hump day hippie

Hump Day Hippie: Safe Needle Disposal at Home

Submitted by JuliaFuller on Wed, 06/23/2010 - 02:33

Each year more than three billion needles, syringes, lancets, sometimes called sharps are used in private homes to treat medical conditionsaccording to the EPA. Conditions such as diabetes, Growth Hormone deficiency, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, Allergies, and Migraines are just a few of those medical conditions. But how are these families disposing of their sharps? Are they placing others at risk by using unsafe disposal procedures?

Hump Day Hippie: True Green Multi-Purpose Copy Paper

Submitted by JuliaFuller on Wed, 06/16/2010 - 18:20

We ordered our first bundle of “100-percent treeless” paper this week from one of our favorite “Green” online stores, Alice.com. I didn’t have a clue what our new paper was actually made of, but figured I would find out when it arrived. Although Julie C couldn’t wait and Googled it for me right away. The package also says the paper is 100-percent biodegradable. The paper is made from Sugar cane. It is hypo-allergenic, unscented, and the white paper does not contain dyes. To make you feel even better about buying this truegreen paper, it is priced similar to copy paper made from trees.

Hump Day Hippie: Reduce Container Use for Laundry Products and Go Green

Submitted by JuliaFuller on Wed, 06/09/2010 - 22:53

Ourlandfills are filling up fast with garbage that can take hundreds of years or more to decompose. Americans generate millions of tons of trash, and most is carted off for landfill burial. Numerous landfills across the U.S. continue to close each year because they are filled to capacity with garbage from our disposable-happy society. If something doesn’t change soon, Americans will run out of spaces to cram their waste. According to the EPA each American creates about 4.5 pounds of garbage a day, up from about 2.7 pounds a day in 1960. But can one person make a difference? Yes, you can. Begin buying highly concentrated laundry products today to reduce container size and usage. Go Green!

Hump Day Hippie: Reduce Disposable Diaper Use and Go Green

Submitted by JuliaFuller on Wed, 05/05/2010 - 21:20

Disposable diapers are convenient, easy to use, and easy to dispose of making them the number one choice for most parents. However, disposable diapers are also expensive, averaging parents about $10.00 a week, $520 a year, therefore about $1500 per child from birth to potty-trained. Assuming that parents go through close to 50 diapers a week per child and most children are potty-trained around three years old these days. When you think about that quantity of diapers being used by every child during infancy, imagine the quantity of disposable diapers found in today’s landfills. According to theEPA we dispose of 16 billion disposable diapers per year.

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