Earth Friendly

If you always find yourself looking for content, products and services that have an environmental focus and are dedicated to sustainability, check out a new site called PosiPeople . This site is committed to “highlighting good apples.” You can register for free and vote on or submit websites that provide the best information when it comes to the environment, energy, healthy living, etc. You can also find out what sites, services and products are most popular among the PosiPeople members. So broaden your horizons and check out all of the wonderful websites, products and services that PosiPeople highlights on their easy to navigate, community-driven forum.

Since I’m a writer, I enjoy reading and have to do a lot of it in order to keep up on what’s going on in the world. I’ve been hearing a lot about a new piece of technology called the Amazon Kindle. It’s a wireless reading device, and you can download books wherever you are and read them without having to hassle with a paperback or hard cover book. This is a environmentalist’s dream, because you can significantly reduce your paper consumption if you are an avid readers. Plus, the Kindle books, even new ones, are about half the original price since printing costs are not included. Check it out, and if you want to buy one, get $50 off by using the following promotion code: OPRAHWINFREY. Do keep in mind that this offer ends Nov. 1.

It can be tempting to buy a new Halloween costume every year, but you really shouldn’t have to do that. You can use the costumes you already own to create new characters or improve the costumes. With the economic challenges, families might not be able to afford new costumes for every kid, so use unique outfits in your child’s closet and be creative. To be a black cat, all you need is black clothing and some extra cloth to sew ears and a tail. Or use makeup to make a statement for your face and wear simple clothing. Halloween is about being creative, and you will be surprised what ideas you can come up with when you make do with what you have.

One way to save money is to decrease your consumption of meat. If your trying to find ways to scrimp and save, adopt a vegetarian diet and see how you much you save. Canned beans are great to have in the cupboards, because they have a long shelf life and they are easy to incorporate into different meals. Add garbanzo beans to a salad for protein or add Northern beans to your greens. Beans and rice has been known as the poor man’s meal, and lentil beans are extremely healthy for you. So eliminate meat from your diet and see how much you save.

With the economic meltdown and job layoffs, families are unable to keep their pets. It’s heartbreaking to know that some animal shelters are having a hard time caring for this influx of pets. If you know a local shelter that is struggling, contact them to see how you can help. For example, volunteer your time and help walk the dogs or feed and clean the animals. Another way to help is to offer to buy them food or donate money to their cause. Better yet, be your shelter’s spokesperson and persuade people who have the money to adopt a pet. There are so many animals that need a home, and if the shelter runs out of money to care for them they will most likely be euthanized.

I think this is a crocodile, which I took a picture of when I was at the Pittsburgh zoo this summer. Alligators have U-shaped jaws while crocodile’s jaws are V-shaped, and crocodiles have an olive tone to their skin. Both reptiles have sensory glands along their jaws, which enables them to determine the water pressure and find prey. Another interesting fact is that saltwater crocodiles are more aggressive than alligators.

Please send in your eco pics to CatsEyeEditing@yahoo.com. They can be pictures showing your unique takes on recycling, composting, etc., or they can show the beauty of nature and animals.

Something you use every day is your alarm clock. If you are like me and have trouble waking up in the morning, you might have several alarm clocks set. Most likely you have it plugged into the wall and have batteries in it as a back up just in case the electricity goes out. What if I told you that you wouldn’t have to worry about backing up? What if I also told you that you could save electricity by using a different alarm clock? Bedol has created a water-powered alarm clock, which can wake you up and reduce your consumption of electricity. Salt has to be added about once a week, and this digital clock comes in a variety of colors.

Halloween is my favorite holiday, and it’s the perfect time to get your friends together for a party. However, parties can become costly and wasteful if you’re not conscious of your spending. Below are ways to host a ghostly party without breaking your piggy bank:

1. Use items around the house to create a frightful scene. Bed sheets, pillows, lamps, dressers, etc. can all be transformed into a variety of Halloween objects such as ghosts, goblins, tombstones, etc.
2. Make your own candy to avoid buying wrapped candy. Bake cookies and cupcakes or make hard candy.
3. Get rid of food that you already have in your fridge. Make spaghetti and eyeballs and other creative dishes.

In order to help others and the environment, you need to be performing at your best. The economic hardships that we have only begun to experience are going to take a toll on our mind and bodies. Stress can prevent you from being the best person you can be. Below are some ways to stop stress in its tracks:

1. Take deep breaths. Often when people are stressed, they take shallow breaths.
2. Practice meditation and/or pilates outdoors. Exercising can help you detoxify your body and refocus your mind.
3. Eat organic foods that are rich in protein and low in carbohydrates.
4. Increase your intake of water. Stop drinking carbonated beverages.

The world is changing drastically, and it will take time before the economy is stable again. So what are you doing to do to help you save enough money for retirement and to send your children to college? Below are some ways that can help you reduce your spending and help you save.

1. Stay at home when it comes to eating and entertaining. Drinking and eating out is costly, but you can make your home into your new party central.
2. Split your driving time in half by speaking with your supervisor about working from home.
3. Limit how much you shop for yourself. Do you really need new clothes? Do you need a new video game or DVD?

When you change your lifestyle and live within your means, you will find the money you need for retirement, college, business materials, etc.