Archive for December, 2010
« Previous EntriesTiny Solar Panels Change Everything
Thursday, December 30th, 2010This New York Times article about micro-scale solar power– tiny panels which cost about $80– is just mindblowing. It tells the story of Sarah Ruto, a Kenyan woman who, every week, walked two miles to the nearest taxi which she then took for a three-hour drive to the nearest village with electricity; all of this [...]
Holiday Giving – how did it go?
Wednesday, December 29th, 2010We have spent a lot of time in past years talking about different ways to gift and to step out of the consumerist race – and there are a lot of posts! regifting! holidaze! give it away! have a thoughtful black friday! plan your gifts early! Etc! This year we didn’t have much build up [...]
An Open Letter To Jiffy Mix
Tuesday, December 28th, 2010Dear “Jiffy” Corn Bread Mix: Your website is currently proudly displaying a holiday message to your customers, which reads, “From our home to yours, the very best for the Holidays!” Well, I have an, ahem, bone to pick with you. If you were really sending us, your faithful customers who are drawn to your trusted [...]
Insulating Windows
Monday, December 27th, 2010Of course you know I am nutty these days about insulation – actually I passed a lovely Christmas dinner speaking with a friends father about his house, and how it’s insulated. However one of the things that isn’t as, well, forgive the pun, clear to me, is windows. They’re a large ticket item, so it’s [...]
Easy Peasy Tip: Celebrate!
Saturday, December 25th, 2010Whatever your personal beliefs, celebrate big! Whether religious, cultural, spiritual and/or environmental, celebration makes us happy, helps us to relax, and reminds us to appreciate and be grateful for what we’ve got. So celebrate a holiday, a birthday, an event, or the fact that it’s Tuesday — and share your blessings with those you love. [...]
Happy Eco-News Friday!
Friday, December 24th, 2010This watercone desalinization system is pretty neat! Buy Nothing Christmas has some neat resources available – including coupons and posters. Car dealerships weigh in on the strength of the hybrid and electric car market! Some villages in NYS are offering free CFL bulbs to promote energy efficiency! Some anti-nuclear-reactor groups are pushing conservation by promoting [...]
A Cuppa Tea, Tiny Choosing Style
Thursday, December 23rd, 2010I recently stayed a few days with my folks, out in suburban NYC (yes, it does exist!). The weather’s been all freezing cold and harsh, and they were awfully nice to keep the heat raised a few degrees higher than they normally would for me. Is that a tiny choice, a la my fantastico co-blogger Karina, who [...]
Vintage Powder Compacts
Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010This post is inspired by two points: Point the first: Tonight I was out picking up some last minute giftyness (NOT at the mall, don’t worry!) and when I peeked into the tote-bag-as-purse I’ve been using lately, I discovered unpleasantly that my compact of pressed powder had not just shattered, but spilled, and there was [...]
Paperwork Sustainable Art: Interview & Giveaway!
Tuesday, December 21st, 2010Tiny Choices is thrilled to present a Q&A (and giveaway, below!) with Stepen Tanenbaum, one of the founders of UGallery.com, an online art shop. In June 2010, they launched Paperwork.ugallery.com, which offers limited edition prints by emerging artists for as little as $20. All of the artwork is printed archivally on bamboo paper, the world’s [...]
Balmy Balmy Second Floor
Monday, December 20th, 2010At the risk of being repetitive, I just wanted to brag on the new insulation we put in. Y’all! It is SO WARM on our second floor! Now, I knew that it would be more comfortable in our house… even though we weren’t planning on reprogramming the thermostat from 55 at night and 62 when [...]
Easy Peasy Tip: Combine!
Saturday, December 18th, 2010Combine different things you have, and make your creations even better: Making coffee at home? Toss in some cocoa powder for a homemade mocha (saving money and disposable paper cups)! Knitting a gift? Add in some leftover bits of yarn, to use them up and jazz up your project! Cooking a meal? Consider which leftovers [...]
Happy Eco-News Friday!
Friday, December 17th, 2010This clip of an electric eel powering a Christmas Tree is amazing, and mostly because the scientist is so charming and hilarious. And if you don’t have an electric eel jazzing up your tree, check out these resources for everything from live to rented trees, to DIY trees made from recycled wood. Can it be [...]
Repairing My Boots
Thursday, December 16th, 2010It’s hardcore winter here in the Northeastern US, and that means COLD. Cold! Also, did I mention that it’s cold? This means winter boots are in order, because the wind whips right through any other type of shoe. So it seemed the perfect time to send my beloved Blundstones off for the resoling they desperately [...]
Finally! Insulation!
Wednesday, December 15th, 2010I’ve been blathering on about how badly we need to insulate our home for – well! Over a year. And after all of my chest-pounding about how I need to stay accountable (and missing THAT self imposed deadline) I am happy to say: THE ATTIC IS INSULATED. It’s true! Here it is, crazy eaves and [...]
Tiny Contradictions
Tuesday, December 14th, 2010While eating lunch at a quick-food (not fast-food, but simple, quick, and healthy eats) restaurant in Manhattan today, I went to go get a set of chopsticks to eat my delicious dumplings with. As I stood at the condiments & utensils bar, I sighed at all the disposables on offer: plastic spoons, knives, and forks; [...]
Same result, wildly different implementations
Monday, December 13th, 2010I was thinking this weekend about the reader surveys, and especially the question “What is the one environmental Tiny Choice you would like every single person to adopt?” I think that we get really interesting suggestions, and of course, it reflects the writers personal priorities. And we see lots of things like “use reusable bags!” [...]
Easy Peasy Tip: Give!
Saturday, December 11th, 2010Whether it’s time, possessions, or money, during this holiday time of reflection, give! Give of yourself: volunteer for a soup kitchen or homeless shelter or any other worthy cause which moves your heart. Give your time to your loved ones. Give of your knowledge to those who would benefit: teach a little yoga or meditation [...]
Tiny Choices Survey: Lane’!
Friday, December 10th, 2010We are so thrilled to receive a survey from Tiny Choices reader Lane’! Did you know that you too can be featured on a survey Friday? Take a look, answer some questions, and email them to us! The directions are below! Vital statistics (name, age, location, link to website/blog)? Lane’, 35, Portland, Oregon – http://www.TheLivingGreenSolution.com [...]
Regifting, Master’s Thesis Style!
Thursday, December 9th, 2010Ya’ll might remember the article I recently wrote titled “Regifting is Awesome!” (it’s the perfect time for a re-read, in this holiday gifting season) Well, that post received a comment from Elizabeth, who is a student in England writing her Master’s thesis on this very subject! Great choice, Elizabeth! So, I asked Elizabeth if she’d [...]
Convenience Foods
Wednesday, December 8th, 2010Yesterday I was at work super late – I got in before 8AM, and I left after 8PM – and on the way home I had to stop off at the store to get some contact lens solution. I don’t know about y’all, but when I’ve been working for a long day and have to [...]
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