After researching the matter for a couple of weeks, I decided to make a change in my home . . . a lighting change.

5 minutes on any “green” website will tell you that switching from incandescent light bulbs to fluorescent light bulbs is a VERY smart move. Fluorescent light bulbs use significantly less wattage which means that they use a lot less energy. Less energy usage = fewer resources (which is better for the environment) and smaller costs to you on your monthly power bill. Sounds perfect, eh?

The complaint has always been that the light they provide looks garish, because it is still a fluorescent light. However, after reading on websites that the lighting had improved significantly, I decided to go to the store to look for the squiggly light bulbs.

Imagine my surprise when I happened upon the light bulbs in Harris Teeter. Yes, regular grocery store. And while there were some squiggly light bulbs, I was delighted to discover a bulb that looked just like a regular light bulb. 16 watt bulb that has the appearance of a 60 watt bulb. Cost - $8.50. I bought three and scampered home.

Imagine my delight and wonderment when I turned on my lamps in my room AND COULDN’T TELL THE DIFFERENCE!!!!! I called my roommates into my room, individually, and they couldn’t tell a difference either! These light bulbs create light that looks just like regular light bulbs, and they are supposed to last 6 years!!!!!!!

According to the website, my new Philips Marathon Classic 60 light bulbs:

* Philips Marathon Classic energy savers feature advanced SmartBase Technology™ and ALTO® Lamp Technology to create smaller compact fluorescent light bulbs that are better for the environment
* Use up to 70% less energy than standard incandescent light bulbs, saving you money on your utility bills
* Provide a soft white light ideal for any room in your home
* Last up to 6 years, saving you the hassle of replacing burnt out light bulbs
* Are Energy Star qualified

I’m in absolute awe over here! And I’m going to go back to the store and get more to replace the other light bulbs in the apartment. I mean, seriously, these are amazing. And supposedly Wal-Mart is starting to sell them, so they’re available everywhere.

If helping save our planet isn’t enough of an incentive, think about how much money you could save on your power bill, and PLEASE go out and buy these for your home! Just replacing one light bulb will make a big difference!

Better for the environment, cheaper monthly bills, AND you can’t tell a difference?! Works for me!

Thirteen Things about LINDSEY!

1. I’m going insane lately - life is so incredibly busy that I haven’t had any time to post here on my blog, and that makes me sad at myself :(. But, I’m gonna do my Thirteen this week! I apologize for not doing it last week!

2. One reason I’m super psycho busy is because of the show, which is going FABULOUSLY. It is in intense crazy hard amount of work, but we’re loving every single minute of it. If you’re within a three hour radius of Winston-Salem, NC, I HIGHLY recommend you consider coming to see the show. We were just published on the cover of ArtView Magazine, and we have 2 more magazine covers coming out in the next week or so! Tickets can be bought at our website.

3. The other main reason that I’m going crazy is because my work from the classes that I took incompletes in last semester is due on Monday, and I have a ton left. I have a make up exam on Friday, so I’m nervous about that. The rest is due by email on Monday . . . lots of prayers are what I need.

4. This weekend we’re going to Charleston, SC to see a magic show. It’s by some 18 year old kid, and while it’s not similar in concept to what we’re doing (we’re taking “magic show” a step further and creating theatre from it), we are curious to see what someone else relatively close to us in age is doing. So, that should be interesting - especially since I’ve never been to Charleston! I’m excited :).

5. Also, my best friend Stephanie came to visit this past weekend. Technically she was here for a recruiting visit for Teach for America, but she stayed at my apartment, so we got to visit some. Not as much as we wanted to, because we were both incredibly busy, but it was the first time I’d seen her since August, so that was really awesome. I miss her tons.

6. A few friends and I started a NASCAR Fantasy League on the NASCAR website. We’re so ridiculous (especially since about half of us have no clue what we’re doing, and the other half are RIDICULOUSLY intense about the whole thing . . . they REALLY know what they’re doing). It makes us smile, and that’s what’s important ;).

7. I’m not having a hard time with getting ideas for posts and things at Reading Red Letters . . . I just have NO TIME to post there. I’m barely posting here, and when I am posting, it’s little quizzes and things. I want to spend my time writing those posts, and that’s something that I haven’t had time for. If you’ve been checking over there, please don’t get discouraged - as soon as this show is over on the 26th and my midterms are over on the 27th, I’m going to start some hardcore blogging over there. Watch out ;).

8. Does anyone have any fun new recipes to share? I have a few recipes that I use over and over again because they’re quick, and I realized that I’d like some variety if anyone would like to offer me some, haha! If you send me your recipes, I’ll post them on here with a link to your site!

9. I enjoyed answering your questions before, so send me more! What do you want to know about me? What do you want to hear me talk about?

10. I auditioned for a show yesterday and got called back! It’s a great Woody Allen play called Old Saybrook. Callbacks were today, and I think they went well, so fingers crossed! The cast list is supposed to be posted by Friday night!

11. We found out our lighting designer (an off-Broadway lighting designer, so a big deal!) will be coming in half a week earlier than we thought he would. YAY!!!

12. We’re going to be the morning segment in the news in a week and a half for the local Fox News affiliate. We’re going to be doing some smaller sleight of hand tricks as well as one of our grand illusions. So watch for us if you’re local!

13. Matt and Ben almost got ticketed for hanging up flyers tonight . . . hehehehe. A cop saw them putting them up and said they were hanging them against the ordinance, but he was just going to give them a warning. Check out our blog, Ben said he was gonna post about it.

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1. Nicole

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