Today I experimented with a new dish for my toddler – chicken and mashed potatoes.  Came out pretty yummy.  In fact it’s so good, I could eat the whole thing myself!
I used couple of ounces of boiled chicken breast, two mid-size baked potatoes, half cup of whole milk and about quarter of a table spoon [...]

Average clothes washer uses 40 gallons of water per cycle.  Its energy use will depend on the cycle’s water temperature.  The hotter the temperature, the more energy it will use.  The mechanical operation of washer itself does not consume a lot of energy.
You can find out how much power your washer uses by checking out [...]

Many people have a misconception that running a dishwasher is more energy consuming than doing the dishes by hand.  I will explain the two scenarios as I go over the energy saving tips for washing dishes.  So you can decide on your own:

This year we decided to make personalized greeting cards for our family and friends. We weren’t going to use the photo studio since they are more expensive than we were willing to spend. So we made our own cards. It is an easy and practical way to put a personal touch on [...]

By Malika Risley
I love giving gifts!  I feel good when I see the excitement on the recipients’ faces as they are about to find out what they got.
Mystery is an important part of gift giving.  We conceal the gifts before we give them away.  It’s the feeling of surprise and anticipation that gets everyone so [...]

My next-door neighbor invested in new LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights this Christmas season.    So I started thinking whether we should do the same.  I decided to do my own financial analysis comparing the initial cost, energy cost and the replacement cost between the two kinds of lights. By the way, the inspiration for [...]

Make up is overrated!  How many make up brands are out there?  I don’t know, probably hundreds.
In my earlier age I experimented with Prescriptives, Clinique, Cover Girl, Lancome, L’Oreal…  Prescriptives, Clinique and Lancome are on the pricier side and are usually found at department stores.  Brands like Cover Girl and L’Oreal are more affordable and [...]

Water Heater is the second largest contributor to the energy bill after the air conditioner/central heat. Water has high heat capacity, so it takes a lot of energy to warm up. For example, it takes one kilowatt-hour to warm up about 10 gallons of water from 80F to 120F. Your electric [...]

Same as with the air conditioner, heating your house can take up a significant chunk of your energy bill.  It is not easy to estimate the energy use by your heater, it depends on the size of your house, how well the house is insulated, the temperature outside and the efficiency of the heating unit.  [...]

Energy spent on the air conditioner can take up a significant chunk of your energy bill.  It is not easy to calculate the energy use by the central air conditioner, because it depends on the climate you live in, the thermal insulation of your house, the air conditioner type and its efficiency.  But, nevertheless following [...]