America is facing Great Depression-level unemployment right now, and now more than ever, people are looking to support American businesses.

This interest in buying local is a ray of light in a very dark situation.

We are long time supporters of shopping local, especially in the US. I love when people keep their money in their communities, but what I love is that shopping local is so much better for the environment. When our things travel shorter distances, they use less fossil fuels. If we buy less and we buy local, we can change our relationship with consumerism and help prevent climate change.

Whether you are buying American for patriotic or environmental reasons, the first step is actually shopping secondhand. If you want to help the environment, secondhand purchases have the least impact, the least packaging, and usually travel the shortest distances.

Also, if you want to buy things that were made ethically and locally, they are going to be more expensive. You can easily offset that cost if you buy things you can get secondhand first.

For example, All-Clad pots are excellent, made in America, and freaking expensive. If you can't afford a full set, check Ebay first! Right now, they have tons of All Clad on the site. You could get most of what you need there, and then buy anything you can't find new. No one will be able to tell the difference.

I will link to the brands websites themselves, and to where you can also find them on Amazon, Etsy, etc. Some things are also available on Lehman's, which is a great spot. I am an Amazon and Etsy affiliate, so I get a tiny bit of money if you shop from those links; that said, don't buy on Amazon if you can find it from a smaller business, especially if it is local. The more we shop small businesses, the more we can help our neighbors survive.

As a second warning, not everything from these companies is manufactured in America. Always check, because things do change.

Ok, looking for great American-made kitchen stuff? Let's do this-

from Amazon

Pyrex

Their Website
Buy it on Amazon

We use our pyrex mixing bowls , bakeware, and measuring cups every day. This American company is based in Illinois and manufactured in Pennsylvania. Some of its sibling companies were long made in America too, but you need check before you buy (Corelle is now often manufactured in China). Also, check out secondhand spaces for these! They last a long time.

Best Manufacturers

Their Website
Buy it on Amazon

We went through multiple whisks before we found this Made in America company. They have an excellent collection of whisks, and they are so well-made. Ours is still doing great! Get this once and you won't ever have to buy one again.

Anchor Hocking

Their Website
Buy it on Amazon

Anchor Hocking has been making glassware in Ohio since 1905. You can find all the best kitchen storage and drinking glasses from them. They also make commercial glassware- we bought cups from them that have survived three boys, so you know it is serious stuff!

from Etsy

Marley's Monsters

Their Website
Buy it on Etsy

We absolutely love this Oregon-based shop- it offers all sorts of zero waste staples like unpaper towels, cloth sponges, snack bags, and (our favorite) bowl covers. We can reuse these items hundreds of times, so they save us money in the end as well.

Epicurean

Their Website
Buy it on Amazon

Epicurean, based in Wisconsin, is known for their cutting boards, but they also make amazing spatulas and turners out of their eco-friendly and long lasting material. Our boards have lasted us for years- well worth the investment.

For more wood spoons and turners, try Allegheny Treeware, Whetstone Woodenware,

Rada Cutlery

Their Website
Buy it on Amazon

Rada Cutlery, based out of Iowa, makes shockingly affordable knives, knife blocks, peelers, and other kitchen goods. Their catalog is available online, but I have noticed them at tons of smaller grocery stores as well. We have their knife sharpener, and we like it so much that we have been giving it as gifts as well.

For other Made in America knives- R. Murphy Knives, Warther Cutlery, Lamson Knives

J K Adams

The Website
Buy it on Amazon

J K Adams is based in Vermont, and their cutting board won America's Test Kitchen's award for best cutting board. They also make the kind of beautiful rolling pins that look like they belong in a fancy French bakery.

KitchenAid

Their Website
Buy it on Amazon (or any kitchen store anywhere)

Kitchenaid has a wide variety of products, some are still made in the US and some are made in China, so be sure to really check before you buy. Their stand mixers, a staple of every wedding registry, are still made in Ohio. And you can find them at most kitchen stores in person and online.

Lodge

Their Website
Buy it on Amazon

Lodge Cast Iron is an American gem. Pans, dutch ovens, and skillets have so many uses and will likely last a lifetime. We especially use the dutch oven for a lot of our cooking.

Vitamix

Their Website
Buy it on Crate and Barrel or Amazon

Vitamix blenders are still made in Ohio, though be sure to check, because they are a little less forthcoming about their Made in America-ness than they used to be (which is usually a good sign some things are being imported). These blenders are freaking expensive, but they still outlast many of their owners because they are so well-made.

If you are looking for something a little cheaper or a lot more eco-friendly, you can buy refurbished and tested Vitamix blenders Which begs the question- Why don't all appliance companies do this?

from Amazon

USA Pan

Their Website
Buy them on Williams Sonoma or Amazon

USA Pan continues to be one of my favorite finds writing this blog. They are made in Pittsburgh, right near where I grew up, and I had never heard of them- do you know what is manufactured near you? Their baking sheets and cookie pans have served us perfectly for years, and they haven't started to warp like our other pans. Everyone should get these pans. If you are feeling fancier, USA Pan also makes the fancy line at Williams Sonoma.

They also tend to be staples at smaller kitchen stores if you want to support a small business!

All-Clad

Their Website
Buy it on Amazon or Williams Sonoma

All-Clad makes top of the line pots and pans in Pennsylvania. These are the pots and pans that chefs love, and they are built to last (so much so that there are lots of used pots available as well). If you love to cook, this high-end cookware might be worth it.

Fletcher's Mill

Their Website
Buy it on Amazon

Fletcher's Mill makes salt and pepper grinders that we love. This may seem like a strange addition to your kitchen, but you can buy salt and pepper in bulk to save money and packaging. This company also makes spatulas and other kitchen tools too!

Zeroll

Their Website
Buy it on Amazon

This company is great at one thing- ice cream scoops! They are all manufactured in Florida, and they could be a perfect gift.

Cleaning your Surfaces and Sink

from The Pistachio Project

from Natural Soap Mom

Want to get your stainless steel sink (and maybe appliances?) REALLY clean! Check out this recipe from Natural Soap Mom. I think this sink cleaner from The Pistachio Project also looks really great (and important- sinks have a lot of germs).

from Mama Instincts

To clean out our garbage disposal, we always just throw lemons and limes down there once they are juiced and zested. This recipe from Mama Instincts also has a little bit of vinegar and essential oils, so it might be even more effective.

All-Purpose Cleaner

from Happy Mothering

For wiping the counters, we just use all-purpose cleaner. Which, as you probably already know, really only needs to be water and vinegar. If you want the clear and straightforward compound, check this blog from The Pistachio Project.

If you want to get fancy with it, you have lots of great options! I like this cleaner from Happy Mothering. All these recipes with vinegar kind of bum me out, because I don't love the smell, but I think those citrus peels would really smell amazing AND you get to reuse the peels!

I am obsessed with DIY and Kawa's cleaning supplies- so simple and smart, and she has a citrus all purpose cleaner as well. I love the citrus smell because it just seems so fresh.

If you want something a little less fruity, you could try this rose-infused vodka cleaner from A Life Adjacent. Totally different, and I am pretty intrigued by the idea.

Dishwasher Detergent

from DIY and Kawa

This one is big for me, because we didn't love our last green option, and right now we are looking for another one.

DIY and Kawa has a recipe for detergent to try. I like that this is one where it isn't all mixed together, but the downside is you need the right kind of dishwasher to try it. This one from Rita May Days looks pretty good too, and I love that she reminds us that these eco-friendly solutions also save you money!

If you are thinking dishwasher detergent tabs, this one from Happy Money Saver uses lemonade packets, which is pretty darn cute (though you could probably get some with way less packaging.

If you want to clean your dishwasher in a natural way, The Pistachio Project has a helpful post on that as well. God bless green bloggers! People have thought of everything.

Dish Soap

This is the one I want to replace the most, because Dawn dish soap is made from petroleum products. Why do we rub this on our food surfaces? Trying to get as much of this junk out of my life as possible.

Weirdly, I didn't see as many dish soap recipes. But I do like this one from The Prairie Homestead, which looks pretty simple and effective. This one from Homestead Lifestyle looks even simpler- we have most of these ingredients at home now!

Do you have a homemade dish soap that you like?



Alright! More cleaning to do and to do better! That's spring cleaning right? It sucks, but it leaves you with that good feeling of a job well done and a home you have taken care of. That's pretty similar to this whole blog- lots of changes that may not be fun at first, but once you see how good it feels, you want to keep up with it!

Want to make your home greener? No matter the size or location, you can limit your waste and make your house have a more positive impact on the environment. Check out the Green Home Page for thousands of ideas on how to do it.

Huzzah! We finally get to talk about cleaning bathrooms, which we all know is the most fun a person can have. What joy, cleaning a toilet! What adventure, scrubbing a bathtub!

Ok, so maybe not. Honestly, cleaning a bathroom is mostly something we want to get over with, certainly not spend a bunch of time thinking about.

But have you ever been cleaning a shower and just noticed that smell and feeling in your mouth and throat from all the chemicals? It's not a good feeling, and it isn't good for you. We know there are connections between those chemicals (and the plastic bottles they come in) and lower health. It's not good.

It's not good for the Earth either. Just think of those nasty chemicals where even the fumes stick on you. Now, you are going to wash them down the drain into everyone's water supply.


This is bad news, but the good news is that we can do something about it. Switching to greener cleaners can be better for our health, the Earth, AND our wallets. Yep. This stuff will save you money. So, maybe you have never considered buying or making your own natural cleaning products, but check these out.

Clean your bathroom. Save the world. Makes perfect sense, right?

Here are a few tips to get you started- 

1. Keep your products to a minimum. Bathrooms can easily be overrun by bottles of lotions and potions and so forth. But how many of them do you actually use? Donate everything else, because without clutter, mess is easier to tackle.

This goes for cleaners too. You don't need 50 different products. Replace with natural options as you need to, and minimize your methods.

2. Green your Basics. Is your toothbrush recyclable or compostable? Was a tree cut down for your toilet paper? Are you using bar soap to cut down on plastic waste? These kinds of switches are SO simple, but they add up and pack real environmental punch. Are you washing with rags or reusable sponges? You can cut out a lot of waste this way.

3. Try switching one cleaner! There are so many natural cleaners and ideas out there. This is honestly just the tip of the iceberg. I am so glad you are ready to do this, but like everything on this site, you are best off to take it one step at a time.

4. If something doesn't work, try something else. Some people complain that natural cleaners don't work as well. Well, in some cases that is basically going to be true! But those hardcore chemicals that bite right through grime aren't great for your body either. Still, if something isn't working, check and find another recipe. Something will work.

So, I will note that many of these recipes use essential oils. I used to be a total essential oils skeptic, but for the few things we have used them for, they have really worked. I don't think they are the be all end all, but I do think you shouldn't turn down a good idea just because there are essential oils in it. If you are more into them than I am, you can check out this great post by The Organic Goat Lady with all sorts of essential oil wisdom.

Ok, so I found lots of great stuff, let's brace ourselves. It's about to get bathroom-y in here.

If You Aren't About to Make Things... 

Some of us just don't have time to whip up a bunch of cleaners ourselves. IT'S OK. You want to fight the battle in a way you can sustain in your own life, and there are tons of great options out there.

from Uncommonly Well

Uncommonly Well has absolutely awesome lists of the best of green and natural cleaning products out there for every space. I was planning on writing something like this myself, but this awesomeness already exists, so I am just going to point you there. This is their overall list, and this is their bathroom list.

We currently mostly buy our cleaning supplies (and honestly have not run out of a lot of these things since we started to live a greener life... maybe we need to clean more!?). I would definitely recommend Method and Seventh Generation cleaners.

Shower and Tile Cleaner

from Happy Mothering

This shower cleaner recipe from Happy Mothering looks really effective. And wouldn't it be nice to clean the shower without that icky chemical feeling in your throat?

from Bren Did

The best overall cleaner I saw was from Bren Did. Again, simple ingredients and totally doable! And I love how she starts- when are we polluting our home instead of cleaning it?

from Natural Soap Mom

If you want to reduce waste from your home (and why wouldn't you- the Earth has plenty of waste already), a key issue is making things last. This makes me think of shower curtain liners, which are just plastic, so you probably want to get years of use out of each one you buy. That means cleaning it, not letting it get nasty and then tossing it. If you want some guidance on how to do that (without it being too miserable) check out this post from Natural Soap Mom.

Toilet Cleaner

from Mama's Instincts

This toilet cleaner from Mama's Instincts looks simple to make and effective. Love that you can make one big bunch of it, though no diy recipe is enough to make cleaning toilets fun.

from Happy Mothering

If you want your toilet to smell fresh between scrubs, these toilet bombs from Happy Mothering might do the trick (what a terrible name- a toilet bomb sounds like the world's worst bathroom visit).

from Retro Housewife Go Green

Retro Housewife Go Green has a similar recipe as well. Once you see a bunch of these, you get a sense of what materials are put together to make each thing work. And the essential oils add a lot of great smells.

from Mindful Momma

Who knew toilet bombs were so popular? I think it's the name. Mindful Momma, another blog that I love, has a post about how she makes hers as well (and they are fizzy). These really have me thinking and we might try it!

Glass Cleaner

March is about the time we start to get that itch to clean out our house. Everything feels a little bit cluttered, and even our normal cleaning routine leaves those little piles (you know the ones I'm talking about- the devil is in those handy little nothings that have a pile but no purpose).

Cleaning does come up as an environmentalist issue mainly through all the nasty chemicals that are in most cleaning products, but if you are just starting to green up your lifestyle, it can be the perfect place to start. All you have to do is accept this one simple truth:

There is no away.

You can't just throw something away or rinse it down the drain. That trash, or junk, or chemical still goes somewhere and could even come back in your water or the food you eat. Because everything is deeply connected and we are all suffering from the things we throw away, you don't get to stop caring just because the garbage man carted it away. It's a pretty gross realization.

I know, this is a real dick thing to say as you get ready to clean. I am totally stealing that wonderful feeling after you have cleaned something out! Why would I steal the joy of your purge!??!?

Well, I promise it's all positivity from here on, because we can start talking about all the benefits you get from cleaning your house in a greener way.

I am not a great cleaner, and it's not in my comfort zone to wax poetic about cleaning strategies, but I think we can split most cleaning into two categories:

Decluttering and Deep Cleaning.

So this blog is going to spend the month looking at both. Why doing them is green (and good for your life), and how you can make changes to make them even greener.

First, Decluttering. 

The average American has 300,000 objects in their home, and it comes at a really high cost. We buy object after object hoping to make us happy, respected, or enough, but instead we know the ever growing pile of chaos is making us miserable. We know that decluttered and minimalist spaces create better mental health and prevent depression. This is a big deal.

On the environmentalist front, we know that having what we need (not just an epic pile of what we want) means that we have a better sense of what we have. Most Americans buy multiple duplicates a year of something they already own. No one can keep track of 300,000 objects. No one can make one million great choices. But if we minimize our stuff, we know what we have AND we can buy less.

That means less plastic packaging, less shipping and fossil fuel waste, less waste in general.

That said, it can be tempting (and honestly satisfying to send our unwanted stuff out to the fields and never think of it again.

But that is a HUGE mistake. First, it creates tons of unnecessary waste sent out to landfills that could have been recycled or reused. Secondly, someone out there could use the thing you are done with. If they can't get it from you, they might buy it, and the cycle of shopping and waste (and never actually being all that happy) continues.

So, if you are decluttering this spring, consider joining my Great Donate challenge. The goal is to donate 2,018 items out of your house this year. It is so cleansing and life-affirming, plus you have less to clean up.

The bottom line? The best thing you can do for yourself and the Earth is get tons out of your house but not into landfills.

It sounds intimidating. I know that. But I am here to help. We have a whole series of blogs going up this month that show you can donate (or recycle) almost anything. You can see the whole list of them here. Check it out, you are bound to be surprised.

So, let this be the month you finally start cutting those collections in half and free your life from super oppressive clutter. This isn't about being perfect, but it is all about finding that progress and sharing what we have. Right now, we have community groups like Buy Nothing and freecycle, charities and thrift stores left and right, terracycle, electronics recycling and SO MUCH MORE.

We know our things can have another life after us, we just

Also, I know it is hard at the start, but it starts to feel really good. There is a reason that lots of environmentally-aware and zero-waste people started with minimalism or decluttering. Once you start to change that relationship with stuff, it changes your world view for the better.

Second, cleaning. 

Cleaning seems straightforward enough; you get the schmutz off your floor and things look nicer, right?

Our cleaning supplies bring all sorts of chemicals into our lives. And before you roll your eyes about my crunchiness and think "they are harmless," think about how much cleaning has changed in the last few generations. And think about how much more we know now about cancers, alzheimers, and other diseases. On some level, we know that these chemicals and plastics are part of the problem. Pesticides we thought were fine a generation ago, we now know actually stunt brain development and mess with children's chemical build up.

In short, hell yes these chemicals should matter to you.

Don't wait until it is validated by study after study to get this junk out of your house. Especially because whatever is around you is also in you. And that stuff gets sent out in the world, so it is in everyone else too.

Not to mention, you can do any cleaning job without them.

Cleaning supplies, soaps, and tools for every job (from dishes to laundry to floors to all the weird orange peels my toddlers leave around my house) have green options. All of them. Some of them you can make yourself (and save BIG money) and some you can buy. I will be doing round ups of both. You can have a natural, non-toxic collection of cleaning supplies by just switching out as things run out.

This is also a great area to reduce your waste. We are all so comfortable with one-time use cleaning supplies meant to be tossed completely- wipes, swiffers, plastic sponges, dryer sheets, and more.

You can find reusable, plastic-free, and eco-friendly options for every tool you use. I will even find you reusable swiffer pads. Choosing reusable can eliminate TONS of waste out of your life and out of landfills. Think about how many of those wipes or paper towels you use. Now, replace them with unpaper towels that you can use a thousand times instead of once. That is a big freaking deal.

So, is cleaning the most exciting or sexy topic? Probably not, but like so many things we talk about on this blog, the little decisions we make everyday (or every week or every month depending on how much of a cleaner you are) add up. Like our diets, every little good decision adds up.

So, let's do this. Any green cleaning tips that have worked pretty well for you?

This blog series "Don't Buy... Instead Try..." intends to point out some of the most egregiously unethical, wasteful, and environmentally ridiculous companies out there. Instead of dwelling on their considerable awfulness, the series will focus on the other options you have for purchasing. Every purchase we make is a vote for the kind of world we want.  Every single purchase is political.  Every single purchase has ethical ramifications, and  every single purchase should be approached with a spirit of stewardship.  We can change the world by refusing to fund extreme greed, the mistreatment of other human beings, and the trashing of the environment. We need to stay aware of the many choices available to us. Will we get it right every time? No. But if we all make little changes, we can send companies a new message, that consumers will show up if they do the right thing (and they won't if the companies grab for easier, cheaper money).

from Zimbio

Oh Martha Stewart, as American as apple-picking in the fall. As American as an all-organic Thanksgiving dinner. As American as an overcrowded prison system (oh come on, you knew it was coming). This woman is as meticulous, thoughtful, and on point as a perfectly laid out table, filled to the brink with super wasps.

Locally-made is also a huge part of her magazine empire, and they even award an American Made prize every year, intentionally highlighting makers in the United States. That's commitment, right?

With all of this being so important to her brand, surely her house ware, craft supplies, and kitchen stuff, sold everywhere from Kmart to Macy's, would be made in America, right?

from pinterest

Surprise! Nope. Everything in her brand is Made in Elsewhere.

Americaness may be an essential part of her image, but the facts of her manufacturing tell a different story. Her products may look soft and pristine, but they are actually horrible for Americans, horrible for the environment, and not all that great at just staying together.

I can say this from experience. We bought her mixing bowls in our first round of moving in together shopping. Though they were pretty, they showed their age quickly and two or three broke apart completely before we cohabitated for five years.

The short version of this story is that the woman is selling junk with her face on it for way more than it is worth. No wonder she looks so smug!

Now, Martha sells a pretty epic variety of things in her brand (again, never a good sign! You can't do everything well), so we won't be able to address everything here, but I will try to point you to some gems. I also recently wrote a Made in America Wedding Registry, and it will give you an alternative to most of her selections, so if I don't address something you want to get Made in America, that is somewhere to start.

Down with Martha. Down with all of these celebrities selling absolute junk they would NEVER use, just to make an extra buck (I am looking at ALL of you at Food Network). Be quick to question these celerity brands, because all they have proven to do is make the celebrity money.

Epicurean from Amazon

Ok, so five places to look before you turn to Martha's Kitchen Collections: 

Don't Buy Martha's Bakeware, Instead Try USA Pan- Made in Pittsburgh, beloved in professional kitchens and kitchen stores alike (both Sur la Table and Williams Sonoma have lines manufactured by USA Pan). Trust me, I research this stuff all the time, and I won't buy anything else.

Don't Buy Martha's Cake Stand, Instead Try Anchor Hocking or Mosser Glass- These ones are more beautiful and built to last. Yes, the Martha one (in this case) is cheaper, but if her stuff lasts about 5 years, you could be buying 10 more in your life. So which is a better deal in the end?

Don't Buy Martha Cutting Board or Utensils, Instead Try Epicurean- Poke around at the Epicurean kitchen tools. They offer a reasonable variety of well-made (and ethically-made) stuff that you keep forever.

Don't Buy Martha's Mixing Bowls, Instead Try Pyrex and Calibowls-  This is entirely a matter of taste. I would generally avoid plastic bowls, but Calibowls are just as beautiful as the Martha set, but they are made of recycled plastic and have such a smart (spillproof!) design. Pyrex is also an American institution, and they make mixing bowls with lids, which turns out to make a whole lot of sense. Both heads and shoulder above these bowls which betrayed us.

Don't Buy Martha's Food Container Set, Instead Try Pyrex or Anchor Hocking- Now I am all about eliminating plastic tupperware from your kitchen (better for the environment and your body), but this isn't the way to do it. No American needs to buy glass imported from another country (this includes you, Oh WASPy one). Pyrex and Anchor Hocking still manufacture in the US, their prices are comparable if not better, and you can get them everywhere from Big Lots to fancy kitchen supply stores.

Don't Buy Martha's Cheese Grater, Instead Try Microplane -  You may get one made partially in the US and partially in Mexico, but that is still way better than Made in China. Microplane has a pretty large line of graters and zesters, so you should be able to find just what you need.

1888 Mills from Amazon

Five places to look before you turn to the Martha Stewart Decorating Collections

Don't Buy Martha's Bedding (Whim or otherwise), Instead Try  Holy Lamb Organics and American Made Dorm and Home- Simple options and more cutesy designs (better than the Whim patterns in my opinion) between these two companies.

Don't Buy Martha's Salt and Pepper Mill, Instead Try Fletchers' Mill- We have them, we love them, we would never go back to a regular McCormick shaker. If you want to take the leap, try a company like Fletcher's Mill who make gorgeous mills in the United States

Don't Buy Martha's Silverware, Instead Try Liberty Tabletop- This one definitely has a big price difference, not going to lie, so if you feel too strapped to splurge on silverware, you could also go get sets used. I think there has to be enough silver in the world that we could all just use the pre-used stuff, as long as we aren't partnered with someone who can't handle the not matching.

Don't Buy Martha's Tableware, Instead Try Fiestaware or Bauer Pottery- They are known for their colorful plates, but you could get either of these companies' plates in white for a similar fresh and clean look (one more traditional, one more modern). Corelle still makes their plates in the US as well (though they are not owned by Americans anymore) so they may be a good lower cost option (or get a set used! Again, this stuff lasts forever and you can find some really cool things out there).

Don't Buy Martha's Towels, Instead Try 1888 Mills- Made in the US. Pretty, simple, nothing too fussy. Perfect switch. We won't buy towels anywhere else anymore. They do have a mix of sources for their fabric and make, but they are super transparent about it, so you can find the Made in the US ones quickly and easily.

And finally, before you buy her craft gear: 

1. Go to your Local Craft Store- In many places, they still exist! But they won't much longer if people don't go, so this is a grand opportunity. Check with who is working, I bet they have lots of good ideas about what craft supplies are still made here.

2. Check Etsy- Almost every kind of craft supply is for sale on Etsy. It can be way nicer to chat with a real person, and they are often eager to help you get exactly what you need. You can skip Martha's glitter for this one, skip her paper lanterns for the ones from The Paper Lantern Store or Prost to the Host.

3. Utrecht Art Supplies- Put Made in USA in the search on the Utrecht website, and you can find great stuff made here in the States.

4. The Dalee Book Company- You can buy scrapbooks, photo albums, and scrapbook supplies on this website that were made in the USA. Woot!


So Martha, why don't you go mushroom foraging or scallop-searching, and leave the supplies to companies who are actually American? We can all make a difference by sending companies the message that these giant unethical brands do not get our money! Be patriotic by putting your money back into America,



This month is all about buying American-made! Check out the Giant List of Shopping Lists for more ideas of simple switches for a better world!

Want to make your home greener? No matter the size or location, you can limit your waste and make your house have a more positive impact on the environment. Check out the Green Home Page for thousands of ideas on how to do it.

The fellow that owns his own home is always just coming out of a hardware store.  ~Frank McKinney Hubbard

 Unless one decorates one's house for oneself alone, best leave it bare, for other people are walleyed.  ~D.H. Lawrence

Ok, I think this is what I'll do on Thursdays. I swear I am going to get the hang out of this blogging thing, but I am still not sure what use this thing has.

1. Liberty Fest, or the Week of the Fourth of July in Franklin- When I was growing up, I popped popcorn in the park everyday of the week. Now, just going to the concert and the Penny Carnival is so fun. They do a great job every year and even though the Penny Carnival was plenty rainy, we took the baby and he had a great time. this year they even had people dressed as comic book characters. Concerts in the park, to me, are the best part of summers in Franklin. I get to sit and talk with my grandparents and watch most of my family do their thing. Then, to top it all off, we have a big party in my backyard where we eat lots of summery All-American food, watch fireworks, and I see all the people I don't see anymore (which leads me to my next love...)

2. Having surprisingly non-awkward small talk with people- Most of the time, I leave an interaction with another human being shaking my head at what a troll I am. But every so often, now that I have been home a few weeks, I have a glorious exchange with someone that doesn't include "Oh I'm here for two months" or "California is different." I'm always afraid that I come off as loud-mouthed or arrogant, but I think I mostly come off as boring. So, when I actually see someone who I can laugh and joke with, making new memories instead of lamely honoring old ones, it's pretty awesome.

3. Photo Books on Shutterfly- this is old, but the blog is new. Shutterfly has a lot of great options for a photo publishing site, produces great books, and has lots of sales so if you wait for the perfect moment, you can usually get things for cheap. It combines 2 of my all time favorite things: gift giving and photographs.

4. First Blush Photos- Franklin has two well-known photographers- Jim Ellis for posed things and Dr. Karian's beautiful photography of the region, but another company is starting to work in the area and I think their really good. Rachel Reinders, a PW from the area, has teamed up with one of her old photography buddies, a photojournalist in the Midwest, to start their own company. I love that they are working collaboratively across states, that they are co-ed, and that their photography is creative and beautiful. I just met Rachel at a friend's bachelorette party, and she seems very chill and cool. They are just getting started, but they seem to really know what their doing. Also, they have the job I would have if I was more talented and less dorky.

5. P.Y.T.- The Best Michael Jackson song. It's been playing in my head all week.

Hope everyone is having a good week!

I figure, since my favorite things I make now are photographs, I would just post one every monday, rather than trying to work a blog into a picture I took that I think is cool.