Holy Crap - it is December Already

I have not given any thought to my December item. I will have to ponder this for a few days and come up with a plan! Maybe something Holiday related? not sure really ...

In the meantime, I bought some shampoo and conditioner for the girls last week, and I even went Eco-friendly for them! However, I have to plan better because the prices are actually *better* at Whole Foods than they were locally! Who'd a thunk!

I've been really good at the re-usable bag thing. However, our beloved dog was put to sleep a month ago now, and we have this huge stash of plastic bags that I am not sure what to use them for now. When Mulligan was around we used one or two bags a day. Our supply was usually dwindling at that rate. Now ... not so much dwindling going on. FM still uses the store's bags, so we have a small trickle coming into the house. And with no out-going source they are stacking up. (It was a sad realization, too, when I was attacked by falling plastic bags and realized the reason why was the loss of our very loved poochy.)

I have also discovered the over lock stitch on my sewing machine, so I am going to take those flannel sheets of FM, and override his veto on making rags out of them. So, come X-Mass break or so I imagine I will have flannel wipes to use. Let's see how this one goes!

So, December is here and I need an idea. Got any to share?

And For November I Will

I have made the decision, although failed to post it, that I will now properly dispose of all non-rechargeable batteries. We never really used many of these little things until recently. Bought a Wii, changed to a wireless mouse, Ziggy has taken to reading by flashlight till the wee hours of the morning, and a few other odds n ends. So I am now officially committed to taking all my batteries to the hazardous waste disposal. No more trash cans for them!

I bought new prersonal care products

I finally needed some more shampoo, and I succumbed and purchased some conditioner as well.

I happened to be running errands near a Whole Foods and decided I wanted to pick up some Oil of Oregano to help fight this flu thing that has been going around our neck of the woods. While there I also picked up a bottle of their 360 degree brand lavender shampoo and conditioner. I did not closely scrutinize each and every ingredient, and I did not re-peruse the list of ingredients to avoid since my purchase was rather impulsive, but it looks pretty good from my quick scan.

It has been since mid-August since I have regularly used conditioner, and pretty much since Sept. since I have used any at all, so this is a weird feeling to me now. I think I may really need some conditioner on a weekly or twice-weekly basis come full blown winter. Already my hair is frizzier than this summer due to the dry air from the furnace. And, to make matters worse, since someone seems to be fighting a fever every day here lately, our heat has been turned up warmer than normal. (Still, it is only turned up to 67 degrees)

So, while this purchase was very impulsive, I did manage to do OK. I think I could manage pretty well with this concept for myself ... now only to convince FM that he needs to use better products.

and to find a deodorant that is more human friendly and yet works.

Line Drying in Winter

As I sit here watching the cold, fall rain come down, I am reminded of my line-drying challenges during the winter months. All summer long I pondered this conundrum, trying to find a good solution. And I think I might have it.

My solution involves some PVC piping, another rope, and the floor supports in the ceiling of my unfinished laundry room. I will lay the pipes on top of the supports and string the rope similar to my outdoor line. I have been working to clean out the storage areas and have found some room near the furnace area. The line will be rather low to the ground, comparatively, but that means I will have to hang tall items differently, that's all.

Here is hoping it will work out as I envision!

The Coming of October, and Light September

So far this September I have not had to purchase any personal care products. I did purchase laundry soap, and while I chose a dye/fragrance free detergent, I know there are more ecological choices out there. I just need to research it some more. But my decision to limit my personal care purchases has not been tested this month.

Which brings me to October and yet another decision. I am doing this to try to create new habits that will help me lead the lifestyle I desire to have. This means that I need to choose a change that will challenge my current habits. hmmmmm makes me think - I do not know what to change yet.

So I think some more.

Do Free Items Count?

I went to the dentist the other day, and they gave me my requisite free samples of Crest toothpaste and (some brand name I can't recall off the top of my head) dental floss. I, being frugal, naturally accepted (sans little plastic bag to carry home in) all three items, and headed home.

So my question is, do these freebies count towards my Sept. goal of 1)reducing personal care product usage (neither tooth brushing nor flossing has ever been on the list to eliminate!) and 2)buying low-er impact products?

Hmmmm. Maybe I should have passed on the freebies.

I actually have passed on regular floss before. I have very tight teeth and floss just shreds in my mouth. I have specific requirements on floss; their new brand meets my requirements. And, oddly enough, my hygienist is very green and eco-minded and does not use traditional products either. In fact, she rarely even offers me the toothpaste because I don't use it ... but it was cinnamon flavored and I love cinnamon.

Anyway, I guess this is a failure then. Turns out so far I have not had to purchase any personal care products so far this month. So maybe this was not a good month to adopt this particular change. Ah, it is sort of a freebie now!

It was SO annoying!

I went to a local Big-Box store today to purchase one item. Being of the mind set that a bag is truly not necessary for one little item, I wasn't expecting a bag for my purchase. However, I never thought to mention this to the cashier. So, after I paid for my purchase I was very surprised to see my item in a large plastic bag.

"Oh, I don't need a bag for just one item," I say. Then, wanting her to realize just why I said this, I added, "Save some plastic and let another person who has multiple items use it."

We smile nicely at each other, and I turn to walk away. She grabs the bag and throws it in her garbage can.

I stop, dumbfounded. Didn't I just explain to her why I was not taking the bag; that I wanted to save some plastic from entering our landfill? OK, apparently I was not explicit enough. Note to self, be more explicit next time I forget to tell the cashier ahead of time not to bag my item.

But, not wanting to loose this moment, I say,"You still could use that bag, and save some plastic from entering our landfill. It is perfectly good still."

She rolls her eyes at me, obviously annoyed. "It is more hassle for me to use the bag now that it is all wrinkled up."

I am sure my mouth dropped open, and my own eyes rolled a few times (apparently I am a huge eye-roller, but I never know I am doing it) as I weighed my new options as how to respond to this scenario. Then, I did it.

"Well, if your just going to throw it away, hand it to me and I'll dispose of it in a more appropriate manner."

...and so tonight Gherkie and Ziggy made parachutes for their dolls out of Big-Box Store plastic bags.