What I did for Earth Day, 2011

I made a big change for Earth Day this year. It's a change that isn't noticeable to others, thank goodness, but I'm quite aware of it and the impact it will have.

If you're a dude...or squeamish about girl things like periods...I'd stop reading right now. Seriously.

This Earth Day I made the switch from disposable feminine products to a Diva Cup. I've been hearing about things like Diva Cups and Luna Pads for several years now, but the potential ick factor was just too much for me to handle. I've long been {painfully} aware of the high cost of buying feminine products each month, but cost is really the least of their implications.

As consumers, we have to worry about the environmental impact of growing the cotton (does the farmer use pesticides?), the environmental impact of the manufacturing process, transportation, the health impact of wearing something that was grown with pesticides, then bleached during manufacturing, and don't forget that we throw them away when we're done with them. So you can see there are a number of issues that have been nagging me to make this switch for a long time.

The catalyst that made me finally change was a humorous and informative blog post at Midnight Maniac entitled: Green Your Period. (Thanks, Rebecca!) If you're on the fence, or need more detail on how this contraption works, then read Rebecca's post because it's full of answers to all of the questions you might have. And because I'm not really going to talk in any more detail about periods other than to say that I love the Diva Cup, I don't know why I waited this long to try it, and I will never go back to disposable feminine products again. Period. {bad pun intended}

Make the switch!

Macy's Birthday

This week was filled with lots of fun, lots of stress and lots of parties. I hated to wish it away, but I'm so glad to see it go.

Macy's birthday party was a big success. We ended up with eight 7 year-old girls which was the perfect number. I don't think we could have handled any more! Instead of goody bags, I bought wooden picture frames for the girls to decorate and bring home.

We had pizza and fruit for dinner, then the party really began. Mr. Greenhab had put together a seven-year-old-girl play list which, evidently, can't be played without a spontaneous dance party breaking out. Coffee tables were moved, shoes came off and hilarity ensued.

So many funny things about that photo, including a mid-air jump, my 3 yo's plumber crack and my 5 yo's bizarre face. Macy looked so grown up dancing. Evidently we've watched Willow Smith a few too many times because Macy has half of her Kid's Choice Awards performance down.

Successes:

Cloth napkins~

Real cups, plates and silverware~

Failures~

I did end up with balloons. Forgive me. Plus this sign because I just didn't have time to make any more decorations.

And I also purchased SpongeBob cake toppers, but it allowed me to make a cake for a few dollars instead of spending the $30 they wanted for one at the grocery store. Blah, blah, blah...I still broke the I'm Not Buying It compact.

While I'm on a roll here... Felix and I purchased a gift for his little girlfriend's birthday party on Saturday as well. It's like Shoppers Gone Wild here in the Greenhab household, but I just didn't have time to make the little tutu and crown that I wanted to make with all of the chaos happening in our house last week.

Aren't they sweet?

Last night Macy went to "Bunk With the Beasts" at the Denver Zoo with her Daisy Scout troop, Felix stayed with grandma and the other kids, and we took Fletcher for ice cream in Idaho Springs.

With two new kids in the house it's been a struggle to settle into a new normal and still get everything done, but today begins a new week - hopefully one of not buying anything!

Check out these Okabashi flip flops for summer!

I was so excited to get these Okabashi flip flops in the mail a few weeks ago. Yes, even though there is still SNOW on the ground here! I did manage to wear them last weekend when it was bright and sunny out...right before getting another 8 inches of snow last night. Okay, and I may have worn them around the house too, pretending that it's summer time. I even painted my toes in honor of my new kicks!

If you're looking for new summer flippers, as we call them around our house, look no further! Okabashis are made right here in the U.S. (can I get a woot, woot!?) and are 100% recyclable!

Okabashi is a family owned business that has focused on designing and manufacturing extremely comfortable shoes for more than 25 years. Since 1984, we have set ourselves apart from the other major footwear manufacturers by producing a shoe that is much more than a shoe. Besides being made in the USA, Okabashi shoes are 100% recyclable, designed with superior foot support and a massaging insole, anti-microbial, dishwasher safe, and backed by a 2-year guarantee. We believe in our product and stand behind it 100%. As you discover our product, you’ll quickly see why our shoes are good for you and for the planet.

And did I mention how reasonably priced these shoes are? The Pacific, pictured above, is on sale right now for $14.99 (reg $17.99) and their Classic one color flip is on sale for $12.99.

My shoes arrived in a plastic bag, with a cardboard insert. No more, no less. I admit to being slightly surprised that an eco-conscious company would ship their product in a plastic bag, but they assure me that it is recyclable with the "other" category of plastics, which is a "7" in the recycling world.

I did find mine to run a tad small. I wear boats - size 9 - so I got the M/L size. I'd recommend going up to a size L if you're a 9 or above.

Hooray for summer!

{Disclosure: Okabashi sent me a free pair of flips in exchange for a review on my blog. Opinions expressed above are strictly my own.}

Where my inner Martha is so disappointed in me...

In my dream last night I had won a day with Martha Stewart. We started out in her house which, oddly, resembled Buckingham Palace now that I'm reflecting. Of course, I couldn't get my camera phone to work, because that's what always happens in my dreams.

Then we moved on to Martha's workshop where we were going to weave baskets. I started mine - out of feathers, naturally - but the supplies kept crumbling in my hands. Because nothing ever works properly in a dream. Martha was so disappointed in me.

I would venture to guess that Martha is my inner-Martha and her disappointment is a reflection of my inner-disappointment from my trip to Wally-World yesterday where I purchased {GASP} decorations and gifts for Macy's birthday party tomorrow. Compact be damned!

Stress made me do it.

Did I mention that we took in two foster kids yesterday?

If you're counting along at home that makes 5 wild children, 2 marginally sane adults, and one mother-in-law living together under one roof. Now where's my reality show!?

I did keep myself from going completely crazy at Walmart. I bought ribbon for decorating, which I hope to use again in craft projects. I skipped the plastic SpongeBob cups (after picking them up, putting them down, picking them up...) and will use jelly jars with ribbon and S'bob tags tied around them.

Rather than a typical goody-bag, I purchased wooden picture frames for the kids to decorate with paint and stickers. I'll take a photo of each of the girls with Macy at the party and send it along to them with a thank you note (idea graciously lifted from another mom we know!).

I bought some colorful flowers to use as part of the decorations, along with some balloons. I'm struggling with the balloons because they're plastic and go straight to the landfill, but they're also easy, fast decorations and I have zero time left to make anything else. Sigh.

I'll be sure to post photos in a few days. Please excuse the lack of posting. I'm living in crazy-land these days.

I'm Not Buying It - Month 4 Check In!

Today begins Month 4 of the I'm Not Buying It Challenge. How have months 1-3 been for you? Have you purchased anything newly manufactured? What was it and why? Have you found this to be a breeze or a challenge? Is there anything you need that you haven't been able to find second-hand?

If you've made it this far, pick yourself up a badge and show off your accomplishment!

For the most part, the last 3 months have been easy for us. I've mainly stayed strong by staying out of the stores. No temptation = No purchases.

Last weekend though I almost had a meltdown. I had to stop in Target to exchange my food processor that mysteriously stopped working (I may or may not have dropped it accidentally.) when I felt this overwhelming wave of consumerism. What can I say? I love pretty things - handbags and stationary and cute shoes and summer dresses. But the fact is that I'm sitting on the couch at 11:21 am, still in my pajamas and robe as I write this. I wouldn't be any happier if I was wearing an adorable summer dress and cute shoes with a new purse over my shoulder. It's more the potential that those things represent. And, let's face it, I'm not living the Sex and the City, lunch-with-girlfriends-on-the-streets-of-Manhattan lifestyle.

So...we high-tailed it out of the store and went for strip mall pizza in the suburbs instead. So glam.

Purchases -New

• Back in January we purchased a children's book for charity.
• In February, I bought a watch with a credit that I had already. It was an impulse purchase and I feel bad for doing it, even though it was with a credit, but I'm still pretty happy with my watch.
• March went pretty smoothly. I purchased a Wii game for Macy for her upcoming birthday. Gifts like this are exempted under the compacting rules we set for ourselves. I did purchase it with a gift card and her other gift came from the thrift store, so I don't feel all that bad.

Purchases - Used
There have been a few things we've needed to purchase over the past three months that we were able to find used: smaller jeans for Mr. Greenhab (curse him!), longer jeans for Macy and Fletcher, and bigger jeans, unfortunately, for me. (Maybe I should trade my robe and pjs for some workout clothes?) I was able to find gently-used jeans for Fletcher and Marc on eBay. Fletch got 5 pair for $20, all one size too big (by design, so they'll fit longer) with an adjustable waist.

And between two thrift stores I was able to find Macy 4 pairs of jeans and a pair of denim capris, also with adjustable waistbands, for under $15. Since jeans are just about the only thing she'll wear these days, Goodwill is her new BFF. Like mother, like daughter.

I also purchased a pair of jeans, a pair of capris, a pair of shorts, a skirt, a t-shirt, and a button-down shirt for myself for summer, all for about $10 at Goodwill's 50% off day. See? I'm even cheap when it comes to thrift store shopping.

Fill me in, readers, on how you're doing with compacting!