Eco-mama Budget Tip of the DayEco-mama Budget Tip of the Dayhttp://ecomama.squarespace.com/eco-mama-budget-tip-of-the-day/2009-03-19T20:49:44ZSquarespaceGot Corks! Make Hot Pads!http://ecomama.squarespace.com/eco-mama-budget-tip-of-the-day/2009/3/19/got-corks-make-hot-pads.htmlecomama2009-03-19T20:33:48Z2009-03-19T20:33:48ZIf you drink a lot of vino like we do, and have been saving up those corks but don't know what to do with them, I've got the answer.  Gather the corks up in to a circle about the size of a hot pad, place a hose clamp around them and then screw it tight around the corks.  You can decorate the hose clamp first, by painting or wrapping ribbon around them.  This makes great hot pad for holding your hot food on the dinner table!

]]>Save those greenshttp://ecomama.squarespace.com/eco-mama-budget-tip-of-the-day/2008/8/11/save-those-greens.htmlecomama2008-08-11T18:33:44Z2008-08-11T18:33:44ZWhen purchasing herbs like Basil or dill, keep fresh (like picked from the farm fresh) by storing in a plastic bag and rolling the bag shut tightly from the top trapping your herbs in a bubble inside the bag.  The trapped oxygen will keep your herbs deliciously fresh!

When your bring home your lettuce, either packed or fresh, fill a large bowl up with ice water and submerge the greens.  Cover and place in fridge.  Every time you need to make a salad, just pull the greens out of the bowl and dry, and place the remaining lettuce that is in the cold water back into the fridge.  This will keep your green so crisp for so long you will be astonished!

 

]]>Put your stove on a Carbon diethttp://ecomama.squarespace.com/eco-mama-budget-tip-of-the-day/2008/8/11/put-your-stove-on-a-carbon-diet.htmlecomama2008-08-11T18:24:54Z2008-08-11T18:24:54Z


  • The stove is the hungriest appliance in your whole home.  When using, double up and put bread in with your lasagna.
  • Use a saucepan lid when cooking and turn the stove off five minutes before your food is suppose to be done.  He already collected heat will complete the job.
  • Open the oven when done and allow the heat to heat your home for the evening.
  • If you are buying a new oven or new home, opt for a gas stove as they are the most energy efficient (and if the power goes out, it will still work!)  Also look for the EnergyStar brands!
  • Invest in a pressure cooker, they reduce gas expenditure used for cooking by up to 50%.  Better yet, look for a Cobb oven (pictured above), which requires no electricity or gas! www.cobbamerica.com $139.00
]]>Need to Organize your closet?http://ecomama.squarespace.com/eco-mama-budget-tip-of-the-day/2008/5/25/need-to-organize-your-closet.htmlecomama2008-05-25T07:58:21Z2008-05-25T07:58:21Zpaper%20towel%20holder.jpgInvest in a paper towel holder from a second hand store, and you can turn it into a sleek neck tie rack.  Just attach the paper towel holder at a 90 degree angle to the inside wall of you closet with a couple of screws, and you have yourself a sweet tie rack, purse holder, or belt organizer!

Or, how bought hanging baskets?  I found some at BigLots for $2.99 each, and I hung them in my closet attached underneath each other to store socks, belts, and tank tops.

How's that for budget Organization!

]]>Love butter, but don't want to eat it all the time...http://ecomama.squarespace.com/eco-mama-budget-tip-of-the-day/2008/2/24/love-butter-but-dont-want-to-eat-it-all-the-time.htmlecomama2008-02-24T01:56:09Z2008-02-24T01:56:09ZMake Olivebutter.  Mix equal parts melted butter with olive oil in a small bowl or tupperwear, and place in refrigerator to set up over night.  When you have your toast in the morning, spread this mixture on and dash with a bit of salt, and enjoy!  It is soooooooooo good, you won't even miss that other half of the butter. 

You can use this mixture to back and cook/stir fry, it works great and tastes wonderful.  Keep mixture stored in the fridge.

]]>New use for old business cardshttp://ecomama.squarespace.com/eco-mama-budget-tip-of-the-day/2008/2/24/new-use-for-old-business-cards.htmlecomama2008-02-24T01:41:42Z2008-02-24T01:41:42ZMake old business cards in to gift cards.  Use the side with the design as the outside of the gift tag, glue a piece of white cards stock on the other side, fold in half and punch two holes along the spine and thread a pretty piece of ribbon or string through the holes.  Tie on gift and deliver!

*adapted from the book Simply Green Living by Danny Seo...thanks Dan

]]>Cool mom websiteshttp://ecomama.squarespace.com/eco-mama-budget-tip-of-the-day/2008/2/24/cool-mom-websites.htmlecomama2008-02-24T01:26:48Z2008-02-24T01:26:48ZCheck out these websites for great new information for moms:

www.workingmomsagainstguilt.com:  This site offers mommy tips and recipes, product resources and stories from other working and stay at home moms.  This is a great site to visit when things are feeling a bit overwhelming on the homefront!

www.coolmompicks.com:  Looking for cool kid & mommy clothes or new cookbooks or a special addition to your nursery?  This is a great site that contains links and great info for cool picks for the urban mama!

www.blogs.bootsnall.com/seafarer:  Looking for a new and interesting place to take your kids on your next vacation?  Checkout his blog that features ideas for kid-friendly trips that are uniquely inviting.

www.parenthacks.com:  This site offers discussions for parents that offer solutions to many of the problems that face parents today.  This collaboration of parents from all walks of life give many tips and tricks for keeping organized and offers advise for all of the many questions you might have about raising your children.

www.firstshowing.net:  Looking for a night out without the little ones, but don't want to waste time and money on a stupid flick?  Check out this site to help you choose a good show to your liking as you can read review, see trailers, and even see interviews of the film makers.

 

]]>Home made Insect Sprayhttp://ecomama.squarespace.com/eco-mama-budget-tip-of-the-day/2008/2/12/home-made-insect-spray.htmlecomama2008-02-12T20:46:41Z2008-02-12T20:46:41Zfels%20naptha.jpgShave one-quarter of a bar of Fels-Naptha laundry soap (about 1 inch) into a quart of heated water and let dissolve.  This is the bug spray concentrate.  Put it in a labeled large jar or jug.

To make the spray, put 1 teaspoon of concentrate/1 quart in to a spray bottle.  Spray this spray directly onto the insects and let it work it's magic.

-adapted from Mother Earth News

]]>Flies....Yuck!http://ecomama.squarespace.com/eco-mama-budget-tip-of-the-day/2008/2/12/fliesyuck.htmlecomama2008-02-12T20:40:06Z2008-02-12T20:40:06Zbasil.jpgRather than chasing around those pesky flies with a swatter, place a large basil plant in your room instead.  As much as we love the taste of basil in our salads or in our pasta, fly's are disgusted by thier smell, meaning less flys in your home and a nice looking plant and addition to your nightly dinners!]]>Fix up your leather couch!http://ecomama.squarespace.com/eco-mama-budget-tip-of-the-day/2008/1/30/fix-up-your-leather-couch.htmlecomama2008-01-30T01:36:24Z2008-01-30T01:36:24ZDSCF0086.JPGWe have had this Natuzzi couch for about 3 years now, and with two boys, 2 and 4 years old, you can only imagine the pen marks, scuffs and scratches our couch has endured.  Luck for us it is an Natuzzi, so it has held up quite well and with this tip, our couch looks pretty unfazed.

To remove scuff and scratch marks, gently rub an eraser (from a pencil) over the scratch and watch it disappear.  I don't understand how or why it works....but it does!  Yeah!

]]>