Review:THERE Japanese Cherry Blossom Hand Cream

THERE Japanese Cherry Blossom Hand Cream

You know how right after you put on hand lotion and how you have to automatically wipe you hands off. That not so comfortable greasy feeling is just not what I call a great feeling. I've been using lotions that of course contain parabens and chemicals because it doesn't leave that oh so greasy feeling. Then I found magic in a little bottle.

This World Market exclusive is so great. And no parabens. I use it everyday morning and night and I have totally noticed a difference. And the scent is heavenly. I might have to get more of the products in this line. They have bubble bath, shower cream, and even body scrub.

It's a little piece of heaven in your shower.

Don't forget the bags please

I was just at Target today and I again like every other time forgot to bring my reusable bags. I still to this day tell people who didn't know that for every bag you bring to use to tote your purchases out of the store you get a discount of 5 cents. Now some of you might think, 5 cents that's nothing. To a lot of you like myself, 5 cent is 5 cents and I'll take it.

But why do I always forget them. I never remember to pack them in my trunk for these random occasions I go to Target. I never leave them by the door to take with me. I need to find a way to do that. But Target not only has helped with their reusable bag campaign but also did good for the earth too. They deferred the equivalent of 34 million plastic bags–more than 2.3 million pounds of plastic–from landfills.

Here's what Target says about their new recycling program in the store:
In 2010, we launched the most comprehensive guest-facing recycling program of any major retailer.

The purpose of our new recycling program was to bring our commitment to recycling out of the backroom and into the forefront. By making our recycling programs easily accessible to both our guests and our team members, we’re working together to make an even bigger impact.

For months, teams from across the company met weekly to ensure they were designing a program that would complement our existing recycling efforts, use processes already in place and make a positive environmental impact. Guests can now easily recycle, cans, glass and plastic bottles, plastic bags, and MP3 players, ink cartridges and cell phones right in their local Target store. Our guests’ recycled materials are then added to the materials we were already collecting—including corrugated cardboard, plastic shrink wrap, garment hangers and shopping carts—making our recycling program one of the most robust in the industry.

The teamwork paid off. By integrating the new processes with our existing recycling efforts in stores and distribution centers, the new program doesn’t add extra workload in the store. Teams collect the materials in the backroom, and they are returned to the distribution centers using trucks that are already making deliveries to our stores in order to maximize transportation efficiency.

A crucial part of the program was making sure the materials were handled responsibly and that we had a clear understanding of their final destination. For example, the plastic bags will be sold to a vendor to be made into composite decking.

We’ve already seen how our proactive efforts and program expertise is helping lawmakers make recommendations for future recycling and waste legislation. This recycling program has helped our government affairs team demonstrate that recycling is a strong alternative to all-out plastic bag bans in states that are considering ways to legislate sustainability.

So how much good is Target really doing? It’s too early to know exactly how much waste we will divert from landfills with the recycling program, but we anticipate that we could eliminate at least six million pounds of plastic bags, glass, plastic, aluminum beverage containers and electronics each year.

Where their recycling goes:

* Electronic waste is collected by a national vendor who resells them for reuse, refurbishing or recycling. Anything that can’t be reused is scrapped by certified companies that dispose of the materials responsibly.
* Cans/bottles/glass are taken back to distribution centers in trucks already making trips. The materials are then recycled by local recycling centers.
* Plastic bags are sold to a vendor who converts them into composite decking.
* Food overstock is donated to Feeding America. Every Target location is paired with a local Feeding America food bank so its donations stay in the community.
* Overstock pet food and supplies are donated to local animal shelters.
* During a store remodel, we recycle ceiling tiles, light bulbs and display shelving.

So remember your bags the next time you go to Target, not only will you be saving the Earth but also a little money. 

Recycled Jewelry

What could be more easier than finding great,new, unique jewelry and being eco-chic as well???

Check out these sites!

My friend Magda Hiller makes these awesome bottle cap necklaces that are so cute and unique. I'm saving up money to get one of these soon. Go to Etsy to see more. They run from $20-$35. And she makes them all herself. With help from her daughter, Wyatt while her husband Chip makes an awesome barbecue.

Bottled Up Designs collects antique bottles and glass and makes jewelry out of them.

Cangles is a family company that make eco-bracelets. They make many for charity and donate money to those charities. They also make custom bracelets out of wrappers you usually take off your bottle because of condensation.

Ann-Made are soda can tops made into jewelry. 

And even though this is not jewelry, you can't forget my magazine bowls also as gifts.  See them at Etsy.

 

Keep cool without air conditioning

Before using the air conditioner, consider this: home cooling accounts for 5 percent of the energy we consume in the U.S. each year. That’s about 140 million tons of CO2 emissions annually! Here are some ways to fight that urge by keeping your house cooler naturally.

Recycling Pillows

Here's another thought that I'm sure doesn't cross people's mind. What happens to Pillows when you throw them away.



Pillows are rather a bulky product and often filled with synthetic fibers such as polyester. Based on changing a pillow once a year, hundreds of millions of pillows would head to landfill in the USA alone each year.

Most manufacturers state the life span of synthetic fill pillows is six months to two years. Foam and latex pillows last from 5 to 10 years. Whatever the life span, something needs to be done with them once they've reached the end of their useful life.

In preparation for re-using pillows, it's a great idea to use a pillow protector so that the polyester stuffing doesn't get soaked with a year's worth of drool :). It's also a good idea to wash the pillow first before re-purposing it. If it's really far gone and the casing is ripped, you can just wash the filling in a bucket.

Some folks have found a variety of ways to re-use pillows; here's few suggestions.

- Use the stuffing to make a new soft pillow firm (might save a few bucks)

- Your local animal shelter may be able to use them (check with the shelter first)

- Keep to one side as packing material for your next move

- Use as stuffing in toys

- Use as stuffing in throw cushions

- Stitch the sides and ends together of multiple synthetic fibre fill pillows to make a quilt.
Put a nice cover on it of course :).


You don't *have* to buy synthetic pillows either - there's quite a few more earth friendly pillow filling alternatives available - many of which you can just compost when you're done.









Article by:
Michael Bloch
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