as you are getting ready for the holidays, you may noticed it getting a little bit chillier than usual.    why not get a head start on spring cleaning and go into your closet to see if you have any outdated or old coats you no longer want?

one warm coat is an organization will helps distributes a free coat to homeless which will keep them warm during this winter.   you can easily find drop off locations across the nation.

http://www.onewarmcoat.org/

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reef infection highly recommended these packing cubes from ebags.com for packing your clothes for a trip.  i have to agree with her: they rock!

packing cubes from ebags.com

they typically retail for $29.99 however you can get them from $25-$30, depending sale and/or promo code.   you get three different size cubes in a set.

you may think they wouldn't be impactful like i did. they made a big difference in terms of packing and organizing.  i did not to have to go through a pile of clothes to find what i was looking for.  since i knew what belonged in each cube, i simply picked up the bag i wanted something from, unzipped, zipped, and threw it back into my suitcase.   when i opened up my suitcase, i never groaned at a mess because there wasn't a mess.   these bags were awesome to travel with as they were able to carry 5 days of clothes.

• largest bag can hold: jeans, sweaters 
• medium bag can hold: shirts
• smallest bag can hold: socks and underwear

i wasn't able to fit all six pairs of jeans in the largest bag but i could fit about 4 pairs. not bad!

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what goodwill will do with rejected clothes including your dirty underwear...

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/videos/g-word-second-time-around.html

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from green la girl  (thanks, siel!):

http://greenlagirl.com/share-the-harvest-what-to-do-with-extra-backyard-produce/

i particularly like the ample harvest because the fruit doesn't go to waste and it goes to people in need.

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people typically will buy boxes to pack for moves or forage their workplaces for extra shipping boxes.   

on my last move, i didn't have much to move and i made multiple trips as i slowly moved in.   my husband, on the other hand, used large heavy duty produce boxes my father kept specifically for moving (yes, being green and frugal runs in the family!).   we also used several heavy duty rubbermaid bins bought on sale at kmart along with random used shopping bags accumulated over the years.  when the time comes for the next move, we'll be reusing everything we used 6 years ago as everything sans the shopping bags is kept in my parents' garage. 

i recognized that not everyone has the luxury of having access to free moving boxes and free storage space like we do.   so how about renting 100% recycled plastic bins which are delivered to your old place and picked up from your new place by a truck running on vegetable oil?    so why not go green on your move? 

rent a green box is an awesome idea because it's a waste saver AND time saver.  you don't have to spend the time to find out where to buy boxes and then drive out to buy them.  rent a green box delivers the boxes right to your door.  you can start packing immediately rather than having to spend the time to set up the boxes.  when you're done unpacking, you don't need to spend time to break down the boxes and drag them down to the dumpster.  you just set the empty boxes to the side and wait for the service to come pick them up at your new place.   the only downside is that you don't have the luxury of schelping around packing/unpacking unless you want to spend more money for renting the boxes longer   the service includes 2-week rental time but hey, that gives you the incentive to hurry up, pack, and unpack.  if you're looking to move and reduce waste, definitely check this service out in the los angeles/oc areas or a similar service in your area.

if we didn't have the boxes we have, i would totally employed rent a green box services!   btw, they didn't pay me to sell them - their brillant idea sells itself! 

http://www.rentagreenbox.com/

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eco friendly ipod nano case from marware: http://www.marware.com/products/iPod-nano/4G-Nano-Eco-Runner

site for eco runners: http://www.ecologyrunner.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=2

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Purex-3-in-1-package

when i saw the commercial and being the efficiency freak i am,  i had to try these 3-in-1 laundry sheets by purex.   in one sheet, there is detergent, softener, and antic static for one load of laundry.  yes, you just needed one sheet for one load of laundry!   i wandered over to my local target and picked it up when it went on sale for $5 for 20 sheets (aka 20 washes). 

pro's:

• convenient and easy: no messy liquids or powders to deal with.  you just drop one sheet at the bottom of the wash, turn on the washer, and transfer everything into the dryer.   easy peasy!
• less package and less waste:  you can reuse the plastic case the sheets come in by buying the refill packages.  no more bulk bottles to throw out; you just throw out the plastic wrapper.  it's truly ideal to carry in your luggage if you're traveling and doing your own laundry abroad.
• washes well:   there are three flavors; Spring Oasis, Tropical Escape and Pure & Clean.   i have spring oasis.  i was worried that there wasn't going to be enough detergent in one sheet for one big load.    i was wrong. laundry smells clean and the scent is subtle.

con's:

• softner performance: didn't do a good job of softening the clothes up and lessening wrinkles of the clothes in the dryer.  the laundry came out insanely wrinkley.  i recommend adding a few more dry sheets or softener to help with the wrinkles.
• cost: more expensive compared to a jug of laundry detergent.    for $5 (on sale), you get 20 sheets in a refillable container and 24 sheets in a refill package.  for around the same price, you get 32 loads from a regular bottle of laundry detergent.
• lack of control:  what if you have a tiny load of laundry to do? do you waste an entire sheet so you can wear your favorite shirt again for that important event?  i suppose you can cut the sheet in half but will that be too much or too little for your small load?   i suppose you have to eye it and do a trial and error.   

i would recommend this product to the following people:

• people who want less waste from packaging
• pepole who don't have time and just want to get laundry done and over with
• people who travel and want to do their laundry on the road

i would not recommend this product to the following people:

• people on a budget
• people who don't want to buy additional softener or dryer sheets to help with the wrinkles
• people who normally do not full loads of laundry.   i'd recommended it for full loads or else you're wasting a lot of detergent or spending extra time, cutting up the sheets.

am i a fan? i can't say i'm a true fan at this point.  i love the fact that it promotes less waste and more convenience, however i am unhappy with the wrinkles.   in my opinion, the sheets are just a-ok.

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found from green.yahoo.com, things you can recycle beyond the usual clothes:

• human hair
• used hotel soap
• dentures

http://green.yahoo.com/blog/daily_green_cheapskate/35/recycling-oddities-beyond-metal-glass-paper-and-plastic.html

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check this eco magazine out at your local borders and see if it's right for you.   i noted that there weren't as many ads and a lot of content compared to the typical magazine.

http://www.good.is/

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the mens wearhouse will be starting their national suit drive this week.  throughout septemeber, suits and accessories (ties, hankies) collected will be distributed to non profits across the nation to assist unemployed men with interview appropriate attire.   this is such a wonderful way to clear your closets and to give to someone who is in need.   look for the nearest mens wearhouse near you! 

http://www.menswearhouse.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContentAttachmentView_-1_10601_10051_10652_10708_10684_NationalSuitDrive.html_

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