Have a tight budget? Save money by using items you already have on hand that will do the same job, for less.
1. Wall filler: You can use white toothpaste to fill in errant holes in your walls. As long as the walls are painted white, the toothpaste will blend right in.
2. Scuff remover: To get rid of scuff marks, rub the inside of a banana peel over silverware, leather shoes and leather furniture. Wipe with a soft cloth. Be sure to test on a small, inconspicuous section first.
3. Wallpaper cleaner: Soft chunks of crustless white bread will get smudges off wallpaper and wipe away fingerprints and other grime.
Related: DIY your way to savings--cleaning products you can make yourself!
4. Drain cleaner: Sprinkle 1/4 cup baking soda in the drain, followed by 1 cup vinegar. Let sit for 15 minutes, then flush with a pot of boilng water.
Related: Get 45 MORE ways to use vinegar around the house.
5. Blind duster: Use an antistatic spray on blinds to keep dust from piling up.
6. Antibacterial

The best eco-friendly toys hitting shelves this year...Of course there were a lot of outrageous electronic toys and plastic on top of plastic at the New York Toy Fair, but we also found plenty of safe, thoughtful, eco-friendly new toys about to hit shelves this year. All of these toys have something about them that's great for the environment - some are 100% biodegradable, even more are made from all-natural products, and some even go as far as to be made from sustained food products! Whether you're looking for fun bath toys for your little rugrat or life-like food for your tyke's play kitchen - these eco-friendly toys are just the ticket! Take a look at our favorite "green" toys of 2012:





Scented Scoops
1. Scented Scoops | Ages 3+
One of my favorite Toy Fair finds was the new company BeginAgain toys, which - beyond using natural rubber and sustainable wood - is pioneering a new material called Green Dot. Green Dot is a cornstarch bio product that's 100% compostable, and will be used to make the scented scoops that sit on top of wooden cones in this

Fitness MagazineBy Josh Dorfman

Reduce your carbon footprint and boost your bank account with these easy, healthy, earth-friendly tips from Josh Dorfman, author of The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget.

1. Choose eco workout wear.
Look for tops, pants, shorts -- even sports bras made with recycled materials, such as Cocona fabrics, which come from coconut shells. They dry quickly and provide excellent sun and odor protection. (For info and products, go to www.coconafabric.com.) Need new sneaks? Brooks running shoes feature the industry's first biodegradable midsole (www.brooksrunning.com).

Related: Workout Gear Cute Enough for Outside the Gym

2. Make a fair trade.
Instead of buying new fitness DVDs and books, use swapping sites like www.swapadvd.com and www.paperbackswap.com to trade with thousands of other people for free.

3. Wheel and deal on exercise equipment.
Whether it's a bike, a Bowflex, or a Precor elliptical machine, you'll find great deals at craigslist.org in the local classified ads

Pulling weeds by hand is not always easy or practical, they're pesky and determined to pop back up and spread in no time. If you're looking for more natural ways to control them that don't include harsh chemicals and are safer for children and pets (bonus: most are pretty frugal too), here is a list of diy recipes and solutions from my collection. I've also included a few tips at the bottom.

Pulling Dandelions

• Vinegar: Kill weeds dead with a good shot of vinegar. For best results, don't dilute with water and choose a time to spray when there's no sign of rain. Household vinegar is around 5% acetic acid concentration which will do the trick for new growth. If you can find a stronger vinegar (like pickling which is about 9%), that will give better results for more mature (and stubborn) varieties.
• Salt: This is effective but keep in mind that significant amounts will cause damage to surrounding soil as well. Salt should only be used in places where you want no plant growth (like

You'll be amazed at the wide variety of things that can be composted!
By Sayward Rebhal, Networx

Home composting isn't just for farmers anymore! The practice is becoming increasingly popular among urban environmentalists who are eager to cut their landfill contributions: from apartment dwellers growing gardens on top of NYC roofing, to folks who participate in their local municipal compost program, to homeowners looking to turn their backyards into a teeny tiny sustainable city farms. Composting is a key component of the eco-friendly puzzle, because it takes waste that's destined for landfills and turns it into usable, nutrient-rich soil, which is perfect for gardening. Most people focus on kitchen scraps, but that's just the very tip of the composting iceberg. Did you know you could also include the following?

1. Dryer lint
2. "Dust bunnies"
3. The insides of a vacuum bag (just empty the bag into the compost bin)
4. The contents of your dustpan (just use discretion)
5. Coffee grounds
6. Coffee filters
7. Tea

Farm-Raised Salmon gets better, in all kinds of waysFarm-raised fish has gotten a bad rap, and not entirely without reason. Water pollution, the spread of disease and parasites, negative impact on both wild salmon and forage fish, and other issues have made aquaculture a dirty word to many environmentalists.



Related: Great Salmon Recipes

It doesn't have to be, according to a relatively new company called Verlasso, which raises fish in the cold, clear waters of Chilean Patagonia. Verlasso, says Scott Nichols, one of its six directors, strives to be "the best salmon farmers on the market."

Slideshow: Weight Gain Myths

As another Verlasso director, the appropriately named Allyson Fish, explains, healthy protein sources are becoming more and more difficult to find, while demand for them increases, and responsible aquaculture can help satisfy the need. Nichols has worked on biodiversity projects in Africa and South America and Fish is a former Fellow of the Environmental Defense Fund, so both realized the necessity of creating a better

Is your make-up safe? In light of recent news that the FDA found lead in 400 brands of lipstick, Yahoo! Shine took a look at other products containing potentially hazardous ingredients. Historically, women have risked their health for beauty by using cosmetics laden with poisons. It's reported that Queen Elizabeth's face became so disfigured from lead-contaminated makeup, she had all the mirrors in her palace removed. In 18th century France, courtesans applied vermilion rouge, which contained sulfur and mercury, and suffered damage to their teeth, livers, and nervous systems as a result. While the levels are much lower, according to a 2011 report by Environmental Defense, an Ontario-based research group, dangerous heavy metals still lurk in lip gloss, mascara, foundation, blush, eye shadow, and eyeliner.

Related: Lead In Lipstick, 10 Worst Brands, Better Alternatives

The researchers tested a total of 49 common products selected from the cosmetic bags of six average Canadian women. They found that

Switch up your regular gear and try these environmentally friendly green products for a change that's good for you and the environment. Here are some of our favorites:

EkoMiko candle1. EkoMiko Candle: Made from a repurposed wine bottle, the EkoMiko candle offers a smoke-free burn. ($70; shopekomiko.com).














eco friendly alcohol2. Eco.Love wine: From vine to bottle, Eco.love Wines are made with earth-friendly practices. ($17; shopecolovewines.com).














North Face3. The North Face Venture Jacket: The North Face Venture Jacket uses 50 percent fewer petroleum-based materials. ($99; altrec.com).














M2F brand denims4. M2F Brand Denims: The yarns in M2F Brand Denims are dyed in a non-toxic bath that uses half as much water and energy as other brands. (from $78; shopplanetblue.com).















The Cuisinart GreenGourmet Cooking Set5. Cuisinart GreenGourmet Cooking Set: The Cuisinart GreenGourmet 12-piece cooking set has 70 percent recycled steel hardware. ($250; cuisinart.com).
















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