Remembering Your Reusable Bags

If you have purchased reusable bags, or reuse ones you already had, accept an eco-pat on the back from me! But if you're anything like me, you have found yourself without them while on a major shopping trip. When this happens to me, I guiltily look around as I walk to my car, wondering if the equivalent of the scarlett letter in green is emblazoned on my back! I certainly reuse or recycle those unfortunate plastic bags that made it into my home, but I needed a better system. So now, whenever I bring in my groceries, they are always immediately put away, and put straight back into the car. That way, I always have a stash of at least 5 at all times. Whether I am at the grocery store, the farmer's market, Target or Goodwill, I bring my own bags. Works for me!

Works for Me Wednesday-Green Cleaning

My quest has been to find a green cleaner that worked on my bathtub. You think that's easy? Well, I've already revealed to all that my husband is a perpetual bath taker. That, plus 4 kids taking a "tub" each day makes for one serious ring around the tub! I used to use Toilet Bowl Cleaner Gel to clean it. I know, horrible! But there was really nothing else that would touch the ring. Switching to green cleaners has left me dissapointed with the ring around the tub problem. Enter in Shaklee's Scour Off Paste. It is intended for really tough jobs, which I just assumed to be ovens. The lightbulb went off in my head to try it, so I pulled it out yesterday....like magic I tell ya! Best of all, you only need a little to clean and it smells very light, and pleasant. TOTALLY Non-Toxic! Try it, it worked for me!

Works for Me Wednesday

Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you I've found me some pretty good deals. In fact, I like to think of myself as a bargain-hunting expert. When we lived in the big city, bargains were EV-ER-Y-WHERE! From Pottery Barn quilts for $2 to designer duds for under $5, I was constantly on the hunt, even with 4 kids in tow. Until the move. The move to rural VA, where designer duds aren't exactly wardrobe staples. Most people haven't even heard of Pottery Barn! So how do I find my bargains? Well, online of course! Thrifting was so green, but I had to find other outlets to fulfill my passion for green and thrifty besides the Goodwill! Here are some of my favorite online sites to shop green and thrifty:

http://www.ebay.com/

This one is an obvious choice considering my business....consignment sales on eBay.

http://www.paperbackswap.com/

Don't buy it at Books A Million if you can find it here! Basically free, fun and saving trees at the same time!

http://www.amazon.com/

I love the great deals you can get here, and you can still buy used items.

http://www.oompatoys.com/

Great non-toxic toys for kids and a loyalty rewards program. 60% of our Christmas came from here.

There's nothing like the rush of finding an unexpected treasure in a thrift store, but these online sites help me stay thrifty and green. If you haven't given them a try, you should!