If you use reusable bags for your grocery shopping, you have probably on occasion found yourself standing at the checkout counter wondering why you forgot to bring them in the store.  If they are in your car, you can easily run out to get them.  However, sometimes they are still sitting at home by the front door or in the kitchen.  In that case, you either give up and (hopefully) ask for paper, or you buy more reusable bags thinking these will definitely get left in the car. I know some of you have large stashes of canvas bags because of this.  So, what’s the trick to always having your reusable bags when you get to the register? 

First, you need to find the bags that work best for you.  To me this means easy storage in my car or purse. 
These days almost every store you enter has some sort of reusable bag with their logo on it.  Some are cheap, some are fashionable, and some get you a discount.  I prefer the bags sold at Hannaford.  They fold up very nicely and fit perfectly into the back pocket of the passenger/driver seats of a car.  They are also very sturdy and hold a large amount.

Second, after you unpack your groceries make sure your bags go right back to the car.  Think of them as one of your “cold” items.  You wouldn’t leave your eggs out on the counter, don’t leave your bags sitting out either.  Take the 1 minute to put your bags back in your car after stashing all the groceries and you will save yourself money while saving the planet.  If you make it part of your grocery routine, your bags will always be in your car. 

For some other fun ideas on reusable bags, check out this blog by Olivia Zaleski.  (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/olivia-zaleski/plastic-bag-plague-five-_b_83335.html)

Happy shopping!

The new stimulus plan may help you save money on your heating bills.  Check out this web post  at walletpop.com for details on how to receive money to update your windows.

I recently discovered a website that is quite possibly going to transform life as I now know it. OK, that’s a little dramatic, but I really have fallen in love with the website www.Evernote.com.   It is a FREE online service that allows you to store clips and lists, or files that are taking up room in your filing cabinet, desk, or floor.  It is a virtual scrapbook of sorts.  Keep recipes, copy and paste from websites as you do research, and tag all of it with key words for easy retrieval when you need to find it again!  It is a great site for those who just can’t let go of a magazine article (or 100).  Simply scan them into the site and recycle the paper! The initial process of getting everything loaded will take some work, but think of how much time it could save in the future. Not to mention the file space!  Also a good back up for those important documents you keep in the lock box (Wills, POA’s, Marriage certificate/license).  The possibilities are endless… well almost.  While Evernote.com allows you to upload photos, it is limited and they are not easily retrieved.  If you want to organize and store photos, I would stick with sites like Shutterfly.com or Snapfish.com that were purely created for that reason. 

Give it a try!

If you’re looking for a non-toxic alternative to commercial cleaning products, we want to share a great free resource. Vermont’s Chittenden Solid Waste District has published a online resource for how to make simple, non-toxic cleaners at home. From all purpose cleaners to stain removers, this site has the information. Less costly and safer for the environment makes this an attractive solution.

If you’re already feeling very busy and the thought of taking the time to make your own seems overwhelming, read on. I decided to give this a try at home to see how long it would really take. With a husband, four kids (including newborn twins), two dogs, a cat, I’m a pretty good testcase.

Once I bought the basic ingredients (such as white vinegar, baking soda, and liquid soap) from my grocery store, it only took a few moments and an empty spray bottle to create my first cleaner. Very easy. Give it a try- you’ll be pleasantly surprised!