Day 28 of 31 - Save Water at Your Bathroom Sink

Even the smallest change to your everyday routine goes a long way… shutting off your faucet as you brush your teeth, for instance. Watch this video for more water-saving tips.

Day 19 of 31 - Doing Dishes

So, you took a trip down memory lane, letting the warm water flow over your hands as you washed the dishes…who hasn’t been there? But the amount of water wasted during that daydream is quite the wake up call. Watch this:

Day 18 of 31 - Conserve Water in Your Bathroom

Entertaining guests at your home this winter? Watch this video to learn a fast and easy way to save water in the bathroom.

Check out this Interview with What You Can Do Creator, Jessica Arinella on Halogen TV!

What You Can Do Creator, Jessica Arinella, was recently interviewed by Halogen TV. She talks about how the project has developed over time and what issues inspire her the most.

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What can you do in a minute? Order a pizza? Brush your teeth? Jessica Arinella , founder of What You Can Do, believes you can do a lot more.

Creator of one-minute videos about small and simple ways to make big and meaningful differences, Arinella shows that you can significantly reduce your carbon footprint, alleviate cruelty to animals, protect the oceans or reduce hunger – take your pick, or do them all! (Warning: Doing them all will take four minutes.)

Arinella remembers the day she decided that she was going to start paying it forward; on her blog she wrote that it was not unlike the feeling that she got while watching the polar bears in “An Inconvenient Truth”. At the time, she was gripped by what she calls an “ISD,” short for Impending Sense of Doom.

That sense would eventually lead to a monumental surge of inspiration when she started What You Can Do in 2009.

Halogen TV recently chatted with Arinella to discuss her motivations, which issues hit home the hardest and an easy way to save 25 million trees.

How did you get motivation for What You Can Do , and how has it evolved since its inception?

Jessica Arinella: The motivation for What You Can Do came from a two-fold catalyst in my life. The first part was that I lost my mother to lung cancer. Losing her was a profoundly shattering experience for me, and it brought up that age-old question of “What’s it all for?” I found myself deeply questioning the world, how it works and what my place in it was. For some odd reason I was watching a lot of documentaries during this time. During one especially compelling film, I became so agitated that I left the room and started reading Us Magazine. I kept thinking, if there is nothing I can do about this issue, then I don’t want to know about it. I would rather read an article on Brangelina than confront that overwhelming feeling of helplessness again. Documentaries are so good at illuminating the gravity of the perils facing our world, but they often stop short of showing us how we can help fix the problem. I kept thinking, someone should do something about that! And then it hit me. Wait! I have access to one of the best producers in New York – my sister, Alicia Arinella. I have (albeit limited) production skills! Maybe I could do this.

Every weekday in 2010, we produced a new video highlighting what someone could do to take action on a variety of social and environmental concerns. We now have a website that serves as a toolbox for change and features over 260 videos. Each episode showcases a different one-minute idea to make a positive impact on causes like climate change, hunger and ocean conservation.

What are the issues that really hit home with you?

I care deeply about all of the issues we have covered, but I think the one that hit me most deeply is cancer. But even more than any one specific cause, I am most inspired by the idea of offering people an action that only takes a minute to do.



When we first started making the videos, we honestly weren’t sure there was something you could do in a minute for something as serious as cancer. But we were excited to learn from experts that, yes, there IS something you can do to help fight lung cancer, for example, in just one minute. This is especially inspiring to me because it implies that if real change is possible in one minute, then these problems are potentially solvable.

One of your one-minute videos says 75 percent of the energy used to power consumer electronics is consumed while the product is not in use. Think of how much less coal we could burn if we just unplugged our phone chargers!

I know! We’ve learned so many illuminating facts like that during this project. But our goal is to present these statistics in a way that inspires people rather than just making them feel guilty. For example, the average American can use up to 100 gallons of water a day. BUT, eight of those gallons can be effortlessly saved just by shutting off the tap while you brush your teeth morning and night. If one person made that simple change, he/she would save 240 gallons of water a month! Multiply that and the numbers are staggering. If 100 people did it, we’d save 24,000 gallons of water. With 1,000 people? We’d save 240,000 gallons!

Our one-minute actions don’t need to happen in a vacuum. We are hoping to build a community where we can start to see our individual actions add up to real and measureable change.

Conserving water is a recurring theme on your site. Why is this a major concern?



The EPA estimates that by 2013, 36 of the 50 states will be facing local, regional or statewide water shortages – and that projection is for non-drought-like conditions. The good news is there are countless ways to easily save water. We’ve already discussed turning off the tap when you brush your teeth, but you can also do so when you wash your face or shave. When you are heating up the water for your shower, put a bucket in the tub to catch the run off. You can then use the saved water to refresh your plants or wash your car.

In your opinion, what’s the best way to get people to understand the cause and effect of their actions?

One thing that helps me is to be more mindful of how much of a resource I actually need. Just become aware of how much water is going down the drain when you wash the dishes, or how many napkins you grab for your lunch. And then, start making changes where it’s easiest for you. If a hot shower is your favorite part of the day, don’t make your life miserable by taking it away. Start with something that feels easier. For example, maybe start with turning off the water when you wash the dishes, or make an effort to unplug your electronic equipment when it’s not in use. We recently learned that cable boxes are a huge culprit when it comes to energy drain, so maybe unplug your box at night.

I’ve learned that changing the world doesn’t have to be the end of the world. Know you can make a difference even one minute at a time. Just try it for one week. You will be amazed by what you can do.

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Wanna read the article on Halogen TV click here!.

Hot Child, Summer in the City

Summer. Wonderful, beautiful, glorious summer is far and away my favorite time of year. I love the light. I love the long days. I love the food and the leisurely pace that comes from taking the time to slow down and relax. But here in NYC it is HOT. Really, truly, oppressively hot. And apparently we are not suffering the worst temperatures in the country. It is well established that watching the news can make me a lunatic, yet somehow I can’t stop myself. Everywhere there are reports of extreme weather. Extreme heat is pulverizing the middle of the country and Oklahoma, Arizona, Texas and their neighboring states are facing the most serious droughts since the Dust Bowl of the 20’s. All of this extreme weather has made me spend an enormous amount of my time thinking about water.

Water is our most precious and finite resource. Although about 70% of our planet is covered in water, only 1% of that water is available for human use. As the world’s population increases so does the demand for fresh water. The EPA has estimated that by 2013, 36 states are anticipating local, regional or statewide water shortages - and that is without drought-like conditions. So what do we do?

I created What You Can Do, because I firmly believe that we, all of us, want to help. I believe that we want to get involved and help fix these problems. And while we hold out hope that our elected officials will do their best to pass legislation to help ameliorate these issues, we can’t wait. We need to start with us. The good news is there are countless ways that we can easily save water in our everyday lives. Our Facebook fans collectively saved almost 2,000 gallons of water in a single week simply by turning off the faucet while brushing their teeth morning and night.

That’s just one idea! Here are some more:

• Cut your shower by just two minutes.
• Turn off the water while washing your face or shaving.
• While you are eating out, forgo the complimentary glass of water if you don’t intend to drink it.

There are hundreds more ways to conserve. It’s just a matter of turning our attention to this precious resource and being honest about what we really need. Below are a few videos with some simple tips to help us continue to effortlessly save water each day. You can also check out What You Can Do writer Karen T. Hartline’s blog : Every Last Drip (everylastdrip.blogspot.com) for more ideas. Also, please write in and share ideas of your own. I don’t believe that we are powerless. I believe we have a tremendous capacity for success. We just have to make it a priority in our own lives, even for just one minute, to prove to ourselves and to each other what we can do.

Conserve Water in your home

http://www.whatyoucando.ontheleesh.com/waterconservation/wc01.html

Small Changes that Save Water

http://www.whatyoucando.ontheleesh.com/waterconservation/wc04.html

Save Water while Dining Out
http://www.whatyoucando.ontheleesh.com/waterconservation/wc10.html

Dishwasher = ♥

I, Alicia Arinella, have an unnatural attachment to my dishwasher. I love it. Having grown up with a dishwasher, I took it for granted. I never knew how wonderful this invention was until I moved into an apartment with NO DISHWASHER. It almost sounds like a swear. No Dishwasher. It makes me shudder.

I want to take a moment and give a big old shout out to Josephine Cochran. That's right - a pretty savvy lady invented the dishwasher and unveiled it at the 1893 World's Fair. Even though restaurants and hotels bought her invention, it didn't take off for home use until the 1950's.

Now, no offense to people who like the rhythm of hand washing dishes. I have plenty of dishes that have to be washed by hand, but for most of my things, I use the dishwasher. I'm pretty attached. Sometimes I feel like Donna Reed, so happy that I have an appliance in my home.

But lately, I think my dishwasher is sick. She's not cleaning as she used to, and that makes me worried. I know that she works hard. We like to go through dishes around here. With upwards of four people eating lunch here every day and two eating breakfast and dinner, she has her work cut out for her. I know that a dishwasher can use less water than washing dishes by hand if you run it when it's full. But what if it's not running properly?

I'll tell you. If it's not running properly, you have to rewash dishes and that's unacceptable! To wash things twice? Not only is that ridiculous but I'm wasting water. So I pledge to get a new one. I have found some pretty inexpensive ones that are Energy Star Certified. Even though the process of researching, buying and installing a new dishwasher takes more than a minute, I think that it's important to save the water, so I'm taking in on.

How about yours?
Let me know - Alicia

A thank you from What You Can Do creator Jessica Arinella

We did it! All of us collectively did it. From the dates of Jan31st- Feb.4th 2011 we all saved 1,928 gallons of water.

It has been my dearest hope through all of this to illuminate that when we stand alone our impact can seem minor, but that when we stand collectively our power is infinite. Look what we did with only the (relatively) small amount of us who contributed. Imagine what we could do if everyone in our country agreed to do the same. Or everyone on Facebook- even if just for one day?

I want to thank each and everyone one of you who participated in our challenge, who wrote in and who supported this. It is my wildest dream that we can all use What You Can Do to make a large enough impact, and to give people hope that real change is possible with the smallest amount of effort. And with this group of people together, I feel it’s possible.

Thank you again-
Jessica

Guest Blogger (and Blogger Choice Awards Nominee) Meredith Forbes Talks about the WYCD Water Conservation Challenge

As a huge fan of What You Can Do, when Jessica asked me to be a guest blogger, I was thrilled.

The great perspective on taking small steps to make a big difference is one of my biggest inspirations for my own green humor blog - The Green, The Bad and The Ugly. GBU is about going green and staying green, encouraging the good and outing the bad, while keeping a sense of humor.

What You Can Do's water conservation challenge got me thinking about my own water-based trials and tribulations . . . and What I Can Do about them.

I remember this short film from an episode of Sesame Street. It was a split screen. Each side showed a faucet with a bowl underneath it and a boy ready to brush his teeth.

On the left, the boy turned the water on, wet his toothbrush, turned the water off and began brushing, only turning the water back on to rinse.

On the right, the boy brushed away while the water ran.

The camera then panned over to the first kid's bowl. There was barely any water in it.

On the right, the bowl was overflowing.

But lately, I've had to question whether I was on the left or the right.

I was conscientious of my water usage, but what did it matter if I gave one more swoosh of the toothbrush in my mouth before I turned the water off?

Apparently, it does matter.

As it becomes clearer that so many of the earth's resources, like fresh water, are finite, it is important to take steps now to preserve what we do have so as not to leave our grandchildren with a crisis.

These days, I'm very careful about how long I let the water run. I bought a 5-minute timer for my shower and I soap up all my dishes before I turn the water on to rinse. If my kitchen were bigger than a walk-in closet, I would probably invest in an energy efficient dishwasher (only running it when it's full, of course).

So you can imagine how it drives me crazy to see store owners and apartment building workers hose down the sidewalks...especially when it's about to rain.

And I have a physical reaction when I see women in the restrooms let the water run while they dry their hands. Most notably...Miss Niagra Falls.

She works on our floor. Everyone knows her. Even the non-greenies in my office will come back from an encounter with her in the bathroom and roll their eyes in disgust.

The other morning I was in the bathroom and I heard the water turn on. I knew it was her. I could tell by the angry way the water was pouring out. Forceful. Hot. I emerged from the stall and there she was...standing there, looking at herself in the mirror, drying her hands, slowly...carefully...water running.

I went to the sink and washed my own hands. I tried to control myself. I really did. But it was too much for me to handle. She might as well have been running her fingers down an aquatic chalk board.

I contemplated the repercussions of saying something.

But instead, I turned my faucet off, walked over to her sink and shut off the water. As she stared at me half in shock, half pissed off, I threw my towel away and quickly exited.

I felt shaky as I left and went out of my way to avoid that bathroom for a few days. But I soon decided to face her again. Now when I see her, she's cautious but friendly and she usually waits for me to leave before turning the faucet on.

Maybe I made my point.

Now I'm thinking of going up to one of those shop owners or apartment guys and asking them to turn off their hoses.

Or maybe I'll just do it for them.

The Thanksgiving Dilemma: Answered

The Thanksgiving Dilemma: Answered

There were so many comments about whether or not I should speak to my father about his water usage on Thanksgiving that I figured a follow-up was necessary.

For those readers out there that are coming in late and could use a recap, checkout last Sunday's blog: HERE.

After thinking about it I decided, what better time to talk to my father about his water habits, than on Thanksgiving? You can't get mad at someone on Thanksgiving, right? Isn't that some holiday rule? Feast and peace? So, I did.

I put it to him like this: "So, Dad, I hope you're not too mad about this, but I wrote a blog about how you hand wash your dishes and how I wish you wouldn't leave the faucet running when you walk away from the sink." Then I gave him that statistic from the EPA - which I horribly misquoted - but I believe he got the idea because he agreed to be more mindful! He was totally game and ready to try it out.

After dinner on Thanksgiving, I was happy to hear the faucet shutting on and off. The sound of a constant steady stream from year's passed was no longer. Later on, when I asked how it went, he said he wasn't perfect, but it went pretty well and I've got to say... he looked proud.

So this Thanksgiving, I gave thanks for an open-minded dad who was willing to reshape one of his habits for both the earth and his daughter.

Conserve Water this Thanksgiving

Think there's nothing you can do to Conserve Water on Thanksgiving in 1 Minute?

Starring - Nikaury Rodriguez
Written by -  Jessica Arinella & Julie Tortorici
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Statistical Information provided by: The EPA, www.epa.gov

Special Thanks: Dennis Arinella

For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com

A Thanksgiving Dilemma

My dad is a water addict. Don't get me wrong, I'm no water conservation hero either. I have many a 'let-the-water-run slip-ups, however my father is an H2Ohmygod do you really need those twelve gallons of water to wash that spoon person. After beginning "What You Can Do", watching my father's water consumption in the kitchen sometimes causes me to have heart palpitations. He's a full blast, dawdle while you wash dish washer.

Since my dad would likely assume you could cook a pot roast in the blender, he puts in his share of the holiday workload by doing the dishes. He does them every year and it's always assumed that it's his gig. This year though, I've decided to ask him to be more mindful as he hand washes the plates and such. To shut off the faucet if he needs to walk away from the sink to grab a dish. To shut the water off again if he needs to scrub something for any length of time. What do you think - is that judgmental or is it environmental of me? I myself have resolved to be more aware of when I'm turning the sink on and off as well. DO turn the sink on when rinsing a dish. DON'T turn the sink on when scrubbing a dish. And I know my dad won't want me to co-opt his dish duty, since traditionally, my dad does the dishes, my mom and I cook and my sister clears the table.

So is his water usage my business?

Before you answer, check out this statistic: according to the EPA, if every household in the US reduced their water use by ten gallons on Thanksgiving, we’d save more than one billion gallons of water.

Does the environment trump politeness? Should I risk it?

I Am BP

I’m tired of hearing about BP. So tired... and angry. So angry! But what am I doing? Well, not being anywhere near the Gulf and not having the ability to travel there for any length of time, I'm doing what many people are doing: I'm very busy hating BP.

Then recently one evening I was draining my son's bathwater and taking a moment to breathe as my 4-year-old did a naked lap around his room. For those who know me, what you're thinking is exactly right. What? You were draining the what from the what? That’s right. In yet another admission of being a seriously flawed person, I was in fact watching gallons of grey water go to waste. Yes, knowing that I was doing the wrong thing, knowing that I was living in a state with a water shortage, knowing there was something I could have done to prevent waste, I watched every last drop get sucked down.

Then I had a thought: I am BP.

Okay, so I'm not an oil company. I'm a mom who lives in a rented apartment with her family and blabs on a blog occasionally and at times eats more ice cream than she should. But all this energy I'm expending to be mad at BP is doing about as much good as reenacting some drama queen moment from Gone With The Wind. I may not be an oil company, but if I'm not doing what I can to prevent the next disaster, than aren't I a microscopic version of BP? I know the risk I'm taking every time I am too lazy to recycle or waste water just like BP knew the risks they were taking. Heck, I hate them, right? So don't I want to be better than them?

Every day is a chance to not only recommit ourselves to save water and help the environment, even if it’s just so we don’t pull a BP. Sure, I would say that we have been doing a lot in this house. But every now and then, it's time to take it up a notch just like BP should have a long long long long time ago. When the next disaster happens, I would really feel terrible if the one I was hating was myself.

Conserve Water at Restaurant

Think there's nothing you can do to Conserve Water in a Restaurant 1 Minute?

Starring - Jason Xay
Written by -  Karen Hartline
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Statistical Information provided by: The City of Boulder Colorado, www.boundercolorado.gov

Special Thanks: Maureen and Curry and the City of Boulder, Tom Casatelli and everyone at The Kettle Black and Dennis Arinella

For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com

Car Wash

Think there's nothing you can do to Conserve Water in 1 Minute?

Starring - Matt Nared
Written by -  Karen Hartline
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Statistical Information provided by: The EPA

Special Thanks: Dennis Arinella

For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com

Conserve Water Bathroom

Think there's nothing you can do to Conserve Water in your Bathroom 1 Minute?

Starring - Julie Tortorici
Written by -  Karen Hartline
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Statistical Information provided by: The EPA

Special Thanks: Dennis Arinella

For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com

Conserve at Your Bathroom Sink

Think there's nothing you can do to Conserve Water in your Bathroom 1 Minute?

Starring - Alicia Arinella
Written by -  Karen Hartline
Shot, Edited and Directed by - Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Statistical Information provided by: The EPA

Special Thanks: Dennis Arinella

For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com

What You Can Do presents: Kitchen Sink

Starring: Tom Morwick
Written by: Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella
Shot, Edited and Directed by: Alicia Arinella
Produced by: On the Leesh Productions
Music by: Banana Whale
What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group

Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission

Statistics Provided by: http://www.epa.gov/watersense/pubs/indoor.html


Special Thanks:
Dennis Arinella

Going Against the Flow

My husband came home from work one day and told me they showed an award-winning film called Flow. http://www.flowthefilm.com. When I asked him what it was about, he said, “Babe, do not see this movie.”

Let us get past the fact that my husband gets to watch movies in the middle of his workday and contemplate his explicit instructions. Why? Well, those who know me know the extent to which I worry. Even the Bible has nothing on the doomsday scenarios that play out in my head at the slightest hint of trouble. My poor husband was simply trying to save us from weeks, perhaps months of Victorian Era fainting meets Debbie Downer kind of stress.

Too late. I went to the film’s site and read the synopsis beginning “Irena Salina's award-winning documentary investigation into what experts label the most important political and environmental issue of the 21st Century - The World Water Crisis…” Gulp. My husband was right. Nevertheless, more research: “more than one out of six people lack access to safe drinking water,” and “36 states are facing water shortages by 2013.” Oy. What did I do? I shut down the computer! I just couldn’t take it. I’m one person. I get maxed out just thinking about what to make for dinner for goodness sake. Karen, out.

A few months later, I came across a Brazilian commercial suggesting that people pee in the shower to save water - a cute little cartoon that made it sound like the best thing since roller-skating. Now, while it’s none of your business as to whether or not I did it, I did. And even though that means that you will never accept an invitation to take a shower in my home, I saved 5-6 gallons of water by not flushing my toilet. That felt great.

I started developing new habits. The more habits I changed, the more I examined other routines. Did I really need to run the water while I brushed my teeth? Did I really need to rinse my dishes before putting them in the dishwasher? Did I really need to wash my vegetables in a colander? No. No. No. Slowly, one thing led to another and before I knew it, we established a household policy of not buying bottled water, just as Ms. Salina’s documentary warns. Not so scary anymore.

So, good for me. Pat pat. Thumbs up. But here’s the problem. When I spread the word about changing habits, I usually see the kind of frozen smiles that make me sure that if there were an ejection seat, they would push the button. I get it. This is scary stuff, and it’s much easier to go on running the sink at full blast to push a kernel of corn down the drain than it is to be in a constant state of awareness about the water crisis. But this crisis is ours only if we want it. You don’t have to be an activist, a hero or Bono. So, here’s a challenge. Watch the upcoming episodes and pick one thing. Just water your plants with ice cubes. Just don’t buy bottled water. Just pee in the shower, for goodness sake, we don’t even have to know about it! Make one commitment. One. Everyone can do that. Any one of those things could save gallons of water. Do that and believe me it will spread. Trickle! It will trickle into everything else that you do. Hey, any subject that ends on a pun that cheesy can’t be all that scary, can it?

Go Green Vacation

Traditionally, vacation is a time to walk away from your life for a little while – to either experience something new, experience something you love or attempt to experience nothing at all. For me, a few months ago, I went on a vacation to experience something I loved – I visited my sister in California.

While stepping away from my own everyday life, I stepped into an area that seemed hyper-aware of environmentalism. I was staying in the Bay area and it felt like everywhere I went there were recycling bins, I was being asked to bring my own tote bag or there was an ad for locally grown food. Even my sister was hyper-vigilante about how much water she used – all you need to do is check out her blog everylastdrip.blogspot.com to read about her latest water-saving project.

I found the constant eco-reminders to be far from annoying and instead, made not doing them seem ridiculous. I wonder if maybe that’s the answer – inundate communities with easy eco-options and let it all become second nature.

Eco-wise, this particular step away from life felt like a step toward something.

Go Green Home - a closing blog, by Staff Writer, Karen T. Hartline

As we close out Go Green Home week, here’s an idea from WYCD staff writer, Karen T. Hartline about a simple way you can conserve water during your bedtime routine. Read on and go green!

Frenemy
Last night, I was getting ready for bed and my husband walked in on me in the bathroom doing the most embarrassing thing ever! Drum roll please... I was spraying my face with the water from the spray bottle! Did you fall out of your chair in shock? Perhaps you fell out of your chair from shock at what a boring life I must lead. Hey! I'm sure someone more exciting is writing a blog out there! Who needs you! (No, no, come back! ) Anyway, when my husband passed the bathroom, he heard me laughing at myself. He opened the door and said, "Are you spraying your face to save water?" "Yes." Of course! Why do I do anything anymore?

I was thinking... I thought, you know, I really don't have to wet my face with water before I put my cleanser on. I could just give it a couple of sprays and I'm in business. I have two things to say. First, it worked. my face was wet enough to give it a good sudsy wash. Second, it was miserable! Please, someone tell me it's okay to use a whole pint of water to wash my face instead of a half a teaspoon from the spray bottle! Hello? Okay, fine! Perhaps I will actually get used to this. The navy shower has become second nature, why not this. But while everyone loves water: swimming in it, drinking it, gazing at it, bathing in it - no one, but no one likes it coming at them in little misty drips. No one! That's why umbrellas were invented!

When my husband walked in, I was actually laughing at myself for doing this miserable thing, cursing about this spray bottle while voluntarily misting my face. But the point is, I have discovered that the spray bottle can do a lot more than wet the toothbrush and save TONS of water. This morning I went to wet my hair the usual way - by turning on the sink. But then I remembered... Spray bottle!

You know what should be invented (not by me, by someone smart) is a warmer for the water in the spray bottle. Maybe it would be a little less, well, shocking if it were warm water hitting my face. The thing is, when the water sits in the spray bottle, it just gets to room temp, which is not hot enough for me! Oh spray bottle... my new frenemy. You could be just the thing to save the world... and irritate the hell out of me.

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To read more entries from Karen T. Hartline's blog please visit - Every Last Drip