Proper Alkaline Battery Disposal [#CTWW]

Somehow, Small Footprints' Change the World Wednesday challenges always come at just the right time. Either I recently accomplish a small green milestone or I am currently struggling with a change. Last week, I decided to update the car emergency kits. I came upon some batteries and decided to do a battery inventory. The battery drawer had some loose batteries. After my husband said that those batteries are mostly dead, I was about to throw them into the trash. Until a little voice inside my head reminded me that I once read about not throwing batteries into the trashcan. Indeed, a quick search revealed that alkaline batteries (the ones I have on hand) are indeed toxic. Alkaline batteries should NOT be thrown into the trash. Alkaline batteries should be disposed of properly, at a location that accepts them.

This week's challenge:

If you are not using rechargeable batteries, please make plans to buy them when you next need batteries. As you replace single-use versions, be sure to recycle them rather than toss them into the trash bin.

OR ...

If you have already made the switch to rechargeable batteries, please find one single-use item in your home and replace it with a reusable version.

As mentioned in Reduce Footprints challenge post, 3 billion single use batteries are sold each year! Most of these batteries end up being thrown out with trash. Batteries degrade over time and leak toxic chemicals into the landfill. These toxic chemicals end up in the water and in the soil. 

After realizing this fact, I looked up recycling facilities for alkaline batteries. We live in a big city, so I hoped for several companies accepting alkaline batteries. Results: one company. Best Buy does have a recycling program, but they do not take alkaline batteries. I emailed the company for a quote for 2 pounds of batteries. Since I had such a small amount, they proposed that if I like their Facebook page and/or write a review, I can drop them off for free. Now, I am wondering if I should save up batteries and do a big disposal once per year. I do not mind paying for the alkaline batteries to be disposed of properly. 

Our battery usage is fairly small. I do not purchase battery operated toys for my son. Any battery-operated toys that are gifted are either exchange, used until batteries run out or are used without batteries. The majority of battery usage is for television remotes, flashlights (seldom used) and for emergency purposes. I do not watch television during the day. Our total television usage is less than 10 hours per week and is mostly watched by my husband when he is home. The remote batteries last for a long time. Either way, we are using batteries and we can be greener about it, especially since they need to be disposed of properly.

After my research and reflection on battery usage in our house, I told myself that I must look into rechargeable batteries. While we do have a few of them already, we are not using them. Last year, I purchased 2 AA USB rechargeable batteries to add to the emergency kit. Though rechargeable batteries are an investment, they have come down in price over the years and they will save me money in the long run. Next shopping trip, purchase rechargeable batteries!

>> Do you use any rechargeable batteries are home?? How??
  

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Garden: A Surprise Visitor or Ten!

I wanted to post monthly garden updates, but time has gotten away from me and the garden is a bit overgrown. I have had this problem for a few years. I carefully plan what goes into each location, practicing the square foot gardening method, loosely. Somehow, within a few months, plants starts to crowd each other.

This year, I left a path so that I could get to the back of the garden cage. The seeds in the compost that my husband added decided to sprout and bless us with about 10 tomato plants. The tomato plants are growing in random spots: at the entrance, in the middle of the carrot rows, and of course, in the path that I left for myself.

Nonetheless, I am thrilled! I have avoided planting tomatoes in the garden because of the black walnut tree right beside the garden. The black walnut tree gives off a chemical that is toxic to some plants, including tomatoes. When I discovered tomato seedlings in the garden, I thought it would be a great experiment to see if tomatoes would actually grow.

Today, there are about 10+ tomatoes, 4 different varieties, growing on about 6 plants that have grown enough to put out blossoms. I have identified them as heirloom tomatoes that we received from last year's organic CSA and some seeds from our homegrown tomatoes.

Here are some photos of the garden cage (lots of critters around here) and the herb garden that desperately needs to be harvested. Also, excuse the wilted plants, it was a hot day and I had not watered yet.

>> Do you have a garden?? How is it doing this year??
 

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Replacing Plastic with Glass and Stainless Steel [#CTWW]

Now that my baby is a toddler, he is on the move. As he is able to play more on his own, I can get a few chores done around the house. I have realized that I spend a lot of time doing chores and activities in the kitchen. From doing dishes to prepping food, the kitchen has become my most important room. I want to create an environment where family time means cooking and eating together. This week's challenge fits perfectly with creating a safe and loving environment in the kitchen.

This week's challenge:

This week, go into your kitchen and look for at least one way to make it greener. You might choose to do something simple like add an aerator to the faucet, convert to cloth towels instead of paper, replace a light bulb with a CFL or LED, or unplug an appliance (especially those with clocks). Maybe you are in the market for new cookware, dishes, etc. and could look for green options. Does your kitchen need paint? Perhaps you grab a brush and use non-VOC colors. You might even be considering a kitchen remodel and could search out the most appropriate Eco-friendly cabinets, counter tops, flooring, etc. The idea, this week, is to look around your kitchen and make a green improvement.

A lot of eco-friendly improvements have been made in the kitchen over the past few years. Let's recount:

1. Natural dish soap (Tropical Traditions Dish Liquid)
2. Natural dishwasher tablets
3. Glass food storage containers
4. Organic cotton towels
5. Stainless steel and 100% silicone utensils
6. Stainless steel and cast iron enameled cookware
7. Unplugging most appliances when not in use (aside from oven and microwave)

As with any effort to improve our lives, becoming eco-friendly and green in the kitchen is a continuous effort for us. Yet, this effort also presents challenges and needs for compromise. After a couple of years of trying to transition away from paper towels, I have come to accept that it is just not going to happen. The paper towel roll still hides in the cabinet above the stove. I still put out small towels for wiping up spills. And I purchase recycled paper towels. Since converting to cloth towels is not in our future, I am currently focusing on food storage containers.

I have acquired a good collection of glass storage containers for storing leftovers and reheating. The beauty of glass storage containers is that they can be used to reheat food in the microwave, oven, or toaster oven. No need to dirty another dish. Since glass tends to get heavy, I have started purchasing stainless steel containers. Though these cannot be used in the microwave, they provide a lighter eco-friendly option for storing and transporting food. Next on my list is to purchase 3+ cup containers for storing food. This will eliminate the need for plastic storage containers that I currently use.

The plastic storage container cabinet is still overflowing. This cabinet has become one of my toddler's favorite play areas. He loves taking out the containers and lids, stacking them, banging on them, etc. Some of the containers and lids have cracked. These will be repurposed for other storage uses (nails, small toys, etc.), donated (if in good shape), or recycled. I try to repurpose and upcycle items before recycling. However, you can only have so many plastic containers.

>> What is one eco-friendly improvement that you can make to your kitchen??
  

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6 Ways to Naturally Relieve Stress

This week, I noticed some of my telltale signs of stress - shallow breathing, holding my breath, feeling anxious. Maybe it was that my 14 month old son has started waking up in the middle of the night on a regular basis again (at least once per night, plus waking up earlier in the morning). Maybe it was all of the discussions my husband and I have had over the past 1.5 weeks with relation to family items. Maybe it was the extra strong coffee I made.

I was running around feeling productive because I was getting so much done around the house, yet I could not stop feeling anxious when I sat down for 5 minutes. After a few minutes of reflection on how I arrived at this point, I focused on how to relieve stress at home. Here are the 6 ways to naturally relieve stress that I use on a regular basis.

Running

A good cardio workout helps to get the blood moving through the body, oxygenates the blood and the brain, and gives a rush of energy. Running helps me to reflect, process and clear my mind. Running on a regular basis helps me to stay calmer and be more patient with my toddler.

Going Outside

Breathing fresh air is always good for our bodies! A walk around the walk for 5 minutes has helped me many times to calm down, relax and regroup. There is something about nature that is calming. Going outside can be a walk around the yard, the neighborhood, or running an errand.

Cleaning and Organizing

Organizing clutter, like piles of clothes, toys and other random things lying around, by putting it away in its rightful place is therapeutic. Cleaning out weeds in the garden or the yard helps to focus my mind on one task instead of my mind running in many different directions. Scrubbing dirt helps to get some of the aggression out.

Talking

Keeping emotions bottled up can increase the stress level. A quick call or text message to my husband or a friend to let them know of an aggravating situation eases the tension. No details need to be given, just the point of acknowledging the stressful situation helps my mind to refocus on moving forward.

Prioritizing

Being a full time stay at home mom is a 24x7 (plus more) job. Keeping the toddler changed, fed and happy while keeping the house clean and in order is a monumental task on most days. I constantly have to tell myself that the game has changed and I need to change my expectations by prioritizing. Focusing on one room per day or spending 5-10 minutes cleaning up clutter is more realistic.

Taking a Bath

Taking a bath with calming essential oils like lavender is a great way to unwind the mind and the body. After the running, the cleaning and organizing and carrying around a 24 lb toddler, my body aches. A hot bath is the perfect solution for my achy body. The quiet time helps me to reflect and the hot water relaxes my tired muscles. I am always ready for sleep afterwards.

These are some of the techniques that I use to help myself relieve stress naturally. Though an adults-only all-inclusive beach vacation or a regular massage at a spa sound heavenly, they are not always possible or feasible. Techniques that can be used on a daily basis to keep myself calm and sane work better in the long run. I can assess how stressed I am and if I need to do anything about it. Remembering to focus on myself for a few minutes every day is a great reality check.

>> What are some of the ways that you relieve stress on a daily basis??
  

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Garden: Lots of Rain, Lots of Growth [#CTWW]

Gardening is one of my passions. I love getting outside to find a location for a new plant, to dig the hole for the new plant, and then to water the newly planted plant. I love taking daily garden and yard tours to see how the plants are growing and what flowers are getting ready to bloom. Lots of rain and sunshine lately have resulted in the garden having lots of growth. Read below to find out what I'm growing in the garden, the container garden and some other locations in the flower beds.

This week's challenge:

This week, plant something edible. Plant in a garden, raised bed, a container, etc. If you don't have space outside, consider herbs or lettuce in a small pot placed in a kitchen window. Try placing some seed potatoes in the ground (dig a small hole and drop them in) ... then sit back and watch them grow. If you're moving into autumn, consider planting a fruit tree or perhaps a nut tree. The idea this week is to plant food.

Garden
In previous years, things tended to overgrow and crowd each other. This year, I tried to space out plants farther apart to give them more room to grow. Some plants were started from seed sowed directly in the ground, other were purchased as plants from a local nursery. The salad greens and kale have loved the rain. Looks like I will be cooking with lots of kale in the coming weeks.

Sugar snap peas were sowed about 2 weeks apart and are growing nicely up the back chicken wire fencing.

My husband added our compost to the garden. This means you never know what will reseed itself. I found about 10 small tomato plants growing in the garden. I left them in there (which didn't help the crowding issue) to see how they would do. The black walnut tree next to the garden is supposed to secrete a chemical that is toxic to tomato plants, which is why I have the tomato container garden in front of the house.

Container Garden
Tomatoes! Tomatoes! And basil thrown in for companion planting. I acquired a few more pots to increase the number of plants I can plant.  

Berry Bushes
I have a blackberry bush and a blueberry bush (planted last year). Critters have been munching on the leaves of each, so I am in the process of creating fencing for both. I created an arch/hoop system for the blueberry with 10ft PVC pining, held in place by 2ft rebar, covered with bird netting. 

Edible Garden
One of my goal is to have an edible garden in the front. When I ran out of room in the garden to plant one kale plant, I decided to plant it in the front. It is doing well. Not as good as the kale in the garden, but that is expected since the garden has richer soil. The kale adds a nice touch of color and texture.

(The photo is from about 1+ months ago.)

>> What is growing (or not growing) in your garden??
  

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Converting the Husband to Cloth Diaper, or Not [#CTWW]

I have made it such a long way toward living green, yet I have so much longer to go. Is this not always the case? Between trying to change a husband that might not understand some of my motives behind living green to raising a toddler to expect green living as the standard practice, I feel both challenged and empowered. When I thought of a big green living obstacle that I have overcome, there were many, but one stood out in my mind - cloth diapering!

This week's challenge:

This week share environmental good news. Unlike the challenge we did in November (see it HERE), which asked that we talk about all good news, let's focus on our personal triumphs. For example, if you were able to overcome a green-living obstacle (recycling, composting, etc.), we'd like to share in your good news. Perhaps you are preparing to plant a garden this year or have upgraded appliances to energy-efficient models ... let us celebrate with you. Maybe you've realized successes like turning off the water while brushing your teeth or turning off lights when you leave the room ... we want to be inspired by your achievement. The idea, this week, is to share all the good, green stuff in our lives.

I knew I wanted to cloth diaper even before I became pregnant. The concept of cloth diapering was foreign to my husband, though he himself was cloth diapered. I spent the whole pregnancy trying to convince him of the benefits. I even had a "show and tell" with the cloth diapers that I had acquired. He was firmly against it. Maybe it was the foreignness of the idea or maybe it was the horror stories he had heard about cloth diapering, he said, "no!" It was his hard limit. 

A lot of persistence on both of our parts resulted in a decision - we will use both cloth and disposable diapers during a trial period. If the cloth diapers did not work out during the trial period, we would use the most non-toxic disposable diapers that were available to us.

During my maternity leave, we make the decision that I was going to leave the corporate world and stay at home with the baby. After this decision was made, I knew that I could make my goal of cloth diapering happen. We never really talked about whether to cloth diaper or not again. We evolved into cloth diapering during the day (by me) and a disposable diaper at night (by my husband) and whenever my husband would change the baby on the weekend. We also use disposables on any trips away from home for more than 1 day. 

My husband is still weirded out by cloth diapers. He will gladly take off a cloth diaper and put a disposable on. However, In times of disposable diapers being "code red" (on our last diaper), he will accept putting on a cloth diaper. 

I realized my task is not to convert other people, but to do the best that I can do. Staying at home full time with the baby has allowed me to cloth diaper. I am grateful to be able to reduce our impact on our the environment and put a few more dollars in our wallet. 

>> What are your thoughts about cloth diapers?? Would you try them??
  

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Don't Circle, Park and Walk [#CTWW]

Parking lots. Parking garages. As soon as I leave my house and arrive at my next destination(s), a parking spot is on my mind. Even when visiting friends, I often think, "do I park in the driveway or on the street?" At a store or mall, I can choose between the closest spot to the door, the closest spot to the shopping cart return or even the garage. Throw a baby into the mix, and a new decision has to be made every time.

This week's challenge:

This week, park in the first available parking space and then walk the rest of the way. The goal is to use very little fuel once we enter the parking area. It's a small thing with a big impact. And ... it's great exercise!

My standard parking practice is "pull through." If the parking lot is not too busy, I try to look for a spot where I could pull through. I do not have to back out. Plus, pulling forward out of a parking spot is easier than backing out. 

When this opportunity is not available, I usually opt for the spot closest to the door or to the shopping cart return (especially if I have the baby with me, which is most of the time). 

This week, I have been more mindful about where I park. I was presented with a couple opportunities. 

First, a Whole Foods Market shopping trip at 9:00 AM on Sunday morning. Empty parking lot. I felt weird parking in the first available spot, which would be at the end of the parking lot, and walking to the front door. I opted to pull through a parking spot. Fail! As I walked to the front door of the store, I asked myself, "Would it really matter if I parked at the end of an empty parking lot?" No, it would only take 1 minute extra to walk the parking lot. 

Second, a visit to the library to pick up a few books. I entered the parking lot from the side entrance and parked in the first spot. It was a little bit closer than if I entered from the back of the parking lot, but I decided that walking for an extra 20 seconds was not going to make a impact on my time.

When I stopped to think about it, taking the first spot in a parking lot instead of circling around to find the closest one did not have a big impact on my time. It did have an impact on my wallet. Less fuel translates to less money I have to pay for filling up the car. Success!

>> What your eco-friendly parking strategies??
  

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How I Save the Bees [#CTWW]

I have always been scared of bees because of the fear of getting stung. I remember walking through a grassy field when I was a kid and getting stung on the bottom of my foot. Ouch! As I have grown into an adult and started to question more of the world around me, I realized there is no need to be afraid of bees. Society makes us think that bees are dangerous. People always seem to run away from them. If you leave the bees alone, they will leave you alone. I tended to the tomato container garden behind the purple cone flowers being frequented by huge bumble bees with no stings. The buzz of the bumble bees actually became comforting for me.

Let's change our perception of bees to being the source of our food. Bees pollinate the majority of food crops in the world. Therefore, the decline of bees should alarm everyone. What foods will we lose if the bees are not around to pollinate the majority of worldwide crops?

This week's challenge:

This week, take action to protect honey bees. Please choose at least one action from the following list:

• Plant at least one native, flowering plant in your yard. Avoid hybrid plants ... they don't produce enough nectar or pollen and are useless to bees and other pollinators.
• Plant a vegetable garden.
• Let pests live (natural pest controllers, like Lady Bugs, need them for food).
• Keep your lawn and garden pesticide-free.
• Eliminate chemicals in your home.
• Provide a year-round, clean source of water for bees (rainwater collection, a small garden water feature, bird bath, etc.).
• Leave some dead trees or plants in your yard ... bees will nest in them. Or, place a bee house in your garden.
• Buy organic food.
• Take up beekeeping.

As the gardening bug has already bit me for this season, I have been buying plants and planting, and buying and planting. I have spent a lot of time outside during the past week. As I do the daily "garden and yard tour," I have made notes about where I can apply the above actions to protect bees. Below, I cover what actions I have already implemented and the actions I am planning on implementing in the coming month.

Native, Flowering Plants
Every year, I purchase a 3-5 plants to plant in the garden bed in front of the house. I focus on perennial, cold temperature tolerant, flowering and deer resistant plants. A variety of different colored and sized flowers is important to attract different bees.

To Do - start a flower garden in the back yard, close to the vegetable garden. The blackberry and newly planted blueberries bushes also need some bees. Maybe I can add some flowering plants to the herb garden.

Question - how can I tell if the flowering plants are hybrid or not? I have been able to find some heirloom vegetable plants, but how do I know if the Shasta daisy or the phlox is a hybrid or not?

Vegetable Garden
Check! Vegetable garden, herb garden, blackberry and blueberry bushes in the back yard. Tomato container garden in front of the breezeway.

To Do - plant more herbs in the front garden bed (edible garden). They are deer resistant and edible.

To Do - expand the container garden in front of the breezeway is companion plants for the tomatoes.

To Do - add a water feature to provide clean source of water for bees.

Dead Trees and Plants
There is an area behind the back fence between us and the house behind us. Honeysuckle, wild grape vine, weeds and other random plants provide a natural habitat for animals, critters, and bugs. Whatever is too big for the compost or will take a long time to break down goes over the fence.

Chemical Free House and Yard
A bucket a day keeps the weeds away! I have reinstated the daily weed pulling, at least until I get most of them knocked down. I stopped using chemicals in the yard 3.5 years ago and after a couple of years of not pulling weeds, we have grown super weeds in the yard. Luckily, weed pulling is therapeutic and relaxing for me, so I have been spending 30-60 minutes outside during baby's naps pulling weeds.

>> Are there any features of your garden or yard that help to protect and sustain the bee population??

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Tips to Reduce Water Waste [#CTWW]

This week's challenge:

To begin, test your water conservation knowledge by taking this QUIZ. 

THEN ... Install at least one low-flow aerator on a faucet in your home. These are relatively inexpensive from hardware stores and are easily installed (just screw them on).

OR ... If you've already installed aerators on your faucets, choose one other way to conserve water this week. Need some ideas? Eat no meat, pork or poultry (they all require a lot of water to produce). Reduce or eliminate spending (except for true essentials). Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap. Review your water bill history to determine periods of high use and make plans to reduce during those times (it's also a good tool for determining leaks). Fix leaky faucets or toilets. Consider removing some of the lawn (or all of it) and planting native shrubs, plants, trees, etc. When refreshing your pet's water, or changing the water in a fish tank, use it to feed your plants. Get creative and find a way to reduce your water footprint.

I am starting off this post about water conservation by admitting that I have reduced focus on water conservation. It all started almost one year ago when I gave birth. Conserving water took a back seat to taking care of a baby 24x7. Ok, ok, for months, I stopped watching how much water we were using. We now had a little bundle of joy that required cloth diapers, washing dirty clothes, and baths. 

The CTWW challenges brought me back into focus though. The challenges are a little voice in the back of my head, reminding me to reduce my footprint on the world. This week's challenge sparked my thinking about water conservation. Here is a list of my action items to reduce our water footprint. Some of these have already been implemented and some will be implemented in the coming month.

1. Reduce the amount of water used for washing cloth diapers by switching cycles.
2. Reuse grey water to water indoor plants.
3. Save grey water and add to water barrel for outdoor plants.
4. Use rain barrel to water garden.
5. Keep water pitcher in fridge.
6. Vegetarian with a splash of vegan fast for lent (and potentially longer!).
7. Do not water the lawn during the summer.

The most surprising action we already do is not watering the lawn during the summer. Why? Because in the 4.5 years we have lived in our house, we have never watered our lawn. How this slipped by my must-have-green-manicured-lawn husband, I do not know! But, I am not complaining!

My biggest goal for the Spring and the Summer is to fill the water barrel with grey water from household chores like water leftover from rinsing fruits and vegetables. I keep an old bowl and instead of running water and using a colander, I fill the bowl with water and wash everything in it. Sometimes, I have to refresh the water 2-3 times depending on how dirty the vegetables are, but the water will go into the watering can and/or rain barrel.

Awareness is the first step to finding creative ways to conserve water, our most precious resource. Just thinking about how much we use water on a daily basis, from hygiene to cooking and cleaning.

>> What are some ways that you conserve or can start conserving water??
  

  

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Keeping the Trash in the Trashcan [#CTWW]

This week's challenge:

This week, pick up litter and dispose of it properly. As you go through your day, pay attention to the area and clean as you go. You might see trash as you walk between your car and your office. Perhaps you'll see plastic bags, etc. in the parking lot of a market. If you enjoy nature walks, browse the side of the trail. Get your kids involved and take litter walks or organize a neighborhood cleanup of a local park. The idea, this week, is to rid the area of litter!

An overfilled recycling box is open to the elements, like wind, that can blow paper and small containers out and down the street. Therefore, I would assume that moving from recycling boxes to recycling bins with lids with reduce the amount of trash that litters the yards on our street. Nope! On every run and every walk, I spot at least one piece of trash in several of the neighboring yards. I assume (hopefully correctly this time) that the trash escapes in between the worker picking up the recycling bin and the contents being emptied into the garbage truck. I also suspect that trash, usually empty cans, gets thrown out of cars that drive down the street. We live in a nice, mature neighborhood, so trash in the yards is not something I expect to see. Therefore, I have formulated a simple plan.

With the warmer weather, I will be getting outside more with the baby. We will bring a bag with us and collect any trash and litter we see in our neighbors' yards. We will then appropriately dispose of it by recycling, trashing, or composting (I have found a whole orange in our front yard before!). Change the World Wednesday challenges us to be the small change that collectively results in bigger changes. The baby and I will the small change to clean up our street. As he becomes older and starts to communicate more, I will ask him to help me find stray trash in our neighbors' yards. This will be a great way to make a positive impact and educate about taking care of the environment and the Earth.

>> How do you keep the trash in the trashcan??
  

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Reduce Food Waste With Portion Control [#CTWW]

This week's challenge:

This week, monitor food portion sizes and cook accordingly. Even if you are cooking once for more than one meal, pay attention to portions and resist cooking more than necessary, which often leads to waste. Need help determining portion size? This site will give you a general discussion on the topic with some clever ideas on how to determine a proper portion. The Calorie Counter is a search tool. Type in the food you want to make and it'll bring up calories associated with various servings sizes ... the first listing is typically considered a proper serving. The idea, here, is not to restrict calories or in any way "diet." Instead, we are educating ourselves on portion sizes and then cooking just enough so that we eliminate food waste.

I would love to be a mom who does not waste food. I'm not! Some days I beat myself up over it and some days, I tell myself that I am doing the best that I can. I am doing so much more than the average person. I should be content. Well, I am content for a few days and then I start to feel guilty. Just yesterday, I threw away 75% of a head of green leaf lettuce. I did not use it up before half of the head of lettuce turned black (into the compost it goes). I bought the green leaf lettuce to have a few leaves with a dish. I did not need a whole head of lettuce, so it gradually ended up in the back of the fridge.

With the spirit of Change the World Wednesday, the goal is to monitor food portion sizes and not waste food by making too much. Have you ever found that leftover container in the back of the fridge? The food molded and you were disappointed because you were looking forward to eating those delicious leftovers? I have! I would like to focus on meal planning and learning how to tell portion sizes as the strategies for eliminating food waste.

Meal planning is a great tool for determining exactly what you need to purchase at the grocery. Before I go to the grocery, I try to have an idea of what I will cook in the coming days. That way, I can buy just enough for the meal and for leftovers. My family enjoys having leftovers for lunch in the day or two after the dinner is cooked. Doing the majority of grocery shopping (I love it!) and cooking (I love it also!) has taught me how much my family usually eats. Anything that is leftover from a meal is packaged in appropriate sized containers. Bigger containers for my husband. Smaller containers for myself. Anything left in the fridge 2-3 days later is put in the freezer. Using 2 cups glass containers is an easy way to control portion sizes for leftovers. Plus, they are small enough to fit into the freezer.

Learning portion sizes can be quick and easy. From my experience, it usually takes less than one week to get a hang of portion sizes. Use the links above to determine appropriate portions for each of the foods you are serving. When dishing out a meal for your family, take out the measuring cups and spoons. After a few times, you will know how much rice is in one serving. I always knew that we tend to eat more rice and pasta than we should, so I looked it up. According to the USDA, one serving of rice equals 1/2 cup of cooked rice and one serving of pasta equals 1/2 cup of cooked pasta. That is pretty small, but if you think about eating 1/2 cup of rice with veggies and/or meat on top, it is actually pretty filling.

Don't worry! You do not have to calculate every calorie and measure everything you eat. Spend a few days getting to know what the portion sizes are for the foods that you eat and cook. If you are eating the right types of foods (real, whole foods), you will not overeat because these foods are filling. After you determine the correct portion sizes, appropriately plan meals and leftovers. When all else fails, you can freeze most foods.

>> How do you reduce food waste??
  

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How To Green Your Husband [#CTWW]

This week's challenge:

This week invite someone to join you in a green activity. Need some ideas? Invite a friend to go for a walk ... and perhaps pick up litter as you go. Ask a family member to help you plan and cook a meatless meal. Swap clothes, tools, books, etc., with a neighbor. Start a "green club" with your friends and meet occasionally to share green tips and ideas. Host an Eco-friendly cleaning party at a friend's home. Do laundry together ... or join forces to rake up leaves. Be creative and have fun. The idea, here, is to share an experience so that a green activity which you care about will become important to someone else as well.

The more I thought about this week's challenge, the more stumped I became. I was looking for a grandiose activity with a friend or family member. I wanted to make a big impact this time. And then I realized, that Change the World Wednesday Challenges are not about making a big impact. Yes, we would all love it if we made a big impact each time, but I feel this group of greenies is more about small changes by many people, which add up to big changes over time. I took a step back and asked my husband for his thoughts as we drove to Whole Foods. 

Let me provide a little bit of a background. From some of my previous posts, you might know that my husband hasn't quite jumped on the eco-friendly bandwagon. Sometimes, he actively opposes my green efforts. He takes two sheets of paper towels, he throws something that can be composted in the trash, and he claims that he supports the plastic industry (when I want wooden toys for our baby). Most of the time, I think he does this because he feels like I am shoving eco-friendliness down his throat and mandating that things be done a certain way. Yes, I am a control freak! (LOL) Side note for myself: compromise more and he will also. Aside from these minor examples, my husband does a lot to reduce our impact on the environment. He cleans with all natural cleaners, asks which recycle bin something goes into, and even built me a garden cage a few years ago. 

Now, back to driving to Whole Foods. My husband thought about our weekend and listed a number of items that we did together. While I usually garden and take care of flower beds by myself, he helped me this weekend. While he was raking leaves, I came out with the baby and asked if he could help do a few quick things. He trimmed the peonies and placed in the compost bin, he helped pick a few carrots from the garden, and recommended some improvement to the garden for the next year. 

I reflected on these activities and realized that my husband has come a long way from gathering leaves into plastic (or paper) bags and setting out for trash pick up. We either compost the leaves, throw them over the back fence (lots of trees), or rake them to the end of the yard for leaf pick up. My lesson learned is that I need to ask him for help with garden stuff more often. Together, we can make a positive impact. 

I wonder if I could get him to give up some of the yard to expand my gardening....maybe I'll tackle this one next year!
  

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What Will Your Legacy Be?

"I hope my achievements in life shall be these...that I fought for what was right and fair, that I took risks for things that mattered, that I helped those in need, that I left the earth a better place because of what I did and who I was." ~Go For It! A celebration of your dreams

>> What will your legacy be??
 
  

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To Idle or Not to Idle?

I am a stickler for idling cars, to the point where (as the passenger) I reach over and turn my husband's car off for him if we are idling. My goal is to never idle, when possible.Whenever I am in a parking lot or in the garage, the car goes off. If I know I'm going to be waiting in a long line, I turn the car off.

Recently, I realized that the conveniences of drive-thru windows at coffee shops and banks are increasing the negative impact I make on the environment. I am not a fan of drive-thru windows because I feel like you end up spending more time doing the activity and you are idling among other idling cars. Gross! However, with a baby in the car, I am now choosing to use drive-thru windows. I have had pain and numbness in my wrists and getting the baby in the infant car seat out every time results in more pain and numbness. Yes, I can get the stroller out and try to maneuver into the bank or the coffee shop. Or, I can wear the baby. All good options! But all options increase the amount of times I spend running errands. I am on longer on my schedule. I am on the baby's schedule.

Today, I opt for using the drive-thru window, even if it means idling my car. We are not perfect "greenies" 100% of the time. I am learning that with a baby, something has got to give. A few minutes of idling once a week is what has given.

>> What are your eco-friendly goals that have "given" a little??
 

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Sometimes You Just Have To...

THROW IT AWAY!

Yes, I said throw it away. Not reuse, compost, recycle, freecycle, or anything of the like, but throw it away. In the trash! I have been on a declutter mission, round 3. There are some items that I cannot find another use for other than throwing in the trash. For example, the top of the salad spinner that was accidentally put on top of a hot burner and started to melt. I kept it for a few days, but then realized there is absolutely no other use for this. The salad spinner does not work anymore. I opened the trash can lid and threw it in.

Sometimes you just have to throw it away!

>> What have you had to throw away because it had no other use??
 

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Smiles For The People Bamboo Toothbrush [Review]

One of the first changes I made during my quest for all natural living was changing the toothpaste I use. However, I never realized how many eco-friendly and all natural options there are for teeth care. Despite the fact that I have gradually switched to more eco-friendly options for our body care products, we still use plastic toothbrushes. My husband uses the free plastic toothbrushes from the dentist and I use my electric toothbrush. Let me tell you about a better alternative to brushing your teeth with plastic. Smiles for the People bring you a biodegradable bamboo handled toothbrush for all of your eco-friendly teeth cleaning needs.

Original Adult Toothbrush         ($5.95)

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
100% biodegradable bamboo handle	Bristles are not biodegradable
Durable and long lasting
Recyclable and limited packaging
Ergonomic handle

One of my most favorite features of the Smiles for the People toothbrush is the bamboo handle. I love knowing that this toothbrush does not have a plastic handle. That means that I can compost the toothbrush once I am done using it. The handle is ergonomic and easy to hold. Even though the bristles look simple, they clean teeth just as well as your expensive disposable toothbrushes.

For each purchase of a Smiles for the People toothbrush, the company will donate one toothbrush to their cause. The relationships with their Giving Partners helps promote increased and better dental care throughout the world. You know that when you support Smiles for the People, you are supporting improved dental care for local and global communities.

The Original Adult Toothbrush might seem like a simple idea and a simple little implement for cleaning teeth, but the sustainability and the cause behind this purchase is truly amazing. If you are looking for a greener and more eco-friendly way to brush your teeth (and if you are reducing the amount of plastic that you buy), I recommend that you give Smiles for the People toothbrush a try.

Disclosure: I received the sample from the company in order to facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. I am under no pressure to return the product to the company or to write this review. This product review is based on my personal experiences. This review is objective and completely honest.

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Celebrate Earth Month with Whole Foods #WFMearthling

Today is Earth Day! Every year, on April 22, more than one billion people around the world take part in protecting the planet. Individuals like you and I, communities like schools, and companies like Whole Foods Market take part in doing something good for the planet. This year, Whole Foods Market is taking Earth Day to the next level by offering educational and inspirational materials online at Earthling Month and in store throughout the month of April.

My favorite part about EarthlingMonth.com is that I can share my earthling moment with other earthlings out there. Today's earthling moment was taking the baby out for a walk in the stroller. No gym or power required!

How have you celebrated Earth Month? What is your earthling moment?

Add your earthling moment by tweeting with the hashtag #WFMearthling for a chance to win a $150 gift card to Whole Foods Market.
 
  

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Garden: Spring Cleaning

Today is a gorgeous day outside. The sun is shinning and the temperature is warming up above 50 degrees. I believe some might call this a perfect day to start prepping the garden and flower beds for the spring and summer. I cut away most of the dried branches and foliage in the Fall, but there were still a few plants that needed a trimming. The compost piles and bin needed some dried material.

The exciting part about trimming in the Spring is that you can see what plants are starting to come up. I love walking around the yard and seeing all the little sprouts. First, this means that warmer weather is almost here. Second, it means that the plants survived the winter yet again (hehe, I have killed some plants in my gardening days). I cannot wait to start planning veggies in the garden in April.

Summer is just around the corner!

>> How do you prep your garden beds??
 

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Eco-Friendly Excitement: Reusing a Thank You Card Box

I am so excited about all of my "eco-friendly excitements" lately, or maybe it just means that I am staying up to date on my fellow eco-friendly bloggers' posts and am paying more attention to what I can be doing better. :)

I wrote Thank You cards yesterday and was left with this adorable box. My initial reaction was to recycle since the box is made of cardboard/paper. However, I remember a recent Change the World Wednesday challenge that prompted us to figure out how we can reuse something instead of recycling it or throwing it out. Instantly, the idea popped into my head that this box would make a great gift box. I can fill it with items like a gift card, travel sizes of natural body products, or a cute pair of locally made earrings.

>> What are some ways that you have reused boxes from other products??
   
 

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Wordless Wednesday - Grain Mill

I finally used my grain mill! I made socca with the lentils I ground.

Eco-friendly Susie Homemaker, here I come!

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