What is a LEED Rated Home?
The acronym LEED is stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It is a rating system by which a building’s energy efficiency and environmental impact is measured. Using a point-based system, homes and businesses are voluntarily rated for indoor air quality, energy and water use, the environmental impact of the building site, and the […]
Winter Vegetable Stew Recipes
Winter stews do not have to involve meat to be rich and warming. Look for local produce if possible. Root vegetables (onions, turnips, parsnips, rutabagas) are good choices. Cabbage, sweet potatoes, winter squash, carrots, and various greens like kale are in season in winter. Here are some recipes for healthful, satisfying winter vegetable stews using […]
How to Make Easy Bird Feeders
It is really quite simple to make bird feeders for the wild birds in your area. Some commercial bird feeders are very expensive, but making your own is easy and economical. Use these ideas to create a bird feeder in your backyard today! 1. Use hollow citrus skins to make bird feeders. After eating an […]
How to Design a Peaceful Environment in your Child’s Bedroom
Children deal with many stressors throughout the day, so it’s ideal to create a serene environment to relax in, allowing them a safe haven to study, play, and fall asleep readily. In order to create a peaceful bedroom for your child, there are several elements you need to take into consideration. Here are some tips on how to make […]
When It Is Time to Remodel Your Kitchen – Think Green
There are all kinds of reasons why people remodel their kitchens – some want an updated look; some want more efficient, reliable appliances; still others want more storage or counter space. Whatever your reasons are for remodeling, thinking green can contribute to your efforts. Here are some of the main aspects of your kitchen, and […]
Allergy-Reducing Home Decoration Ideas
If anyone in your family suffers from allergies, you may feel overwhelmed at all the allergens around. Don’t stress! You can reduce the number and prevalence of allergens in your home by doing some strategic redecorating. Use these simple decor ideas to reduce the allergens in your home: Take Up the Carpet The wall-to-wall carpet […]
Green Home Improvement Tips for Your Bathroom
The bathroom is a practical place to start in the “greening” of your home. It’s where much water is used and often wasted, and everyone spends a lot of cumulative time in the “loo.” Use these home improvement tips to make your bathroom a bit greener. 1. Install low-flow aerators on your faucets. You can […]
15 Quick and Simple Green Tips for Every Day
Many people just want to know what they can do to live green. And when it comes down to it, what people do every day is what makes a cumulative difference. Here are fifteen easy-to-implement tips on green living for every day. 1. When you wash dishes, don’t leave the water running while you scrub […]
Winter Energy-Saving Tips
Winter can be an energy-intensive season. It’s understandable to want to cut your energy use as the temperature drops. Thankfully, many energy-saving strategies are simple and easy to do. Here are some tips on how to keep the heat in this winter. 1. Programmable Thermostats Don’t let the concept of fiddling with your home’s wiring […]
The Best Gift I Ever Gave
What’s the greatest gift I’ve ever given? We’ll get to that… first I wanted to talk about what, to me, defines a “great” gift… It seems simple, but what greater gift could we possibly give, than the greatest gift given to us? In a nutshell- ourselves: Our time, patience, knowledge, concern, empathy, compassion, and support […]
Rural Mom’s 10 Tips for Smarter Holiday Shopping and Gifting
‘Tis the season for holiday shopping. Last year, according to CBS News article, American consumers spent over $10 billion dollars on goods on the day after Thanksgiving sales—a day many know by the name of “Black Friday.” Though the sales on Black Friday are often tempting, there are other ways consumers can rack up on […]
Halloween Baby Names
Would you name your baby boy “Dragon”? No? What about giving your baby girl a name that means “to suffer”? Would you believe that both of these names made it onto Social Security’s list of the Top 1000 Halloween baby names for 2009? Drake, which was number 230 on the list of the Top 1000, […]