Parties often involve a lot of fun, AND a lot of garbage. It doesn't really need to be so. Here are some good tips for greening your next party.
Keg- comes in a re-usable container and you can fill it with local beer.
Dishes- Think re-usable. It will only take a moment to stick it in the dishwasher. There are some nice plastic sets out there too- so guests don't break your glasses (you know who you are!).
Cleanup- keep some clean rags on hand- we've really cut down on our use of paper towels.
Carpooling- Evite offers a great carpooling option-very handy.
Recycling- Many a guest will bring a 6 pack of beer. Keep garbage/recycling clearly marked so clean up is easier.
Stay Tuned and Stay Green
Patty Sylvana
Green Realtor
Keller Williams Realty
patty@austingreenrealtors.com
(512) 297-5658
Monday, January 28, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Barnraisers
Never raised a barn? Don't worry! The Barnraisers haven't either. The concept comes from an Amish tradition of a community coming together to raise a barn. Taking on work that might go above and beyond the ability of a single family, the Barnraiser teams join together and get stuff done at each others homes.
Our group is in its 3rd year, and I am amazed at the stuff we get done, not to mention the things I learn as we go to other homes. We started with one group, now there are 4. Here are some basic concepts, feel free to start one yourself!
1. Chose people you'd like to socialize with that are also responsible and reliable.
2. Pick dates and times that work for everyone (we meet up for 1 full day every other month).
3. If you are hosting, send out reminders, (our hosts also buy breakfast and lunch and beer).
4. If you are hosting make sure someone is there that knows how to carry out your project, and that you either beg/borrow or steal the supplies and tools you need.
5. Get some before photos
6. Have fun working together with your friends.
7 Get some after photos.
8. Take a hot bath and pass out.
It can be hard work depending on your group style, but it also offers a great sense of accomplishment. When so many people sit at desks for most of their week, having a day of hard labor is a nice change of pace.
We've taken on projects large and small- painting, building decks, laying tile, installing wood floors, putting up stucco underskirting, staining and sealing wood, putting up walls, digging pathways, and yard work. We've done a lot! The best part are the before and after photos.
Barnraising is a great Green activity because while you are collaborating with others, you also end up sharing resources. Don't have a tile saw? Someone in the group might have it. Have a small tile project? Someone in the group might have some extra tile that you can use. Instead of buying more tools and supplies, you are making a better use of resources all around.
Stay tunes and stay Green-
Your green Realtor
Patty Sylvana
Keller Williams Realty
Realtor by Trade, Green at Heart
www.AustinGreenRealtors.com
(512) 297-5658
Our group is in its 3rd year, and I am amazed at the stuff we get done, not to mention the things I learn as we go to other homes. We started with one group, now there are 4. Here are some basic concepts, feel free to start one yourself!
1. Chose people you'd like to socialize with that are also responsible and reliable.
2. Pick dates and times that work for everyone (we meet up for 1 full day every other month).
3. If you are hosting, send out reminders, (our hosts also buy breakfast and lunch and beer).
4. If you are hosting make sure someone is there that knows how to carry out your project, and that you either beg/borrow or steal the supplies and tools you need.
5. Get some before photos
6. Have fun working together with your friends.
7 Get some after photos.
8. Take a hot bath and pass out.
It can be hard work depending on your group style, but it also offers a great sense of accomplishment. When so many people sit at desks for most of their week, having a day of hard labor is a nice change of pace.
We've taken on projects large and small- painting, building decks, laying tile, installing wood floors, putting up stucco underskirting, staining and sealing wood, putting up walls, digging pathways, and yard work. We've done a lot! The best part are the before and after photos.
Barnraising is a great Green activity because while you are collaborating with others, you also end up sharing resources. Don't have a tile saw? Someone in the group might have it. Have a small tile project? Someone in the group might have some extra tile that you can use. Instead of buying more tools and supplies, you are making a better use of resources all around.
Stay tunes and stay Green-
Your green Realtor
Patty Sylvana
Keller Williams Realty
Realtor by Trade, Green at Heart
www.AustinGreenRealtors.com
(512) 297-5658
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Painting for Lazy People
I'm a part of this group that goes around like little elves and fixes each others houses. Well, but elves are quiet. We're quite a social rowdy bunch. Its the barnraisers- more on that later.
The group was due at my house for some serious paint job makeover work. I surfed the web, and low and behold, I am now really good at painting. Here are the tips:
1. buy nice brushes- angled, Purdy is a good brand. Spend the money, believe me its worth it. Put your name on them because everyone will want to borrow them. You'll want a large, medium and small.
2. Do away with taping altogether! Weee! No tape. Tape never worked well for me anyhow. With your amazing angled brush, you can get close to the edge, bend the brush against the wall and slide the brush along- long side first. You want to get that very edge section first, then flip the brush over and go along the same section with downtward pulls. The one key to this technique is - Take Your Time. Its still faster than taping.
3. Be generous to the walls. Don't try to make the paint last, it will mean twice as much work while you add that second layer. Keep your brush nicely coated, but not dripping.
4. Rollers- there are wool rollers out there that work amazingly well. No little spackles of paint everywhere. Wash off great, re-use it a bunch of times.
5. Paint- please get yourself to a reputable paint store. I've enjoyed Sherwin Williams Harmony (low voc) line. I've been disappointed with the large chain store paints because I always end up having to add twice the paint for the same coverage.
6. Get low fume paint- Low VOC or Zero VOC paints are now readily available everywhere. And you won't have to sleep at your friends house while your house off-gasses. Hows that for convenient?
Enjoy your lazy painting!
Stay Tuned and Stay Green-
Patty Sylvana
Green Realtor
Keller Williams Realty
Realtor by Trade, Green at Heart
patty@austingreenrealtors.com
The group was due at my house for some serious paint job makeover work. I surfed the web, and low and behold, I am now really good at painting. Here are the tips:
1. buy nice brushes- angled, Purdy is a good brand. Spend the money, believe me its worth it. Put your name on them because everyone will want to borrow them. You'll want a large, medium and small.
2. Do away with taping altogether! Weee! No tape. Tape never worked well for me anyhow. With your amazing angled brush, you can get close to the edge, bend the brush against the wall and slide the brush along- long side first. You want to get that very edge section first, then flip the brush over and go along the same section with downtward pulls. The one key to this technique is - Take Your Time. Its still faster than taping.
3. Be generous to the walls. Don't try to make the paint last, it will mean twice as much work while you add that second layer. Keep your brush nicely coated, but not dripping.
4. Rollers- there are wool rollers out there that work amazingly well. No little spackles of paint everywhere. Wash off great, re-use it a bunch of times.
5. Paint- please get yourself to a reputable paint store. I've enjoyed Sherwin Williams Harmony (low voc) line. I've been disappointed with the large chain store paints because I always end up having to add twice the paint for the same coverage.
6. Get low fume paint- Low VOC or Zero VOC paints are now readily available everywhere. And you won't have to sleep at your friends house while your house off-gasses. Hows that for convenient?
Enjoy your lazy painting!
Stay Tuned and Stay Green-
Patty Sylvana
Green Realtor
Keller Williams Realty
Realtor by Trade, Green at Heart
patty@austingreenrealtors.com
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Home Buying for Freaks, Weirdos and Artists
Home Buying for Freaks, Weirdos and Artists
SAVE THE DATE!
Homebuying for Freaks, Weirdos and Artists
Tuesday, January 22nd
6:30pm
Hosted at Land America Austin Title
3708 Spicewood Springs Rd, Suite 100
Austin, TX 78759
Topics:
- Convincing the bank to loan you money- by Mark Abernathy, Mortgage Broker Extraordinaire
- Buying with a friend or enemy (collaborative purchases and condo-ization)
- Finding and buying your unique home (home and land hunting) by Patty Sylvana, Realtor Extraordinaire
- How artistic can I be with my home? (building code in Austin and Travis County), by John Umphress, Green Building Code Specialist Extraoidinaire
Save the Date and RSVP to me: patty@AustinGreenRealtors.com
This is your green Realtor signing off-
Stay tuned and stay green
Patty Sylvana
green Realtor
Keller Williams Realty
patty@austingreenrealtors.com
(512) 297-5658
SAVE THE DATE!
Homebuying for Freaks, Weirdos and Artists
Tuesday, January 22nd
6:30pm
Hosted at Land America Austin Title
3708 Spicewood Springs Rd, Suite 100
Austin, TX 78759
Topics:
- Convincing the bank to loan you money- by Mark Abernathy, Mortgage Broker Extraordinaire
- Buying with a friend or enemy (collaborative purchases and condo-ization)
- Finding and buying your unique home (home and land hunting) by Patty Sylvana, Realtor Extraordinaire
- How artistic can I be with my home? (building code in Austin and Travis County), by John Umphress, Green Building Code Specialist Extraoidinaire
Save the Date and RSVP to me: patty@AustinGreenRealtors.com
This is your green Realtor signing off-
Stay tuned and stay green
Patty Sylvana
green Realtor
Keller Williams Realty
patty@austingreenrealtors.com
(512) 297-5658
Monday, January 7, 2008
Is Commuting Worth it?
Valuable to Live Close to Your Job? Let the Numbers do the Talking- Many of you know how Iove the numbers! What can I say, I'm kind of a geek that way. Here is a great site that can actually calculate the value of living close to where you work. It will show you that you often spend more on commuting than you would paying more for a house! Plus, think of all the time you'll have for yourself. Saves some green by living closer to work. Thanks to Jack Miller for sending the link.
CLICK HERE TO RUN THE NUMBERS!
This is your green Realtor
Stay tuned and stay green-
Patty Sylvana
Green Realtor
Realtor by Trade, Green at Heart
Keller Williams Realty
patty@austingreenrealtors.com
(512) 297-5658
CLICK HERE TO RUN THE NUMBERS!
This is your green Realtor
Stay tuned and stay green-
Patty Sylvana
Green Realtor
Realtor by Trade, Green at Heart
Keller Williams Realty
patty@austingreenrealtors.com
(512) 297-5658
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