'disposable'

Have you read about the Pacific garbage patch, or the wonders of BPA, the estrogen mimicking plastic additive found is 93% of Americans ?

After reading Farmamas Blog about how she stopped using and buying plastic items “cold turkey” it really got me thinking. I find it fascinating, but as I look around I wonder *how*? We rarely fill our small trash can but pretty much always fill our large ‘recycling” can. So much of what we buy comes in containers we throw away. These “disposable” containers took energy, resources, markets... they were transported to the warehouse where they were filled so they could be transported again to a distributor, then to the market, then to me…

It’s much easier to not think of these things and comfortably go on with life. I am finding more and more that everything has it’s price and it’s not often reflected on the price tag. Convenience especially has a price and it really is something that should be weighed. There are some wonderful convinces that I do not want to live without, that I am grateful for…like a refrigerator!

I am noticing all the almond/rice milk containers, hummus and yogurt tubs, coffee containers, plastic wrap, cardboard, etc that fills our recycling can & it makes me wonder if its worth it. What a complete waste. There are things I can and should make myself….almond milk, crackers, granola to name a few. I found a local woman who has milk goats (for 4-H) and in July I am going to get fresh goat milk a try, mainly to make yogurt and cheese for my children. But what about everything else??

All I know is I am going to make baby steps in the right direction. There is a better way, a path I can see and I am ready to start hiking!!! So let me come clean... I used cloth diapers the first year with Everest and then switched to disposable, no, not even the "eco" disposable, but the crap from Costco. That's right!?! Trying to live within our budget, I have done a few things I am not happy about and it stops now. I have bought my last box of Huggies (sorry Huggies, even though I won a $250 gift card from you), so I need to figure out the best options in many areas of life. It's hard to find a balance at times!

I love this quote-
"Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself....to harm the earth is to heap contempt upon the creator.....contaminate your bed, and you will one night suffocate in your own waste."

Chief Seattle, 1854, responding to a U.S. government offer to buy "Indian" land.
　
I also have enjoyed reading heirloom seasons blog and the changes she has made, as well as the other participants of the ‘one small step project’.

*blessings*

daily rhythm

Everest 1 year ago today

As our daily rhythm is ever changing like the seasons of the year, we have gotten a little off beat. Everest has finally changed from two naps to one, but he still wants to take it so early! Everything seems to have unraveled and even meal times have not been regular. I am working on a new rhythm for our family and enjoying these longer days! Simple Moms Blog just posted '20 tips for finding your routine with kids' and it was inspiring. I need to get back to doing my 'paperwork' in the morning with my first cup of coffee...writing out the meals for the day, planned activities, things to do, etc. I also like to balance our budget and do any menu planning at that time to. It was good habit for a couple months but I haven't been doing it this month. I have to say, my husband having a week off work totally threw me off!

Kylan, 1 year ago

I've been feeling like I'm being pulled in so many directions I can't keep up with anything! I guess that's called life:) I often get focused on a set routine/rhythm for the kids and forget that it all starts with me! I need my own rhythm and routine for myself. I am not a morning person and Everest is bouncing off the walls by 5:30am. It's been a big challenge for me to be the kind of mom I want to be at 5am!! If I can sneak off and take a quick shower it makes a world of difference, so that's one thing I want to incorporate into my mornings. And, well, it's almost 11pm so I better go to bed since I know I'll be up to see the sun rise:)

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I am reminded of the quote-

"strive for excellence, not perfection"

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Have a beautiful almost-springtime week!

lofty goals for 2010

Ok, so I have New Years Resolutions, for the most part your basic, typical resolution's ...lose weight, save money, organize...but this time I actually wrote it down and wrote down steps/mini goals for each month to hopefully get me where I need to be by the end of the year. So here are my goals-



Stay within budget/no unnecessary spending-

-only spend money on necessary things

-for all extras, find a way to pay for them outside of normal income such as:

sell on ebay for birthday and clothing money

tax return will be our garden and outside budget

-stay within grocery budget (this is a big one and our main area to cut back)




Organize the house...'a place for everything and everything in it's place'

-each month I will have a different area to focus on, broken down into weekly tasks





Start a new habit monthly-

-little habits that will make my life better/easier

For January I will write out our daily plan (meals, to do list, and activities...anything I don't get done will go onto the next day)





Save money for the first time ever!

-First goal save $1000 emergency fund

- save for a bathroom remodel to start 2011!!!



*I have a secret goal* , one I haven't mentioned to my husband because it may be unrealistic, but I also am hoping to save enough to pay our midwife so we can perhaps have another child in 2011...we'll see, it's quite a chunk of money and our insurance reimburses us for half of it after the birth. We have pretty much agreed on having a third child, just not sure when...



Lose weight and live healthier-hmmm, I think this one starts next month...


To try and actually do these things I'm going to post about them once a month or so... what my goals are for the month and what I did/did not due, what I learned, etc...