I recently wrote about great green lighting options for your home.

But I left out one of the best, most environmentally friendly ways to add personality and illumination to your rooms: by making (or remaking) lighting from materials you already have.

Updating the lighting in your home can be as easy as jazzing up an existing lamp. I’m a fan of scouring thrift shops and other places for great old lamps, then remaking them. With a bold splash of (no-VOC) paint, a ho-hum wooden lamp looks fantastic in no time.

Purchase an old lamp at a secondhand store and remake it with paint on the base and wallpaper, wrapping paper, or fabric on the shade. Voila! A stylish new lamp in no time. Photo By Kristin Roach/Courtesy Flickr.  

It’s also easy to add personality to a plain-Jane shade. Attach ribbon, buttons, fabric, wallpaper, leaves, photos—you name it. Anything you have lying around is fair game.

Of course, you can also make a lamp from scratch. Lamp kits come with the basic components you need to transform everyday items into functional lighting options, and most only cost a couple of bucks.

With some creativity and a touch of craftiness, objects ranging from vases and boxes to baskets can serve as lamp bases.

It’s hard to believe, but this striking pendant is made from old egg cartons. Photo by Project H Design/Courtesy Flickr. 

Another bright idea: opt for a hanging kit to transform paper globes, mason jars, tea cups, or even egg cartons into striking pendants. Really!

A host of other supplies you may have on hand—think chopsticks or twigs can be transformed into terrific lighting too.

So what are you waiting for? Get to brainstorming and get crafty.

Design inspiration could come from almost anything. Just take a look at these amazing decor pieces crafted from one of the most discarded materials you could find—plastic bottles. So the next time you get ready to take your rubbish to the recycling bin, think twice. You could upcycle your trash into something eco-fabulous for practically no cost.

At first glance you would never guess this artful chandelier is composed of plastic bottles. Sisters Reta Howell and Vana Howell of THIS Gallery turn locally salvaged plastic bottles from schoolyards, parks and other public places into CFL-lit handmade lamps. The lamps are hardened by a fusion process that gives them a glass-like ethereal glow.

This lamp by designers Reta Howell and Vana Howell at THIS Gallery was created from more than 30 discarded plastic bottles. Photo Courtesy THISGallery/Etsy.com.

Sometimes you see someone else’s clever handiwork and wonder how the idea escaped you. That’s exactly what I thought when I came across Denise Carbonell’s mod mobile that she made by slicing plastic bottles into organic shapes, punching holes into them and stringing them up with fish wire. It’s easy, green and way too funky not to try yourself.

This mobile is made from sliced plastic bottles. Photo By Denise Carbonell/Courtesy Flickr.

Salvaged decor can be glamorous, too. Environmental designer Michelle Brand, who finds beautiful solutions to dealing with everyday trash, designed exquisite lighting fixtures and installations from decorative “fabric” she weaves from plastic bottles.

Environmental designer Michelle Brand finds beautiful solutions to everyday trash. Photo Courtesy Michelle Brand Environmental Design.

Recycling plastics requires energy and raw materials, but reusing them as fashionable home decor only requires raw talent.

Editor's Note: Natural Home does not recommend, approve or endorse the products/services offered by companies guest bloggers review online. You should use your own judgment and evaluate products and services carefully before deciding to purchase. 

Enjoy a couple of scoops of ice cream this month to not only beat the heat, but also to celebrate a national holiday because July is National Ice Cream Month.

President Ronald Reagan gave July this tasty title in 1984. He also designated the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day. This year that day falls on Sunday, July 19.

To celebrate this Sunday (and maybe the rest of the month too), fill up your bowl with organic ice cream or homemade ice cream!

Chow down on a couple of scoops of organic ice cream to celebrate National Ice Cream Month. Photo By sea turtle/Courtesy Flickr

For an organic ice cream option, try Stonyfield Farm Organic Ice Cream. These pints of ice cream come in seven tasty flavors. You can even get a coupon on Stonyfield Farm’s website.

If you want completely natural ice cream, try these two methods for making this tasty frozen treat yourself.

Method 1: Use an Ice Cream Maker

Follow this delicious recipe for Double Chubby Cherry Ice Cream using all organic ingredients. Once the ice cream mixture is complete, use an ice cream maker to form the ice cream. To conserve energy (and get a work out!) use a manual ice cream maker that you crank yourself. If you don’t want to wear out your arms, take turns with family and friends to finish cranking the ice cream.

Method 2: Use Two Coffee Cans

For this method you need two coffee cans. One must be larger than the other.

1. To make one serving of the ice cream mixture, combine 1/2 cup organic milk, 1 tablespoon organic sugar and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract, chocolate syrup or cocoa powder in the smaller coffee can and seal it tightly.

2. Put ice and rock salt in the larger coffee can, then place the smaller coffee can in the larger coffee can and seal it tightly.

3. Shake the large can vigorously for 10 minutes. Then check the mixture to see if ice crystals are forming. If they are, stir or whisk the mixture. Continue shaking until ice cream forms. Make sure to eat this ice cream immediately.

Also check out these herbal ice cream recipes.

Do you have another method for do-it-yourself ice cream? What flavor of ice cream will you be enjoying this month? Leave me a comment and let me know!

As I look out the window of my office gray clouds cover the sky, hinting at rain. I check the forecast online—it’s supposed to storm all weekend. Unfortunately not all summer days are sunny. Try these green indoor activities to perk up a gloomy day.

Perk yourself up on a rainy day with these green activities. Photo By pshutterbug/Courtesy Flickr

Eliminate clutter

Go through your clothes and decide what you can toss. If you can’t remember the last time you wore it, chances are you don’t need it.

Try swapping your clothes with friends rather than throwing away your used clothes. You could even host a “clothing swap party” and barter your clothes with a group of friends.

For the clothes that none of your friends take, try repurposing them. Turn old sweaters into oven mitts (use only 100 percent wool) or use old sweater pieces to make patchwork blankets or pillow covers. Tear T-shirts into rags for dusting or washing the car. Turn the top half of jeans into a retro purse by sewing the leg holes closed and attaching a belt for a strap. Check out more tips for greening your closet.

If you plan on donating your old clothes, don’t stuff them in plastic trash bags. Pack them in reusable cloth bags to take to the drop-off location.

The average household receives 900 pieces of junk mail a year. Go through all of the extra envelopes, coupons and credit card applications you have lying around and chuck them in the recycling bin.

Start a project

Make a cute, quirky lunch tote out of old plastic bags. Try this easy project using materials you have lying around your home. All you need to complete this project is 4 to 8 plastic bags, an iron, wax paper, clothes pins and a ruler.

Play a green game

Visit Planet Green Game to play a free green game online.

Starbucks collaborated with Global Green USA, a national environmental nonprofit organization, to create the game. After looking at how greenhouse gas emissions associated with its operations negatively impacted the environment, Starbucks created the game to educate the public (and itself) about climate change.

The game takes place in the fictional town of Evergreen. Players look for ways to reduce CO2 emissions and reduce the impact of global warming. They earn points by completing various green challenges.

Continue your green web-browsing by taking an online quiz to test your knowledge about air, water and land.

Bake organic

Create something sugary and delicious with organic ingredients. In your recipes for cookies, cakes and pies try using organic flour, sugar, eggs, butter, chocolate, etc. I suggest using Organic Turbinado Sugar and Organic Shaman Chocolates.

Try this tasty recipe for Cherry Chocolate Scones.

If baking from scratch is too much for you, try the baking mixes from

Pamela’s Products . These simple mixes use gluten-free, organic ingredients.

Do you have any fun green activities to brighten up a rainy day? Tell me about them in the comment section.

After reading about how to treat a nasty sunburn naturally, I got to thinking: What other fantastic natural beauty tips and DIY treatments do people have? I know some of the basics—vinegar rinse for hair, essential oil facial steams, olive oil cuticle treatment—but what about those vintage green, ancient-Chinese-secret tips?

Tell me: What are your best natural beauty tips?

Come on, Natural Home fans—tell me your favorite natural face mud mask concoction!  Photo By Neeta Lind/Courtesy Flickr

If you've got them, spill them! The best tipsters will receive an organic cotton Natural Home tote bag (rules apply—comment by Friday, July 10, 2009). Leave your tips in the comments section below.

At the core of every Hawaiian’s values is the notion of malama ka `aina, meaning to care for and live in harmony with the land. By simply taking care and respecting the land, it will sustain life. This straightforward relationship has been honored for thousands of years, since the Polynesians followed the stars to the shores of Hawaii. 

To take care of the land, certain practices must be implemented such as conservation and sustainable use. Growing up in Hawaii, these terms along with catchy phrase “use only what you need," were frequently discussed in classrooms as well as at the dining room table. Now that I live on the “mainland” these practices and discussions are not as prevalent as they should be.  

Part of malama ka `aina is every one doing their share, whether it is as small as conserving energy consumption by turning off the lights when you leave the room or as big as running your home on a renewable energy source. Although my home in Denver, Colorado does operate off of solar panels, I try to do my fair share with the simple phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle” and if I may add recreate. 

One of my favorite activities to do with my dad is shell hunting. Together we comb beaches for these treasures; as a result I have shells all over my house. Using a hand full of shells, here is a craft project that not only reminds me Hawaii, but also honors malama ka `aina. This is an easy project that will decorate your walls and use all recycled materials with the exception to glue. 

Supplies: hot glue gun, glue sticks, various shells and canvas or colored paper. 

Map the layout of your shell pattern.
With the hot glue gun, take the shell and place glue on the backside and continue this for the remaining shells. 

Now it’s your turn: What do you do to take care of the land?

It's interesting how this is changing. We are going back to basics again: growing our own food, shopping locally and (aha!) mixing up our own beauty concoctions. In an effort to save a little and feed my skin a lot, I've been playing around in the kitchen some more. Here are my top three tips for detoxifying home beauty treats you can whip up in no time.

Nail Nourisher
Break out the olive oil, friends. This rich oil is loaded with moisturizing and skin soothing properties.

Fill a shot glass half full with olive oil. Dip a cotton ball or cotton swab into the olive oil and smooth it onto your cuticles and nailbeds (don't forget your toes!). This will soften your cuticles and prevent them from getting hangnail-ish or irritated.

Use a wash cloth and gently push back your cuticles, but do not cut them with a cuticle trimmer! Your cuticles are there to protect you from bacteria, and removing them heightens germs' chances of getting into your system.

If you have any olive oil remaining, keep it to use on the ends of your hair to soften and seal split ends (just make sure to rinse throroughly with cold water!).

Mini Facial
All you need is a mixing bowl, hot water and a couple drops of your favorite essential oil to get a fresh, steam cleaning for your face.

Fill a large mixing bowl with hot water. Quickly add a couple drops of your favorite essential oil (I like tea tree) to the water. Grab a towel big enough to drape over your head and the bowl. Put your face (if you have long hair, pull it back into a ponytail and use a headband) over the bowl, about 2 inches away to avoid scalding, and drape the towel over your head to trap the heat. Relax, and breathe in the calming or invigorating scents of the hot oils. The steam helps open up pores, and the essential oils are comforting for your senses. Stay under for about 5-10 minutes, then come up for fresh air. Blot your skin with the towel, and enjoy your freshly steamed, flushed face! Remember, reuse the water in your garden.

Natural Hair Rinse
If you have product buildup in your hair, strip it clean of its commercial toxins with our favorite cleaning product: vinegar!

We've all hailed the cleaning powers of vinegar time and time again, but did you know it works wonders on your hair, too? There's no special recipe for this hair detox, so simply mix one part vinegar (I use apple cider vinegar) with one or two parts warm water. At the end of your shower, pour the mix over your hair. Done! You should notice instant shine and bounciness.

What are your natural beauty secrets? Share them with other users here! The commenter with the best, most unusual beauty tips will receive an organic cotton Natural Home tote bag!