Easter Egg Leftovers? Don't throw it away or let it go stale...

by Katy Green
shoptobegreen.com




Chocolate Easter Egg


"Sharing is Caring" 













my daily mantra and whenever prudent and/or helpful to the environment I pass along information that will help the planet. I encourage you to pass this along to your friends and family as well!

Every wonder what to do with all the left over candy from Easter?

Don't throw it away instead give it to your local dentist office, doctor's office or any place that you frequent.

Out of chocolate for baking? Melt the leftover Easter Egg chocolate and use it to top your desserts, cakes or ice cream. For more creative ideas, check out the ShopSmart article.

Precycle, recycle and share daily!

White Vinegar - check label, multiple uses and Yeast Allergy sufferers beware!

by Katy Green
shoptobegreen.com




White Vinegar has so many uses and I am sure you are aware that white vinegar is great for cleaning your coffeemaker. You can ride the earth friendly wave, save money and reduce your consumption of products by thinking in multiples ways instead of one way.

White Vinegar or Organic White Distilled Vinegar can be used for a variety of household cleaning tasks:

Note:  If you don't like vinegar, revolted by the smell of vinegar or if you have a yeast allery you should try Solay All Natural Cleaning Products Package: the Solay Package will effectively clean, sanitize and keeps your home, laundry, fruits and veggies and your air quality healthy, safe and non-toxic. 100% free of petroleum based or other hazardous ingredients, SLS, fragrances, phosphates, animal by products, dyes and other common triggers for respiratory or skin irritations.

Uses for White Vinegar or Organic Distilled Vinegar:

1. Help kill germs and deodorize
2. Remove some carpet stains
3. Clean chrome and cookware
4. Clean counter tops
5. Unclog drains
6. Clean shower heads
7. Gardening
8. Kill bugs
9. Clean Tools
10. Remove hazy film from the car window and remove stains
11. Multiple health and beauty uses
12. Laundry
13. Get rid of fruit flies
14. Wipe grease off exhaust fans, inside of your oven, or anywhere grease gathers.
15. Remove a label, decal, or price tag, and/or even wall paper. Soak the cloth you use in white distilled vinegar. 

I could list over 100 uses instead I will share: 131 Uses for Vinegar lists many ways to use vinegar and 245 Organic Uses for Vinegar offers pure organic alternative uses for vinegar.

Note: Don’t use white vinegar or organic white distilled vinegar on acetate fabrics, such as in some tablecloths, because it can dissolve the fibers

Concerned about the smell of Vinegar?

According to greenerchoices.org, the smell of white vinegar is strong while wet but when drys it leaves no odor.



White Vinegar Definition:

As always I like to provide detail on any item I feature because you have the right to be informed. There are many definitions for White Vinegar but the most common: White vinegar is an oxidizing distilled alcohol or corn; high in acetic acid and is very sour and harsh-tasting. 

Organic Vinegars:

White Distilled Organic Vinegar or Spectrum Organics Vinegar claims to be safe from chemical or petroleum or Heinz^® Vinegar and all claim to be petroleum free - although the FDA is not aware of any manufacturers that use petroleum to start their vinegar. Another alternative to using vinegar for cleaning is Solay Cleaning Products.


Suffer from a Yeast Allergy?

If you suffer from yeast allergies then you should avoid white vinegar and there are many types of vinegar you should avoid: apple cider vinegar, malt vinegar, balsamic vinegar, rice and wine vinegar to name a few.

Distilled vinegar has the least amount of yeast although it is not yeast-free because the process to make it distills it to concentrate the acetic acid and purify the vinegar so there is very little yeast protein in it, depending on how carefully the distillation process has been conducted.

Remember to read the label, always research your products and find multiple ways to use your household items. Check out our article on multiple uses for coffee!

Stay tuned for more ways to use your household products and remain green and healthy!

Having a stressful week or month? We got the cure.

by Katy Green
shoptobegreen

We understand everyone has a stressful moment, day, week or even month. Time is limited, so many things to do, never enough time to sleep, relax or reflect.

Well, we figured how to help you and boost your mood and even perhaps help you relax.

So take a brief break and watch our quick beach meditation video.



Enjoy your day, week or month.

 

Eco Romantic Candles ...A Love Affair

by Katy Green
shoptobegreen.com

Old Candles - Paraffin Wax

There are many articles about candles and the romance that ensues because of their luminous glow. Candles evoke a primal mysticism and conjures up all types of thoughts... mostly affairs of the heart.

Maybe you are not familiar with the origin of the candle?Well, let's learn something that we can share at our next social gathering..shall we?

Candles have been in use for thousands of years and it seems no one knows when the first candle was created. The original use was for the obvious - to shed light because electricity was not invented as yet.

Clay Candle

According to craftcave.com:

•  Clay candle holders dating from the fourth century B.C. have been found in Egypt.
• Early Chinese and Japanese candles were made with wax derived from insects and seeds molded in paper tubes.
• Wax skimmed from boiling cinnamon was the basis of tapers for temple use in India.
• The first known candle in America dates to the first century A.D. Native Americans burned oily fish (candlefish) wedged into a forked stick.
• Early missionaries in the southwestern United States boiled the bark of the Cerio tree and skimmed the wax.

Many materials such as by-products of beef-fat rendering, beeswax, paraffin (most popular) and wax from Bayberries have been used to create this amazing light source.

Solay Rosemary Soy Pure Candle

Scented candles made mostly of paraffin have been the rage over the last two decades but according to the American Chemical Society paraffin wax emits toluene, benzene, and a host of other toxins linked to asthma, eczema and cancer.” Benzene and toluene, which are released in the air when the paraffin is burnt, are dangerous and you should avoid inhaling them no matter what, experts agree. In addition, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that benzene and toluene are probable human carcinogens.

Of course occasional use of paraffin wax won't harm you but why not try an earth friendly candle. I am sure you don't want to risk your life for a weekly romantic dinner over candlelight.

The most important question of the day is which candle burns the longest, gives the best scents and is safest. The safety issue is still in question but according to Greenerchoices.org, Soy and beeswax are a better choice and organic soy is made from nongenetically engineered plants grown without synthetic fertilizers or harmful pesticides. Many local farmers markets sell those natural candles.

Moroccan Tea Glass - Aqua Henna Candle

It seems that soy and beeswax burn just as long or even longer than paraffin which means the scent lasts longer. I prefer natural soy based candles but be sure to confirm that the candle is made of soy and not other artificial ingredients. Please check the ingredients and be wary of essential oils (explained in the greenerchoices article)

Cinnamon sticks, apple and cloves

Au Natural 

If you want your home to smell nice naturally burn a pot of water with cinnamon sticks, cloves or orange peels. If you prefer to place the pot somewhere else bring one or all of these ingredients to a boil in a tea pot and then remove it from the stove and place it wherever you like and the scent will emit from the steam released.  I encourage you to experiment and use other fruit and spice combinations.