10 Going Green easy tips

1-Save energy to save money.

-Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs.
-Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older incandescent bulbs burn out.
-Unplug appliances when you're not using them. Or, use a "smart" power strip that senses when appliances are off and cuts "phantom" or "vampire" energy use.
-Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.
-Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying. If you must use a dryer, consider adding dryer balls to cut drying time.

2-Save water to save money.

-Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too.
-Install a low-flow showerhead. They don't cost much, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment.
-Make sure you have a faucet aerator on each faucet. These inexpensive appliances conserve heat and water, while keeping water pressure high.
-Plant drought-tolerant native plants in your garden. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in your area.

3-Less gas = more money (and better health!).

-Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.
-Consider telecommuting if you live far from your work. Or move closer. Even if this means paying more rent, it could save you money in the long term.
-Lobby your local government to increase spending on sidewalks and bike lanes. With little cost, these improvements can pay huge dividends in bettering your health and reducing traffic.

4-Eat smart.
-If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it's even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs.
-Buy locally raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs, and dairy whenever you can. Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy.
-Watch videos about why local food and sustainable seafood are so great.
-Whatever your diet, eat low on the food chain [pdf]. This is especially true for seafood.

5-Skip the bottled water.
-Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.
-Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work.

6-Think before you buy.

-Go online to find new or gently used secondhand products. Whether you've just moved or are looking to redecorate, consider a service like craigslist or FreeSharing to track down furniture, appliances, and other items cheaply or for free.
-Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items.
-When making purchases, make sure you know what's "Good Stuff" and what isn't.

7-Borrow instead of buying.

-Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.
-Share power tools and other appliances. Get to know your neighbors while cutting down on the number of things cluttering your closet or garage.

8-Buy smart.
-Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.
-Wear clothes that don't need to be dry-cleaned. This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical use.
-Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. You might pay more now, but you'll be happy when you don't have to replace items as frequently (and this means less waste!).

9-Keep electronics out of the trash.

-Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible.
-Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxics and is a growing environmental problem.
-Recycle your cell phone.
-Ask your local government to set up an electronics recycling and hazardous waste collection event.

10-Make your own cleaning supplies.
-The big secret: you can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products whenever you need them. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap.
-Making your own cleaning products saves money, time, and packaging-not to mention your indoor air quality.

Try doing as much as possible of these tips, you'd always make a difference! :)

The Odd One Out

Did u ever get that feeling of everything will be much better when you start a new phase in your life? Like you'd think somehow it'll just turn great.. just like in fairytales!


Not this phase, not university life. I mean I'm grateful for what I have, looking at other girls who are like aliens to me, even dressed like aliens! ( if u've ever seen an alien then u'd know what i mean..) I look at these girls & I thank God for what he gave me, the great-amazing-ideal parents, the supportive-annoying siblings, the faithful-caring-helpful-retarded-crazy-goofy-funny friends. But then university life should be great, that's what people said..


I know that many students around the world feel exactly like I do right now & some will tell me "give it a chance".. "it'll get better in time".. but i just don't feel like this is where i belong.. I need a shrink maybe.. hmm. Nah I'll just go shopping & everything will be great again :)


To proof it, 2 days ago I went to Mall Of Emirates & the minute I entered the mall I had this wonderful feeling of joy & comfortness (if that's a word).. "THIS is where I belong!" it clicked to me. I thought that what Becky feels was over exaggerated, but really, she's not. Like today, I wore my new bag & most girls were checking it out! :D


However.. this joy is always killed when I have my free time between classes, when i go to the food court, sit alone, drink alone.. sometimes pretend i'm with someone at the phone ( ya i got that sad).. then after a while a girl comes to me and ask if she can take the chairs from my table.. I always say "sure" because am always alone & dont expect someone to come & sit next to me.. somehow i've grown immune to "lonelyness"! ha! :D

Happiness

I don't know if I'm dreaming or not, because to me this is something I never thought was real. Dozens of young and old women gathered here to be crowned for their great achievements, I look at my mother next to me, who's tears are light but heavy for what they carry, I hold my tears because I'm not used to crying in public, but they found their way in the depths of my empty soul.
I flash back to the endless hours I spent on the Internet, back then i didn't realize what I've been doing, wasting precious time on YouTube, Facebook and other websites. Back then I thought I was balancing my time, that I'm not one of them people who are addicted.. I was in denial.
Shame rose all over me when i was struck by the reality of myself, of whom I've become.
I realized I was the very meaning of stupid and pathetic, even though I've got a couple of As on my report cards, these girls here have dozens of As, yet they chose to spend few months of their lives on something that will change their future here and in the hereafter. They were the real meaning of smart and wise, and now they're here, standing there on that stage, faces glowing, like they're surrounded with a bubble of light, filled with peace. Their smiles are indescribable. Their bodies are here on the ground, but their soul is up there next to the angels.
They chose to memorize the Holy Quraan, the words of the Prophet Mohammed -peace be upon him-, plus knowledge & science, they have it all. They were happy, they felt the true meaning of happiness, they were blessed.
Happiness, I thought, is when you buy a new bag, a new tech or going out with your friends thinking this is the best day of your life.. I always had this feeling of something missing in the picture, now I know.
I realize that when you feel Allah is watching you from up there.. happy and proud of you, you're memorizing his words to you and doing what he says. This is the real permanent happiness. I pray that one day I'll be one of them, that I'll feel that kind of happiness and live it.