Makes You Think

We watched this video a couple years ago and it really makes you stop and think before purchasing something new.  Combine what you learn through this video and The 30 day list  concept and suddenly spendthrift ways come to a halt.

Some people try to go a whole year of not purchasing new. Of course you would want to set up your own standards to do that. Such as my list of things to only buy new would be pillows, socks, underwear, toothbrushes, shoes, and light bulbs. Ever try to find a used light bulb? Hard to judge the hours clocked on that sucker, I tell ya!

Anyway the list would probably contain several more things but the idea is to buy used when you can, borrow or rent when it isn't something used regularly and when it has to be purchased new don't get the fever and impulse buy; make sure you are getting good quality merchandise.

If you can find twenty minutes now or later take time to watch this video. It's very interesting and something we should all be aware of.

To Be or Not To Be Green, That Is the Question

My sis-in-law, Heather, gave me a book at Christmas about “going green”. As she handed it to me she said it sounded like me. I was skeptical. For one, I don’t like the term “green”. I think it’s over used. It’s become a fad. Companies over use the word to market their wares and use that slogan to sell it under false pretenses. Sort of like when foods boast “no trans fat” on the front of the package in an attempt to sound healthy; they are hoping you don’t notice that it’s 6,000 calories per teaspoon. (Stepping down slowly now……as not to tip that soapbox.)

I decided to give the book a try. And not long into the book I realized this girl knows what she’s talking about. She hooked me when she warned of companies green washing you; using the slogan to save the planets resources but not really doing so. (one smart cookie)

Further into the book I caught myself saying, “I already do that.”, “I have that product” , and thinking I'm doing ok at this but then came the words“I never knew that.”

There is a lot about carbon dioxide emissions in there that I never realized before. For instance, I learned that burning natural gas releases around 320 pounds of CO2 annually. And that the average American is responsible for about 22 tons of emissions per year. I always thought industrial giants were the culprits but as it turns out personal activity accounts for more than 30 percent of all emissions in the United States.

Wow!

I would like to say that all our trash cut back, composting, and cutting out paper products in the kitchen is purely honorable but mainly it’s for selfish reasons. One reason being, I want to save money and the less we use that has to be tossed the less has to be bought and replaced. Meaning more money staying in the house than leaving it. Especially when it’s leaving for convenience items like paper towels or paper plates. Sadly, the bigger reason for our switch is just pure laziness. In my old age I don’t want to have to run to the store when I suddenly discover we are out of milk. Now I can just mix up more powdered milk. Or if we are out of paper towels I can just reach for a dish towel or cloth napkins. The homemade cloth pads are such a convenience; no taking stock constantly to keep from running out or , heaven forbid, being caught unaware.

Granted, in my laziness I’m saving three milk jugs a week from ending up in the landfill, that just happens to be a plus in my favor.

I’m learning more areas where I can make do and use what I have on hand for convenience and to recycle at the same time.

I love these scrubbies.

They are cheap and really useful in the kitchen.

I recently ran out because I forgot to pick up another package of them while at the store.

I was in need of a scrubbie but was too lazy to run to the dollar store to pick up more just for that particular cleaning job.

I looked around and remembered a crochet project of dishtowels using left over yarn and plastic bags for the centers to use for scrubbing dishes. I had plenty of plastic bags so I crocheted up about five scrubbies in just a few minutes sans the yarn. I didn’t need them to be pretty just useful. I made them in varying sizes to see what would work best for me.

They ended up working great and can actually be cleaned out better than my store bought versions. Food particles aren’t trapped in it as easily and that means better sanitation.

I’ve used them for washing dishes in the kitchen and made a few for the bathroom to use in scrubbing the vanity and shower. I’ll never go back to the store bought again.

I used to save plastic bags to use as garbage bags but because we generate less garbage now and compost more, bags were coming out our ears around the house. I’ve since made up several balls of plarn to make more scrubbies out of and even made an outside door mat.
　

I admire those that are trying to remove their carbon footprint and if everyone would just change one habit it would greatly improve things for future generations. If dinosaurs had used plastic water bottles we’d all be digging up prehistoric relics in our backyards today. Those things don’t’ break down. They’ll tell a lot about us in millenniums to come. You’ve heard of the iron age well we will be known as the plastic age. And the proof will still be here to prove it.

Just food for thought.

　
If you would like to read more about going green and learn more ways of reducing carbon dioxide emissions the book is entitled: Green Chic- Saving the Earth in Style. by Christie Matheson. 

Disclosure: I received no compensation for reference to this book.  All opinions are my own.

One Last Look Back

In reflection…..

　

2011 was a year of firsts. The first year of mom being in the nursing home, the first Thanksgiving without her at the table, the first Christmas without her here, and the first birthday without her calling. It was a tough year for me.  I don’t want to go back and start it over. But I did learn from it. Both about others and myself. Some good and some bad; some weak and some strong. I learned that the ‘Be Aware” wasn’t just about being aware of others as I’d thought. It was also being aware of yourself and what you do to impact others. I succeeded sometimes and I failed miserably most of it. I take some small consolation that I realize where I failed in hindsight. That, at least, means I have grown to some slight degree.

On to the next……


I’m ready for the new year. I’m ready to look ahead and move forward. Last year we were aware of where we are, now lets look ahead to where we are going.

One step at a time, bit by bit, and day by day.

Moving forward in 2012!

Sustainable Laundry Thoughts

I have been contemplating alternatives to the washing machine lately.  We've been kidding about getting a wringer washer.  Only kidding because finding one that is in decent shape is next to impossible.  I noticed an article on a bicycle powered washing machine and that piqued my interest more than a little bit.  Exercising while getting your clothes clean?  I mean that is multitasking at it's greatest!

We had a front loading washer and it used very little water but used more electricity.  We then went back to the top loader and immediately the change was noted on the water bill.  They do take less time and electricity to run but waste more water. 

I thought maybe if I had a rain barrel I could use buckets of it to start the wash cycle then it would fill up to rinse off the meter as normal.  That would at least cut my city water usage in half. 

Just tossing ideas around right now but I happened upon the article below that I thought was interesting.  I had heard of using the plunger method before but never had anyone give the results of such a process.  It will be nice to see how well this works and what problems they come up against and the solutions they find to solve them. 

To read the article click below:
Going Sustainable With Laundry

Again just thinking of ways to be more self sustaining in the event I have to be.  Don't get me wrong I love convenience but I don't want to get to the point that I rely on it and panic without it.

 Oh well, there is always the stump and laundry paddle to fall back on.  One man stated that there wasn't a stain anywhere that could stand up to his grandma and her paddle! 

Until next time......Kristi.

Changes

This has been a year of change. It seems as if I no more than get over one wave of change then another comes rolling in. And with it they bring emotions that are difficult at times but I remind myself that life is continual change. Be it good or bad, whether we like it or not. Last week more changes took place. And it was bittersweet. I am excited about the progress that will eventually be accomplished but sad to visually see memories roll away.  But I'm hopeful like Laura, maybe the times that are coming will be even better............

The sun was sinking now, and she told how its glory of crimson and gold flamed upon the sky and faded to rose and gray.
“Let’s go back to the house now,” Mary said. “I can feel the change in the air.”
They stood a moment longer with hands clasped, facing the west, then slowly they walked down the slope past the stable.
“Time passes so quickly now,” said Mary. “Do you remember when the winter was so long, it seemed that summer would never come. And then in summertime, winter was so long ago we almost forgot what it was like?”
“Yes, and what good times we had when we were little,” Laura answered. “But maybe the times that are coming will be even better. You never know.”

These Happy Golden Years-Laura Ingalls Wilder

Just Cause

You often hear on the news about a person or group of people fighting for a Just Cause and I can understand that totally. 

For example, if Zach comes in the kitchen and asks why I'm making a cake, I reply "just 'cause". 

Or if I give someone a gift and it isn't their birthday, I did it just 'cause. 

If our dog got his bedtime cookie too early, it becomes a just 'cause cookie and he gets a new one deemed bedtime snack. 

All very good reasons for taking a stand in my book. 

Just saying.....just 'cause this is my blog!  (smile)

Have a great day!

Warning: Another Deep Post

This is the way Bowie eats.

Looks lazy doesn’t it?

Actually, it’s practical. He’s so tall, it’s easier for him to eat this way and not have to bend down so far.

There’s a lesson in there, don’t judge a book by it’s cover, or how about don’t worry what other’s think and do what works for you. (this said from the white elephant in every room she's ever been in)

;)

Have a great weekend everyone!

Until next time…..Kristi.

Tick Tock

My clock is ticking. No, not that one.

 My internal clock is usually ahead of the calendar. For instance my sleeping patterns change around daylight savings time just a few weeks prior to the actual event. Not something I’m particularly fond of but at least I’m prepared.

Here we are the last week of July and I feel like nesting. Most people talk about nesting in the spring time when the birds nest,  so spring cleaning emerges with the first few breaths of spring. And that’s a good thing but after being cooped up all winter I’m ready to be outside when spring first appears. All that cleaning out closets can be done under the air conditioning when it’s too hot to be out. Besides rugs dry so much faster in summer heat than in spring warmth.
My nesting tendencies come out in the fall. I start feeling the need to get everything neat and tidy for the colder months ahead when we’ll be spending so much time indoors. I also feel an urgency to make sure we have a good store of supplies laid in to get us through the winter. Not that we are anywhere near the boonies. The small town is ten minutes away, the big town is twenty minutes away, the really big town is forty-five minutes away and the really really big town is two hours away. So were aren’t desolate by any stretch of the imagination.  It’s just that nesting feeling- that mother bird feeling telling you to prepare. I start thinking of the baking I can do during hunting season, when the husband can come home to cinnamon rolls once again. The sewing projects that can be created on snowy days. The books read while under covers or the movies watched with my little man snuggled on the couch sharing a bowl of popcorn.
This year summer seemed to fly by. It’s already time for school and I hate to see summer go but the nesting feeling and the images of cozy family time makes the transition not so extreme and actually a little anticipated.

Until next time…Kristi.

What is the Worth of a Word?

I had a friend mention to me not too long ago that we say the word love too often. That set me to thinking how many times I use the word love, and whom I say it too. What I came up with is that the word itself has many versions for there are so many levels of love. There is the 'I love you bud' for the friend that you've known forever and that you confide in. The 'I love you buddy' for the nephew you love like your own son. Love for the people you care about and care what happens to them. The 'I am in love with you' kind of love. And of course the ones you have to love because they are family but don't necessarily like them. So yes I guess I do tell lots of people I love them, using the same word but with a degree of difference depending on the person. I don't feel a need to apologize for that because I also thought about the times I had used the word hate or felt the emotion. I couldn't come up with one actual time or person that I absolutely hate. Maybe a few with a small dislike but no hatred. So isn't that what we are suppose to do? Love one another and not hate? Do good to those around us? Maybe we should overuse the word love more often. Maybe there would be more compassion in the world and less wars. Less children abandoned and abused. Less elderly lonely and overlooked. Less bickering over petty insignificant things. Again I don't think I should apologize for using a word I mean, in whatever degree I say it in. Until next time....Kristi.