DIY Valentine's Day - It's Not Too Late

So, Valentine's Day is not my favorite holiday, being, as it is, a commercial-fest of consumerism, blah-blah ... you know all the arguments about how the greeting card companies make us feel bad if we're not part of the celebration in order to amp up our holiday spending. I felt a little discouraged seeing the last-minute shoppers cruising Kroger, trying to find something - FAST - for that special someone. They were even selling plates of cheese pre-cut into hearts. I might find myself questioning someone who doesn't have time to cut heart-shaped cheese themselves (there's a joke in there somewhere, but I just can't get it.)

Luckily, the tough economy, according to this NPR story, has led more people to make their own holiday gifts and cards. That seems more meaningful than the plate of heart-shaped brie - unless your sweetie really loves cheese. Even though it's late in the day, there's still time to DIY for your loved ones. Here are a few ideas (and at the end of the post, find an alternative to Valentine's Day)



I absolutely love these Anatomically-correct Hearts from cheekymagpie.com. Just click the link for the template.

I traced the template onto craft paper and cut it out. Then you just fold it in half and you get a lovely, 3-dimensional heart. All-in-all, it takes about 5 minutes and looks gorgeous.

An inspiring quotation makes a nice addition to your card. You can find some great quotations about love here, at Wisdom Quotes. These are great because they aren't the same ol', same ol'. Gotta love any site that includes Albert Einstein in its page on love.

Now, I haven't tried Nigella Lawson's Valentine cupcakes, but I listened to her describe them on NPR yesterday, and I definitely mean to. Make them for a sweetie with a sweettooth. The chocolate cherry ones sound especially tasty, and quick to make. I also like the way Nigella describes how the competitive world of boarding school produced in her a "lofty detachment" toward the holiday. You go, Nigella!

Mix-tapes are a traditional gift from one disturbed teen to another. For you music lovers, check out the iTunes store. The "Essentials - Crazy Love" mix contains all the stories of whacked out romance you can handle, including "Stan" by Eminem, "Ben" by Michael Jackson, and "Under My Thumb" by the Rolling Stones. Get it for someone you stalk.

Finally, for those of you singletons who are perfectly content to be single, check out International Quirkyalone Day. This holiday, to quote the website, is: "a do-it-yourself celebration of romance, friendship, and independent spirit. It's a celebration of all kinds of love: romantic, platonic, familial, and yes, self-love. International Quirkyalone Day is not anti-Valentine's Day. It's NOT a pity party for single people. It's an alternative--a feel-good alternative to the marketing barrage of Valentine's Day and an antidote to the silicone version of love presented in shows such as Hooking Up and The Bachelor."

And who can't find the love for that?

Why You Can Recycle What You Can Recycle

Not long ago, Houston began recycling more than it had before. Now we can recycle Codes 1-5 and 7 (I don't know what the deal is with Code 6 - maybe its radioactive or something). My friends who live in the Northwest often give me flak for living in a city where green is the color of the money we get from selling oil, but now we can actually recycle more than they can. Yet we still have the reputation for drinking a big glass of petrol with our morning cereal.

Every city and municipality is different in regard to what they recycle. I never really understood why until I heard this NPR Story on why every city has different rules. The reason? Why, money, of course! Recycling is an environmental business, but it's still a business. We get to recycle what brings in the bucks. That's why our curbside recycling doesn't pick up glass. And why I can recycle this ...



(It's the bottom to a rotisserie chicken container) ...but I can't recycle the lid that goes with it; and why I can recycle the yogurt cup from Yo! brand yogurt, but not Activia.

Knowing more about my city's ordinances has made recycling kind of a game. I still throw away more than I should, or more than I might in some other cities. However, I love finding new things I never new I could recycle -- things like ...

(Take the labels off to protect your identity)

Join the game with me, and discover more weird things that can be recycled.

Signs o' the Times

Wordless Wednesday
(visit My Charming Kids for the scoop on Wordless Wednesday)

DIY Sunday - Knitting Cast-On

A couple of weeks ago, I thought I might post a simple scarf pattern I created for my sister, but then thought, maybe people would like to learn to knit first. Knitting is a great DIY hobby, because it's easy (no, REALLY!) and it's forgiving (if I'm lyin', I'm dyin'). Mistakes can usually be corrected with simple work-arounds that disappear when you're looking at a larger, finished project. Of course, I'm a pretty Zen knitter, not really a perfectionist.

There are two other reasons I like knitting, and why you might like it too:

1. You get useful things when you've finished a project. Scarves, baby jackets, blankets, sweaters - all useful. A lot of other crafts seem to produce dust collectors.

2. Knitting makes me feel connected to history. Women (and men!) have been knitting forever. I like to think that I'm spending my time in the same way my foremothers did, although they didn't have acrylic wool blends.

So, if you want to start knitting, the first thing you need to know is ...

How To Cast On

You will need:

Knitting Needles - I think Size 10 or 11 would be good for beginning
Yarn - Some basic wool or acrylic is good to start with - you don't want anything with weird texture when you begin.

Every knitting pattern begins with:

Cast on ____ number of stitches

Because it would take many, many photos to demonstrate this, I'm going to let the folks at knittv show you. Also, the girl has an awesome British accent. She's demonstrating what's called the "Two-Needle Method," which is the way I cast on.

Practice this a bit -- it's good to get the hang of this.

Next week: How to knit.

Then you'll only need one other skill to make a scarf! (And if you're thinking -- it's almost spring, why would I need a scarf? you obviously haven't seen the girls who walk around my neighborhood wearing short-shorts, stiletto platforms, a tank top, and scarf)

Random Things

Hey! I'm vacationing in beautiful Oakland, California this weekend, but wanted to take a moment to pass along 4 Random Things (not 25, all Facebookers might expect). Here they are, in no particular order:

• Oakland is a really great city! Though much-maligned by the popular imagination, it has great old buildings, parks, and some cool vintage signage. Pictures should be following.
• Loyal reader Frances, aka: My Mom, sent in the following reports about some green products:
  • Green Works Natural Glass and Surface Cleaner by Clorox. Two thumbs way down. The product smears on glass and leaves streaks and a residue. And it smells awful -- kind of like sick Seven-Up.
  • Orange Plus Natural Orange All Purpose Everyday Cleaner by Earth Friendly Products. Safe and reasonably effective. Especially good for counter tops, stove top, lightly soiled floors and other surfaces. Not a powerhouse cleaner for really greasy or heavily dirty areas but good for, as they say, everyday. Fresh smell that doesn't linger.
• And finally, one more plastic bag solution for you parents out there, discovered on a Safeway trip with my friend Sara and her little guy, Desmond. The bottom of the stroller - the place where you might stash a jacket or purse, can also fit a small number of groceries. Not a solution for "big shopping" - as my mom called the weekly grocery trip- but for a quick, eco-friendly walk to the store it works great.

Tomorrow, DIY Friday: Knit or Die!

Green Comes of Age

It's a testament to the ubiquity of greener products that Saturday Night Live spoofed them this weekend. It's a fairly yucky spoof, but still, you know you've gone mainstream when you're on SNL.

Click here to go to the video (sorry the code to embed wasn't working.)

I love Kristen Wiig's expression. She's so happy to be green!

Re-Purpose: Vinegar

The Many Uses of ...
VINEGAR

Uses #2 (Killing Insects) and #3 (Washing Produce)

It's handy to keep a spray bottle filled with a mixture of water and distilled white vinegar. I have one next to the sink. Here are two of its uses:

A Natural "Insecticide": Living in one of the buggiest places in, at least the U.S. (I won't claim it to be buggier than, say, the Amazon) one sometimes needs to get a little nuclear on some insect-ass. Most insect repelling products, however, are filled with toxic chemicals that I certainly don't want around my kitchen or my cat. When sugar ants invade my sink area as they sometimes do, or when we have one of our semi-annual fruit fly infestations, a blast of vinegar + water takes care of the pests.

Washing Produce: While I'm certainly not above rubbing an apple on my shirtsleeve to clean it off, it is probably better to be a little more pro-active about cleansing chemicals/ E.coli from produce. The vinegar + water solution can be used for this purpose as well. Just spray the solution on the produce. Rinse the produce with water and rub.

Vinegar is awesome! Ask the tiny ants!

Product Review - Envirosax

Usability: ***** (out of 5)

Appearance: *****

I found it at: their website

Other stuff: Folds up, carries up to 44 lbs., price ranges (for the non-organic bags) from $7.95-8.50

See below for the scoop

I like things that do exactly what they are supposed to, and Envirosax fit the bill. They are re-usable shopping bags that can roll up and fit in a purse, and they are attractive to boot. I particularly like them because the straps are long enough to go over a shoulder, and groceries for an entire week will fit in one or two bags.


They also counter-act the evil eye one sometimes gets in the check-out line when you pull out a wadded pile of bags. Instead of glaring, usually the courtesy clerk says: "Those are cool!" if a teenage boy, or "Oh my gosh! Those are so cute" if a teenage girl.


Envirosax makes several different lines, including floral and solid colors. They have also introduced a line of organic bags, made of bamboo, hemp, and linen. They are a bit more expensive ($24.95) and they don't carry quite as much, but they are darn cute. The company also makes shower timers, for those of you who are really dedicated and time your water usage.


Below, see how Envirosax fold up and fit in purse. They could also fit in a pocket, for the un-pursed types out there.

Fold bag in half.

Fold down the handles.

Roll it up and fasten the snap.

Here I have 3 Envirosax in my purse!

You rock!

Yay! I'm so thrilled that a few awesome readers have had an actual CONVERSATION in the comments section.

I'm glad that the tips are proving helpful for folks. If you know anyone else who might be interested, forward the link on. I hope more people can find some little things they can do to be a bit more green.

Cute Cat Picture

Due to craziness at work, DIY Sunday is going to be postponed. Instead, here is a cute cat picture.