HAPPY EARTH DAY!!

Today is Earth Day, and I know there are lots of ways that are recommended to help save the Earth. I know there are lots of crazy ways out there (aka don't shower except once a week in order to save water), but there are a lot of simple ways as well. Here are 25 things that I do and that I think are really simple.

1) Recycle: DUH! I know not everywhere has recycling or only recycle certain things, so just recycle whatever you can. If your office recycles paper, recycle paper. If you have curb pickup for glass and plastic, put out your glass and plastic. If your grocery store recycles plastic bags, take your plastic bags there. If you live in Indiana like my parents and can basically recycle everything, then recycle everything.

2) Use a lunchbox instead of paper bags. I'm not telling you to pull out the transformers lunch box that you had in 2nd grade. There are really cute lunch bags available now.

3) Don't want it? Give it away. There are lots of charities out there that would love that slightly pilly sweater or the book you really hated or that gag gift your best friend gave you. Before you throw it out, see if someone else wants it. Or Freecycle it.

4) Turn of the water when your brushing your teeth. Really...why does this have to be so difficult people? Wet your brush. Turn off the water while your brushing and then turn back on to rinse.

5) Warm it up in the microwave instead of the oven. A microwave oven uses one-third of the energy of a conventional oven. Plus your baked potato can be done in 5 minutes versus 5 hours!

6) Take your own bag when you go shopping. Ok, so I forget to do this sometimes. But if I know I'm going somewhere, I take a cute bag with me or a big purse so the small things I can just throw in my bag rather than wasting another one. Plus I keep my reusable grocery bag in my car at all times, so in case I'm stopping for milk on the way home from work, I already have it.

7) Unplug your chargers. I know its ridiculous to unplug or turn off your power strip for everything (it screws up the automatic clock on lots of appliances), but just unplug your chargers. When you pull off your cell phone or Ipod, pull the charger out of the wall too!

8) Edit before you hit print. Make sure that you've proofed what your printing before you just go ahead and print, make more changes, print again, see another error, print again.

9) Snip your six pack holders. Think of the poor birdies and fishies that get caught in these. Take the five seconds and snip the holes in your six pack rings open.

10) Buy in bulk. I live in an apartment and don't have a lot of space for bulk products, but things like laundry detergent that I use all the time, I always try to buy bigger. Not only does it save packaging, but its usually cheaper.

11) Get rid of unwanted catalogs. I know I already posted on this, but I think its a really good idea. I was always getting catalogs that I didn't really want, but didn't know how to get rid of. Well, go here and they'll take care of it for you.

12) Turn lights off when you leave the room. If all the lights in your house are on, the TV's on, a radio's on and you're in the shower...there's some problems there.

13) Don't use electrical appliances for things you can easily do by hand. AKA the can opener. Build those arm muscles.

14) Put on a sweater instead of turning the heat up. I keep my apartment fairly cold during the winter. I'm hardly ever here so what's the point. But when I am here and I get chilly, I go for a sweater or fuzzy blanket instead of the thermostat.

15) Use a filter to filter tap water rather than buying bottled.

16) Run your dishwasher only with a full load. I'm not telling you to abandon all of your appliances, but don't run it with only a fork in there.

17) Give live plants instead of cut flowers. Every girl loves flowers. Mother's day is right around the corner. Give a plant that can be planted outside or kept in their house rather than cut flowers that will die in a week.

18) Use (and reuse) gift bags instead of wrapping paper.

19) Buy local. Go to the local farmer's market or orchard. Not only will there be less preservatives in your food, but it will also cut down on the costs and pollution associated with transporting food to your grocery store.

20) Go to the library. Ok, most of you are aware that I don't read. But whenever I want to try a new recipe or new craft or learn a new skill, I hit the library rather than the bookstore.

21) Skip the elevator take the stairs. This is one that you always hear associated with exercise and dieting, but have you ever thought about how much electricity it takes to run an elevator. I don't really know, but I'm guessing its a lot.

22) Group your errands together. Post office near the grocery store. You might not be out of stamps yet, but shouldn't you pick some up while you're so close?

23) Use a digital camera and delete before you print. Oops! Got your finger in the way? Don't print that picture.

24) Just because its free doesn't mean you need it. This is one thing I've really been working on. Next time you're at that convention and see the keyring with the thermometer on it, think about if you'll actually use it or if it will end up in the trash in a couple months (or weeks...or days).

25) Instead of driving to the gym on a beautiful day. Go for a walk. Not only will being outside be good for you. It will also save gas and electricity.