01/21/12

Even if your lawn isn't the envy of your neighbors, you'll be a hero to small wild animals if you keep a brush pile of twigs, branches and rocks in a section of your yard. Animals and birds need places to bury, hide and be sheltered from chilling winds and winter storms, and a tangled web of natural brush provides needed nooks and crannies for them. Even keeping a pile of firewood in the yard can be a safe haven for many animals.

01/20/12

When buying cosmetics, look for cruelty-free products, natural ingredients or even packaging made from recycled plastic. You can also buy brands that offer refills for your favorite cosmetics rather than throwing away compacts and cases. Just pop out the empty makeup and replace it with a refill. It's less wasteful and costs less money than buying a whole new cosmetics kit.

01/19/12

All of those cardboard boxes your holiday gifts came in can either be saved and reused or recycled. Just be sure to remove any plastic windows on the boxes before dropping them off at your recycling center. Those windows can be peeled off from the inside of the box and tossed in the trash. The plastic film mucks up the recycling process and makes the whole load of recyclable cardboard useless.