I was Green before Green was Cool!

As you know, Christine called me out on her blog. The funny thing was, I sent her a text when I read the post and gave her a hard time for doing so.

We chatted and laughed (totally LOVE her!).

The more we chatted, the more I remembered...

She was telling me about how the disgusting composting potty thing worked...'blah, blah, blah...seat with a bucket underneath...blah, blah, blah...carry it out to the composting pile when it's full and dump it...blah, blah, blah...' (she sounds like that, you know)

My response...'Holy crap, Christine! I was green before green was cool! When we were young, we would take road trips. My parents (*ahem* Dad) hated to stop for us to pee! They were in the restaurant business and ALWAYS bought pickles in 5 gallon buckets for the restaurant (you know, like the orange ones you can now purchase at Home Depot). When they were empty, they would bring them home for our next road trip. Instead of stopping, we would have to pee in those. Then, when we did stop, we would dump the contents on some plant in the middle of no where.'

Composting at it's finest!

I was Green before Green was cool!

(Btw, I also mentioned to Christine in that same conversation that I would NOT be stopping by to enjoy a fresh, home-grown salad!)

Cage Free Eggs???

I went to do my Thanksgiving shopping the other day...

Collected most of the things I needed...strolling thru the market to grab some eggs...

I get over to the dairy section and see a sign that says 'Cage Free Eggs'.

Really?

Now, does this REALLY matter?

Do we really need a section of 'Cage Free Eggs'?

Do eggs really taste different if they are from chickens that run free or those that spend their lives in a cage?

I found this to be a ridiculous idea!

(all you PETA members can save your comments...I am not heartless, but I think animals have no rights...just click the little red 'x' at the top right of your screen and move on.)

Murphy's Law

Husband runs over sprinkler head with the lawnmower.

No rain or sprinklers for 4 weeks.

Finally replace sprinkler head.

Water lawn sufficiently to make up for a month with no drink.

It rains heavily the same night!

Yup! Murphy's law!

Prius Parking? What?

Some weeks ago, I decided to go here and look for a new sink for my son's bathroom (I'll tell you about that in another post) .

Now, mind you, I love this store!

I love to go spend the day.

Looking at all the cool things.

So, my mother-in-law, my friend, Deborah (oops! I am not supposed to use her first name!), and I pile in my van and head to Round Rock.

We get there, after stopping at the outlet mall on the way, and it is one busy place! There are cars everywhere.

I decide it isn't really worth trying to find a parking spot at the front because it wasn't going to happen. So we park at the back of the lot and start trekking!

As we get to the front of the lot, I notice 2 empty spaces right in the front! As we look at the spots, mostly in disbelief because we cannot believe they are empty, we notice a sign in front of them...

Reserved Parking...

Hybrid Only

What??? Are you kidding me???

I so wish I would have seen those spots before I parked!!

Because I would have swung my big ol' Nissan Quest into one of those spots!

The only thing better would have been if I drove an SUV!

That truly would have embarrassed my mother-in-law. Which is probably why God did not let me see those spots!

Do You Flush...

...every time?

Remember that whole save money and the earth thing?

Well, I recently received my water bill and sewage bill (yes, they are 2 seperate bills here) and they were HUGE! UGH!!

So, reluctantly, I have cut down on my baths (because my tub is huge and takes a lot of water to fill and therefore, a lot of water to dispose of) and we are not flushing as often.

I decided that it is silly to flush with every use. Not to mention it is sucking up our money. So, there are times when we don't flush. If we just do 'number 1', we may use it about 3 times before we flush. Or, as my friend would say, we share a flush. That means, if everyone has to potty (like when we all get home from the store) we all take turns potty-ing before we flush...yup 3 (or sometimes 4, if we can get Kaylee to do her business) pee-pees and one flush.

Just in case you are wondering, if we do #2 it leaves right away. No sharing a flush on those!

I have decided that this is another one of those save money and it happens to save the earth things.

So tell me, do you flush every time?

What IS this?

There is some foreign wet stuff falling from the sky in SA.

Does anyone know what it is?

I vaguely remember what it is called...

Anyone?

Save Money...and the Earth

I have to say (at the risk of making a few of my friends and readers mad) that I am not really concerned about my 'carbon footprint'.

I am, however, a miser (learned well from my step-mom). I like to save a buck. I like to not pay too much for things.

I also like to feel like I am beating the system (like buying something on sell with a coupon so I pay very little for it)!

Sometimes, I get the opportunity to do things that save me a buck and are good for the environment and that gives me a sense of fullfillment. I am trying to do things like these.

Things I am currently doing:

Recycling. I now live in a neighborhood that will collect recycled items! I have always recycled aluminum cans...mostly for the $. I just can't see throwing cans away when someone will give me money for them.

Use a Sprinkler System. I LOVE IT! I no longer forget to turn the sprinkler off and waste water or money!

Save Energy. The new house has 3 AC units. One of them is off 95% of the time. The other 2 are on 80 during the day. We also use ceiling fans more than the AC. This is a win-win for my electric bill and the environment!

Reverse Osmosis. I never thought I would care about this, but the new house had one already and we are lovin' it! I no longer buy water bottles...which, saves money and the landfills!

Keep Things Unplugged. I unplug things that aren't in use...curling irons, coffee makers, lamps...if we aren't using it at the moment, I unplug it. Saves energy and money, yet again!

Things I want to start doing:

Plant a Garden. As soon as I get the inside of the house in order, there is a small area behind the garage that is waiting for a garden! I can't wait to get some veggies planted in there! Again, save a buck and help the environment!

Save AC condensation. What? Yup, you read it right. I just recently learned that the condensation that your AC makes can be collected and then used to water plants. I think this is a fabulous idea and can't wait to figure out how to do it and impliment it. Once again, my 2-fold plan...save $, save the earth!

It is interesting how I was not that interested in my carbon footprint, but when I work on saving money, I also help save the earth!

What are you doing to save money and the environment?