9. Ask mom and dad to save up old plastic bread, chip, cereal and other plastic bags to use for doggie doo-doo pick up. If some have holes or are thin, double or triple up and use anyway...at least you are giving them one more life and saving the money spent on doo bags at the pet store and ones at the beach for those who don't save theirs or when your baby decides to have a bigger than normal emergency! Most food related bags are a great fit for smaller hands, so have the kids pitch in and save their foil lined snack bags in their lunch box each day and use for help with pet cleanup after school!
10. Don't forget to switch your fan blade directional switch to summer mode to make sure that cool air is flowing to the pets and people in your home that will be panting as the planet warms up for the season. Keep Cool!
There are so many ways we can all save the planet and some money at the same time. Just think, with all the green you save, all the pets can have new eco safe toys and natural treats this summer!
xoxo Chi
1. Turn off lights every time you leave the room/the house.
2. Put 2 pitchers of water for human drinking and for pet bowls in the refrigerator to have super cool water at hand without running the tap and wasting the runoff.
3. Make sure all your laundry loads are full or if not, at least choose a lower water fill level on the machine for small delicate loads. And only use cold/cold and warm/cold cycles for normal laundry, never hot/hot, as it is a huge waste of heating energy unless REALLY necessary for germ-killing in a certain load. Double check all controls to make sure its washing and drying in the most efficient way and choose the shortest cycles possible. Just hang-dry delicates .
4. Keep a stash of either permanent grocery bags in your car or grab last trip's bundle as you go out the door to the store again and reuse those until they are worn. You will save SO many bags and those ones everyone has you don't really travel with but love to keep can have a second life as store bags for all your errands. Just don't let mom or dad forget to say, "I have my own bag, thank you..." before the eager checker stuffs their precious stuff in a new bag.
5. Scrape plates clean right after eating and put in dishwasher, skip the sink rinse to save a ton of tap water. Most dishwashers will get off small amounts of food if you don't let it dry on for days! Make loads as full as possible, but cycle regularly to ensure clean dishes.
6. Try not to open the oven to peek! It can lower internal cooking temp by 25 degrees and lengthen or change expected cook time and results on baked goods. Repair that broken light bulb and just use the internal light to see how things are cooking!
7. Don't use the oven at all for small meals or if you are cooking light alone...try the microwave to steam veggies or cook other dishes. Use the internet for modern and tasty, realistic micro recipes that you may actually eat. Or just use up those frozen meals taking up room in your freezer and scrape out the ice and lower the setting a bit...your frozen things won't get so icy and your bill may reflect a savings over the month and year.
8. Make sure your tires are properly and evenly inflated to save gasoline in your car.
9. Ask mom and dad to save up old plastic bread, chip, cereal and other plastic bags to use for doggie doo-doo pick up. If some have holes or are thin, double or triple up and use anyway...at least you are giving them one more life and saving the money spent on doo bags at the pet store and ones at the beach for those who don't save theirs or when your baby decides to have a bigger than normal emergency! Most food related bags are a great fit for smaller hands, so have the kids pitch in and save their foil lined snack bags in their lunch box each day and use for help with pet cleanup after school!
10. Don't forget to switch your fan blade directional switch to summer mode to make sure that cool air is flowing to the pets and people in your home that will be panting as the planet warms up for the season. Keep Cool!
There are so many ways we can all save the planet and some money at the same time. Just think, with all the green you save, all the pets can have new eco safe toys and natural treats this summer!
xoxo Chi
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Green Cleaning Products Save Pets Lives!
It is time to make the change to all natural cleaning products in your home to improve the health of you and your loved pets! Studies show that inhaling the particulates of chemical spray into your lungs and our little puppy lungs is very bad for health and likely a contributor to developing cancer. Do your family a favor and change products now!
Here are some of my Mom's fave eco brands...
Seventh Generation Products
Ecover Natural Cream Scrub
Mrs. Meyers...esp the Clean Day Stainless Steel Spray!
Restoration Hardware Surface Cleaner
Aubrey Organics...mom likes the Earth Aware All Purpose Household Cleaner
Natural Choices Oxy-Scrub Kitchen and Bathroom Cleanser
Vermont Soapworks Liquid Sunshine for Floors
These are just a few, there are many great brands out there so try one until you find the right fit and don't forget the elbow grease!
If you want to go "SUPER NATURAL", try grandma's trusty white vinegar and water in a spray bottle for glass and surfaces and effective baking soda to scrub those sink, toilet, and tub stains. Also, new oxygen whitening powder is a much safer and brighter alternative to poisonous chlorine bleaches.
After a little experimenting, you will grow to love the new green home you inhabit with your furry friends! And you can leave safely knowing that if they get into the new cleaning products they can make a mess without death!
Try it today, it only takes a little effort and saves lives!!!
Here are some of my Mom's fave eco brands...
Seventh Generation Products
Ecover Natural Cream Scrub
Mrs. Meyers...esp the Clean Day Stainless Steel Spray!
Restoration Hardware Surface Cleaner
Aubrey Organics...mom likes the Earth Aware All Purpose Household Cleaner
Natural Choices Oxy-Scrub Kitchen and Bathroom Cleanser
Vermont Soapworks Liquid Sunshine for Floors
These are just a few, there are many great brands out there so try one until you find the right fit and don't forget the elbow grease!
If you want to go "SUPER NATURAL", try grandma's trusty white vinegar and water in a spray bottle for glass and surfaces and effective baking soda to scrub those sink, toilet, and tub stains. Also, new oxygen whitening powder is a much safer and brighter alternative to poisonous chlorine bleaches.
After a little experimenting, you will grow to love the new green home you inhabit with your furry friends! And you can leave safely knowing that if they get into the new cleaning products they can make a mess without death!
Try it today, it only takes a little effort and saves lives!!!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Nine Lives May Mot Be Enough...
Ok, so everyone in this town must be on some crazy medication or should have lost the right to drive long ago, because my mom and I have almost been hit so many times in the last week it is becoming more than scary. It's obviously not enough that I made it through a crazy lady with coyotes in her yard, 2 hypoglycemic comas, an entire year plus of constant vomiting, acute renal failure and bleeding from both ends, along with various other doggie mystery ailments. Each day on our route to work, some new goon tries to hit us in a variety of ways...some of my favorites are as follows:
Old man in cream colored ancient Ford driving the wrong way straight towards us on a one way street.
Lady on a cell in a brand new BMW turning into our lane as we try not to swerve into parked cars on the side of Haley.
Semi-driver turning out of a parking lot who cannot steer the truck any other way than into our car, forcing us to back up into a busy intersection and wait like sitting ducks for him to creep by us without stripping the paint clean off the car!
Bus driver of the Braille Institute, yes, relish the irony...Braille Institute...turns out onto De La Vina straight into the passenger side of the car where I am sitting in my bag along with 2 people who had recently had back and hip surgeries, forcing us to swerve into the other lane, nearly avoiding parked cars in front of Taffy's Pizza!
Gardener truck coming around the corner of my street in the middle of the lane on a tight curve and practically slamming us into the car behind us, thank goodness for new brakes!
I am really glad my mom is such a decent driver, and to all you nutjobs out there acting a fool on the road, please go home and watch Idol or something and let me live.
Old man in cream colored ancient Ford driving the wrong way straight towards us on a one way street.
Lady on a cell in a brand new BMW turning into our lane as we try not to swerve into parked cars on the side of Haley.
Semi-driver turning out of a parking lot who cannot steer the truck any other way than into our car, forcing us to back up into a busy intersection and wait like sitting ducks for him to creep by us without stripping the paint clean off the car!
Bus driver of the Braille Institute, yes, relish the irony...Braille Institute...turns out onto De La Vina straight into the passenger side of the car where I am sitting in my bag along with 2 people who had recently had back and hip surgeries, forcing us to swerve into the other lane, nearly avoiding parked cars in front of Taffy's Pizza!
Gardener truck coming around the corner of my street in the middle of the lane on a tight curve and practically slamming us into the car behind us, thank goodness for new brakes!
I am really glad my mom is such a decent driver, and to all you nutjobs out there acting a fool on the road, please go home and watch Idol or something and let me live.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
The High Price Of Flying
My mom loves to take me everywhere, which necessitates air travel at times. It is an expensive luxury that will hopefully be aided by my newish status as a prescribed assistance animal, however normally the cost per roundtrip is $160 for my ticket alone. Now on a good day, to a close destination, this can easily rival the price of my mom's ticket!
I think it is a shame that the already problematic airline industry is so poorly equipped to deal with any type of real security issue but can afford to rip off already disgruntled patrons of their less than glamorous flight services by charging a pretty penny for pets. Bottom line...loving parents will always pay rather than leave baby in a cruel kennel or pay an equally exorbitant petsitter so the airline has taken the $160 for at least 6 roundtrip flights, and regardless of distance or the inconvenience of being shoved under a seat with all the stinking feet of hundreds of people that my nose can smell much more sickeningly than yours, I should be the one getting paid!
I'll have stayed quietly in a bag the length of a sub sandwich for over 10 hours with no bathroom break, no meal, no play time, no screaming fits, no slamming myself against the back of another patrons chair, and unlike all the other toddlers on the flights I have been essentially unseen and completely unheard by anyone. And when seatmates do see me and love me, it makes the flight. Again, why don't they pay us?
The flight attendants were not so nice on my 6 flights; I think my friends are more helpful. Let's petition to fly free for all dogs on all airlines asap because mom's family is going broke flying me around the country at the rate I'm going. How about double frequent flyer miles at least considering they charge for 2 roundtrip tickets? I mean, I need my mom to get me my own confirmation number through a lengthy and annoying phone call each and every time.
Despite the dropping the old required rabies and vet papers to verify health, it is still a hassle when booking online to then have to call and bother an already annoyed rep for a little 6 pound purse full of puppy to have a special code assigned to it, and then have to count me as a carryon, limiting mom further for the money and love of bringing me. That's love for ya!
I think it is a shame that the already problematic airline industry is so poorly equipped to deal with any type of real security issue but can afford to rip off already disgruntled patrons of their less than glamorous flight services by charging a pretty penny for pets. Bottom line...loving parents will always pay rather than leave baby in a cruel kennel or pay an equally exorbitant petsitter so the airline has taken the $160 for at least 6 roundtrip flights, and regardless of distance or the inconvenience of being shoved under a seat with all the stinking feet of hundreds of people that my nose can smell much more sickeningly than yours, I should be the one getting paid!
I'll have stayed quietly in a bag the length of a sub sandwich for over 10 hours with no bathroom break, no meal, no play time, no screaming fits, no slamming myself against the back of another patrons chair, and unlike all the other toddlers on the flights I have been essentially unseen and completely unheard by anyone. And when seatmates do see me and love me, it makes the flight. Again, why don't they pay us?
The flight attendants were not so nice on my 6 flights; I think my friends are more helpful. Let's petition to fly free for all dogs on all airlines asap because mom's family is going broke flying me around the country at the rate I'm going. How about double frequent flyer miles at least considering they charge for 2 roundtrip tickets? I mean, I need my mom to get me my own confirmation number through a lengthy and annoying phone call each and every time.
Despite the dropping the old required rabies and vet papers to verify health, it is still a hassle when booking online to then have to call and bother an already annoyed rep for a little 6 pound purse full of puppy to have a special code assigned to it, and then have to count me as a carryon, limiting mom further for the money and love of bringing me. That's love for ya!
Adopt a Good Black Dog, Big or Small...They Need Your Help!
Fight back against the discrimination of "Big Black Dog Syndrome"!
Please go quickly to your nearest shelter and look a little closer at that dark doggie in the kennel. That one that some might think is a bit grizzled or kind of strange looking could be your next best friend if you just take the time to find a good match.
You will be saving a life that statistically is more easily taken away by lethal injection at shelters nationwide than non-black dogs. My older sister Sapphire is mostly black, being a border collie/sheltie mix and is the best, most friendly, wonderful companion and rescue dog. However, she is often mistaken for being aggressive as she moves toward people with a huge grin on her teeth that is misread for pre-bite behavior instead of the unbridled friendliness of a herding dog. Then when people pet her soft beautiful black back and see her good behavior they are reminded of a similar dog a friend or family member has and mentally their opinion of her changes to the positive.
Check out groups like blackpearldog or Heartland Rescue who specialize in rescuing a specific breed that is commonly abandoned, such as Labrador Retrievers. Any dog of any color, size, and shape can be good or bad behaved, it depends on the owner rather than the dog. So hurry to save a darker dog before it is too late for that special one like me who got several extra chances at life thanks to my mom and dad.
Support Ugly-Cute Syndrome! Adopt today...
Please go quickly to your nearest shelter and look a little closer at that dark doggie in the kennel. That one that some might think is a bit grizzled or kind of strange looking could be your next best friend if you just take the time to find a good match.
You will be saving a life that statistically is more easily taken away by lethal injection at shelters nationwide than non-black dogs. My older sister Sapphire is mostly black, being a border collie/sheltie mix and is the best, most friendly, wonderful companion and rescue dog. However, she is often mistaken for being aggressive as she moves toward people with a huge grin on her teeth that is misread for pre-bite behavior instead of the unbridled friendliness of a herding dog. Then when people pet her soft beautiful black back and see her good behavior they are reminded of a similar dog a friend or family member has and mentally their opinion of her changes to the positive.
Check out groups like blackpearldog or Heartland Rescue who specialize in rescuing a specific breed that is commonly abandoned, such as Labrador Retrievers. Any dog of any color, size, and shape can be good or bad behaved, it depends on the owner rather than the dog. So hurry to save a darker dog before it is too late for that special one like me who got several extra chances at life thanks to my mom and dad.
Support Ugly-Cute Syndrome! Adopt today...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
