I first started blogging in March of 2008.  I’ll admit I’m not very techie, but at that time I was determined that blogging was going to be my retirement career.  All I knew is I wanted to write. The rest I hoped would just take care of itself.  I had written some good posts, and gotten some favorable response, but nothing that knocked my socks off.  I knew there had to be a better way.

I fell in love with Forced Green, and longed for something that beautiful. There  was a widget on that site about Whole-Hog-Blogs.  I just had to know what that was.  I was amazed at what they had to offer, and for a reasonable price. They even offer help and training forever, or until you feel confident to do some of the behind the scene things on your own.  It was precisely what I needed so, I joined the Whole-Hog-Blogs network last July.  It has been among the BEST decisions I have made.

Theresa Cahill and Jeff Greer, employ the best ways to social media market your website or blog.  Unlike the old ways of cold calling, direct mail, or even randomly harassing people…all the proven things that don’t work.  I can assure you they have a system that WORKS!  Whole-hog-blogs couples online SEO marketing, with the proper amount of social marketing and networking, with a little ezine marketing thrown in.  It is a magical combination that pulls customers to you.  Everytime, I check my stats, I’m amazed at where I started and how far I’ve come in a year!  They helped me choose a theme, that totally is me and helps me express who I am to my audience.

Between the two of them, Theresa and Jeff have 10 plus years of experience online.  So, if you are struggling in these tough times, perhaps you need to take the plunge and rely on yourself.  This truly is the easiest, most effective way to market yourself, and your blog or business online.  Whole Hog Blogs -  The system that brings unstoppable traffic right to your door!  Give it a try …You’ll be glad you did!

To celebrate my blog-aversary, I am offering something, that I think we have all been waiting for.   Maximum Power, Minimum Impact-Eco-Respectful Batteries Now Available In Stores Everywhere!

Now, you can turn over a new leaf with household batteries designed for “greener living” now available at your local Target stores, as of July 26th.

Fuji EnviroMAX, launched at Consumer Electronics Expo last January2008.  It is one of the first eco-respectful, high performance batteries on the market. They are mercury, lithium, cadmium and PVC-free making them landfill safe.

Fuji EnviroMAX is competitively priced, and matches or even exceeds the performance and lifespan of other major brands.

There will be one winner chosen. They will be given a battery pack of each type, AA, AAA, C and D, in both digital and super alkaline varieties.

To enter:

1. You must open and read this pdf:   fuji_target_release_78092.

2.  Leave a comment about what aspect of these eco-friendly batteries impresses you the most.

3.  Twitter about this giveaway.

4.  Leave your twitter ID in the comment box as well.

Entries will be accepted until midnight Friday, August 7th. The winner will be chosen at random, and announced on Saturday, August 8th. Winner will be contacted by email and/or Twitter, and will have 48 hours to respond. Please use your real first name and a valid contact information when entering.

See where the cutest ladybugs live!

The Dow Chemical Company has a trademark on the name Styrofoam. It is also known as polystyrene, or EPS (expanded polystyrene).  On the recycling symbol it is #6.   Made of about 98% air and and 2% plastic, it is a terrible problem in the waste stream.  The problem is about 30% of this “puffystuff” still makes it to a landfill, or worse yet, to the  Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

The frustrating thing about this, is that there is no escaping it.  Grocery store meat is packaged in it, along with its use as take out food containers, and medical containers.  You will find Polystyrene foam used most commonly in appliance packaging, plastic cups, CD and DVD cases, and of course the “peanuts” used in packaging and shipping.  UPS stores gladly accept the “peanuts” , but not the molded forms of Styrofoam.

From a Health standpoint, this is bad stuff.  Polystyrene, (and all plastics) are petroleum products.  It is highly flammable, and contains benzene (a known carcinogen) that is used in its production.  To think that this toxic material comes in direct contact with our food is appalling.  Yet, it will be a long time before the use of this is outlawed. Recently, nearly two dozen cities have banned the use of Polystyrene for food packaging.

Due to the economy, California  legislators have tabled the Assembly Bill 1358, before it was due for a vote. The bill would have made the state the first in the nation to ban Styrofoam food containers.  In a recent analysis, the bill required all paper take out containers to have a 100% post consumer content.  It was felt that this could have become “problematic,”  causing many food vendors to use even more plastic, and less paper.  Many complaints from restaurants, felt that the alternate (paper) materials weren’t performing as well as the insulating polystyrene.  With a lack of a composting infrastructure, and sufficient recycling facilities in place, along with a sagging economy, the idea to ban polystyrene became infeasible.

Liter audits, conducted in 2008, in San Francisco, show that its ban of the foam packaging, has not reduced liter.  There was a 36% reduction of polystyrene , but it was offset by an equal increase in coated paperboard. The thought is now, that a ban won’t make a difference, when it is just a substitute, or trade of one liter problem for another.

Most cities in the U.S. , are doing a great job of recycling plastics, paper, glass and aluminum.  However, have you noticed how difficult it is to find a place to recycle this stuff?  Yes, it costs 2-3 times less than most other alternatives.  Yes, it is lightweight, taking up only 0.01 percent of a municipalities solid waste stream.  But, the weight isn’t the problem, it’s the volume (space) it takes up in a landfill. Worse than that, is the fact that it does not biodegrade!

Please refer to this article at Earth 911.com for methods of recycling EPS and Styrofoam.  Keep in mind, though, that the suggestions offered do not include disposal of food containers or containers used for medical waste.

On a lighter note, scientist at Sony have discovered that limonene- a natural oil that can be extracted from the skin of oranges and other citrus fruit, will completely dissolve EPS.  It dissolves the EPS at room temperature, and then it can be processed for reuse.  Now, that’s what I call working toward a better tomorrow!

See where the cutest ladybugs live!

Oh, what a Beautiful World.  Relax and Meditate, with the beauty of Nature at its Best!

See where the cutest ladybugs live!

Special Thanks to Audrey’s Country Crafts, for giving me the “Green Earth Award.” I am very honored to have been chosen to receive this wonderful award.

This award is given to blogs that offer “recycling tips” and promote “green” content.

The only rules for this award, are to mention the blog that gave you the award, and to pass it on to blogs that promote recycling, and offer “green tips” on their blogs as well.

So, here are my top 5 favorites.

1. Forced Green

2. Living Well Naturally

3. Green Nation Today

4. Closer to Sane

5. Futurism Now

See where the cutest ladybugs live!

Editor’s Note:  I am bringing this post forward to my front page, because of its relevance and importance.  It is my hope and desire that you will make recycling, and your own personal waste management, a top priority.

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It is the third R in the term reduce, reuse, and recycle. It is the re-making of old materials into useful new products.  The goal of recycling is to reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials and energy usage, which then reduces green house gas emissions. By  recycling, we also lower the  amount of raw waste that would otherwise end up in our landfills. Recycling is the key component in waste management as we know it today.

The convenience of recycling at your curb-side now serves half of the U.S. population.  The top five most recycled items are paper, plastic, glass, aluminum and steel/tin cans.

In 2007, my area implemented the use of single stream recycling.  The company provides 65 to 94 gallon carts in which all materials are commingled.  This means that households no longer have to separate their materials into recycling bins.  Evidence has already proven that this method has increased the quantity of household recyclables.

My area also has a recycle depot.  I have not had garbage service for years, because of an altercation with the company.  I set up my own system in my garage.  It consists of two 32 gallon trash cans, one for plastic and one for trash,and 4 blue recylce bins for newspaper, magazines/junk mail, glass, and cans. We also have an area to break down and stack cardboard. When my children were still home we went to the dump every other Saturday.  Now, my husband goes once every 4-6 weeks, with one 32 gallon bag.  They know him at the dump, and the most they ever charge him is $3.00.  Many times they let him go for free because they know he is a disabled vet.  The average rate for disposal in my area is about $35 a month.  That’s a pretty good savings for not very much work.

Written in association with waste management experts