Bean Dip

Today was cold and snowy and I wanted a hearty lunch.  I turned to an old standby:  bean dip with organic tortilla chips!  Want to try it?  Here's what you'll need:

• 1 Cup canned refried beans (Make sure they're vegan.)
• 2 - 3 Tbsp. salsa
• Sliced jalapenos to taste
• 1/2 Cup vegan cheese alternative, shredded

Blend the refried beans, salsa and jalapenos in a microwave safe bowl.  Cover and microwave on high for 2 minutes, 30 seconds.  Mix in the "cheese" and heat an additional 30 seconds, or until the "cheese" is melted.  Enjoy with the chips while hot!

Hotels Going Green!

Last weekend, I stayed at a hotel that had taken some major steps toward eco-consciousness.  The first thing I noticed was that every light bulb was a compact fluorescent.  While this is incredibly encouraging, they do need to ensure that all those mercury-laden fluorescent light bulbs are disposed of properly.  The hotel also offered the option of not having towels and bed linens changed every day, saving thousands of gallons of water.  Despite these giant eco-steps forward, I also noticed some missed opportunities.  For example, there were no recycling receptacles for plastic water bottles or aluminum cans. Not to mention all those tiny plastic bottles of shampoo and conditioner!  Unless guests take their recyclable items home with them, that's a lot of unnecessary plastic and aluminum headed for landfills.  Which brings me to my next point.  We, as hotel guests, can do so many things on our own to make our stay as green as possible. Turn out all the lights when leaving the room or adjust the thermostat to reduce the demand for heat or air conditioning.  And, yes, take your recyclables home with you if the hotel doesn't give you a recycling bin.  Let me know if you have more ideas, and travel green! 

Real Men Carry Reusable Shopping Bags Too!

Last night I was in the parking lot of the local Whole Foods Market and I saw a man walking to his car with a reusable shopping bag full of groceries.  "So what?" you might ask.  The thing is, I was so struck that it was a man!  After the entire "'Paper or Plastic?' Neither." campaign, this should not be unusual!  But I believe it is. Even my own husband has never used a reusable bag.  This is completely unacceptable.  So what do we do to fix it?  How do we get men on board with reusable shopping bags?  Maybe availability is key.  I'm going to put a generously-sized one in my husband's car.  That way there's no excuse.  But that does nothing to change the situation in the world at large.  How about a whole new marketing campaign aimed specifically at men?  Ad people out there, this is your call to action!  If you have any more ideas, please post a comment below.

Tell the Polar Bears It's the Volcanoes' Fault!?

What would be your reaction if you heard someone say that active volcanoes are responsible for more pollution than anything man has ever done - AND that to think "we" are responsible for climate change is "boastful?"  Mine is to be dumbfounded!  How do you respond to that?  Literally, I could use your ideas. Maybe something along the lines of  "Tell the polar bears it's the volcanoes' fault?" The next day, the same person expressed frustration that local schools are now posting information on their websites instead of distributing paper flyers.  Just when I think we might be making some progress as a society toward eco-conscious living, comments like these bring me up short.

And speaking of disconcerting events, I recently found out that my daughter's middle school has been throwing away plastic water bottles that the kids had sorted for recycling on a daily basis - for the past two years!  Help!  That truly was heartbreaking to hear.  There is absolutely nothing that can undo the overwhelming waste of that decision.  And what about restoring the children's respect and trust in the adults at school?

All the more reason to never give up. Talk the talk AND walk the walk.  Reduce, reuse, recycle, any and every time, no matter where you are!




 

Vegan Valentine's Day Treats

Roses are red, violets are blue, Valentine's Day can be vegan too! That's right, no need to sacrifice this sweet holiday.  There are so many vegan treats for the special day!

1. Chocolate candy is a Valentine's Day mainstay.  The http://www.naturalcandystore.com/ website has a great selection of vegan candy, including chocolate hearts.  But act fast, because shipping deadlines apply.
2. Make cookies, a cake or cupcakes for your sweetie or your family.  This blog has several cake and frosting recipes you can use.  For cupcake recipes, I like Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World  by Isa Chandra Moskowitz & Terry Hope Romero.  Or just "google" a vegan version of your favorite recipe online.
3. You can buy vegan cookies and candy at your local Whole Foods, Fruitful Yield, or similar store or in the natural foods section of your supermarket. 
4. Flowers?  Please buy organic!
5. Kids love to get in on the act!  Help them make something special for family members.  But please be green by using recycled materials whenever possible.

And please be a paper frugalista when buying cards and wrapping your gifts or goodies.  See the February 2nd post for eco-friendly gift-wrapping ideas, and buy cards made from recycled paper stock.  Feel free to share your own ideas.  Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

Be A Paper Frugalista!

I know, I've already written about my commitment to using only recycled paper products.  And I do mean for everything: printer paper, gift wrap, paper towels, facial tissue and toilet tissue.  Thankfully, all of these recycled products are readily available.  My next step is to reduce my use of paper products altogether.  Here are some ideas:

• Printer Paper:  Don't print rough drafts, documents or coupons, etc. unless absolutely necessary.  You can proofread on your monitor and send coupons, driving directions and the like to your cell phone.
•  Gift Wrap:  Whenever possible, don't use paper.  Wrap gifts in useful fabric items, such as baby blankets, throws, a pretty scarf.  Use your imagination!  You can always put your gift in a cute reusable shopping bag or gift bag made of recycled materials.
• Paper Towels:   Buy the "you size it" style, which reduces the size of the paper towel by about 1/3.  Use cloth rags for spills instead of paper towels.  When you do use a paper towel, use the smallest size possible, even if that means tearing it in half yourself.
• Facial Tissue:  The tissues I buy are 2-ply.  Clearly, if you have a nasal explosion from the cold or flu, you need the whole tissue.  But I often only need to dab a bit of makeup.  In that case, I use just one ply or a piece of the tissue.
• Toilet Tissue:  The obvious solution is to just use less, and teach your kids to do the same!
• Books:  Switch to an electronic reader and save paper.  Don't think it's worth the money?  Download Amazon's 'Kindle for PC' for free.  The book downloads are cheaper than hard copies, too!

These suggestions might seem silly at first, but give them a try.  They are simple to do and have really made a difference at our house.  Share some of your own ideas or success stories.  Green frugalistas rule!