Bag your face!

I'm trying so hard to get this 'no bag' thing burned into my brain. Like Joanna mentioned, we got the reusable bags for Trader Joe's, but remembering to bring them... that's another story. Maybe it's a better strategy to buy tons of those bags and keep some in each car at all times (with a note by the steering wheel reminding me that they are in the car... because, yes, I need the notes.) Seeing this in action at Trader Joe's is no biggie really, but I really find it inspiring when I see people in Von's or Ralph's with their reusable bags.

Maybe a tattoo of a bag on my head? Nah, cuz then everyone BUT me would be able to see it.

We have this cool invention that I'm sure a LOT of you have... one of those giant tube sock looking things that hold plastic bags. You know what I'm talking about. The long cloth thingy that you push your plastic bags into and they come out the bottom when you give them a yank. Like a little bag dispenser. My mom had one for years, but this one was made (and by made I mean knit) by my mother-in-law. I love it because I use the bags and then reuse them. Currently though, I believe our 'bag sock' has reached maximum capacity and could very well explode into little plastic bits any second. Another good argument for remembering to ask for no bag.

I still don't understand why we have to ask for no bag... should be the other way around, right?

How about the instance of this evening where I ran down to 7-11 just to get a quick bottle of wine? By law they are required to put all alcohol in bags in order for you to walk out with it, so how can you swing the 'no bag' thing here? I will try to bring my own bag next time and see what kind of reaction that spawns. I'm pretty sure that isn't standard behavior for 7-11 patrons.

No bag, no bag, no bag... repeat after me... no bag, no bag, no bag...

I even had one clerk recently look at me all pissed off when I remembered to say 'no bag.' It wasn't as if he had even started bagging and then had to unbag, he was just in a pissy mood i guess and my trying-to-keep-it-green attitude rubbed him the wrong way. Tough luck, big guy, keep your bags to yourself! This little green man doesn't need 'em! Now if only I can remember that I don't need 'em...

It's a start!

Holy Canoli! What a week...or so! Let's see what I've managed to do right since that'll be easier to cover than all of the stuff I did wrong. Grocery shopping: Hate it! Love to cook tho so there's a bit of a catch there. In any case, I love Trader Joe's and with their prices I have managed to buy more earth friendly if not organic products including face soap (love the tee tree oil!) and free range eggs. I even bought the reusable bags :) though I managed to forget them once :( Please cut me some slack tho...I'm still trying to establish a system! AND when cleaning out the fridge, I threw less food away than ever! I have a tendancy to buy too much because I have all of these grandiose menu ideas at the time. The reality is that I'm just too tired and stick to the easy to cook meals at the end of the day. I guess I'm getting better with planning, huh?

Speaking of planning, the whole idea of making lunch in the evening always kinda jeebed me out a little. Something about cold, soggy bread and such. But I tried it and you know what? It worked! Whatta time saver! (I know...'she's a friggin' rocket scientist' right? But it's just getting past those preconceptions we create for ourselves, no matter how trivial...or utterly ridiculous! Another conversation for another day.)

In the meantime, our recycling pile grows ever larger as we are managing to throw less away. That's great except that we just don't have the wherewithal to drag it to the recycling center. But still...for us, it's progress. Trust me. But the great news is that we will be moving after the first of the year to a neighborhood that has recycling pick up at the curb. Awesome! We will also have a yard and a garden which means that I can compost again! WooHoo! I love me some dirt! And being closer to work and school, I'll be able to ride my bike. Funny how life works...

So it may not be a great start, but it's a start. We're gonna have to some painting so that will be the next challenge. I'll let you know how it goes.