Time is flying....

Oh, how time has flown! Summer is here and in full swing, and so is our social schedule! One great thing about keeping a blog is that it is kind of like when you were younger and you would go each year to the same part of the house for your new height measurement. You stand there for a moment and reflect on how far you have come.

I work in a small office, and I noticed that a lot of plastic bottles and tin cans were going into the trash (we do not recycle there) each day. I decided that I was going to take them home at the end of each day and recycle everyone else's items with my own. On my 3rd day of doing this, one co-worker told me that she loves that I am so into the eco-movement. Another co-worker told me that I cannot save the planet on my own so why even try. After she said that, she went onto say that once her baby is born, she is going to be filling up landfills with disposable diapers.

It was really hard for me not to say anything about how I want to make sure that we pass this planet onto our kids in the best possible shape we can, and I am sure she can respect that, given that she is pregnant, right?

It's really hard when I come upon people who share those same ideals. I am of the belief that although I cannot single-handedly save the planet, that enough people like me, acting and thinking like me, can surely make a difference. Every little bit counts, right? And why would you make the choice to rain on someone else's parade? Just because I have not opted to have children at this point in my life does not mean I would ever ridicule her decision, nor should she ridicule my decision to become more eco-aware. Although it is everyone's responsibility to save this one precious planet, I have accepted that I am going to have to bear the burden for others (those who will wish to reap when they have chosen not to sow) and work extra hard.

Sometimes my husband gets crabby about my new endeavour. He LOVES to drive - if I would let him, we would just drive around all day on Sunday and do nothing but drive and hang out in the car. I am so aware of every mile we drive, of every place we eat that has disposable diningware, of every item that goes into our trash. In order for me to win the war, I have had to lose some domestic battles, such as my wanting to make my own laundry detergent, wanting to line-dry 100% of our laundry, etc. Today we watched "An Inconvenient Truth" and I think I saw some of it starting to sink in - only time will tell.

Each day I marvel at how far we have come, and how we are now more aware than we used to be. I am hoping that very soon we can move back to our "hometown" which is far more eco-friendly than the blue-collar factory town we are in. Then my trips to Trader Joe's and The Farmer's Market will be the rule; not the exception.

The birthday is a-coming

I turn 29 in a few weeks, so people are asking for my wishlist. Wow - it's really green this year!

-Pretty Sigg water bottle (not Thermos or any other brand - only Sigg)
-Bamboo towel & washcloth
-Bamboo sheets
-Essential oils in: Tea Tree, Lavender, Orange, Lemon & Clary Sage
-More reusable bags - there is a store in CA that sells really pretty ones I hear....

Of course, I don't think anyone will buy these items, and I will just buy them for myself with the cash I usually get, but still...!

This really makes me realize what a lifestyle change this is becoming...

I am addicted to going green.

I am so addicted - it's like a competition with myself now.

Yesterday we celebrated Mother's Day with Joel's mom. We went and bought her a pretty giftbag with flowers on it to put her gift in. It was $1. Then last nite I realized that my own birthday is coming soon, and I will soon see an influx of similar bags. And them BAM! - it hit me. Why do I buy these bags, when for $1, I could buy an eco-friendly bag that the person can re-use when they go shopping? They are only $1 at Target, Wal-Mart or Pick N Save. So, going forward, gifts are being delivered in said eco-bags, when possible.

Speaking of said eco-bags, I am getting a LOT better about using them. The trick is to have one everywhere - one in my car and one in Joel's, one in my desk at work and one or two at home. I am addicted to buying them. There is one at Macy's that my heart is yearning for now.

I am going to be learning more about the environment - I rented 'An Inconvenient Truth' - it should be coming this week.

Getting from here to there without destroying the planet

So, my husband and I are newer to our area, and part of my job is to drive to peoples' homes. I have a pretty terrible sense of direction, so I always have to print out from Google maps. This week I went to 4 homes, which means 4 maps. I realized how wasteful that was, and since I am a gadget geek, I immediately realized my next big purchase: GPS! No papers to print ever! I researched and found one that I like a lot and is relatively inexpensive: Garmin nuvi 200. It retails for $199 at Best Buy (or Worst Buy, if you are a stickler for customer service), but checking my local Target ad (online, of course!) I see that Target has it for $149 this week! Score!

Good books

I just finished "Wake Up and Smell The Planet", which was a great book. At times, a little intimidating with too much info at once, but great overall. I just picked up and started Gorgeously Green today and so far, it's really awesome. She talks about the daily struggles to go green without going overboard, but also knowing which battles to fight.

So far this is not something I have talked about, but while my resolution is thrilling and exciting every single day and every single task I do, it can also be overwhelming sometimes, and (just like with any resolution) it's a daily struggle with my former-self to do it. Sometimes it's easier to to just throw the clothes in the dryer than to individually hang them all, ya know? I'd rather just buy the packaged catnip sometimes than struggle to grow it (they keep eating it while it's still in the dirt!). We have become so dependent on conveniences that sometimes it's just tough.

Every day I remind myself that I am doing this so that, when my time comes, I will rest well knowing that I did the best I could for as long as I could to leave the planet as wonderful as possible for my offspring and theirs. Every day with each item I re-use, each item I recycle and each time I turn out a light when leaving a room, I am ensuring my legacy - a happy planet and healthier environment for my yet unborn family.

I know - it's a little hokey. But hey, we can all have different reasons as long as the end result is all the same, right?!

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day 2008! Today I am wearing a green coloured shirt, and all of my clothes were line dried last nite instead of dried in the dryer.

If you want to do one small thing to impact the environment positively but don't know where to start....

-Sign up for e-statements for credit cards or bank statements
-Switch one lightbulb in your home to CFL
-Plant an herb that you use frequently in a garden
-Wash today's laundry on cold water
-Pay a bill online or over the phone instead of mailing your check in

Just a few suggestions - have a great Earth Day!!!!!!

Cleaning with no harsh chemicals

Today I cleaned our toilet with only baking soda and my hands (in gloves, of course!) and it is gleaming like it never gleamed before.

I also saw my green girls at LUSH today and came home with more natural stuff - natural face masks, to be exact - all hand-made and filled with green goodness! Of course, they were brought home in my reusable tote!!!!

Thank goodness the weather is great - we turned off the furnace today, which is exciting.