Over the next four weeks I will be partnering with Scott Naturals and The Motherhood to share ideas for green living—more specifically, what green living looks like for me and my family. One commenter on each week’s post will win a Scott Naturals Kit, which includes Scott Naturals Tissue, Scott Naturals Towels, Scott Naturals Napkins, and Scott Naturals Flushable Moist Wipes.

Scott Naturals will donate $1—up to $25,000 total—to the National Wildlife Federation based on unique click-through links from the 40 blogs participating in this campaign. The other blogs are listed at the bottom of this post. Please click through from those sites and help us reach our goal of $25,000 donated.

Click here and $1 will be donated to the National Wildlife Federation

Once there, you can pledge to take the Scott Naturals 4 Week Test Drive and enter for a chance to win a Ford Fusion Hybrid.

Going Green

“Going Green” is a trendy thing to say or be these days, but what does it really mean in a practical, every day sort of way?

The Atlanta area spent two years in a serious drought. Lake Lanier was so low that I couldn’t imagine how it would ever get back to normal. Although it rained so much last spring and summer that we’re in good shape again, we adopted water- and money-saving habits during that period of time that just make sense to continue.

Only run full loads of clothes and dishes.
Don’t keep the hot water heater at it’s hottest setting: not only does it use more energy, but some teens will stay in the shower longer—using more water and energy—as long as it stays hot.
Collect “old” water from the tea kettle or cups left on the counter to water plants.
Using the same cup all day equals less dishes to wash.
Turn off the water while brushing your teeth.
Reuse bath towels.

We own a High Efficiency steam washing machine, which uses a fraction of the amount of water of a traditional unit. I almost never run it with warm or hot water. For dark loads, I use cold; for whites I add steam: cold water is heated in the top of the machine and steam is added to the wash cycle. The clothes get cleaner while saving water and energy.

During the drought, I alternated every other day between showering and sponge baths. This wasn’t easy for me, but seeing the lake so low made me want to do something, now matter how small. Now I shower daily, but wash my hair every other day. Just spending that much less time in the shower saves water and energy.

Did you click?

In 2008 I won a year’s supply of paper products from Scott in a blog giveaway. It was one of the best contests I’ve ever won! Leave a comment on this post for your chance to win a sample box of the Scott products pictured above.

What have you done to go green?

Other Blogs Participating in This Campaign

Not Quite Cookie Cutter http://www.notquitecookiecutter.com
Mommy’s Wish List http://mommyswishlist.blogspot.com/
Rockin’ Mama http://rockinmama.net/
Mommin’ It Up http://momminitup.com/
Baby Momma Blog http://babymommablog.com/
The Suburban Mom http://www.thesuburbanmom.com/
Multi-Minding Mom http://www.multimindingmom.com/
Go Graham Go http://www.gograhamgo.com
Married My Sugar Daddy http://marriedmysugardaddy.com
Render Me Mama http://www.rendermemama.com/
Charlene Chronicles http://www.charlenechronicles.com/
Domestic Extraordinaire http://www.domesticextraordinaire.com/
A Mom’s Balancing Act http://www.momsbalancingact.com
Faith and Family Reviews http://faithandfamilyreviews.com
Zen Mama Ventures http://zenforyou.dalefg.net/
Free Is My Life http://www.freeismylife.com
House of Hills http://houseofhills.org/
Jolly Mom http://www.jollymom.com
Mamma Mia http://themammamiablog.com/
My Four Monkeys http://www.myfourmonkeys.com/
Minnesota Mama’s Must Haves http://www.minnesotamamasmusthaves.com
Mommy Instincts http://www.mommyinstincts.com
A Nut in a Nutshell http://www.anutinanutshell.com/
Just Precious http://just-precious.com/
24/7 MOMS http://www.247moms.blogspot.com/
Pretty Pink Momma http://www.prettypinkmomma.com/
Momma Findings http://www.mommafindings.com/
Next Kid Thing http://nextkidthing.com/
The Chatty Momma http://thechattymomma.blogspot.com/
I Dream of Clean http://www.idreamofclean.net/
Wholesome Mommy http://wholesomemommy.com/
Dusty Earth Mother http://www.dustyearthmother.com/
Fits and Giggles http://www.fitsngiggles.com/
Mommypalooza http://www.mommypalooza.com/
To Be Thode http://www.tobethode.com/
Hale Mom http://halemom.com
She Scribes http://www.shescribes.com
Main Street Mommy http://mainstreetmommy.com/
The Diaper Diaries http://thediaperdiaries.com/

{Disclosure: I am being compensated by Scott Naturals and TheMotherhood for my part in this campaign.}

18 Comments

Jessie on April 11, 2011 at 11:34 am

I have three children ages 4, 2 and 2. I can use all the cleaning supplies I can get! Thanks for the chance to get something for free! 🙂
Costana Hornbaker on April 12, 2011 at 2:17 am

I took the pledge. Congrats on winning a year supply!~!!!! I would love the sample pack!!!
Melissa on April 12, 2011 at 9:37 am

I love using my canvas grocery bags for shopping~ why it took so long for someone to develop large, study grocery bags is a mystery, but I’m glad they did. Would love to try the scotts. Thanks 🙂
Cori Westphal on April 12, 2011 at 9:58 am

I quit using paper towels. it’s been tough though!

coriwestphal at msn dot com
christy on April 12, 2011 at 10:30 am

I took the pledge. I use as many natural products as possible. no bottled water. using natural light as much as possible…..
Ashley H. on April 12, 2011 at 8:10 pm

My family recycles everything that we can.
Melissa on April 13, 2011 at 10:18 pm

What a wonderful prize – very useful in my house!
🙂
Melissa S.
Lisa on April 14, 2011 at 9:25 pm

We recycle everything that we possibly can. We called our garbage collection company and asked for a full size can on wheels for our recycling and they provided one at no extra charge. We also use my own bags for shopping – I hate the plastic ones now too! No more buying bottled water here either. We purchased our own bottles and fill them over and over after washings. Would love to win! Thanks!
Shannon Alexander on April 15, 2011 at 12:35 am

I love learning more about going green. Thank you!
shannonsweep at gmail dot com
Henria O. on April 15, 2011 at 1:34 am

How awesome! I would love to win this for my family!
sazzyfrazz at gmail dot com
Amy on April 15, 2011 at 11:05 am

Thanks for the great info … We re-use grocery bags when we get them for small garbage cans and use them to transport things with. But whenI remember I have the reuseable shopping bags that I take to get groceries and things.
Naomi on April 15, 2011 at 4:07 pm

I love to hear people talk about better ways to reuse and recycle in their everyday lives. We use cloth napkins as much as possible.
Samantha on April 18, 2011 at 5:15 pm

It is one of the only brands I like- I am picky with paper products, LOL….
kolpin on April 19, 2011 at 1:45 am

i bring my own bags to the grocery store

kolpin4680 at gmail dot com
Becky Horn on April 19, 2011 at 2:39 pm

I have taken the pledge, we try to recycle when we can
sweokgrl@gmail.com
amie d on April 20, 2011 at 1:02 am

I took the pledge and would love to win this! We try and use green products as much as we can! Thanks!
Dawn on April 20, 2011 at 11:48 am

Amie D., you’re the winner! Please email me with your mailing address so your Scott Naturals prize pack can be shipped.
amie d on April 20, 2011 at 7:27 pm

Thank you so much! We can really use this! I have e-mailed you my info. Thanks again!