Author: Mary Kate Seymour

Mary Kate Seymour is a recent graduate with an English major from Belmont Abbey College in North Caroline. She is one of seven children, raised in a Marine Corps family. She loves to read, write, explore new places, try new crafts and work on crochet projects.

She has become a frequent user of Pinterest this past year and, as a result, her “to-do” list for crafts has grown immensely. She's an animal lover and has a miniature poodle named “Rosie.” Her goal is to secure a position as a high school English and Literature teacher, but for now, she thoroughly enjoys being a nanny and tutor.

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Eco Tips Featured

8 Simple Ways to Use Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil Has Many Eco-Friendly Uses

Coconut oil has become one of the most favored organic and eco-friendly products on the market due to its rewarding qualities.  I noticed the increase in popularity of coconut oil over the last few months and asked myself, “What is so special about this stuff other than cooking?”  I normally use coconut oil as a substitute for olive or vegetable oil in cooking because it contains healthier saturated fat.  So I did some research and learned that coconut oil can be used for more purposes other than a cooking aid.  It can be used for hair, skin, health, and household duties.  Who knew that coconut oil could cover such a broad spectrum of functions?

Coconut oil has the same consistency as lard and Crisco; therefore it is seen primarily as a cooking aid.  However, because of its consistency and natural qualities, it can be used to help with other functions such as body and household care. Here are four of many ways to use coconut oil for personal hygiene.

Coconut Oil Moisturizer – Extra virgin coconut oil would be the best for this.  You can find this at an organic food store or in the health and body aisle of a grocery store.  Just simply take some from the jar and apply to skin and use as much as needed. Simple!

Coconut Oil Deep Treatment Hair Conditioner – This is an overnight treatment, so a shower cap will be needed.  Apply a teaspoon of oil to the ends of your hair and run your fingers through.  For deep treatment, apply a teaspoon of oil to your scalp and massage it through to the ends of your hair.

Coconut Oil Ointment – This can be used for scrapes, bruises, or any other form of “boo-boo” that comes your way.  Apply a thin layer to the scrape or bruise.  This coating protects the area from dust, bacteria, etc.  It also gives a more pleasant odor than the medicinal brand.  Place a bandage over the affected area.

Make-Up Remover – Put some oil on a cotton ball or pad and wipe away the make-up.  It’s like Vaseline but without the harsh smell. It’s impressive how well this works!

Here are some interesting ways to utilize coconut oil for household purposes:

Coconut Oil “Goo Gone” – Mix equal portions of coconut oil and baking soda, then apply the mixture on the sticky residue area.  Wait for about five minutes before scrubbing the “goo gone” with a washcloth or scrub sponge.

Coconut Oil Furniture Polish – Mix oil with a bit of lemon juice for furniture polish.  Work the polish on a small portion of the furniture to test the consistency and strength you desire.

Coconut Oil Bronze Polish – Simply put some oil on a wash cloth and rub it over the bronze surface for a lustrous shine!  This will clean and deepen the color of the bronze.  This also works on stainless steel.

Coconut Oil Bug Repellent – Mix with some peppermint extract and rub into the skin.  No more chemicals and has a pleasant smell!

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Eco Tips Featured Recycling

4 Ways to Reduce Junk Mail and Paper Waste

Excess junk mail and paper waste… almost every household seems to have this problem. From credit card advertisements, free sweepstakes opportunities, magazine subscriptions you didn’t order, and of course the very popular free coupons. The coupons may come in handy.  As for everything else, the likelihood of them meeting your paper shredder is definite.  There are a few ways that you can decrease the pile of paper waste and junk mail in your home.

Unsubscribe Magazines and Newsletters: If you like receiving magazines or store catalogues, you can get these online.  For example, if you have a Nook, Kindle, or iPad, these subscriptions can be continued digitally and without the use of paper.  It would cost less as well to have your subscriptions electronically transferred to your portable reading device.

Opt-out: Sign up at the website optoutprescreen.com where you can remove your name and mailing address from the mailing list for credit card and insurance providers.  This will definitely decrease the amount of junk mail you receive!

Avoid Sweepstakes and Contests: If you have entered a contest or sweepstakes online, which requires you to give the website your home address, you will receive a lot of junk mail! Those guys won’t let you off easy.  They will want you to sign up for another contest or be part of a great deal in town! Try to avoid these sites.

Pay Bills Online: With current technology, banks, insurance companies, and other service providers have been able to give their customers the online bill pay option.  Rather than receive your bill in the mail, you can sign up online to receive an alert when the time comes to pay a certain bill. After that, you can go to the insurance site or your online bank account and pay the bill! That makes less bills coming through the mail. Most banks are trying to promote the option of bill paper to decrease the amount of paper waste!

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Eco Tips Featured Green Building Home Design

3 Benefits of Using Solar Energy at Home

Solar energy has recently become more popular due to its organic and natural qualities. It is also more economical to use solar energy due to its renewable supply. Ultimately, solar energy is worry-free and the only maintenance and upkeep needed are the application of solar panels and keeping the panels clean and clear of debris. There are many great benefits to use solar paneling for your home as a means of using energy.

  • Decrease in Energy Bills: When using solar energy, you are only taking from an ample supply of energy that regenerates itself naturally.  The use of non-solar energy only increases your electric bill every month, depending on the usage in your home. The application of solar panels will be beneficial because the energy produced will decrease your electricity bill.  Solar energy is free because it is natural and harnessed by solar panels.
  • Decrease Energy Demand: Using solar panel generated energy will decrease the demand for machinated energy. The production of energy costs hundreds of dollars, thus the expense of paying energy bills.  However, solar panels produce more energy than your local energy provider. All the excess energy produced by your home solar panels goes back into the power grid.  Therefore, the electric company writes you a check for the extra energy you produce.  Not only are you benefiting from home generated energy through solar panels, but you’re also being paid for the energy you produced!
  • Environmentally Sound: Solar energy is natural and can never run out. It is renewable and does not require a bill every month for its services for your home. You will experience some relief using your heater, appliances, and air conditioning unit knowing that your source of energy is renewable. Also, to produce energy without solar energy requires the use manufactured electricity, which requires a huge amount of power usage. The use of solar energy decreases the need for electric power.
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Eco Eats Eco Tips Featured

5 Reasons to go Meatless on Mondays

Meatless Mondays is a relatively new way of being eco-friendly and organic.  It’s just one day a week where you abstain from all meat and poultry. Of course, if you were to eat meat every other day of the week, you are encouraged to eat meat that is grass-fed, free range, and hormone-free.  It is both beneficial to your health as well as the environment. Here are a few important health and environmental benefits from applying Meatless Mondays to your lifestyle.

  • Decrease Cancer Risk:  Studies have shown that the consumption of processed red meat and poultry increases the risk of developing colon cancer. Those who eat more fruits and vegetables in their daily diet, with limited amount of meat, lead healthier lives and reduce their chances of getting cancer.
  • Heart Disease:  According to the results from a study performed by Harvard University, you lower the risk of heart disease by 19% if you decrease the amount of saturated fat full foods, such as meats and dairy. You can replace these saturated filled foods with polyunsaturated fats, which are various nuts, seeds, and vegetable or coconut oil.
  • Diabetes and Obesity:  Decreasing red meat consumption reduces the risk of developing type two diabetes.  Ultimately, red meat is filled with saturated fat, which decomposes into sugar in your body.  Sugar build-up will lead to weight gain and diabetes. Also, chicken you buy at a local grocery store are normally not free-range and filled with hormones. Of course, meat and poultry provides required nutrients and protein for our bodies.  But, if we are not careful, this can lead to diabetes and obesity.
  • Eco-Friendly:  According to the United Nations’ food and agricultural organization, the meat industry produces at least 1/5th of the greenhouse gas emanations, which has been accelerating the world’s climate change. This is far more than what transportation devices emit. The demand for meat only increases the amount of gases emitted. Abstaining from meat at least once a week will help decrease the demand that meat industries have to accommodate.

 

Mary Kate Seymour is a professional blogger with an English degree from Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina. She is one of seven children, raised in a Marine Corps family. She loves to read, write, explore new places; research new craft ideas and work on crochet projects.

She has become a frequent user of Pinterest this past year and, as a result, her “to-do” list for crafts has grown immensely. She’s an animal lover and has a miniature poodle named “Rosie.”  Her long term goal is to secure a position as a high school English and Literature teacher. She thoroughly enjoys being a writer, nanny and tutor. 

Categories
Eco Tips Featured Furnishings

How to Create a Meditation Spot at Home

Life can become stressful, whether you’re raising a family, getting through school, working full time or running a business. Meditation is a wonderful way to wind down and relax, especially after a long day. The goal is to find your own unique space and method for meditation. Here are a few simple ideas for you to create a meditation space at home:

  • Find a quiet spot inside your home, outside in the garden or in a screened patio.
  • Make your space comfortable and suited to your personality. For example, decorate your meditation space so that it becomes a sweet escape from your busy world. Use your favorite colors in soft tones for a relaxing effect.
  • Avoid bringing in too many objects into your meditation spot. You don’t want a cluttered space when the goal is to feel relaxed and at ease.
  • Use a mat or throw rug to sit with some comfortable pillows for support. A side table would be beneficial so that you can place candles, books or plants.
  • Add peaceful aroma to your space by lighting some soy candles that have a nice, fresh scent. Candles that smell like fresh linen, cotton, or lavender will have the most relaxing effect. Another option is to use incense. Fragrance helps to create a pleasant atmosphere and will help bring focus to your meditation practice while relaxing and soothing the body and senses.
  • Bring something from nature into your space. For example, put some of your favorite flowers in a vase, a water feature that creates a soothing sound of water falling, or herbs hanging on your wall.
  • Music is another great element to bring into your meditation spot. You can use nature sounds or soft music for added tranquility.