New Green Girl

Using Essential Oils & Herbs

unwrittendreams — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:20:16 +0000

I’m not going to lie, I know NOTHING about using essential oils or growing herbs. Heck, I can’t even keep a plant alive!

I’ve never used them. I don’t even know where to buy them! But I’ve been reading a lot about them, and all the beneficial uses for tons of things like cleaning, relaxation, healing, you name it they probably do it. I know I’ve heard all about how great they work, and how clean and non-toxic they are, but obviously I’ve never really paid much attention to any of it, or I’ve just tell myself, “Yea, sure. I’ll look into another time.”

Now is the time.

We’ve really become a society that loves the quick fix. Have a stain, or a sprain we run out to the store and buy something in can that pollutes the air, or pop a capsule that has a bunch of ingredients we have no idea what they are! To me that just seems like an alarm should be going off on our heads that something is no right. It almost seems like we’ve all just become science experiments, outsourced our bodies and have given over control to advertising and marketing schemes.

Well, no more. Before I immediately turn to the store, I’ll look for another solution that is healthier and in the long run, safer. Starting an herb garden and stocking up on essential oils is my new goal. It’s funny, because today I came across a free booklet all about the basics of herbs. You have no idea how excited I am to receive this in the mail! The sooner it arrives, the sooner I can get started living a cleaner, healthier life!

And check this out…

…growing your own herbs in a SHOE ORGANIZER!?! You better believe I’ll be jumpin’ all over this as soon as I receive my first paycheck (I started a new job this week, we just moved to a new place last week!)! Buy some seeds, and get a gardinin’! Well, after I read up on it some more…

Now, where can I get some essential oils…?

If anyone has any experience using essential oils and has any recipes they’d like to share with me, or growing herbs and has any suggestions for me, PLEASE SHARE! I would love to learn more about these two topics from some pros or even amateurs who’ve already gotten started!

As I get started, I’ll post some photos of what’s going on, and my progress!

Wish me luck!

Tin Can Lanterns

unwrittendreams — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:03:05 +0000

These are the cutest, and so eco-friendly! What a great way to turn a great recyclable item into something useful and very stylish for your outdoor garden or patio!

I can’t WAIT to make some of these! I also have some coffee tins I’ve been saving that I was going to turn into planters, but I may just turn it into a great candle-holder for my patio table.

For directions on how to make these, head over HERE and get started!

When I make some I’ll definitely post a few and let you know how they turned out! I’m not sure I’ll use a leaf design, but I do like it. Perfect for the outdoors!

Photo by Scott Phillips

Towel-Drying Dishes

unwrittendreams — Wed, 13 May 2009 08:17:14 +0000

My first task on becoming more eco/green was to stick to something I could do on a regular basis and be small. I searched around the apartment and found it. That one little button on the dishwasher that uses heat to dry the dishes. Yes, yes I absolutely enjoy taking out the dishes warm, spotless, and dry, but I thought to myself: Is this REALLY necessary?

The more I thought about it, the more I realized how stupid that little button is just for a little convenience. When I think about all those little conveniences and how they are destroying the planet, it disturbs me. Something we think we can’t live without, wasting so much energy. Energy that can be utilized in a more efficient, money-saving way. I really don’t even want to think about how much energy I’ve personally wasted by using that little button.

Start towel-drying your dishes.

Photo by jenny downing

Cereal Box Journals

unwrittendreams — Wed, 06 May 2009 23:55:20 +0000

If I had a sewing machine, I would make TONS of these. I may just have to start stocking up on empty cereal boxes anyway (maybe even eat more cereal)! They just look so great, with endless possibilities. Great way to reuse those cereal boxes into something that can become very useful, such as a photo album, a children’s storybook, or a notebook to jot down some ideas. I’ll have to keep an eye out for a good used sewing machine on eBay, unless someone has one they want to send my way! J/K. (no seriously, if someone really does…:))

I could do it by hand I suppose, but it definitely wouldn’t turn out as nice as these in the end. If you’d like to make them though, head over HERE for instructions from www.thelongthread.com!

Blogging To a Greener Life

unwrittendreams — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:17:18 +0000

I feel that it’s time for me to take part in the new, cool way of living: Green. Not because everyone else is doing it, not for me, but for the lives of my my unborn children that may grace their presence on the earth some day. It pains me to see how selfish humans have become, how egos have played such a large role in the demise of the only planet we have. It’s disgusting.

The worst part is, I’ve participated in such activities. I’m wasteful and give in to my urges multiple times a day. I don’t want to be like this anymore. I just can’t. I’m not sure whether its peer pressure that has changed my mind to kick into green gear, or just plain ‘ole guilt, but regardless of which it is I need to do it for me, my unborn children, and all the animals in the eco-system that are being harmed at no fault of their own.

My goal here on this blog is to share with the world how a regular, selfish, and wasteful girl can become successful at being eco-conscious in every way, everyday. Small ways, big ways, any ways. I’ll attempt to bring you research, facts, tips, and suggestions based on how I have brought about a greener consciousness into my life. I hope to inspire YOU to belong to this new way of living for the sake of our future.