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Author Archive | Jennie Lyon

How to Make Your Outdoor Space More Eco-Friendly This Weekend

July 17, 2020 0

Outdoor living spaces are becoming more and more popular. But despite the fact that they’re outside, many outdoor living spaces are not very eco-friendly. While it’s true that plants can reduce stress and negative feelings by up to 60%, planting a few flowers isn’t going to make a space very eco-friendly. So if you’re looking to turn your green space into something truly eco-friendly, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

Use Green Materials

When you’re building your outdoor space, it’s important to start with using eco-friendly materials. Whether you’re building a patio or creating walkways, using the right materials is important. You should consider materials like rubber paving stones, permeable concrete, and reclaimed wood. If you’re extending your roof over your outdoor space, choosing the right roofing material can even reduce energy use by up to 30%. Think about using materials that are recycled, have a low impact on the environment when they’re made, and options that will last a long time so you don’t have to replace them. Starting with the right materials is key to building a great green space.

Choose Eco-Friendly Furniture

Another great way to go green with your outdoor area is by choosing eco-friendly furniture. Most furniture is not made with eco-friendly materials, but you can make the decision to ensure the furniture you’re buying is as sustainable as possible. Cushions filled with organic cotton, end tables made from recycled wood, and other sustainable furnishing options are not too difficult to find. Additionally, you can consider making your own furniture. You can use something like stainless steel pipes, which can last longer than 100 years, to create table legs and use other refurbished materials as well. Going green with your furniture is easy to do and you can still have aesthetically pleasing options. Even though furniture is the third most expensive item a person will buy during their lifetime, after a house and a car, spending a little more on eco-friendly materials is worth the investment.

Use Sustainable Lighting

Lighting is an important element for outdoor areas, especially if you’re looking to host parties and gatherings after dark. Unfortunately, using the wrong lighting can simply increase your energy bills and further harm the environment. But there is a wide variety of options for sustainable lighting — solar-powered outdoor lights are becoming increasingly common. You can use solar lights to illuminate pathways, your deck, and even throughout your garden. Solar lights are great because they look good and don’t use any energy. To go along with some solar lights, consider getting some outdoor candles, just make sure they’re all-natural to stick with your green theme.

Creating a great outdoor living space is easy, especially if you already have the perfect area picked out. And while choosing sustainable options may take a little more time and effort, it’s definitely worth it. So keep these simple tips in mind to help you get started on going green at home and you’ll have a great sustainable outdoor area to enjoy in no time.

Ways to Upcycle or Recycle Wine Corks

July 12, 2020 2

Corks are biodegradable and small, so you may think throwing them away is alright. Unfortunately, it takes a Cork Oak Tree 25 years before the cork can be harvested. Then, only the cork from the first harvest can be used for wine corks. Doesn’t it seem silly to just toss it in the trash?

Here are some fun ways I have upcycled my wine corks! I made fun stamps to give as gifts! We’ve also made tiny succulent magnets for our fridge and place cards for Thanksgiving! 

diy mini succulent wine cork planters

If you don’t feel crafty, you can recycle the corks! To recycle, you can send them to a program called Korks For Kids, a non-profit organization or to Yemm and Hart, a company that will recycle them into other products.

The mister and I enjoy our wine tasting together and as a tradition we keep every wine cork that we share in a large jar in our kitchen. We also keep corks from special occassions and write the name of the event on the date before tossing them into the jar! I have also seen them stored in shadow boxes and hung as amazing pieces of art.

How do you upcycle your corks?

The Perfect Green Cocktail for Summer: Frozen Organic Gin Lemonade

July 10, 2020 0

Looking for the perfect drink for your pool party! The mister whipped up a batch of his famous Gin Lemonade recently and I was reminded how much I love it this time of year! Be careful though, they are strong – one is all you need. Ha!

What you will need:
  • juice from 5 organic lemons
  • 1 1/2 cups of organic sugar
  • 1 1/2 cup organic gin (you can also use vodka)
  • 8 cups ice

Directions:

Whisk the lemon juice and sugar together until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add the gin and whisk again. Then, add the 8 cups of ice to a blender with the gin-lemon-sugar mixture and blend until smooth. Add lemon slices for garnish and enjoy.

Earth Friendly Etsy: Repurposed Eco-Friendly Fashion For Your Pet

July 7, 2020 2
My love for dogs started when my husband bought me a Miniature Schnauzer for our first Hanukkah together eleven years ago. 20 years later, we have Noodles, the Pug, and Olive the French Bulldog. Needless, to say we love our dogs and feel that they would also want us to make eco-friendly choices when choosing products for them.

With that being said, check out the amazing work of Wagging Green Pet Shop. Wagging Green offers wonderful green items for the pooch in your life. Everything from beautiful harnesses, leashes, and collars to clothing and dog beds. All of their items are made of either renewable or repurposed fabrics and materials allowing for items that are low impact and sustainable. 
 
How does your pet go eco?

3 Budget-Friendly Ways to Remodel Your Kitchen and Bathroom

July 7, 2020 0

NOTE FROM SWEET GREENS: Thank you supporting the companies that keep Sweet Greens in business.

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If you’ve decided you would like to remodel different areas of your home, you may want to start with the kitchen and bathroom. Both these rooms are most likely frequented by everyone in the household on a daily basis, which make them a great place to start your remodel. Even once you’ve decided these are the two rooms you want to work on, you could have some concerns about how much money it will cost to achieve a drastic transformation. You may also be worrying about the challenges of making eco-friendly design decisions while staying on-budget. Here some effective, budget-friendly, and environmentally conscious ways to complete the remodeling process without stressing yourself out.

1. Choose a Fresh and Exciting Color of Paint For the Walls

Nothing says new like a fresh coat of paint. A new color on the walls of each room is a great way to start the transformation process. Painting is budget-friendly because you can easily do it on your own. All you need to do is get the necessary supplies, such as cans of paint, brushes, and rollers. Painting is often a concern for the environmentally conscious decorator because it traditionally contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that release toxins. However, in recent years, mainstream companies like Benjamin Moore have released paints with zero VOCs at a reasonable price-point. There are many affordable eco-friendly paint options available on the market today that can instantly take your bathroom and kitchen from drab to stunning.

One important tip is to set aside some dedicated time to get the painting done. If you are off from work on the weekends, you could probably get both these rooms painted in two days if you stay focused.

2. Replace Those Old Countertops With New and Modern Options

Adding a new color to both rooms is a great way to start the renovation process, but there are other budget-friendly options that can make a major difference too. Countertops in your kitchen may be old, outdated, and possibly even a bit stained. You could buy new and updated countertops while getting everything you need to remodel your home kitchen and bathroom. There are several eco-friendly materials to choose from, including recycled glass, fast-growing bamboo, recycled wood. Aside from considering appearance, affordability, and quality, you may want to select a specific color and pattern to match the existing color and décor of your kitchen.

3. Enhance the Look of Old Cabinets With Simple Yet Effective Tricks

If you would like to take the renovations one step further, completing a do-it-yourself project to transform the cabinets in your kitchen and bathroom is a great idea. There are several effective and fun tips and tricks you can use to make old cabinets look brand new again. You could start by using sandpaper to smooth the surface of the material and remove any minor imperfections. After sanding, you can paint the cabinets on your own with a new paint color or even some wood stain. Another easy way to change the look of your cabinets is to replace the old hardware with updated handles. There are hundreds of different knobs and pulls to choose from! Sprucing up your current cabinets helps your renovation stay eco-friendly by upcycling your existing furnishings.

You may have many reasons for wanting to remodel your kitchen and bathroom. Most people complete home renovations because they would like to upgrade their living space and make it even more comfortable. If you are worried about trying to complete these upgrades on a budget, focus on keeping it simple and making a few small changes that can make a significant difference.

Aside from increasing your own comfort, there is another great reason for you to complete these budget-friendly renovations. When you update your kitchen and bathroom, you are increasing the value of your property. If you have plans to sell your home at some point in the future, the renovations you’ve done can make it worth even more than you expect.

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