School is about to start here and we have been gearing up and getting all of our supplies ready. It occurred to me as I was making my lists for school shopping that I may have to start buying paper napkins again to use in lunch boxes for the kids. I don't have enough of a supply of cloth built up yet at home to let them take those. Plus, all of our home ones would be rather large for a lunch box.
Luckily, I found Fabkins! These are the most adorable cloth napkins in just the right size for a child's lunch box! I was so excited about these that I let my kids pick out which they wanted and went to order right away. Unfortunately, the ones Sister chose were out of stock. I emailed the company to find out when they'd be in and I got an almost immediate response from co-founder Paige Rodgers. She explained that the ones we wanted were out of stock until October. Sister picked out her second favorite and we had an email saying they were shipped in less than 24 hours. How's that for customer service? I'm beyond impressed.
I'll let you know how they work out when we start using them. For now, I'm just glad that I don't have to buy paper napkins again!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
Apologies
Folks, I haven't forgotten about this blog or you. I promise! I'm still trying each day to make strides in a more green lifestyle but I haven't had the energy to tell you about them. We have had one crazy summer and these past couple of weeks have just gotten crazier.
I will tell you that the big strides that we have taken lately are going really well. I'm still using the re-usable cloth bags on shopping trips. I've even take recently to refusing bags at places where I'm just making small purchases. We also haven't purchased paper napkins since I shared with you that I've made the switch to cloth! I've got to say that this is the biggest thing for us because I loathe laundry. But, I haven't noticed any extra laundry and I just throw them in with whatever load I'm working on. I've gotten comments from friends who are dining with us about how great they think it is. Of course, the follow on is that they don't think they can make that switch and I get to explain how easy it was for us.
Another thing I've noticed recently is that I cringe when we are out and I see a lot of unnecessary packaging. Restaurants are notorious for this and an overuse of Styrofoam. A year ago, I wouldn't have given it a passing thought but now it really grates on my nerves.
So, there you have it. I'm still around and posting will pick up here very soon. I've just got to catch my breath first.
I will tell you that the big strides that we have taken lately are going really well. I'm still using the re-usable cloth bags on shopping trips. I've even take recently to refusing bags at places where I'm just making small purchases. We also haven't purchased paper napkins since I shared with you that I've made the switch to cloth! I've got to say that this is the biggest thing for us because I loathe laundry. But, I haven't noticed any extra laundry and I just throw them in with whatever load I'm working on. I've gotten comments from friends who are dining with us about how great they think it is. Of course, the follow on is that they don't think they can make that switch and I get to explain how easy it was for us.
Another thing I've noticed recently is that I cringe when we are out and I see a lot of unnecessary packaging. Restaurants are notorious for this and an overuse of Styrofoam. A year ago, I wouldn't have given it a passing thought but now it really grates on my nerves.
So, there you have it. I'm still around and posting will pick up here very soon. I've just got to catch my breath first.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
I've Got a Beef To Pick
While I'm vacationing with my family for a few days, I've asked one of my favorite ladies in the world to stand in for me. She has no idea that she has been an inspiration to me in my green journey. I remember way back when she was the first of our group who was bold enough to try cloth diapers. She was also the first to make her own baby food. I love her, admire her and can't wait to share her with you! Enjoy Amy from Wake Me When It's Over and make her feel welcome!
I am so excited Heather asked me to guest blog on here! She's been such a huge motivator to step up my going green. With the sheer abundance of info out there it can be so overwhelming to figure out what step to take next. But with Heather here passing all her information along I've really been able to step up my game. So thanks Heather! You've been a huge help!
I've been throwing around the idea of switching to grass fed hormone free beef for quite a while. There are so many reasons that grass fed is better for you and the environment. Cows are meant to be grazing creatures. Instead they are fed corn because this fattens them up faster, which in turn causes the animals to become ill. Think acidosis, rumenitis, liver ulcers and bloat. So thanks to all those nice little illnesses the cows are pumped full of antibiotics. Oh and to get those tasty little cows off to slaughter sooner they get loaded up with hormones. Mmmmm...... I'll take 1 hormone riddled antibiotic laced steak please.
Antibiotics and hormones. Those are big one for me. I've heard time and again that our bodies are growing more resistant to antibiotics. Could this be because we are exposed to it almost daily through our foods? Seriously. I don't know, but it makes sense to me. And hormones? We have girls going through puberty earlier and earlier. It's been suspected that the hormone laden meats could be a cause for this but I haven't been able to find a full blown study. And breast cancer? Again, no study. It would be nice to have these studies done wouldn't it?
So all in all grass fed hormone free beef seems to be the way to go. The animals are raised more humanely. When it's time for slaughter you won't find them jam packed in a trailer cruising down the freeway to the likes of Hallmark Meat Packing Co. You know, the place where those videos of abuse and neglect surfaced a while back. Nope, generally they are slaughtered on site or at small independent slaughter facilities. And with all the meat recalls this would help me breath a little easier. The meat it self is higher in nutritional value. So I guess that leaves us with cost. Sure, it is a bit pricey. And I know every time I start looking into it I shy away because of the price. But then I think about it and realize I can't put a price on my families health.
I'm sure I'll take the plunge sooner than later. But I just can't shake this nagging feeling that I might be setting my boys up for some teasing in the future. I mean if the majority of other kids are eating hormone riddled beef will they have an advantage? Will they be bigger? Stronger? Faster? I know. It seems kinda silly. But Kids can be the most vicious creatures out there. I'm just trying to think of their emotional health too.
I am so excited Heather asked me to guest blog on here! She's been such a huge motivator to step up my going green. With the sheer abundance of info out there it can be so overwhelming to figure out what step to take next. But with Heather here passing all her information along I've really been able to step up my game. So thanks Heather! You've been a huge help!
I've been throwing around the idea of switching to grass fed hormone free beef for quite a while. There are so many reasons that grass fed is better for you and the environment. Cows are meant to be grazing creatures. Instead they are fed corn because this fattens them up faster, which in turn causes the animals to become ill. Think acidosis, rumenitis, liver ulcers and bloat. So thanks to all those nice little illnesses the cows are pumped full of antibiotics. Oh and to get those tasty little cows off to slaughter sooner they get loaded up with hormones. Mmmmm...... I'll take 1 hormone riddled antibiotic laced steak please.
Antibiotics and hormones. Those are big one for me. I've heard time and again that our bodies are growing more resistant to antibiotics. Could this be because we are exposed to it almost daily through our foods? Seriously. I don't know, but it makes sense to me. And hormones? We have girls going through puberty earlier and earlier. It's been suspected that the hormone laden meats could be a cause for this but I haven't been able to find a full blown study. And breast cancer? Again, no study. It would be nice to have these studies done wouldn't it?
So all in all grass fed hormone free beef seems to be the way to go. The animals are raised more humanely. When it's time for slaughter you won't find them jam packed in a trailer cruising down the freeway to the likes of Hallmark Meat Packing Co. You know, the place where those videos of abuse and neglect surfaced a while back. Nope, generally they are slaughtered on site or at small independent slaughter facilities. And with all the meat recalls this would help me breath a little easier. The meat it self is higher in nutritional value. So I guess that leaves us with cost. Sure, it is a bit pricey. And I know every time I start looking into it I shy away because of the price. But then I think about it and realize I can't put a price on my families health.
I'm sure I'll take the plunge sooner than later. But I just can't shake this nagging feeling that I might be setting my boys up for some teasing in the future. I mean if the majority of other kids are eating hormone riddled beef will they have an advantage? Will they be bigger? Stronger? Faster? I know. It seems kinda silly. But Kids can be the most vicious creatures out there. I'm just trying to think of their emotional health too.
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