Day 4....The little things
Alright, I am so behind. Not behind on the things I am doing, but behind on sharing them with the world. Or at least those of you who make the effort to read this post. Its still pretty easy. The little things are adding up. I decided to focus on some small steps that I, as well as others, can do. I'm recycling batteries. Many cities have recycling bags or boxes you can get. Fill it with batteries, close it up, and send it back in. Yes, yes we should use rechargables and we do. But not for everything. On day 345 when I can think of nothing else to do, I will go to all rechargables. Gotta save that for the day I have to choose between the diva cup and those (Sorry Kim). Eww! I have to say that I can not take credit for this one. (The batteries, not the diva cup.) It was Chad's idea. He is the true hippie at heart. I am just a wannabe. But I'm working on it.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Day 3
Rule 3 for Lessening Your Impact and Leaving the World a Better Place for Others
Alright, this is still pretty easy. I only have 362 days to go and 362 things to do to make the world a better place. Hmmm... So for today I decided I would wash clothes only in cold water. Nothing we wash is ever really that dirty. I am pretty sure my affinity for hot, steamy water comes from my grama. She washed everything in scalding hot water. I used to cringe watching her arms scream red as she finished the dinner dishes. Sorry grama, but your granddaughter is callin it quits. I have turned the water knob to cold and that's where its staying. Unless Chad gets to it.
Alright, this is still pretty easy. I only have 362 days to go and 362 things to do to make the world a better place. Hmmm... So for today I decided I would wash clothes only in cold water. Nothing we wash is ever really that dirty. I am pretty sure my affinity for hot, steamy water comes from my grama. She washed everything in scalding hot water. I used to cringe watching her arms scream red as she finished the dinner dishes. Sorry grama, but your granddaughter is callin it quits. I have turned the water knob to cold and that's where its staying. Unless Chad gets to it.
Monday, May 3, 2010
When you're tired, sleep
Although she has only been on this earth for five months, my darling little girl is an amazing creature who has already taught me (reminded me of) many things. Her natural impulses are so strong and I hope to help her maintain these for as long as possible. Unfortunately, life seems to get in the way for the rest of us and slowly these impulses fade. I know many of you think metaphors are cheesy, but I dig em. So here they come:
1. When you're tired, sleep. Naps are awesome. We need restful moments in our lives. Naps, walks, days off, vacations, and even moments to ourselves help us recharge. When Bug wakes up, she stretches her arms and beams. I must remember to take time for myself so I can feel that same joy.
2. When you're hungry eat. When you're full, stop. Luci senses an empty belly and knows she needs to do something about it. When she's full, she stops. So many of us sense those empty spots, yet do nothing to fill them. Others have full bellies, yet keep stuffing things in. We need to create that balance of "just full enough."
3. When you need something, start with a whimper. If its really important, let out a scream. Let the people around you know what you need. If they are not paying attention, give them one more chance to listen. Still not listening, let 'em know.
4. Life's too short to lay on your back. Roll over. Sit up. Don't just lay there.
5. Swings can be fun. And toys. And mirrors. And all sorts of endless other things. Get back to the things that you enjoy.
6. Slow down and stare at your hands. Relax. Chill. Take ten minutes just for yourself. Its the little things.
7. Only smile at people that matter to you. Luci only smiles at people she knows. Strangers spend ridiculous amounts of time trying to get her to smile to no avail. We spend alot of time and effort worrying about what people who don't even know us think. So stop.
8. The things you know how to do are amazing, so be proud of them. Watch a baby grin when she rolls over for the first time and tell me I am wrong.
9. You are surrounded by people who love you. Don't forget that. People spend enormous amounts of time letting children know how much they are cared for. We don't do this as much as we get older. Tell the people you love how you feel about them. Today.
Luci Stats at 5 months:
Weight 14.5 pounds
Height 27.5 inches
Two Lower Front Teeth
Rolling over Both Ways
Sitting with some Assistance
Loves: The Jumperoo, her Exersaucer, and her deer
1. When you're tired, sleep. Naps are awesome. We need restful moments in our lives. Naps, walks, days off, vacations, and even moments to ourselves help us recharge. When Bug wakes up, she stretches her arms and beams. I must remember to take time for myself so I can feel that same joy.
2. When you're hungry eat. When you're full, stop. Luci senses an empty belly and knows she needs to do something about it. When she's full, she stops. So many of us sense those empty spots, yet do nothing to fill them. Others have full bellies, yet keep stuffing things in. We need to create that balance of "just full enough."
3. When you need something, start with a whimper. If its really important, let out a scream. Let the people around you know what you need. If they are not paying attention, give them one more chance to listen. Still not listening, let 'em know.
4. Life's too short to lay on your back. Roll over. Sit up. Don't just lay there.
5. Swings can be fun. And toys. And mirrors. And all sorts of endless other things. Get back to the things that you enjoy.
6. Slow down and stare at your hands. Relax. Chill. Take ten minutes just for yourself. Its the little things.
7. Only smile at people that matter to you. Luci only smiles at people she knows. Strangers spend ridiculous amounts of time trying to get her to smile to no avail. We spend alot of time and effort worrying about what people who don't even know us think. So stop.
8. The things you know how to do are amazing, so be proud of them. Watch a baby grin when she rolls over for the first time and tell me I am wrong.
9. You are surrounded by people who love you. Don't forget that. People spend enormous amounts of time letting children know how much they are cared for. We don't do this as much as we get older. Tell the people you love how you feel about them. Today.
Luci Stats at 5 months:
Weight 14.5 pounds
Height 27.5 inches
Two Lower Front Teeth
Rolling over Both Ways
Sitting with some Assistance
Loves: The Jumperoo, her Exersaucer, and her deer
Day 2
Rule 2 for Lessening Your Impact and Leaving the World a Better Place for Others
This month, I am signing up us for automatic bill pay for anything else I have not yet done. This will save any stamps I need for those bills I can't pay online and save paper for those I can. It takes a little extra work and a little extra thought to make sure those get written into the check register, but I'm ready. Are you?
Alright so its actually Day 3, but I was busy yesterday. Life happens. Get off my back! Hehe....
I'm going paperless...For the most part, I am there. My bank statements are online, most of my bills are paid online, and the majority of my statements come to my email. Chad and I both have direct deposit and my company no longer even sends paystubs; they are available online. So I'm actually doing okay. Yet I have decided to do more.This month, I am signing up us for automatic bill pay for anything else I have not yet done. This will save any stamps I need for those bills I can't pay online and save paper for those I can. It takes a little extra work and a little extra thought to make sure those get written into the check register, but I'm ready. Are you?
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Day 1 of my New Greeness
Rule 1 for Lessening Your Impact and Leaving the World a Better Place for Others
Stop taking reciepts at gas stations and atms. I know we are not yet at a place where other stores can offer this option. There have been many times when asked if I want my receipt, I say no only to have the receipt go in the trash. That is not what I meant. It would save alot of waste as well as money for a company to have registers that did not have to print a receipt if the customer didn't want one. But gas stations and atms do offer this option and we should avail ourselves of this. Take your checkbook...Write down the withdrawal....Move on with your day. Over the course of a year, you could save alot of paper.
Stop taking reciepts at gas stations and atms. I know we are not yet at a place where other stores can offer this option. There have been many times when asked if I want my receipt, I say no only to have the receipt go in the trash. That is not what I meant. It would save alot of waste as well as money for a company to have registers that did not have to print a receipt if the customer didn't want one. But gas stations and atms do offer this option and we should avail ourselves of this. Take your checkbook...Write down the withdrawal....Move on with your day. Over the course of a year, you could save alot of paper.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Goin' Green
I have decided to decrease my carbon footprint. Although I wasn't doing too shabby on that front already, now that Luci is here, I want to create a better world for her. Lame, right?
I already use reusable shopping bags, keep my heat turned down, recycle, keep lights on only in the room I am in, combine shopping trips, and pay my bills online. I feel slightly superior on garbage pick up days when I see other's trash cans completely over flowing, while ours is only half full. I feel even more superior when we place both of our recycling bins by the curb and note that many others do not even have one. This complex continues when Chad and I make trips to the local recycling facility to drop off things they will not pick up curb side.
Yet, I have many bad habits....
1. I am slightly addicted to the "clean" smell. I love harsh, strong cleaning products because they appear to make my house look and smell better. I know this is not true and have on occasion, used vinegar and baking soda with great sucess. Yet, like an addict I keep returning to the sauce.
2. I like magazines. I do not enjoy People, US Weekly, and publications such as those. Unfortunately, the magazines I do enjoy seem to always be supersized. Oprah and Real Simple make my day, yet take up a lot of space in the recycling bin. "But Heather," you say, "Those can be recycled." Yes, they can but the cost to produce them outweighs the benefits of recycling.
3. I use more toilet paper and paper towel than I should. I like clean things, enough said.
4. I can't seem to get into the idea of cloth diapering. I know I should, but I can't. It's not that I don't want to. It just seems like so much work. Please tell me I am wrong.
5. I use alot of copy paper in my job. I am a teacher and I create and copy a lot of documents for my students. I send many things home that I know just gets thrown away. We recycle in our classroom, yet I am not sure how to instill this at home.
The list goes on. So I am making a decision to spend some time working on making this list shorter. I already have many ideas for things to do, but am definately interested in learning about more....
I already use reusable shopping bags, keep my heat turned down, recycle, keep lights on only in the room I am in, combine shopping trips, and pay my bills online. I feel slightly superior on garbage pick up days when I see other's trash cans completely over flowing, while ours is only half full. I feel even more superior when we place both of our recycling bins by the curb and note that many others do not even have one. This complex continues when Chad and I make trips to the local recycling facility to drop off things they will not pick up curb side.
Yet, I have many bad habits....
1. I am slightly addicted to the "clean" smell. I love harsh, strong cleaning products because they appear to make my house look and smell better. I know this is not true and have on occasion, used vinegar and baking soda with great sucess. Yet, like an addict I keep returning to the sauce.
2. I like magazines. I do not enjoy People, US Weekly, and publications such as those. Unfortunately, the magazines I do enjoy seem to always be supersized. Oprah and Real Simple make my day, yet take up a lot of space in the recycling bin. "But Heather," you say, "Those can be recycled." Yes, they can but the cost to produce them outweighs the benefits of recycling.
3. I use more toilet paper and paper towel than I should. I like clean things, enough said.
4. I can't seem to get into the idea of cloth diapering. I know I should, but I can't. It's not that I don't want to. It just seems like so much work. Please tell me I am wrong.
5. I use alot of copy paper in my job. I am a teacher and I create and copy a lot of documents for my students. I send many things home that I know just gets thrown away. We recycle in our classroom, yet I am not sure how to instill this at home.
The list goes on. So I am making a decision to spend some time working on making this list shorter. I already have many ideas for things to do, but am definately interested in learning about more....
I am now a blogger
Who cares, right? Everyone is. And if they're not, they're still not interested. Well I'm interested, damn it so I choose to do it. Its like a diary on crack. But this is one diary I would let my younger sibling see.
I am a teacher, wife, mother, and apparently convinced that others want to hear about my daily trails and tribulations. Well if you do, please continue to come back and read. Be forewarned, I think I am superior to almost everyone and I judge people (including myself) somewhat harshly.
I am a teacher, wife, mother, and apparently convinced that others want to hear about my daily trails and tribulations. Well if you do, please continue to come back and read. Be forewarned, I think I am superior to almost everyone and I judge people (including myself) somewhat harshly.
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