The basic principle of modular home construction is that sections of a home are built in a controlled factory environment, transported to a project site upon completion, and then connected and placed onto a foundation.

Modular building generally reduces construction and design costs significantly when compared to a similar custom-built home. Recently, a much broader range of modular home options has emerged using “green” building principles.

Why Green?

The primary goal of building a green home is to reduce its environmental impact while also creating a healthy environment for occupants. Architects and builders do this by emphasizing energy efficiency, reducing fresh water use, selecting materials that are healthy and sustainable, and choosing sites that minimize environmental disturbance.

Modular design & construction offers a number of unique opportunities to accomplish these goals. First, the control available in a factory environment allows the designer / builder to be very precise with material planning and use – there is very little waste left over when compared to standard construction techniques. Second, hard-to-find green materials can be bought in bulk and used over many projects, minimizing delays and ensuring that no “short cuts” are taken due to unavailable materials. Third, this bulk purchasing and the delivery of a small number of completed modules to the home site dramatically reduce pollution from transportation to and from the site. And finally, the disturbance of the home construction site can be minimized because there is no need to stage and store large amounts of material onsite for extended periods. A good contractor might clear only the house footprint itself and enough room to deliver the completed modules.

In addition to being green, these elements also help to keep costs down and shorten the overall project timeline. Materials can be bought in bulk at attractive prices. Skilled craftsmen can be fully employed and can work on modules for many modular homes at a time. And, the indoor construction process eliminates delays and damage due to weather conditions.

If you are interested in learning more information about the design and build of a green modular home, give us a call. We work with local, experienced, certified green builders who can pull it all together to provide you with a dream green home on a reasonable budget.

• Protect personal papers and important documents by putting some gel in a baggie wherever these are stored.
• Keep with photos to spare them from humidity. Tuck a small envelope in the back of frames to protect even the ones hanging on your walls.
• Store in camera bags and with film. After snapping photos in cold or wet conditions, silica gel will absorb moisture to keep your lens from fogging or streaking.
• Leave a couple packs in your tool box to prevent rusting.
• Use the material to dry flowers.
• Place with seeds in storage to thwart molding.
• Stash some in window sills to banish condensation.
• Dry out electronic items such as cell phones and iPods. Remember after the device has gotten wet, do not turn it back on! Pull out the battery and memory card and put the device in a container filled with several packs. Leave it in there at least overnight.
• Slow silver tarnishing by using the gel in jewelry boxes and with your silverware.
• Tired of buying big bags of pet food only to have it get soggy? Store your kibble in a bin and tape some silica packs to the bottom of the lid.
• Cut open the packs and saturate the beads with essential oils to create potpourri.
• Use in luggage while traveling.
• Tuck some in your pockets. Hide them in your closet in leather goods such as coats and shoes, and even handbags, to help them survive life in storage.
• Gather your razor blades and keep in a container with several silica packs to stave off oxidation.
• Video tape collections will last much longer with these to help keep them dry.
• Litter is now made with silica. With its fantastic absorption qualities, this litter requires fewer changes and sends less mess to the landfill.
• Squirrel some away in your car, especially on your dashboard. This will help maintain a clear windshield and leave it less foggy during times of high humidity.

After learning of all these great uses for these pesky packets, I’ll never throw another one in the trash again. I should also note that there is no known way to recycle them.

We believe if it’s on the shelf, it must be safe, right? Well, the toxic chemicals in store brand cleaning products are anything BUT safe. They include things like formaldehyde, sodium hydroxide, butyl cellosolve, ammonia and more. These chemicals don’t do ANY cleaning, but can affect our lungs, our skin, our endocrine system, our hormones and much more. These chemicals can give us headaches, runny noses and itchy eyes. Contrary to popular marketing, clean DOES NOT HAVE A SMELL!

An interesting  study was done several years ago.  Children were asked to neatly write their names.  Then, the desks they were sitting at were cleaned with a disinfectant wipe, the type normally purchased at the grocery store.  The children were then asked to rewrite their names.  What do you think happened?  Most of the writing was illegible!  Some children couldn’t stay focused enough to complete the task.  Some had behavioral outbursts.

The children were taken to another room with clean air and no chemical, disinfectant residues.  After about 15-20 minutes, they were again asked to write their names.  The handwriting was beautiful and behavior was normal.  (www.drrapp.com)

Locally, a schoolbus driver started cleaning the windows of her bus with a non-toxic, concentrated green cleaner.  There were no toxic odors or residues in the bus.  She noticed better behavior of the children on the bus.  She suggested that a teacher at the school try the same cleaner to clean desks in the classroom.  After about 2 weeks, the bus driver asked the teacher if she noticed anything different in her classroom.  The teacher thought about it a moment, then replied, “I haven’t had a behavior problem in the last 2 weeks!”

It makes sense to switch to safer cleaners, especially if you or someone that you live with suffers from allergies and asthma. Green, non toxic products often lower the allergic response in your loved ones. You may find their allergy symptoms disappear and that asthma attacks lessen greatly.

There are several brands on the market today that come from companies dedicated to using safe, natural ingredients.  Try any of these brands and see what you think – Ecover, Seventh Generation, Method, Shaklee GetClean.  Look for brands that are highly concentrated.  These will save you the most money and are more versatile.  Use different amounts mixed in water to replace window cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, degreaser.  Ready to use brands charge a LOT extra for that water they added in at the factory. 

You’ll find that most green cleaners are either non scented, or very lightly scented.  The  ‘fragrances’ found in store brands are often the cause of headaches and allergic reactions.  After a couple of weeks of using truly non-toxic cleaners, your nose will be delighted to breathe real, naturally scented air!

But the real treat is in seeing our families feel better without all the chemicals in their environment.  Put some green cleaners in your home and enjoy the difference.

Follow Linda McDermott on Facebook at Healthstartusa or twitter @healthstartusa1.

Contact info:  http://healthstart.myshaklee.com/     336-724-5113    healthstart@triad.rr.com

Almost three years ago, my family and I decided to start living a minimalist life. Since then, we have tried to remove all of the possessions from our home that are not essential. In doing so, we have found new opportunity to spend our time, energy, and finances on the things that are most important to us.

Also, we became far more observant about how our things rob us of our precious freedom. We have learned that just like most families, no matter how hard we try to stop it, stuff inevitably continues to enter our home… nearly every single day. And so we work hard to remove any clutter that begins to accumulate in our home. Along the way, we have picked up (and try to practice) some helpful clutter busting routines.

Here are 15 Clutter Busting Routines that we have found particularly helpful in our home:

1. Place junk mail immediately into a recycling bin. Take note of the natural flow of mail into your home. Placing a recycling container prior to your “mail drop-off zone” can catch most of that junk mail before it even reaches your counter. And as an added bonus, you’ll begin to look through less of it too (think advertisements).

2. Store kitchen appliances out of sight. Toasters, can openers, coffee makers… they all take up space. And while it may not seem like much space by looking at them, the first time you prepare dinner on a counter without them present, you’ll quickly notice the difference. If you think it’s going to be a hassle putting them away every morning, don’t. It takes less than 6 seconds to put each appliance away… once you’ve found a home for it that is.

3. Remove 10 articles of clothing from your closet today. Go ahead. If you are typical, it’ll take you roughly 5 minutes to grab 10 articles of clothing that you no longer wear and throw them in a box. Your remaining clothes will fit better in your closet. Your closet will be able to breathe again. And if you write “Goodwill” on the box when you are done, you’ll feel better about yourself as soon as you drop it off. Most likely, you’ll find yourself inspired to do it again.

4. Fold clean clothes / Remove dirty clothes immediately. The way I handle clothes these days is one of the biggest clutter changes I have made in my life. Unfortunately, I used to be a “throw-them-on-the-floor” guy. But now I handle each one right when I take it off. Dirty clothes down the clothes chute. Clean clothes back to the hanger or drawer. That’s it. It’s really that simple. How do the dirty ones magically appear clean and folded in my closet you ask… I’m not sure. You’ll need to ask my wife.

5. Kids’ bedroom toys live in the closet. Not on the floor. Not on the dresser. But in the closet. And when the closet gets too full of toys, it’s time to make some room. Hint, it’s usually safe to remove the toys at the bottom of the pile.

6. Kids pick up their toys each evening. This has countless benefits: 1) It teaches responsibility. 2) It helps kids realize that more isn’t always better. 3) The home is clean for mom and dad when the kids are in bed. 4) It’s a clear indication that the day has come to an end. Gosh, you’d think with all these benefits it would be easier for us to get the kids to do it…

7. Fill your containers for the garbage man. Use every trash pick-up day as an excuse to fill your recycling containers and/or garbage cans. Grab a box of old junk from the attic… old toys from the toy room… old food from the pantry… old paperwork from the office. If once a week is too often, do this exercise every other week. You’ll get the hang of it. And may even begin to enjoy trash morning… okay, I won’t go that far.

8. Halve decorations. No seriously, I mean it. Grab a box and walk through your living room. Remove decorations from shelves, tables, and walls that aren’t absolutely beautiful or meaningful. You may like it better than you think. If not, you can always put them back. But I’d bet my wife’s old high school yearbooks that you won’t return all of them.

9. Wash dishes right away. Hand washing some dishes takes less time than putting them in the dishwasher. This applies to cups, breakfast bowls, dinner plates, and silverware. If hand washed right after eating, it takes hardly any time at all. If however, hand washing is just not an option for you, be sure to put used dishes in the dishwasher right away. Nobody likes walking into a kitchen with dishes piled up in the sink or on the counter… and it’s even less fun eating in there.

10. Unmix and match cups, bowls, plates, and silverware. Uniformity makes for better stacking, storing, and accessing. If there is a souvenir cup or mug that is so important to you that you can’t live without it, that’s perfectly fine. Just don’t keep 5 of them. Mom, any chance you are reading this?

11. Keep your desk clear and clean. Drawers can adequately house most of the things needed to keep your desk functional. And a simple filing system should keep it clear of paper clutter. The next person who sits down to use the desk will thank you.

12. Store your media out of sight. Make a home for dvd’s, cd’s, video games, and remote controls. They don’t need to be in eyesight, you use them less than you think. And if you remove them from your eyesight… maybe you’ll use them even less.

13. Always leave room in your coat closet. There are two reasons why coats, shoes, and outerwear keep ending up scattered throughout your home rather than in your closet. The first reason is because your coat closet is so full, it’s a hassle to put things away and retrieve them quickly. Leave room on the floor, on the hangers, and on the shelves for used items to be quickly put away and retrieved. The second reason is because you have kids… but you’re on your own with that one.

14. Keep flat surfaces clear. Kitchen counters, bathroom counters, bedroom dressers, tabletops… After you clear them the first time, keeping them clean takes daily effort. Receipts, coins, and paper clutter just keep coming and coming… it’s just easier the second time around.

15. Finish a magazine or newspaper. Process or recycle immediately. If you’ve finished the paper product, process it and rid yourself of its clutter immediately. Good recipe in there? Put it in your recipe box and recycle the rest. Good article that your husband will enjoy? Clip it and recycle.  Article that your friend will enjoy? Clip it, mail it, and recycle (or better yet, search for it online and send it that way). Coupon too good to pass up? Cut it out and recycle. Stacks of magazines and newspapers serve little purpose in life but to clutter a room.

Growing up in small towns in South Dakota and North Dakota, I can vividly remember students in my school observing the season of Lent. But to me, it only meant that our school lunch menu changed for a month and McDonald’s advertised their Filet-o-Fish sandwich for $1.00.

As I grew older, I began to understand more and more the spiritual significance and religious tradition behind the season. And even though I have always been open to the idea of a personal God who loves me and cheers for me, Lent was never a season that I observed.

But my mind was changed when I was invited by a mentor to observe the season by fasting from one controlling influence in my life for forty days. He promised me life-changing personal benefits to the exercise. I trusted him. And so I chose fast food. I was in a season of life (and a mindset) that lent itself to eating out often and I knew that cutting out fast food was going to require great intentionality and self-restraint. It turned out to be an unforgettable forty day season and a valuable exercise in self-discipline… that was almost 12 years ago and I can still vividly remember eating the brown-bag meals in my car that I had prepared each morning.

Since then, I have observed Lent a number of times. Each time, I choose one controlling influence in my life to fast from for forty days. And whether that be fast food, soda, or television, I have learned important life-changing lessons each time.

For example, by choosing to fast from one controlling influence in my life during the season of Lent, I have…

• Learned humility. It is a humbling exercise to battle controlling influences in our lives. We are forced to stand face-to-face with our weaknesses and our humanity. And whether we win or lose over the course of the forty days, even the intensity of the struggle supplies profound humility.
• Developed intentionality. Whenever we seek to remove habits in our lives, we are granted the opportunity to replace them with new ones. We are allowed to ask new questions about the life we are living and what new aspects we’d like to incorporate.
• Developed deeper empathy for others. We are often quick to judge the weaknesses of others, but rarely put our lives under the same level of scrutiny. Battling through a season of fasting often forces us to realize that the adversary of addiction is far less easy to conquer than we have otherwise thought.
• Fostered greater self-control. Just like a muscle, self-control grows stronger through use and exercise. Exercising self-control in one aspect of life (abstaining from coffee or chocolate) provides a greater possibility to utilize it elsewhere in our lives. Perhaps we would be more effective in overcoming impatience, anger, or indulgent eating in our lives if we exercised our muscle of self-control in other ways.
• Confronted excesses in life. Many of the external items that subconsciously control our lives are not needs, they are wants (coffee, dessert, television, Facebook, etc.). But we have become so accustomed to having them in our lives on a daily basis, we too quickly confuse wants and needs. Fasting from one of these items for forty days helps put things back in proper perspective and gives us the strength to just walk away.
• Saved money. Many of the influences that I have chosen to give up for Lent in past years cost money. Avoiding them for forty days has financial benefit during the season… and financial benefit going forward as the items are always reintroduced in greater moderation.
• Saved time. Similar to the financial benefits, most of the controlling influences in our lives require time, energy, and attention. Removing them from our daily schedule provides extra minutes (sometimes hours) to our day.

Over the years, I have experimented with Lent in a number of different ways. And here are some of the most helpful tips that I have learned:

1) Start by asking yourself this question: “What is one thing that I could never give up for forty days?” As soon as you have an answer, you have identified a controlling influence on your life. I have asked countless others this question over the years and have been surprised at the variety of responses (alcohol, bread, candy, chocolate, cigarettes, coffee, dessert,  energy drinks, Facebook, fast food, ice cream, the Internet, meat, shopping, soda, television, video games, wine, etc). But there is one constant, everybody can answer it… usually in just a few short seconds.

2) Choose a period of time. Forty days is a good number, but other than the fact that it corresponds directly to the season of Lent, it’s not magical in any way. In fact, if the idea of forty days is too daunting, choose a lower number – just make sure you select a number that is going to exercise your self-control (I’d recommend something over twenty.)

3) Pick a meaningful start and/or end date. If you can find meaning on one of the ends, you’ll find that helpful. There’s a reason Lent leads up Easter. If you don’t want to use Lent specifically, consider a birthday, holiday, or the changing of a season.

4) Tell a friend. You don’t have to explain all the details… though I always appreciate it when readers share my work with others. But the simple act of telling a close friend about your experiment will help provide accountability and strength for your journey.

5) Find meaning in defeat. If you give in at some point during the experiment and succumb to the temptation, don’t lose heart. Make failure your servant by examining its root. And then get back up to try again.

6) If you are spiritual, embrace the season with your entire heart and soul.

7) Reintroduce slowly. Likely, when the season is over, you will reintroduce the influence into your life. Do so slowly, carefully, and intentionally.

Starting today, I have chosen to give up my smart phone capabilities for the next 40 days leading up to Easter on April 8. Over the recent years, I have felt an unhealthy addiction to my cell phone develop in my life. After all, it is one thing to use a phone for calls and text messaging (which my job requires), but it is something completely different when its features (social networking, internet browsing, weather, sports scores, games) constantly compete for my attention. It is time to push it aside, to break the addiction, and to analyze the benefits of living without it. I still plan to social network, but plan to do so on a more limited basis than before and from a computer screen, not a cell phone.

It’s not difficult to find gluten-free candy — many manufacturers offer candy options that will suit you if you’re following the gluten-free diet.

But the choices narrow considerably when it comes to gift candy boxes. Because these boxes generally include mixed varieties of smaller candies, most contain some gluten-containing candies. Even if you can pick out the individual gluten-free pieces and leave the gluten ones behind, you’ll be risking cross contamination.

However, you do have some options. Here’s the latest information on gluten-free candy boxes for gift-giving or enjoying yourself.

Here’s my list, updated for Valentine’s Day 2012, of gluten-free Valentine’s candy, along with candy that’s definitely not safe to eat on a gluten-free diet.

Gluten-free Valentine’s candy:
• Sweethearts candy hearts from Necco (New England Confectionery Company)
• Hershey’s Kisses, only in plain milk chocolate (not the flavored or striped ones)
• Jelly Belly jelly beans, all flavors
• Dove Heart Promises
• Smarties Valentine Hearts
• M&Ms Valentine Candies, all except for any pretzel-based varieties
• Tootsie Roll Valentine Candies
• Peeps Valentine marshmallow-based treats
• Pez Valentine’s Day candies
• Tootsie Pops Valentine’s lollipops
• Wonka Laffy Taffy, special Valentine’s Day edition
• Charms Valentine Pops

Valentine’s Day candy that’s NOT considered gluten-free:

• Brach’s Conversation Hearts
• York Peppermint Patty Hearts
• Sweetarts
• Jolly Rancher Valentine candy
• Wonka Nerds Valentine candy

The natural reaction is to cut back on calories until it’s time to ride—and burn energy—again. But the healing process demands fuel, too. “It’s like fixing a house,” says sports dietitian Cynthia Sass, RD, CSSD. “A crack in the foundation requires raw materials to patch things back together, and in the body those raw materials come from what we eat.”

Proteins, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants help heal wounds, relax stressed tendons and mend fractured bones more quickly. So in addition to your doc’s advice to elevate and ice, choose the right combinations of foods to speed recovery and get back on your bike. Here’s where to aim your cart at the Stop & Shop.

Produce Section

BUY Carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes and kale for vitamin A; oranges, strawberries, peppers and broccoli for vitamin C

WHY Vitamin A helps make white blood cells for fighting infection, “which is always a risk with injury,” says Sass. Vitamin C has been proven to help skin and flesh wounds heal faster and stronger, making it a valuable ally when caring for road rash. Vitamin C also helps repair connective tissues and cartilage by contributing to the formation of collagen, an important protein that builds scar tissue, blood vessels and even new bone cells.

Meat Counter

BUY Lean turkey, sirloin, fish and chicken

WHY Lean meats are packed with protein, a critical building block for producing new cells. In a 2008 study published in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, researchers at the University of Ottawa identified a protein that acted like a bridge between damaged tissues, promoting repair. Because athletes require about 112 grams of protein per day (for a 175-pound male or female) for optimum healing, eating meat is an easy way to rocket toward this goal faster.

Dairy Department

BUY Eggs, milk and yogurt

WHY All three are good sources of protein; milk and yogurt also contain calcium, which repairs bone and muscle. The vitamin D in dairy products improves calcium absorption and helps injured muscle and bone heal: A 2010 study published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery reported that boosting this nutrient’s levels in deficient patients produced earlier results.

Cereal Aisle

BUY Fortified cereal

WHY It contains zinc, a proven asset to the immune system and to healing wounds. Along with red meat, fortified cereals are the best sources (some deliver 100 percent of your recommended daily value). By itself, zinc doesn’t repair damaged tissue, but it assists the nutrients that do. “Just don’t overdo it,” Sass cautions, adding that too much–more than 40 grams a day for an adult–of this potent mineral lowers HDL cholesterol (the good kind) and actually suppresses your immune system. Cereal supplies moderate zinc doses as well as whole-grain carbohydrates, which fuel your body’s healing efforts and keep it from dipping into protein for energy. “Eating enough carbs ensures that your body puts all of its available protein toward repairs,” Sass explains.

Seafood Case

BUY Salmon, tuna and trout

WHY In addition to an added protein bonus, fish is packed with omega-3s, fatty acids which quench the inflammation that slows recovery from tendinitis, bone fractures and sprained ligaments.

A Little Inflammation Goes a Long Way

Most of us heed our doctor’s advice to use rest, ice, compression and elevation to reduce inflammation and speed recovery. But should we also rely on anti-inflammatory measures such as cortisone injections, large doses of ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs? In a 2010 study done at the Cleveland Clinic, in Ohio, researchers concluded that these measures may actually slow healing and that moderation is key. They observed that in acute muscle injuries, inflammatory cells (called macrophages) aided growth that sped muscle regeneration. In other words, a little inflammation actually facilitates healing. This makes anti-inflammatory foods, such as fish and berries, particularly valuable to cyclists on the mend. “These foods throw a big bucket of water on inflammation, but they don’t put the fire out entirely,” says dietitian Cynthia Sass.

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts*

1 tablespoon sunflower oil, divided

Juice of half a lemon

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon paprika

1 large red onion, diced

3 carrots, cut into half moons (bite-size pieces)

1 large red bell pepper, cut into small cubes

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 cups jasmine rice, rinsed

1 14-oz. can diced tomatoes (unsalted), with juice*

3 cups chicken or vegetable broth*

2 bay leaves

1/2 teaspoon crumbled saffron threads

1/4 cup chopped green olives

1 cup fresh (or frozen and thawed) peas*

Salt and pepper to taste

Chopped parsley for garnish

*Use organic when available

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat 1/2 tablespoon sunflower oil in a cast-iron skillet on high heat. Brown chicken on both sides (four minutes each side), then bake uncovered in the skillet for 25 minutes. Remove from oven, drizzle with lemon juice and olive oil and set aside, covered. After 10 minutes, slice chicken into strips.

In a pot, add cumin, paprika and remaining sunflower oil. Saute the onion, carrots and bell pepper for five minutes. Add garlic and rice and stir for one minute. Add tomatoes (with juice), chicken or vegetable broth, bay leaves and saffron. Bring to a boil and add salt to taste. Stir, cover and lower heat. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until rice is cooked.

Remove from heat, stir in sliced chicken, green olives and peas. Cover and let stand for 10 minutes. Garnish each plate with chopped parsley. Serves four. Per serving: calories, 535; fat, 12.8 grams; protein, 61.3g; carbs, 42.2g

MEET THE CHEF

Who She Is: Cristina Urioste studied at the Wise Earth School of Ayurveda, in Asheville, North Carolina, where she learned how food can serve medicinal purposes. Now, she travels to teach others what she’s learned. “When we eat wholesome food, prepared in a nourishing environment, eaten in a mindful way, our health improves, and we experience wellness,” says Urioste.

How She Rolls: Last October, Urioste traveled with the Pablove Across America ride from Seattle to Los Angeles. She cooked for the cyclists for 18 days and 1,425 miles.

One of my key realizations about happiness, and a point oddly under-emphasized by positive psychologists, given its emphasis in popular culture, is that Outer order contributes to inner calm. More than it should.

After all, in the context of a happy life, a messy desk or house is a trivial problem—yet I’ve found, and other people tell me they feel the same way, that getting control of the stuff of life makes me feel more in control of my life generally. (Even if this is an illusion, it’s a helpful illusion.)

But as much as most of us want to keep our home, office, car, etc. in reasonable order, it’s tough. Here are some myths of de-cluttering that make it harder than it needs to be.

Myths of Cluttering:
1. “I need to get organized.” No! This is not your first step! Don’t get organized.

2. “The more organized I am, the better.” I fully appreciate the pleasure of having a place for everything, and perhaps counter-intuitively, I find it easier to put things away in an exact place, rather than a general place (“the third shelf of the coat closet,” not “a closet”). However, this impulse can become destructive: if you spend a lot of time alphabetizing your spices or setting up eighty categories for your home library, consider simplifying your approach. Also, some things simply won’t stay organized, so it’s not even worth trying; I’ve spent hours sorting magic markers and Calico Critters pieces, only to find everything a jumble the next day.

3. “I need to run out and buy some inventive storage containers.”See #1. I love cunning containers as much as anyone, but I’ve found that if I get rid of everything I don’t need, I often don’t need a container at all.

4. “I need to find the perfect recipient for everything I’m getting rid of.” True, it’s easier to let go of things when they’re going to a good home, but be wary of letting this kind intention become a source of clutter, itself. I have a friend who has multiple piles all over her house, each lovingly destined for a particular recipient. This is generous and thoughtful, but it contributes mightily to clutter. Try to find one or two good recipients, or create some kind of rigid system for moving stuff along quickly.

5. “I can’t get rid of anything that I might possibly need one day.”How terrible would it be if you needed a glass jar and didn’t have one? Do you need gigantic stores of rubber bands or coffee mugs?

6. “Someday, I might get that gizmo fixed.” Face it. If you’ve had something for more than six months, and it’s still not repaired, it’s clutter.

7. “After I lose some weight, I’ll fit into these clothes again.” If you lose a bunch of weight, you’ll likely want to buy a new pair of jeans, not dust off the pair you bought seven years ago.

8. “I need to keep this to remind me of the past.” I’m a huge fan of mementos; remembering happy times in the past gives you a big happiness boost in the present. But ask yourself: do I need to keep all these t-shirts to remind me of high school, or can I keep a few? Do I need to keep a giant armchair to remind me of my father, or can I use a photograph? Mementos work best when they’re carefully chosen—and when they don’t take up much room!

9. “I need to keep this object to show respect for the person who gave it to me.” You can love someone, but not want to keep a gift from that person. It’s okay to pass an item along to someone who will appreciate it more.

What other myths am I overlooking? Do these ring true for you?

Dering Hall, an online bazaar for home decor, tapped design experts for some essential tips on how to make your home stylish and comfortable while keeping Mother Nature’s welfare in mind. Here’s what they have to say:

Think long term. While affordable, bargain furniture made out of synthetic material like particleboard may be more cost effective, it can often have poor construction that causes it to break easily. Broken furniture, as we’ve all seen, end up on the streets and even landfills, which have damaging effects on the environment. Instead, opt for durable pieces made from longer-lasting materials such as solid hardwood and stainless steel.

Go with local artisans. Buying from local designers and artisans in your surrounding areas is not only a great way to help stimulate the neighborhood economy, it’s also good for the environment. There’s no transportation delivery so you save on gas emissions and non-recyclable packing material.

Embrace vintage pieces. Reclaimed wood, salvaged materials and distressed mirrors can help add texture and sophistication to any dwelling. Look for old materials that can be revamped or renovated into something unique — you’ll be surprised what a fresh coat of eco-friendly paint can do.