Challange

I'm Taking a challange starting Feb 25th anyone want to join?

This is the blog of a friend of mine named Sara it explains the challange in detail.

http://happyfoody.wordpress.com/2008/02/13/the-happy-foody-green-smoothie-challenge/

Cash Budget

Hey I have a great new way to reduce my clutter! I'm trying out a new system of withdrawing cash for all of my weekly expenses, except gas and uncommon purchuses (for example if I get a new couch.) I'm still fine tuning what is a uncommon purchase (does a gift for someone else come out of my weekly budget?) So far its been a great way to regin in my impulsive buying, cash is harder to sepend that swiping my debit card.

How is the green? Simple really the less I buy the less manufacturing, transporting, and garbage I create!

Save the world/Buy less things!

Have I talked about this already I can't remember. But it has been impressed on me again how much useless 'stuff' we acquire. It really isn't stuff its JUNK and I don't need it so why do I buy it?

This is a new way I can 'save the world.' By not buying things that I don't need those things aren't needing to be manufactured or transported. Its true that one person not buying extra stuff might not have a impact on the manufacturing world but what if you joined me, and told a few friends?

Also I want to clarify I will be buying some things not necessary to life but I will try to get them at second hand stores and garage sales there is more thrill that way anyway. *Wink*

An interesting turn of events.

My husband passed away on Monday Dec 10th after a 3 1/2 year long battle with cancer.

This of course leads to a lot of thoughts but as far as this blog is concerned it will help.

I will admit that Mark was a huge encourager when it came to 'not adding clutter to my life" in other words he discouraged me from buying anything. However he wasn't all for some of my crazier ideas, especially if it meant changing anything to whole wheat or whole grains. So this presents and interesting opportunity for me...

Goodwill, and such.

I'm in love with thrifing, its good for the pocketbook and good for the enviornment. When you thrift you are not using up any of the resources it takes to make something new. Mark and I just went to Good will the other day and dropped off 4 boxes of un-needed stuff (more on that later) and then picked up a few things. We got plates for our cookie and sweets giveaway, an extra container for Marks coffee pods, place mats that I'm going to sew into gift bags, a broiler pan for our oven (it didn't have one,) and I'm sure there is more I'm forgetting. It was a blast!

Sigg Water Bottle and Produce Bags!

I just made my first online purchase with the sole intent of being 'green.' I just bought some mesh reusable produce bags and a Sigg water bottle. I will admit that the water bottle was fairly selfish but it is a good thing as well. Mark and I have several Nalgine bottles but they are all the huge size and not really portable for work and such. So I bought a smaller Sigg bottle for everyday out and about and then I will leave my big bottle on my desk at work and another one at home. I'm actually really excited about this I'm trying to buy less in general so I don't clutter up my life any more than I need to but I do have to make allowances for certain things and these are just such things. Just and FYI I bought my produce bags here and the Sigg bottle here.

BYOC

Bring

Your

Own

Cup (mug or water bottle)

I don't just mean at the office with your Sigg bottle I also mean when you go to the gas station, at a fast food restaurant everywhere. All of those bottles just build up in the landfills and are never recycled by the fast food companies. Many gas stations and coffee shops will gladly allow you to bring in your own travel mug. They will also let you fill up your water bottle with the water from the pop machine instead of buying a bottle of water. Think about where you can can use non-disposable cups.