Let There Be Light

It's amazing what we take for granted.  Each day we go through our normal routines.  We wake each morning to our alarm clocks, turn on the lights, make coffee, do laundry...the list goes on and on.  For all of this to happen we need power.  Hurricane Sandy happened over two weeks ago.  For so many people, it is just a memory.  However, for so many other people this is still a very harsh reality.  One of my close friends texted me last night that she finally got power after 14 days!!  Several other close friends still do not have power (can you even imagine what your life would be like after two full weeks without any power??).  I have lived in New York my whole life and I have never seen or experienced anything like this.  All of this got me to thinking...

about all of the lamps and lighting in my home.  

This luxury I take for granted.

Admittedly, I have never been very energy conscious.

Waiting on three hour lines to fill my car with gas (or figuring out if my license plate ends is an odd or even number - I didn't even know my license plate number until this week) has given me an opportunity to give it some thought.

What if there was a simple way to save energy?

So I started to do a bit of research and found out some interesting things.

Did you know that if every American home replaced just one light bulb with a compact fluorescent bulb (cfl bulbs which have earned the Energy Star), it would save enough energy to light 3 million homes for a year, save almost $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year (which is the same as what would be caused by 800,000 cars)!  All by replacing just one light bulb!  LED light bulbs for home  use provide higher quality light and use less energy than other types of bulbs, plus LED's last approximately 100,000 hours.  Another great way to be a more environmentally friendly and cost-conscious home-owner.

So next time you go to replace a light bulb, maybe you can consider changing it with one that is more energy efficient.  I know that's what I will be doing from now on.

Don't forget to stop back tonight for my Fall into Fall party.

The link opens at 8pm EST.  

Hope to see you then.

-Judy

Disclosure - This was a sponsored post, however all of the thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.  

G-O-A-L...Hey, Hey...Hey Hey Hey

G-O-A-L, G-O-A-L, Hey, hey...hey, hey, hey!!  Well that's the song I can't get out of my head.  The goal song that the NY Rangers hockey team plays every time they score a goal.  

My son is a HUGE fan and rarely misses a game.  

This is a photo of the goal light they use at the Rangers games.  

It's not always that easy to find lighting that is "all boy".  

When we were in Lowes the other day we came across a work light that looked just like the goal light.  

Even though it was in the work light section, it was the perfect fit for my 14 year old son's closet.

My son still had one of the original builder's lights in his closet.  

It seemed like the perfect place to add my son's own goal light.

My husband removed the old light...

and we replaced it with this.  My son thinks this is the coolest thing.

The hole from the old builder's light was not the same size as the new fixture 

so I bought a plain ceiling medallion to mask the difference.

My son really wanted a red light bulb, but when we tried the red bulb, you couldn't see anything in his closet. I told him the light also has to be practical.  So for now we will use a regular light bulb.  We still have the red bulb for those times he needs to feel like it's the real thing.

Pretty cool for a hockey-loving 14 year old.  

Don't forget to stop back tonight for my Swing into Spring party.

The party opens at 8pm EST.  Hope to see you then.

-Judy

Christmas Stairway

My entry is another favorite place for me to decorate for Christmas.  I love how a railing looks wrapped in garland and lights.  It greets all who come through my front door.  I hope it provides that warm, family feeling to all who visit.  I have a two story entry which begs to be decorated.  I think the garland gives the staircase a grand appearance.

I started with green garland that has wired branches that are bendable.  That's important because I use some of those branches to actually attach it to the railing.  Before I actually attach it to the railing, I wrap the garland in white lights.  I start at the bottom of the railing and work my way up the stairs.  That way if I am slightly off, it isn't as noticeable at the top.

I used wired ribbon and floral wire to make the bows which are placed throughout.

Goofy mans the stairs.  On the table is Santa counting down the days until Christmas.

There are also sugar plums and flowers on the garland as well.

I especially love the stairway when it is lit up at night.

It's really beginning to look and feel a lot like Christmas in my home.  I'd love to hear what you think.  I always appreciate your comments.

-Judy