I'm Recycling again

I took about a month off from Recycling because I was so busy, even though I felt really guilty about it.....but now I'm on a roll again.  Kate, my daughter, keeps me motivated to continue and I feel good when I do.  Here' some of the things I recycle.  Empty plastic egg cartons, plastic cups from Fast food places, pill containers, plastic lids, wrappers from food, plastic containers that can't go in the regular recycling, etc.  I save them and then bring them to my daughter who separates them and sends them into Terracycle and they in turn pay cash for some things.  Thanks to Kate's help....I don't have to throw these things away.
There's also a place that will take all of your styrofoam too.....I'll get you the info next time.  Happy recycling!

Trying to Make a Differerence

I was one of those people that wasn't AWARE of all of the plastics and throw-aways that I used until my daughter started educating me on recycling.  It took a long time of listening to her and realizing that what she was saying was impacting our EARTH.  But little by little I took her advice and I tried reusing, recycling, regifting and reinventing ways to not WASTE things.

As time went on I didn't need to be reminded....it had sunk in....I was on my own....and I loved it!  Now I make a conscious decision every time I buy something whether or not it will impact our EARTH.  I always take my reusable bags to the grocery store and I've even purchased reusable produce bags that I love!
As I was talking with Kate today, I realized that most people aren't AWARE of how much they throw away that is destroying our EARTH.  We all need to be educated more.  The grocery stores and T.V.  Ads brainwash us into thinking we need more and more and WE DON'T!!!!!!!!
What did we do before all of this stuff was put out there?  We survived and we were happy.  Now there is so much stuff out there to clutter up our lives....take up our time.....and even make us fat!
I feel good now.....it wasn't hard at all.....it's just being AWARE.  Take time to be AWARE, just as you take time to breathe.  Slow down in life.  Pay attention to our beautiful EARTH and what we are all doing to destroy it.  We can all keep it so beautiful if we just become a little more AWARE:)

Something to say about Green

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures he leadeth me beside the still waters.

It Does Have an Impact

Since I've decided to become more aware of being "GREEN" I am also aware that what we do does have an impact on other people.
My husband, Leon, was never conscious of living a green life, but since I have been trying to be greener, it is having an affect on him also.
Once in awhile we used to use paper plates for snacks or even dinner, but now I notice he always grabs for the Corelle plates.  I've noticed many areas in which he is just as aware as I am and together we are working (at least in our home) to make this world greener.
We just ran out of paper towels and I plan on not buying anymore.  I have tons of wash cloths and kitchen towels, so we will try to manage and see how it goes.
Our compost is coming along nicely and we just planted our vegetable garden this past week.
Just seeing the stuff we accumulate that can't be recycled, I can now comprehend what our landfills and oceans look like from what everyone in the world is throwing away every day. 
But let's not ever think we can't make a difference!!!!!!

Using Less

Well, I've managed to collect two large trash bags full of recycling materials that our area does not collect, so I will be bringing them to Kate's for her Whole Foods.

When shopping at Boscov's this week, I asked each cashier (3 in all) to put my items in the one plastic bag instead of using three.....that worked well!

I'm still having trouble not using some paper towels.  I buy frozen fish and shrimp and I thaw them out in a dish, but before I cook them, they need to be dry.  That's where the paper towel comes in.  But what I do afterwards is put it in my compost.

I wrote to Hellman's today to see if they could put their mayo back in glass jars.  They said they have an 8 oz. glass jar - that's one cup - get real.  And what is the cost of that tiny jar?  I told them to think bigger.

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

Today I stepped out my back door and was met by all this greenery.....it's Earth Day! As I walked around looking at all the new Spring blooms I realized how blessed I am to be able to walk around at my own free will and take in all the beauty that GOD has created.

It's a Good Day :)

So Much Waste

Each day that I am aware of the plastics around me that aren't recycleable, I am amazed at how much we buy is wrapped or packaged in plastic. 


I'm trying my hardest not to buy things in plastic, but even the outer wrapper of the recycled toilet paper   I buy is plastic.


For a week I have been saving all of the materials that are not recycleable, and this is just for two people.  I have to try much harder to help the environment and buy less of everything and especially things that are wrapped in plastic or put in styrofoam.


One good thing about this tub of unrecycleables.....I'm giving them to Kate, who will bring them to Whole Foods, who recycles alot of these things.

My pledge is to do better!

My First Spring Rose

Last night I walked outside and to my surprise I saw my first rose of the season.  It was so pretty I had to run in and get my camera.  All is well in the world when you are surrounded by your beautiful gardens!

Our Earth

"Do no dishonour to the earth least you dishonour the spirit of man."

Quote of the Day

When I was young, my ambition was to be one of the people who made a difference in this world. My hope still is to leave the world a little bit better for my having been here. It's a wonderful life and I love it.


Jim Henson, It's Not Easy Being Green And Other Things to Consider

Why Do People Litter So Much?

Today my daughter and her three little boys went to the Ward Museum and walked the nature trails for a short period and even among this beautiful setting of wildlife and nature we found "litter" everywhere.  In the river there were bottles, soda cans, plastic bags, etc. 

My daughter started picking up this trash and collecting it until her bag was full.  It's such a shame that people don't treasure our earth more and think before they throw their trash wherever they want to.  The sad thing is, there are always outdoor trash cans at these facilities, but people are too lazy to walk over to them.

It was a very pleasant day today outdoors.....just so sad to see all the litter!

I Miss My Glass Bottles!

Being aware of bein green is so hard, because you start noticing everything you throw away and there are so many things I just don't know how to recycle.

Like the aluminum foil lid on the Crystal Light little cups (I do recycle the plastic cup) - what do you do with these?

Like all of the wrappers you take off of snack bars, cereal bars, etc. - what do you do with these?

I noticed when shopping you can't even find a jar of mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup - anything in a glass jar anymore - everything is plastic.  And that's okay if we recycle it, but some of the types of plastic aren't accepted everywhere.  What do you do with those plastic jars?

I'm trying to learn as I go along, but boy, I really do miss my Diet Pepsi in the old fashioned glass bottle?  Will someone please bring this back to me?????????

Green, Glorious Green!

This weekend I was away and didn't have a chance to practice "Green", but I got some more ideas from my daughter.  I use those big bags of bird seed and they come in those very sturdy heavy plastic bags.  Kate suggested that I make a carry-all bag from the birdseed bag - what a great idea!  It's perfect and I can't wait to try this project.

Also, we were discussing her curtains for her family room and whe wanted color in there and I suggested that I make her curtains out of her t-shirt collection that I was going to make into a quilt.  This will bring color to the room and it's perfect for a play room where the boys play all the time.  I can't wait to get started!

I justed wanted to share some of the color of green things around my house...just because I love green!

I'm Turning Green

With the help of my daughter, who is very concerned about the environment and the future of her children, I am learning to turn green. 

 I've always recycled, but now I look at everything I am about to throw away and I check to see if it can be recycled somewhere....or reused in some way.

I always bring my reusable shopping bags to the grocery store and find that I like them better because they hold more and they have nice sturdy handles, but today while I was walking to the car with my groceries, an elderly lady (okay, maybe she was in her 70's...that's not too old) looked down at my bag and shook her head (like she just forgot something) and she went back to her car to get her reusable bags.  So, even though we think we aren't making an impression, we are.  I approached her and told her how nice that was...she was happy she went back for them.

I turned my lights off today, even though it was raining, because unless I am reading or sewing, why do I need them on.  It also saves on my electric bill which I like.

I will try to pass on tips that I've learned (mostly from my daughter, Kate) so we can all help make the world a greener place.