Archive for September, 2010
« Previous EntriesDifficult Decisions
Thursday, September 30th, 2010Way down yonder in Central America there is an addictive ice cream sandwich called Trits, which is impossible to resist, especially when you’re having a bad day… or, well, a good day… or any kind of day at all, really. (If it weren’t addictive, it wouldn’t have a Facebook page, now would it?) Let’s start [...]
Ben and Jerry’s no longer all “natural”
Wednesday, September 29th, 2010As the unabashed ice cream lover over here at Team Tiny Choices, I must let you all know that Ben & Jerry’s is no longer claiming to be “all natural.” Really what it comes down to is this: there are some products in Ben & Jerry’s that are made in factories – for example, some [...]
Cavities and Fillings and Pain, Oh My!
Tuesday, September 28th, 2010This post will be short and sweet, because, yes, today I got two fillings. I also had a wisdom tooth removed, but since there’s nothing eco-related to write about with that one, I won’t need to tell you about the pulling and yanking involved. Aren’t you relieved? But! I do get to tell you about [...]
Not just Streaky Silverware, but Milky Milk Glasses
Monday, September 27th, 2010It’s been just over a year since I wrote about how our very hard water leaves all of our dishes streaky and covered in calcium deposits. And you know? It’s getting REALLY BAD. There were some good suggestions in the comments – specific green rinse aids, trusting in vinegar, but the scale kept getting worser [...]
Easy Peasy Tip: Air out your Bedding!
Saturday, September 25th, 2010It’s a good time of year to (in the northern hemisphere, anyway) get your blankets out for an inventory, shake-down, and air-out. If you’re in a temperate area, you’ve been able to avoid using them for several months now and it’s a good practice to take advantage of the last few warm days of fall [...]
“Happy Eco-News” Fridays!
Friday, September 24th, 2010Carrot vending machines a surprise success Habitat for Humanity builds a LEED-certified home for a single dad DailyGood.com/Environment — because we all need a dose of good every day! Kevin Costner pitches emergency oil spill plan to Congress — we hereby apologize for any “Dancing with Wolves” jokes we may have made in the past. [...]
I Tiny Chose Microwave Popcorn
Thursday, September 23rd, 2010Back in 2008 (how time flies here at Tiny Choices HQ!) I wrote about local-to-me popping corn, and how happy I was to be able to localize and humanize one of my favorite snacks. All of the sentiments expressed in that post still stand, and when I’m home that’s the stuff I pop up. But, [...]
Making the Right Cotton Swab Choice
Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010Here’s a tiny choice that has come up on an infrequent basis, and one that I think about often when it does occur: what is the best cotton swab to use? Now, it sounds like a really silly question. I agree! To start with, a cotton swab seems like a part of my toilette that [...]
President Clinton Goes Veganish!
Tuesday, September 21st, 2010Wow– tremendous news in the vegan world– former President Bill Clinton has gone veganish! While he still occasionally eats fish, he seems to be vegan on all other fronts. I love that he’s coming at this from a health angle– apparently, now that his daughter’s married, he wants to be healthy and active for many [...]
Staying accountable: Go Team Tiny Choices!
Monday, September 20th, 2010Y’all, I need some help. Now, despite the fact that I have got to finish insulating the attic and getting a new furnace for the house by the end of the year or we won’t be able to take advantage of the tax credits available for this work (they expire in 2010), I haven’t done [...]
Easy Peasy Tip: be a giftly collaborator!
Saturday, September 18th, 2010It’s gift season coming up, but you probably have lots of people to whom you would like to give wonderful presents. Consider getting some friends to who also suffer from the purchasing dilemnas together, and pick out something larger and more special for your loved one. Similarly, if each one pitches in to make a [...]
“Happy Eco-News” Fridays!
Friday, September 17th, 2010Pedal-Powered Washing Machine Gets Big Company Backing Toyota to launch 6 new hybrid models by end of 2012 Captain Planet Turns 20, and Get His Own Holiday 5 easy eggless desserts New York City to Ban Smoking in Parks & Beaches Conversations with Women Cyclists (Video)
I Cooked Beans From Scratch
Thursday, September 16th, 2010And you know what? It wasn’t difficult at all. At all! All these years I’ve been buying canned beans, because I just didn’t really understand how dried beans worked. Well, ok, I understood how they work– they’re dry, you soak them, then boil them, then eat them– but I don’t know, something about the process [...]
Recycling Organizations in the UK
Wednesday, September 15th, 2010Friend of Tiny Choices Claire sent along this amazing infographic for her organization: Infographic by Recycle – Don’t bin it, recycle it – which is a classified ad system that allows users to post ads for items they’re eager to get rid of. It sounds really similar to freecycle, but they do appear to charge [...]
Turning Plastic Back Into Oil
Tuesday, September 14th, 2010This is a story which could have easily made it into one of our “Happy Eco-News Fridays!” posts, but it blew my mind so completely that it clearly warranted a post of its own. Let’s start with a working definition of garbage: defined as “discarded or useless material,” it’s the stuff which doesn’t make it [...]
NYC DEP Water On The Go
Monday, September 13th, 2010I participated in the Susan Koman 5K this weekend and I was so excited to see a fancy portable water fountain at the finish line! Honestly, I was worried about what I would drink from when I finished the run. I did have my mug with me, but my friend was graciously holding my bag [...]
Easy Peasy Tip: Evaluate Packaging!
Saturday, September 11th, 2010So often we are at the store and filled with the desire, well, to buy stuff. And maybe it’s not just a desire but an honest-to-goodness need, you know? But before you plunk down the cash for your goods, take a moment and evaluate the packaging. Most simply, is it in a plastic bottle or [...]
“Happy Eco-News” Fridays!
Friday, September 10th, 20102010 the Year of the Yurt? There may be nothing we love more than yurts… Men: Pee And Wash In The Same Fixture! — what’s better than a story about greywater reclamation and pee?! Build This Cozy Cabin – $4k for an adorable cabin? Yes please! Backyard volunteers help scientists track firefly numbers Five Minutes [...]
Green Kitchen Remodel
Thursday, September 9th, 2010I moved into my apartment about five years ago, and since then had done small upgrades around my home– I painted rooms fun colors, and replaced the sink and cabinet in my bathroom. These kinds of things made such a huge visual impact while still not requiring a huge amount of time, effort, or money. [...]
Film vs. Digital
Wednesday, September 8th, 2010I think it’s a pretty obvious conclusion that a film camera is inherently less “green” than a digital one – after all, there’s all the chemicals involved in making and processing the film, to start with. (Anyone remember that smell of warm photos fresh from the 1-hr photomat? that’s the smell of volatile organic chemicals!) [...]
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