10/25/10

This Halloween, skip the plastic pumpkin or drug store trick-or-treat bag and buy one that helps protect your child and helps sustain life for another. Model Lauren Bush created FEED to help children all over the world get the proper nutrients and meals they need to survive and be healthy. The FEED Halloween bag (available at feedprojects.com) is just $13 and supports UNICEF's efforts "to provide one child in the developing world with an entire year's worth of micronutrient powders." The bag itself has reflective tape on it for safety and it can be used year-round as a reusable grocery bag, too.

10/24/10

If there is only one investment you make to help lower your heating costs this upcoming winter, invest in a programmable thermostat. These thermostats can be set to automatically lower and raise the temperature in your home when you need it most or the least. If your home is empty during the day, it can heat your home as minimally as possible, but then warm it up an hour before you usually get home. Using a programmable thermostat can save you up to $180 a year if used correctly, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

10/23/10

Many people are facing an epidemic of stinkbug beetles invading their homes this year. While they can be a pest, don't resort to stronger outdoor pesticides to control them from coming indoors. Spraying outdoor chemicals inside your home leads to incredibly unhealthy indoor air. It's better to simply vacuum up the stinkbugs or seal up cracks where they could be entering rather than putting yourself and your family at risk.