We had a great response to our August giveaway competition and we are proud to announce our winner;

Amy J is the proud winner of the 7″ PanDigital photo frame and we look forward to hearing from her with stories of her paper free photo frame.

Our Everyday Stuff Freebie Winner

We want to extend a big thank you to everyone who entered our August giveaway competition, if you didn’t win this time around then watch this space because our September giveaway competition will be announced tomorrow, September 1st!

A note to all of our friends on Twitter, you will get a sneak peak at what our September giveaway will be so go check out our Tweets!

Tomorrow is the beginning of National Mushroom Month, so in honor of this auspicious occasion I thought I would do a followup on my mushrooms blog a couple of weeks back.  Did you know that Mushrooms have a approximately 90 percent water content, this makes them low in calories and ideal for anyone interested in a lighter lifestyle. One half cup of button mushrooms only has twenty calories, but it also has potassium, selenium, 2 grams each of fiber and protein, niacin, iron, riboflavin and zinc. Selenium is a powerful antioxidant, and potassium helps reduce blood pressure and prevent heart disease. Mushrooms also contain copper, an important mineral for your heart. Portobello mushrooms have more potassium than a banana. There are over 38,000 mushroom varieties, some are toxic and shouldn’t be eaten. Experts say the best method to determine whether a mushroom is safe to eat is by utilizing a method of sprinkling salt on the spongy part, or the gills. If they turn yellow, they are poisonous, if they turn black they are safe.  Personally, I’ll just buy mine at the grocery store or farmers market, a lot less chance of getting the wrong kind of mushroom. Mushrooms do contain some natural toxins., so it is best not to eat too many raw ones; cooking tends to kill the toxins. Here is a great recipe I found for organic stuffed mushrooms:

Ingredients

8 large button or open-cap organic mushrooms
4 tablespoons wholemeal organic breadcrumbs
4 organic spring onions
1 small red chili
1 large organic tomato
1 clove of fresh organic garlic
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
4 tablespoons of grated mozzarella cheese
2 strips streaky organic bacon
1 sprig of fresh coriander

Stuffed Mushrooms Recipe

image by formalfallacy @ Dublin (Victor)

(more…)

I just received my Utility bill today and was first, very happy to see it was much lower than last year due to our efforts at water conservation and also because the bill included a card that described a program that reaches out to young environmentalists. In cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Green Teens is a new program introduced in the Fall of 2008 to reach out to young environmentalists through training and hands-on demonstrations and allow them to educate their peers, as well as their community, on ways to green their lives.

The program includes educational and practical components to facilitate long-term, positive changes in attitudes concerning waste prevention, reduction, reuse, and recycling. The Green Teens go out in the community and ask businesses about their “green” practices and give each of them a set of criteria that will help them reach the goal of a “Green Teens Approved Business” status. The businesses are then placed in tiers based on the number of practices implemented, in our community of North Richland Hills, there are forty businesses and counting that are Green Teen Approved Business!!

A unique aspect of Green Teens includes an innovative, youth-oriented and targeted marketing campaign. Green Teens will provide education by producing an environmental PSA, creating and maintaining a Green Teens web site and MySpace page, and using a weekly “text tree” to provide helpful tips to peers. Additionally, Green Teens will utilize a video-enabled social network to send video emails, create video podcasts, have group video chats, and streaming video.

To learn more about this program go to:

http://www.nrhtx.com/green_teens.aspx

The card lists all the Green Approved Businesses and the Tier level they have attained. One of our favorite places, the Yogurt Patch Frozen Yogurt is in the Top Tier (20+ actions). Great yogurt and very green to boot!

Project Green Summit 2009

The annual WFAA Project Green Summit is coming to Fort Worth’s Bass Performance Hall on September 15th 2009. The event will open at 11AM and will showcase green and eco-friendly ideas and lunch will be provided by the Reata Restaurant (one of my favorite Ft. Worth restaurants!)

WFAA’s Project Green Summit will feature popular actress and environmentalist Daryl Hannah. She has made it her mission to seek out and share the stories of those who have discovered more sustainable alternatives, implemented real solutions and impacted their communities. Through short films Daryl presents everyday people making a difference to the environment.

WFAA Project Green Summit at the Bass Hall Ft Worth

New rose garden with organic soil, in the beginning

In March I blogged about our new Rose garden, we used organic soil, compost and mulch. We are so proud of how it has thrived over the past five months, I thought I would update everyone on its progress.

It really has done fantastic. All the roses have grown so much and bloomed over and over again. The climbing rose is really getting big and we have so many zinnias that have voluntarily come through. The amazing part is that they are almost all yellow, which goes with the red and yellow roses, and we didn’t plant any of them.

Carter just threw out some old zinnia heads from our side yard. I think the organic compost/soil has worked wonders on this spot. Let me know how adding organic ingredients to your garden has worked for you.

Rose Garden Now!

Etta Says - Recycled Rubber Dog Collar

As we’ve mentioned before, we are at full capacity at our house when it comes to our fur babies. We have five, count them, five dogs…yes you read that right. Brody, Boston, Huckleberry, Nanna and Willow are all extremely loved and important members of our family. I am crazy passionate about adopting animals from animal shelters, the SPCA, or the pound when you have the ability to give them a loving, safe, and clean home. There are so many wonderful dogs out there longing for a family to love, and we were so fortunate to have found and adopted 3 of our 5 babies. I could go on and on about this, but that will be another article for another time.

So the other day, we happened to notice that Huckelberry our adopted pit bull mix’s collar was looking a little on the shabby side. Our dogs are big rough housers with each other and when Brody, Huck, and Bos get going, nary a collar escapes unharmed. Huck’s usually the culprit, dragging Brody around by his extra thick leather collar. A neat trick since Brody is a 110 lb. Lab, and Huck’s only about 50 or 60 lbs., hilarity usually ensues, but this time it was definitely Huck’s that was looking a little worse for wear. Usually Martin and I make a run to PetSmart or Petco to pick up a replacement and those particular chew bones the dogs love so much, but this time we decided to scope out the options before going for the default leather collar replacement.

(more…)

On September 19, 2009 the City of Arlington is hosting Eco Fest Arlington. This event is a free, family oriented event that will take place at the Levitt Pavilion/Founder’s Plaza in Downtown Arlington.

Eco Fest Arlington 2009

The primary goals of the event are to help build a sense of community, stimulate environmental awareness, and promote stewardship across North Texas.  There will be lots of  local businesses showcasing their green products and practical do-it-yourself solutions for home improvement and maintenance. They will be lined up on the festival streets surrounding Founder’s Plaza.

Ecofest planners are aiming for a zero-waste event. Recycling stations will be set up throughout the area and vendors are required to use materials that meet recycling and composting guidelines.

Free Showerhead Giveaway Among Booths

At the Water Utilities booth, Arlington residents can exchange their old showerhead for a free 2.0 gallons-per-minute Earth Massage showerhead. The Earth Massage showerhead can help save up to 20 percent in water and energy costs over the standard 2.5 gallons per minute showerhead. The showerheads will be available on a first-come first-serve basis. Two hundred are available with a one showerhead per household limit.

Ecofest partners include the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation, University of Texas in Arlington, Friends of the Levitt Pavilion, Arlington Parks and Recreation and Arlington Water Utilities.
(more…)