Our lack of posting doesn't mean that we have been lacking in the green efforts department. Just too busy to jot down anything lately.
So to get everyone up to speed, here are some green shopping/product favorites!
The canteen comeback! Thanks to my pal Karen, I no longer have to buy water when we go out. I have been trying to make it a habit to bring my Klean Kanteen that Karen got me for my birthday. So wherever I am at, I always have my handy dandy cool looking water source. Christine favors the SIGG bottles. Regardless of the brand, these handy bottles keep the water fresh and BPA free. Hubby is thinking about getting one too! So much better than plastic water bottles!
Toms Shoes
I am infactuated with Toms Shoes, but haven't gotten myself to buy a pair yet. Still weighing out if the cuteness of the company's eco story and charitable givings will outweigh the lack of heals on the shoes! And for every pair purchased, the company donates a pair to a child in need. WOW!
Organic lip balm by Juice Beauty! That's right, you can get these cute little lip balms at Sephora. Great for personal use or as gifts. They smell good and aren't too gooey. Very nice!
As long as there is shopping to do, our eco mission will continue!
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Upcycle
Sounds like some freaky exercise concept doesn't it? Well in actuality, I ran across this concept in the last issue of People Style Watch. It refers to the process of reusing your belongings or giving them to people who can make better use of it rather than recycling or throwing your items away. Turns out that I have been doing this for years and was so excited that there is actually a word to call these activities. Because I am an expertly trained shopper...actually I should say 'impulse shopper' I often find occasion to upcycle.
Upcycling has actually been very fun and therapeutic! As through the years, I have been trying to channel my inner scrapbooker, athlete, singer, guitarist, violinist, golfer, tennis player, actor, clothes whore, etc., so I have plenty of things in my possession that people who actually are great at the above listed activities can benefit from! The therapeutic release comes from actually being rid of the items so that I don't feel the constant nagging guilt from not completing any of the hobbies that I purchased materials for...
:: Scrapbook Hell ::
For years I have felt guilty about hoarding thousands of sheets of paper, rubber stamps and organizational tools for the hobby! I would try to make myself feel better by telling myself, I would either use all these items for my wedding invite business or for the one day when I decide to actually complete a scrapbook for my kids. None of which I ever got to. So 10 years after I started this hobby that I never started, I started giving my friends my scrapbook items. These girls are amazing, they make all these cool scrapbooks, cards, etc. So much more deserving of the items that have been guiltily hiding in my cabinets. Now I don't feel pressure for planning how I will never use the materials that I have stored forever. One more thing that I will never have to get around to doing:)
:: Downsize Your Closet ::
Does anyone else out there have things in your closet that you know you will never wear again but probably cost you a fortune to purchase so you feel guilty about donating them? Well that would be half my closet...and my husband has the same issue with "gifts" that he has never gotten around to wearing. Well we brushed off our Ebay passwords and put some items up for auction. Amazing that our junk became some other poor soles worthless internet auction purchase. A bag of barely used kids clothes, J Crew Peacoat circa 1999, and a leather Structure jacket gave us a return of $50 to spend on more useless purchases! Some habits die hard.
:: We Love Craig ::
Well actually it's his list that we love, craigslist.com. We've made it a habit of also being on the receiving end of upcycling. And craigslist has been a source of many joyous purchases for us. From backyard Little Tyke playgrounds, to electronics, furniture and antiques, it's actually quite fun and gratifying when you find a great deal. You buy local and reuse items that could have some how ended up being recycled or dumped.
Not sure if my interpretation of 'upcycling' is all that green, but boy-oh-boy do I feel better about getting rid of my possessions so that others can actually make good use of them, not to mention our occasional super finds from other's upcycling efforts.
Happy Upcycling!
Upcycling has actually been very fun and therapeutic! As through the years, I have been trying to channel my inner scrapbooker, athlete, singer, guitarist, violinist, golfer, tennis player, actor, clothes whore, etc., so I have plenty of things in my possession that people who actually are great at the above listed activities can benefit from! The therapeutic release comes from actually being rid of the items so that I don't feel the constant nagging guilt from not completing any of the hobbies that I purchased materials for...
:: Scrapbook Hell ::
For years I have felt guilty about hoarding thousands of sheets of paper, rubber stamps and organizational tools for the hobby! I would try to make myself feel better by telling myself, I would either use all these items for my wedding invite business or for the one day when I decide to actually complete a scrapbook for my kids. None of which I ever got to. So 10 years after I started this hobby that I never started, I started giving my friends my scrapbook items. These girls are amazing, they make all these cool scrapbooks, cards, etc. So much more deserving of the items that have been guiltily hiding in my cabinets. Now I don't feel pressure for planning how I will never use the materials that I have stored forever. One more thing that I will never have to get around to doing:)
:: Downsize Your Closet ::
Does anyone else out there have things in your closet that you know you will never wear again but probably cost you a fortune to purchase so you feel guilty about donating them? Well that would be half my closet...and my husband has the same issue with "gifts" that he has never gotten around to wearing. Well we brushed off our Ebay passwords and put some items up for auction. Amazing that our junk became some other poor soles worthless internet auction purchase. A bag of barely used kids clothes, J Crew Peacoat circa 1999, and a leather Structure jacket gave us a return of $50 to spend on more useless purchases! Some habits die hard.
:: We Love Craig ::
Well actually it's his list that we love, craigslist.com. We've made it a habit of also being on the receiving end of upcycling. And craigslist has been a source of many joyous purchases for us. From backyard Little Tyke playgrounds, to electronics, furniture and antiques, it's actually quite fun and gratifying when you find a great deal. You buy local and reuse items that could have some how ended up being recycled or dumped.
Not sure if my interpretation of 'upcycling' is all that green, but boy-oh-boy do I feel better about getting rid of my possessions so that others can actually make good use of them, not to mention our occasional super finds from other's upcycling efforts.
Happy Upcycling!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Challenge #2 :: Napkin Whore
I am a napkin whore...you know one of those people who goes to a food stand or a restaurant that has napkin dispensers and grabs stacks of napkins, most of which probably will not be used. OCD plagues me in any public place so I take 20 -30 napkins at a time, convincing myself that I will have to wipe down the chair, the table, the kids, etc. So in defense of myself, it's not my lack of sensitivity to the environment but my need to be safe in a germ infested world. I sometimes wonder what the hell was the last person sitting here doing, did anyone ever teach them table manners???
As of today, I am going to try to knock myself of that habit. One napkin for each family member, unless otherwise necessitated by an OCD moment or if the kids just get plain old messy.
So consider this my reentry into the blog world after more than two months! And my eco-challenge number two. Trust me that this is easier said than done...
As of today, I am going to try to knock myself of that habit. One napkin for each family member, unless otherwise necessitated by an OCD moment or if the kids just get plain old messy.
So consider this my reentry into the blog world after more than two months! And my eco-challenge number two. Trust me that this is easier said than done...
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Challenge #1: Eco-Chic Bags
Obsession of the week, Eco Bags!
Not the sterile looking ones that you buy at the grocery store, but a new breed of bags that are hip, functional and hold a boat load of stuff. Christine and I both came home in the same week with similar sets of bags. This just proves that the power of sisterhood stretches even to the eco shopping rhelms. No, it wasn't planned, just great shopping minds think alike...
::Older Sister::
Bags purchased at the Women's Conference sponsored by Maria Shriver. At SHOP WITH A PURPOSE (SWAP), your purchases help change lives. The proceeds from SWAP are donated to the WE initiatives: WE Invest, WE Care, WE Honor, WE Lead, WE Support and WE Educate, lead by the First Lady of California, Maria Shriver. Check out the bags on the site if you want to make a purchase and also support a great cause. Two birds with one stone, help the environment and help a great cause!
Not the sterile looking ones that you buy at the grocery store, but a new breed of bags that are hip, functional and hold a boat load of stuff. Christine and I both came home in the same week with similar sets of bags. This just proves that the power of sisterhood stretches even to the eco shopping rhelms. No, it wasn't planned, just great shopping minds think alike...
::Older Sister::
Bags purchased at the Women's Conference sponsored by Maria Shriver. At SHOP WITH A PURPOSE (SWAP), your purchases help change lives. The proceeds from SWAP are donated to the WE initiatives: WE Invest, WE Care, WE Honor, WE Lead, WE Support and WE Educate, lead by the First Lady of California, Maria Shriver. Check out the bags on the site if you want to make a purchase and also support a great cause. Two birds with one stone, help the environment and help a great cause!
:: Younger Sister::
Great set of bags from Urban Outfitters. Say no to plastic bags with this set of 5 super lightweight and portable reusable bags. Seriously sturdy and roomy, they can carry the equivalent of 2 grocery bags! And bonus- they fold down to nearly nothing so you can toss one in your bag to always have on hand for whenever you are tempted to use a plastic bag. Tres chic!
Our challenge this week is to use the eco-bags and only the eco-bags for all our shopping excursions. The shopping part came quite easy, we've had lots of practice! It will be quite a feat to get through the week remember to bring the bags with us and to ask the stores to use them.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Big Foot
Every effort starts with knowledge, so take the first step and calculate what your carbon footprint is. There are plenty of sites on the web that will help you do this:
www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/calculator/
www.carbonfootprint.com/
www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/carboncalculator/
Despite the dazzling shoe collection with various size 7 shoes (ok, maybe sometimes 7.5), I am definitely feeling like Big Foot today. A great big grizzly eco-monster. Well maybe I shouldn't be so hard on myself, since we're still slightly under the US average, but still all the same, our footprint remains extremely high despite all our conscious efforts this year:
Got some ideas? Leave us a comment!
For more info about what carbon footprinting is, check out this wikipedia link.
www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/calculator/
www.carbonfootprint.com/
www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/carboncalculator/
Despite the dazzling shoe collection with various size 7 shoes (ok, maybe sometimes 7.5), I am definitely feeling like Big Foot today. A great big grizzly eco-monster. Well maybe I shouldn't be so hard on myself, since we're still slightly under the US average, but still all the same, our footprint remains extremely high despite all our conscious efforts this year:
- Stopped buying bottled water
- Potty training one of our toddlers
- Recycling like maniacs
- Use of canvas totes rather than plastic bags
- Shopping at our weekly Farmers Market at Santana Row
- Eating Organic as much as possible
Got some ideas? Leave us a comment!
For more info about what carbon footprinting is, check out this wikipedia link.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Who we are and what we're not!
We're the quintessential consumers of probably what most eco-conscious people frown upon. But we're going to try this eco-friendly thing.
We'll be the first to admit that we love to shop, we love big cars, we eat fast food served in mini containers and at least one of us is infatuated with miniature items and nicely packaged goods. Realizing that we're not quite the poster children of eco-consciousness, give us both props for at least trying to model the attitude of itty bitty green me! After all, every little bit counts right?
We won't try to claim that we're environmentalist (as our friends chuckle reading this- cause we are probably the farthest thing from this), but at the end of the day if we can save a tree, support a cool cause or at least buy the best "green" tee we can, we would have reached our goal.
Check back soon and often to read about our adventures, surely guaranteed to give you a few laughs at our many eco-faux pas! And if you are willing to help out two clueless souls on the eco-mission, pass on all comments and suggestions, we promise to use and recycle them!
Kristy and Christine
...Saving the world one shopping trip at a time
We'll be the first to admit that we love to shop, we love big cars, we eat fast food served in mini containers and at least one of us is infatuated with miniature items and nicely packaged goods. Realizing that we're not quite the poster children of eco-consciousness, give us both props for at least trying to model the attitude of itty bitty green me! After all, every little bit counts right?
We won't try to claim that we're environmentalist (as our friends chuckle reading this- cause we are probably the farthest thing from this), but at the end of the day if we can save a tree, support a cool cause or at least buy the best "green" tee we can, we would have reached our goal.
Check back soon and often to read about our adventures, surely guaranteed to give you a few laughs at our many eco-faux pas! And if you are willing to help out two clueless souls on the eco-mission, pass on all comments and suggestions, we promise to use and recycle them!
Kristy and Christine
...Saving the world one shopping trip at a time
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