Ten Things about Cloth Diapers.

I've known since I was senior in high school that I would cloth diaper one day. That may seem a little crazy, but we had a debate in my Environmental Science class and I was convinced. The decision wasn't a big deal and figuring out what cloth diapering entailed was as easy as turning to my awesome cloth diapering aunts. By the way, cloth diapers are way, way different now than when we were babies. I don't claim to be an expert, as I've only been doing this for two months. This isn't as much of a how-to post as it is a how-and-why-I-do post. (For how-to guides, this is a great starting point, as is this.) I will try to answer any questions you have, though!

1. I don't have enough. But I don't have the money to buy more right now. Maybe we'll get some for Christmas? Our current stash is seven one-size and three smalls (mostly gifts). We do a load of diapers every or every other day, with some disposable supplementing thrown in.

2. Washing isn't gross at all. Since he only consumes breast milk, his poop is water-soluble and the diapers can just be thrown in the washing machine, no pre-rinsing required. If you can handle wiping a baby butt, you can handle dumping a bag of dirty cloth diapers in the machine. Promise. Our set-up involves this pail liner. You could probably just use the same trash bag over and over, too.

3. One-size FuzziBunz are my favorite. Now, I've only tried three types - FuzziBunz one-size, FuzziBunz perfect size and GroBaby one-size. My aunts have tried them all and found that FuzziBunz were the best for not leaking and have snaps instead of Velcro, and since I intend to use these diapers for future babies, I prefer snaps since they don't wear out like Velcro can. The GroBaby diaper inserts take longer to dry and tend to bunch up. Plus, FuzziBunz are soft fleece. I think I'll also try BumGenius 4.0, since they also have snaps.

4. Newborns CAN wear cloth diapers! Once he reached eight pounds - he was maybe 10 days old? He grows like a weed. A chubby weed. - I threw cloth diapers on him. We just made it work - adjusting the snaps as tight and small as possible.

5. He doesn't wear cloth overnight. In order to get our beauty sleep, I put a disposable diaper on him for 10-12 hours a night. Disposables hold more pee and wick the moisture away from his skin. (I think I've gone over the importance of sleep here before. When I was a rookie, I'd change his diaper and re-swaddle him and sit up to nurse him...now Gabe and I stay half-asleep while he nurses. Sleep is priceless!)

6. No more poop explosions or diaper rash. Period. (Though there is still some pee leakage now and then.)

7. We've saved money. Like, a lot. I've only had to buy two packs of diapers since he was born, which is sort of amazing since most people go through that much in a week. Saving money is the number one reason I cloth diaper (waste and keeping Gabe away from yucky chemicals are the other reasons).

8. So. Much. Less. Waste. I am amazed at how much waste we created when we used disposable diapers for a weekend while traveling. It's a little crazy, really. Babies create so much extra waste already (har har), no use in adding to it with disposable diapers!

9. We cloth diaper on the go. Usually. It's easy to throw used cloth diapers in a wet bag like this, and just bring along a few extra cloth diapers. If I'm leaving him with my mom, I bring disposables.

10. Big baby booty. The cloth diapers add some bulk to Gabe's behind, which means he tends to grow out of onesies more quickly.  No loss, really, since I get impatient for him to wear his cute clothes in the next size!

Affording Our Baby.

You may be thinking to yourself, "Doesn't Ashley work at a Catholic school? And isn't her husband working on his PhD? Then how the heck can they afford to have a baby??"

And you would be right. Between the two of us, we make less than many college-educated people make with ONE income, let alone two. And, yet, we just had a baby. Which many people will tell you is a little money-sucker. I'm sure you've heard the numbers - "in your baby's first year, you can easily spend $9,000-11,000!" 

But I wanted to share how we're making this whole having-a-baby thing way cheaper. In addition to all the other ways we try to save money (note: That post is old. I have no longer 'cut the caffeine habit,' happily.), we've done lots of other things that work for us and our baby.

First, we've (mostly) banned disposables. Like everything else in our life - we avoid things that you throw away after using just once, as they tend to be far more expensive in the long run. Which means we use cloth diapers and flannel wipes. (We do have some disposables for when we're out and about, when he weighed less than 8 lbs, and when all our cloth diapers are dirty.) They are super easy (seriously!), good for the environment, good for our wallets, and waaaay more comfortable on Gabe's little tush. Specifics? We have ten diapers for now - seven one-size and three small. We use mostly Fuzzibunz and a few Gro Baby diapers that were super cheap on BabySteals.com. I made the wipes myself from flannel fabric I had, but will be making more out of the billions of flannel receiving blankets that we have.

A couple of flannel wipes.

A few people have asked me to write a post about cloth diapers, so that's all I'm going to say for now. But, yay! Cloth diapers!

The cutest cloth diapered booty around. (Adorable husband not for sale.)

Second, we told everyone we knew that 1) we would love second-hand gifts (our baby shower invites even said this) and 2) we would love any baby things they were no longer using.

When people buy you second-hand gifts, they are cheaper, so they can get you more things. Woo! (The breast pump my Grandma got me secondhand - sterilized, don't worry - was a quarter of the price is it new.) Plus! Second-hand is better for the environment, and babies don't tend to wear out most things since they are tiny and not too mobile. Some of our diapers were gifts my aunts got from Craigslist and are in great shape, they hardly looked used. *Gasp!* Used diapers!

Taking a bath in his second-hand bath tub. 

Things we got second-hand from others include: cloth diapers, a crib (well, it was actually new since it had been recalled and Mike's brother got a voucher for a new one), a baby swing, a Pack n Play, lots of clothes, infant car seat carrier system (less that 3 years old and was never in a car accident), baby gates, a breast pump, a baby tub, a glider, and a diaper pail. Plus, plenty of disposable diapers that my cousin (who is five weeks older than Gabe. Yes, he is my cousin.) grew out of.

Gabriel in his infant seat.

Third, we simplified and bought second-hand ourselves.

In the process of creating our registry, I came across some great advice from Amalah about not getting too much before the baby comes and not putting too much on the registry. I got what I really wanted (like cloth diapers, a sound machine, and swaddles) by not putting tons of things on my registry. Baby registries are just like wedding registries in the sense that the stores want you to think you desperately need and CANNOT SURVIVE without tons of crap that, oh hey! how convenient! you can buy at their store. Unlike a wedding registry, though, you don't really know what will work best or what you'll end up needing for your baby - so it's best to wait to buy lots of things until after the baby comes.

Then you'll probably get gift cards, which is great because 1) you get to leave the house and spend money that isn't yours and 2) you get what you really need after the baby comes (ooooor, you buy snacks for the hospital like we did with a Target gift card that my sister bought us.)

And, after the baby comes, you realize, hey! we really should get some more of those swaddle blankets! Or maybe we should get a bouncy seat because this kid adores being bounced. And because you didn't buy tons of things before the baby came, you can afford it! Bonus points if you buy second-hand, like we did with his bouncy seat (which was less than half the price it is new from Once Upon a Child).

 

Scrawny baby chicken legs not for sale.

We also kept things simple by not really having a 'nursery theme'  (aside from a painting we did ourselves, a cute lamp, a crib canopy, and a few frames we filled with photos we printed off the internet, we spent nothing on his room) and opted not to register for things that are completely unnecessary but totally adorable, like a 12-piece bedding set. Again, Amalah did a great piece on the pressure to have a cutesy nursery (my favorite line: "My guess? DOLLAH BILLZ. Also: pregnant women like MATCHY!!1!").

(Also, we're tacky and returned some gifts we didn't need in order to have money to spend at Babies R Us on the things off our registry that we didn't get but really needed - bottles and a Moby wrap. You don't have to do this. But you can and I won't judge you.)

Fourth, I breastfeed.

Okay, so I'm not really nursing him in this picture, but it sort of looks like it. Let's pretend.

Simple enough - but we're going to save hundreds of dollars by not feeding him formula. That stuff is expensive, yo! Breastfeeding was definitely challenging and far more difficult than I expected it to be  for the first few weeks- but my biggest motivation to stick with it and not give up is that it is FREE. (Uh...I mean, that it's good for my baby. That, too.)

And that's how we can afford Gabriel. (Of course, the actual giving birth in a hospital is an expense, too! One which I just saw the bill for, and whooo boy. I didn't have an epidural and left after one night and it was still way, way expensive. Good thing our insurance will cover 80%.)

If you have lots of spare money and want all the trappings of baby-world, more power to you! I am definitely not judging people who decide their baby needs everything new, a fancy nursery, and a new car to hold their $1,000 car seats - I just wanted to share how we're doing it. And if you want to have a baby, but think it isn't the right time, maybe you'll be encouraged that your baby doesn't need $11,000 worth of contraptions to survive. I promise he'll be okay.

Shampoo Free. Seriously.

If you follow me on Twitter or read my blog, you may think that I am consumed by my pregnancy. Not so. (Okay, mostly so. Let’s not address my complete and utter inability to focus on anything work-related. Ask me my opinion about a project that’s happening in September and I’ll probably stare at you with glazed over eyes. I’m busy Googling birth stories, thinking about maternity leave, and wondering what taking care of a newborn will be like. Sorry, boss.)

I’ve done lots of non-baby or pregnancy related things this summer. I had a tire blow out on the highway. We went camping. I worked a lot. We redecorated our apartment and I love it. We went across the state to visit with Mike’s niece and nephews. I created a new budgeting system. We saw my extended family a lot. My commute became really freaking long. My sister moved back across the country and asked me to be her maid of honor (yay!). I continued to take on blog design work and have new hopes and ideas for how to grow my little business. And I stopped using shampoo nearly four weeks ago.

Let’s talk for a minute about that last one. First, I promise you I’m not a scuzzball. See?

So maybe I haven’t used shampoo or conditioner from a bottle, but I have used baking soda, apple cider vinegar, and water to keep my hair clean.

Why?

I ran out of conditioner and was trying to figure out if there was a plastic-free option for conditioner when I stumbled across this great post (the whole website is fabulous, by the way). Intrigued by the idea that baking soda and apple cider vinegar could get my hair clean, I figured I’d give it a shot. If it worked, I’d be saving tons of money, not using any chemicals, and reducing my waste. If my hair became greasy, tangled, or dirty – I’d just wash it. No commitment, nothing to lose.

That was on July 22nd. I haven’t touched my (giant!) bottle of shampoo since.

How?

Tsh recommends a mixing a tablespoon of baking soda per cup of water for the shampoo part. (I have thicker, wavy hair, so I increased the baking soda.) I keep the mixture in a plastic squeeze bottle that used to hold chocolate syrup. Just squirt and rub into your scalp, massaging as you go. The baking soda acts as a clarifier on your scalp and removes dirt and oil.

For the conditioner, mix a tablespoon or so of apple cider vinegar per cup of water. I keep this mixture in an old conditioner bottle and apply mostly to ends of my hair. I have even stored it in a cup and dipped the ends of my hair in the cup to really make sure they get good and conditioned. I have pretty dry hair, so I make sure and apply lots of it and leave it in for a few minutes while I finish showering.

Since my hair is typically pretty dry, I sometimes use a teensy bit of coconut oil (we’re talking a dab on my finger) and rub it through my hair to get rid of flyaways and such. It’s sort of like this stuff, minus the cost.

What are the results?

My hair is soft, clean, and manageable. I don’t have to choose between chemically-laden, but cheap or expensive, natural shampoo. My new ‘shampoo’ and ‘conditioner’ cost me very little and create hardly any waste.

I am going to continue on my happy shampoo-less existence until a problem arises.

Wanna try?

I've told a few friends what I've been doing, and one of them tried it out as well. Here's what she said:  "Also, Teej and I have been 'poo free for a week now! Just baking soda and apple cider vinegar! I LOVE the vinegar as conditioner... I think it works WAY better than store bought conditioner."


Check out this post for more details, ideas, and links to other blogs. And let me know how it goes!

So Fresh and So Clean Clean.

Laundry is one of my favorite chores to do. Weird? Maybe. Here are six tips to make laundry day a tad more eco-friendly.

1. Line dry | I stopped doing this for a while, because, well I am lazy and we had free laundry. I am so happy I've started this again in the recent months. It takes very little effort and makes me so very happy. For more on how I line dry inside check out this post.

2. Soap nuts | OH EM GEE. Get some of these and get them NOW. I am amazed that something this natural could actually work, but, they so DO. Soap nuts grow on trees and you toss them in your laundry in a little linen bag. After a few loads of laundry, the soap nuts break down and you can compost them. How awesome is that? Check out their website for more info!

3. Dry cleaning shmy cleaning | I wash EVERYTHING in the washer - including my wool winter coat, dress pants, and bras. As long as I use cold water and line dry, it works great! Wool is a natural fiber, so it can be wet. Dry cleaning processes use TONS of nasty chemicals, anyway. Yuck.

4. Wash full loads | If you wash smaller loads, you waste water. And we don't like wasting water.

5. Don't wash clothes unless they're dirty | Wear your clothes as many times as you can before you throw them in the washer. Simple, right?

6. Wash with cold water | Most clothes can be washed in cold water, which uses way less energy.

The best part about all of these? They'll save you money, as well!

On Earth Hour, Michaels, and Other Tomfoolery.

My weekend....in Six Morsels.

(Since you're in on my six obsession now, I'll be randomly posting with six morsels. Yum, morsels.)

1. A China-free shopping trip to Michaels craft store left me frustrated and angry. With a 25% off coupon in hand, I eagerly skipped into the store, determined to get some adorable goodies.

I left 45 minutes later, with this:

I spent, like, $3. At least this no-more-Made-in-China extravaganza will make me spend less money. Sheesh.

My 45 minutes in the store went a little like this:

At first...

Lah lah lah. I love pretty things. Oh, look! Martha has some adorable baker's twine. Yay!...Oh, silly Martha, it's made in China. Well, how about this cute adhesive ribbon? Hmm...more made in China. Oooh, cute paper tags! PleasedontbemadeinChinapleasedontbemadeinChina... Boo! More China.

Later...

Darn you, Martha. You're so great, why would you source nearly EVERYTHING from China or Taiwan? You make me sad. Well, how about some scissors? Fiskars!...are all made in China. Great. Why did I decide to do this? No one will know if I...no! Ashley! Stay strong! Fiskars, how the heck can you charge $13 for a tiny, tiny pair of scissors from China? They probably cost you like 30 cents to make, you little thief. I shake my fist at you, Fiskars.

Finally...

Time to check out. All I have are these pins. Made in Malaysia. Whatever, at least I've lived in Malaysia. And it's not China. Wait, let me dig through this pile of adorable ribbons...China...China...China...(x 1,000)...Finally! Brazil. That will do. Here you go, cashier, your stupid store should be called Michael's Stuff from China. I hate life. Bleh. Oh, wait - a 40% off coupon? In that case, I'll be back next Saturday - plan on a frustrated and frazzled Ashley.

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2. For my grandpa's birthday, we went to an Italian dinner put on by the Sons of Italy. Combine Sons of Italy and Knights of Columbus and you get a lot of adorable old Italian men named Guido who have the secret recipe to the sauce.

One of my 3-year-old cousins took a liking to photography, leaving me with dozens of shots like this:

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3. We participated in Earth Hour, an hour when people all over the world turned off their electricity for one hour. I love candles, so I was all about this...

Using a camera doesn't count as electricity does it? Shoot.

We sat out on the front porch, Mike playing his guitar and me with my feet propped up on the railing. Drinking up the 60 degree weather and enjoying his music - it was a perfect opportunity to savor spring.

Until...the rat sighting.

Yes, apparently that's why our basement literally smells like crap. There are rats living in the space between the first floor and basement. And they crawl in under our front porch. Awesome. Reason #483 I'm glad we're not homeowners. Someone else can figure out how to get those little suckers out.

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4. We watched nearly the entire third season of How I Met Your Mother. An excellent, excellent show if you've never watched it. So much like my favorite show, Friends, only there's a YOUNG MARRIED COUPLE. (!) Unheard of on most sitcoms, they are so adorable and my favorite part. I dismiss all the crazy amounts of casual sex on Friends - but it's kind of awesome to see a couple that doesn't have to be depressingly unhappy or slut-faces or whatever. Just complete and total adorableness. Plus, the rest of the show is hilarious. And filled with slutiness, so you can still get your fix if you like that sort of thing.

................................

5. Two hours in Urgent Care on Friday (a long, weird, night guard-swallowing incident - something that would only happen to me), and I left with an order to suck on cough drops. Or go to the ER. It was my choice.

I chose cough drops, obviously. It was a happy ending.

................................

6. Sewing has officially taken over my life. I blog less, I cook less, I read less, I see Mike less, and I dream about fabrics now. I have half a dozen sewing books checked out from the library. It sounds sad, but I've never been more excited to get home and work on my projects. Between that and my Photoshop class, all my downtime is spent creating. Which I love. Putting my creativity to good use has been a gigantic blessing this year. I can't explain how happy it makes me to be able to create and share.

While it makes me really sad that I haven't quite figured out how to balance this with blogging and personal life, I'm working on solutions. Maybe getting a part-time instead of a full-time job would be a possibility - leaving me with, *gasp* free time once again. Stay tuned and remain patient with me.

Meanwhile, check out my latest sewing obsession - little card wallets!

Available (or soon available) in my shop.

I have been using these myself, and am in love with how small and convenient they are. We went to a pub on Saturday, and I just threw my ID, a tiny bit of cash, and my credit cards in there. Better than sticking it in my back pocket an hoping it doesn't fall out. (Let's face it - I have every reason to be afraid of things falling out of my pockets!)

{FAQ 7} The Perfect Date and the Forgetful Environmentalist

The gorgeous (and funny!) Sarahbelle asks: okay first, please tell me that when you wrote the title, you were singing like TI.. 'you can ask whatever you like'. no? oh. okay. me neither then..moving onto QUESTIONS:1. if you could re-live one day from the past year, which would it be?

First, YES! That's totally what I was singing. But, okay, I knew this version before I knew the T.I. version. I am utterly and pathetically un-hip, okay?

So many good days this past year! I'd re-live the day we went to Cedar Point. Tons of my extended family came, Tim came, and it was just good times. Plus: It was warm enough to wear a tank top. And these days, that's all I need for a good day. Sigh.

2. describe your idea of the perfect date with your hubby :)

Typical "date" involves going out to dinner (Because we both love food. He usually lets me pick. I love him.), a movie at home, and a board game (which may or may not end up in a squabble because we both are shameless competitive. Don't play Scrabble with me, that's all I'm saying).

Ideal date? Going somewhere exotic and tropical. Preferably, Costa Rica. Because I can dream, right?

Jane wants to know: What's your favorite "green" tip? What's the one green thing you do that's hardest to remember and/or do consistently?

I'm going to cop-out and direct you to this post for your first question.

For a long, long time - I always left my reusable grocery bags at home. Always. Without fail. I eventually got better, and it's a habit now. Yay!

Currently, I've been prone to forgetting the produce bags that I reuse. {Although, if you want to talk about what "green" thing I am most lazy about, or something like that - I would be hard pressed to choose just one. Sadly. Like, I know that I shouldn't be insanely lazy and just TAKE my paper downstairs to recycle instead of throwing it out in the trashcan upstairs but sometimes I AM LAZY. There. I said it.}
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I'm jetting off to Ithaca, New York this weekend to visit a dear friend who recently moved there to start a PhD program at Cornell. (Do you think of Andy Bernard when you hear Cornell? Because I do. That is sad for Cornell, don't you think?)

Have a wonderful weekend, and I'll see on you on Inauguration Day. Let's hope it's, like, 50 degrees in Cleveland by then. (What? Is that unrealistic?)

PS: Stop by tomorrow for my unveiling of my List. Yes. A List. Get excited.

The One With the Pile of Crap.

See, rounded corners even make old onions and rotten apple cores pretty! (What's that? The snow helps? NO! It's all the rounded corners! Lah lah lah I can't hear you.)

[I've been meaning to write this post for ages, and now I've waited for so long that our compost pile is completely covered in snow.]

Composting. It can be stinky, messy, and gross, I won't lie.

But! It's ridiculously easy, makes some awesomely potent garden juice, and reduces your waste.

There's some science behind it, which I never bothered to learn - but basically, put food waste (well, raw fruit and veggie scraps), yard waste, and/or dryer lint in a pile and let it sit. Rotate it every once and a while. And it turns into dirt. Or some sort of natural fertilizer, I'm not quite sure....Let me consult my sources. Oh, Mike says it's both. Sweet mother, who wouldn't want some rich topsoil? Sign me up.

(Okay, so I don't actually have a yard that I can plant in. But I'm sure the future tenants of this house will appreciate the rich topsoil that's coming their way.)

What works for us:

• We tried a big pile at first, and that was no bueno, so Mike took some chicken wire and some wooden stakes and whipped up up a nifty little compost pile. (You could also buy a fancy pants compost bin or tumbler. But we do things on the cheap 'round these parts.)
  
• We have a few old yogurt containers in the kitchen: we keep some scraps in there until we can take them out to the pile out back.
  
• Every few months, we stick a shovel or pitchfork in the pile and mix it up a little to aerate it.

Pretty easy, right? And it makes a huge difference in the trash we have to throw away each week.

Do you compost? Do you know anyone who composts? Does the idea gross you out?

FAQ Round Two.

Can we call them FAQ even if one one person asked the question?

Anyway, a few more questions and their answers...

Lily asks: What were the first changes you made to your life(style) when you decided that living green was a priority for you?

What a great question, Lily! The very first, most important change for me was reducing waste. This has taken different forms as I've grown and learned more in this lifestyle. At first, it was simply getting a water bottle to avoid all the plastic water bottles I was going through. I started to refuse bags at the store if I could just throw what I'd bought in my own big purse-slash-bag. It slowly, naturally spread to other things. One day my senior year of college, we ran out of paper towels in our house. We just started using normal towels instead. And never bought more paper towels. I didn't think twice about it. And we saved tons of money. I am convinced that no one has an excuse to not be doing these things. It's insanely easy to get a water bottle. Or wash your towels instead of getting disposable ones. It saves money and resources. Win-win.

Now, I avoid most all disposable plastic containers (particularly if they're non-recyclable). I make a ton of my own stuff, including cleaning exclusively with baking soda and vinegar. It's all come so easily and has made so much sense.

I still have some areas where I know I can improve - less driving, not getting coffee if I've forgotten my reusable mug at home, keeping the house colder, and so on. I think the more you become aware, the more you are inclined to want to do. And that makes me happy. Nothing seems to take an unusual amount of effort or thought - it's just the way things are done.

Ashley asks: What about your top 5 fave blogs to read and what your fav blog post you've written so far.

Ah! A hard one. I hate picking favorites - because then someone ALWAYS feels left out, you know? Since I am often one who feels left out (I am so sensitive that I am sad when a blogger I love doesn't have me in their blogroll. It's pathetic.), I'm going to a few awesome blogs that might be under the radar, how's that? Those bloggers who I love and think, More people need to read this!

Hilary @ Alt Christian.
Callina @ The Gingerbread House.
Sara @ Walk Slowly, Live Wildly.

And a few bloggers I've discovered fairly recently and love them to bits. (Hi Kyla Bea and Nicole Antoinette!)

My favorite blog post I've written might be my post for Steph's summer contest about summers at my grandparent's growing up. I had such a unique childhood with my growing up overseas, and sometimes that part of me gets buried, so it was kinda of romantic to remember.

Laura asks: How did you find the courage to open your shop & how do you keep yourself motivated?

Ha. Truth be told, I often act and then think. So, with my Etsy shop, it wasn't so much an issue of having courage - mostly because I figured, Eh, let's give this a shot. We'll see how it goes. Maybe people will like what I create?

I haven't sold a ton yet, so I'm probably not the best person to ask about motivation. I get so much inspiration from books and photos and other Etsy creations that if I happen to be successful with my Etsy shop (when, not if! power of positive thinking, right?), I'm not concered about motivation. There are so many beautiful things in the world. Plus, I aspire to do many things - add candles, soap, and graphic design services. So, I already have big plans and motivation!

I say you go for it, create that Etsy shop! What have you got to lose, honestly?

And I want to share my latest creations for my brand-spankin-new Etsy shop.

Blue Dots Tote $13, Purple Birds Boxy Pouch $5, Hot Pink Star Mini Pouch $4.25

Worth it Wednesday: Let's Get Something Straight.

My hair is a crazy animal, and I never quite know what to do with it. I usually go with curly, as it's quicker. However, I recently purchased a new straightening iron that might change some things...

IONIC NANO SILVER TOURMALINE CERAMIC STRAIGHTENING IRON*
[Kudos to Sarah for suggesting I do a Worth it Wednesday on this!]

Worth: It's currently $67.49 at Target.com (with free shipping!). I just snagged it for $29 on clearance at TJ Maxx, though. [Can I get a "Woohoo" for clearance?]

Works For: Thick, thin, wavy, straight - this little gem tames it all. Not for bald people. Or babies.

What I Love: It can get insanely hot. Like 395 degrees. Woah, baby! The best part? It cut my normal straightening time from 45-60 minutes to FIFTEEN MINUTES. This means I might actually spend the time to straighten my hair now. Also, speaking personally - most hair straighteners don't do a great job on my wavy, thick hair (we're talking it gets wavy again an hour later.) This actually works! And for much less than a Chi.

A few more highlights:

• Includes Heat-Resistant Carrying Pouch (Cute and silver!)
  
• Made of Ceramic
• Features Instant-Heat Recovery System
• Features 30-sec. Heat Up
• Automatic Shutoff (good for energy and my absentmindedness)
  

What I Wish: It could be even hotter and I'd be happy. But my hair probably wouldn't, so I guess it's good.

{Side note} I'm always on the fence as to whether it's better for the environment for me to use hair products or straighten it. On one hand - there's packaging waste and chemicals, on the other hand - there's energy usage. Sigh. I'm probably the only person who weighs things like this. But completely au natural is not an option, unfortunately. I have wild-crazy-frizzy-unpredictable hair that isn't so appropriate for work. And now I'm blathering on about my eco-anxiety. Apparently this is what you guys will be subject to in the wake of all the election excitement: Get excited!

*The more syllables and adjectives, the better the product, apparently.

From Scratch. Hardcore.

I never do things the easy way.

My senior year of college, I made a pledge to stop buying bread. I thought, Why buy when you can make it? Plus, I have a bread maker! Homemade bread is so delicious.

I ended up just never eating bread. (Due to a combination of aversion to lugging huge machines and pure, unadulterated laziness and naps. Lots and lots of naps.)

My little "pledge" didn't stop there- I can count the number of times during our marriage Mike and I have bought bread from the grocery store on one hand.

I confess - I'm, uh, sort of addicted to making things from scratch.

I've made everything from scratch - from ketchup to crackers to hummus.

It started out as avoiding excess packaging and convenience food preservatives. Buying blocks of cheese instead of shredded cheese, avoiding plastic tubs of butter and getting olive oil instead, or never, ever buying brownie mixes.

Then, it became an addiction. I couldn't get enough of it - I wanted to see how much I could make from scratch. I made tons of homemade spaghetti sauce and raspberry jelly last year and froze jars in our freezer. I started buying dried beans instead of canned beans. We ran out of ketchup one day, so I made some. Yep - you can make ketchup (and it's sans high fructose corn syrup. Score!)

I never keep breadcrumbs, eggs, or those frozen veggie bags on hand - I make them all from scratch.

Why am I telling you all of this?

Because I feel the need to justify the 25 pounds of apples currently sitting on my counter.

I'm making applesauce. Jars and jars of applesauce tonight.

I've gotten a lot of questions from people about how affordable it is or isn't to buy local, organic, fair trade, and so on.

The thing is, I've come to realize, is that most people buy frozen dinners, canned beans, canned frosting, canned soup, bagged salad mix, pre-made, pre-mixed, pre-done-for-you convenience food.

And that, my friends, is what racks up the grocery bill.

You might say, "But, Ashleeeey, I have no timmeee! Can't I just buy my Healthy Choice chicken dinner and some Hamburger Helper?"

Sure! But, also - you could save some money and be a little healthier. :) Try cooking in huge batches on the weekend and store the leftovers for later in the week. (For lots of wonderful cooking ideas, check out Eileen. My real-life wonderful friend and also a chef extraordinaire!)

Maybe you're thinking, "Ugh! I'm awful at cooking. And this doesn't seem very 'simple,' Ashley!"

(Apparently, I think you guys are really whiny.)

(No, actually, I'm really whiny and I'm channeling myself here.)

Anyway, man up, Non-cooker! Just follow the recipe. Then, experiment with new recipes and flavors. Give it a shot. You cannot go wrong with allrecipes.com - you simply cannot. They have reviews and you can search by ingredients in your pantry.

Maybe it's not so "simple" to cook more. But for me? It's a hobby. It's relaxing and it makes me feel productive. Chopping vegetables, baking bread, and doing it all myself is surprisingly empowered. And utterly enjoyable.

Give it a try. And check out this awesome article on whether it's cheaper to buy sustainably or conventionally.

[My locally-grown apples, by the way? Cost 90 cents a pound. And it was a fun date with my husband, to boot!]

It's True, I'm A Veggie Goddess.

After spending the morning leaving thoughtful, lengthy, serious comments on a few blogs, I realized I'm worn out and exhausted from all this analyzing, discussing, and being so darn excited and passionate.

It's tiring, challenging, and disheartening to talk to people who have come to different conclusions than you, no? It's much easier to think, "I'm right, they're wrong. Closing my ears to any other opinion. Lalalalalah, I can't hear you!"

The humility of dialogue brings much more moderation and sustainability than merely surrounding ourselves with people, newspapers, magazines, and blogs that think like we do.

That being said, I think it's time I tackle another serious topic: CSAs.

Some of you might be thinking: What the heck is a CSA?

Say is with me now: Community supported agriculture is the best thing ever. Ever ever ever.

Here's basically how it works - you pay a farmer a lump sum at the beginning of the season, in the spring. Ours was $290. Then for several months - ours is 16 weeks - you get a heap of fresh, locally grown, healthy vegetables every week. We're about 11 weeks into it, and it's seriously the best decision we made this summer.

Here's my top Six Awesome Things About CSAs

1. VARIETY! I get to try veggies I wouldn't normally buy. Like beets. When would I ever buy beets? Never. But now I know if you roast them in the oven with potatoes and green beans, they are slightly sweet and completely delicious!

2. Deliciousness: Fresh, just-picked watermelon is one of the most delicious tastes ever. When the food doesn't have to travel as far, it's much more fresh when we, the consumers, get it! (Bonus! That means it takes longer for it to spoil. Truly wonderful for a procrastinating cook like myself.)

3. Support Local Business: When you buy food from the grocery store, the farmer takes a pay cut. When you buy directly - you save and the farmer gets more! Plus, supporting your local economy instead of a generic agribusiness keeps money in your area. Win-win. Except for the Big Guy. Sorry, Big Guy.

4. Meet Your Farmer: Many people don't think about where their food comes from, especially children. Ask a child where strawberries come from, and they often say "the grocery store!" What a wonderful experience, then, to understand the story of your food. Local food is a handshake deal in a community gathering place. - Barbara Kingsolver

5. Forces Me to be Healthy: Let's face it, once I have a fridge full of already-paid-for fresh veggies in my fridge, I'm motivated to cook dinner with those instead of ordering pizza. My grocery bill is surprisingly low, because I don't buy much else besides cereal, soy milk, and cheese!

6. Slash Your Food Miles: The average piece of food travels 1,500 miles to get to your plate (source). Our veggies are grown 50 miles away. That saves a TON of gas transporting our veggies.

Sound good? Then check out Local Harvest for a list of CSAs near you. This season is wrapping up, but try to get signed up for next year! It's a great value, healthy, delicious, and better for the environment.

Must Love Coffee.

A great post from the lovely Heartbreaker totally called me out today.

She said I "know (my) shit about saving the planet."

You wouldn't think so looking at my pathetic blog lately. I've been all about my clothes, my crappy work ethic, my itchy disease poison ivy, my move, and my marriage. Me, me, meeeeeee.

Time to get out of my selfish little bubble and talk about some other stuff, mmmkay?

Like, how about summertime iced coffee and iced tea? And yet another way we can be as green as possible when it comes to our beverage choices.

We've talked before about some ways to -

• Bring your own travel mug, avoid waste!
• Buy fair trade, sustainably grown, organic coffee or tea
• Brew coffee using a french press, use less electricity!

We're in the throes of summer, and who doesn't enjoy a big glass of iced tea? Or stopping by the coffee shop for a refreshing iced coffee? Yummy.

You can cheaply and easily make either of those yourself - which means:

• Saving money!
• Using your own coffee - many coffee shops don't always offer fair-trade, shade grown, organic coffees.
• Less packaging for iced tea mixes and prepackaged iced coffees.
• Avoiding the mystery chemicals, like silicon dioxide or artificial colors.

Iced Tea

1. Brew a tea bag or two in half a cup of water [chai or herbal teas are my favorite].
2. Sweeten the hot tea if desired. [I always desire sugar.]
3. Fill a glass with ice, then pour the hot tea in the glass. [Add milk if making iced chai or black tea.]
4. Stir and enjoy!

Iced Coffee {Using a french press}

1. Grind (coarsely) 1 cup of coffee and pour in bottom of french press.
2. Pour 2 cups of water and mix with wooden spoon.
3. Place plunger on top, but don't press down too far.
4. Put in the fridge for at least 12 hours.
5. Plunge/strain the coffee. It's now a sort of coffee syrup that you can pour over ice and add milk, water, and/or sugar to. I usually use a third coffee, a third water, some half & half, and a heap of sugar. [I always love sugar.]
6. Stir and enjoy. Better than McDonald's or Starbucks, for sure!

I make a pot of the iced coffee once or twice a week and drink it every morning, and love to enjoy a glass of Tazo Passion iced tea while I'm reading on the porch at night.

Here's to summer!

On Photos and Drive Thrus

In an effort to develop and further my developing [HA! Punny!] mad photo skillz, I've created a photo blog: My Little Photography. (Get it?)

You can see all the pictures I deemed too boring didn't have enough space to put on this blog. :-P So, check it out if you're interested. And if not, don't. But you should know you're missing out.

Okay, glad we got that out of the way.

Now, let's move on and talk about drive-thrus and idling. (Oh, ugh. I cannot handle spelling through that way. It's like Krazy Ice Kreem or something. WRONG. Just WROOONG!) Seriously, I think it's time we sit down and talk about this innocent habit of ours.

It seems simple enough - you want a doubleshot on ice at Starbucks. (Yum. Me, too.) You pull into the drive-thru and order. You idle for a minute waiting, deciding, and ordering. You wait a few more minutes to pull around. Then a few more minutes till you get your drink. Exchange money for caffeine goodness, and you pull out of the lot.

Those five or six (or sometimes MORE. Ugh.) minutes can add up to wasted gas and air pollution. Don't believe me? Check it out:

The US EPA estimates that for every minute a typical auto engine sits idling it emits 6.6 grams of pollutants such as volatile organic compounds, nitrous oxides, and carbon dioxide. If, over a year, two million drivers—which is a small percentage of US drivers—stopped idling their cars unnecessarily for two minutes just once a week, it would reduce these emissions by over 1,500 TONS.

Some cities have instituted fines for idling cars because of the pollution they cause. So if you're going to idle for more than a minute, turn that key. Not at a stoplight, though...that could be dangerous - but if you're listening to the end of a song, finishing a conversation on your cell, or waiting for someone, go ahead and turn off your car. You'll save gas (read: MONEY!) and keep a little pollution out of the air.

What about drive-thrus? It's funny - I notice the drive-thru line is usually at least a few cars deep, but there are NO customers inside.* I go in, order, and am back in my car by the time one car gets served in the drive-thru lane. So I save money and time, and cause a bit less pollution. It's so characteristic of us Americans to not want to get out of our car. (Different story if you have small children. TOTALLY different. I completely understand wanting to stay in your car!)

Maybe you saw my Tweet about the Chinese man I met.

He ranted about Americans being fat because we drive every-freaking-where. We don't want to walk or bike anywhere. Even to get food from a restaurant. He said we should bike to stay in shape and because "we need to protect the environemnts." :) Imagine his adorable accent, and his enthusiasm and concern. Trust me, it was delightful.

*(I speak only from Starbucks experience. As a fairly healthy vegetarian, there's not much reason for me to frequent McDonalds or Burger King or other fast food places...)

Preach It, Sista! Meatless Eating

You know I'm a vegetarian and proud of it. So I want to take a moment to share with you WHY and HOW to eat a little less meat...

10 Reasons to Eat Less Meat!

1. Skinny Girl: It's easier to lose weight and stay thin when you're eating beans, whole grains, and produce instead of filling up that plate with meat! {If, however, you eat cheese fries daily - you will NOT enjoy these benefits. FYI.} (source)
2. Bonus! Vegetarians enjoy lower rates of heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, prostate and colon cancer; and lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels than our carnivore counterparts. Heck yes. (source)
   
3. Money: It's always in short supply in our little apartment (and our little pocketbooks. ha.) Buying beans, rice, and pasta in bulk is cheap. Get some fresh produce from the farmer's market and VOILA! Several meals on the cheap. Meat? It's expensive stuff. Unless you get meat in a can. (Which? Eww. Don't.)
   
4. Animals have rights, too! I don't want to get into this too much, since I'm oh-so-not PETA. But, seriously, why treat a dog with dignity but shove cows, chickens, and pigs into pens where they get less than a square foot of space? I don't want to gross you out, but there's some insane things that happen on factory farms (debeaking, killing conscious animals...okay, I'll stop.) I don't want to be a sensationalist, but something we'd rather not know. And it's my job to force you to know. :) Haha. (source)
   
5. Variety is the Spice of A Veggie Meal: If you're creative in the kitchen, you'll enjoy the variety of creating a meatless meal. No more daily turkey sandwiches or settling for a meat-and-potatoes dinner.
   
6. Feed people not [just] animals!: Most of the world's grain goes to feed animals, not people. There would be plenty of grain for everyone if we actually ate it as food and didn't use it to make meat. (source)
7. Heal the World: (Does everyone else think of Free Willy? I start to sway and imagine MJ singing...) Factory farms and meat-rearing are bad for the environment. Plain and simple. Manure, hormones, and antibiotics seep into our drinking water, which is just completely nasty. Plus, the expanding market for meat (i.e. China and India becoming more wealthy, and the US's insatiable appetite for all things meaty...) means more forest is being cut down to allow for cattle grazing. (source)
   
8. Number Two: Worldwide agriculture, especially livestock production, accounts for a fifth of greenhouse gas emissions. The farts and poop our meat emits is a HUGE source of methane in the environment. How gross is that?? (source) {Also check out Callina's post about it.)
   
9. Stop Whining About "Getting Enough Protein": This is probably the number one question I get about my meatless-ness. I want to take this moment to scream from rooftops: "YOU DON'T NEED ALL THAT PROTEEEEEIIN!" There, I feel much better. Honestly, though, I need 36 grams a day: That's a bowl of oatmeal, some peanut butter, and a cup of beans. Most Americans get far more protein than they need. The cattle industry has created this vague fear in people of "Protein Deficiency." Resist! Don't believe it! (And do NOT ask your friendly, neighborhood veg*n about their protein habits. Seriously, now.) {Check out Crystal's hilarious, insightful post on the matter.}
   
10. All the cool people are doing (or...did) it: You'll be in good company with these amazing individuals: Susan B. Anthony, Bob Barker, Stan & Jan Beranstien (!!), David Bowie, Tracy Chapman, Chelsea Clinton, Ellen DeGeneras, Anne Hathaway, Bob Dylan, Louis May Alcott, Dennis Kucinich (bwhahaha... I love that little adorable elfin man!)
    

Whew! I'm feeling kind of feisty now - talking about factory farming does that to me. Let's switch gears and talk about something that's totally awesome instead of something that totally sucks: Yummy, delicious, wonderful FOOOOOD. I love to eat. Love it. I would eat 24/7 if I could.

10 Meal Ideas to Eat Less Meat!

1. Ole! Substitute beans for meat in any Mexican dish. My personal favorite: Slather a tortilla with refried beans, sprinkle on some cheese and corn. Cook like a quesadilla and serve with salsa. Yum.
   
2. Pasta: Add tomato sauce, pesto, beans, sauteed veggies, or meatless meatballs (oxymoron, what?) to pasta.
   
3. Stir fry: Stir fry veggies (tofu optional) in olive oil and soy sauce, then serve over cooked rice. So fast. Amazing.
   
4. Comfort Food with a Twist: Macaroni and cheese + salsa + beans = quick and easy, heavenly dinner. Amazing. (I try to avoid prepackaged food, but sometimes, you're just in a rush!)
   
5. Pizza - A Tummy's Best Friend: Get a loaded-veggie pizza - either homemade, frozen, or at a restaurant.
   
6. New Foodie Blog! My best friend Eileen just (as in...today) started a blog about veg*n cooking - check it out! And leave her some comment love :)
7. Get Yer Greens: The possibilities are endless with salad. Start with a basic salad and add some yummy veggies, a little shredded cheese, some sliced almonds, dried cranberries, homemade salad dressing and in no time, you have a filling, healthy meal! {Bonus! Trader Joe's masala burgers are divine on top of a good salad.}
8. Cafeteria Memories: I love eating grilled cheese and soup, dipping the crispy, melty sandwich into a cup of soup reminds me of being a kid. Mmmm.
   
9. You Say Potato: Baked with beans, salsa, and cheese on top, mashed, or broiled into healthy fries - this is a great addition to any meal. If a salad for dinner doesn't quite satisfy you, try adding some homemade baked potato chips. Easy and delicious!
   
10. When All Else Fails: Peanut butter and jelly. If you want to pretend like it's a gourmet meal, pop it in the oven under the broiler for a few minutes on each side. Toasted pb&j! (My dad is SOOO not a cook - this was his go-to meal for when my mom wasn't home. It makes me smile how excited we got about toasted pb&j.)
    

Any favorite meat-free meals or foods you enjoy? I love talking about food!

Three Planets.

I'd imagine many of you have taken this quiz at one point or another during your college career. But I recently revisited the Ecological Footprint Quiz to see what my footprint is these days. (And the quiz is totally fancy schmancy and all 3D now!) For those of you unfamiliar with what the heck an ecological footprint is and why you should care - it's a rough measure of your consumption and how much energy that uses. How much land would be required to support 6 billion other individuals living just like YOU.

The result? Is startling.

I'd like to think I make some considerable effort to make less of an impact: I eat no meat, a little dairy (hello, cheese, my love!), live in a tiny 500 square foot apartment with someone else, only commute 10 miles round trip to work, and generally make an effort to tread more lightly on the earth. And yet? I still would need THREE FRIGGIN' PLANETS to support my habits for everyone on the planet.

Seriously.

That's disheartening in so many ways. I know the statistics - we're 5% of the world's population and use 25% of the resources. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It can be depressing to think about this stuff. {An aside: I recently read an article in Newsweek about the happiness gap between 'liberals' and 'conservatives' - and how 'liberals' aren't as happy. (Gah! I hate these divisive, loaded terms. And caring about the environment shouldn't be a political issue! I really want to rant about how the religious right should give a crap about being stewards of God's creation, but I won't. Oops, a little just squirted out there, sorry.)}

This is a complex issue (when I say that, I hear Joey Tribbiani tell Monica that Chandler is 'a complex fellow, one who is unlikely to take a wife.' ha!). The quiz is obviously not 100% accurate (how can you measure something like that perfectly?) and finding solutions to these problems isn't easy, simple, or painless. But I think it's important to think about our consumption and to realize that even small changes can make impacts. And those impacts add up to BIG impacts. (There's a cool tool on the website that allows you to see how changes you make might impact your footprint.)

So, go, check it out and if you do - what's your footprint??
___________________
Some updates:

• I'm totally going to be doing my pay-it-forward giveaway sometime soon, I promise! I bought some things to give away this weekend in Yellow Springs. Be on the lookout to enter...
• A few weeks ago, I told you guys about my MIL asking about my blog, which led me to thinking about the fantastic, insightful comments you all left. So I decided to let a few friends and my sisters know about my blog. I don't think any have taken the bait, besides my beautiful friend, Eileen, who insists this is my secret life I've been hiding. She makes me laugh. :)
• As far as the comment reply thing - I email sometimes, but I always talk aloud to my computer when I get a new comment. Like, "Aww thanks, Lindsay," "Yeah, Gabriel Brothers!," and so on. So I guess I'll email you if you have an email address associated with your Blogger ID and I want to tell you something. Otherwise, come live in my computer and hear what I have to say to you. Because replying on my own website? Kind of a pain. :) (And no one reads it, right? Why am I blathering on about this? Who cares? I'm stopping...now!)

Exposaroonie Challenge: Lovin' Nature

This week's Exposaroonie Challenge is the softer side of nature, in light of the recent earthquake tragedy in China, we need to be reminded that nature is also powerful in gorgeous ways. The same nature that has to power to bring a country to its knees in sorrow, loss, and fear can be the wind that rustles a child's hair, the sun that brings a smile to our face, and the tree that provides a haven of shade. Nature is good for our soul, we cannot forget.

So, camera in hand, on a perfect day - nothing is more beautiful than blue sky, a few white clouds, and the green of plants and trees. Here are a few of my favorite pictures. (You know, besides my dorky tree hugger picture.)

Could the sky *be* any more blue?

I love how the beams of the sun illuminate the cloud, and the balance of the tree here.

I have no idea what this plant is, but it's so fun! It reminds me of something from Dr. Suess.

Symmetry in nature.

Too perfect, really.

Tough decisions.

So which one did I chose? Come on over to Exposaroonie and find out!

And Then I Found Five Dollars.

Good news abounds over here at Our Little Apartment!

1. YOU GUYS. I cannot believe I haven’t told you about this yet, because Lord knows I’ve told my husband, like, five times already.

I’m a Targ-a-holic, right? I’m not in denial –I’m fully aware that if I give myself an excuse, “Oh I need a pair of hose,” then it’s like a gateway drug into the wonderful red and white world that is Target. I’ll plan on getting a pair of hose and come out with nearly a $100 worth of $1 specials, red tag clearance, and clothes made in Guatemala. So I lie to myself to make it more bearable – just getting a bottle of shampoo, but, oh wow! Look, this hair dye is on sale CLEARANCE (oh, how I LOVE CLEARANCE), must get some! And check out that lip gloss, more clearance! And so on.

Last Friday, I was going down that road. I get out of work at noon on Fridays (BEST! PART! OF! MY! JOB! Oh…wait, the kids are great, too.) and was planning on replenishing my hair product and contact solution supplies, since I was running low due to the Buy Nothing challenge in April. I planned on swinging by Target to pick them up; using the excuse that Target has super cheap contact solution – never mind that Target is 13 miles away from my work. (What is the DEAL with all my excuses?) I had daydreams of gliding my red shopping cart down Targets aisles, going wild with the ability to finally SHOP! Imagining myself guilt-free, grabbing things off the shelves and throwing them in my cart. I envisioned finding an adorable spring trench coat, whirling around in it and enjoying how cute I felt.

Do you believe that I have an addiction now? I’m hallucinating, people. About Target. Oy.

Anyway, as I was looking up directions on Google maps* (far superior to MapQuest, let’s be honest) and calculated I’d be driving about 23 miles, or a gallon of gas, just to feed my addiction. In reality, all I needed was some contact solution and miracle curl spray to get by (“Need” and “Get by” are obviously relevant terms). A red cart full of unnecessary crap was, well, unnecessary. It was painful to admit this to myself, but I DIDN’T NEED TO GO TO TARGET. (!) In fact, I’d be wasting gas and spending more money if I went to Target. I decided to stop at the drugstore on the way home and see if I couldn’t fulfill my “needs” there. CVS? Had their contact solution on SALE. Booyah. My only splurge was the clearance Burts Bees lip gloss. And four bucks is a lot less than the damage Target would have done.

Pretty excited that I was able to withstand Target’s magnetic forces. I guess consciously not purchasing anything for a month made me at least a little stronger against complete consumerism.

2. PLUS!! My post about my experience with Buy Nothing and tests has been chosen (by the wonderful Tipp) to be a part of the 20 Something Bloggers Carnival, Third Edition. I’m SO psyched about this, so please go check out my entry and the other winners. And be my friend on 20SB while you’re at it – it’s a pretty fantastic group of people.

3. And want to know MORE good news? This is a three day work week; because I have a work retreat I’m going on Thursday and Friday. It’s a FUN work retreat – I get to see my siblings, too, because they’re only 30 minutes from the retreat. (Side note: Yesterday, I called my mom to talk about coming up and spending the night tonight, and my freshman college sister who’s home for the summer tells me my parents are leaving for BRUSSELS that afternoon. News to me! But I guess that’s our family rolls, as I’ve traveled to Vancouver and London before without letting my parents know ahead of time.) For the 3.5 hour drive up tonight, I picked up some chick lit on CD to keep me entertained as I drive. (NPR is usually my choice car companion, but for longer trips I like to fill my head with fluff.)

4. With last weekend’s trip to the in-laws and this retreat, I have an apology that’s in order:

Dear Fellow Bloggers,
I am a wee bit behind in my Google Reader (66 posts to read, to be exact)– meaning my comments have been really sparse lately. I won’t kid myself saying you miss them, but I feel guilty because you’ve written some really great stuff! So, *mwah,* I love you, you’re awesome.
I’ll be less busy soon, I promise.
Ashley

5. Thanks for the fantastic, helpful responses to my last quandary. It made me think about my blog and who reads it. I'm really considering sharing it with more people that I know...But we'll see. I guess it's better to tell people than for them to find it on their own, right? I'll just voice my complaints through What the Hell!? Wednesdays. :) But, I know I definitely do NOT want to have my blog link on Facebook. Or, at least, I think I don't....

*Enviro Tip: Don’t print off your driving directions if possible – just write them on scrap paper! (Or at the very least, PRINT them on scrap paper.) J C’mon, it’s not that hard!

Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3

I rock at tests.

I do.

All I’m saying is; tests don’t scare me. At the risk of being obnoxious and having you guys toss glares in my direction (especially those of you currently studying for finals), I have to tell you – I am so competitive that I see tests as another way to excel. The validation that comes from an “A” was always the ultimate success for me. My competitive streak (again, think: Monica Gellar. Yes, it’s that bad.) also compelled me to sneak furtive glances at others around me, comparing my own grade to theirs. It was even more gratifying if I did better than someone else. (I am horrible, aren’t I?)

Yes, I am that girl. But I am not, repeat NOT, an overachiever. Never have been. I do the minimum to be able to get an A, nothing more. Does that make me a little better?

Being out of school means I no longer have that holy grail – a 4.0 GPA – by which to measure my self-worth and success. Honestly, I was nervous when graduating college that I wouldn’t be compelled to work hard without a measurable sign of achievement. Thankfully, I don’t think that has been the case. (But since I’m totally still a people pleaser, I just cannot get away from my need to feel an outside source affirm my sense of worth.)

Wait, I’m not writing to talk about my academic tests or my own need for affirmation. Nope, I want to talk about another kind of test we’re facing. As a country, we’re facing a final exam. A “do or die” kind of exam. And, to be honest, we’ve shown up a bit late to the test compared to other developed nations.

On this test, there are only two questions:

• How much do you care about your planet/the environment?


• How much are you willing to change to reflect that?
  

The results of the test are coming in, and it seems to be a split verdict. Most Americans are of the “Yeah, I could change my light bulbs. Sure, gimme a cloth bag” persuasion. And that’s fantastic. Every little bit adds up, right?

But at the same time, I think we need to recognize that if we aren’t willing to challenge ourselves or change at all, we can’t expect a dramatic difference. (And the scientists are pretty unanimous that we desperately need a dramatic difference. Not to go all End! Of! The! World! on ya, but...)

If we don’t challenge companies to make swift steps in becoming more sustainable and less of a problem to our environment, things won’t change. We vote with our money. With this in mind, I decided to test my convictions and put my money where my mouth was. Or something like that.

This past month, I’ve embarked on a little test of myself – could an retail therapy advocate, Target lover, and self-professed crunchy 20-something not buy ANYTHING for a month? Notwithstanding food – both eating out and grocery shopping – I pledged to not purchase any new goods in the entire month of April.

How did it go?

Actually, I hadn’t expected it to be much of a change from any other month. Being married and away from my mom and sisters (the true shopping mavens), I just don’t go shopping much. Shopping isn’t really an activity for me; I don’t particularly enjoy shopping. It’s just such a hassle to find cute clothes whose price tags don’t make me balk, hassle find a salesperson to let me in a fitting room, bother taking off my clothes, and subjecting myself to the fluorescent lighting of the fitting rooms. *Shudder* But I digress.

So, I took the Buy Nothing pledge, testing my ability to just say no to consumerism for one whole month. 30 days. Piece of cake; I’m fairly broke and don’t have much opportunity for shopping. I expected to get another A – it’d be a little competition with myself, expectedly with satisfactory results.

It didn't meet my expectations.

For once, though, I can let down my competitive, rule-abiding, affirmation-seeking side and admit that it’s what you learn from a test, not the results of the test that is the real measure of your success. If I had been graded on this test, I surely wouldn’t get an A. (Or an ‘O’ for outstanding, if we’re doing it old-school). After all, I cheated. I BROKE THE RULES. (!) I had an interview “emergency” and spent $42.31 on a blouse and jacket (which, by the way, I totally regret that jacket purchase. Totally makes me look pregnant. And God knows I don’t need any more family members wondering about that.).

I learned something: I am capable of going without. Sure, I “needed” a few things throughout the month, but instead of the instant gratification of jumping in the car and driving a few miles to get a bottle of contact solution or some hangars, I was creative. I made do.

It's true, this small test isn't huge impact. It was a few hundred people - but imagine the repercussions. Imagine us all deciding to be more creative when we "need" something. Thrifting and borrowing instead of hitting up Target (it still pains me a little to say that.). Insignificant, maybe. But influential, definitely.

So what does it all mean?

It means we can all be stronger than we think if we test ourselves.

It means unless we challenge ourselves to new things, we can't expect anything new - whether that's an improved work situation, world, or bad habit.

It means we can't limit ourselves by our previous notions of ourselves.

It means it's not too late to change.

(And I'm still working on that people-pleasing, desperate-for-affirmation habit.)

Earth Day 08

So, it's Earth Day. (What you haven't noticed the "greening" of EVERYTHING KNOWN TO MANKIND!?) (Major League Baseball. Really?)

What does a wannabe-crunchy 20 something who already doesn't eat meat and some other crazy stuff do to make today a little more challenging?

Why, not use electricity, of course. (At home. I'm not gonna make everyone at work turn out the lights and off the computers. Geez.)

With no TV to watch, Internet to surf, or dinner to cook - I set out on a walk this morning. A balmy 58 degrees, among chirping birds, green grass , and flowering dogwoods. It was amazing. I spent 45 minutes just walking around. I had intended to go for a run, but it was so gorgeous I wanted to be able to take it all in. I wish I could convey just HOW FREAKING AMAZING IT WAS. The whole time, I was incredulous at how absolutely picturesque it all was.

When I got back, I wanted to take a shower. So I grabbed our camping lantern and threw it on a hook on the back of the door. Ta da! No showering in the dark. It was kind of fun, actually. My hair, though, is another story. I am running out of mousse and curl spray, which makes my wavy hair manageable. No straightening iron because it uses electricity. So a ponytail and hair wrap came to my rescue!

It's kind of crazy to think about how much electricity I use even in the morning - lights (LOTS of lights!), bathroom fan, TV, laptop, and whatever the heck else I keep plugged in for no reason. (Lamps, hair straightener, and Dust Buster, I'm looking at you.) Especially since the mornings are can be (it's Ohio, after all!) so full of sunshine and brightness. No need for artificial light on a day like today!

I think I'm gonna try and use lights less in the morning, what's the point?

PS: If you live in a really awesome city, chances are, your city is on Google Transit. Check it out! It gives you step-by-step public transportation directions without having to drive at all. Even if you hate the earth, don't you like saving money!?