I want this handbag!!

Now this is what I call upcycling for a thrift store handbag. Jeff Crystal has provided instructions for installing a solar battery in a handbag that will keep your cell phone powered up as you are out and about. The bag was crafted by Mark Farina and could be all the next rage--he is taking requests to 'solar up' bags.

Have a green holiday!

Here we are just four weeks from Thanksgiving and I really haven't thought about what I'll do this year for Christmas. The holiday season is, without a doubt, one of the most consumer oriented, waste producing times of year. Not to sound like a grinch--I love the holidays, but several years ago, my family decided to scale back on Christmas and make it more about family get together than gift exchange. We limit gifts to less than $20 or something hand made and focus instead on trying to get together for the holidays. We cook a big, family, gut-busting meal, pull out card games and family albums, and laugh til we cry.

This year, instead of buying and decorating a tree for the house, we are going to decorate the big blue spruce in the middle of the yard. You can see it clearly from our living room window. A few things we have in mind for decorations are cranberries and popcorn garlands, pine cones smeared with peanut butter and rolled in bird seed, and other bird friendly decorations. Christmas cards will get recycled for craft projects. I buy plain paper in bright colors so I can use it year round. I've also used the Sunday funnies for wrapping paper.

There are many ways to make your Christmas more earth friendly and meaningful if you just start now and give it a little thought. It is also a great time of year to teach your kids about giving and caring for others. For more ideas for a more earth friendly holiday, check out this article from Green Living Tips. If electronics will be high on your list of things to give and receive, check out this website to find locations near you that recycle old electronics.

Check out the new i-House from Clayton Homes

These little homes were featured in a recent issue of Mother Earth News. I like what I see so far in their attempts to provide affordable green modular homes. The Clayton i-House would definitely be worth checking out if you are looking for a more sustainable lifestyle.

We lived in Clayton homes on our farm in Texas. They have won many awards for their excellence in modular and mobile homes. The little mobile home I lived in was built in the 80's, but had 2x4 framing with studs on 16" centers just like a stick built house and the floors were solid 3/4" plywood covered with carpet or vinyl. It was suffering from neglect, but with a little work it made a comfy and cozy cottage.