Every Day is Earth Day

Earth Day was April 22, 2010, but we can celebrate it year round by practicing little green habits every day.

Earth Day 2010

Earth Day is an opportunity to remember that the three R's are prioritized. Reduce, reuse and recycle is a mantra with alliteration and purpose.

Reduce
Buy less. Buy less food. The sale on crackers doesn't do anyone much good if they sit stale in the cupboard. Even the greatest outfits can be lost in an over stuffed closet - what a waste! The best part of reducing is saving money. For every reduction, a positive action will reveal itself: less driving leads to more walking or biking and a healthier physique.

Reuse
One may reuse by using the same item for its original function again and again, or by re-purposing the item. A plastic sandwich bag used for dry items like chips can usually be reused without even needing a rinse. Clothing that is not dirty can be worn again before getting tossed into the hamper. Then, there's crafts and finding new uses for old things. With the internet, one doesn't need to be creative; just do a Google search and follow the directions of your selected craft. Here's one for turning old toothbrushes into bracelets.



Recycle
When nothing else can be done, dispose of the product properly. Some recycling centers will offer incentives to get hazardous items to the right facility. For example, Clark Public Utilities customers in Clark County, Wash. may receive a new compact fluorescent bulb for each burnt-out, unbroken one they bring in.

Thrift Store Review:My Father's House Community Thrift

Overall: 3.5
Location: 4
Organization: 3.5
Selection: 4
Cleanliness: 3
Price: 3

My Father's House Community Thrift store is a tidy second hand shop located on 40 NE Midway in Oak Harbor, Wash.

Although in a small facility, My Father's House features good organization, the store is not over crowded with items and most clothes seem to be in good condition. The selection beyond clothing is a bit sparse. There is no furniture in this corner shop, but there are kitchen accessories, knick-knacks and toys.

The selection of clothing holds a few surprises. For the most part, the clothing is not out of the ordinary; however, there were a couple semi-formal dresses with original store tags! One may easily assume that the dresses have never been worn, and the prices were steeper. Altogether, the prices were on par with other thrift stores.

My Father's House Community Thrift is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Thrift Store Review: Brused Books

Overall Rating: 4
Location: 4
Organization: 3
Selection: 5
Cleanliness: 3
Price: 4

Brused Books is a book lover's haven on Main street, Pullman, Wash. It's easy to find and conveniently located near two coffee shops for people interested in an afternoon of literature and lattes.

The entry way is open, but from there on, a long aisle leads customers into the store. The aisle is formed by tall, overflowing bookcases. This creates a whimsical atmosphere, like the shop could be on Diagon Ally. The books are well organized into small sections like nooks. Books lie on the floor, which adds ambiance, but doesn't give an air of cleanliness. The overwhelming amount of books makes for great browsing, surprising finds and overall great selection.

Book prices are fair and there are $1 book racks. For the most part, books are sold at half of original retail value. Other prices are written on the inside of the front cover. The store will accept books in exchange for in-store credit or cash.

Store hours are Monday-Friday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday 12 - 5 p.m.

Thrift Shop Review: Paws-N-Claws Thrift Store

Overall Score: 3
Location: 4
Organization: 2.5
Selection: 3
Cleanliness:2.5
Price: 3

Paws in Claws Thrift Store is a bit of a misnomer. To some, the name implies used pet goods. Although the product selection is not focused on pets, all of the proceeds go to the Humane Society.

The store has a good location for Vancouver area shoppers. It is just a few blocks off of SR-500, and it is near a Walgreens for those who like to bundle their errands. Altogether, Paws-N-Claws is easy to find on 3308 NE 52nd St, Vancouver, Wash.

The store occupies a medium space, but a multitude of goods create a cramped feel. Also, high shelving sections-off certain areas. This technique is good for organization, but increases the claustrophobia effect. Another negative atmosphere attribute was a distinct thrift shop smell - the worst I've smelled in a while.

If shoppers can overlook the surface qualities, the selection is varied with prices that are reasonable. More importantly, the benefits of shopping at Paws-N-Claws are two-fold: help the environment by reusing goods and help a furry friend!

Thrift Store Review: Goodwill

Overall Score: 4

Location: 4

Organization: 4

Selection: 4

Cleanliness:4

Price: varies

The Goodwill in Moscow, Idaho is similar to the Goodwill in Vancouver, Wash. and I'd wager that more than 2,300 Goodwill stores across the country are similar as well. Regardless, there are many consistencies that are beneficial to second hand shopping.

Located right off the Moscow-Pullman highway, Goodwill is easy to access and offers plenty of parking. The building is large and shoppers have plenty of space to peruse the well organized store. Only one area lacks organization: the knick-knack, dishes and kitchen shelves are not shopper-friendly.

Perhaps a mark of corporate standards, the Goodwill in Moscow is kept clean - it barely has that second hand smell! It has a public bathroom, a convenience not found in all retail stores.

The selection is substantial. Seasonal items such as snow shovels and coats are highlighted in the front area.There is a variety of never been used merchandise woven into the selection including socks and random items. This particular store boasts a fine array of 80's night apparel. A quality that is perfect for it's location between two colleges.

Price presents a key downfall for the store. The prices vary from less than $2 for a fancy blouse to more than $10 for good condition jeans. Coats and jackets throw the range even higher. Some are reasonably priced, others around $25 and others even higher. The expensive items seem better fitted for a consignment shop.

Altogether, it's a good place to go for thrift store shopping. As an added benefit, 84 percent of profits help fund Goodwill programs.