hump day hippie

Hump Day Hippie: Recycle LP Record Albums

Submitted by JuliaFuller on Thu, 12/24/2009 - 00:19

Chances are, you, or your parents have stacks of old LP record Albums lying around somewhere. You may not even own a working record player anymore to be able to listen to them. When is the last time you looked through that stack of albums? You may remember that some of those LP covers have great pictures and designs. Why not recycle some of those old record albums into designer purses. Make a couple for yourself and a couple more to give as gifts. Get the whole family involved in creating these masterpieces. If they are not your albums, make sure you ask before recycling them. Some people are quite attached to certain objects.

Hump Day Hippie: Recycle Gold Jewelry

Submitted by JuliaFuller on Wed, 12/09/2009 - 01:08

Do you need some quick cash for holiday shopping? Why not look through your jewelry box and pull out those broken gold chains, rings missing stones, and out of fashion earrings. If your children are like mine, they love going through your jewelry box. If your gold jewelry is already missing stones or broken the kids probably won’t make the damage any worse. Have fun letting them try you jewelry on, and then take the pieces you can’t use anymore to a jeweler, pawnshop, or “sell your gold” party. Not only will you get quick cash, you will actually be recycling gold jewelry.

Hump Day Hippie: Recycle and Reuse Plastic Water Bottles

Submitted by JuliaFuller on Wed, 10/21/2009 - 20:00

What is filling up the landfills as we near 2010? If you guessed empty water bottles you would be correct. Somewhere around one-quarter of the empty water bottles are recycled. That means that the other 38 billion or so empties, are pitched into the trashcan, ending up in a landfill. Ok so you didn’t know, but now you do. What can your family do to help? Start recycling those water bottles today or better yet, refill your bottles, and keep reusing them. Of course, there are too many to reuse them all, so why not make some kid friendly crafts out of the extras.

Here are a few fun ideas and you can think of your own too. At the end of the article is a link to make your very own miniature dump and landfill, so don’t forget to read the whole article.

What you will need to make a snow sled, a bottled tornado, and an indoor bottled herb garden.

  • Empty water bottles
  • Duct tape
  • potting soil
  • seeds
  • food coloring
  • vegetable oil

Hump Day Hippie: Refinish and Reuse Old School Desks

Submitted by JuliaFuller on Wed, 10/14/2009 - 19:20

Does your child need a special place to do homework? Have you ever thought about refinishing an old school desk? Sometimes schools give them away, or you find them at garage sales for a few dollars. Keep these old school desks out of landfills and make your child feel special at the same time. If you are lucky, you may find an old school desk with a cubbie hole, or lift-up lid for storage and a chair attached. This storage area can help your child stay organized. Hopefully, no more lost or dog-eaten homework. You can refinish the desk to fit in with your child’s color scheme. You can even glue on appliqués to match a themed bedroom.

Your child can help, but most areas need some adult assistance and supervision. Here’s what you need to get started.

  • Old school desk
  • Sandpaper
  • scrub brush/water/cleaning products
  • Paint for metal
  • Screwdriver
  • Masking tape
  • newspaper/cardboard box

Hump Day Hippie: Rate Your Recycling Skills!

Submitted by JulieC on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 01:10
It’s time to weigh in and see how you measure up when it comes to your recycling ability.  Are you are good recycler?  Or are you perhaps falling a bit short in  your duties to help preserve our environment and natural resources?  Take a look below and see where you stand when it comes to being a good recycler.
 

GOOD RECYCLER: You fill up the recycle bin every week with cans, bottles, and jars.

 

NOT SO GOOD: You give the recycle bin to the kids to use as a fort, or pretend racecar.

 

BAD: You didn’t realize the racecar was a recycle bin.
 

GOOD RECYCLER: You take your used motor oil to the nearest recycling station or collection facility.

 

NOT SO GOOD: You avoid the used-oil problem by never changing your oil. You ever so brightly recycle car engines instead.
 
BAD: You mean you're not supposed to dump it down the drain?

Hump Day Hippie: Make a Ladybug Locket

Submitted by JulieC on Wed, 03/04/2009 - 22:47
Looking for something fun to do with your little one while you are locked up inside the house and waiting for spring to free you from cabin fever?  How about making a ladybug locket or two for you and your little one to wear?  They aren’t complicated to make at all, so even those who have two left thumbs when it comes to creating can easily create a matching pair of mother and daughter ladybug lockets.
 
 
Items You Will Need:
  • 2 metal bottle caps (per necklace)
  • Red and black acrylic paint
  • Paint brushes
  • Piece of red or black felt 2.5x3 inches
  • Small picture for inside the locket
  • Hot glue gun
  • White craft glue
  • Scissors
  • String, yarn, or ribbon

Hump Day Hippie: Falling off the Recycling Wagon

Submitted by JulieC on Wed, 02/18/2009 - 18:50
You start out with the best intentions.  You separate your trash.  You buy natural products.  You go the whole nine yards to be environmentally friendly and show your children how to care for the planet that they will inherit.  But then, just when you least expect it, just as you begin to get into a groove with this recycling and caring for the Earth business, life goes and gets in the way of your plans, and before you know it –BOOM- you have fallen off of the recycling wagon.

When this happens many families decide to just go back to their old ways.  Recycling becomes too much of a chore, or they are simply embarrassed that they could not keep up with it, and rationalize that the little bit of recycling that they do remember to do, is not really worth the effort.  The truth is, however, that every little bit does help, and even if it is only one soda can a year, that is one less soda can that is wasting away in a landfill!

Hump Day Hippie: Check Your Packaging!

Submitted by JulieC on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 00:10

Kids can get pretty bored at the grocery store, and bored can often times lead to unruly behavior.  If you are looking for a way to get your kids involved in the shopping while teaching them how to be Earth Friendly all at the same time, enlist your little helpers to check the packaging on the items that you need to see if it is made out of material that can be recycled.

With the amount of variety available today, chances are if your product does not come in a recyclable container, a competitor’s product will.  You will be amazed at the amount of trash you will not have filling up your kitchen trashcan once you begin buying products that are packaged in recyclable materials. 

Hump Day Hippie: Recycling Videos for Children

Submitted by JulieC on Wed, 01/14/2009 - 22:37

Below are some great videos to teach children of various ages about recycling, and the importance of saving energy.  Children can sing and dance along, oblivious to the fact that they are actually learning about important issues and reshaping their minds to be environmentally conscious.  If nothing else you really have to appreciate the singing trash cans.  Seriously when in your life did you expect to see a trash can not only talk but break out into song?


Hump Day Hippie: Happy Hippie Coupon Codes for Eco-Friendly Products

Submitted by JulieC on Wed, 01/07/2009 - 23:17

Just as I am sure many of you out there have discovered, being eco-friendly can get quite costly depending on what it is you are looking to acquire.  Sure some of the things that you can learn to do for yourself can drastically reduce your bills, but when it comes to buying ready made eco friendly products that one cannot manufacture on their own, it can be expected to shell out a few extra clams for the privilege of going green. 

It is for that very reason that I became so excited when I stumbled across Happy Hippie Coupons for Eco-Friendly Products!  Finally a site who has not only gathered an extensive list of eco-friendly products, but has gone the extra step to search for discounts and coupon codes, finding the best deals in environmentally friendly goods and services, and passing that knowledge and savings right on to you!

If you are in the market for items falling under the following categories:

  • Clothing
  • Jewelry
  • Garden
  • Gifts
  • Home/Décor
  • Kids Clothing
  • Pets
  • Reusable Bags
  • Green Buildings/Household/ Conservation Supplies