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Home Decorating: 5 Green Ideas on a Budget

ecorating your home to be environmentally friendly shouldn’t be expensive. And it shouldn’t just be for the environmental activists either; we all have a responsibility to our communities, and to our families. There are many ways you can decorate “green” for a lot less “green”! Here are The Budget Decorator’s top 5 ways to green up your home, on a budget!

Diary of a New Homemaker
for Friday, October 16, 2009

The Year of Breaking Things

It's only October and I'm already waiting happily for 2010, not because this year's been so horrible, but because it's been so up-in-the-air. I've decided 2009 is the Year of Breaking Things.

My brain broke in February (well, it'd been broken for years, we just figured it out then). It's repairing itself fairly well. I still have ups and downs but they're not nearly as ^UP and _DOWN as they used to be.

My uterus broke in April, and I discover I didn't write about it here! I've been so distracted. I nearly bled to death in April, from a regular old period. I ended up in the hospital for two days for a near-emergency ablation and two units of blood. Who knew you could bleed to death THAT way!

Our kitchen ceiling broke in August. The upstairs toilet plugged and ran at the same time, and there was nowhere for the water to go but out. The upstairs bath flooded for about 30-45 minutes. We discovered it when water came pouring out of the walls in the pantry hallway and basement staircase--it had come through the bathroom's pocket door into, rather than down, the walls. And we saw a little bit of water coming out of a light fixture. Long story short, the next morning we woke to a crash and discovered the kitchen ceiling on the kitchen floor.

A Seasonal Taste:

Holiday Safety for Families

resents. Caroling. Family feasts. Glittering lights. These are just a few of the wonderful things that come to mind when we think of the holidays. Few of us stop to think of the dangers that the season brings, but they are there.

When we take the time to think about the heavy traffic, harried shoppers and fragile ornaments that are a part of our culture this time of year we begin to realize that safety is something that cannot be taken for granted. With a little planning and some extra care, however, the season can be a safe and enjoyable one.

Start your planning by reading through these tips and taking notes on those that apply to you and your family. Then write down any additional thoughts you have, and gather the family together to make a plan. It won't take long, and the extra peace of mind and safety that it brings will be well worth the effort.

A Taste of the Home Cooking Section:

Make Your Own Baby Food

hat's in that jarred baby food in the cupboard? Chances are there's a ton of sugar and preservatives in it, that's what. The majority of baby foods on the market add sugar to everything, even chicken and peas. And that's not counting the extra salt!

Why should you go homemade? For starters, you'll know exactly what's going into it that way. You'll be able to tailor the ingredients to what your baby needs and likes. The food will be fresh, free of extra sugar and salt, and prepared with good ingredients, as opposed to jarred ones which are often made from bruised fruits and vegetables with chemicals added to even out the taste. The killer reason for me? Homemade baby food isn't only better for baby, it's not only easy to make--but it's incredibly cheap!