Just because all of your money is being eaten up by tuition, books, and the other expenses of attending college doesn’t mean you can’t look your best during your tenure on campus. You may not be able to pay full price at department stores or purchase designer-label items off the rack, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to assemble a fantastic wardrobe for less. In addition, saving money when you acquire clothing can also be a means of saving the environment, helping you to look good and feel great in one fell swoop. So here are a few ways that even broke college students can look like a million bucks when they show up for class or interview for internships.

1.  Take stock of your closet. Although you will likely find items that you have outgrown, or those that are beyond salvaging, there are likely several pieces in your current wardrobe that are still totally usable. This is especially true of building blocks such as black (or neutral) slacks, oxford shirts, fitted jackets, and casual dresses, just for example. So before you bemoan your lack of options when it comes to things to wear, take stock and see if that’s really true or if there might be a few good pieces you can build on.
2. Find ways to reuse. Instead of giving up some pieces as a lost cause, why not see if you can manage to reuse them? Put on the hat of Andie from Pretty in Pink; she was a master of seeing the potential in out-of-date trends and turning old clothing into something new and fabulous. You, too, can embrace this ideal by finding ways to spruce up the pieces you already have. A worn blazer can be made new with corduroy patches on the elbows, new buttons, and a line of velvet ribbon around the collar and lapel. Or a frayed concert tee can become very now with some artful shredding down the back. There are all kinds of crafty ways to make the old new again, so don’t hesitate to see what you can do with scissors and a sewing machine.
3. Check out thrift stores. Second-hand stores will often present a whole host of items that you want nothing to do with, but if you’re willing to spend a little time searching you can come up with a few amazing finds at a fraction of the cost of retail. Whether you’re going for a retro vibe or you’re looking for the latest fashions, you’ll be surprised what you can unearth at area thrift stores.
4. Save on most, spend on some. Because you’re working on a limited budget, you’ll want to angle for savings on everything you buy from tees to jeans to jackets. For this reason, purchasing most items second-hand is a great option. But that doesn’t mean you can’t splurge a little on a couple of special pieces. And even here you can save by going to discount stores that collaborate with designers, like Kohl’s (Vera Wang) or Target (Zac Posen, Isaac Mizrahi, etc.). Of course, you might also consider greener options like organic clothing lines, some of which can be found online at greatly discounted prices.
5. Host a swap. You likely have a few items in your wardrobe that are nice, but simply don’t fit your style aesthetic. If you have friends in the same boat, why not host a swap before school starts so that everyone can head to campus with a few new (to them) duds without spending a dime? It’s both economical and eco-friendly.

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Skin cancer is caused by the ultraviolet rays that penetrate through your skin and mutate the skin’s DNA. Exposure to sunlight is good to a certain degree as you benefit from Vitamin D, but excessive exposure can cause more harm than good. With the advent of sunscreen creams and lotions, we are given a protective layer that prevents us from sunburn, but the question here is whether sunscreens prevent our skin from damage. The answer to this would be a yes and a no.

There are a variety of creams in the market that offer protection against two kinds UV — UVA and UVB — with both causing cancer. The SPF indications on the packaging refers to the sun protection factor, quantifying the extent to which the cream should protect you from sunburn. The most critical thing to look for on the packaging would be whether the cream is a broad-spectrum sunscreen, protecting against UVA & UVB rays.

Doctors believe that the right kind of sunscreens can prevent skin cancer to a large extent, but recommend that the application of such creams should be in addition to wearing protective clothing, sunglasses and keeping in the shade as much as possible. However, wearing a sunscreen lotion with broad-spectrum protection and a high SPF should not encourage you to spend more time in the sun. Tests conducted on both animals and humans have also produced evidence that sunscreens have the potential to protect against skin cancer.

If you go to a pharmacy and peruse through the variety of sunscreens on the shelves, you may be surprised to find that the most effective ones are often the cheapest. Specialized creams tend to cater to particular customers who are either focused on how the product smells or feels on the skin with effectiveness being a secondary concern.

However, recently conducted tests on animals state: “the composition of sun blocks — particularly oxybenzone, disrupts the function of the endocrine gland which may cause an adverse impact on sexual health and reproduction.” However, research is still on-going but so far, as evidence shows the benefits of sunscreens outweigh the the risks. However, it is worth noting that pregnant women and children should avoid sunscreens and sunblocks with oxybenzone as a precautionary measure.

After considering the estimated deaths from skin cancers, which is about 11,790 each year, as well as the financial, emotional and health tolls of fighting cancer, sunscreens and sunblocks are the cheapest and most effective way to avoid skin cancer.

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Amanda Kidd is a blogger by profession who believes in eco friendly existence. Recently she was really impressed by a green technology concept to reduce Environment Pollution in which the gadgets converted kinetic energy into renewable energy for a clean recharge and also a step ahead to power save.

Photo courtesy of Robert S. Donovan.

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A Discovery

Then, somewhere along my internet travels, I came across a blog with a post on making your own hair conditioner. Homemade hair conditioner, I thought. Is it going to be as bad as the baking soda? I read the post, which basically summed up what most posts on the subject say, that apple cider vinegar is slightly acidic like human hair and that it works wonders on hair’s shine and manageability. At the time of reading this, I had waist-length hair that seriously needed some manageability and shine, so I was intrigued.

Unexpected Results

It took me months to try the concoction the writer recommended. But when I finally did, I was pleasantly surprised. My hair was softer, silkier, shinier and did not have fly-aways. My homemade hair rinse worked!

I did have to play around with it a bit, though. The strong smell of the apple cider vinegar needed to be subdued for my tastes since it was so strong in a hot shower. After a few months of altering the recipe, I can now heartily recommend my version of the apple cider vinegar hair rinse to you.

The Recipe

1 cup apple cider vinegar (I prefer organic if you can get it)
15-20 drops of your favorite essential oil (I’ve been using lavender, but you can easily substitute rosemary, orange, eucalyptus, rose, whatever floats your boat)
1/2 – 1 tsp of vanilla extract (to ease the harshness of the vinegar smell)

I pour the apple cider vinegar into an old glass maple syrup jug I’m reusing, then add the vanilla and the essential oil. Close the jar or container and shake thoroughly.

In the shower, I gather my hair into a loose bun at the nape of my neck. I shake the jug of apple cider vinegar hair rinse well then slowly pour little by little onto the top of the bun until I feel it in my hand which is holding the bottom of the bun. I close the jug (it has a plastic flip lid, one of the reasons I chose it)  and let the apple cider vinegar rinse sit in my hair for 30 to 60 seconds. Then I rinse thoroughly.

Important note: your hair will smell like the apple cider vinegar somewhat until it fully dries. Once dry, it just smells clean and like the essential oil you added.

This recipe gives me about a month’s worth of rinse as each time I probably only use a few tablespoons of the concoction in my hair. I’m sure it helps that I only wash and condition my hair twice a week, but I have no problems managing my now mid-back length hair. In fact, it works better than any commercial hair conditioner I’ve ever used. As you can see in the picture, my hair is shiny and healthy-looking!

So, is a homemade hair rinse something you’d be willing to try?

Cover image courtesy of ralphunden.

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dining & entertaining

Sam over at Best Cheap Weddings shares some ways to save cash and the planet with the post Best Cheap Green Weddings. Romance and Memories on a Green Budget. I am all for the “recycled” estate diamond ring! (Remember that, Mr. Green Your Apartment!)

MyMaria makes the case that “consistent menu planning means my family wastes less food, eats at home much more often and saves both money and gas in the process.” Sold! Check out the post weekly menu planning over at Menu Planning.

for the greenhorns

Some of us are on the computer so much that we forget how much energy it can consume. So Richard Adams reminds us, giving us 9 Ways To Make Your Computer Use More Eco Friendly posted at Eco Living Advice. Loved this so much, you’ve just been added to my RSS reader.

health & beauty

How I adore my certified tree-huggers, the do-it-yourselfers. Eugene Smith represents well with the How To Make Your Own Laundry Soap At Home posted at How to Make You Own Soap.

Girls, you know how much we love the jewelry. Well Heather Levin points us in the right direction by explaining What to Look For When Buying Fair Trade Jewelry posted at Earthdivas’s Blog.

New to our little carnival is paystolivegreen who gives us some eco-beauty Toothbrush Tips posted at Pays to Live Green. (I use Preserve, myself!)

June Tree is back with a Guide To Commuter Bikes: Bicycle Commuting Saves Money and The Environment over at (be still my heart!) The Digerati Life.

in the news

Oh Mrs. Obama, never has a garden been s controversial. Rich Maltzman, PMP asks Will ‘Bloom Boxes’ Bloom next to Michelle Obama’s Organic Garden? posted at Earth PM.

TSW talks eco-luxury with Tesla Electric Car For Fuel Efficiency: Would You Buy It? at The Smarter Wallet. To answer your question: out of my price range, hun! Still pretty though.

MrsMoney presents Is Climate Change a Hoax? posted at The Ultimate Money Blog. While this is a great post, I absolutely adore the comic that opens it. I’m laughing my butt off!

living spaces

Sandra Lopez has spoken to my soul – my bibliophiliac soul. Her post, 80 Awesome Ideas for All Your Old or Unwanted Books posted at Online Colleges.net, has inspired me to *gulp* minimize my library. I have a copy of The Film Encyclopedia that is just begging to be used as a block in my new AM yoga routine! But I could never imagine using a book as cat litter.

Case Ernsting discusses eco-friendly wood options in Go Green, Keep the Wood over at Home and Decor.

Julia Ritzenthaler presents Eco Friendly Furniture posted at Bathroom Vanity, Decorative Mirrors & Light Fixtures.

patio & garden

Renee Benzaim presents Guide to Compost Making – Compost Bins, Compost Tumblers, and Compost Crocks posted at Compost Tumblers & Compost Making. She comments, “Compost tumblers, compost bins, compost crocks, and open piles are all methods of compost making. Which is the best for you? If you are limited on space, a compact ‘backporch’ compost tumbler is your best bet.” Is it a good choice for your apartment?

Jamie McIntosh discusses how to Control Pests on Houseplants posted at Jamie’s Organic Garden Blog. It has been a hard winter, hasn’t it? But spring is almost here!

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Well, my dear Internet, that concludes this edition of Tips for Green Living. Thank you all for your excellent submissions and I hope you found some useful info in this carnival. You can find a new edition posted every second and fourth Monday here at Green Your Apartment. Submit your blog article to the next edition of Tips for Green Living using our carnival submission form.

Go green and live well!

________________

Tips for Green Living logo image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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So what are parabens, exactly?

Parabens are antibacterial and antifungal agents used as preservatives in foods and pharmaceuticals (thank you Merriam-Webster.com). They are pretty ubiquitous in modern life, found in everything from tanning lotions to toothpaste and are even used as food additives.

What’s the problem?

Good question. Parabens have similar chemical structures to some of our own hormones, mostly estrogen. While some naturally occur in various plants like blueberries, it is their “esters” or alcohol-derived forms that are more potent “pseudo-estrogen”. A certain amount of estrogen is the body is clearly a good thing though healthy levels are dependent upon sex, age, and individual. However, constantly slathering oneself with lotions containing 0.01-0.3% with up to or consuming a “pseudo-estrogen” in their food can raise those levels and cause problems. Breast cancer, for example, is encouraged by high levels of estrogen. In fact, they have found parabens in breast cancer cells which led to the early 2000s email declaring everyone should swear off antiperspirants.

But does this mean parabens cause breast cancer?

Not quite, which is why the jury is still out. The FDA’s website says:

A study published in 2004 (Darbre, in the Journal of Applied Toxicology) detected parabens in breast tumors. The study also discussed this information in the context of the weak estrogen-like properties of parabens and the influence of estrogen on breast cancer. However, the study left several questions unanswered. For example, the study did not show that parabens cause cancer, or that they are harmful in any way, and the study did not look at possible paraben levels in normal tissue.

So this is a cause versus correlation issue. Do the parabens cause cancer? Or are parabens and cancer co-related through some other factor?

The answer: We don’t know.

Should I avoid parabens?

The FDA’s verdict: No.

The EPA’s verdict: Maybe.

Green Your Apartment’s verdict: Would you eat it?

Up to 70% of what you put on your skin can be absorbed into your dermis and blood stream. That ratio is more efficient than even consumption – that’s why we have a birth control patch and a nicotine patch.

So I ask again, would you eat your face cream? Your shampoo? Aside from the fact it may not taste so good, would you be more worried about poisoning or allergic reactions?

I believe you have your answer.

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Image courtesy of djcodrin at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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dining & entertaining

Surbhi Bhatia talks about how to Dispose Mind Waste, Not Food posted at The Viewspaper.

for the greenhorns

You more East Coasters – winter has been pretty harsh for you this year. So Guffly shares How to Stay Warm This Winter the Eco-Friendly Way posted at Guffly.

Gracyqueen presents 50 Big Ways that Schools Are Going Green posted at Associate Degree – Facts and Information.

Luke Spencer wants to demystify your electric bill and the Kilowatt hour in Kilowatt Hours and Your Electric Bill over at That old house.

Suzane Smith presents 56 Healthy & Natural hacks you should be using in the Kitchen at MRI Technician Schools.

health & beauty

savvybrown wants you to Clean your dishes with Kool-Aid. Yeah, Kool-Aid. It’s actually a green option over at savvy brown.

Suzane Smith presents 100 Healthy Remedies That Are Right In Your Home posted at Pharmacy Technician Certification.

Eugene Smith writes about gentle alternatives to commercial soaps with the post How To Make Natural Homemade Soap, at (surprise, surprise) How to Make You Own Soap.

in the news

Thinking about getting into that new and growing green job sector? You better study up on what the tech actually is. GreenJobsGuru explains the Solar Energy Facts at Green Jobs Ready.

Did you miss “Word Wetlands Day” on February 2nd? Yeah, me too. But Morgan Schwartz brings us up to date with Nebraska’s Wetlands posted at Nature Boy on Omaha.

Who hasn’t been thinking about Haiti? Well, Katy Unitek returns to tell us about Sol: A light in the darkness of Haiti posted at Boots On The Roof. Thanks Katy for yet another interesting post!

marjorie talks about food and the First Lady’s “Let’s Move” campaign in the post Let’s Get a Move! at Green Thinking Blog. Um, I thought this was a green blog carnival? Ah, but it is… what is more green than fresh fruits and veggies and prepared foods with less preservatives? Now you get the picture!

living spaces

Now here’s a post that took me by surprise. Vera Lang tells us about Back to School: Make a Dorm Bean Bag – Free Video Tutorials at Fine Craft Guild .com. In her own words: “Bean bags are ‘always in’, and according to the free tutorial with videos here, can be made with 100% recyclables. The sky is the limit, but in a bean bag you get to lay low and … relax. Pick a neutral cover and it’ll be a welcome addition to any room.” Who knew?!

savvybrown gives us another post, this time proclaiming I ♥ Dryer Balls over at savvy brown. Apparently these little guys eliminate the need for dryer sheets and fabric softener, which are both not eco-friendly. I’ll have to try these!

Beverly Saltonstall tells us about Six Home Air Misconceptions posted at A Green Lady Blog. I love this topic as it is not discussed as much as it needs to be. In fact, I wrote about in the post Breathe Deeply with the Indoor Air Pollution. Thank you Beverly!

Angela Martin presents Teaching Green: 100 Tips, Toools & Resources for Every Kind of Classroom posted at Online Degree Programs.org: Top Online Degrees. Mr. Green Apartment is working on becoming a high school teacher, so this will definitely be passed along!

For you dorm-dwellers, Angela Martin also offers up 101 Ways to Go Green In Your Dorm Room posted at Online Degree Programs.org: Top Online Degrees.

patio & garden

Renee Benzaim gives us some Tools & Tips for Compost Making at Compost Tumblers & Compost Making. If you have enough room in your small yard, garden, or patio, then you better pay attention to this!

Have some room? NHE presents How To Grow Blueberries In Your Home Garden posted at Natural Health Ezine. Now who wouldn’t love some fresh blueberries for a smoothie or in your morning oatmeal? Yum! But I wonder how they fare in container gardening…

—–

Well, my dear Internet, that concludes this edition of Tips for Green Living. Thank you all for your excellent submissions and I hope you found some useful info in this carnival. You can find a new edition posted every second and fourth Monday here at Green Your Apartment. Submit your blog article to the next edition of Tips for Green Living using our carnival submission form.

Go green and live well!

________________

Tips for Green Living logo image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Meh.

First of all, after being ill last week and laundry piling up despite my new laundry schedule, I cheated.

Yes, O Internet, I cheated. I so cheated! I used the dryer not for one load but for six loads of laundry. I just couldn’t handle a day or two of line drying the clothes taking over my living space, especially since I had six loads of laundry to dry. I just couldn’t do it again! And while those set-ups to line dry clothing are nice, I’m currently in getting-out-0f-debt mode, which means every spare dollar is headed toward that.

Is it possible?

Yes. Easily done for an apartment-dweller? Well, not so much. Like I said before, it must be a planned effort to not interfere with living spaces and the rest of your routine.

Is it worth it?

If you can manage, then definitely – the sure positives of this experiment where the laundromat savings and the energy savings.

The bottom line

Only do this if you have the time and can coordinate line drying your clothes to not interfere with your life. Otherwise, only wash what is truly dirty and use the dryer only when necessary.

Image courtesy of Michelle Meiklejohn.

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But, I do have a fabulous carnival for you!

dining & entertaining

Mrs. Green presents Price vs principles – 6 tips for eating organic on a budget posted at Little Green Blog. It’s funny, I already implement a lot of these tips but I just can’t find a co-op we’d really benefit from yet. Ideas?

Mrs. Green also gives us another post, 11 reuse ideas for coffee grounds posted at MY ZERO WASTE. Make my hair smell like coffee? You may be my green soul mate, Mrs. Green!

Pumpkin lasagna? Yeah, she said it! Kathy Hester, a.k.a. GeekyPoet, gives us the recipe for a Slow Cooker Protein Packed Pumpkin Lasagna posted at Healthy Slow Cooking. Wow!

for the greenhorns

Need some educating? Sandra Lopez can help! Her 100 Amazing Lectures to Follow the Future of Energy is posted at Online Degree Programs.org. My bookmarks just got so much bigger!

Now who doesn’t want to save money on gasoline? Yeah, I thought so and so does The Smarter Wallet. The post Save Money On Gas With These 10 Tips posted at The Smarter Wallet tells you how! Makes me think I really should clear out the trunk of my car.

Here at Green Your Apartment, we like a bit of shock and awe every now and then. This time, Emily Moser over at Online Nurse Practitioner Schools tells us about 20 Weird Allergies That Actually Exist just after allergies attacked our apartment all last week. But allergic to water? Oh yes, people, it can be that crazy. Green? Not so much but fascinating nonetheless.

Looks like Katy Unitek is back with her inspirational post The Dream of a Child Changes a Community posted at Boots On The Roof. Amazing what some tenacity can do!

Stuff With A Purpose, a newbie to our carnival, introduces us to the Reu$e And Save Series: Plastic Bags posted at Stuff With A Purpose. This is the very reason you need to become a bag-person!

health & beauty

Ambitious much? Emily Moser is! She discusses the Top 25 Soap Making Resources Online posted at Becoming A Radiologist.

living spaces

Ah, to cook and clean. paystolivegreen talks about Being Green in the Kitchen over at Pays to Live Green. All great stuff, especially about reducing waste.

I’m going to be honest – it is a rare instance for me to find a green tip or reuse suggestion that I haven’t thought of or read about before. But Annette Berlin shows me up in this terribly clever post, 12 Crafty Ways To Reuse Phone Books posted at Craft Stew. Amusing and helpful!

To me, clutter is the antithesis of a green life. June Tree agrees in her post Cash In On Clutter over at The Digerati Life. Fabulous! (By the way, I <3 your blog!)

patio & garden

Have a pet and feel guilty about their droppings? Have no fear, Renee Benzaim is here! She explains What is a Worm Compost? posted at Compost Tumblers & Compost Making noting that “worm composting … is good for small spaces and also works for animal feces.” So looking into that…

—–

That concludes this edition of Tips for Green Living. Thank you all for your excellent submissions and I hope you found some useful info in this carnival. You can find a new edition posted every second and fourth Monday here at Green Your Apartment. Submit your blog article to the next edition of Tips for Green Living using our carnival submission form.

Go green and live well!

________________

Tips for Green Living logo image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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A Tribute to My Pile of Laundry
How to go green with your laundry.

First “Tips for Green Living” Carnival
The very first round-up of green tips from across the web.

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The weekends are usually the craziest days at the GYA household, so instead of being put away when the usual, sane manner, they hung around the house as we rushed in and out of the apartment. However, once I’m finished with this post, it’s off to folding and putting away the end of last week’s laundry.

Let’s hope this week I fare better!

So, our situation thus far:

Pros

• I saved $6.60 on laundry last week from not using the dryers in our apartment’s on-site laundromat. In a year, that’s a $343.20 savings!
• Our clothes still seemed soft (I use a biodegradable, plant-derived fabric softener) and the darks dried darker-looking than usual.

Cons

• Air drying the clothes is taking over my living and dining rooms as well as the closet. Not cool!
• It does take awhile: the jeans took 12 hours to dry indoors while most of the t-shirts and miscellaneous items took 6.

Solution I’ll Try

• I’ve been toying with the idea of purchasing this. It boasts “60 feet of drying space in a small space”. I’m thinking this is perfect for me. If I were to get this, I could hide it in this awkward nook in the vanity area of our bathroom which is out of sight enough I wouldn’t be embarrassed when the neighbor drops by but easy enough to use and fold up.

We’ll see how this week goes as I have yet to line dry our sheets and blankets. That ought to be interesting. In the meanwhile, let me know what you think of this set up and any tips you might have in the comments. Thanks!

Headline photo courtesy of Suat Eman.

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