tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7668827011669341442024-02-14T02:31:57.687-08:00Life Less PlasticThis blog is about my quest to protect the environment and my health by reducing the amount of plastic I use everyday. From sharing ideas on how to buy fewer plastic-packaged products in the grocery store to posting information on how plastic negatively effects our world, I want to help myself and others figure out how to live A Life Less Plastic. — A blog by Jeanne HaegeleJeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11704564414066998644noreply@blogger.comBlogger178125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766882701166934144.post-47395288970929025472020-09-21T12:18:00.000-07:002020-09-21T12:18:41.731-07:00Vote Biden. For Yourself and for Your Children.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDfGxevFw6WsZ6EetcNP3LUsAJFqaOZv2VE14Gb2snWmmr7PXZIKPuEI_0urjMX27MBQA21TBZOzyaU7GQc1SkF1rOxfrqOh4_XLeZrYtyddFr0w05cQp3bZyawkAsvq2ClvwEaDB_7xJ/s1275/Screen+Shot+2020-09-16+at+12.37.00+AM.png" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="1275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDfGxevFw6WsZ6EetcNP3LUsAJFqaOZv2VE14Gb2snWmmr7PXZIKPuEI_0urjMX27MBQA21TBZOzyaU7GQc1SkF1rOxfrqOh4_XLeZrYtyddFr0w05cQp3bZyawkAsvq2ClvwEaDB_7xJ/s16000/Screen+Shot+2020-09-16+at+12.37.00+AM.png" /></a></div>For U.S. citizens, I just wanted to take a second to encourage everyone to check that you're registered to vote and then to make a plan to get out there and do it. <div><br /></div><div>This is the most important election of our lifetimes and will decide so much about our futures, especially in respect to global climate change. The world has likely already past the point of no return for preventing a 3 degree Celsius rise in global temperatures, but there is still time to prevent a further increase and the vast and deadly destruction it will create. </div><div><br /></div><div>If Trump is elected, he will only move us further in the wrong direction as he continues his quest to become the authoritarian leader of this country. He will strip us of our rights, our voice, and our liberty, while at the same time guaranteeing the suffering of future generations because of rising sea water, crop failure, and disease. </div><div><br /></div><div>Vote for Biden. For yourself. For your children. For the future of our nation and the human race.</div><div><br /></div><div>Check your registration and make a voting plan at <a href="https://iwillvote.com">iwillvote.com</a>.</div>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11704564414066998644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766882701166934144.post-6965389707876603822015-08-03T13:33:00.002-07:002019-09-17T13:33:10.783-07:00Another Update from Life Less PlasticHere's a quick update on my life these days. I still haven't gone back to living plastic-free, but I'm proud of some of the environmentally-friendly parts of my lifestyle.<br />
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- I'm still living in Yosemite, and my apartment is only a few minutes by foot from my office so I walk (or bike) to work everyday. Not only is this good for the environment, but it is also good for my soul. I know it's hard, but I hope more people can figure out ways to live closer to where they work. - - Because my employer provides composting throughout Yosemite, I'm able to compost all of my food waste, which is amazing.<br />
- I live in a very small studio apartment so heating is less energy-intensive, and I don't use an air conditioner.<br />
- Because my apartment is tiny (and because I know it's bad for the environment), I also don't buy much in the way of material possessions.<br />
- I have a small refrigerator that requires less energy to run and also prevents me from wasting food (I have limited space and need to use that space for food I'm actually going to eat).<br />
- I still eat meat, but I've recently started eating beans made in the slow cooker several times a week. It's hard to admit, but since raising animals for meat is so bad for the environment, this has probably reduced my environmental impact more than cutting out plastic ever did. I should cut back even more.<br />
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Anyways, I just wanted to share a little bit about what's been going on with me lately. Thanks for reading!</div>
Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11704564414066998644noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766882701166934144.post-2114002700548670012014-07-04T11:20:00.000-07:002014-07-04T11:30:33.103-07:00Send Me Your Ideas (and Encouragement)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hey Friends! As I mentioned in my post a while back, my life has changed drastically in the past year--I'm now living and working in Yosemite National Park. When I first arrived here, my lifestyle wouldn't really have allowed me to make efforts to be environmentally-conscious (it's a long story), but now I am staying in a lovely apartment where I can live like a regular person again.<br />
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This means it's time to get back to being eco-friendly. But where to start? I don't think I can go back to giving up plastic entirely, but I know it's time to cut back. I also want to reduce the waste I produce generally, including plastic, and cut down on how much meat I'm eat.<br />
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But what do you recommend? What should be some first steps as I get back on the bandwagon?
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Hey Everyone! It's been almost three years since my last post, so I figured I'd provide a quick update on what I've been up to.<br />
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First off, I totally fell off the band wagon in terms of giving up plastic. It's sad but true. After two years of living almost completely plastic free, I just couldn't keep up with it anymore. I was starting to feel the weight of the project more and more heavily, and I eventually decided that I needed to live like everyone else for a while. <br />
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Unrelated, I also wanted to mention that I did a 365 blog last year, which was was all about my quest to make something every single day last year. It went really well and I ended up learning a ton about art, photography, and myself. You can take a look at <a href="http://makingmade.wordpress.com/">makingmade.wordpress.com/</a>.<br />
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Anyways, I just wanted to provide an update and also say that I'll be making some changes this summer that might allow me to live a bit more plastic free. If that happens, I'll be sure to post again!Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11704564414066998644noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766882701166934144.post-60673732692563629102010-06-07T08:58:00.000-07:002019-09-17T13:44:47.390-07:00Video: Use Less Plastic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11704564414066998644noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766882701166934144.post-43181650746736995042010-06-05T17:50:00.000-07:002010-06-05T18:04:49.518-07:00Facebook Fan Page for Life Less PlasticDear Readers,<br /><br />I've finally created a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#%21/pages/Life-Less-Plastic/128926273793846?ref=ts">Facebook fan page</a> for Life Less Plastic!<br /><br />The page will serve as another venue for learning about and discussing the idea of using less plastic.<br /><br />If you get the chance, please <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#%21/pages/Life-Less-Plastic/128926273793846?ref=ts">become a fan today</a>! And don't forget to tell your friends!<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Jeanne<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Life-Less-Plastic/128926273793846?ref=ts"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit4dLEa9dsHtkSjTqYozyKFUg2XCGxj2mi286DQ2k7DldOMZowRXpn9zK6HvK0rEVSFYbvK-3nlHqpM5-LcfZJiRF6kL875psoaYMR7v9uM7mUQ-b8xRBwcSHEBmSd_uKDGGLfGWg60LcN/s400/Life+Less+Plastic+Facebook.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479459532851455218" border="0" /></a>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11704564414066998644noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766882701166934144.post-31654619137265038612010-06-03T15:25:00.000-07:002016-09-21T09:16:41.506-07:00Worm Composting: I've Finally Gone and Done It<span style="font-family: "arial";">That's right. I've finally gone out of my noodle and started vermicomposting!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">What is vermicomposting, you ask? According to </span><a href="http://www.wormwoman.com/acatalog/vermicomposting.html" style="font-family: arial;">wormwoman.com</a><span style="font-family: "arial";"> it is </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 100%;">"a system for turning food waste into potting soil with the help of worms." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I know it sounds a little crazy, but indoor worm composting means producing less waste and using fewer plastic garbage bags--two things I really want to do to help the environment. For apartment dwellers, it may also be less likely to annoy your landlord than other composting methods, like the compost tumbler I tried to use, since he or she will probably never know about it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br />To create my bin, I bought a few used, plastic bins off of <a href="http://chicago.craigslist.org/">Craigslist</a> and used the following great instructional video by the Compost Guy.<br /><br /><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/WxhEQEA0GN8&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_profilepage&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="https://www.youtube.com/v/WxhEQEA0GN8&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_profilepage&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="540" height="285"></embed></object><br /><br />After creating my bin, I started collecting my food scraps in a cut-off milk carton and storing them in the freezer. I also put in an online order for some red wiggler worms to the <a href="http://www.compostguy.com/">Compost Guy</a>, the creator of the video.<br /><br />The worms arrived to my office several days later (my apolgoies to our receptionist!).<br /><br />When I opened the box, I was happy to see that they were still alive and wriggling around, despite spending a few extra days at the post office due to the rather strange workings of the Chicago postal service.<br /><br />Once I got my worms home, I added my food scraps to my recently created bin, dumped in the worms, and closed up the bin (all according to the instructions, of course).<br /><br />And that's it. Now I've got an active vermicomposter that is turning my food waste into soil. It's amazing.<br /><br />And so far it doesn't smell or have any fruit flies, although, on occasion, it probably will in the future. But that's okay. There is tons of information on the internet on maintaining and troubleshooting worm bins, and working through the problems will be well worth it in the end.<br /><br />For now though, everything is perfect, and I'm hoping it stays that way, at least for a little while!<br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial";">(Note: For the small amount of garbage I produce, I use Seventh Generation bags made from 55% recycled plastic). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11704564414066998644noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766882701166934144.post-56912413689496336422010-06-02T08:28:00.001-07:002010-06-02T09:47:55.857-07:00Toxic America: I'm on the CNN HomepageI'm on the CNN homepage! Unfortunately they spelled my name completely wrong (as Jean Healge), but that's okay. I'm so excited!<br /><br />Update: They fixed the spelling of my name on the homepage and within the video. Those CNN people or responsive! Thanks CNN!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5oPXLhB2Hj3K4tsEX1ZHfBCfDZF9WF7vIZyVFyUegI94oIWajrBC_ptJBVDcyTlRxJIMrpmqJbNL9Sn45VnHGTiOV5ZTetD-6KAL7XPXLFtBgAzFB_QHaALmUKOPxFvtX3aoft5EJtMI1/s1600/Jeanne+Haegele+CNN.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5oPXLhB2Hj3K4tsEX1ZHfBCfDZF9WF7vIZyVFyUegI94oIWajrBC_ptJBVDcyTlRxJIMrpmqJbNL9Sn45VnHGTiOV5ZTetD-6KAL7XPXLFtBgAzFB_QHaALmUKOPxFvtX3aoft5EJtMI1/s400/Jeanne+Haegele+CNN.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478200542840100578" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><center><object width="416" height="374" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" id="ep"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="movie" value="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed&videoId=health/2010/06/01/gupta.life.without.plastic.cnn" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><embed src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed&videoId=health/2010/06/01/gupta.life.without.plastic.cnn" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="416" wmode="transparent" height="374"></embed></object></center>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11704564414066998644noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766882701166934144.post-53711772663185742722010-06-01T13:44:00.000-07:002010-06-01T13:47:32.346-07:00Toxic America: Life Less Plastic Makes a Visit to Your Living RoomOn June 2 and 3, CNN will air <a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2010/toxic.america/">Toxic America</a>, a two-part special hosted by Sanjay Gupta that focuses on the unregulated and dangerous chemicals that we come in contact with on a daily basis.<br /><br />I'm very excited about the special, first, because I think it addresses a topic people really need to hear about and, second, because it is supposed to include a segment about me! Craziness!<br /><br />As far as I know, the segment about my experiences giving up plastic is supposed to air on Thursday, June 3rd as part of the Toxic Childhood portion of the show. Please tune in!<br /><br /><object width="416" height="374" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" id="ep"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="movie" value="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed&videoId=health/2010/05/31/sot.gupta.toxic.childhood.cnn" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><embed src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed&videoId=health/2010/05/31/sot.gupta.toxic.childhood.cnn" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="416" wmode="transparent" height="374"></embed></object>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11704564414066998644noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766882701166934144.post-15483812828064138162010-05-28T14:24:00.000-07:002010-05-29T06:23:55.403-07:00Storing Vegetables Without Plastic in the Refrigerator<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">When I store veggies in the fridge, I typically just toss them on the shelf or put them in a glass container. Recently, though, I was wondering if there are better ways that would keep my veggies fresher. Lucky for me, Beth over at </span><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://fakeplasticfish.com/2010/05/how-to-store-produce-without-plastic/">Fake Plastic Fish recently did a post on this</a></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;">. And just in time for farmers' market season.<br /><br />The post links to an awesome little flyer done by the Berkeley Farmers' Market. It's called <a href="http://www.fakeplasticfish.com/images/Berkeley%20Farmers%20Market%20Tips%20for%20Storing%20Produce.pdf">How To: Store Fruits and Vegetables: Tips and tricks to extend the life of your produce without plastic</a>.<br /><br />Enjoy!<br /><br />p.s. This isn't in the brochure, but to store parsley or cilantro, I just put them in a glass of water (like flowers in a vase) and put them in the fridge. It's a plastic-free solution and it helps them keep for a long time.</span><br /></span></span>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11704564414066998644noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766882701166934144.post-85290125561402667562010-05-25T17:37:00.000-07:002010-05-25T23:02:28.418-07:00In the News: Plastic PanicThere's an interesting article by Jerome Groopman in the most recent New Yorker. It's called <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/05/31/100531fa_fact_groopman">Plastic Panic</a>, and it focuses on the bisphenol A controversy, while also exploring why the effects of chemicals on the human body are so difficult difficult to determine.<br /><br />In addition, it provides info on chemical legislation in the United States and demonstrates that the U.S. is in need of some serious reform.<br /><br />Here are a few interesting bits from from the article on this subject:<br /><ul><li>"The Toxic Substances Control Act, passed in 1976, does not require manufacturers to show that chemicals used in their products are safe before they go on the market; rather, the responsibility is placed on federal agencies, as well as on researchers in universities outside the government. The burden of proof is so onerous that bans on toxic chemicals can take years to achieve, and the government is often constrained from sharing information on specific products with the public, because manufacturers claim that such information is confidential."</li></ul><ul><li>"According to the E.P.A., some eighty-two thousand chemicals are registered for use in commerce in the United States, with about seven hundred new chemicals introduced each year. In 1998, the E.P.A. found that, among chemicals produced in quantities of more than a million pounds per year, only seven per cent had undergone the full slate of basic toxicity studies." </li></ul>Not good. Very not good.<br /><br />Dear readers, I ask you to take a gander at this article so that you can get informed about this issue (if you're not already). It's an important one.<br /><br />Related blog post : <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a href="http://lifelessplastic.blogspot.com/2007/12/my-christmas-wish-better-chemical.html">Better Chemical Regulation</a>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11704564414066998644noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766882701166934144.post-32043616088681175592010-05-20T09:33:00.000-07:002010-05-20T20:27:03.365-07:00Plastic-Free Hair Care: The Saga Continues<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2uwwN3DNx1i8rSSfdsg8SM7U6ovw-f3tvBQy0K8BZYKBAnDUQ7dxdE0XLI4ntQ818nWvB5Z9NHaeJ8Mi4IyTYG2rrqzzJH3mPnuzmAN1ePVQ15cEBMapBTv2dKDVYktFXf1BUfjrm1co/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 394px; height: 371px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2uwwN3DNx1i8rSSfdsg8SM7U6ovw-f3tvBQy0K8BZYKBAnDUQ7dxdE0XLI4ntQ818nWvB5Z9NHaeJ8Mi4IyTYG2rrqzzJH3mPnuzmAN1ePVQ15cEBMapBTv2dKDVYktFXf1BUfjrm1co/" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />It's been two and a half years since I went "less-plastic," and I still can't figure out how to wash my hair. It really annoys me.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span>Because I know you're incredibly interested, here's a timeline that explains a bit of what I've been going through.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Really Important Hair Care Timeline</span><br /><ul><li>I started washing my hair with baking soda and using a <a href="http://www.lushusa.com/shop/products/hair/conditioners/jungle">conditioner bar from Lush</a> in May 2008. I was <a href="http://lifelessplastic.blogspot.com/2008/05/omg-im-so-happy.html">really happy</a> with this process at first, but eventually it made my hair wiry. Also, my friends complained because I "<a href="http://lifelessplastic.blogspot.com/2008/05/baking-soda-shampoo-and-lush.html">smelled like a hippie.</a>"<br /></li></ul><ul><li>I did the <a href="http://lifelessplastic.blogspot.com/2008/06/no-shampoo-revolution-also-known-as.html">no 'poo</a> thing during the summer of June 2008. It went <a href="http://lifelessplastic.blogspot.com/2008/06/no-shampoo-revolution-no-poo-update.html">alright at first</a>. I just used baking soda to clean my hair and did an occasional <a href="http://lifelessplastic.blogspot.com/2008/01/vinegar-rinse-is-awesome.html">vinegar rinse</a>.</li></ul><ul><li>After three months of being no 'poo, it was suddenly <a href="http://lifelessplastic.blogspot.com/2008/09/head-and-shoulders-knees-and-toes.html">not alright</a>. I got horrible dandruff and had to start using Head and Shoulders so that my flaky scalp didn't take over my life and turn me into a social recluse.<br /></li></ul><ul><li>My dandruff disappeared.<br /></li></ul><ul><li>After my bottle of Head and Shoulders was gone, I washed my hair with some seriously yummy-smelling <a href="http://www.abbeybrown.com/item.php?cat_id=16">mango bar soap</a> from Abbey Brown, an artisan soap maker based in Chicago. It worked okay, but it left my hair feeling flat.<br /></li></ul><ul><li>Then, the dreaded dandruff returned.<br /></li></ul><ul><li>I started using Head and Shoulders, and the dandruff went away. But then Head and Shoulders started GIVING me dandruff! "How is this possible?," I wanted to know.<br /></li></ul><ul><li>I bought a bottle of Pantene out of desperation (please don't judge me!).</li></ul><ul><li>My dandruff disappeared, again.</li></ul>I'm finishing off this bottle of Pantene right now and my hair is dandruff-free, feels fantastic, and looks pretty good (I think). Alas, everything has a price. On top of coming in a plastic bottle, the shampoo I'm using is listed as a "<a href="http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/product/213205/Pantene_Pro-V_Beautiful_Lengths_2_In_1_Hair_Shampoo/">moderate hazard</a>" on the <a href="http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/">Skin Deep Database</a>.<br /><br />For me, this means that using Pantene isn't a viable long-term solution to my hair care problem, so I've started looking for new options through the internetz and on <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.etsy.com/">Etsy.com</a>, a fantastic online marketplace dedicated to handmade products.<br /><br />Here's what I've tried so far.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Conditioner</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bar by Nourish Bath and Body</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTEBVSjvrss3WcROIdOYRW2vSf-YEeVnF-kmCcLjl6iZn6V0kgV6oBuI2vJTKcLNPLdHcOBX1-TB6YqqRjQqPVg-YQ039lajb44wV6bZUp-1-BG6jJUwVJwX51ynucRs463J9LG2XQE2o/s1600/Conditioner+Bar.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTEBVSjvrss3WcROIdOYRW2vSf-YEeVnF-kmCcLjl6iZn6V0kgV6oBuI2vJTKcLNPLdHcOBX1-TB6YqqRjQqPVg-YQ039lajb44wV6bZUp-1-BG6jJUwVJwX51ynucRs463J9LG2XQE2o/s200/Conditioner+Bar.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473546502897160770" border="0" /></a><br />I used a <a href="http://nourishbathandbody.com/hair-care/rosemary-mint-solid-conditioner.html">Rosemary Mint Solid Conditioner Bar</a> made by <a href="http://nourishbathandbody.com/">Nou</a><a href="http://nourishbathandbody.com/">rish Bath and Body</a>, which I actually received free from the producer. The conditioner left my hair smelling really nice and feeling good. It didn't provide that deep condition that commercial conditioners give you, but it came close. All in all, I'd give this bar a grade of "B." I would have given the product an "A", but it does have a few ingredients listed in the Skin Deep database as moderate hazards. Note: the bar comes in a vellum wrapper that's made of 10% plastic. Christine said she would be glad to send soap without the wrapper. You just have to mention that you don't want the wrapper in the purchase notes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Syndet Shampoo Bar from Arcadia Aromatics</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWvoJ8_HaBmWak_e49JYIay5MGCaiUqw3vC1uq27wylvb4NQG7Ih8EbvO1dU0q2oe0a5dtueneSk_ni0rhUHTMhqxu459w02_MxPV7uWVLxADnGsOucd92UEmr0xx8pJdaMb6gSHmaWfX/s1600/Shampoo+Bar.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWvoJ8_HaBmWak_e49JYIay5MGCaiUqw3vC1uq27wylvb4NQG7Ih8EbvO1dU0q2oe0a5dtueneSk_ni0rhUHTMhqxu459w02_MxPV7uWVLxADnGsOucd92UEmr0xx8pJdaMb6gSHmaWfX/s200/Shampoo+Bar.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473547296829243202" border="0" /></a><br />I've also tried the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SoapStore?section_id=5291548">Syndet Coconut Solid Shampoo Bar</a> from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SoapStore">Arcadia Aromatics,</a> which I purchased on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/">Etsy</a>. This product works exactly like regular shampoo and smells absolutely fanstastic. If you're a coconut person like me, you'll love it. That said, I'm giving this shampoo a "B" because it also has ingredients listed as moderate hazards in the Skin Deep database. Note: I didn't ask the seller about the packaging before I purchased this (you know what they say about assuming), and I was unhappy to discover that it comes in a plastic container. I haven't checked with the seller yet, but I'm hoping they'd be willing to send the soap sans the plastic. I'll provide an update once I know.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Saga Continues</span><br />And that's where I am now—I'm using up my Pantene and using my new shampoo and conditioners bars. The stuff I have now should last me a long time, but I'll be sure to try new products and provide more reviews once I run out. As probably the only person ever <a href="http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1821664,00.html">featured in Time Magazine</a> because of their hunt for a perfect shampoo, I guess it's kind of my duty.<br /><br />Heck, maybe at the end of all my these trials, I'll actually figure out how to wash my hair. It's doubtful, but I'll never, never stop hoping.Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11704564414066998644noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766882701166934144.post-18208257424823053412010-05-08T14:52:00.000-07:002010-05-08T15:24:28.219-07:00News and ConfessionsI've got something exciting to share! I'm going to interviewed by someone from a major news network on Tuesday. Yay!<br /><br />But before I tell the whole world about my life not using plastic, I have to confess that I've had some moments of weakness over the past 7 or 8 months. I think it's really important to be honest about this, so I want to share a list of the plastic I've used.<br /><br />Here it is:<br /><ul><li>1 silverware drawer organizer (mentioned in my last post)</li><li>1 watch with synthetic band (it might be leather, though; mentioned in my last post)<br /></li><li>4 plastic produce bags (while in Romania)<br /></li><li>4 single-serve yogurts</li><li>2 large containers of yogurt</li><li>1 container of sour cream</li><li>1 box of grape nuts<br /></li><li>1 bottle of ketchup<br /></li><li>1 container of cranberries</li><li>1 container of almonds</li><li>1 bag of coffee beans<br /></li><li>9 plastic clamshells of salad (due to my getting health vow as mentioned in a previous post)<br /></li><li>6 to-go coffees with plastic lids (why is coffee always the ruin of me?)</li><li>4 bottles of shampoo (still trying to fend off the dandruff)</li><li>1 bottle of spray gel</li><li>1 container of foundation makeup</li><li>1 blush</li><li>1 plastic baggie<br /></li></ul>I feel pretty bad about using all of this stuff, but after doing the whole plastic-free thing for 2.5 years now, it has been hard to resist the temptation of buying plastic-packaged stuff on occasion.<br /><br />I guess all I can do is move forward and keep trying.Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11704564414066998644noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766882701166934144.post-84995860521649818022010-05-07T10:44:00.000-07:002010-05-07T14:18:22.751-07:00Romania: Revelations and Regrets<span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >I never thought I would go to Romania, but a dear friend of mine lives there now...so across the ocean I went. Once I got there, I discovered that Romania </span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >is a beau</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >tiful country.<br /><br /></span> <span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >There </span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >are beautiful medieval cities, like Sibiu, where my friend lives</span><span style="font-family:arial;">—</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >an enchan</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >ting city of winding streets and mysterious passageways that would be filled with tourists if found anywhere else in Europe.</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpS0C456J9GxZvMWGgOXz-j6aPFXWGUqgkskjQAvN17pe6LxGph8gKbj1QXmxMx4miBfEVsethRSgTq3k0bKTL3W7ihKTEwJXj6C4FOCxJ8VyC6hp4Siq7hVVwHCsyHwTZptM-5mIa_BU/s1600/Sibiu.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 384px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpS0C456J9GxZvMWGgOXz-j6aPFXWGUqgkskjQAvN17pe6LxGph8gKbj1QXmxMx4miBfEVsethRSgTq3k0bKTL3W7ihKTEwJXj6C4FOCxJ8VyC6hp4Siq7hVVwHCsyHwTZptM-5mIa_BU/s400/Sibiu.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468594042643112498" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >There are beautiful mountains, like those near Sinaia, that make you afraid to close your eyes as you pass them on the train</span><span style="font-family:arial;">—</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >because you don't want to miss a single view.<br /><br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOME0tNquabKkl2qFUlDq85n7pLwIXrZH-l8t6Rpy2QkE2NJYMficrQ93AOo1a6yyhjfw_u2JE4cWnY7BQoc5I5C_PPWf-0T2SHS4ecQjiAUaD32RAAcQmgwFCLyQdQrHCw_V5HfU0esAM/s1600/Bucegi_Mountains.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOME0tNquabKkl2qFUlDq85n7pLwIXrZH-l8t6Rpy2QkE2NJYMficrQ93AOo1a6yyhjfw_u2JE4cWnY7BQoc5I5C_PPWf-0T2SHS4ecQjiAUaD32RAAcQmgwFCLyQdQrHCw_V5HfU0esAM/s400/Bucegi_Mountains.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468610105937588402" border="0" /></a></span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGp0cwYb-oZc7g11bY-KWokPNj3rZNLwi8l01YDhmTtdXdGVTk8gVFGGm4IwyanoLxtvdjH6_nk15vTvOqzFe4G5pZP03NSrGOw7ZM8cFlO1SRzbtAHxAItQ-CJn38_6NCjOpiUuaLYNml/s1600/Bucegi+Mountains.jpg"><br /></a></span></span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >There are beautiful people, like the famil</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >y we dined with while visiting a small village, that take so much pride in the food they cook.<br /><br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizH5kYI6Yx7qnKwVvPVOMwEuO6VncrEPD4tDBSo_q06OoJRdnMiA3q6R06u4TEcG0bEH_1Y8wY9nMIyiARUl7A1H_10eV8b1smPrnU8dAmPN9LwYeFirm0Yk6uDn8ItWBilgvo4MQRKhFD/s1600/Family+Dinner.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizH5kYI6Yx7qnKwVvPVOMwEuO6VncrEPD4tDBSo_q06OoJRdnMiA3q6R06u4TEcG0bEH_1Y8wY9nMIyiARUl7A1H_10eV8b1smPrnU8dAmPN9LwYeFirm0Yk6uDn8ItWBilgvo4MQRKhFD/s400/Family+Dinner.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468594715674235810" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >And there ar</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >e beautiful traditions, like making delicious homemade wines and working the land</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" > with horse and plow, that show a true connection to the Earth.</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigoQxcnIlA7W8FmsHJ8-T_YbGF4NrT-6eLOuD4j60v60wNwRT-mqpSWFOqZ-ntKmoUNkHoUhh1QPLrVxcjx6HqHXLeIqbgDniCigTgwwUrDGtYhrFLp-nRb-xJbucBbj8CotVc9rsTK2nm/s1600/Farmer_plowing.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigoQxcnIlA7W8FmsHJ8-T_YbGF4NrT-6eLOuD4j60v60wNwRT-mqpSWFOqZ-ntKmoUNkHoUhh1QPLrVxcjx6HqHXLeIqbgDniCigTgwwUrDGtYhrFLp-nRb-xJbucBbj8CotVc9rsTK2nm/s400/Farmer_plowing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468595095847629746" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >But as I explored the country by train and bus, I also found that there is another side of Romania.<br /><br />The garbage.<br /><br />In some parts of the country, it seemed to be everywhere—on the streets, in the rivers, and in the farm fields—littered there by people who didn't care or, perhaps, by those who don't have garbage pick-up, something I often take for granted.<br /><br />Much of that garbage was plastic. Bags flying in the wind. Wrappers floating in water. Bottles left carelessly behind. It was painful to see.<br /><br />Yet ironically, while I was in Romania, I used a fair amount of plastic.<br /><br />I couldn't drink the water in some places, so I bought bottled water for the first time in over two (or is it three?) years.<br /><br />When I got trapped in Bucharest for an extra four days (thank Eyjafjallajökull)</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >, I bought things packaged in plastic at the grocery store, partly because I didn't know how to be plastic-free in a different country and partly because I really wanted to continue exploring the food in this new land.<br /><br />And I also bought a few presents made of plastic. I got my friend a silverware organizer as a thank you present since she hadn't had the time to go out and buy one yet. And I splurged on a new watch for myself, which may have a faux leather band. But it might be real leather. I'm not sure.<br /><br />What I am sure about is that I </span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >feel especially guilty about purchasing things made of plastic in a country riddled with a trash disposal problem. </span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />What I'm also sure about is that I want to renew my commitment to a (mostly) plastic-free lifestyle.<br /><br />So "thank you", Romania, for helping me remember, through both you beauty and your problems, that the world is an amazing place...and that I want to do everything I can to protect it.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);font-size:78%;" >Bucegi mountains photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ricsen/4341282235/">ricsen</a><br />Horse and plow photo courtesy of <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/Farmer_plowing.jpg">wikicommons</a></span><br /></span>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11704564414066998644noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766882701166934144.post-682961623199571102010-03-14T22:05:00.000-07:002010-03-14T22:33:30.640-07:00Starting a Vintage Etsy Shop<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQiEe9VDdn1BILUiRdaKDSAO5hQX6FKPOGKfB4O0LtJKprZLDwFmnFH4GNAmkPelUHXEEdAXtIMqwaKH5Pe2xsK3PXw3WWKx0cs8AEZ3hCCRVeaBq5HL_6fOH2o2YniW9PsZugz61qUtWU/s1600-h/Vintage+Finds.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQiEe9VDdn1BILUiRdaKDSAO5hQX6FKPOGKfB4O0LtJKprZLDwFmnFH4GNAmkPelUHXEEdAXtIMqwaKH5Pe2xsK3PXw3WWKx0cs8AEZ3hCCRVeaBq5HL_6fOH2o2YniW9PsZugz61qUtWU/s320/Vintage+Finds.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448726097701568258" border="0" /></a>From the very beginning, this whole Life Less Plastic experiment has involved buying things second-hand. I've often found myself in need of something made of plastic (e.g. once I needed a dish drainer, although I guess I actually found my current one on top of my neighbors garbage can), so I've just gone down to the thrift store or to a garage sale and found whatever I needed.<br /><br />As you may expect, with all of this second-hand shopping, I've also found many great vintage and antique items.<br /><br />Since I've really come to love discovering these unexpected treasures, I've decided to take the next logical step... Starting an Etsy Shop!<br /><br />You can find my shop, Rainy Penguin Vintage, at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/RainyPenguinVintage">http://www.etsy.com/shop/RainyPenguinVintage</a>.<br /><br />I actually started the shop in late January, and I've already made lots of sales. If you get the chance, please visit and take a look at all the beautiful, bold, and bright vintage items I'm selling.<br /><br />Thanks so much!Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11704564414066998644noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766882701166934144.post-41406515156815683132009-12-14T18:02:00.000-08:002010-05-09T11:48:26.550-07:00Eating Healthier<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4k3QCDQ8Eso0Zs4jaMiKdwaBhSHtSlRfWVlt93SqLD070RgcaMn5pE8C9l8uOimyQa-mcaNIc1uBxqPMKJCnOEHtqAKr6MZpDEowi8mX4IBvPvPj4u3JT6hjpQJ27Bp6sO4EgQLU0F3_/s1600-h/Lettuce.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4k3QCDQ8Eso0Zs4jaMiKdwaBhSHtSlRfWVlt93SqLD070RgcaMn5pE8C9l8uOimyQa-mcaNIc1uBxqPMKJCnOEHtqAKr6MZpDEowi8mX4IBvPvPj4u3JT6hjpQJ27Bp6sO4EgQLU0F3_/s200/Lettuce.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415283404825330242" border="0" /></a>Hello All! It's been a while since I posted, and I wanted to provide an update on what's going with me.<br /><br />I'm still living a mostly plastic-free life, except I've recently made a few important changes to my anti-plastic pledge.<br /><br />First, in an effort to do some serious weight loss, I've decided to forgo my plastic pledge in the rare occasion that being plastic-free forces me eat food that isn't the best for me.<br /><br />For example, if I don't have time to make a lunch before work and I have to go to a restaurant to grab something, I have decided to choose getting a salad (even if it comes in a plastic shell) over a less healthy sandwich.<br /><br />Second, I have also started buying bagged lettuce on occasion. I've been doing this because I want to incorporate more salad greens into my diet and I'm getting pretty sick of spinach, one of the only plastic-free leafy vegetables I can find.<br /><br />When all is said and done, these few changes will not amount to much plastic used. Maybe one plastic clamshell (or less) and a few plastic bags per month.<br /><br />Still, I'm unhappy to start using more plastic, but it's something I have to do for myself and my health.<br /><br />Update: It's several months later, and I'm no longer buying salads in plastic shells or bags. Maybe I'm saying this because it's almost summer and the farmers markets are starting up, but who needs it!Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11704564414066998644noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766882701166934144.post-7414738494107957242009-10-04T19:54:00.000-07:002009-10-04T21:01:00.343-07:00Homemade Apple Butter<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCUayPSmqGruUZ9L8pVRxWCNugL3TuxDrxiFXF6lojBJvHYYnUzFjbJwSnIntqbcM6-25UO9UzErc_Hmy3QJq4qoOrQgzRURTMazb7qpuuhpovG5Yi47EGH9UNLuURIU-P8g4u4460N63/s1600-h/Homemade_Apple_Butter.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCUayPSmqGruUZ9L8pVRxWCNugL3TuxDrxiFXF6lojBJvHYYnUzFjbJwSnIntqbcM6-25UO9UzErc_Hmy3QJq4qoOrQgzRURTMazb7qpuuhpovG5Yi47EGH9UNLuURIU-P8g4u4460N63/s200/Homemade_Apple_Butter.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388957139626569650" border="0" /></a>I made homemade apple butter for the first time! And I even canned it myself!<br /><br />I made it in the crock pot using <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/All-Day-Apple-Butter-2/Detail.aspx">this recipe</a> (but with half the sugar) and then used <a href="http://www.pickyourown.org/applebutter.htm">this page</a> for instructions on how to can it.<br /><br />The verdict? Apple butter is delicious and VERY easy to make—even for a newbie like me.<br /><br />I just prepared an apple sauce the evening before, dumped it in the crock along with some cinnamon, cloves, sugar, and salt in the morning, and when I came home from work, my apple butter was almost finished. It just needed to simmer in the pot on high for one more hour.<br /><br />The canning on the other hand was not so easy. I had never canned anything before, and I didn't have the right supplies. I figured, eh, I'll manage.<br /><br />Bad idea. I definitely needed a wire rack for my pot to avoid upsetting the lids of the jars as I was lifting them out of the boiling water. I also needed some sort of funnel. I made a HUGE mess pouring the apple butter into the jars.<br /><br />All said and done, though, I was successful and now have tons of delicious apple butter. And once it's all gone, I can re-use my jars again and again (which will hopefully help me get better and more efficient at canning). Yay!<br /><br />Note: If you want to skip the canning stage, you can always make your jam and freeze in in freezer-safe Ball jars. It can't get any easier!Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11704564414066998644noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766882701166934144.post-77216034791651088832009-09-26T11:13:00.000-07:002009-09-26T13:26:05.584-07:00Two Year Anniversary of Life Less Plastic!It's been two years since I started writing this blog and trying to reduce the amount of plastic I use. It's been a crazy ride, filled with lots of ups and downs, including but not limited too...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Ups</span><br /><ul><li>Successfully figuring out how to use less plastic.</li><li>Educating myself about plastic, waste, and other environmental issues that I never thought about before.<br /></li><li>Experiencing endless support from family, friends, co-workers, and readers.<br /></li><li>Watching the readership and comments on my blog grow and grow. It's been great to know that people are interested in what I'm doing.<br /></li><li>Being featured in <a href="http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1821664,00.html">Time Magazine</a>, <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2009/05/meet-zero-waste-zealots">Mother Jones Magazine</a>, <a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/points/stories/DN-haegele_21edi.ART0.State.Edition1.26d22c1.html">The Dallas Morning News</a>, <a href="http://www.positivelygreen.com/health-main_article">Positively Green Magazine</a>, and on <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102062969">NPR</a>, the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/monthwithoutplastic/2008/08/top_tips_from_plasticfree_blog.html">BBC website</a>, and <a href="http://climate.weather.com/articles/plasticfree101401.html">Forecast Earth</a>, the Weather Channel’s environmental website (click the links for the stories).<style type="text/css">e { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } - </style> </li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Downs</span><br /><ul><li>Trying to figure out how to reduce the plastic I use. The first few months were really tough because I had to completely rethink everything I buy.<br /></li><li>Using plastic, even though I write this blog. I hate it, but it happens on occasion and I usually feel like I'm deceiving people. It's just hard not to give into my weaknesses for <a href="http://lifelessplastic.blogspot.com/2009/02/coffee-made-me-do-it.html">coffee</a> and fancy cheeses.<br /></li><li>Being scared that people will think I'm a freak. Not conforming is hard, even if it's with something like not using plastic. For a long time a didn't even have the <a href="http://lifelessplastic.blogspot.com/2008/08/my-sister-keeps-asking-me-when-im-going.html">guts to tell my co-workers</a> about what I'm doing.</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Through all of these ups and downs, there have been many people who have supported me, which I have appreciated immensely.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Thanks Yous</span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">My family</span> - Thanks to my Mom and Dad for always being interested in and supportive of what I'm doing, and thanks to my siblings for providing ideas, commentary, and general well wishes. Thanks also go out to my family for making the effort to create my <a href="http://lifelessplastic.blogspot.com/2007/12/plastic-free-christmas-success.html">first plastic-free Christmas </a>and my <a href="http://lifelessplastic.blogspot.com/2009/01/christmas-theater-furoshiki-and-family.html">second one</a>.<br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">My friends</span> - Thanks to all of my friends who have put up with my plastic-free-ness. It's always appreciated. Additional thanks to a certain someone who had to put up with me when I was first figuring out what I was doing. I know it was annoying, so thanks for being patient!<br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">My co-workers, who are also my friends</span> - Why was I so scared to tell you at first? Thanks so much for all your support and positive feedback (and for not being too mad that I waited to tell you about this project).</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Life Less Plastic readers</span> - Thank you for all of your interest, as well as for your thoughtful and supportive comments. Some of you have been with me on this ride since the beginning, and I dearly appreciate everything you have contributed.<br /></li></ul> <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Blog Contest<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>To mark my two year anniversary, I'll be hosting another blog contest in the near future. Check back soon for the details.<br /><br />And thanks again to everyone!Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11704564414066998644noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766882701166934144.post-49239250194965744032009-09-25T16:45:00.000-07:002009-09-25T11:40:25.912-07:00Plastic-Free Cookies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sSX-il5bK0blgDk2IxVbtkVLqv8rbsGuOQIKHBkRPsfFO2XsLqkWmJGero6MnTuRjEt_-lF_zpqDnlSLYMZPUO5sX7a00yRJDdwIi7z-YvppSV7kI-7tQXWsX3sDs5qUbzx4Oqx35P8x/s1600-h/cookies.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sSX-il5bK0blgDk2IxVbtkVLqv8rbsGuOQIKHBkRPsfFO2XsLqkWmJGero6MnTuRjEt_-lF_zpqDnlSLYMZPUO5sX7a00yRJDdwIi7z-YvppSV7kI-7tQXWsX3sDs5qUbzx4Oqx35P8x/s320/cookies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385433051909710962" border="0" /></a>It's a distant memory now, but long, long ago, I made <a href="http://lifelessplastic.blogspot.com/2007/09/success-after-fretting-for-several.html">my first attempt to avoid plastic at the grocery store</a>.<br /><br />It was an endeavor that changed my life and empowered me to do something different. To take a stand and to show the world (or a least anyone who happened to land on my blog) that creating so much garbage, plastic or otherwise, is not necessary. It's possible to live a good and happy life without sending <a href="http://lifelessplastic.blogspot.com/2007/10/epas-report-on-municipal-waste.html">4.5 pounds of trash</a> to the landfill each day.<br /><br />I'm happy that I started my less-plastic experiment that day, but after almost two years of blogging about it, that must be obvious.<br /><br />But now I feel I must also admit something. That day was also the start of a horrible reality. That's right. It was the start of <span style="font-style: italic;">life without cookies</span>.<br /><br />No Oreos. No Nilla Wafers. No <span id="EProductInfo_ProductCatalogResults1_repItems__ctl6_EProductInfo_ProductResultsAlternateItemTemplate1_lblMultipleProductName">Big & Soft Chocolate Chunk </span>Chips Ahoy.<br /><br />Life would be cookie-less, or at least I thought it would be until, soon after my experiment began, I stepped into my local bakery and discovered a precious secret—local bakeries make delicious cookies that can be acquired with little or no packaging.<br /><br />That's right. A shop that might just be right near your house can provide you with delicious cookies that are better for the environment <span style="font-weight: bold;">and</span> help nurture the local economy. Who ever thought cookies could be so good?<br /><br />The moral of the story: The next time you consider buying a box of Keebler Fudge Shoppe Mini Fudge Stripes cookies, put them down and pay your local baker a visit. You won't regret it (unless you eat too many cookies, which, actually, you might regret, but I can't help you with that).<br /><br />p.s. You can also make your own cookies. Those are good, too.Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11704564414066998644noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766882701166934144.post-33639145499738365952009-09-03T15:22:00.000-07:002009-09-03T15:46:50.872-07:00One Year of PlasticA Life Less Plastic reader recently emailed to tell me about a project he undertook—to save an entire year of his family's plastic usage.<br /><br />This is what it looked like:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxlCRJEWqd8yVGaicx06nGspa0m8MVAYTIYt-Y1Q5Jpz5LwEfuqp-cPGB6cYEufo-QpZ2gLb-HYb83ulibII-9KfON1rVjIvaoaDiDxSmEq_UZ2hENwaHaGV_wI2870cOWDEq3RBbx99a/s1600-h/One+Year+of+Plastic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxlCRJEWqd8yVGaicx06nGspa0m8MVAYTIYt-Y1Q5Jpz5LwEfuqp-cPGB6cYEufo-QpZ2gLb-HYb83ulibII-9KfON1rVjIvaoaDiDxSmEq_UZ2hENwaHaGV_wI2870cOWDEq3RBbx99a/s400/One+Year+of+Plastic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377372104521540210" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUT4rr5hr5WlmK6tJOOATRSvs04AGDXZaUeXxBXMinh1H76DlvU4U5vTdubeOj9GBD4qkDPKDhiJamlxTi-QCVOSXXOQ0f7iVGOJlPGB3jQT7ler5soPVlQD-4pPlaFr1BA1EEMtg649I/s1600-h/One+Year+of+Plastic+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUT4rr5hr5WlmK6tJOOATRSvs04AGDXZaUeXxBXMinh1H76DlvU4U5vTdubeOj9GBD4qkDPKDhiJamlxTi-QCVOSXXOQ0f7iVGOJlPGB3jQT7ler5soPVlQD-4pPlaFr1BA1EEMtg649I/s400/One+Year+of+Plastic+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377372346995619026" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Scott, the plastic-saver, explains his endeavor.<br /><br />"I heard all the talk about plastics being bad for your health and the environment but wanted to know what my family (single parent, twin daughters) was using. So the best way to do that was gather the facts, save the plastic, and see."<br /><br />His result was a decent-sized, although probably much smaller than average, hill of plastic. He laments, "I'm fairly conservative with waste and I still got this big pile."<br /><br />"I have [enough] plastic forks, spoons, knives, and straws to last a long time."<br /><br />Quite enlightening. Thanks, Scott, for sharing photos and info on your project.Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11704564414066998644noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766882701166934144.post-58444357267929414252009-08-26T19:27:00.000-07:002009-08-27T06:56:04.153-07:00Moving Doesn't Have to Be Wasteful<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNplByrfTAM6MYXriW2dHmHdaBCCSLoSNTJy8Y3BhYKJ3bNBeZMzfx9oh5Q9yfA3Guikc7l4QEZwGDL9VMWHCwn0NUXGvjRNUNJ_xTK5yz8kdpeT8P1ZmRWkJ9GFRAr4PqKvTYDx0NTuA/s1600-h/box.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNplByrfTAM6MYXriW2dHmHdaBCCSLoSNTJy8Y3BhYKJ3bNBeZMzfx9oh5Q9yfA3Guikc7l4QEZwGDL9VMWHCwn0NUXGvjRNUNJ_xTK5yz8kdpeT8P1ZmRWkJ9GFRAr4PqKvTYDx0NTuA/s200/box.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374483542869718322" border="0" /></a>I have to admit something. When I was packing up my apartment back in June, I had a lot of I-should-just-throw-this-out moments.<br /><br />You know what I mean. You're standing in your kitchen tossing utensils and cans of kidney beans into a box and you come across something you can't imagine bringing to your new place. Maybe it's a half-full box of pasta or a stray teabag. Who knows.<br /><br />Either way, you're so exhausted that the very prospect of carrying eight ounces of pasta or a half-ounce teabag the thirty feet out to the moving van seems like a serious waste of energy.<br /><br />I think it happens to everybody, but I'm happy to say that I resisted the temptation to trash everything and start over. Instead, I mustered up the strength, put everything I had into boxes, and moved it all to my new apartment. I didn't toss a single thing out...except for one mostly dead aloe plant that someone ended up rescuing anyway.<br /><br />And I have to say, moving those extra few boxes really wasn't bad, especially when you consider that I probably saved myself a fair amount of money by keeping those useful things.<br /><br />Mind you, I did give a lot of clothes and shoes to Goodwill, but I didn't ditch everything in the dumpster.<br /><br />THIS, I must point out, is more than I can say for the guy who moved out of my building last weekend. I've never seen anything like it. The day he moved out, he scrapped the following:<br /><ul><li>a beautiful vintage couch (which got rained on before I could put up an add on Craigslist's free section)</li><li>an antique radio</li><li>curtains</li><li>sheets</li><li>a drying rack (this is mine now, I needed one)</li><li>books</li><li>nice wooden hangers</li><li>a bucket (mine now, too)</li><li>a plant stand</li><li>a cooler</li><li>and much, much more</li></ul>It was ridiculous. He threw away things he surely could have used in his new home, like food and hangers, as well as things he could have donated or sold to other people. It was really sad.<br /><br />But why be sad? Moving doesn't have to be wasteful because the following resources and organizations can help you make your next move more eco-friendly.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Resources</span><br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.freecardboardboxes.com/">Freecardboardboxes.com</a> - Connect with people who are giving old moving boxes away.</li><li><a href="http://www.usedcardboardboxes.com/index.php">Usedcardboardboxes.com</a> - Buy moving boxes that have been rescued from large companies that might otherwise recycle them or simply throw them away.</li><li><a href="http://www.freecycle.org/">Freecycle</a> - Give your unwanted things to others who will cherish them. Note that people give moving boxes away on this site ALL the time.</li><li><a href="http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites">Craigslist</a> - Sell unwanted items or create a post in the "free" section. You can even do this for stuff you're leaving in your alley.</li><li><a href="http://www.goodwill.org/page/guest/about">Goodwill</a></li><li><a href="http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn_2.nsf">Salvation Army</a></li></ul>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11704564414066998644noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766882701166934144.post-9126938730231619092009-08-12T10:01:00.000-07:002009-08-14T11:44:41.511-07:00Summer Break is Over<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFmGdpaSj6GM0yKuz2-IymzO3eOZ_t4gFKmzR0o9XhTmBLV1JVSnYRSlKKpDXI41uMArtEOO7ky5WHcqkzzhyavaVWItQZjmjsYkIG_Q683Wx-6m-OxXO8BMuHMLn_s4G-m-GmEGLuT6A/s1600-h/Nick.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFmGdpaSj6GM0yKuz2-IymzO3eOZ_t4gFKmzR0o9XhTmBLV1JVSnYRSlKKpDXI41uMArtEOO7ky5WHcqkzzhyavaVWItQZjmjsYkIG_Q683Wx-6m-OxXO8BMuHMLn_s4G-m-GmEGLuT6A/s200/Nick.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369458700028381074" border="0" /></a>My co-worker, Nick, won't stop asking me why I haven't blogged since May. Nearly every day his loud, annoying voice curls around the wall between our cubicles and grates at my ears.<br /><br />What I hear is something like, "So, Jeanne."<br /><br />It's not a question, but I know there's more to it. I know what's coming. I say, "yeeeaaaah?"<br /><br />Then he asks, "So, when are you gonna write another blog post?"<br /><br />"Uhh...I don't know!"<br /><br />But that's not totally true. I do sort of know why.<br /><br />I moved into a new apartment last month and was transported into an anti-blogging state of preoccupation, confusion, and plastification.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Excuse #1: Preoccupation</span><br />I spent a good portion of June packing up my old apartment and moving into my new place. Then I had to unpack (Secret: I'm still not 100% done. I have one box to left to unpack and I still haven't figured out how to organize my closets).<br /><br />On top of that, it's the summer, and my usually-super-busy boyfriend has tons of free time, and I went to visit my friend's farm for a weekend, and I've been working on a new photo project. And, and, and. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Excuse #2: Confusion</span><br />It is not just the preoccupation. Now that I'm in a new apartment and location, I've had to figure out how to shop again. I had to assess the general plastic-free-ness of the products at my new grocery store and figure out the best way to get to a Whole Foods. I had to reform my routine—the exact routine that allows me to be (nearly) plastic-free in the first place.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Excuse #3: Plastic</span><br />I've used some plastic during this busy and confusing time, which left me un-motivated to write. Here's a list of the things I recall using:<br /><ul><li>A Starbucks ice coffee cup</li><li>Two coffee cup lids<br /></li><li>A carry out container (from delicious thai food)<br /></li><li>Blue corn chips bag</li><li>A few straws</li><li>Two plastic forks and two plastic knives (at continental breakfast while on a mini-break)</li><li>Plastic bag (from cherries at a farmers' market)<br /></li></ul>That's all I can remember for now. I know it's not so bad, but I felt terrible for each and every one of these things.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Summer Break Is Over</span><br />So that's it. Summer is over, and it's time to say "adios" to preocccupation, confusion, and plastic.<br /><br />And it's time to say "hello" to my blog! HELLO BLOG!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Thanks to Nick for allowing me to make fun of him in this post. If you've got time, check out his marketing strategy blog, <a href="http://neveralackofideas.blogspot.com/">Never A Lack of Ideas</a>.</span></span>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11704564414066998644noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766882701166934144.post-23218302756691103742009-05-28T19:32:00.000-07:002009-05-28T20:25:14.360-07:00Why I Love Dumpster Diving, Garbage Picking, and Other People's Trash<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1A5t8aS2b9T7rXNWwYVYcv3sMEGegwgdOq3aUNR-Y46vVTTmCDLw14ZPk4GbTOAfITTMHj5HJ18GeQV_q6mJfjuOoMqezfvpBwPOMzEeNYzpmoXlbAfiqxJLT2Sh_0jihLQYD4_gmLKv1/s1600-h/P1090458.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1A5t8aS2b9T7rXNWwYVYcv3sMEGegwgdOq3aUNR-Y46vVTTmCDLw14ZPk4GbTOAfITTMHj5HJ18GeQV_q6mJfjuOoMqezfvpBwPOMzEeNYzpmoXlbAfiqxJLT2Sh_0jihLQYD4_gmLKv1/s200/P1090458.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341037990163306402" border="0" /></a>A few days ago, I stepped into the alley behind my apartment and beheld a wonderful sight: a pristine, white dish drainer sitting atop my neighbors' garbage can.<br /><br />Heck yeah! This was a clear message from my neighbors. It read, "Hey everyone. I'm throwing this thing away, but it's in perfect condition, and I know one of you will want it."<br /><br />They were right.<br /><br />Immediately, my natural instinct to acquire perfectly usable stuff that other people are throwing away took over. I snagged the drainer and brought it back to my house, where it joined all the other things I've gained from garbage picking.<br /><br />As I stowed my new-to-me contraption away, I happily thought, "How perfect! I really needed a dish drainer." (I'm moving to a cozy new apartment on July 1. The place doesn't include roommates with useful kitchen gadgets.)<br /><br />Yep, because of my find, I was enjoying a nice little high--like the one you get when you chance upon a dollar bill on the ground.<br /><br />But then all of the sudden my high started to wear off. And I got annoyed.<br /><br />I got annoyed because people look down so much on dumpster diving. They think it's gross and dirty, but what these narrow-minded people don't understand is that it almost never is.<br /><br />Just like my neighbors, many people leave the "good stuff" outside their garbage cans, making it clean and easy to grab things. That means you don't have to do anything untoward, yet you still get to enjoy all the benefits:<br /><ul><li>You prevent the pollution and resource waste that results from making new products</li><li>You divert "good stuff" from landfills</li><li>You get cool shit for free!</li></ul>How amazing!<br /><br />Below are pictures of things that were all once trashed. They are now my treasures. I hope they'll inspire you to do a little alley hunting yourself and to always leave your "good stuff" on top of your garbage can.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Isn't my coffee table gorgeous?</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0E8y61f6m_o38GsXorCkU5OYCWTlLCeyhYRVLXZzcwsoSqT0JdoUWjbWhsZsJTto3k0e4rxqm2EbYWK6UqGR1lC0QF6OqS0Ts1FZfqDrn2pKU3lqwLzVv7HEu4CRnuEYW81MJ3C5AP8pE/s1600-h/P1090526.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0E8y61f6m_o38GsXorCkU5OYCWTlLCeyhYRVLXZzcwsoSqT0JdoUWjbWhsZsJTto3k0e4rxqm2EbYWK6UqGR1lC0QF6OqS0Ts1FZfqDrn2pKU3lqwLzVv7HEu4CRnuEYW81MJ3C5AP8pE/s320/P1090526.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341047005479163938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I keep this chair on my back porch.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqSch2xnpFYKagjcOnZhhzcVbw3isyCGEUZbby9_omzlY9eYH288bOaHhBFHO3KZ-gEZfiI7lgg0wBNnuQ6lf0FbFGpyPqG1p7wxWHVET-TqMxCHbjHO7klUJHzSys8Nkn96buZuDgJ8h/s1600-h/P1090487.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqSch2xnpFYKagjcOnZhhzcVbw3isyCGEUZbby9_omzlY9eYH288bOaHhBFHO3KZ-gEZfiI7lgg0wBNnuQ6lf0FbFGpyPqG1p7wxWHVET-TqMxCHbjHO7klUJHzSys8Nkn96buZuDgJ8h/s320/P1090487.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341045608549501122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I potted an aloe in a pretty dish I happened upon.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUnru8mI6wkiCdZc5ZIICvn1G1X-Th-4gj8yYbUmaD4FD_GaevIjhFWoEC79o0rqCWZf-azGOPnNm4aii2r7kb503o3ppR0oQ33ah8a5ncvLlmxVOzuzlvevsIZQuZH22ijuPs3nDCIOF-/s1600-h/P1090484.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUnru8mI6wkiCdZc5ZIICvn1G1X-Th-4gj8yYbUmaD4FD_GaevIjhFWoEC79o0rqCWZf-azGOPnNm4aii2r7kb503o3ppR0oQ33ah8a5ncvLlmxVOzuzlvevsIZQuZH22ijuPs3nDCIOF-/s320/P1090484.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341045966787098450" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">This antique wooden crate was a true find.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDesdmyjIhItW64YfuXjWXeyRzsv4cDAdp2yhq-T24SXsP84npSNGpkz9W82txkao9sAV-zG2nmi2qMIA_3K-iv3xpxMGQOD9j9fNRv5fQNGz4vzSvtfn5JGocX_uC02EYouXUcYohmMRa/s1600-h/P1090494.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDesdmyjIhItW64YfuXjWXeyRzsv4cDAdp2yhq-T24SXsP84npSNGpkz9W82txkao9sAV-zG2nmi2qMIA_3K-iv3xpxMGQOD9j9fNRv5fQNGz4vzSvtfn5JGocX_uC02EYouXUcYohmMRa/s320/P1090494.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341046407351673922" border="0" /></a>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11704564414066998644noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766882701166934144.post-63071289340119915892009-05-16T10:30:00.000-07:002009-05-16T11:38:33.183-07:00San Francisco, I'm Green...with Envy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFmILLQzzBemKDQ9JsuPMvGpJt-eR8cVdTksbnPNUTNQfBXx_qafjH-IOM9UUWQlhbzqphiVDelBbmn1b4d1ycBvVC4lonJy3LZKXL12gyh2d8EPLnSLWhbdKduw6ZtDUkdKEWqvRM0On/s1600-h/Green+11+Window.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFmILLQzzBemKDQ9JsuPMvGpJt-eR8cVdTksbnPNUTNQfBXx_qafjH-IOM9UUWQlhbzqphiVDelBbmn1b4d1ycBvVC4lonJy3LZKXL12gyh2d8EPLnSLWhbdKduw6ZtDUkdKEWqvRM0On/s320/Green+11+Window.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336487885860897922" border="0" /></a>San Francisco is driving me to a perpetual state of jealousy.<br /><br />The reasons are many, but today it is because the city has so many cool stores. For example, I just heard of a new place called <a href="http://www.shopgreen11.com/home">Green 11</a> that seems super amazing.<br /><br />Located on Union Street in the Cow Hollow neighborhood, Green 11 sells organic beauty products and household cleaners that you can buy and take home in your own reusable containers.<br /><br />Specifically, the store is offering concentrated organic shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, lotion, liquid soap, kitchen cleaners, bath cleaners, and laundry detergent.<br /><br />In Chicago, you absolutely can't get these types of products in your own containers. I swear if I had the <span style="font-style: italic;">cojones</span> I'd open a store simply so I could get them.<br /><br />Anyways, check out the additional pictures below as evidence of how cool San Fran is.<br /><br />Darn you, San Francisco!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARUdQmWedVT2OAHhuQK1wf7X32teKk6NcyJR0U5IZnZc-xZuLWeGI2nTvg82lzj3f04Z9eP-RN2gb9mne0yzoJ9NvLKj0j-ZvpFYxF0Gs17aCGLt9iotozH0tpXW9J5gWYhULKErLZSdI/s1600-h/Green+11+Storefront.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARUdQmWedVT2OAHhuQK1wf7X32teKk6NcyJR0U5IZnZc-xZuLWeGI2nTvg82lzj3f04Z9eP-RN2gb9mne0yzoJ9NvLKj0j-ZvpFYxF0Gs17aCGLt9iotozH0tpXW9J5gWYhULKErLZSdI/s320/Green+11+Storefront.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336485055987036562" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9w60To2bggPuhakKEm2lmJq0lpHN_x9V8I88Wfnt_RqIk6uWOoQH5g3Tl38Nx3UUhl5LTgyr3Xrvj1H12yvzWQYU_R1UgZ6lHusII_1wwpsy6Lgkj9BlUKAi0ZPAPr39793raVwxlSz2m/s1600-h/Green+11+Interior.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9w60To2bggPuhakKEm2lmJq0lpHN_x9V8I88Wfnt_RqIk6uWOoQH5g3Tl38Nx3UUhl5LTgyr3Xrvj1H12yvzWQYU_R1UgZ6lHusII_1wwpsy6Lgkj9BlUKAi0ZPAPr39793raVwxlSz2m/s320/Green+11+Interior.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336484795704814850" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK48IXpxESHSfdu82-DNDv4YPPhmAttvCx08bQcu73ZXS8O4F2B32eH2kiIAmTB0ocC9BORPeassmzSRAatKXTDtAy-dpT9LF3YRaUrZLEpxtGyfIH3l30olEbtuktZbmY4uC_RmI-BrCo/s1600-h/Green+11+Scale.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK48IXpxESHSfdu82-DNDv4YPPhmAttvCx08bQcu73ZXS8O4F2B32eH2kiIAmTB0ocC9BORPeassmzSRAatKXTDtAy-dpT9LF3YRaUrZLEpxtGyfIH3l30olEbtuktZbmY4uC_RmI-BrCo/s320/Green+11+Scale.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336486265640849698" border="0" /></a>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11704564414066998644noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-766882701166934144.post-36885396251413275762009-05-03T11:55:00.000-07:002009-05-04T10:53:00.021-07:00Walmart Demonstrates Green Washing With A Carpet CleanerWalmart recently put out a commercial that introduces some seriously flawed logic.<br /><br />The ad starts out okay. They talk about protecting the Earth and show us a cute little Bissell carpet cleaner that's made from 50% recycled plastic.<br /><br />Okay, I'm on board.<br /><br />But then they try to convince us to buy said carpet cleaners by saying: "If every Walmart customer—all 200 million of us—bought one, it would be like recycling 2 million bags of trash. Now that is some serious cleaning power"<br /><br />When I heard first heard that, I wanted to pinch my arm to be sure I was awake. I asked myself, "Did they seriously just say that? Seriously?"<br /><br />Walmart is trying to convince people that buying 200 million new carpet cleaners made of 50% recycled plastic (a.k.a. 50% virgin plastic) is good for the environment?!?! You've got to be kidding me!<br /><br />You know what would be better for the environment? Renting a carpet cleaner or borrowing one from a neighbor, or, dare I say it, buying one used. <br /><br />But I guess I don't expect Walmart to share these types of ideas with people.<br /><br />I do expect, however, that they don't run around telling people who don't need or want a carpet cleaner that the best thing they could do for the environment is to buy one.<br /><br />I mean, seriously! That's just wrong.<br /><br /><br /><object id="flashMovie" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://walmartstores.com/video/flash/MediaRoomPlayer.swf?xmlpath=http%3a%2f%2fwalmartstores.com%2fVideo%2fStreamXml.aspx%3fid%3d1315%26embed%3dtrue" height="336" width="400"><param name="AllowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="movie" value="http://walmartstores.com/video/flash/MediaRoomPlayer.swf?xmlpath=http%3a%2f%2fwalmartstores.com%2fVideo%2fStreamXml.aspx%3fid%3d1315%26embed%3dtrue"><embed src="http://walmartstores.com/video/flash/MediaRoomPlayer.swf?xmlpath=http%3a%2f%2fwalmartstores.com%2fVideo%2fStreamXml.aspx%3fid%3d1315%26embed%3dtrue" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" height="336" width="400"></embed></object>Jeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11704564414066998644noreply@blogger.com22