Once you choose a charity, you can make additional donations by using sites like goodshop.com that partner with major online retailers to donate a percentage of your purchase to the charity of your choosing. Retailers like Bloomingdales and Barneys will donate 2% of each purchase. Saks Fifth Avenue donates 2.5% and Sephora 3%. All you have to do is click through to the store from either goodshop.com or goodsearch.com after designating your charity. Goodshop is available all year long, not just during the holidays, so use it whenever you have the urge to splurge.

Do you have any favorite charities that you want to share with MKIA readers? Leave a comment and let us know!

In my never-ending quest to create the perfect nest, I’ve often wished for a way to mock-up a room before actually putting paint on the walls and purchasing the furniture. I think SceneCaster may be the answer to my decorating dreams. With this easy to use online tool you can create a 3D rendering of your space, using exact dimensions and actual 3D furniture and objects from their extensive online gallery. Everything from flat-screen TVs to artwork and area rugs can be dragged and dropped into your virtual space. They even partner with retailers that allow you to import images of the specific furniture and decor your are considering. The program is completely online-based (so there is nothing to download) and free (you just need to become a “member”). If you want feedback from your friends, SceneCaster makes it easy to upload your “scenes” to your Facebook page.

The space planning benefits alone would save me a lot of time and aggravation. No matter how much I measure and walk a space, I tend not be able to visualize how furniture will fit into a room until it’s actually there. This has caused a few regretful purchases over the years. Right now, I am turning a little unused bedroom into my office and I really want to use SceneCaster to plan the space but they are updating their Mac software so I am out of luck. But I thought I’d better share with all of you, as I am sure I am not alone in this struggle. They should finish their software update soon and we can all get to planning our pads. Go to scenecaster.com to learn more about the concept and start your own project.

While we are talking home improvement – Another useful digital tool I found is the iHandy Carpenter iPhone app ($2, itunes.com). It turns your phone into an accurate ruler and level. I love being able to whip out my phone and make sure my artwork is hung correctly!

I’ll be posting pics of my office as soon as it starts coming together and once the newly designed MKIA launches this month. Thanks for being so patient. It will be worth it!

]]> http://www.missknowitall.com/plan-your-space-like-a-pro/feed/ 0 http://www.missknowitall.com/how-green-can-you-get/ http://www.missknowitall.com/how-green-can-you-get/#comments Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:48:33 +0000 Melina http://www.missknowitall.com/?p=818 So you bring your own bags to Whole Foods and occasionally shop at the farmers market. Congratulations! I think we can all do a little better. For one thing, I feel like a big hypocrite at the supermarket when I stuff my cute canvas totes full of plastic produce bags. Yes, I realize I could place the fruits and vegetables loose in my cart while I crisscross the aisles but that is neither sanitary nor efficient. Have you ever tried separating plums, peaches, tomatoes, avocadoes and onions into neat little piles as they pass over the conveyor belt only to have the cashier get totally overwhelmed? I don’t need to prolong the already tedious process of checkout, thank you.

No matter where you shop today, you are bound to walk out with a reusable shopping bag. In fact, my closets are full of them and while I have put many to good use, I don’t need another black patent bag from Scoop. I need specific types of bags designed for functionality that will solve my practical dilemmas and make me feel like less of an eco-friendly imposter. So I’ve assembled what I think is a complete arsenal of green satchels that will reduce our dependence on plastic.

1. Reusable Produce Bags $16 for pack of 4 – The answer to my produce bag prayers! They are perfectly see-through for easy content identification at checkout and because they are made of breathable, recycled mesh they keep fruits and vegetables fresher longer. Buy some at bagthehabit.com.

2. Get Hip Skull Bag $5.99 – Just a cool, lightweight reusable bag that you can have on hand for the impromptu shop. More importantly, when you buy one at ecobags.com a donation is made to The Green Ambassadors, a high school eco-ed program.

3. Lunchskins Sandwich and Snack Bags $7.95 to $9.95 – The perfect pouch to carry around my healthy snacks. You can also use them for dog treats, pacifiers, baby toys and your kids’ lunches. They are dishwasher safe (love!) and free of the chemicals found in plastic and aluminum. You can buy them at blueribbongeneralstore.net, which also carries Lunchbots (stainless steel lunch and snack containers) and their own produce bags. One stop shopping!

4. Eco Garden Tote $32 – Made of repurposed Cambodian rice bags, these large, sturdy bags can handle all your heavy groceries. The six exterior pockets are great for checkout line organization and will help speed up unpacking at home. You can buy one at globalgirlfriend.com, which “sources woman-made, fair-trade imported, eco-friendly products to help Cambodian women and their families gain economic security”.

5. Folding Recycling Bags $16 for set of 3 – The best thing about these industrial-strength waterproof bags is that they are not the standard bulky bins, which are not only heavy on their own but impossible to carry out to the curb (or trash chute for all you urbanites). Problem solved – here is a recycling system that is lightweight and has handles. Genius! Buy them at Gaiam.com.

Goodbye plastic, hello eco-friendly organization!

xoxo Melina

I am befuddled by buttons and harrowed by hems so it goes without saying that I am always in need of a tailor. That was, however, until I found Bristols 6 “Hem Tape”. I had just bought my first pair of Genetic Denim and wasn’t sure if I wanted to keep them long to wear with my new spring wedges or shorten them to show off my summer sandals. In 5 minutes, Hem Tape gave me a clean, shorter hem that was temporary enough to remove easily without any damage to the fabric but sturdy enough to last multiple wears and even a couple of washes. Problem solved – the new jeans did not have to go under the knife and I could wear them with whatever shoes I wanted.

Bristols 6 has a lot of fashion fixes to help you keep things in place and cover others but I am most intrigued by their “Adjust-a-Button”, which allows you to extend or tighten your waistband. The genius of this invention is obvious – poke a pin through the waistband of your favorite pants and let them out or take them in up to 1.5 inches. While I haven’t tried it myself, I am really excited about the possibilities…

Gain a couple of pounds in the winter months and now things are a little tight? No need to buy new pants, just add an “Adjust-a-Button”. Tone your tummy in Pilates and now your favorite jeans are loose? Cinch them in with “Adjust-a-Button”. Not to mention the miracle this could be for women in early pregnancy who need more room but aren’t ready for maternity jeans. It seems to me that having some of these on hand could be very useful.

You can buy Hem Tape ($12) and Adjust-a-Button ($18) at Bristosl6.com or on Amazon.com.

xoxo Melina

Because these beauties are ad-free, you have to pay for them.  But who wants to send an invite or card with ads all over it anyway?  And with a bevy of online tools to communicate to your guests and manage your event, it’s simply the better choice.

They also offer memberships, perfect for the prolific party planner and/or someone who likes to send special cards for every occasion. While Cocodot gives you the same convenience as other online stationary outlets, no one can touch their sophisticated selection. So give your guests something to remember and send a Cocodot invite next time.

This habit (among many others) was passed on to me by my mother and I am certain many others could say the same. So when I saw this notepad and its smart, green design I thought I would start a new tradition and maybe you can too!

Yoyo Ceramics is a dynamic company founded by a female chemist. They create innovative and artistic designs for the everyday needs of your home. The Ceramic Notepad is a perfect example of their extremely functional yet surprisingly attractive creations.

Each comes with one pencil (or you can order a set with every color) to write on the ceramic with, which can be wiped or washed off easily. You can even throw it in the dishwasher! The hole through the top completes its cool, modern look and holds the pencil to keep the pen and pad together for convenient use.

While I still plan to keep my new notebook in the kitchen, I will make much better use of it and vow to leave my husband a cheesy love note every now and then. The best part? When I make my notes, I will no longer feel guilty about wasting paper!