Recycling Aerosol Cans

Given my new found love of spray paint, it got me to thinking about how to dispose of my used-up cans.  I found the following information on the Earth 911 website ( earth911.com ).
 

Tips for Recycling Aerosol Cans

Recycling aerosol cans depends upon whether the container is empty or still has liquid inside of it. If the product is empty, you have the option of dropping it off in a bin designated for steel or aluminum at your local recycling facility or in your curbside bin if it is accepted. More than 5,300 communities across the U.S. have household residential and curbside drop-off and buy-back programs (they will give you a few cents for each returned can). First, here are some key points to remember:

    * Be sure that the can is empty. This means that all of the product has to be used up.

    * Dispose of the empty cans using your curbside pick up service or by visiting your local drop off centers. It is best to touch base with your local centers to be sure they accept this type of product for recycling.

    * NEVER throw aerosol cans in roadside dumps or trash fires. These cans are still pressurized and can explode.

But what happens if your container is not empty? If your product is defective, many times the manufacturer will allow you to return the product to them, free of charge so that they can supply you with a replacement product. As long as there is liquid in the container, the aerosol can is not considered waste, but product.

If  your container is not defective, there are very few options. Do not puncture cans, drain, rinse and then recycle. This is dangerous since the contents in the can are under pressure. Once the container is punctured, you could be injured. Another option would be to contact your local recycling facility to see if they will accept partially filled cans. Many times, they may have a way of draining these containers. You may also contact a hazardous waste facility for proper disposal.

It is extremely important that aerosol cans are recycled for a number of reasons. However, one of the most important is safety. When aerosol cans are thrown into landfills, they become a hazard. If a fire were to break out, these contains could explode and cause physical harm to landfill workers and fire fighters. Therefore, please take the extra step to recycle. 

Good to know!

Reusable Shopping Bags

So I am very proud to say that I have not taken a shopping bag from a retailer or grocery store since November!  I have a TON of reusable bags that were given away at conferences I attended, as well as some that I have purchased, but they are all very stiff and bulky, so I wanted to find one of those cute nylon bags that can fold into a neat little pouch and not take up too much room in my purse.  A quick search found at least three major producers of just such a bag:

Baggu

Baggu ( www.baggu.com ) $9.00 per single bag

Chico Bag

Chico Bag ( www.chicobag.com ) $5.99 per single "Original" bag

Flip & Tumble

Flip & Tumble (www.flipandtumble.com ) $10.00 per single "24-7" bag

I like the look of all of them, especially the Flip & Tumble two-tone option.  What really disturbs me is that all of them, including bags made by Reusit ( www.reusit.com ), are all manufactured in China.  All of the websites that I visited made a point of saying that they only deal with "Fair Trade/Fair Wage" companies, but I still wish they were made domestically.

Oprah and Joel Osteen

I just finished watching Oprah's Next Chapter where she spotlighted Joel Osteen.  I have long admired his positive message of hope but was brought to tears to hear him admit that he believes homosexuality is a sin ( http://www.oprah.com/own-oprahs-next-chapter/Pastor-Joel-Osteen-Discusses-Sin-and-the-Path-to-God ).

While I believe in his sermons and value his insight, here is a subject where we part ways.  I believe that we are all created equal, men and women alike, so if you love your equal - whether it is a man or a woman, you are bringing harm to no one, only love - which makes it anything but a sin.

Be grateful more!  Love more!  Be of service more!  That I believe is the path to God.

Rescued!

As I mentioned before, all of my current pets are adopted from rescue organizations.

Today I wanted to introduce you to Olive.

We found Olive on Pet Finder ( petfinder.com ), she was being fostered by an organization who specialized in puppy adoptions, Pound Puppy Rescue ( poundpuppyrescue.org ).  She was part of a litter of 7 and boy, what a wide variety of puppies they were!  We went to the meet-and-greet to actually look at one of her sisters, but once we saw her, we were hooked.

Kona, Zanzy (Olive's mother), and Olive at the puppies 1st birthday party.

Olive (so named because she is black, like a Kalamata olive) is now almost four years old and looks a lot like a 40 pound doberman.  We love her, and I believe she loves us too.

I would like to encourage everyone, looking for a furry family member to consider rescue adoption.  There are so many wonderful animals looking for a loving, forever home.

Artist - Deborah Oropallo

I was first introduced to Deborah Oropallo's  ( deborahoropallo.com )work while working at the San Francisco Design Center.  She had an exhibit at the Stephen Wirtz Gallery in town, and a few of her pieces were used in Designer Showcase rooms.

I love how she uses film on film images accented by energetic shots of color as well as her reduction technique.

P.I.N.K. Method

I heard about this lifestyle regime on "Dr. Phil" and decided to give it a try.  It is specifically designed for women and promises some pretty impressive results ( pinkmethod.com ).

Very nice workbook with meal suggestions, recipes and forms to track progress.

Since I haven't been able to keep up with my Bikram yoga addiction (too expensive for me right now), I thought this would be a good way to get back on track for the new year.

I started yesterday (1/2/2012) and have already lost 3.5 lbs of water weight on the "PINK Preset".  You start each day with a "PINK Drink" and eat lean protein and veggies for your other two meals.  The exercise part doesn't start until after you finish the "Preset", so I'll let you know how the first exercise phase (there are three stages) goes in a week or so.

I'll keep checking back in with you and let you know how I'm doing!

If this is a program you are trying - let me know how you find the diet/exercise program and what results you have achieved.

New favorite in the kitchen!

I first read about these pans in Bon Appetite magazine - and they are truly GREAT!  I received one for Christmas and ran out to buy the other two sizes they come in. 

The Bialetti Aeternum nonstick  pans come in 8", 10.5" and 12" - you can buy the sets online, or separately.  Last I checked they are sold out at their website bialettishop.com, but you can get them at Bed Bath & Beyond bedbathandbeyond.com .

The finish is PFOA, PTFE and Cadium free.  The release is amazing, and clean-up couldn't be easier.  I have made eggs and fried bacon in mine so far.  The white interior makes it a bit difficult to see that your egg whites are cooked properly, but I'm sure with experience, this will not be a real issue.  The picture on the packaging shows some very nicely browned scallops - I haven't tried getting to really caramelize anything yet, but my bacon didn't crisp the way it would in a traditional skillet.

Everyone I know is going to get a set of these next holiday season!

Doing good in Oakland

I came across this item in last Sunday's newspaper. 

Oakland Animal Services is waiving adoption fees for dogs, cats, and rabbits who have been at the shelter for more than 60 day.  If you are thinking about giving a wonderful animal a forever home this season, please consider your local rescue organization!

Thanks and Happy Holidays!

Holiday Shopping - Punjammies!

I came across a site which sells the most adorable "Punjammies".

LOVE all the patterns and had the hardest time deciding which to buy - I think both my sister and my aunt would love them - but I have all of their Christmas gifts purchased for this year, so I decided to buy a pair for myself and see how the fit is, and then go back and buy more!

Punjammies are sold by International Princess Project ( intlprincess.org ) and the description on the website reads:

PUNJAMMIES™ are made by women in India rescued from forced prostitution seeking to rebuild their lives. Proceeds from the sales of PUNJAMMIES™ provide fair-trade wages, savings accounts, and holistic recovery care.

The Capri style runs about $35 and if you use the promotional code: SHAREHOPE - you get free shipping during the month of December.

I love the mission statement of this company and I am really looking forward to receiving my Punjammies!  I'll keep you posted when the arrive - 

Share Hope this Holiday Season!

Rescued!

I am a strong believer in rescuing animals from high-kill (and even no-kill) shelters.  I actually have three and wanted to share with you where I adopted them and what great additions they have been to our household.

First up is Cata

She came from the Peninsula Humane Society peninsulahumanesociety.org and we have had her for about 13 years.  She came to us at 8 weeks old and had been picked up as feral at 3 weeks.  She isn't the nicest cat, but she is one of the prettiest!  She enjoys laying in the sun and getting her neck scratched.

Holiday Shopping - Part Two

Yesterday I mentioned how difficult it was to find things not produced in the USA while Christmas shopping.

I came across an item on the ABC News website about how, if every American spent just $64 this holiday season on gifts manufactured in the United States, it would generate 200,000 jobs here at home!

abcnews.go.com/WN/MadeInAmerica/

You can go here and find peoples suggestions about places to shop and products to buy that have been Made In America.  You can even post where you have spent your $64 this season.

So far this season I have bought the following products "Made in America":
Drinking glasses from World Market ($28)
Paint supplies for craft projects from Orchard Supply Hardware ($40)

I know this doesn't really count as "Made in America", but at least it didn't end up in a landfill, and I didn't buy something from overseas - in fact, the mirrors were both produced in the USA in the mid-60's!

Mirrors, toys and books from Goodwill ($36)

I'll post the finished Goodwill and paint projects at a future date.

Let me know if there are any Local Purchases you have made and want to share!

Reuse Shopping Bags

I was at Whole Foods the other day and saw the cutest reuse holiday shopping bag

www.wholefoodsmarket.com/holidays/giving/betterbag.php

I thought "What a great idea to use the bag for Christmas wrapping rather than the conventional roll wrap I have used in the past.  You could also load individually wrapped presents into the bag to deliver to families, rather than use large plastic (or paper) shoppers from retail stores.

I was so disappointed to see that they are actually made in China!  On the Whole Foods website, they are all about "Caring about communities and the environment" "Seek supplier partnerships that share their concern for social responsibility and the environment"  "Work with supply partners in eliminating all unnecessary production and distribution costs to ensure the best possible price".

Which brings up the question about the 80% recycled material that goes into making the bag: Where are those recyclables coming from?  China? the United States?

Well, I don't know about you, but if you can afford to shop at "Whole Paycheck", I'm sure you wouldn't mind spending another 25 cents on a reuse shopping bag if it could be made, if not in the United States, at least on this continent, and not imported from a country half way around the world!

Just saying... I love the idea of their "Better Bag" - but I hate the fact that it comes all the way from China.

Garden Resources

Now that Fall is upon us, and I am SO wanting to plant my garden TODAY - I have to satisfy my urge with ordering up bulbs and seeds for spring.

Two of my new favorites are Seed Savers Exchange  www.seedsavers.org and
Easy To Grow Bulbs www.easytogrowbulbs.com.

I received my orders from both companies quickly and am looking forward to container planting the bulbs this weekend and the seeds when recommended. Many of the seeds from Seed Savers Exchange are also USDA organic.

I am also giving a Seed Savers Exchange gift certificate to my dad for Christmas this year.  He enjoys his garden and I think he would really enjoy trying some heirloom varieties.

I also need to get caught up on the 20+ episodes of Victory Garden I have on my DVR - forecast calls for rain this weekend, so maybe that will be my excuse for staying indoors!