In the video Heather and I made last year, we talked about getting ready for cold weather and the importance of keeping your house weatherproofed to keep your heat from escaping. You’re paying for the heat after all; don’t let it leak out the window!

Another strategy for keeping energy usage in check is to be mindful about the time of day that you use the energy. During peak use hours, such as early evening and weekends, more strain is put on our systems to supply the energy we use in our houses. Use your appliances less during these hours to avoid consuming energy that costs more to produce. Ultimately the cost of utilities trickles down to consumers, right?

If your community has been outfitted with the new smart meters that measure energy usage digitally, you may have access to detailed analysis of your own energy consumption habits online. This will allow you to see where you can make changes.

Can you start the dishwasher later in the evening, such as 10 pm instead of right after dinner? How about showering once a week instead of every day?  Just kidding.

Careful water usage can also improve your energy bill. Make sure to fix all leaks quickly – allowing that water to drip is just like sending money down the drain.

And finally, wash only full loads of laundry and dishes. If you’ve got a house full of people for the holidays, this one should be easy.

Have you made any changes to your house to help ready it for a more environmentally friendly winter?

Disclosure: I wrote this post after attending an informational luncheon on behalf of Silver Spring Networks and Mom Central Consulting where I learned about the Smart Meter that is already installed on the side of my house.

As I was wandering through my local big box store stocking up on toilet paper, diapers, and tissue today, I was relieved to avoid adding paper napkins to my overflowing cart.

About six years ago, we made the switch from paper napkins to cloth napkins and haven’t looked back. Making the switch to cloth napkins is one super simple green resolution you can make for 2011.

The fantastic thing about green resolutions is that you can still eat all the dessert you want. Though you may need to quit smoking! Here are a few other thought-starters for you:

1. Run your dishwasher and washing machine during off-peak hours, like late at night.
2. Install a timer-based thermostat and turn the heat way down when nobody’s home.
3. Clear out your unwanted items using Freecycle or Craigs List rather than the landfill
4. Recycle all electronics and batteries using the right facilities. Every time.

Some of these are so easy that they’ll only take an afternoon to get you on the path of being a little greener for the year. What other green resolutions are you going to tackle?

photo credit: the ten cent designer

I have little understanding and even less interest in the game of football. I have infuriated my husband and his dad numerous times by insisting that the word “downs” should be replaced with “tries”. Because after all, each team gets four tries to get the ball to advance ten yards.  Or is it three tries?

I always look forward to Super Bowl Sunday, however. I love the gathering of friends, the permission to eat junk food, and of course, the ads. Now that my friends and I have children, this daytime party is a family affair.  That said, a few words of caution related to kids and the exciting tradition of the American Super Bowl party.:

Beware of fragile AV set ups. It is tempting to create a makeshift home theater that will allow the maximum number of folks to view the television.  If you have moved things around, make sure they are secured properly. Small children are known to knock into furniture, as are adults who have been overserved. Create a safe viewing environment and keep the TV as far back as possible from foot traffic.

Grill with care. (Last year I got burned.) If you can, do as much grilling before your crowd gathers.  Grills should be outside, not in garages, and even outside, they should be at least 10 feet from the side of the house. Do not leave the grill unattended. Even if your team is winning.

Make a kid-friendly zone. Giving the kids something to do (and eat) will reduce their tendency to be underfoot (blocking your view of the TV or spilling your drink.)  Set up a safe activity or play area with clear pathways and take turns hanging out with them.

Do you have any special traditions for SuperBowl Sunday?

Yes, spring cleaning is the famous one. But what about the cleaning you do once all the holiday guests are out of your house? And you can go back to sleeping in your own bed without tripping over Uncle Bobby’s suitcase? And you can cook in your own kitchen without having to search for the whisk?

We love our families and we love the holidays, but it is so great when they all go home.

I have a few safety cleaning tips to share in honor of this very happy time of reclaiming your home!

1.  Recycle your Christmas tree. Nothing says “my house is back to normal” like putting the Christmas tree on the curb for recycling pick up. Lovingly pack and wrap your special ornaments for another year and reconfigure your living areas. Did you know they do amazing things with recycled trees?  Watch the video.

2.  Clean your cutting boards and counters thoroughly. Cutting boards are a favorite place for bacteria to hang out. The U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service recommends washing in hot, soapy water between uses and even sanitizing with 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water. Simply pour the bleach solution onto the board and let it sit for several minutes. Rinse with clear water and air or pat dry with clean paper towels. It is also recommended that you use one board for raw meats and a different board for vegetables if possible. {Source: USDA}

3.  Clear the path to your doors. Keep the floors clear between your bedrooms and all exits so that you don’t trip or get stuck if you need to leave in a hurry. Don’t let the remnants of your guests just pile up by the door. Go on and take that air mattress back to the garage. I’ll wait here.

What other clean-up tasks do you tackle to freshen up after your holiday guests?

You could accuse me of being a little obsessed with washing my hands. Some of my friends have definitely whispered it behind my back when I’m, no doubt, off washing my hands. But I would argue that I’m not really a crazy germophobe but that I simply practice the good hygiene that most of us already know (but tend to ignore).

Case in point: I wash my hands before eating at a restaurant. Is that too much? When you go to a restaurant, do you head immediately to the restroom to wash hands? Do you open the door with a paper towel before rejoining your friends? What if you just got off the bus to get there? What if you’re eating sushi or burgers (or something else with your hands)? It doesn’t sound “crazy” when I’m writing it out, but I know that this behavior is not ingrained in any of my dining companions.

When my second son was born, our big boy, Holden, was less than two years old but our pediatrician suggested putting him in charge of making everyone wash their hands before touching the new baby. I loved it! I could make him the bad cop whenever we had friends and relatives visit. Who can resist a little munchkin showing them the sink? Nobody.

We’ve continued on with the house rule of washing our hands whenever we come home. The boys will recite, “take off shoes, wash hands” as our neat-freak family mantra each time we come through the door. But it works.

Of course, I realize that they’re still just as likely to lick a public bike rack (yes, it happened!) as they are to say “excuse me, where’s the hand soap?” but at least we have a foundation for clean hands and it’s becoming a habit. And safety doesn’t take root unless it becomes a habit.

We write another blog together at RookieMoms.com and just published our first book, The Rookie Mom’s Handbook.

We love hot chocolate, comfortable shoes, and the television show Lost, but that’s where the similarities end. Now we need to stop using “we” and introduce ourselves separately.

About Heather (as told by Whitney)

Heather has curly red hair and a personality to match. She is strong willed and loves to have a challenging goal in front of her. After 28 years of leading an un-athletic life, she set out to do the Chicago Marathon and finished it. She devotes herself projects, lists, and rituals. The number of fun things we’ve done together is probably recorded in her diary somewhere. When Heather became a mother, she requested that I make a list of all the activities I liked to do with my baby (six months older than hers) so that she could check them off of her list.

Now Heather and her husband Alec have two sons, Holden (3 ½) and Milo (1 ½). As a family, they are conscientious about their impact on the environment and use their car minimally, cook lots of locally-grown produce, and avoid buying things they don’t need. She is originally from the Cleveland area of Ohio and went to Northwestern University.
Career-wise, Heather is a seasoned interactive project manager with 13 years of experience that she doesn’t look nearly old enough to have.

About Whitney (as told by Heather)

Whitney is short in stature but huge in creativity. I like to lift her up and carry her around. We met 12 years ago when we were fresh out of college and she was wearing a colorful handknit hat. Since then, we’ve shared many (finished and unfinished) craft projects. Whitney’s great because she knows where her sewing machine is and she remembers how to use it.

Whitney and Ryan have two children, Julian (4) and Scarlett (1 ½). Julian is mellow and Scarlett is proving to be more feisty. Whether from well-timed online shopping, embellishing hand-me-downs with well-placed buttons, or purely handmade creations, the whole family is very well-dressed. Whitney grew up in LA and attended Barnard College in New York City before moving to Berkeley.

Whitney has had several interesting jobs (from teaching children’s gymnastics to risky web startups) but worked most steadily for LeapFrog Toys as a marketing manager so she’s a professional expert in fun stuff.

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