Your Weekly Green ~ A few more frugal ways to stay warm!

Artic blast? Polar vortex? Freezing cold, plain and simple. We've shared tips on how to keep warm before but on a day like this it's worth sharing a few more tips on how to keep you, your family and your pets toasty without breaking the bank.


Believe it or not, cooking up a storm on a chilly day is a great way to warm your home. Cooking with the oven serves two purposes - feeding your family and staying warm at the same time.


Leave your bathroom door open after you shower, let all of that steamy air out to warm the other areas of your home. Or if you plan on staying in one area, close doors to the other rooms, that will keep the heat concentrated in that area.


Prepare warm drinks, maybe even a hot toddy - they really will  make you feel warm.


Move around - stay active whether you run around with the kids, take brisk walks or hit the gym - exercising is a great way to keep warm and healthy!

Stay safe! 

Eat, Drink and Be Merry at this year's Holiday Open House...

Come by the studio on December 18th between 5:00PM and 8:00PM to Deck the Halls for our annual  Holiday Open House - pictures, presents, music, food and a chance to win a family portrait and more await!

Your Weekly Green ~ Keeping the Chill Out...

There are some really easy ways to keep warm, save on heating your home and be 'green' now that chilly days and nights are here... Start out simple and use a draft snake, which you can purchase or easily make yourself- Just place a rolled bath towel under a drafty door, keep cold air from creeping in and warm air from creeping out.

You can even run your ceiling fan in reverse (most models have this feature) which will help the warmer air that pools near the ceiling circulate back down into the living space. These tips alone can help reduce your heating costs 10%-15%!

Wait, it gets even easier - put on a sweater! Each degree on the thermostat literally costs you money, so get cozy, safe money and our valuable energy resources this winter!

EAT.SLEEP.RECYLE ~ Your Weekly Green

Xeriscaping, or 'gardening in ways that reduce or eliminate the need for supplemental water from irrigation' is one of the latest trends in eco-friendly gardening and we love it! In a nutshell, selecting plants like thyme that will thrive with little water - here's a link to some plants that work well.

Xeriscaping can still produce an amazing and beautiful garden and landscape but you'll feel even better about it because it will reduce the water you need to use by at least 60 percent. Any effort no matter how small can make a difference!