Recolor Your Blues with Color Therapy: Ways to Spring Out of Your Winter Blahs in 6 Days-Day 4

Day four in our color therapy focuses on green.  You don’t need to look outside your window to add this beautiful color to your day, read on for ideas on how to live green.

Green, the representation of spring and new growth, can easily be added to your day through green leafy vegetables (try a veggie sub today for lunch,) and by saving and sharing some green (money.)  Commit to putting at least one dollar in a savings for yourself, and giving at least one dollar to a reputable charity for at least six days.  Maybe it will become a habit and you will create your own pot of gold! 

Giving can bring back to you more than you ever imagined, no not always money, but joy, and appreciation for those that you made smile. 

Look around and really see all the green in nature.  Say thanks out loud to nature itself, your Higher Power, God, or whomever you choose to believe, gave you the beautiful gift of green life today.  Do you have a small houseplant in your house?  Many are only a couple of dollars, and all you need to do is ask which ones require little water or light, depending on your situation.  There is a plant for everyone and they do not all require daily work (although they do like to be talked to, tell them how beautiful they are, and you will feel your true beauty also J  They will brighten up your home, give you your daily green, as well as fresh oxygen and draw in the faeries. 

Even if it is just for today, do something to “go green” for the environment.  Recycle an item you normally throw in the garbage, pick up trash wherever you see it today, walk, or bike (that would be a bit harder if you live where I live today,) to the store or work: this will not only help the environment be more green, but save you some also.  Buy organic and help our “green” farmers.  Just one little change can make a difference, and who knows, it might become a welcome pattern!

Write me and let me know how you turned “green” if only for a day, (hopefully it was not the green with envy kind of green!)  Anyway, talk to me; I’m getting lonely here.

* Please note:  This is not meant to replace doctor recommended medications for depression, or seeking professional advice if needed. 

©Marie Boyum

5-2-11

More Ways to Save the Planet

Here are a few more ideas to help save the planet.  The faeries are grateful for whatever you can do to help.

Cheese slice wrappers

Food Storage

Reuse the wrapper instead of plastic wrap for small pieces of food or on bowls.  Using masking tape or a rubber band, wrap up small pieces of food in the cheese wrapper and secure with tape (masking tape works best) or a rubber band. 

For use as a bowl cover securing it with a rubber band around the rim of the bowl, again, saving the need for plastic wrap. 

Infant learning activity

If you sew, place the wrappers between two squares of material; stitch together for the "crinkle" sound that gives babies a tactile earning experience.

Chopsticks

Save your chopsticks from the Chinese restaurant and rinse the ends in soapy water.  Use to stake up small plants around the house or to grab things from tight spaces.  I once dropped a small object down the heating vent and was able to retrieve it using old chopsticks. 

Clothespins

Food clip

Don’t waste money on those breakable plastic “chip clips” you buy at the stores.  An old-fashioned wooden clothespin works great.  (The hinged ones do work better than the all wood, non-hinged though.)  Use it to seal cereal, snacks, anything with an inner bag liner that does not self-seal.

Refrigerator magnet

Glue a magnet on the back of the clothespin and you have a nice refrigerator note holder.  It can easily be made more decorative by gluing on sequins, adding puffy paint or drawing or lettering it with permanent markers. Do this to designate a purpose, such as, naming a specific store’s list or to just make it more personal, i.e., adding a name. 

Coffee grounds

Save water, use coffee grounds!  “What?” you say.  Yes, it can save hot water (thus energy and money) by using fresh coffee grounds on sticky hands.  This is especially helpful to preschool children who get glue on their hands and do not want to wash and rub under hot water for long periods of time.  Rub hands with the grounds then wash as usual. 

Coffee grounds also help take away smells from your hands (but you still need to follow up with soap and water.)  It can also be used to scrub pans from crusted on food (also see orange bags).  Rub the pan before running water or washing with the grounds.  Then wash as usual. 

Additionally, coffee grounds also make great compost; worms love them!

©Marie Boyum

4-4-11