Today, I pledge to try and break my paper towel habit once and for all. I cloth diapered my kids, I clean with vinegar, baking soda and the like, but I just have never been able to give up paper towels. It’s a sickness! I ran out about 10 days ago and haven’t bought any since. Wish me luck.
Corpus Christi, can’t our school go paperless?? Is it really necessary that I fill out or sign at least two forms plus throw out 5-10 pieces of paper a day from the school?? At least our student sign in/sign out/volunteer log has gone paperless. The school district just replaced every single computer older than three years old yet they can’t figure out a way to cut the (on average) 1 1/2 bags of garbage I fill a month with school paper? It’s mind boggling, frustrating, and terrifying. Me thinks I should bring this up at the next pta meeting.
I made it to the end of my month long challenge! No, not that one*. The secret one that I didn’t say in case I couldn’t do it. Say what? Yea, well, I decided I would post every day for the month of January and I did, woot! Don’t go expecting this all the time now.
*which ended horribly with me in Target this morning, filling my cart to the brim with tchotckes and laughing maniacally while saying “mine, it’s alllll miiiiine!” Kidding. Sorta. I did pretty well. I ended up only buying what we needed (except my book binge) and I went to Target maybe two or three times this month. I did fall off the wagon today though. 
So last night while I was at the supermarket on the phone with my brother*, I noticed my supermarket now carries oversize canvas grocery bags. Cool, eh? At $4 a pop, they’re not expensive, and I would say they could hold about 2-3 plastic bags of groceries each. I also noticed a few weeks ago that they started a plastic bag recycling program. There are two large recycling containers at the store entrances where you deposit bags. Yay HEB!
*I was making fun of the fact that he hired a dog whisperer for his Jack Russell, Zuri.
So I dropped a few bags of donations off at the women’s shelter yesterday and decided I would stop by Sally’s on the way home “just to see what they had”. I got there and it wasn’t open yet, so I left. Phew, that was a close one, lol.
Speaking of donations, I am pleased to say that two full bags of stuff belonged to Luis. I had been trying for years to get him to go through his mountains of clothes and get rid of some. I mean, he had brand new tops, pants, things that were gifted to him and never worn. Tons of t-shirts that will never be worn again that he is keeping for sentimental value, etc. So, last fall, I finally just said enough and started doing it myself. Seeing me throwing some of his things away caused him to spring into action and over the past few months, he has cleaned out his closet and his excess in the garage. All that’s left is to wash all the stuff that he wants to keep and put it away. I plan to just take it all to the laundromat and put it in a ginormous washer and then dryer whenever I get a boost of energy…and have nothing to do, lol.
So I decided last month that January would be no spend month. Barring a few pre-calculated expenses (new shoes for Girlie, a “mental health day” with Reesie, etc), I will not buy anything beyond the basics this month. No trips to Target “just to see if they have anything good” or to Kmart b/c OMG! It’s after Christmas, and Martha ornaments are on sale! No thrifting, no fast food, nada. So far so good. I got the shakes one day as I passed the turn for Kmart and I just try to pretend Target doesn’t exist, heh. I think I can make it to the end of the month. I’ll be spending lots of time reading, knitting, and keeping up one of my unwritten new year’s goals which was to stay on top of the laundry and dishes. I find once those things are taken care of, I find it easier to get other things done around the house without those two red flags waving over my head. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go put sale stuff in my j. crew cart, and leave it there. 
This is a pretty neat site. Found it over at shelterrific. What’s your walkscore? Mine is 49, so about average. Most of the places in my ‘hood can’t actually be walked to though since it’s not really set up for pedestrian traffic. The site explains all that.
For those who don’t know…I’m a hippie. I’m somewhat obsessed with simple green living. Not the trendy $300 organic jeans type, but the bring your own bag, teach the kids to recycle, go barefoot and hug trees (except I have allergies) type. I try not to buy many new books or movies, preferring to troll thrift shops and use (three) libraries, and netflix instead. I nurse my two year old, cosleep with him, (try to) practice gentle discipline and blah, blah, blah. Yea, I’ve got the credentials, but I hold two dirty little secrets.
1)I can’t give up paper towels: I’ve tried and tried but just haven’t been able to switch to cloth rags permanently. Which is like, nuts, considering how easy it would be for me to whip up some rags out of old towels or even just use old indian prefolds.
2)I wouldn’t say I have a ton of plastic in my kitchen, maybe an average amount? But I’ve been making an effort to get rid of it. I don’t visit MDC very often, except for the home focus forums and this is an oft discussed topic.
Lately when my plastic kitchen utensils wear out, I’ve been replacing them with wooden ones. I have almost eliminated the use of plastic cups and bowls in the house by simply moving said items out of the cabinet. When I find an inexpensive, heavyweight, and pretty one, I will be replacing our plastic juice pitcher with a glass one. The next step, and maybe the hardest b/c of the cost, will be to get rid of all my plastic tupperware type food storage containers and replace them with mason jars or other glass storage containers or pyrex. I have had no luck finding said items while thrifting, but I figure if I keep looking, eventually something will pop up.
Angrychicken recently blogged about this, so if you haven’t already seen it, check out her post on the same topic.