Being Booga

About the photo: This was taken very close to my home in rural Missouri. I’m back in the city now, so these photos are very special to me.

For Earth Day I thought I’d list out what I am doing that’s “Green”.

1. I make my own laundry detergent, reusing the packaging / storage container and not using harmful chemicals.
2. I make most of my own cleaning supplies, again, reusing the same storage containers / bottles.
3. I simply don’t buy things that have extra packaging. Ever notice the cheaper store brand products have less packaging?
4. Recycle newsprint, paper, cardboard, plastics
5. Wash and Reuse plastic bags and other containers
6. I buy most, if not all, my clothes from the resale shops / thrift shops
7. I don’t drive every day. Sometimes not at all in a week. Bought a bus pass. Moved to a neighborhood that’s walk-friendly (check www.WalkScore.Com to find out how your neighborhood scores!)
8. Get out and really enjoy nature, the countryside and fresh clean air.
9. Grow my own vegetables (mostly)
10. Support companies and products, by voting with my purchasing power, that I feel are environmentally responsible.

I’m going to start using reusable shopping bags, I’ve had them forever, I just keep forgetting them.

What do you do? How are you celebrating Earth Day?

For Earth Day 1990 I actually started and organized the Earth Day events in my city in California and asked the City Counsel for a proclamation stating that April 22nd was “Earth Day” in our town. Wow, Right? I remember we cleaned up our lake, river, and planted trees. We also had a little fair.

I’m not really celebrating today - but it’s a fine day to think about it at least, isn’t it? I’m a lot greener now than I was then! I even planted a tree recently.

I was tagged! MyGoodCents.Net challenged me to the “3 Random Things” meme, which was started by Ginger over at Attention Target Shoppers. So, here goes!

1. I play the drums.

2. I love the seasons, the moon and I believe in omens and superstitions.

3. I collect aprons and old kitchen gadgetry (I love to cook).

What do you think of my 3 Random?

I’m going to carry this meme on to the 5 people I’m curious about!
The Amelia :: Tight Fisted Miser :: TipsnTreasures :: Retro Food :: Frisky Wife

More Random:

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Furnishing a New Place or Wanting Something New? If you have no money set aside in the budget, you will have to use your wits in order to create something great. The magic happens when you see the “potential” of something and can see it though. Here’s an entertainment credenza I “made”.

First, I checked my Pottery Barn catalog for ideas. I really like the black painted look that’s popular right now. Their entertainment credenza, pictured above, was listed for $799.00.

I checked Craigslist “Free” and saw an ad for free office furniture. Turns out they had several of them they were giving away - so I went to their warehouse and picked one up.

Craigslist Free Old Office Credenza: FREE - I went to Home Depot and purchased a 2 quarts of paint - Kilz Sealer (actually I think I got a cheaper brand) - and a good quality Gloss Paint (Black) - I also bought 2 sponge tip “brushes”. I spent a total of $11.00 for Paint / Sealer & Supplies

And Voila - A nice looking entertainment credenza inspired by an $800 Pottery Barn one. It’s not as strong or sturdy OR as “perfect”. No. The key with this is to appreciate how it looks - and treat it with loving care (don’t move too often or load it down too much) . If it gets a nick or scrape, it’s easy to touch it up since I have the paint. It only took a total of 2 days to do this project - I let it dry well between layers.

My entertainment credenza doesn’t look exactly the same as the Pottery Barn one - it’s a little different. But it’s black (hip) it’s the same shape and height and has drawers instead of doors.

Here it is:

I removed the front panel doors and chose to leave the inside part there wood-grain. The drawers are good from file storage - they are complete with hanging file rails! I really appreciate the fact that this piece is super-versatile, it can be used in a dining room as a “sideboard”, in a bedroom as a dresser / valet or like I’m using it, as an entertainment credenza.

Originally I thought I’d replace the drawer handles for an updated look. After I painted it, though I decided I liked the old brass ones so I kept them. Replacing the handles would have cost an additional $10.00.

What do you think?

I saw a similar blog post somewhere that was all about using the Pottery Barn catalog for inspiration but finding a very frugal alternative solution to decorating. If anyone can remind me of that blog post, can you send it along to me? This post was a blog-post-response and I’d love to give them credit and a link.

EDIT: Amelia over at http://www.theamelia.com reminded me where I’d seen a similar post about using the catalog for inspiration then finding a cheaper alternative. It was over at FrugalHacks.Com

Thanks!

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Had a guest for dinner last night and I served Herb Roasted Vegetables.

She LOVED it and suggested I post the recipe on here - so, Gina, here it is! Enjoy!

Ingredients:

3 or 4 small red potatoes - washed and cubed (skin on)

1 zucchini cubed - skin on

1 small onion, quartered

2 carrots, sliced

Optional: Cubed fresh tomato, cubed / peeled squash, bell pepper, mushrooms, sweet potato

Put the prepared vegetables in a rectangle baking dish. Drizzle liberally with olive oil. Sprinkle with dried thyme, rosemary, zest spice, garlic powder, salt & pepper. Toss and mix until the veggies are covered in herbs & spice and oil is distributed evenly.

Place in 400 degree oven. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Stir. Continue to bake another 10 to 15 minutes until vegetables are fork-tender and caramelized. Roast longer in oven if you like your vegetables more tender.

NOTE: Some recipes for Oven Roasted Vegetables have you cover your pan with foil for the first part of baking. I have done this, also. When I cut the veggies up smaller, however, I don’t need to use foil. Play with this. Just keep baking until they’re as tender as you like. If they’re burning faster than you’d like - use foil!