Ideas That Spark: Home Style

How Clean Is Your Home?

From the Editors of Ideas That Spark
By Aviva Patz

Home is where the heart is -- not to mention the dirt, dust, bacteria and mold. “People typically only realize how filthy their house is when they move out,” says Richard Symes of Clenz Philly, an eco-friendly home and commercial cleaning service in New Jersey and Philadelphia. “Most people clean what they can see, but there’s a lot more to cleaning a home than just wiping down your bureau.”

Here are the top neglected spots, the most powerful cleaning tools (that you’re probably not using) and how often you need to scrub up. The payoff is better air quality, fewer allergy symptoms, a house you can show off to the neighbors, and best of all, peace of mind.

5 Places to Look

1. Up, down and underneath
Look high -- in ceiling corners, on top of shades, blinds and picture frames, and on the blades of ceiling fans -- to find neglected dust. Look low -- under baseboards, under furniture and in the corners of kitchens and bathrooms -- to find colonies of dust bunnies and layers of dirt and grime.

2. Bedding
Millions of organisms live in your mattress. Their dead cells and feces are the No. 1 cause of allergies in a home, says Symes. Get your bed and pillows steam-cleaned once a year to sterilize your sleeping environment.

3. Showerheads
Potentially disease-causing germs can get trapped in showerheads and grow into biofilm, a layer of slime that delivers a bacteria blast along with your hot water. Clean the showerhead with a wire brush every week and replace it every year to prevent germy buildup.

4. Sponges and dishtowels
Moisture and bits of food on clingy surfaces make these common kitchen items a dangerous source of E. coli, salmonella and other virulent bacteria, not to mention yeasts and molds. Rinse sponges after every cleaning with soap and water, and disinfect them once or twice weekly by zapping them in the microwave for 60 seconds or sending them through the dishwasher.

5. Your front door
According to Symes, 85 percent of the germs and dirt in your house come in through the front door. Don’t let them! Station one doormat outside and one just inside the door. Shuffle your feet on the mat before you enter, then remove your shoes once inside.

5 Tools to Use

1. Grout brush

It gives you access to areas that a sponge or cloth can’t reach -- corners, under baseboards and around window locks. Just spray with household cleaner, brush and wipe.

2. Steam machine
High-pressure steam naturally disinfects and cleans tile surfaces. It works by flushing the dirt out rather than packing it in.

3. Microfiber cloths
They’re made with loops that act like tiny claws, gripping and holding dust -- not kicking it back into the air like cotton cloths do. You don’t even need to spray!

4. Vacuum with HEPA filter
Unlike standard vacuum bags, which are fine for collecting small chunks of stuff, HEPA filters suck up dust, retaining 99.9 percent of the small particles they encounter.

5. Clean paper towels
Old T-shirts or rags are commonly used to clean, but if they’ve previously been used, you will just end up spreading the dirt they removed from another area. Instead, grab a roll of paper towels to ensure the mess isn’t spreading.

5 Ways to Keep It up

1. The house

Do a top-to-bottom cleaning every other week (more frequently if you have kids and pets, especially shedders). Pay special attention to wet areas -- kitchens and bathrooms -- where bacteria and mold tend to grow.

2. Bath towels and hand towels
Wash them weekly to avoid mold spores.

3. Sheets and duvet covers
Wash sheets once a week, duvet covers once a month.

4. Carpets and upholstery
Get them professionally cleaned every six months to a year.

5. Curtains
Wash or dry-clean curtains every few months. In between, lay them on the floor and vacuum them lightly or do a couple of passes with a lint brush or lint roller.

I recently completed the 30-day Seventh Generation Laundry Challenge, and it was tough!

The challenge entailed using cold water and non-toxic, biodegradable detergent to wash clothes, as well as using a line to dry them.

To help me with this challenge, Seventh Generation sent me a Project Laundry Line Kit, which included Seventh Generation Natural 2x Concentrated Laundry Liquid, a portable laundry line, clothes pins, a laundry basket, and a Flip camera that I used to share my thoughts about this challenge.

I've used Seventh Generation Laundry Liquid ever since we bought our new high efficiency washer and dryer. I have tried other non-toxic, biodegradable laundry detergents since then, but for some reason I always end up buying more and more Seventh Generation--it's simply a brand that I've grown to trust.

The portable laundry line was so quick and easy to set up. When I'm done drying clothes, taking it down to store is such a cinch! It seems to only hold about a single load of laundry though, so if I'm doing more than one load, I use an additional line that we have in our garage. A few of the clothespins did come apart, but fortunately I had lots of extras from back when DH and I used to line dry clothes all the time (before kids).

The laundry basket is a little small, but it's perfect for our downstairs family room where we end up putting clothes that my boys mess up throughout the day.

All of these products came in very handy throughout the Laundry Challenge.

The toughest part of the challenge for me was doing without the dryer for 30 days, but I managed to successfully complete the challenge (with the help of a note on my dryer that said "DO NOT USE" and my wonderful husband who helped me hang the clothes).

The challenge did get easier, and although I do admit I did use the dryer once the challenge ended, I am making an effort to use it a lot less and the line a lot more.

Every bit helps...the line helps us use less energy, save money, and ultimately it helps the environment.

Below are some interesting facts when it comes to doing your laundry:

Seventh Generation products are manufactured in the most sustainable way possible, and we use only those ingredients that do not pose any chronic health risks and that are safe for the environment. We use only recycled paper in our paper products, primarily post-consumer materials, and we never use chlorine bleach. We disclose all ingredients for all of our cleaning products.

“We want to quantify the real impact of using Seventh Generation products for our consumers,” said Martin Wolf, Director of Product & Environmental Technology at Seventh Generation. “In doing so, we study the environmental impact of our products versus conventional products and create environmental saving statements to help people understand the difference that they can make when they reach for something on the supermarket shelf.”

Our savings statements quantify the positive impact on the environment of using a sustainable product and are based on average, daily sales for some of our products in North America.

• If every household in the U.S. replaced just one bottle of 100 oz. 2X concentrate petroleum-based laundry liquid with our 100 oz. 2X concentrate plant-derived product, we could save 466,000 barrels of oil, enough to heat and cool 26,800 U.S. homes for a year!
• If every household in the U.S. replaced just one box of polyester fabric softener sheets with our paper sheets, and recycled or composted after use, we could prevent 6,000 tons of solid waste front entering our landfills, equivalent to 640 garbage trucks.
• If every household in the U.S. replaced just one bottle of 50oz. petroleum-based baby laundry liquid with our 50oz. plant-derived product, we could save 169,000 barrels of oil, enough to heat and cool 9,700 U.S. homes for a year!
• If every household in the U.S. replaced just one bottle of 50oz. petroleum-based delicate care laundry liquid with our 50oz. plant-derived product, we could save 156,000 barrels of oil, enough to heat and cool 8,900 U.S. homes for a year!
• If every household in the U.S. replaced one bottle of 64oz. bleach containing chlorine with our 64oz. chlorine free bleach, we could prevent 11.6 million pounds of chlorine from entering our environment.

If you want to participate in the Seventh Generation Laundry Challenge, you're in luck!

Seventh Generation is inviting people to take a seven day laundry challenge where they will pledge to use Seventh Generation liquid laundry detergent, wash their clothes in cold water and line dry their clothing on a clothesline or drying rack for seven days. The challenge will kick off on July 1 and will run for the month of July. Consumers will be able to calculate their savings from the challenge (energy and money saved) on the site. People who make the pledge will be entered into weekly drawings that will randomly award Seventh Generation product and other prizes (up to seven people per week will be named winners).

Visit SeventhGeneration on July 1 for more information.

So make the pledge--you'll save some money and energy, and you could win some great prizes!

Shop: You can purchase Seventh Generation laundry liquid, cleaners, and more at various retailers online and nationwide, or you can click here to find a retailer near you.

Savvy Savings: Become a Seventh Generation Nation member and access great coupons and special offers on Seventh Generation Products!

Win: One lucky winner will receive a Seventh Generation Laundry Prize Pack which includes: Seventh Generation Natural 2x Concentrated Laundry Liquid, portable laundry line, clothes pins, and laundry basket (ARV $80).

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to Kim!

• To enter, comment on what steps you take or would like to try when doing laundry to lessen your impact on the environment.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Seventh Generation (leave the link in your comment)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed
• 3)Add my button to your sidebar
• 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• 5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
• 6)Follow Seventh Generation on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is July 6, 2010, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on July 7, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.

Good luck!

Thank you to Seventh Generation for providing the products for review and giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

I've been fortunate to test out a couple of diaper pails thanks to Mom Central: The Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail by Munchkin and the Diaper Genie II Elite Advanced Disposal System.

After trying them out for the past several weeks, so far I prefer the Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail by Munchkin.

I think the Diaper Genie is a really good diaper pail--the foot pedal is an awesome feature, and it does a great job controlling odors, except for when you have to open it up to insert a diaper. The odor is pretty overwhelming, but once the lid closes, the odor eventually disappears.

Because of the Munchkin Diaper Pail's unique twisting system and baking soda dispenser, odor is not released when you open it up to dispose a diaper.

That, along with the ease of set up and refilling and disposing of bags, and the number of diapers each bag can hold, are reasons why I would choose the Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail by Munchkin.

The prices for the diaper pails and refills are almost identical, and they both function well as diaper pails.

However, because complete odor control is a feature I find really important in a diaper pail, I prefer the Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail by Munchkin.

Do you use a diaper pail? If so, which brand? What feature do you find most important in a diaper pail?

I am a member of the Mom Central community and I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central, sponsored by Diaper Genie, and received a free Diaper Genie diaper pail and a free Munchkin Arm & Hammer diaper pail to facilitate my review.

Today's college grads face a new set of challenges brought on by a sluggish job market, changing technology, and staggering amounts of debt. The rules have changed since their parents were in school, leaving young adults at a loss for advice that addresses their immediate concerns as well as the big-picture questions with which each generation of young adults must contend.

Life coach Ken Jedding has spent the past decade talking one-on-one with college students and graduates across the country in his workshops and lectures. In Higher Education, he provides a fresh, modern guidebook to postcollegiate life that addresses the issues and concerns he hears voiced most often. From the lofty What is my purpose in life? to the practical How can I land my dream job? to the increasingly common (if somewhat terrifying) How did I wind up back in my parents' house?, Jedding's valuable insight, wisdom, and humor provide a much-needed roadmap for the journey that is only just beginning.

Higher Education is an enlightening read for just about anyone--not just those who recently graduated from college.

Yes, you'll find lots of practical advice when it comes to interviewing and finding a career (e.g. parents contacting prospective employers is a HUGE no-no; sending a thank-you note to your interviewer is always encouraged), but there's so many more life lessons that Jedding shares.

He stresses the importance of finding your passion, keeping perspective, networking, and so much more, all of which can be applied to finding a job, relationships with others, and so many other areas of life.

Jedding gives a lot of great examples, and ultimately helps one to realize that it's not an easy, predictable path that we're on.

Higher Education is witty, insightful, and practical.

Even if you didn't just graduate from college--maybe it's been years, or maybe you never enrolled, you could still learn a lot about life and yourself from Higher Education, just as I did.

Shop: You can purchase Higher Education at various retailers online and nationwide (ARV $19.99).

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of Higher Education!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to Lynn!

• To enter, comment on a subject you wish you were taught in school that could've helped you prepare for "real-life."
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Higher Education: On Life, Landing a Job, and Everything Else They Didn't Teach You in College (leave the link in your comment)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed
• 3)Add my button to your sidebar
• 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• 5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is July 5, 2010, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on July 6, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.

Good luck!

Thank you to the sponsor for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

As an Infantino Test Drive Mom, I recently got to try out the Fold & Go Bouncer.

Designed to go anywhere! Easy to move from room to room. Perfect for travel. Compact for storage!

• Unique easy-to-fold, space saving design.
• Includes plush seat, padded head support and waist harness.
• Removable entertainment bar adjusts and includes two detachable toys!
• Comforting bouncing action occurs with baby’s natural movement.
• Machine washable seat cover.
• Simple, no-hassle assembly!
• Requires 3 "AA" batteries
• For babies up to 25lbs (11.3kgs)
  

I recently did a review of the app Simon Graham and the Extraordinary Timepiece Book 1 and really enjoyed trying to solve the various puzzles throughout the game.
Ten-year-old Simon Graham needs your help! His grandmother has been kidnapped and the only clues he has are in the diary she left behind.

Take on the role of Simon as he journeys from his small hometown to the big city.

Along the way:

• Discover the hidden pieces of his grandmother's mysterious pocket watch.
• Test your skills solving dozens of puzzles that are tightly integrated with the plot.
• Visual, word, math, jigsaw, and hidden picture puzzles, combined with a compelling story, provide hours of gameplay.
• Busy players will appreciate the ability to quit at anytime and continue where they left off.

Do you have what it takes to crack the puzzles and solve the mystery?

Both DH and I had fun playing Simon Graham and the Extraordinary Timepiece (you can read my complete review here).

If you love puzzle games as much as we do, or simply want to try out a new, entertaining app, check out Simon Graham and the Extraordinary Timepiece Book 1.

Shop: You can purchase Simon Graham and the Extraordinary Timepiece on iTunes (ARV $1.99).

Win: Two lucky winners will each receive an iTunes code redeemable for a download of Simon Graham and the Extraordinary Timepiece Book 1!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to rah267, lisad33611!

• To enter, simply comment on why you'd like to win!
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Simon Graham and the Extraordinary Timepiece Book 1 (leave the link in your comment)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed
• 3)Add my button to your sidebar
• 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• 5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment; must reference Sage and Savvy)
• 6)Follow Simon Graham on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment
• The deadline for entries is July 3, 2010, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on July 4, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.

Good luck!

If you're a worry-wart like me, you may worry about keeping your kids safe while not only playing in the backyard, but when out at playgrounds or pools, and fortunately Underwriters Laboratories has come out with some great safety tips that could "help families 'play it safe' this summer."

· Carefully inspect backyard playground equipment. Make sure equipment is anchored safely in the ground, all equipment pieces are in good working order, S-hooks are entirely closed and bolts are not protruding.
· Check for spaces that could trap children, such as openings in guardrails or between ladder rungs. These spaces should measure less than 3.5 inches or more than 9 inches.
· Always supervise children on play set equipment to make sure they are playing safely.
· Watch for potential trip hazards, such as rocks, tree stumps and concrete footings. Make sure you’re children are aware of them as well.
· Do a sandbox check. Before letting your child dig in, rake through the sand to check for debris or sharp objects. Also, inspect for any animal contamination or insect problems.
· If you have a pool at home, install a fence. The fence should be at least four feet high and have a self-closing, self-latching gate that has a locking mechanism beyond a child's reach.
· Cut overhanging tree limbs and remove chairs or ladders from the pool area to prevent children from climbing over the fence that surrounds the pool.
· Keep grates and drain covers in good repair and secured in place. Alert your family and guests to stay away from these devices, as the suction from drain outlets can be strong enough to cause entrapment of hair or body parts, which can potentially cause a person to drown.
· Make sure you know infant and child CPR if you own a pool.
· Remove all toys when you leave the pool. Toys may attract children to the unattended pool.

Underwriters Laboratories also teamed up with Disney to create a Wild About Safety: In the Water video featuring Timon and Pumbaa, stressing the importance of water safety.

So before heading out to the playground, the pool, or even the backyard, inspect all equipment and surrounding areas, and follow the safety tips provided by Underwater Laboratories.

I sure will!

Your family has enjoyed the rich, authentic Italian flavor of Francesco Rinaldi around the dinner table for over three decades. Now, the famous taste has gotten even better for you with new Francesco Rinaldi ToBe Healthy pasta sauces, the first major brand of pasta sauce that is fortified with DHA Omega 3 provided by life's DHA.


"Our ToBe Healthy pasta sauces are certified by the American Heart Association, and have earned the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval," says Edward Salzano, COO/Executive Vice President, LiDestri Foods. "These pasta sauces are proof that delicious food can be healthy for your family and your heart."


Hopefully they come out with chunky ToBe Healthy pasta sauces because I love chunky pasta sauces.


Although the Francesco Rinaldi ToBe Healthy pasta sauce is pricier and comes in smaller jars than the pasta sauces I normally buy, it's fortified with Omega3s and our family really enjoyed it, and we (especially my boys) look forward to eating more spaghetti made with the ToBe Healthy pasta sauce!

Not too long ago I had a chance to listen to Michael Bolton's new CD One World One Love, and one of my favorite tracks was Murder My Heart, a song co-written by Lady Gaga and featured on Michael Bolton: Live at the Royal Albert Hall (DVD and Blu-ray).

Join Michael Bolton for an unforgettable concert at London's famous Royal Albert Hall as he delivers hit after hit in his trademark soulful style in front of a packed audience. With his inimitable voice, charismatic stage presence and superb songwriting Michael Bolton holds the audience in the palm of his hand as he performs classics such as "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You?", "Time, Love And Tenderness", "Can I Touch You There" and "How Can We Be Lovers" alongside his unique interpretations of "Fly Me To The Moon", "Summertime", "That's Life" and "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay" plus his own rendition of "Murder My Heart", the hit he co-wrote with Lady Gaga. Simply a wonderful night.

Shop: You can purchase Michael Bolton: Live at the Royal Albert Hall on Blu-ray (ARV $19.98) or DVD (ARV $14.98) at various retailers online and nationwide.

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of Michael Bolton: Live at the Royal Albert Hall on Blu-ray or DVD (winner's choice).

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to FDP 4 Life!

• To enter, visit Michael Bolton and comment on your favorite track from any album.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Michael Bolton: Live at the Royal Albert Hall (leave the link in your comment)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed
• 3)Add my button to your sidebar
• 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• 5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is July 1, 2010, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on July 2, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  

Good luck!

My boys love playing in the backyard, and thanks to Team Mom and Backyard Safari Outfitters, we have some awesome gear that makes outdoor play a lot more exciting!

ARE YOU GEARED UP?

BACKYARD SAFARI™OUTFITTERS is the outfitter for all your year-round outdoor adventures!

Our year-round ESSENTIAL FIELD GEAR is rugged, fully functional, and made for the field. Perfect for backyards, parks, campgrounds, beaches and lakes.

So, gear up and get in the field! Chase a storm or wrangle a bug. Track an animal or comb the beach. Dig up the past or gaze at the stars. The world is your backyard. Join us on safari!

We were fortunate to receive a Backyard Safari Outfitters Bug Wrangler's Extreme Suction Bug Vacuum (ARV $19.99), a Land & Water Mega View Periscope (ARV $24.99), and an Essential Field Gear Cargo Vest (ARV $19.99).

Little Music Man loved the vest--he had it on all day (even when we came inside from the yard), and we thought he looked so adorable in it! It has all kinds of cool pockets for his backyard adventures.

He loved using the Periscope. We used it to look over walls and fences in our yard. It was a little big for him to hold on his own, so DH or I would hold it while he looked through, and he just thought it was so cool!



The Bug Vacuum is really neat too. Since we haven't been able to find many bugs in our yeard, we haven't been able to use the vacuum yet, but we're always on the lookout for them so we can put the Bug Vacuum to good use!


There are so many other fun products that the Backyard Safari Outfitters offer, such as Binoculars, Animal Callers, and a really cool-looking Bug Podz Habitat Construction Set!

The Backyard Safari Outfitters products help to make everyday an adventure in our very own backyard!

Shop: You can purchase Backyard Safari Outfitters products at various retailers online and nationwide.

Ideas That Spark: Smart Living

Cut Back on Summer Spending

From the Editors of Ideas That Spark

By Sarah Mahoney

Kristen Hagopian of Chester County, Pa., has slimming her summer grocery bill down to a fine art. “When you don’t tell friends and neighbors exactly what to bring to a barbecue, everyone shows up with a fancy bottle of wine -- more than we could possibly drink,” says the author of the self-published book Brilliant Frugal Living. “But when I say to bring chips or ask a guest to make their delicious cupcakes, we save a lot of money, and still have a great time.”

Hagopian is also a big believer in skipping the rented bouncy houses for the kids: “Instead, we stock up on bubbles and sidewalk chalk at the dollar store, and my kids, along with everyone else in the neighborhood, have a blast while the adults relax.”

Here are other ways to keep costs down this summer.

Reduce Electricity Use
Whether you simply raise the temperature on your air conditioning a degree during the day or choose to run the swimming-pool pump only at night, you can lower utility bills, says Sharon Lechter, co-author of Three Feet From Gold. “And use your dishwasher, when possible. It costs money to heat the water and pipes, which is something that happens every time you wash a few dishes by hand.” Train older kids to walk around the house and unplug things like stereos, TVs, computers and coffeemakers: The U.S. Department of Energy says 75 percent of the electricity used to power home electronics and appliances is consumed while the products are turned off.

Lower Landscaping Costs
Annette Pelliccio started The Happy Gardener, an organic products line based in Ashland, Va., so she could stay home with her kids and help the planet. But she also found wheelbarrows full of savings along the way. “People spend way too much on bagged potting soil for summer containers, when they could use their own kitchen scraps, and with really basic composting techniques, make a higher-quality product within six to nine months.”

Pelliccio also suggests planting more shrubs, gradually reducing the amount of mowable grass in your yard. “Xeriscaping, which is what we call landscaping in a way that cuts down on the need for water, lowers your energy costs, but also reduces the need for fertilizers and mowers. I don’t have any grass in my yard anymore, and it’s beautiful. I use native mosses and ground covers that are maintenance-free.”

“Splurge” on an Appliance Upgrade
“Shopping [for] an expensive new appliance may not seem like a money saver,” says Ryan Himmel, founder of BIDaWIZ.com, an online marketplace for financial advice, but taking advantage of rebate programs going on this summer may pay off faster than you think. “Between the federal tax credit -- up to $1,500 -- and long-term energy savings, these can really pay off.” (To find out which products are available for rebates in your state, go to EnergyStar.gov.)

Relax More, Entertain Less
Entertaining can get expensive, says Hagopian, who points out that more-impromptu parties are inherently cheaper. “If you throw a cookout idea together last minute, no one cares that you don’t have matching plastic forks and paper napkins, that there’s no theme and that you didn’t organize all the cooking and shopping. It’s much more relaxed.” After all, isn’t that what summer is about?

Clean More Frequently
Summer means more outdoor time, which can lead to dirt, sand and dirty dishes from barbecues taking over the house. Instead of larger, tougher and less-frequent cleaning jobs, doing some daily maintenance on the floors and other spots will lessen the need to purchase specialty cleaners for tougher messes. A quick daily swipe of the counters and floors will, in the end, save on time and money.

My 30 days in the Seventh Generation Laundry Challenge are finally up.

The challenge entailed using cold water and non-toxic, biodegradable detergent to wash clothes, as well as using a line to dry them.

No dryer allowed.

To help me with this challenge, Seventh Generation sent me a Project Laundry Line Kit, which included Seventh Generation Natural 2x Concentrated Laundry Liquid, a portable laundry line, clothes pins, a laundry basket, and a Flip camera to share thoughts of this challenge with all of you.

The easiest part of the Seventh Generation Laundry challenge for me was washing in cold water and using non-toxic biodegradable laundry detergent, since I was already doing that way before the Laundry Challenge started.

The hardest part for me was to get over the fact that I wasn't able to use the dryer's heat to kill lingering germs that may still be on the clothes (hopefully one day our homeowner's association will allow for lines outdoors, because I've read that the sun's rays can help to eliminate germs, but for now I have to settle line-drying in the garage--I don't want to risk getting a hefty fine!).

To hear more on my thoughts about the challenge, you can view the video below.

As I mentioned in the video, although I won't be giving up the dryer (at least not yet anyway), I will be using it less often, and I'll continue to use cold water and non-toxic, biodegradable detergent to wash our clothes, and hopefully the more I line dry I'll be able to figure out ways to save time. One thing I've been doing that helps a lot is hanging clothes that need to be hung in the closets after drying on hangers instead of with clothespins to save a step when I'm putting the laundry away.

Thanks to the One2One Network, I recently got a chance to listen to Sarah McLachlan's new album Laws of Illusion.

“Loving You Is Easy,” the first single from the album, is an upbeat, almost jaunty piano–based song, with a musical atmosphere perfectly matched to lyrics that describe the heady thrill of new love: “I’m alive and I’m on fire/Shot like a starburst into the sky…”

For many listeners, “Forgiveness” will be the centerpiece of Laws of Illusion. There is a wonderful subtlety in the arrangement, which builds inexorably from unaccompanied vocal–and–piano showcase to the layers of near–ambient guitar parts and finally a powerful coda completed by bass and drums. “Forgiveness,” says Sarah, “is about the loss of a relationship and drawing a line in the sand, saying: This is not good for me and I can’t do it anymore...”

Coupled with the release of Laws of Illusion comes another landmark event in Sarah McLachlan’s career: her return to Lilith Fair, the all–female concert tour she founded in 1997 and where once again she’ll headline the main stage.

“Being a part of Lilith Fair was inspiring on so many levels,” says Sarah. “Besides discovering new music everyday and sharing the stage with an incredible array of talented women, it was wonderful to see established and new artists alike have the opportunity to play in front of much larger or more diverse audiences than usual...”

“This summer,” Sarah promises, “is gonna be full on and fun.”

TRACKLISTING
1. AWAKENINGS
2. ILLUSIONS OF BLISS
3. LOVING YOU IS EASY
4. CHANGES
5. FORGIVENESS
6. RIVERS OF LOVE
7. LOVE COME
8. OUT OF TUNE
9. HEARTBREAK
10. DON’T GIVE UP ON US
11. U WANT ME 2
12. BRING ON THE WONDER

McLachlan has such a pretty, soothing voice, and her songs on Laws of Illusion are thoughtful and meaningful.

My favorite track on Laws of Illusion is Loving You is Easy. It's such a feel-good, happy song. The lyrics just make me smile: You light me up you take me higher/Loving you is easy/ Loving you is wondrous and pure/I shout it from the rooftops/How long must I wait 'till I see your smile?

I also really enjoyed Out of Tune. It's such a deep, emotional song: It isn't my heart that's grown cold/The same mistakes are getting old/I'm lost for words I don't know what to do/But when I'm lying here with you/And the whole world's out of tune/You're the one and only voice that makes things right/So stay with me tonight.

Some of my other favorites included U Want Me 2 and Heartbreak.

For McLachlan fans, it's been too long since she released an album with new songs--seven years, but the wait is over, and this album does not disappoint. Her songs roam a range of emotions--from the elation of love to heartbreak, and we all can relate to her songs on one level or another.

Her beautiful voice, the insightful lyrics, and the music all come together to create, what I think, is a really great CD.

Shop: You can purchase Sarah McLachlan: Laws of Illusion on Amazon.com and at various other retailers online and nationwide (ARV $13.99).

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of Sarah McLachlan: Laws of Illusion.

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to Hotsnotty2!

• To enter, visit Sarah McLachlan, listen to the sample tracks from Laws of Illusion, and comment on your favorite track.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Sarah McLachlan: Laws of Illusion (leave the link in your comment)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed
• 3)Add my button to your sidebar
• 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• 5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is June 28, 2010 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on June 29, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  

Good luck!