9/13/12

After you've cracked a couple of eggs to make breakfast, rinse out the eggshells to feed to your flowering bushes. Rinse the shells and microwave them on a paper towel or microwave-safe plate for about 3 minutes. This will sterilize the shells and make them very dry. Crush the shells with your hands, and sprinkle the powder near flowering bushes like rhododendrons and hydrangeas. Your plants will thrive from the calcium boost the eggshells provide.

9/12/12

Keep your car smelling fresh and clean with a homemade air freshener. Fill a large tea strainer with charcoal (the kind for the grill) or dried lavender. Charcoal is a natural deodorizer, so it will absorb foul fragrances. When it's left in a warm car, lavender will perfume the air with a soothing and pleasing scent. This is a healthy alternative to artificial chemical car fresheners.

9/11/12

If you're in the market for a new computer, think laptop over desktop. A laptop computer uses up to one-third less energy than a desktop. Newer laptops feature even bigger environmental savings, including LED-lit screens, which are free of harmful mercury. Look for laptops that are Energy Star certified. And be sure to recycle your old computer whenever you buy a new one. RadioShack will appraise the recycling value of your old PC or Mac and give you a gift card for its value on the spot.