Easy, cheap kids' party: Fall backyard shindig or beach bash

As the days grow cooler, now's the perfect time for a backyard fall bash. And who knows--with Indian summer, we still may get a few summery days. Why not celebrate with a backyard bash or beach party? Here's an easy cheap kids' party plan for children in preschool to middle elementary. read more

Surprise costs, hidden problems remodeling our 100-year-old home

My husband and I bought our Grand Haven, Michigan, home in 2000. We hoped to save money buying a 100-year-old fixer-upper for just $52,000. Newer homes that needed less work were selling for about two to three times what we paid for ours. We've had to make do with a lot of inconveniences that would cost us far more than we saved in purchase price to properly fix. Even fixing our home on a shoestring has cost us nearly as much as we saved -- around $49,000. Here are some of our costlier old-home-buying surprises.  read more

Green Up Your Shopping and Save Money

Living green also means saving green with these eco-friendly shopping tips. You've heard it said "you can't have everything"? Maybe not always, but you can with green shopping. Here are ways to reduce, reuse, recycle and save on grocery shopping. Save time, money, gas, hassle and patience! 'Green Up' Your Shopping and Save Money

Easy, cheap kids' party: Farewell to summer backyard shindig, beach bash

The lazy days of summer are winding down. If your kids aren't back to school already, they will be soon. Labor Day, the first Monday in September, signals the last official hurrah of summer. Why not round out the holiday out with a backyard bash or beach party? Here's an easy cheap kids' party plan for children in preschool to middle elementary. Use this plan for an earth day party, too.  Easy, cheap kids' party: Farewell to summer backyard shindig or beach bash

Stay Cool in Green Ways without Air Conditioning

Much of Lower Michigan is getting blasted by scorching temperatures and far-below-average rainfall. City-locked Detroiters have suffered through record high temperatures since May. The Detroit News reports that the city could see its highest temperature ever in the next few days. Here are details about this epic heat wave along with tips on inexpensive ways to cool off in the metro area (some of these apply to any metro city).  Epic Heat Wave Hits Detroit: Ways to Stay Cool 

Stay Cool Without Air Conditioning- Summer Heat Tips

Meteorologists are comparing summer 2012 in Michigan to 1988. In 1988, it was 90-plus for weeks with no rain. I felt every degree of it because I was 8-9 months pregnant and living in an upstairs apartment with no air conditioning. We have never had a central air conditioning unit. For most of our 25-year married life, we survived summer heat without air conditioning period. We bought two small portable window units last year, but for over two decades we managed to stay cool without an air conditioner. Here's how. 'Heat Dome' Survival Without Air Conditioning

Best Green Ecology Movies for Earth Month

Earth Day, formerly Arbor Day, is celebrated on April 22. Spring is manifesting herself in a big way in April and the whole month is devoted to earth-friendly activities. Those of us who care about our planet know that every day is, or should be Earth Day. Here's a list of green-themed films that explore environmentalism and green living. Topics include oil, fuel alternatives, sustainable living, corporate farming problems, health issues, pollution and more. Use these for science class, homeschool, activist rallies and public awareness campaigns. Read on at Best Green Ecology Movies for Earth Month - Yahoo! News

No Well Water Contamination from Kalamazoo River Oil Spill - Yahoo! News

  Michigan Radio reports the Michigan Department of Community Health found no chemicals as a result of the 2010 oil spill on the Kalamazoo River in Michigan in 150 water wells recently tested. On July 26, 2010, Enbridge Energy Partners reported a 30-inch pipeline ruptured near Marshall, Mich., releasing roughly 819,000 gallons oil in Talmadge Creek and the Kalamazoo River, the Environmental Protection Agency's oil spill reports. Read more at No Well Water Contamination from Kalamazoo River Oil Spill

Make Arbor Day Tree Planting a Family Affair

 Arbor Day, celebrated on April 27 for 2012, is the older holiday from which "stems" (pun intended) our modern celebration of Earth Day. Arbor Day is traditionally observed by planting a tree and I say why not make this green activity a family affair? Besides being good for the environment, planting a tree together is a great bonding experience. Read more at Make Arbor Day Tree Planting a Family Affair 

'Caine's Arcade' is Good Green Fun with a Recycle Flair

According to Unplugged, 9-year-old Caine Monroy's taped-up "video game arcade" is tickling the fancy of the fickle internet viewers. The contraption is made from standard kid impedimenta -- recycle-bin cardboard, old electronic trinkets and bits salvaged from his father's car parts store. Using that juvenile blend of mechanical genius, masking tape and a willing suspension of the laws of physics, Monroy finagled the refuse into a homespun gaming station. I call it "childhood at its best." Here how Caine is living "green" and giving recycled a fun twist. Here's also how kids can do likewise. Read on 'Caine's Arcade' is Childhood as It's Meant to Be Lived