Day 31 of 31 - Happy New Year!

Day 31 of 31 - Happy New Year!

What are your New Year’s resolutions this year?? Thinking of making any green changes? You know we are!

Day 30 of 31 - What You Can Doers New Years Resolutions

Day 30 of 31 - What You Can Doers New Years Resolutions.

Need some tips - look at our ideas.

Day 29 of 31 - Touch for Hunger!

Day 29 of 31 - Touch for Hunger!

If you have even one minute there’s something you can do to fight malnutrition around the world. By clicking @ the Hunger Site, you can help make a difference in the lives of those suffering from hunger.

Day 28 of 31 - Save Water at Your Bathroom Sink

Even the smallest change to your everyday routine goes a long way… shutting off your faucet as you brush your teeth, for instance. Watch this video for more water-saving tips.

Day 27 of 31 - At Risk Youth

Day 27 of 31 - Support At Risk Youth
This time of year, we spend a lot of time thinking of children. Take a minute and support at risk youth.

Day 26 of 31 - A Last minute gift of pet lovers

Day 26 of 31 - Happy Kwanzaa
Still looking for a last minute gift? What about a gift for pet lovers?

Day 25 of 31 - Green Holiday Party

Day 25 of 31 - Green Party TIps!
Merry Christmas! If you're hosting a Holiday Party, consider some of these green tips.

Day 24 of 31 - Wear your Seat Belt

Day 24 of 31 - Wear your Seatbelt!
Many of us are traveling today. Make a pact and CLICK IT!

Day 23 of 31 - Gifts that Give More

Need gift ideas? Check out this video, and consider giving your loved ones the greatest gift by helping to put an end to world poverty.

Day 22 of 31 - Turn down your water heater

For a safer, greener winter season, dial down the knob on your water heater. Watch this video to learn more about this energy-saving tip.

Day 21 of 31 - Go Green Heat

- Save energy this winter with eco-friendly heating tips for your home.

Day 20 of 31 - Happy Hanukkah

What You Can Do is sending the best wishes to you for a very Happy Hanukkah.
May you be surrounded by friends and loved ones.

Day 19 of 31 - Doing Dishes

So, you took a trip down memory lane, letting the warm water flow over your hands as you washed the dishes…who hasn’t been there? But the amount of water wasted during that daydream is quite the wake up call. Watch this:

Day 18 of 31 - Conserve Water in Your Bathroom

Entertaining guests at your home this winter? Watch this video to learn a fast and easy way to save water in the bathroom.

Day 17 of 31 - Elderly Volunteering

What You Can Do teamed up with volunteermatch.org for this video on how to help the elderly get involved in their community. It only takes a minute to find worthwhile volunteering projects to keep seniors active and socially engaged.

Green and Delicious

One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is the baking! I love bustling in the kitchen with my girlfriends or relatives. When I reflect on my favorite holiday memories, the majority of them take place in the kitchen, with my loved ones and I partially covered in flour. Not only do I absolutely love eating holiday cookies and other treats, making them brings everyone together! For this very reason, I have decided to share a few of my favorite recipes, and a couple new ones that are worth a try, along with a few helpful tips to keep your time in the kitchen as environmentally friendly as possible.

1. I’ll start with my all time favorite recipe from Mrs. Fields. It’s so simple, and out-of-this world delicious. These cookies taste way too good to be this easy!
Recipe:Mrs. Field's Brown Sugar Shortbread
Mrs. Field's Brown Sugar Shortbread

Ingredients:

1 cup salted butter, softened
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour

Topping:

1 Tbsp salted butter
1 cup (6 oz) semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup (4 oz) pecans, finely chopped

Preheat oven to 325°F.

In a large bowl cream butter and sugar awith an electric mixer at medium speed. Scrape down sides of bowl. Then add vanilla and flour, and blend thoroughly on low speed.

Shape level Tablespoonfuls of dough into 1 inch balls, then form into logs 2 inches long and 1 inch wide. Place on ungreased baking sheets, 2 inches apart.

Bake for 17-19 minutes or until the cookies spread and turn a light golden brown. Transfer to a cool, flat surface.

To make topping:

Melt butter and chocolate chips in a double boiler over hot (not boiling) water or in a microwave oven on high power. Stor chocolate every 30 seconds until melted.

Dip top of each cooled shortbread cookie into melted chocolate, then into chopped pecans. Place cookies on waxed and refrigerate to set.

Yield:2 1/2 dozen

Source:Mrs. Field's Cookies
Page #64
http://community.tasteofhome.com/community_forums/f/30/t/305947.aspx

2. All this recipe needs is a kiss. A Hershey’s Kiss that is! I love peanut butter cookies with a chocolate kiss in them. My holiday just isn’t complete without them! This recipe is gluten free, and as easy as can be. Only 4 ingredients! Check out this great site for further baking instructions. The kiss is gluten free too!
Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
One cup creamy peanut butter

One cup white sugar
One teaspoon baking powder
One egg
http://glutenfreegirl.com/yum-yum-peanut-butter/

3. What’s a holiday without gingerbread? Here’s a recipe that’s sugar free and gluten free! It looks delicious to boot! Great one to try out this year. Your friends and family members who have allergies or diet restrictions will love you for it!

http://simplysugarandglutenfree.com/old-fashioned-gluten-free-gingerbread-recipe/

While you’re baking these mouth-watering treats, keep your kitchen as green as possible. Here are a few tips to help you.

1. Kick the paper towels.
I struggle with this one myself because I feel like I need paper towels while baking…lots of them. This of course, is incredibly wasteful and unnecessary. Instead, I’ve been trying to use a kitchen towel instead. They get the job done without wasting anything other than the water to clean them later.
If you can’t go without the paper towels, try recycled paper, or reuse them a couple times before you toss them.

2. Double your recipe, and cook batches simultaneously.
While your oven is in use, might as well make the most of it, and get as many batches baked at once to reduce energy expenditure. You can always freeze extra cookies. Here’s a link to PlanetGreen.com where you can learn more energy efficient baking tips.
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/tips-energy-efficient-baking.html

3. Skip the hand washing, and load a full dishwasher instead.
Using the dishwasher can actually reduce the amount of water wasted, provided you’re running a fully loaded dishwasher. You’ll also be saving time! Avoid using the rinse cycle to further reduce the amount of water used.
For more information on helpful ways to save resources and energy around the house, head to The EPA’s site for more effective tips!
What You Can Do wishes you all a very happy holiday season that’s both delicious and green!
epa.gov

Day 16 of 31 - Learn about the Night Sky

Light pollution: it’s what prevents most city-dwellers from enjoying views of the starlit sky. But it also harms wildlife and contributes to global warming. Watch this video to learn how to help protect the night.

Day 15 of 31 - Help Fight Animal Cruelty

For animal lovers and pet owners, it can be hard imagining life without them, let alone the cruel conditions animals sometimes face. If you’ve got even a minute, there’s something you can do to help.

Day 14 of 31 - Make Your Holiday Party Green!

Hosting a holiday party? Make it green festivity. Email your invites for starters and save paper and money!

Day 13 of 31 - Rethink your wrapping!

Day 13 of 31 - Give our planet a gift this season! Save money, paper, and have fun using green wrapping paper.

Day 12 of 31 - Carpool to Work

For those commuting to work, consider sharing the ride with friends or
colleagues. Organizing a car pool takes just a moment, but goes the distance in lowering your carbon footprint.

Day 11 of 31 - Make a difference with your gifts

Make a difference with your holiday gifts by buying a Mercy Kit. These gifts can help people in need all over the world.

Day 10 of 31 - Click to help Kids

Images of suffering children can sometimes make us feel helpless, unable to make even the slightest difference in their lives. But The Child Health Site reminds us that in just a minute’s time, there’s something we can do to help a child receive much need medical care.

Day 9 of 31 - Help those living in Poverty

Tis’ the season of giving! There’s a lot you can do in one minute to help others living in poverty. Watch this!

Day 8 of 31 - Traveling Green

The holidays are certainly a time for travel and vacation! It only takes a minute… to help the environment by using these energy saving tips on your next trip.

10 Green Gift Ideas for under $20!

10 Green Gift Ideas for under $20!

1. Reusable KeepCup
Who doesn’t need their tea or coffee on the go? Give the gift of sustainability by giving this recyclable commuter cup. It’s dishwasher and microwave safe, and baristas can safely use it too under their espresso machines.
Prices range from $12-16.
http://www.branchhome.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=956


2. Beautiful Jewelry from Globalgirlfrind.com
Show someone you care for them (and others) by purchasing unique and stunning jewelry from Global Girlfriend. Jewelry starts at around $5 and up, and when you make a purchase from Global Girlfriend, the treasures you buy are woman made, fair trade, and eco-friendly. Your gift purchase will also help support the women who produce them by providing fair living wages, employment opportunities, and safe working conditions.
https://www.globalgirlfriend.com/store/client-side.do?siteId=344&categoryId=252&adId=80584&placementId=213472&origin=&sort=Most Popular


3. Klean Kanteen
This gift is perfect for everyone regardless of age or gender. Each and every one of us needs a sleek stainless steel, reusable, and environmentally friendly canteen. Klean Kanteen is a wonderful company to support! The canteens are perfect for water, hot or cold beverages, and soup. Through many of the purchases you make, Klean Kanteen will donate a portion of each sale to a deserving foundation. Prices start around $13.
http://www.kleankanteen.com/index.php


4. Buy a toy, and donate it in someone’s honor.
This is something that I’ve always wanted to do, and this year, I’m putting the plan into action. I have a half brother and sister, who now in their teens, no longer need any more toys. Therefore, this year I’ll be purchasing a toy for a boy and girl, and donating them in their honor. If you’re in New York City, you can drop off toys at any Toys R Us location. If you’re elsewhere, visit the Toys For Tots website to learn more about making donations.
http://www.toysfortots.org/


5. Holiday Baked Goods
I baked a variety of cookies with my Mom one year when I was younger, and we prepared gift baskets that we gave to extended family. Not only did I have a blast with my Mom in the kitchen, it was a low-cost, eco-friendly way to make a delicious gift. If you purchase fair trade, or locally grown or produced ingredients, you can further help support your local economy, and make the event extra green. You can also opt to prepare healthier recipes, or you can approach the baking like my Mom and I did and just make the most scrumptious recipes you can find. Package the cookies in containers that can by recycled too! This gift idea can definitely be kept under $20, and you’ll most likely create wonderful holiday memories with your friends or family in the kitchen!

6. Fair Trade Coffee or Tea
Chances are, someone you know is a coffee or tea lover. Help strengthen farming communities, and purchase Fair Trade coffee or tea. Check out this great site for wonderful gift ideas. Prices start around $14.
http://www.fairtradecoffee.org/


7. Head to your local farmers market!
I always find unique hand made soaps or candles that are locally made that would make the perfect gift. If you’re attending a holiday party, consider picking up some fresh bread or locally produced cheese, honey, or other delicious baked good to bring as a hostess gift. You can always find something for under $20 at the farmers market!

8. Custom Eco Friendly Bag
We all use them, or we all should be using them. I recently discovered this site where you can custom make a recyclable bag. How cool is that! With this gift, you can assist your family member or friend in eliminating plastic bags, and they will be reminded of you every time they shop.
Here’s a link to their site to learn more
http://www.customecofriendlybags.com/index.html


9. Purrfect gift for a Pet Lover!
We all know at least one animal lover. We all probably even know an animal lover who would choose to forgo their gift to help animals in need. Give them the gift they will really love by making a donation in their honor to the Pet Finder Foundation. They, and a deserving four-legged friend, will love you for it!
http://www.petfinderfoundation.com/help/


10. Make your own holiday cards and gift-wrapping!
Save paper, and money, and have some festive fun making your own cards! They’ll be more personal, and much more appreciated. One of the greatest gifts of all is spending a little time showing someone you care about them, so get crafty and creative! Also, you can recycle newspapers or magazines to use as wrapping paper. Your gift will then include juicy celebrity gossip, or vital world news that they might need to be reminded of.
Price range: Could be FREE

Day 7 of 31 - Beware of Phantom Power

Are you brightening this holiday season with beautiful holiday lights? Watch this video to learn more about how not to light up your electricity bill.

Beware of Phantom Power!

Day 6 of 31 - Make a difference with your holiday shopping

Want to buy a beautiful unique gift that will also help support women in Africa? Make your purchases on www.globalgirlfriend.com, and watch this one minute video to learn more.

Day 5 of 31 - Remember the Rainforest

Remember the Rainforest while making your purchases -

It only takes a minute to help save the world’s rainforests. Watch this video for tips from The Rainforest Alliance.

Day 4 of 31 Days of Green - Conscious Buying Tips

It’s holiday shopping season! Before your next trip to the mall, check out these quick, effective one-minute ideas for greener spending choices.

31 Days of Green continues with a Tip to stay Warm

Looking to start a fire this weekend? Why not try this tip instead? Make your own fire logs. It only takes a minute and they'll keep you warm all winter. Also, save your ashes to compost in the Spring. The provide great nutrients for the soil.

31 Days of Green - Rethink your holiday tree!

Looking to get a holiday tree this year? Well why don't you try something different. Join us and let’s save trees this holiday season! Consider a live tree, or think Charlie Brown. Save money, and our forests!

Today is World Aids Day - It only Takes a Minute to Help

Today is World AIDS Day. As we take a moment to remember those impacted by this disease and support those living with HIV, there’s something you can do to help. What You Can Do and our friends at Angelwish share how you can help grant the wish of a child living with HIV/AIDS.