Go Green this Thanksgiving!

Here are five ways you can lower your impact on the environment this thanksgiving!
1) Buy locally and regionally produced food! Most farmers markets will carry locally and organically grown sweet potatoes, carrots, home made jams, cheeses, breads, and much much more! If you're family tradition includes a turkey, look for an organic, free-range turkey. Yes, it does cost a few bucks more, but it's also much healthier!
2) Minimize your use of Plastics! Use re-usable leftover containers instead of disposable plastic wrap, and even tin foil wrap! Try to avoid using plastic plates, silverware, etc. Plastic never fully breaks down, so if you MUST use plastic, make sure it gets recycled.
3) Celebrate at home! Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel weekends of the whole year! Why not help to reduce global warming? Skip the stressful holiday travel, and celebrate an eco-friendly Thanksgiving at home. If you MUST travel, be conscious about the environment. Drive as little as possible, and take your most fuel efficient vehicle. Carpool whenever possible. If you're flying, consider purchasing carbon credits to help offset your portion of the carbon dioxide emissions.
4) Don't OVER Cook. While Thanksgiving leftovers are great, most people end up THROWING OUT over half of their leftovers Spend a few extra minutes planning, and try to cook only what you and your family will be able to eat.
5) Here's a great way to give back on Thanksgiving. Consider donating to a local charity or food bank, or give a donation to The United Way. Thanksgiving is all about being thankful for everything we have - why not help by giving back to those who need it most?
Please comment on my BLOG if you have any questions, or ideas I can share with others!

Finally, a health plan that makes SENSE!!

I have just finished reading in detail the Obama/Biden health plan... and what do you know - it makes SENSE!! Finally, self employed individuals, such as Realtors, will have access to health coverage at a decent price... and here's the best part! Insurance companies will NO LONGER BE ALLOWED to exclude people for pre-existing conditions!!!

This is issue #1 to me this time around... It has gotten absolutely outrageous! I am a 26 year old, very healthy, active, non-smoking female, who can NOT get health insurance coverage because of a small spot of Melanoma that I had removed from my back over 3 years ago. It's considered an "uninsurable condition", and I've been declined numberous times.

My ONLY option in the state of Utah is a state insurance pool called HIPUTAH. They have to accept anyone, but they are still allowed to exclude coverage for a period of time on whatever the "pre-existing" condition is/was. And for me, a single, 26 year old, non smoker, coverage is a WHOPPING $400 PER MONTH, for CRAPPY coverage. I mean crappy, it has high deductibles (you can opt for lower ones, but a LOT more $$), it does not cover chiropractic, and physical therapy, and does not cover most preventative treatments.

It is absolutey outrageous that the United States is still the only civilized nation that does not provide health care for all of it's citizens. This plan is definitely a huge step in the right direction!

For more information, and to download a full pdf of the Obama/Biden health plan, visit http://www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/

Yes... "that one" definitely has my vote!

Tip to save energy! Use your AC LESS! Use Fans!

Here in Utah, Summer temperatures are still hot!! But the nights are starting to cool off, so instead of cranking your AC all ay, instead try opening windows at night, and using a fan to help bring in some of the cool night air! Then, in the morning, close your windows and the house will stay cool most of the day! You'll save energy, and $$!

As always, feel free to comment with questions or if you have anything to add!

How's the market?

How's the market in your state?

Here in Utah, as is true with Most places I think, the residential market has slowed down significantly in volume. Prices haven't plummeted here in Utah the way they have in some areas, but we are seeing more and more REO properties, and short sales. I think it's a great time for people to make a lateral move in our market, or for people who want to upgrade a bit. The next few months, between now and a year from now, It will be a great opportunity for buyers to get some real 'deals'.

As always, feel free to comment if you have anything to add, or with any questions!

Dispose of hazardous waste PROPERLY! Tip of the day to help save the earth!

This one is pretty obvious, but still you see some people who just dump out old oil, antifreeze, etc without thinking about it's impact on the earth.

Nearly every household has some kind of hazardous waste: old paint cans, used motor oil, unused pesticides and weed killers. If you dump these things down the drain, you'll end up polluting the water supply. Old Batteries, CFL Light bulbs, and other hazardous solids should be considered as well. They should be disposed of in a site specially designed for hazardous or toxic wastes. Some cities and counties have monthly or annual pickups. Other areas have special drop-off sites. Call your city or county government to find out the proper way to dispose of such trash in your area. Try organizing a hazardous-waste-collection day in your neighborhood or at your school, encouraging others to dispose of materials properly.

As always, feel free to comment with questions, or if you have anything to add

Elect Green! Tip of the day to help save the earth!

During this heated election season, this is a great one, and it can REALLY make a difference, especially at the local level! During election campaigns, ask candidates about their position on the environment. Try to ask specific questions that relate to situations in your community-- whether they support a mandatory recycling program, for example, or whether they plan to get tough on polluting companies.

A little can go a long ways here, if you have a little time, work as a volunteer on a "green" candidate's campaign. As a volunteer, you can canvas neighborhoods in your local community, make phone calls, and help with fund-raisers! This is also a great opportunity to meet some like-minded individuals to network with, perhaps you will even get some business!

As always, feel free to comment with any questions or if you have anything to add!

Avoid fast food! Tip of the day to help save the earth!

Today's tip is a very easy one! SKIP the fast food joint! Most fast food is overpackaged and most fast-food companies are responsible for producing mountains of trash. By avoiding fast food whenever possible, you'll help reduce this needless waste, AND help reduce your waist line!! Fast food is often made with unhealthy preservatives, from meat laced with hormones and drugs of all kinds! Ditching fast food for good will improve your overall health in addition to the other benefits I have listed!

As always, Please feel free to comment with questions, or if you have anything else to add!

Ditch Styrofoam! Tip of the day to help save the eath

This one is obvious to some people, and not so much to others! Did you know that a SINGLE polystyrene (styrofoam) cup conains ONE BILLION BILLION molecules of CFC's? That's 1,000,000,000,000,000,000. Once a CFC atom reaches the ozone layer, it can take over 100 years before it breaks up and becomes harmless!

Think about this when you're buying picnic supplies, and especially when you're at the restaurant! Most "to go" containers are made out of styrofoam! Consider taking your own re-usable plastic tupperware container instead of the one that will end up in the land fill, and likely even the atmosphere!

As always, please feel free to comment with questions, or if you have anything to add!

Adopt! Tip of the day to help save the earth - June 2nd!

An animal, a stream, a whale, a highway, a child! There's almost no limit to the number of environmental causes to which you, your friends, or your family can turn.

If you're looking for a new pet, adopt one from the shelter, and give a chance to a pet that might otherwise not get one.

If you're looking for a community service project, adopt-a-highway litter control is a good one!

Adopting a child is an amazing way to add to your family WITHOUT addint additional impact to our earth!

As always, please feel free to comment if you have any questions, or anything to add!

Spread the word! Tip of the day to help save the earth!

This is an easy one - Spread the word about conservation!

Talk to friends, family, co-workers, and people you randomly meet! Any way you can, get people to think about the earth. There are more than 6,000,000,000 people on this earth, and every one of them needs to take care of it! Always look for environment-safe products and encourage others to do the same. From recycling to buying less packaging to planting trees to saving water to conserving energy, keep the environment in mind!

As always, please feel free to comment with questions, or anything to add!

How GREEN is your getaway?

Is it better to drive or fly? Is it better to drive if there's one person, or only if there's a group of people driving? How well do you understand carbon emissions of the different forms of transportation?

CLICK HERE to take a quiz from the Sierra Club to find out! The results might surprise you...

As always, please feel free to comment with questions, or if you have anything to add!

Buy Less Stuff! Tip of the day to help save the earth

This one will help your bottom line as well as the earth!!

Buy less stuff. New products require the destruction of trees, the use of petroleum for plastics, shipping, packaging…our incessant chain of production and consumption is one of the great threats to the sustainability of our planet. Can you use that sweater another year? Maybe you could swap some furniture items with a friend. Perhaps you can you get something on Craig’s List rather than at Toys-R-Us?

As always - Feel free to comment with any questions, or anything to add!

Spring has finally sprung in Park City!

It's nearly May, and the weather is finally starting to get nice here in Park City! Today, it is sunny, and nearly 70 degrees outside, a BIG change from the snow we had last week!!

There is so much great stuff to do here in Park City in the summer! It is not nearly as crowded, Winter is our big tourist time, so there are locals specials all over!! there are TONS of 2 for 1 coupons in the local newspaper for dining at some awesome restaurants, and specials on just about everything else too!

Park City Resort has some very fun summer activities, including Horseback Riding, The Alpine Coaster and Alpine Slide, The Zip ride, and much more! Check out their website for more!

Deer Valley is home to the Mountain Town Stages summer concert series, which is SO much fun in the summer! On Wednesday afternoons, there are free concerts. You can bring chairs or a blanket, a cooler, and enjoy!

The Canyons hosts free concerts on Saturday afternoons too, and they have the Farmer's Market every Wednesday in their lower parking lot!!

The Park City area is also home to over 400 MILES of trails for hiking, biking, and more! So if you're considering a mountain trip this summer, Park City should be at the top of your list! For links to all of these and more, please visit http://jparkcity.com/activities.htm

Summer is also a great time to find some incredible bargains on real estate, and you can stay in a beautiful condo for not too much money per night! It's a very fun vacation for a family in the summer, and a great time to look at all that Park City has to offer!

As always, Please feel free to comment with questions or anything to add!

Home Sales down in Park City

The number of houses and condos sold dropped a whopping 45 percent in the first quarter of 2008, versus the first quarter of 2007! But despite the slump in volume, house prices held pretty steady, and the overall, median prices only dipped slightly. Sellers are becoming more and more flexible though, and there has never been a better time for locals to make a lateral move within our market.

There was an article published in this Saturday's Park Record which gives a pretty good picture of our market here right now - We're definitely weathering this lending and real estate storm much better than a lot of other areas.

http://www.jparkcity.com/parkrecordarticle1.htm

Tip of the day to help save the earth!

This tip is a fairly easy one, especially if you're one who takes several trips per year!

Fly one time less each year. Plane travel is one of the greatest sources of carbon emissions (and global warming). Maybe you could drive or take a train to your destination. Or consider planning a vacation closer to home. To learn more about the impact of travel: http://www.lowimpactliving.com/blog/2007/08/09/eco-travel-part-1-planes-trains-and-automobiles

As always, please feel free to comment with questions or anything to add!

What's going on in the Park City Market??

Get your facts strait!

Fact: Utah's economy is leading the nation, with healthy population growth, low unemployment and high job growth.

Fact: Park City continues to represent a great value when compared to other world-class ski resort towns - and Park City is one of the most accessible ski resort towns.

Fact: Park City sales volume in 2007 hit nearly $2 Billion - that's the second-best year in history and up 3% from 2006!

Fact: The Salt Lake International Airport makes for an easy commute
to Park City, whether traveling for business or the world-class skiing.

Fact: The Park City real estate market appreciated by 11% in 2007.

Fact: Local Park City REALTORS^® are very involved in their community.

Fact: Park City is home to 2 of SKI Magazine's Top 10 Resorts in North America for 2007, with Deer Valley® Resort as the #1 resort for third time.

Fact: The Park City area has 10 world-class ski resorts within an hour drive.

So, contrary to the media's belief, the sky really is NOT falling!

Tip of the day to help save the earth!

Here's a good tip to help make your office more earth-friendly!

Use recycled/recyclable office papers and other office products. You can get paper, envelopes, folders, pads, post-it notes– everything comes in a recycled version now. You can find many of these options at the Staples, OfficeMax and Office Depot, and you can also find them online at Green Earth Office Supply or at The Green Office.

As always, please feel free to comment with any questions, or if you have anything to add!

Tip of the day to help save the earth!

Today's tip is obvious to some, and not so much to others.... But it's a simple one that can REALLY help!

Give up bottled water– for good. Drink from a glass at home, take your own reusable jug or bottle to the gym, and encourage your office to get a water filter or a water service. Americans throw out over 40 million plastic bottles each year and over 80% end up in landfills. If everyone on your block stopped using bottled water you could probably cut out 5000 bottles each year. Look for drinking fountains!!!! One last note on this subject, keep a Brita Water filter pitcher in your fridge! Your water will always be ice cold and eco-friendly!

As always, feel free to comment with any other questions, or anything to add!

Tip of the day to help save the earth!

Eat meat LESS!!! Try to eat meat (at least) one fewer day per week. Raising animals for meat (particularly beef) places an incredible strain on our natural resources. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, one pound of red meat is responsible for 20 times the land use, five times the water use, and three times the greenhouse gas pollution compared with a portion of beans or pasta.

This is a pretty simple way to help the planet - and if you're eating regular grocery-store meat on a regular basis, it will probably help save your body from ingesting some extra hormones, herbicides, pesticides, and other carcinogens!

As always, feel free to comment with questions or if you have anything to add!

Tip of the day to help SAVE THE EARTH!

With summer coming up, and the temperature in most places starting to rise, this one is a great reminder!

OPEN WINDOWS instead of using the air conditioning. Consider getting a few fans to help circulate the air a bit. This is obviously not practical in ALL areas, some places are JUST too hot, but for temperate climates where the temperature inside is close to the temperature outside, then save some money, electricity, and the EARTH by just opening windows at night! If you do this, then your house will cool down on it's own without costing you a cent! If your windows are energy efficient, all you have to do is close the windows in the AM before the temperature goes up, and your house will remain cool throughout the day!

As always, feel free to contact me with any questions, or if you have anything to add!

Tip of the day to help SAVE THE EARTH!

It's a very easy one today! USE BOTH SIDES of paper if you have note paper, or taking notes in a class. Don't just throw the paper away, make sure you RECYCLE when you're done completely! Get useless paperwork from classes, junk mail, etc? Don't just chuck them immediately, use them as scrap paper first. Keep a few around for the next time you need to jot a number down. Having a few around is a great way to keep yourself from wasting new sheets each time!

As always, feel free to comment with any questions or if you have anything to add!

SLC Dealership GOING GREEN!

I am very pleased that a local Salt Lake City car dealership has decided to take a huge step in the right direction toward Going "GREEN"! Mark Miller Toyota in Downtown SLC is Utah's only LEED certified dealership! For starters, they are a Toyota dealership! Toyotas are overall the 'cleanset' car company as far as emissions and gas mileage. Mark Miller's new state-of-the-art facility was built using a lot of recycled materials, natural lighting systems, water conservation systems, and much more. Please visit their website at http://www.markmillertoyota.com to see what they've done!

As always, feel free to comment with questions or anything to add!

Greener Beers! Happy St Patrick's Day!

More and more beer breweries are starting to think about their carbon footprint and taking steps to reduce it! So do the earth a favor this St. Patrick's day, and Drink a few GREENER beers!

In 2003, the BROOKLYN BREWERY was the first to switch to using ALL wind energy. Brooklyn Brewery's green power stops 335,000 pounds of carbon dioxide, 1,500 pounds of sulfur dioxide and 500 pounds of nitrogen oxide from being emitted into the atmosphere annually.

The Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland Ohio uses a delivery truck that runs on 100% recycled restaurant vegetable oil!

At Sierra Nevada in California, they've installed four fuel cell power units to supply electric power and heat to the brewery. They also recycle 33,738 tons of materials annually --97.8 percent of their total waste!!

If I've missed any that you know of, please feel free to comment, and I hope you're having a GREEN St. Patrick's Day!

Epic Spring Skiing!

With the HUGE SNOWPACK we have here in the Utah Ski Resorts, this year promises to be one of the best “spring skiing” years we’ve had in a long time! There’s nothing better than waking up on a beautiful, sunny day and hitting the slopes. You can wear fewer layers, sit in the sun outside during lunch, and just enjoy the outdoors in general on days like this! Sure, the snow might be a little slushy at the bottom of the mountain, but all in all, it is pretty nice and soft. It gets you thinking about summer, and the warm days to come, but while still enjoying the great Utah snow.

This year, there might even be the opportunity to ski twice in a day! If the snow pack lasts long enough, then in late May/June, you can actually SNOW SKI in the morning, then hit the lake, and WATER SKI in the afternoon! Makes for a FULL, FUN day! In the winter of 2005/2006, Snowbird ski resort remained opened until JULY 4^th!

If you’re considering a spring skiing vacation, Please feel free to give me a call! I can help you out with a place to stay, discount lift tickets, and much more. Visit my website at http://www.JParkCity.com for details on all that Park City has to offer!

As always, feel free to comment here with questions or if you have anything to add!

For all the Dog Lovers out there...

Here's one for all of you dog lovers out there - This is SOO cute. I COMPLETELY disagree with anyone who says that dogs are not smart. Granted - Some are smarter than others, but this is amazing... and definitely worth checking out!

http://www.jparkcity.com/images/DogInPool.wmv

Hey, some people just don't like to swim, and apparently, some dogs are the same!

As always, Please feel free to comment with questions or if you have anything to add!

A New Concept from Porsche - A HYBRID!

Porsche will be releasing the first (non-hybrid) models of the PANAMERA in Late 2009, with a Hybrid version soon to follow. There have also been murmurings about a hybrid version of the Porsche Cayenne SUV as well, but the one that caught my attention is this new Panamera! It's a totally new model from Porsche. Perhaps this car will capture a whole NEW breed of hybrid drivers...

http://www.worldcarfans.com/6061027.003/spy-photos-porsche-panamera-latest

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2008/01/hybrid-drive-on.html

As always, please feel free to comment with any questions, or if you have anything to add!

True Story about True Love :)

These two guys reared this lion from a baby in England but the authorities would not allow them to keep it once it reached maturity so they were forced to give it up, they took it back to Africa and placed it in a wildlife sanctuary. A year later they went to see it and weretold it would not remember them.

There's no sound, but look at the picture first and then watch the video .

CLICK HERE to watch the video

I thought this was really cute, and I wanted to pass it on, so enjoy :)

It's a GREEN Ski World!

Our ski resorts here in Utah are doing their part to reduce the carbon footprint! Last year, Park City Mountain Resort commissioned a study prepared by researchers and scientists out of Boulder, CO, that looked at the impacts that climate change will have on the area, and it's surrounding community in 25, 50, and 75 years. There were presentations all over, called "save our snow" which highlighted the results. If nothing is done and business continues as usual, the snowline in Park City will start at 9500 feet in the year 2075!!! When you consider the highest elevation at PCMR, Jupiter Peak is 10,000 feet, it leaves only 500 feet of snow cover - not exactly the greatest snow on earth!! Utah ski areas aren't taking the news lightly - The following article is GREAT, and shows what all of the resorts here in Utah are doing.

I found this article in Sports Guide Magazine - CLICK HERE to download article in PDF, and view a larger version of it! Definitely worth a read!

As always, feel free to comment with questions, or if you have anything to add!

Utah marks fifth quarter in row as nation's home-price increase leader

This was in the Salt Lake Tribune today - It's a great article about Utah Real Estate! Forget the "doom and gloom" reports we keep hearing from the media - The sky really is NOT falling! This article is great, and shows that we truly do have a STEADY economy here in Utah, despite the fact that some other areas are feeling the downturn a bit.

Article Last Updated: 02/26/2008 01:33:16 PM MST

Posted: 11:12 AM- Utah still leads the country in home-price appreciation, a new report shows.
Prices rose 9.27 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, compared with the October-November-December period a year earlier, according to the report released today by the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight.
In the report, Wyoming was No. 2 with a 8.27 percent gain. North Dakota was third, with a 7.87 percent increase, followed by Montana at 6.90 percent and Alaska at 5.97 percent.
Among metropolitan areas, Wenatchee, Wash., was No. 1 with a 13.67 percent increase in home values over that one-year period. The Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux area in Louisiana was No. 2 with a 12.15 percent gain, followed by Grand Junction, Colo., up 12.03 percent.
Ogden-Clearfield was No. 4, with a 10.8 percent increase. Provo-Orem ranked sixth among all metro areas, with a 10.46 percent gain, followed by Salt Lake City, up 9.68 percent, and Logan, up 8.75 percent.
The only other Utah city on the list, St. George, however, logged a 1.91 percent decline in home values, placing it at No. 220. St. George's real estate market began a home-price run-up more than a year earlier than much of the Wasatch Front and began its downturn in 2006. The Wasatch Front's real estate market began to slow in the summer of last year.
Nationally, prices were up only 0.84 percent in the year that ended Dec. 31.
In the earlier part of this decade, Utah's home-price appreciation was the worst in the country, while Utah's neighbors and other states were racking up impressive home-price gains. Then, a few years ago, the state's real estate market took off, too.
But while Utah's market took off, its Western neighbors began a downturn that continues today. Nevada's home prices, for example, fell by 5.86 percent in the year that ended in December. Prices also are down 2.4 percent in Arizona. The lowest-ranked state in terms of appreciation is California, with a decline of 6.65 percent.
Utah's ranking marks its fifth consecutive quarter in the top spot, but rising inventories and declining sales of new and resale homes along the Wasatch Front that started several months ago point to more moderate price increases, most likely in the single digits, over the next year. Some even are predicting home values may decline at some point.

As always, Please comment with questions, or if you have anything to add!

Water Due Diligence!

Do you live in a house with a well? Are you thinking about buying one? Have you ever considered that the water might not be good enough quality to drink? That it might be contaminated? That the water right with the well might not be valid?

If you are currently considering buying a house with a well, or if you're concerned at all about your water quality, It's definitely worth a look to visit this website: http://www.cascadewaterresources.com/news.htm. John files of Cascade Water Resources can help you verify that the well is in good condition, the water is safe to drink and shower, and the water right is in place to give you legal rights to use the water from the well!

As always, Please feel free to comment with any questions or if you have anything to add!

IGNORE the headlines! Don't Wait to buy Real Estate!

I came across a great article in TIME magazine. CLICK HERE to view this article. There's also a link here to download a PDF of this great article!

This article really highlights a lot of great reasons that you should buy NOW instead of waiting. It highlights how the "wait and see" mentality can really cost you! It's definitely a factual read worth your time, so please check it out!

As always, feel free to comment with questions!

Water Works

Water is a BIG DEAL here in Utah! Some facts about the water situation here are below - and if you aren't already taking measures to CONSERVE water, please follow my BLOG for the next few days for some great water conservation suggestions!

1. Utah is the 13th Driest State in the US

2. Utah is ranked #2 in use of water per capita

3. 67% of water from public water systems is used for outside watering.

4. By the year 2012 an average precipitation year will not be enough water without going after other supplies such as Bear River and Lake Powell.

5. By the year 2050 ALL water in the state including Lake Powell and Bear River will not be enough if the population increases as expected.

6. Poaching of water from other States has already started, the Southern Nevada Water Authority (Las Vegas) is currently drilling wells on the Utah / Nevada border south of Wendover and plans to pipe the water to Vegas. Interestingly Utah has plans to poach surface water that would end up in Southern states or Mexico as well. http://www.hcn.org/servlets/hcn.Article?article_id=15778

Links to useful Utah Water Facts.

http://www.water.utah.gov/waterplan/uwrpff/Chp-04b.htm#F11

http://www.water.utah.gov/waterplan/uwrpff/Chp-03b.htm

http://www.water.utah.gov/waterplan/uwrpff/Chp-02a.htm#F2

Thanks to John Files of Cascade Water Resources for his contribution to this post. John specializes in water rights, and water quality. If you are buying a home with a well, John can help you insure that the water quality is good, and that the water right is valid.

As always, please feel free to comment with questions!

Foods to Buy Organic Whenever Possible!

A Friend sent me this article, and I thought it was interesting. We all know that it's healthier to eat organic foods... and that there's a LOT of benefit to doing so, including but not limited to the use of pesticides on non-organics. But let's face it - Buying organic IS more expensive - and sometimes it's A LOT more expensive. But some foods are worse than others, so if you're on a budget, the top foods to make sure you buy organic whenever possible are: Meat, Milk, Coffee, Peaches, Apples, Sweet Bell Peppers, Celery, Strawberries, Lettuces, Grapes, Potatoes, and Tomatoes.

The MSN article that points all this out, and explains the reasons that these 12 culprits are the worst, can be found HERE. Take a look, it's worth it!

As always, feel free to comment with any additional info, or if you have anything to add!

The Sky REALLY is NOT FALLING!

The media is screaming "recession, recession" and people are FREAKING out. Everyone seems to be under the impression that the market is "TANKING".

Yes, it's true that in some previously over-inflated markets, prices are down, and the market is coming back to reasonable. But here in Utah, prices are holding steady, and in fact, we are slightly UP on the year-to-year comparison! Yes, there is a lot for sale, and yes, the supposed "deals" are getting better, but people are NOT losing money now!

For Park City specifically, I just had a luncheon with RMRA statistics (Rocky Mountain Resort Alliance) and it seems that resort markets are much more steady through the "downs" in the market. Park City is still a GREAT value for a resort town! There is some real opportunity here, ESPECIALLY with the historic low interest rates! Park City, all in all, is still a killer deal!

Greener Cleaners - A few miscellaneous ideas

Here are a few ideas you can use! You know those spots you get on your cement driveway when a car leaks all over it? The Stain and Spot remover below works GREAT! The dry cement absorbs the grease or oil spot, and without the use of harsh chemicals, that would otherwise end up in the water table!

Stain and Spot Removers:
1) Concrete Grease Spot Remover: To remove grease from concrete flooring sprinkle dry cement over grease. Allow it to absorb the grease, then sweep up.
2) Ink Stains: Use a non-aerosol hair spray to remove ink stains.

Tar Remover:
Food grade linseed oil. Wet rag with linseed oil and rub hard

Vinyl Cleaner:
1 tsp. to 1/4 cup washing soda, and 1 cup boiling water. Dissolve the washing soda in the boiling water. Apply with sponge, wipe off with a damp cloth.

Wallpaper Cleaner:
1) Roll up a piece of white bread and use it to "erase" marks on wallpaper

As always, Please feel free to comment!

Greener Cleaners - Shoe Care

Here are 7 great ideas for caring for, polishing, and deodorizing your shoes, WITHOUT the use of harsh chemicals!

1) Cold Pressed Nut Oil, Olive Oil, Walnut Oil, or Beeswax: Apply oil/wax to leather then buff with a chamois cloth to a shine.
2) Lemon Juice. Good for black or tan leather shoes. Follow by buffing with a soft cloth.
3) Vinegar; Remove water stains on leather by rubbing with a cloth dipped in a vinegar and water solution.
4) Petroleum Jelly. A dab of petroleum jelly rubbed into patent leather gives a glistening shine and prevents cracking in the winter.
5) Vinegar. To shine patent leather, moisten a soft cloth with white vinegar and wipe clean all patent leather articles. The color of the leather may be slightly changed.
6) Art-Gum Eraser and Sandpaper or Emery Board.
Dirt marks on suede can be rubbed out with an art-gum eraser. Then buff very lightly an emery board.
7) Add a shine by polishing it with the inside of a banana peel, then buff.

As always, feel free to comment if you have questions or anything to add!G

Greener Cleaners - A few miscellaneous ideas

Here are a few miscellaneous ideas! Lemon juice, the first idea, when used as a grease cutter works great! It's acidic enough to get the job done!

And paint brush cleaner - yet another great use of vinegar! This stuff is good for just about everything!

Grease Cutters:
1) Use lemon juice, vinegar, or sprinkle with borax and scrub with scrub brush.
2) 1/2 tsp. baking soda, 1/2 tsp. vegetable oil-based liquid soap, 3 tbsp. vinegar, and 2 cups hot water. Mix in spray bottle, spray and scrub, wipe clean.

Paint Brushes:
Soften hard paintbrushes in hot vinegar for a few minutes. Then wash paintbrush in soap and warm water and let dry.

Rust Remover:
1) To remove rust from tin-ware, rub with a peeled potato dipped in a mild abrasive such as baking soda or salt.
2) Aluminum Foil. Briskly scrub rust spots on car bumpers with a piece of crumpled aluminum foil, shiny side up.

As always, please comment if you have anything to add, or any questions!

Waste Not.

Waste not.

~Take Tupperware Containers for leftovers to dinner with you, to avoid the use of a Styrofoam container! http://parkcityut.typepad.com/parkcityut/2008/02/restaurant-to-g.html

Waste not.

~ Reduce, Reuse, RECYCLE! For some it’s a given, but others are still just to lazy to take the time to do it! Just do it! Set up a system, separate as you discard, and it really is not that time consuming, and makes a HUGE difference.

Waste not.

~Switch all your light bulbs to CFL’s. (Make sure to properly RECYCLE these when you’re done with them too, as they contain mercury!) http://parkcityut.typepad.com/parkcityut/2007/10/a-note-about--1.html

Waste not.

~Use Re-Usable Grocery bags at the store! Some Ideas: Hemp, organic cotton, etc, or the bag you got at your last few conventions!

Waste not.

~Turn DOWN your heat (winter) or Air Conditioning (summer) when you leave, just a few degrees makes a big difference, and will also save you $$!

Waste not.

~Waste less water! Consider xerascaping your lawn, with water-efficient buffalo grass. WINTERIZE your lawn before winter to save. http://parkcityut.typepad.com/parkcityut/2007/10/conserve-water-.html

Waste not.

~Try to buy more local/organic/natural foods! Your local farmer’s market is a GREAT source, and will keep your $$ in your local community! You will also know you’re consuming ONLY natural foods, and not pesticides, growth hormones, and other stuff that’s just BAD for you!

Waste not.

~Join a program to purchase wind power. Our local company, Rocky Mountain Power (owned by Pacificorp) has a program called “Blue Sky”. You can purchase wind power in 100KWH increments. Most companies offer a program similar to this. Kudos to Rocky Mountain Power for this outstanding program. http://www.rockymtnpower.net/Article/Article65531.html

Waste not.

~Use NATURAL and safe cleaners for your home! I have posted many blogs about this topic, from household cleaners, to automotive cleaners you can make out of all natural ingredients you usually already have in your house! This way, you don’t breathe in harsh chemicals, and you’re helping the environment at the same time! http://parkcityut.typepad.com/parkcityut/2008/01/eco-friendly-cl.html

Waste not.

~Downsize your vehicle this year! Consider buying a hybrid! Try to use PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION when possible, carpool, and if it’s close, WALK!

Waste not. These are just a few of many things you can do to lower your impact on the environment, and reduce your carbon footprint!

Restaurant "To GO" Boxes

When most people go out to dinner, they order their drinks, and an appetizer. Then they wait, and eventually, order their main courses. Out come the soups and/or salads before the main meal… then (even though they’re already mostly full!) out come the entrees! Maybe they order desert, and/or after dinner drinks. When they are done, they usually have some leftovers. The portions that restaurants typically serve are HUGE, and (I believe) are a large contributor to this country’s problem with obesity!

So here they are, with half their entrée still sitting on their plate, and they just can’t finish it. They don’t want to just waste it, so they ask for a “to go” container, which is usually made out of Styrofoam, plastic, or some other material (usually not recycled) that they will end up throwing in the trash to rot in the landfills!

Here are just a couple ideas to lower your impact when you eat out: 1) Bring a washable Tupperware container to dinner WITH you if you plan to take leftovers home with you! This way you can enjoy them as tomorrow’s lunch, and not add anything extra to our landfills! 2) consider sharing an entrée, or ask for a half-portion. Many restaurants will accommodate, and you won’t feel so stuffed later! Your waistline will thank you later too!

As always, Please feel free to comment if you have questions, or anything to add!

Greener Cleaners - Cars!

Here's a few ideas to use when washing and waxing your vehicles! Keep in mind, the Windshield Wiper fluid may possibly freeze in colder climates - This solution works GREAT when you're scrubbing to get stuff OFF of the windshield, but I'm a little to wary of it freezing to actually mix it up and put it IN the washer fluid compartment.

Windshield Wiper Frost Free Fluid
Mix 3 parts vinegar to 1 part water and coat the car windows with this
solution. This vinegar and water combination will keep windshields ice and frost-free.

Car Soap
1/4 cup vegetable oil based liquid soap, and hot water. Mix in pail. Wash your car on the lawn instead of your driveway to reduce runoff to the street or storm sewer. Remember to conserve as much water as possible.

Car Wax (This one's a LOT of work... but it does look great when you're done)
1 cup linseed oil, 4 tbsp. caranuba wax (available at automotive stores), 2 tbsp. beeswax, and 1/2 cup vinegar. Put ingredients in top half of a double boiler or saucepan. Heat slowly until wax has melted. Stir, and pour into a heat resistant container. After wax has solidified, rub it on the car with a lint-free cloth. Saturate a corner of a cotton rag with vinegar and polish the wax to a deep shine.

As always, please feel free to comment with questions or if you have something to add!

Greener Cleaners - Metals!

Here's a few ideas you can use for your metal! There's a few ideas for Silver, which you can use for your jewelry as well as for silverware, goblets, etc!

Silver:
1) Use toothpaste instead of toxic silver cleaner to clean and brighten even your best silver. Use an old soft bristled toothbrush and warm water.
2) Rub with a paste of baking soda and water.
3) To magnetize tarnish away, soak silver in salted water in an aluminum container; then wipe clean.
4) Soak in boiling water, baking soda, salt, and a piece of aluminum foil.
5) When a quick dip for silverware is needed, prepare a solution of baking soda in tepid-cool water (l level teaspoon to a quart) and
brush with a soft toothbrush.
Brass:
1) Mix equal parts salt and flour with a little vinegar, then rub.
Chrome:
1) Rub with undiluted vinegar.
Copper:
1) Rub with lemon juice and salt, or hot vinegar and salt.
Stainless Steel:
1) Rub with a paste of baking soda and water.

As always, Please feel free to comment with questions or if you have anything to add!

Greener Cleaners - Floor Cleaners!

Here are a couple of ideas you can use to clean your floors, WITHOUT the use of toxic chemicals!

1) A pencil eraser removes heel marks from a floor.
2) For greasy, no-wax floors:

1 cup vinegar
1/4 cup baking soda
1 tablespoon vegetable oil-based liquid soap
2 gallons hot water
Combine all ingredients, stirring well to dissolve the baking soda. Mop as usual.

As always, feel free to comment with questions, or if you have anything to add!

Greener Cleaners - Furniture!

Here are some ideas you can use to keep your nice wood pieces clean, and looking their best! These work great.... despite how weird you may think mayonnaise sounds as a furniture polish!

Furniture Polish and Scratch Covers:

1) This polish should to be made fresh each time you use it.

1 lemon
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 teaspoon water

Extract the juice from the lemon. Mix with oil and water.
Apply a thin coat on your wood surface and let sit for five minutes. Use a soft cloth to buff to a deep shine.

2) Use 3 parts light mineral oil and 1 part olive oil and a drop of lemon juice.
3) Use a little olive or lemon oil and some beeswax.
4) Hide wood scratches by rubbing with the meat of a walnut.
5) Use a soft cloth and wipe with a bit of mayonnaise.
6) Rub furniture with a cloth dipped in cool tea.
7) Mix 2 parts olive oil with 1 part lemon juice. Apply mixture to furniture with a soft cloth and wipe it dry.
8) 1/8 cup linseed oil, 1/8 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup lemon juice. Mix ingredients, using soft cloth, rub into wood.
9) To remove water stains on wood furniture, dab white toothpaste onto stain. Allow the paste to dry and then gently buff off with a soft cloth.

As always, Please feel free to comment with any questions, or if you have anything to add!

Greener Cleaners - Carpet and Upholstery!

Here are some ideas you can use to clean your carpets and cloth upholstery (including couches, vehicles, etc) without the use of harsh chemicals!

Carpets/Upholstery:

1) A great non-toxic carpet stain remover is club soda. Soak spot immediately with soda and blot until the stain is gone.
2) Pet Urine on Carpets: Dab area with toweling to absorb as much as possible, wash spot with liquid dish detergent, and rinse with 1/2 cup vinegar diluted in 1 qt warm water. Lay towels or paper towels over the spot and weight down to absorb excess moisture. Let stand 4 to 6 hours, then remove toweling, brush up nap and allow to dry completely. Use an electric fan to speed drying.
3) Red wine stains can be removed from carpet by rubbing baking soda in and vacuuming.
4) Sprinkle cornstarch onto carpet, vacuum.
5) To remove grease spots from carpets, first sop up the liquid with a sponge, then rub a liberal amount of baking soda into the spot. Let it absorb overnight. Next day, remove the excess and vacuum the area.
6) To remove grease spots from carpets, first absorb excess with a sponge, then rub a liberal amount of corn starch into the spot. Let sit overnight, then vacuum.
7) Dry cornstarch sprinkled on rug and vacuumed.

As always, Please feel free to comment with any questions, or if you have anything to add!

Park City Utah - The Storms Keep Rolling In!!

Are you considering taking a ski vacation this year? If so, put Park City, Utah at the top of your list! We have had an AMAZING season so far, and the storms just keep rolling in! Almost all of the resorts are reporting 10" or more overnight, and some, including Alta, Snowbasin, Brighton, Snowbird, The Canyons, and Solitude are reporting as much as 16-17"!! Today is going to be a great powder day, and I'm headed up the canyon!

If you are going to visit Park City this season, Please contact me and let me know when! I can help you find a place to stay (visit my sitefor Park City Vacation Rental Condos!), Get you discounted lift tickets to some of our resorts, and recommend other THINGS TO DO and places to DINE. Park City also has a great NIGHTLIFE!

I look forward to hearing from potential park city vacationers, I would love to show you all this great town has to offer!

Greener Cleaner - Misc. Kitchen!

This will finish off the cleaning tips for kitchen! Here are a few other miscellaneous things in the kitchen, such as your garbage disposal! I will post later about more household cleaners, including ones for your carpet, upholstery, floors, furniture, and even your cars! Check back for more tips!

Drain Opener and Garbage Disposal Cleaner:
For slow drains, use this drain cleaner once a week to keep drains fresh and clog-free.
1/2 to 1 cup baking soda
1 cup white vinegar
1 gallon boiling water
1/2 a used lemon
Pour baking soda down drain/disposal, followed by vinegar. Allow the mixture to foam for several minutes before flushing the drain with boiling water.

Garbage Disposal:
To eliminate garbage disposal odors and clean and sharpen blades, grind ice and used lemon and/or orange rinds until pulverized.

Kitchen Safety: Fire
1) Emergency fire extinguisher: if a greasy pan catches on fire, turn the heat off and try to cover the pan. Sprinkle powdered baking soda over the fire. (Fill a large coffee can with baking soda and keep it near the stove.
2) An oven fire is easily extinguished by closing the door after shutting off the heat.)

As always, Please feel free to comment with questions or with anything to add!

Greener Cleaner - DISHES

Doing the dishes can be a tedious job! Here are some ideas to make it more eco-friendly, and save your hands and lungs from Harsh Chemicals!

Pots and Pans:
1) Burned, and crusted on foods; Soak or boil a solution of 2 tbs. baking soda per qt of water in each pan. Let stand until particles are loosened, then wash as usual. Use a mild or moderate abrasive if necessary.
2) To clean a greasy pan easily, add 1 or 2 teaspoons of baking soda to the water in which it is soaking.

Copper pan cleaner:
Sprinkle surface of pans with coarse salt. Rub salt into stains with the cut half of a fresh lemon.

No-Stick Cookware:
To remove stains from non-stick surfaces, pour a solution of 1 cup water, 2 tbs. baking soda into a pan, simmer 5 to 10 minutes. Do not allow mixture to boil or to boil over the side of the pan. Wash in hot soapy water, rinse and dry. Apply a light coating of cooking oil.

Baking Dishes - Enamel, Ceramic or Glass:
Soak in hot soapy water, then scour with salt or baking soda and rinse thoroughly.

Drinking Glasses:
1) Occasionally soak drinking glasses in a solution of vinegar and water to really get them clean. Makes them sparkle!
2) When a quick dip for crystal glassware is needed, prepare a solution of baking soda in tepid-cool water (l level teaspoon to a quart) and brush with a soft toothbrush. Very good for glass coffee makers and thermos jugs too.

Spot-free Dishwasher Rinse:
Add 1 cup of white vinegar to the rinse compartment of your automatic dishwasher. Wash dishes as usual.

Coffee/Tea Stains:
To remove coffee stains from cups or counters, rub with baking soda paste.

As Always, please comment with questions or if you have anything to add!

Greener Cleaners - Fragrant Kitchen Rinse!

Here is a great idea for Fragrant Kitchen/Counter top Rinse!

Use any of the following essential oils, alone or in a combination pleasing to you. Add 4 drops of oil to each pint of water. Pour into a spray bottle, store away cool dark place. Use as a final rinse after cleaning kitchen surfaces. (Using eco-friendly cleaners of course!) Eucalyptus, Pine, Lavender, Cypress, Lemon, Lemongrass, Lime, Thyme, Grapefruit, Orange, Wintergreen, Rosemary, Sage, and any others you like!

As always, Please feel free to comment with any questions or additional ideas!

Greener Cleaners - Refrigerator

To continue on the theme of kitchen cleaners, Here are some ideas for your refrigerator! These are pretty self-explanatory, and most people do them anyway… here they are anyway!

1) To clean exterior and interior walls, dissolve 2 tbs. baking soda in 1 qt warm water and wipe all surfaces. For stubborn spots, rub with baking soda paste. Be sure to rinse with a clean, wet cloth. (This works well on other enamel-finished appliances as well.)
2) To clean interior fixtures, such as vegetable bins and shelves, wash in hot soapy water, rinse well and dry.
3) To keep away foul odors, leave a small box of baking soda opened in your refrigerator. Baking soda absorbs odors.

As always, Please feel free to comment with questions, or if you have anything to add