The Story of Stuff

I was just thinking that today would be a day I just don't feel like writing. I am not in the mood. But I came across a great website called "The Story of Stuff". Now I am assuming that most of you have read it but I just found it and I am new to being green. But it's always good to recycle, even if it is just a website. Check it out.

http://www.storyofstuff.com/

Thinking Green?

There are so many resources out there to help me go green, from books to websites to blogs to magazines. I loose track of some of the basics at times. So I created a sister site that does one thing, it lists all the ideas I have compiled that are simple and easy to follow and make your world a little greener.
Check it out at Thinking Green Ways. Feel free to leave your own tips in the comment section.

Plastic Bags Blow!

FreeCycle It!

Don't just recycle or donate, FREECYCLE your things! This is so neat! This is how it works:

1. Say you have an old DVD player that you don't want anymore. You go to the FreeCycle Website and look for a freecycle group in your area.

2. Sign up for the group.

3. List your item for free and if someone wants it you give it to them. For free!

Ok, I know you say, "well, I can just give it the Salvation Army". Yes, you can but the beauty of these groups is you get to GIVE directly to the recipient. And if you need something you can search or request it and get that item for free. The key if "free" and recycle of course.

I looked at my local FreeCycle group and there are things like moving boxes (do you know how expensive those are!), "an almost full 12 pack of Coke" (heh?) and supermarket coupons. Now, the Salvation Army won't take stuff like that. But if I was moving I would jump on the moving boxes.

Try it out.

RSS Feed?

Oh My Gosh. I finally know what RSS Feed is! And I have it on my blog. Now all I need are readers. Ha Ha. If you are one of my readers then please subscribe to me feed.

Thanks.

Plastic Bags Blow!

My Newest Purchases

Well, on my quest to be greener I not only purchase things I believe will help but I also try to consume less. I was walking through Target yesterday and the store has a $1 section. Well, I usually buy some little trinket from this section for my kids and surprise them when I pick them uo from school. BUT there goes my eco-conscience kicking in and said no because that plastic toy is not recyclable and it will just end up in a trash heap somewhere and poisen the ground. WOW! All those thoughts over a $1 toy! So my logic at that point was that the kids not only don't need the toy but I can save money this way! Cool! And turning off lights, unplugging electronics, taking shorter showers, planting drought resistant plants, no more zip locs, using the back of paper to write notes, take myself off bulk mailing lists and I have more to learn. Well, actually I am spending more on organic so hopefully this will all even out.

I am having fun doing this. Most people don't care, but I can tell you even over the last 4-5 days I have had more energy and I feel happier. When ever I feel like throwing in the towel I just picture Yosemite with plastic bags everywhere and I get steamed! So I go back to my eco-conscience.

Saturday

So I am reading some past posts from a family at Greener Beings and I don't think I can follow being as "green" as they are. I mean, at this point I can get rid of the plastic bags, buy local and organic, make my showers shorter, recycle my cell phone and ride my bike more. BUT I am not getting rid of my Diet Pepsi, that's just happiness sabotage!

Not to mention that family has young boys, like 5 or something. Wait until he gets to be 8 and wants toys that are not wooden any more. (They try to buy wooden toys for their boys.) I mean they can go to a thrift shop and buy a used bike or scooter but what about that toy that was just released in November and their son just has to have it?

I am not critisizing at all, I am questioning to be enlightened?

It was so funny. In one of the posts the mom says she goes to the supermarket and is shopping through "eco-eyes". It is true! I do that now. I went to buy cereal and not only do you want it organic but is it stored in recycled cardboard? Or is it in a large plastic bag that can't be recyled? When you buy anything now you look for "recycled", "organic", where it was made, does it have funny chemicals in it? When you start to challenge yourself to be greener it is truelly a challenge. Our lifestyles here in the US do not compliment nature.

Taco Bell

Crap! I ate Taco Bell today. Could it be more shameful? And I usually enjoy but today I did not enjoy it. I think this time it could have been mind over matter. My stomach said I was hungry, I was out shopping and BANG! the thought to go to Taco Bell was in my head! AND IT WOULD NOT LEAVE! I said I would try to be healthier. Can I be healthy 80% of the time?

I mean today I also bought lunch containers that are recyclible so I don't buy plastic bags over and over, I bought recycled paper towels and fish oil for the Omega-3. I also bought free range chicken and used my own bags at Trader Joe's. Now does that count me in as a partial Tree Hugger?

Black Beans for Dinner?

So on my quest to be healthier and more organic I need to rid my cupboard of old foods. I found a can (which I recycled) of black beans from Trader Joe's mixed it with diced tomatoes, basil, garlic salt, diced onions, salt and pepper. I would rather go more fresh with fresh garlic and onions but I am being lazy today. It tastes ok. But placed with steamed broccoli and yellow squash will it fill me up--no meat!

I am not as good as it seems. Last night I scarfed down delivery pizza and Dreyers Mint Chocolate Chip. I did have oatmeal for breakfast with limited sugar and a free range turkey with flour-free bread sandwich. BUT I finished off the last of the Honey Nut Cheerios while watching Oprah this afternoon.

I am trying. This is good for me. I usually eat a lot of sugar everyday, it is hard to come off that sugar need.

Wish me luck....

Motherhood

Oh My Gosh! You gotta see this! I discovered this website last year and it is so funny! But you have to be a mom to believe.

http://inthemotherhood.msn.com/

Why Organic?

Because my conscience tells me so. I was raised Catholic so my heart and mind run on guilt. (Ha Ha) But seriously, I do feel the need to eliminate most toxins, pesticides and chemicals out of MY body. The organic foods are available to me at my supermarket and I am very lucky to live in the Bay Area where organic is "the Thing" to do. I also live in a farming community outside of mainstream city life so I have excellent farmers I can buy crops from every spring an summer.

I gotta tell you though it is still hard to go organic. The prices cost more. I am already paying $3.59 for gas! ( I am working on getting a hybrid, but those cost more also) And in the Bay Area my mortgage is higher. And I am a stay at home mom (SAHM).

BUT I was just reading an article stating that in the long run you save money. Think about all those pesticides-THEY ARE USED TO KILL ANIMALS! What do you think it does to humans, we are animals. So later on when I have no breast cancer or brain disease I won't have to spen thousands on treatments and I will be free of disease.

So I am going to eat my organic oatmeal with my fair trae coffee, go to the gym, buy Klean Kanteens for everone in my family, take in some omega-3 and try my best to be organically healthy.

Tips for Helping the Environment and Me

*Fair Trade coffee-no pesticides and chemicals
*Eat locally- driving the food long distances causes more pollutants in the air
*Eat less meat and have it organic
*Eat as close to nature as possible: if you can't pronounce the ingredients, it can sit on a self for a long time or you don't know all the ingredients then avoid putting it in your mouth

I Can't Last!

OK, so I am hungry! Eating healthy is hard. What do I snack on? I guess I will have an organic orange, an organic brown rice cake with almond butter and a lime mineral water. Does that sound right?

I am confused about my drinking water, though. Do I drink the soft water from the sink? The bottled water? I have been reading a bit and what I am finding is to eliminate the soft water and drink from the tap. Oh, it is so horrible tasting! How do I get natural spring water with the appropriate minerals?

Turning Green?

Today I bought a magazine and 2 books about living better. Living better in a greener and less stressful way. I wonder if I can do it? I want to live a long happy life. Right now I am 36, married and have 2 kids. I live healthier than "normal" Americans, meaning I don't eat much fast food, I workout and I recycle. But I am 20 pounds overweight and I really like a good In-N-Out hamburger.

Can I eat more veggies or even cut out eating meat most days? Can I go green? Can I cut out plastics? Can I save more water? Can I really go organic? Can I afford to accomplish this?

I started here:
Secrets of Longevity by Dr. Maoshing
365 Ways to Live Green by Diane Gow Mcdilda
Natural Solutions Magazine
http://www.alternativeconsumer.com/
http://greenerbeings.blogspot.com/

Hopefully I can get off to a good start. I already decided to use and reuse my cloth grocery bags I bought and request no bags for small items.

But wow! Is organic milk really expensive!