Slacker Blogger!!

Ok so I really haven't written any good posts lately and have been a tad on the lazy side when it comes to my "green ideas."

However I have been thinking -- a lot in fact -- about how I'm going to step it up a notch this new year for green living.

Last year I started changing my habits and living more green somewhere around October-ish if I remember correctly. I was inspired when a friend (Hi Mary!! Frantic Waving!) mentioned she really liked listening to Rob Bell of Mars Hill in Michigan. So I started to listen to him and he had a sermon about living Green because God is Green. It inspired me to live even greener then I did then. I thought I was doing a lot for the enviroment, but really realized there was more I could do. I HIGHLY recommend digging up the sermon series, God is Green from Mars Hill. It makes you think--a lot! Not to mention reading the book, Serve God Save the Planet--life changer!

So what I plan on doing in '08 isn't really mapped out yet, but I'm going to keep doing what I do now, keep educating myself about these issues (never stop learning right!?) and keep on spreading the word. Thats a pretty good start!

Green Christmas Recap

So obviously this year I wasn't as good about letting my family know how important it is for me to avoid certain things when it came to gifts.
However I wasn't as good at the giving part either. Let me tell you though, this green stuff took all the fun out of shopping for me! Which isn't entirely a bad thing because I could use some pointing AWAY from spending any additional money!

But I did reuse and save boxes/bags/tissue when I came to the gift giving. I bought nothing this year and I didn't buy anything last year either when it came to wrapping paper. I have enough as it is, I truly don't need anymore.

I didn't get ANYTHING off my alternative/green gift registry. Somehow the whole gift registry seemed to throw my family this year. While in previous years they encouraged some sort of gift registry. I can't win! Most of the stuff on my green registry were things I could really use like a reuseable dryer sheet or a power strip that knows when you don't normally use things and powers stuff off for you.
Its ok though. I did get a reusable bag for grocery shopping--this one with little sections for bottles or breakables. My mom informed me she also bought more reusable bags for her shopping as well. Thats a plus! Now how I can I get her to stop wrapping my gifts in non-recyclable paper.....hmmmmm I'll shoot for next year on that one!

More later my green friends. Just wanted to let you all know I hadn't forgetten about you!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all my buddies out there in Greenie Land!
I hope you and your family have a safe and wonderful Christmas! Keeping in mind that Christmas is NOT about how many gifts you get or give, but that its a celebration of Jesus's birthday!
Happy Birthday Jesus!!! And to think Jesus doesn't even need presents because we are his presents!!!

Speaking of presents....this has been a hard year for us financially. We are really scraping by to keep our son in Private school because it means so much to us. However, Christmas is very tight this year and although we have been preparing Noah for the fact he's not going to be getting a lot for Christmas this year -- I still don't think his little 9 yr old brain is able to comprehend that thought.
I wish I could say I had taught my son at a young age that its not about presents and "getting stuff" but I didn't. Looking back I wish I had to prepare him for the possible lean years we might have.
Shopping this year was hard. I just couldn't bring myself to buy stuff with so much packaging and honestly I think like most moms I worry about the lead content in my kids toys. Never thought I would reach a point in my life where I worried about that! Sure he's 9 yrs old, but sometimes I do still find him chewing on toys while staring off into space. I guess its no different then chewing on a pencil! STILL!
I have decided that my son is completely commercialized and it makes me sad. When commercials come onto TV he's all about saying, "I want that!" "Can I get that??" And no matter how much I remind him to be thankful for what he has instead of wanting more more MORE--alas, it falls on deaf ears.

I hope that one day he'll appreciate the sacrifices his parents made for his education. For now, we realize that isn't the case because he is young. We are really hoping that he becomes less and less interested in getting "stuff" and more and more interested in helping people.

Blessings to you for 2008!
Who knows what this next year may bring, but I'm excited for what is to come!

Turn it Off!!!

No, not the lights! (although that is a good place to start!)

What I mean is turn off your cell phones when you don't need it on. I find that when I leave it on (which I'll admit to doing often!) that battery just runs low quickly and I have to charge it all over again.

So from now on I'm going to remember to turn it off as much as possible. Besides, when I'm home I have a land line anyway. If someone truly needed to reach me then I have that line.

Where is the Humor in this?

So I realized after looking thru my posts on here that this blog (as opposed to my other blog whom shall rename nameless) isn't as fun to read.
In other words, my purposeful blog is a little on the dry side. I write like I'm trying to sell you something! Which nobody likes.
SO I vow today to TRY a lot harder at putting behind this blog more of my humor and whit. Seriously, I'm not THAT dry.

I went to a friends birthday party on Saturday and my good friend Karen asked me how the green living was going. To me, the green living I hardly notice anymore. Its more like adjustments or living carefully. It is a lifestyle though.
There are times when I want to break down and throw in the towel (from Wal*Mart) and just stop living like this.
Take tonight for example. I'm fighting the urge to take a bath. GASP! Now most people would say that isn't a big deal, but our tub is like filling up a small lake. Apparently the people who lived here before were really tall so they sprung for a large tub in the master bath.
Our tub could literally hold 2 adults; however it is not jetted and if you are going to spring for a huge bathtub---do us a favor and make it jetted.
SORRY!
That is not a very green comment. Jetted tub=more energy used. Translation: NOT energy efficient.
So when I looked into the tub to determine if I should give into my urge and just use less water for about a month, I noticed how dirty is was. So I cleaned it. But only the tub part. The walls will have to wait.
Crisis adverted and less water used!

I'm feeling a little cranky about it though. I will probably go sulk in front of the TV with a leftover piece of Halloween candy. (which is more garbage that can't decompose and the TV sucks so much energy because we have an old one.....DANG! even my thought pattern is green!)

Cows Unite!

Recently my friend Jennifer tipped me off to CowsUnite.org. Normally I don't' drink milk because I can't tolerate it; however I'm all about making sure my son, hubby and others have access to fresh milk.

Anyway, so this site it all about helping humans understand the importance of organic dairy, decent treatment for cows and the critical role of family farmers. Some examples of how they do this is thru Organic Pastures and the eradication of Synthetic Hormones.

The site is SO cute. You have to check it out with sound on! You can sign up to spread the word about protecting cows and their livelihood. They have their own "Bovine Bill of Rights" and Cow Manifesto. These bovines are set to take on the world. All in the name or Organic Milk.

I personally did buy organic milk for the first time yesterday. I can say the largest difference is Organic milk doesn't have a long sell by date like most milk I might buy. Instead, due to its freshness its won't last up to 3 weeks like most non-organic milk.
If you have a family that goes thru milk like crazy, this shouldn't be an issue, but just keep it in mind if you are thinking all milk is the same.

I'm Changing...

"Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!"

That is a direct quote from my friend Kirsten's Grandma and I love how simply she puts it. Speaks right to not only being thrifty, but to my whole new "green" lifestyle.


So you are probably wondering what I mean by the title of this post. Well, I'm changing and I can't believe how quick I'm changing. The bible says in Romans 12:2 to not be like this world and to change how you think to what God thinks.
I honestly think I'm finally starting to see life like that now.


The more I educate myself about this whole new Green lifestyle I'm living I'm finding the world is really a bigger place and that God loves all this little Children. Visting the Philippines helped me see the world in a whole new light as well now, but it wasn't just that.


I feel like I finally grew up in a sense about this world we live in. yes, we do live in a BIG world, but at the same time I feel like the world is getting smaller the more I learn about it. And I'm not talking about the polar caps melting (because honestly I don't read about that stuff--I know you can gasp now!)


Now when I shop I really stop and think about what I'm buying. I mean really stop and think. I'm finding I read more labels about where a product was made in now. I never used to do that. In fact, when I did work at Old Navy in the past I used to tease and joke about the "poor little sweatshop children" that made our clothes there.
(OK Ok ok, PLEASE note that part of this blog is to help me "confess" to my previous issues/problems/downright sins!!!! I'm not a perfect person by any means and I have since realized the error of my ways and absolutely regret saying that in the past.....)


Now when I read a label I truly think about where it came from and who made it....and sadly it has killed my desire to shop anymore. Technically this is a good thing, not a bad thing. This will help me save A LOT of money in the end. Does a label mean I won't buy anymore? Nah. It doesn't stop me, but it STOPS me to think about what I'm doing, who am I impacting, etc.

I'm glad that I'm growing up about the things in this world. I don't want to sit in my little corner of the world known as Puyallup, WA and never think about the children suffering over in Africa or anywhere else or that matter! (Shout out to Karen for opening up my mind in the area of adoption in other countries again! Blessings for you new baby girl soon to come to WA!!)

Its the stopping and thinking that brings me back to Romans 12:2. I have "renewed my mind" about this world we live in. I truly believe that this is only the beginning of what I can put my mind to now. I never for once thought I would be this person who I'm today.
Am I perfect?
Do I have life whipped?
Uh, No not by any means.

But I'm starting to Care. It takes a lot to care about what happens around you and in your world. I used to say I cared but I never really tried to show I cared. Now I can see that God truly wants us to Love His People and his creations. His biggest creation being people!

Can I make a difference in this world? Sure. Any of us can. But I'm more glad that its made a difference in my thinking habits. This is what God really wanted for my life right now anyway I'm sure! It took awhile, but I'm glad he came thru. Or should I say He's glad I came thru finally! LOL! Yeah, that's probably what He's thinking!

Blog Action Day

Today is the Blog Action Day where all bloggers across the land (or the world wide web---sounds MUCH cooler to say) are to write about the current state of the world and us in it.

So I honestly don't dive into the whole earth issues very well. At times I find them boring or just plain confusing.

Sometimes its bad air quality and the next day I'll see some special on TV about how the earth's air is much cleaner then it was 40 yrs ago.

Then its polar bears dying by the hundreds because their ice is melting. And of course, the polar ice caps are melting and land is disappearing because of all the extra water from the ice melting.

The ice is melting due to poor air quality and all the CO2 we're releasing into the air because there are soo many cars on the road and less knowledge about how to conserve. And because there is no teaching on conserving people are just using and using more electricity and water and so on....

But you get the pattern right?

You get that its just the trickle down effect or the domino effect or the cause and effect!

One little ripple eventually becomes a BIG ripple after awhile (see pic above). That one little drop into the pond can eventually flood it if there are enough drops.

Don't we see what we are doing to make changes?

All the small little changes we choose to make as individuals really DO make a difference. Even if you just recycle or use a CFL light bulb in every room in your home--it MAKES a difference. You might not see it, but you do make a difference.

I know that my using a redesigned Swiffer won't change the world. Or using Lunapads! But in the LONG run it will make a difference. If not for anything, it might make a difference in my families health or my own personal health.

Don't give up on your new lifestyle!

Every little bit makes a big difference.

(But could someone please tell that to Puget Sound Energy for me?? Cause I'm tired of wearing clothes that feel like paper cause I hang dry my clothes!!! My electric bill is NOT showing a difference! Sheesh! What's a girl got to do!!!???)

"When you think of me..."

So I've started a weird trend amongst some friends around here!
I have inspired no one to follow my green path as of yet, but I have at least got my friends "thinking" about what they are doing.
Mostly they think, "Oh Lord! What would Marcie think if she knew I was doing this right now?!!?"
Its dramatic yes, but at least they are thinking right?!

So the first time a friend "thought of me" and her non-eco issue was when her daughter started puking in the car on their way to get something. So they pulled over to "clean up" as best possible by using baby wipes. Yes, I'm positive they were the evil wipes, but thats not the best part.
They start cleaning up the puke and chucking the wipes, puke and all outside onto the side of the freeway.
And my friend said, "All I could think of was: What would Marcie think of this mess??"
I told her I was touched that she thought of me, even though yeah probably wasn't the best idea to leave a pile of puke covered wipes.
She justified her actions by pointing out that there was insulation all over the road.
Truly adding to the pile made it ok right?! LOL!

Oh goodness...I don't fault her. I mean if anyone throws up in our car you know we'll use whatever to clean it up.
Hey, at least she started thinking about my green.
And as long as it sticks.

My other friend sent me a great myspace message the other day about how every time she looks at a CFL lightbulb she thinks of me.
Touched! Seriously I was!

So think of me when you want to go green or be green. I only wish I represented someone that reminded you of living a Godly Life. So that is my new goal--to Live a more out loud Godly Life with a bit of green sprinkled here and there!

Lunch Box Woes

So my most recent addition to going green has to be trying to find alternatives for my sons lunch box.

I'm ok with him buying lunch at school, however the newly increased prices on lunch and since he can't eat a bunch of junk food, I'm sunk in coming up with creative lunch options.

Now he uses a lunch box, always has. We save those paper sacks for field trip days only which is maybe 2-3 times a year. This year I refused to buy him a new lunch box since we had 4 sitting in the closet gathering dust. Most of them are from my work, but for some AMAZING reason my son thinks that's cool. Please Lord let him think that forever!!!

We have stopped buying little individually packaged foods and don't use zip loc bags except for those rare field trip days. So truly we are on our way....

I will admit though, that I enjoy the convience of those drink boxes.

I'm ok w/ packing his sandwich in a tupperware container or packing fruit, but its those little juice boxes that are killing me to let go of.

But lets break it down here... MY son prefers the taste of the Capri-Sun juice boxes, which obviously are not recyclable. If you consider how much plastic and stuff it takes to make just ONE of those drinks....I would be shamed by my fellow greenies....sigh....

So now I'm on the hunt for a thermos with a Straw. Remember those ones?

I do. I know I had one over the years. And we're talking a heavy, duty plastic straw, not that little plastic ones my son will chew thru even though he's 9. Its been finding one that's hard!

I remember they didn't leak because of how powerful that straw was. Plus it was insulated enough to provide some cooling. Not that his little juice box is ever chilled.

I've been hitting up the thrift stores, the Goodwill, but alas I'm coming up empty handed.

Now I realize I could use just a reusable bottle, but the whole Nalgene thing was too big and bulky for his lunchbox which is why I'm on the hunt for another one.

Anyone know of a site that might sell these?

(Ok I know they are made out of plastic, but it'll get USED trust me)

More Green changes @ our house!

Sorry I haven't written very much in awhile! I switched my shift around @ work and now I'm working days instead of nights. So it feels like I don't have as much time on my hands!!
Soooo.....
Here's the latest on being Green at our house.

James made a funny comment yesterday to me concerning the water just draining off our roof and our current rain barrel can't hold no more! He was like, "All that water just going to waste."
I had to smile at that because this is coming from the guy who said, "No Way" when I said I was going green. Yep, before you know it he'll be doing more then me.

I finally planted/buried my below ground compost bin. I'll let you know if it does its job! It was a labor of love to get that hole dug!!! Our ground is mainly made up of rocks, rocks, boulders, and maybe a little dirt too mixed in. Its going to make for a rough planting once we get a garden going. I'm thinking a container garden might be appropriate!!

But this year for Christmas we have decided were going to take a whole new approach. Thankfully my brother is all for this idea because he to is starting to live the green lifestyle. This year for Christmas we won't be giving material gifts and if we do or need too, they will be used. I'm probably going to the coupon book idea for my son Noah.
This way he can "cash in" his coupons for things like outings to the Zoo, or trips to the park, a Video rental of his choice and so on.
Noah is actually pretty good about not caring if his toys are new or used. He loves to stop at yard sales and thrift stores to find treasures and to see how much free stuff he can get. although I pray that that mentality stays the same as the years progress.

We have decided to switch to Green Power from our local Energy company, Puget Sound Energy. I don't have all the details yet as someone will have to contact us from the company, but what I do know is they use wind power for their green power. For about $4 per month they will buy 320 kilowatts of renewable energy from right here in WA. I figure since I'm saving so much by not using my dryer as often, it will pay for itself in the end. If you live here in WA State check out Puget Sound Energy's Green Power information.

I'm also considering starting a bible study from a workbook available for Serve God Save the Planet. He has a workbook available for free on his website and I'm thinking that would be a great start to get my church more involved with being green. I just have to wait for the new groups for winter to start up. Hopefully it will go over well...

So there you go.
More later.