Paint giveaway, hydrogen-cell minivans and high-fructose corn syrup – Friday wrap-up

This week has been packed with interesting news — and it’s especially appropriate for homeowners and parents.
New car option on the way?
When I posted last week about the Chevy Volt, someone commented that they were waiting for a fuel-efficient vehicle that can accommodate a larger family. Apparently, Chrysler *might* be thinking about doing just [...]

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What we get from living near a grocery store

Sometimes I take for granted the immense convenience that comes from living in our highly walkable neighborhood. We are about two blocks from the door of one grocery store, and another block or so from another. This morning I was thinking about the many ways this location benefits our lives:

No driving. Occasionally we do park [...]

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Super sugary soccer snacks

Our soccer team alternates bringing snacks after the game each week. Two weeks ago, the snack included a bottle of Sunny Delight. My daughter asked what it was, and I said “an orange drink.” She took a couple of swigs and handed me the bottle.

“I don’t think I want to drink that,” she said. “It tastes like junk food.”

This week, it’s my turn to bring the post-game snacks. Any suggestions?

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Friday wrap: Organic butter coupons, chiming in for NYC cycling rights

Get your organic butter on … cheaper
The Nourished Kitchen this week is giving away coupons for Organic Valley butter. If you’d like to sign on for the coupons, visit her site and post a comment. (Thanks to L’An for the alert.)
New Yorkers, help No Impact Man fight bike/car rage
On Thursday, No Impact Man (Colin [...]

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Update on a stalled garden

July in Denver was arid and hot; August was cool and wet; and for the garden, September is like the August we never had. In terms of the garden, our plants went on hiatus and are just now getting back into the swing of things.
The Roma tomatoes are big, but just now beginning to turn [...]

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The (almost) gasless car is (almost) here

Chevrolet has unveiled the final production model of its Volt, a car that can travel 40 miles on a battery charge … without any gas. They say it will be available in 2010.
It’s not a Flintstone-style, foot-powered vehicle. Instead you fill the tank with gas, and the gas powers a generator that can charge the [...]

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Friday wrap-up: Stainless freezer ware, dog costs, SmartFlix and how to spend

This week brings a menagerie of money and earth-saving ideas.

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Finally, IKEA comes to Denver

This exciting news flash came across my desktop on Wednesday:
Home furnishings retailer Ikea said Wednesday it will build a 400,000-square-foot store in Centennial.
But the Swedish company said it could take years before its first Colorado location opens. Construction of the Centennial store won’t begin until Ikea completes stores in Sommerville, Mass., Charlotte, N.C., and Tampa, [...]

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Planning for home expenses

The worst aspect of homeownership is the continual parade of unexpected expenses — a headache made more specific in this article about planning for expenses that will arise when you buy a home.
Looking at homeownership as this article does makes it plain that the “unexpected” expenses really aren’t unexpected — just unplanned and significant.
I disagree [...]

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Flowers whose beauty is more than skin deep

My wedding anniversary is coming up next month. Usually, I don’t receive flowers (more often a nice dinner or a bottle of wine), but if I do this year, I hope they’re roses from Costco.
Just because I’m cheap? Nope — in the latest Costco Connection newsletter, an article announces that all roses sold at Costco [...]

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