Kristin van Ogtrop's Blog, page 351
April 13, 2011
What Are Volatile Organic Compunds?
When it comes to paint, you hear a lot about low-VOC and even no-VOC paints. But what does that term actually mean?
VOC stands for volatile organic compound, and it refers to certain chemicals that release gases into the air and contribute to indoor air pollution. Most commonly, you'll find VOCs in paints, lacquers, and wood stains, but they are also present in some cleaning products, aerosol sprays, and bug repellents.
To reduce your exposure to VOCs in your home, try these tips from the Environmental Protection Agency:
- Use adequate ventilation if you have to use a product that contains or might contain VOCs.
- Don't mix cleaners or other household chemicals unless he instructions specifically say it's okay.
- Properly dispose of any chemicals or cleaners that you no longer need. Or if you must store them, make sure they are in an appropriate container.
- Keep all potentially harmful cleaners, paints, etc away from children and pets.
Read more about volatile organic compounds from the EPA.
Do you make an effort to use low- or no-VOC products?
Related:
Make Your Home More Eco-Friendly
66 All-Natural Cleaning Solutions
A New Use for a Balloon via Family Chic
After having worked on the Solutions section of the magazine and the New Uses for Old Things section on the website, clever repurposing ideas are near and dear to my heart. And I'm constantly amazed at how many great ideas there are out there. Just take a look at how the blog Family Chic turned a regular old party balloon into a bud vase:
This adorable D.I.Y. only takes two steps. First, cut about 1 inch off of the neck of the balloon, and second stretch it over a votive candle holder that's about 2 inches tall. Then the only thing left to decide is whether you want the neck of the balloon to be tucked in or left out.
I think these would make great place cards at a dinner party. You can buy 2-inch votive candle holders inexpensively online (12 for $7) or I'm sure you can find them at your local craft or dollar store. Plus, just think of the wall of colored balloons you find at most party supply stores. I would want these little vases tucked all over my apartment for little pops of color.
Have you found any great new uses for old things lately? I'd love to see them!
(all images from Family Chic)
April 12, 2011
Eco-Find: Pens Made from Recycled Water Bottles
What can't they make from recycled water bottles these days? One of the latest things to come out are these fun pens from Pilot:
They are made of 89% recycled materials, and they are even molded to look like the plastic water bottles they are made from.
Find them here: Pilot B2P Gel Pens, $4 for 2 (also available in black and red)
Do you make an effort to buy products made from recycled materials?
Related:
Keeping Clutter Off Your Reading List
Over on Unclutterer.com today, we're talking about keeping clutter off bookshelves. One thing that has helped me significantly to curb bookshelf clutter is to schedule when I'm going to read books, the same way I might schedule a meeting or plan to see a movie with a friend.
Scheduling time to read is fun for me because it's usually a reward after a long day of work and tending to responsibilities around the house. It also helps me to keep my to-read list of books from growing out-of-control.
I keep a list of books I want to acquire on my Amazon Wish List. I don't always buy books through Amazon, but that is where I keep my list. One thing that is nice is that the Wish List tracks when I added a title. Every few months or so, I go through the list and delete anything that has lingered for a year and was never acquired. If I really wanted to read a book, I would acquire it within a year. I can also set high, medium, and low priorities, to help me decide which book to get next.
Once I have a book, I put it on a to-read bookshelf in my living room or in my active queue on my Kindle. I try not to have more than 20 or 30 books in my to-read selection at a time. I can read that many books in about four months, so that is why the limit is set where it is.
Another thing I do that has helped with my reading is that I have stopped feeling guilty about abandoning a book I don't like. If something stops catching my attention and I find myself avoiding my date with reading, I'll stop reading a book. Making this change has helped me tremendously because to-read books stop piling up while I try to make it through a book I don't like.
How do you keep your to-read list from overwhelming your home? Do you have a system in place to keep track of what you want to acquire and read? Share your tips and methods in the comments.
April 11, 2011
Skip Chemicals and Use Baking Soda to Clean Your Drain
Rather than pouring a veritable cocktail of chemicals down your drain, use a couple of kitchen (or science experiment) supplies and a pot of boiling water to get things flowing smoothly again.
Here are the step-by-step instructions:
1. Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda followed by 1/2 cup of vinegar down the clogged drain.
2. Cover the drain with a wet cloth for 5 minutes.
3. Remove the cloth and flush the drain with steaming-hot water.
Do you have a natural remedy for a clogged drain? Share it with us in the comments.
Related:
66 All-Natural Cleaning Solutions
Converse + Marimekko Collection
Your favorite sneakers just got a Finnish face-lift.
Marimekko, the world-renowned Finnish design house, has teamed up with Converse to launch its first-ever capsule collection: "Converse ♥ Marimekko."
It's hard not to recognize and absolutely fall in love with the graphic, bold, and vibrant patterns that have made Marimekko an iconic design house for the past 60 years. It's just the type of energy needed to turn your favorite kick-around sneakers into a work of art!
The sneakers will be sold globally and retail for between $75 and $80.
What do you think?
The fun doesn't stop there... Marimekko is definitely keeping busy these days. The company is also collaborating with Crate & Barrel and have opened an exclusive shop in C&'s SoHo NYC location—offering bags, bed and bath, kitchen, dining, and more. Amazing!
How I'm Preparing My Skin for Summer
With these ever-changing temperatures, my face is starting to get a little weathered. Is yours as well? I found two treatments—an every-day and a nighttime routine—that have kept my skin glowing, soft, and clear.
Although skin is particular to each person, I wanted to share these routines with you because of how gently they have treated my skin. I generally have very dry skin throughout the winter and then during the summer my skin gets sensitive—instead of balancing out with the warmer weather. So to prepare I switched to Weleda's Sweet Almond Line. This organic brand's in-house aesthetician, Patricia Pol, explained to me that "our skin is often affected by external influences, which can lead to skin sensitivity. The organic sweet almond oil is perfect for bringing skin back into balance and soothing irritation." My favorite part: I find these products so luxurious and relaxing.
To buy: $19 to $38, usa.weleda.com
Another product I've recently discovered that saved me was Osmotics Blue Copper 5 Repair Treatment. The minute I felt the weather drastically changing, I started this seven-day treatment and felt like my skin was completely renewed. I asked Francine Porter, the CEO and founder of Osmotics Cosmeceutical, to explain what is in these little ampoules that makes them so effective."L-Carnosine, [which is] a potent antioxidant that scavenges age-accelerating free radicals and a natural extract derived from carob seeds that stimulates tissue regeneration," she answered. It "helps repair damaged skin while reducing stress, redness, and irritation."
To buy: $125, osmotics.com
What are your secrets to adjusting your regimen and keeping your skin clear? Share the products that keep you looking your best during these unpredictable months.
Did You Know That You Can Mail Plastic Easter Eggs?
I came across this cute idea on the blog Giverslog last week. Who would of thought that you could pop those traditional plastic Easter eggs in the mailbox. I think it's a great idea for sending a little Easter cheer to friends and family members who live far away.
Take a look at what AmberLee from Giverslog put in hers.
Visit Giverslog for information on how much postage is required, and tips for mailing these fun Easter surprises.
What do you think of this idea? If you were to do this, what would you put inside the egg?
*Have you heard about our Great Easter Egg Hunt Sweepstakes? It started today! There is an Easter egg hidden somewhere on RealSimple.com. Find it, and you can enter for a chance to win one of eight fabulous prizes. Like Real Simple on Facebook to get your daily hint, and see complete rules here.
(all images from Giverslog)
Related:
6 Homemade Easter Egg Dye Recipes
The Etiquette of College Acceptances
Well, the week of elation and torment has passed, and life has returned to normal—or a new normal, for all of my friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and strangers I read about in the paper whose kids have been admitted into (or rejected by) colleges and universities across the country. I'm no M.D., but I suspect the national blood pressure has dropped by five points.
But now a different, less life-changing anxiety sets in: How/when do you ask people what their kids are doing?
Say Parent X is a friend, but not a very close friend. You run in to Parent X at school or a party or at a baseball game. Parent X has a senior in high school—we'll call her Susie—who you know is going to college next year. Susie is a good student and probably applied to 10 or so institutions, from reach schools to major safeties.
The conundrum: If you don't ask about Susie, it looks like you don't care. If you do ask, it looks like you are nosy, morbidly curious (since getting into many schools is all but impossible, apparently), or—worst of all—competitive.
But face it—you really do want to know.
So what do you say? "Hey, where did Susie get in?" is out of the question. Too direct, too aggressive. "Has Susie made her plans for next year?" is less direct and probably ok. "Did you survive the whole college acceptance thing?"—said with a laugh—may just be too oblique to get any answer whatsoever. (Note: None of these questions apply when we're talking about close friends. Then an "Oh, my God, so what happened!?!?!" is perfectly fine.)
I am now facing this dilemma and it will last well into the fall semester. Any advice from parents farther along the high school process would be greatly appreciated. My darling Eldest is only a sophomore in high school, but the time is coming when I will be on the other side of such conversations. And, chances are, only more confused.
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April 8, 2011
Friday Find: Augden
It doesn't feel quite like Spring here yet (ugh), so it's no wonder that these sumptuous sweaters by Augden are calling my name.
I could use one right now and most definitely throughout the spring/summer on those chilling nights or when the air conditioning is a bit too high.
Augden launched the Fall of 2010 and is a collection of exquisite knits made of the finest alpaca, llama and pima cotton. With just one touch you will fall in love--but the real romance begins when you put one on. Each piece is handmade in the hills of Bolivia by artisans who employ the techniques of their craft that have been passed down through the generations.
The sweaters are designed by Franceska Earls a native of New York with strong family and personal ties to South America (she is a great-niece to a former President of Bolivia). Earls goals are to preserve the handknitting craft in the Andes mountains, which is too quickly being replaced by machines---and to promote sustainable clothing production.
Definitely inspiring and worthy causes.
You can purchase the beautiful sweaters--which retail between $225-$395--on Augden's site and for the first time they will be available at Calypso online and at the Madison Ave, Tribeca and Soho stores in NYC.
For more information click here.
