Commitments

"The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor."

Yesterday, I was watching the movie "In Her Shoes" (featuring Shirley MacLaine and Cameron Diaz). In the movie, I saw how the older sister (played by Toni Collette) transformed herself and her life by making a commitment to her well-being. She kicked her sister out of the house - a sad but needed step at that point in time. She quit her job as a lawyer and became a dog walker, which gave her free time to do whatever made her happy. Through the dog walking, she was able to lose weight and focus on her health/body. She became the best that she could be, and eventually let her sister back into her life, which completed her. (She also landed a great boyfriend in the process!)

After the movie, I reflected for a bit and realized that I need to make some commitments in my life - real commitments with goals that I will achieve no matter what. With all the changes going on in my life right now, I think it's best for me to set a small list of priorities/commitments so that I remain focused and happy.

My Commitments

1. Family - Raising a happy, healthy child isn't easy, especially as a single parent. Financial and work-related stresses often keep me from spending time with my son. He even told me he doesn't like me to work so much - he's only 4! From this point forward, I am making the commitment to playing with my son more and doing more physical activities outside.
2. Health - I'm not happy with the way I look, and recent aches and pain in my body tell me that I'm probably not living the most healthy lifestyle. I'm a pretty good eater, and I've managed to maintain my weight for the past year or so, so I know dieting is not an issue. I need abandon my sedentary lifestyle and work out. I am committing myself to exercising. I'm not going to make a specific plan or routine just yet...I'll just take it day by day. My goal is to lose 30lbs by my 30th birthday, which is in 6 months.
3. Career - Obviously, it's important to have a job to support yourself and your family. But a career...that's a whole other thing. I'd like to take my career to the next level, whatever that may be. I am making the commitment to enhance my career by excelling at my current position and engaging in more professional development activities.

These commitments all have one thing in common - TIME. There's only so much time in the day to work, run a household, play with your child, exercise, participate in professional and/or volunteer activities, and sleep. Therefore, I'll have to scale back some of my activities, including writing this blog.

From Facebook to reading and responding to other people's blogs, I spend way too much time online. Writing this blog has proven to be a time-sucker as well, so I am going on a hiatus from Single Mom Saves. Blogging is a great interest of mine, but I can't be committed to it on a regular basis.

And so, I bid you adieu for now...

"The achievement of your goal is assured the moment you commit yourself to it."

A Healthy Fast Food Lunch - But At What Cost?

For years, fast food restaurants have been trying to provide healthier alternatives for their customers. Some restaurants, like Wendy's, have been successful at adding healthy options to their menus, but at what cost? From a sustainability (people+environment+economics) standpoint, these restaurants have only addressed one third of the equation, as packaging and costs are still an issue. My good friend and guest blogger The Painted Pisces points this out as she describes her lunchtime woes to us below:

Typically, I pack my lunch in a reusable container.  My meal consists of leftovers from the dinner the night before and it’s awesome.  However with the rest of my family starting school this week and making a business trip and having crafty things going on at night, I have been pushing my limits and did not remember to grab my leftovers this morning (super yummy spaghetti with turkey sausage!).

SO to make myself feel better about that I thought I would try one of Wendy’s new salads.  Yay veggies!  Also, as the winner of your first give away (woot woot) I had just finished some excellent end-of-the-season shopping with my reusable and washable bag.  I was feeling pretty good about my choices, but then ordered a salad and was given a price tag of almost $7! 

Really?!? How are people supposed to make better choices about eating, when a large chunk of the population eats on the go and is confronted with prices like these?  We all know that these salads also have gigantic pouches of dressing that rack up calories, fried croutons/chips/etc, but if you use the dressing sparingly or not at all, as well as the other carbalicious toppings, it’s not that bad for you. 

That had me a little frustrated and swearing not to buy a drive-thru salad again, but then…….. I was handed my plastic bag of individually wrapped plastic items and I almost peeled out of the driveway!  This over-priced salad was packaged in a plastic box, had 2 plastic pouches of dressing (1 was way more than enough), roasted pecans (sugar coated) in a separate pouch, a plastic fork in a wrapper, and a separate knife in a wrapper.  SIGH of EXASPERATION!  I understand the need for sanitary standards, but… can’t we be more creative? 

A lot of the time when I shop, if I don’t have my reusable bag (which is not often since my new bag is so compact and lives in my purse) I just carry my items.  It can be bulky, but really people, why are you putting a gallon of milk in a bag.  It has a handle!  Why do people put a bag of ice in a bag?  Is it really going to keep you from feeling how cold it is?  I digress…

Saving grace of the experience?  The greens in the salad were a mixed variety, not entirely iceburg!  And there was approximately ½ an apple in the mix.  Another downside though… squooshy chicken. Gah!

Lessons Learned

1. I will have to start refusing plastic items from fast food chains as well.  I do get slightly strange looks when refusing bags at the grocery store (yay for self check out now… although I feel that is taking jobs away from people… whole ‘nother post) and retail stores (when that rarely occurs).
2. I will need to be more diligent in bringing my own food for lunch…

-The Painted Pisces

I am totally feeling PP on this one. $7 for a salad that came packaged in more plastic than I use in one week? Ridiculous! By the way, if you're interested in the nutritional value (ha!) your favorite fast food salads or other healthy alternatives, check out the Stop and Go Fast Food Nutrition Guide.

Got any tips for The Painted Pisces on how to handle this plastic-wrapped, overpriced fast food conspiracy?

Save Water and Build Sustainable Homes!

Renowned kitchen and bath fixture supplier Kohler has teamed up with Habitat for Humanity to help create a sustainable future. With it's Save Water America campaign, Kohler is educating people about the Earth's dwindling water supply and ways we can save water. Here are their top tips:

• Replace older, less efficient toilets with 1.28-gallon High-Efficiency Toilets (HETs) to save up to 16,500 gallons of water per year. See HET Toilets.
• Swap out your 2.75 gpm showerhead with a 1.75 water-conserving showerhead and you can save more than 7,700 gallons of water per year.* See Water-Conserving Showerheads.
  * Based on an average of seven-minute for a family of four.
• Fix leaky faucets and install faucets with water-saving aerators to effortlessly save hundreds of gallons of water per year. See Kitchen and Bathroom Faucets.
• Use the appropriate water level and load size on the washing machine when doing laundry. Consider purchasing a front-load washing machine.
• Use a broom rather than a hose to clean off driveways, steps and sidewalks.
• Water your garden during the coolest part of the day, generally in the morning, and avoid watering on windy days.
• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving to keep excess water from going down the drain.
• Landscape with native or low-water plants to significantly reduce water usage outside the home.
• Use leftover water for houseplants, instead of pouring out a half-empty glass of drinking water.
• Make sure the dishwasher is fully loaded to maximize the dishes cleaned in a cycle.

As an added bonus, Kohler will be donating $1 million in water-conserving products to Habitat for Humanity's sustainable building projects. Help Kohler reach its million dollar goal by taking this short, easy three-question quiz. For every quiz taken, Kohler donates $1 to Habitat for Humanity.

How do you save water at home?

A Puppy Trainer's Dream Remedy

Puppies are so precious, aren't they? (I miss my little Leo!)

As for puppy training, well, that's often not so cute (or clean, or fragrant). If you're in the middle of puppy training, here's a natural remedy to cleaning up "doggie disasters"on the carpet, courtesy of the Gorgeously Green Sophie Uliano:

Fill a bucket with really hot water. Add 1 cup of white vinegar and one cup of borax. Submerge a rag or sponge and without wringing it dry, clean up the urine. When the spot is dry, add 20 drops of lavender essential oil to one cup of baking soda. Sprinkle the soda over the stain, leave for 20 minutes and then vacuum.

Pretty simple, right? Your carpet will love you, and your puppy will be safe from toxic chemicals! And the best part is that I bet you can use this for all types of carpet disasters, not just puppy training accidents. If anyone tries this, please let me know how it works.

What types of natural products do you use with your pets? Post a comment and share!

Save Time With Smoothies!

Need a quick breakfast solution that gets you out of the door on time in the morning? Try smoothies for breakfast!

I've become a smoothie addict lately, but I've found they are the perfect option for breakfast on the go. My favorite is a strawberry oatmeal smoothie. I know it sounds a little weird to have oatmeal in a smoothie, but it's actually quite delicious. Here's the recipe (I guessed on the measurements):

Strawberry Oatmeal Smoothie
1/3 cup of oatmeal
About 10 frozen strawberries
3/4 cups of soy milk*
About a tablespoon of honey

Directions - Place the oatmeal in the blender first and pulverize until it's almost powder-like. Then, add the rest of the ingredients and blend to your desired consistency, adding more soy milk if needed. For an added flavor, you can add a bit of Hershey's chocolate syrup.

* Some people use vanilla soy milk instead of regular to avoid adding extra sugar/honey. I tried this and found that it didn't make much of a difference.

Not only is this recipe quick and easy, but it's healthy too. Your children will also love it (unless they are in a "I don't like Mommy's smoothies" stage, like my son is right now). Enjoy!

Please comment with your favorite smoothie recipe or quick breakfast solution!

My New Favorite Sites

Oh, what an educational morning it has been! I didn't intend to spend so much time surfing the web, but I discovered two new sites that quickly earned "favorite" status with me.

A Black Girl's Guide to Weight Loss
This site is unbelievable - and relevant for people of all ethnicities and genders! It is a blog chock full of tips, recipes, workout suggestions, news, and other information relevant to weight loss while following the author's personal journey. Her story is very inspirational - she has lost at least 150 lbs through "clean eating," working out and staying motivated! I can't wait to try some of her techniques.

Mama's Organics - 100% Natural Hair and Skin Care Products
A few months ago, I posted an entry about searching for natural hair products for relaxed hair. Well, this site provided me with some answers. I came across Mama's Organics when I saw a posting on A Black Girl's Guide to Weight Loss about co-washing your hair after exercising. (Co-washing is short for conditioner washing, which means you wash your hair with conditioner instead of shampoo.) The best part about this blog is the videos, which can also be found on YouTube. The author does several how-to videos on how to take care of your hair, especially when transitioning from relaxed to natural hair. The videos kind of make me want to go natural again...third time's a charm, right? :)

I hope you enjoy my new favorite sites! Be sure to check back with me again for postings related to the topics of weight loss and natural hair care!

Have any sites you'd like to share? E-mail me or post a comment!

FREE CHICO BAG!

***UPDATE, 7/11/10 ***

And the winner is...

Monica Mackey, with 13 reusuable bags! Congratulations, Monica!

Stay green! :)

-----

Good morning readers!

July 9th is the last day to enter my free Chico Bay contest. Simply respond to this post telling me how many reusable grocery bags you own, and the person with the most will win the bag below. (No need to respond again if you commented on my June 30th blog post.) For you long distance readers, don't worry...if you win, I'll mail the bag to you!

What an easy way to win an awesome, free eco-friendly bag! I think I have the most right now, and it'd be a shame if I won my own contest, so post your comment today!

Always Listen to Your Mother and My First Giveaway

Do you wash your reusable shopping bags?

My mom called me yesterday with the same question and advice after she'd seen this story on her local news station.

Apparently, studies show that most people don't wash their reusable shopping bags, leaving them susceptible to lots of bacteria and cross contamination. 

It's great to see so many people using reusable bags nowadays in an effort to save the earth. Let's hope we all start to take precaution and clean our bags in an effort to save ourselves from potential illnesses. I'm definitely glad my mom called me about this issue...thanks, Mom!

Poll: How many reusable shopping bags do you own?

Leave a comment with your total number of bags for a chance to win this Chico bag. Whoever owns the most bags wins!

A Few of My Favorite Homemade Natural Products

It's Cleaning Day (a.k.a. Sunday) so I thought I'd share with you some of my favorite new recipes for natural cleaning products.

(By the way, I'm also very proud to say that I'm almost finished with all of my toxic cleaning products. My guess is that they'll be gone in a month, at the most.)

Gently Laundry Pre-Treating Spray
4 ounces white vinegar
1/2 cup baking soda
8 ounces water
Mix all ingredients together and pour into a spray bottle. Label with name and make date. Shelf Life = 2 months.

Simple Drain Cleaner
2 ounces ammonia
1 teaspoon cinnamon essential oil (or one of the citrus oils)
1/2 cup baking soda
2 ounces white vinegar
Mix all ingredients to make a paste. For clog, pour paste down the drain and let sit for 30 minutes. Run water down drain to flush.
*This one works wonders for the toilet! No more struggling with the plunger!

Leather Cleaner
1/2 cup isopropyl alcohol
1 1/2 cups water
Mix ingredients together. Store in a container labeled with name and make date. Shelf Life = 2 to 4 months.

Making homemade cleaning products is fun and easy to do...just make sure you have tons of baking soda, white vinegar and essential oils on hand! :)

Post a comment or send me an e-mail about the natural products (homemade or not) you love!

Wanna Get Lucky?

Yesterday was my lucky day. I received the most wonderful surprise in the mail - a tax refund for $400! Apparently, I prepared my taxes incorrectly and didn't owe the IRS anything. My lucky surprise came at just the right time, too. Now I don't have to worry about how I'm going to buy groceries after all my bills are paid for the month...

That said, I'm obviously not in a position to save any money right now. Instead, I'm shifting my financial focus to how to earn more money. and my brush with good fortune has me thinking about ways I can do this simply by getting lucky. (And no, I don't mean it like...you know...)

I've decided it is time to take luck into my own hands in hopes of changing the course of my financial future. My inspiration? "Sweepstakes Salley!"

Back in 2002, I wrote an article for the Seattle Times about "Sweepstakes Salley," a woman on a winning streak whose claim to fame was winning about $50,000 in prizes in one year simply by entering local contests and sweepstakes. This winning woman has been on my mind a lot in the past few days. She got me thinking - why I can't I be the next "Sweepstakes Salley?" 

I've been noticing contests and sweepstakes everywhere lately, and the truth is, they've been right under my nose all this time. They are on the bottom of receipts I get from stores and restaurants..."just complete this customer satisfaction survey and enter to win $1,000." They are included in my email subscriptions..."win a getaway from Southwest Airlines" or "win a free trip to Disneyland from AAA." I even got a brochure from my credit union today for a Dream Room Giveaway...my chance to win a new furnishings for my dining room, living room, or bedroom.

I bet most people overlook these opportunities because they think they have no chance at winning. Hey, that's exactly what I used to think! But the truth is, you can't win if you don't play. With the minimal effort involved in completing a phone survey or filling out an entry form online, you'd be a fool not to. Also, the more you play, the better your odds are at winning at least one prize.

Will this strategy actually help me earn more money? I think so, especially if the prizes are monetary. As for the non-monetary prizes...I could keep them and consider how much I saved by getting items for free, or I bet I could get a pretty penny for some of the items on Craigslist. That is, if and when I win...

Of course, by sharing this information with you, I am slightly ruining my odds at winning, but what are the chances that you'll actually participate??? Wish me luck! :)

Don't minimize the importance of luck in determining life's course. 
- Alex Trebek

When The Student Loan Shark Cometh...

This month, after about four or five rounds of forbearance, I'm scheduled to start repaying my student loans. Am I financially ready to do this? Not even close! But this is the debt that don't disappear, the debt we must repay, so I'd like to start making payments sooner than later and avoid racking up even more capitalized interest.

I figure I have one of two options. I could go into forbearance again (although I just negated this option with my above statement about capitalized interest) OR I can go bankrupt. With bankruptcy, not having to make credit card payments would make room in my budget so that I could actually make my student loan payments.

Some people take more extreme measures when repaying their student loans, as I found out when I randomly came across this blog posting on walletpop.com. From tapping into their 401(k) accounts to selling their virginity, some people will do anything for financial freedom. I think I'll stick with Plan A...I don't think I'm desperate enough for such extremities...

I'm still a little nervous about the whole bankruptcy thing, and I'd rather continue to take responsibility for the debt I've incurred. But at the same time, those credit card companies are evil with their high interest rates. I might as well jump on the bankruptcy bandwagon while I can.

*****UPDATE ON 6/24/10*****

A co-worker sent me an article about some new ways to Kiss Those Student Loans Goodbye! Definitely worth a read, especially if you're in a public service career!

Having trouble paying back your student loans? What's your plan of attack?

Be Gorgeous, Be Green!

A new book I'm excited about just hit the bookshelves. "Do It Gorgeously: How to Make Less Toxic, Less Expensive, and More Beautiful Products" by Sophie Uliano explores how easy and inexpensive it is to make safe and eco-friendly products for your family. I can't wait to pick up a copy!

Sophie Uliano has written about the green life before in her books "The Gorgeously Green Diet: How to Live Lean and Green" and "Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life. You can buy all three of her books on Amazon.com for about $30.

Want to know the best part? Ten percent of the profits are going to Canswerlnk (www.canswerlink.com), an organization that provides free non-toxic house cleaning service to cancer patients undergoing treatment.

Do you make your own green products? Please share!

The Evolution of Project Notepad

Anyone who stops by my cubicle must wonder why I keep a tray full of random used paper on my desk. Well, a few months ago, I started something I like to call "Project Notepad." In an effort to reuse paper that I'd normally recycle (remember, it goes Reduce, then Reuse, then Recycle), I began collecting paper that was blank on one side. My plan was to turn this paper into notepads of various sizes that I could use for work and home. I even thought about creating nice notepad covers and giving the notepads as gifts!

The notepad idea hasn't come to fruition just yet. But recently, my son and I have been reusing the paper for something more creative and fun - homemade books! Check out photos of our latest book entitled "Hercules, the Hyena":

I remember doing this as a child, so I couldn't wait to share the experience with my son. Making homemade books is so much fun and has been a great bonding experience. And best of all, it's eco-friendly!

How would you reuse single-sided paper?

Happy Mother's Day, Mother Earth!

Happy Mother's Day!

In addition to celebrating the woman who brought you into this world, why not celebrate the woman whose world we live in. That's right...Mother Earth!

If you live in Sacramento area, check out the Whole Earth Festival at UC Davis. This year is the 40th anniversary of the festival and the theme is Sustainalovability. Today is the last day, but it would be a great way to honor Mother Earth and learn how we should be treating her!

Isn't that image of Mother Earth cool? What do you think Mother Earth looks like???

Budget-Friendly Mother's Day Gifts

Mother's Day is on May 9th, and television commercials and print advertisements are heavily focused on the holiday this week. These ads and commercials would trick you into believing that you should buy your mom/grandmother/etc. expensive jewelry, overpriced bouquets of flowers, or pricey tech gadgets like mp3 players or digital cameras. But frankly, Mother's Day gifts don't have to be terribly expensive. In fact, why not try some of these Unique Mother's Day gift ideas from the dollar store, courtesy of Wallet Pop (www.walletpop.com).

My son and I actually bought our Mother's Day gifts at Dollar Tree. We found two cute wooden bird houses at the dollar store and painted and decorated them with supplies we found in the same aisle. We also decorated a cute little tote with foam shapes and filled with puzzle books (word search, crossword, sudoku) and pencils - all from the dollar store. I'm sure my mom and grandma will love these gifts!

Don't be shy about taking this approach. Most mother's would rather receive a thoughtful, semi-homemade gift instead of an expensive gift with no meaning behind it. It's the thought that counts, right?

What did you get your mother/grandmother/etc. for Mother's Day?

Celebrate Earth Day Every Day!

Today is Earth Day, but what does that really mean?

For many, Earth Day is...

• ...the one day out of the whole year that people devote themselves to doing something good for the Earth
• ...a day when corporations use "feel good" tactics to promote their eco-friendly product lines and guilt people into buying them so they can feel they've played a part in preserving the Earth's resources
• ...just another day on the calendar

For me, Earth Day is actually just another day on the calendar, because I constantly look for ways to employ resource conservation and waste reduction methods in my life. Instead of falling for the hype and buying lots of green products, I practice being green every day.

In Beth Terry's latest posting on her Life Without Plastic blog, she examines Buying Green vs. Being Green. She reminds us that we can't buy ourselves to a cleaner, greener planet. Consumption simply yields more waste, especially when many of these eco-friendly products are still made of plastic! Beth's message? "Instead of buying more, just use less."

Celebrate the Earth EVERY DAY, not just on Earth Day!

A Relaxed Black Woman's Natural Hair Care Dilemma

I've been introducing more natural and plastic-free products into my life lately, and tomorrow, I plan to go to Lush (my favorite natural, handmade cosmetics store) to purchase some shampoo and conditioner. After researching their site, I decided that the Curly Wavy shampoo and Jungle conditioner were the best options for Black hair. Only the conditioner comes in solid form (to satisfy my plastic-free goals), but one product out of two is better than nothing, right?

Did you know...?

If one in five people switched from liquid to solid shampoo, about 22 million plastic bottles would be saved from the landfill. (Source: Lush)

Anyway, it just occurred to me that having a relaxer doesn't really fall into my mission to be more natural. I mean, why would someone in search of natural hair care products willingly get their hair chemically processed every two months? And will using natural products in between salon visits really account for anything?

I know what you're thinking...why not just go natural, right? I've "gone natural" twice in my life (once in 2003 and again in 2006), and I don't think the third time will be the charm. When I had natural hair, it was cute in the beginning, but then I didn't know what to do with, and I couldn't afford to have someone else take care of my natural locks. Thinking back, it actually seems more time consuming to have natural hair, and time is something I simply don't have as a busy single mom.

My hair throughout the years (Spring 2004, Jan. 2007, Jan. 2010)

Having relaxed hair definitely fits my lifestyle better, and I enjoy how I look and feel more confident with longer, straight hair. (Spare me the social commentary, please. It is what it is.)

I suppose my dilemma is more about the scientific side of hair care. Will using natural hair care products be beneficial for my hair while I continue to get relaxers? Are there relaxers or relaxer-type products on the market made from natural ingredients? What are the best natural hair care options for Black hair, especially relaxed hair?

Please leave your thoughts and suggestions! I'm sure your comments will be helpful to many Black women out there!

BYOB: Baygs Made From Old T-Shirts

Got old t-shirts hanging around? Well, instead of tossing them, why not make your own reusable produce / bulk food bags?

I've been searching for the perfect alternative to plastic produce bags for months, but everything I've seen so far has been rather expensive. In the video below, Ame Guseman from the Alameda Farmer's Market shows us how you can make your own "Baygs."



Looks like I might want to invest in a sewing machine after all!

Do you sew using recycled clothing? What kinds of items have you made?

A Boat Designed With Waste In Mind

Ever hear of The Plastiki?

I saw the word for the first time this morning. It was listed on Yahoo's homepage as the No. 3 trending topic. I have to admit, I was kind of excited as I thought of the possibilities of its meaning. Was it a cool new "as seen on TV" gadget that I just had to have? Was it a new wiki for me to check out? Or maybe the latest fashion trend???

When I clicked the link, my excitement grew even more. Turns out, The Plastiki is the name of a boat, a boat made from 12,500 plastic bottles!!!

 

The Plastiki took off on a major voyage on Saturday. The crew will be sailing across the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco, California to Sydney, Australia. The 60-foot boat is completely self-sufficient, and in addition to the 12,500 plastic bottles, The Plastiki has solar panels, a bio-diesel engine (for emergency use only), bicycle generators, a mast made from an irrigation pipe, and sails made from recycled PET (Polyethylene terephthalate).

The Plastiki was built by Adventure Ecology, a group that "uses the magic and excitement of unique field missions to educate, entertain and raise awareness of environmental and social issues whilst driving innovative real world solutions." With the Plastiki, the group is presenting the philosophy that waste is fundamentally a design flaw. Adventure Ecology would like people to re-think waste as a resource. Now that's what I call a message in a bottle! My only question is this: will cool projects like this give people an excuse to continue to waste??? What do you think?

Check out the website for The Plastiki to find out more about how the boat was made, to see close-up photos of the boat, and to learn the status of its voyage to Sydney.

Have you ever made anything out of recycled waste? Leave a comment and tell me about it!

From Bounce to Vinegar...A Cost-Effective Trade-Off!

Today I ran out of dryer sheets - right in the middle of laundry day! My initial reaction was to run to the store immediately to buy another overpriced box of dryer sheets, but since my budget is tight, I decided to do some research and find an eco-friendly alternative.

The solution? Vinegar! According to my research, using a 1/2 cup of white distilled vinegar in the rinse cycle can take the place of fabric softener. The vinegar dissolves the detergent and bring the clothing back to their natural soft state. At the end of the wash cycle, there is no scent of vinegar and your clothes will have no static cling! Also, vinegar doesn't contain the toxic chemical that can be found in fabric softeners and dryer sheets, and it won't cause allergic reactions, itchiness, or "offensive odor" complaints.

So, it turns out the solution was in the back of my kitchen cabinet all this time! I found some white distilled vinegar left over from last year's Easter egg coloring. I had just enough for two load of laundry. I added some vinegar during the wash cycle of each load, though I missed the part about adding it to the rinse cycle, so I hope my clothes aren't ruined! (I've never used fabric softener, ok?)

Vinegar is a great alternative for fabric softener. It also has many more household uses, so I'm definitely going to stock up on this product! But since I'm more of a dryer sheet girl (I don't have the time or patience to listen for the rinse cycle), I think next time I may use one of the following dryer sheet substitutes on laundry day:

• Static Eliminator reusable dryer sheets - chemical-free, can be used thousands of times, prevent static cling
• Homemade dryer sheet - saturate a small rag or a washcloth with one teaspoon of natural hair condition (may be mixed with vinegar and water) and toss into the dryer 
• Aluminum foil - throw a crumpled ball of foil into the dryer and stop static cling
• Dryer balls - there are tons of dryer balls on the market right now, they are chemical-free, reusable, soften fabrics naturally, and reduce dryer time (caution - most are made from plastic (PVC), not the best eco-friendly choice!)
• Essential Oils - if you like you clothes scented, put a few drops of essential oils on a small cloth and toss into the dryer (you can also use a lavender sachet)

What type of household product substitutes have you used???

On Being Broke and Single...

I was recently asked whether I enjoy being single. Here's my take on my single status...

I don't like or dislike being single...it's just kind of how things are right now. I can say I have enjoyed coming into my own and figuring out who I really am and what I really want. It took a few years, and I'm glad I did that without having a man in the picture. But now I want one. I don't want to have children after age 32, and I want to be married first, so I have to find a man soon!



So why am I still single? And why aren't I dating? Money...it's my ultimate excuse for everything!

In my opinion, I really can't afford to date because I don't have the money to buy the clothes and accessories needed when trying to get attention. My wardrobe is sparse. I've pretty much had the same clothes for the past few years, and they are getting worn out. So when I do get the funds to update my attire, "date clothes" will probably be my last priority because I'll need to replace my old work attire first.

I'm also the kind of girl who will never expect a man to pay for me. I like the idea of having enough money in my wallet just in case my date and I decide to go dutch. But since my budget is tighter than a pair of skinny jeans (a cute fashion item I don't know, by the way), I don't have an "emergency dutch fund," and I probably won't date until I do.

Money has been my excuse for everything, and I don't know how to get around that. But I'd really like to start dating...any suggestions?

Student Loans - A Cautionary Tale

I just saw this article on Yahoo News about a doctor whose student loan debt amounts to $550,000. According to the story, she'll be finished paying off the loan when she's 70 year old!

Student loans are sometimes the only option (besides joining the military) that families have if they want their children to get a college education. Unfortunately, like many other financial institutions, they are a credit trap and the debt can literally last a lifetime. It's also a type of debt you must pay back - it cannot be resolved through bankruptcy.

Right now I'm having trouble paying off my student loans, and I didn't even take out much. I've been in forbearance practically since I graduated, and because I don't qualify for deferment, I've been racking on interest to the principal balance. It sounds crazy, but because of the rest of my debt, I may have to declare bankruptcy just so I can finally start paying back my student loans.

Here's my advice to students:

1. Get a scholarship - there are tons of untapped scholarship awards out there...it just takes a little research to find them!
2. Work while attending school - although the on-campus college experience is great, there's nothing like graduating from college debt free. You'll also have a ton of work experience on your resume, which will put you a step ahead of your fellow graduates.
3. Think twice about ivy leagues or other top schools - Having a school like Harvard or UC Berkeley on your resume looks good, but is it worth the cost? And is the education really that much better? In my opinion, our careers are really based on relationships - it's about who you know, not what you know. As long as you develop good relationships with people in the industry you wish to pursue, you can get a solid education at a second-tier school a second-tier school and have a very successful career for a fraction of the cost!
4. Get your company to pay for your Master's degree - Many companies offer tuition assistance for their employees. Also, instead of going to graduate school right away, get a job! You'll gain valuable work experience and have a better idea of what you really want to do. I know it's hard to go back to school, but if your company is willing to reimburse you, isn't it worth it to wait?

How are you managing to pay off your student debt? And do you have any money you can lend me? ;)

You Down With OPP?

That's right...I'm talking about Organics Packaged in Plastic. (Sorry to disappoint all you Naughty by Nature fans...)

It really disappoints me when I find yummy, healthy, organic food packaged in plastic. And it stings even worse when the food is fresh and locally grown.

I've found that people who step onto the green/eco-friendly/sustainable bandwagon eventually adopt many of the following beliefs:

• Recycling
• Waste Reduction (especially plastic)
• Reuse
• Buying Locally Grown / Made in the USA items
• Buying Organic / Natural items
• Carpools / Public Transportation
• Healthy Eating / Vegetarianism

In my mind, it behooves producers of organic products to place their items in plastic-free packaging. It just makes sense to me. What do you think?

So...are you down with OPP? Tell me about it. Leave a comment!

Bye Bye, Skippy!

Right now I'm on a kick to make my pantry plastic free, one glass jar at a time.

Many of the grocery items we buy are packaged in plastic. Sure, some of this plastic is recyclable, but why not just avoid plastic packaging in the first place?

As I run out of particular items - honey, ketchup, mayonnaise, etc. - I plan to replace them with products packaged in glass jar. I recently replaced my beloved Skippy with Laura Scudder's Old Fashioned Peanut Butter. Although it's not as smooth and creamy as Skippy and other plastic-packaged peanut butters (it's a little gritty). it still tastes good and it's healthier, too. And hey, it was kinda fun stirring the oil back into the peanut butter!

The only downside is the cost...at some grocery stores, Laura Scudder's can be one to two dollars more than Skippy. I was fortunate enough to find mine for about $2.65...gotta love Super Walmart!

In general, items packaged in glass jars may always be more expensive than their plastic counterparts. It's up to you to decide what's more important to you - cost or the environment.

My next feat? A glass jar of honey for a decent price! Stay tuned...

10 Tips For Saving More at the Grocery Store: 10 Photos

SavvySugar gives advice on how you can Save More at the Grocery Store.

Personally, I've found that the following methods work:

1. Making a list (and sticking to it)
2. Creating a budget
3. Buying only what you need (and not what you want)
4. Calculating costs as you shop

The method that has worked best for me is #4. I use my cell phone's calculator application and enter in the price of each item as I put it into the grocery cart. By keeping a running tally of how much I've spent helps keep me on track with my budget and ensures that I'm only buying what I need. This method has defintely worked many times for me in the past year. A few months ago, I gave myself the challenge to spend only $20 on groceries at Super Walmart. I was able to buy the bare minumum - some basic things that I needed - for $21 and some change. Not bad, huh?

How do you save money at the grocery store?

Moving? Consider Green Moving Boxes!

If you don't know who Beth Terry is, she's my inspiration for going plastic-free. She recently posted an article on her website - www.fakeplasticfish.com - about companies that rent green moving boxes...made from recycled plastic.

Although she's an anti-plastic advocate, it looks like Beth is willing to be flexible with this plastic moving option. Check out the full story here - Green Moving Boxes Made from… Plastic?

My Son: Eco-Friendly and Proud!

This morning I was so proud of my son and his eco-friendly ways.

His preschool was celebrating the 100th day of school today, so he had to bring in 100 small items to add to the classroom's collection. We decided to do pennies, and as we counted them out, we placed them in a small Tupperware container. At the end, he says, "The teacher says we have to put them in a plastic baggie."

Always one to follow instructions, I start looking for a bag when he says, "But we don't use plastic bags, Mom." I was so proud to hear that my "conservative" ways are actually rubbing off on him!

When we got to school, I felt silly because I could see why they requested everything to be placed in plastic baggies...they were taping them to a board for the display, and well, you can't tape a Tupperware container that way. Fortunately, the school had enough plastic bags to just transfer his pennies and return our container to us, which is great!

Ahhh...it's little moments like these that make me love being a mom! :)

2009 Plastic Free Accomplishments, By the Numbers...

With my mom visiting, my son's birthday party, a new addition to our home (our new puppy Leo), and a huge proposal due at work, it's no wonder I didn't get around to listing my 2010 plastic free goals and 2009 accomplishments. I'll save my goals for future postings, as I'll have a new one each month. But here are my accomplishments so far, by the numbers:

2009 Plastic Free Accomplishments

0 - plastic garbage bags in my kitchen (instead, I use a stainless steel garbage can with *yikes* a removable plastic liner...hey it's still better than using the bags!)

3 months (and counting) - months in which I have not purchased paper towels

6 - washable, reusable towels I purchased to replace paper towels

8 - cloth napkins I own (no more paper napkins!)

10+ - resusable grocery bags I own

36 - number of tampons in the box of Tampax with the biodegradable applicator (I switched to this brand from a Playtex version with a plastic applicator)

55/68 - day/evening temperatures my thermostat is set to for energy efficiency (and cost savings, too!)

There are also some things I accomplished that can't really be quantified, such as:

• Using powered dishwasher soap (packaged in a cardboard box) instead of dishwasher tabs - While I miss the ease of the dishwasher tabs, there really is no difference in how clean the dishes get. I also use the powered soap when I hand wash my dishes, and it works well...my only complaint is that this makes my hands so dry and rough...can anyone suggest where I can find a good pair of eco-friendly cleaning gloves?
• Using powered laundry detergent (packaged in a cardboard box) instead of liquid laundry soap in plastic bottles - Here's one decision I totally regret! When my family switched to liquid laundry soap in the late 1980s/early 1990s, I thought the days of seeing dandruff-like remnents of laundry detergent on my clothes were over. Boy was I wrong! The powered detergent/cardboard box sounds like a great idea, but unless someone can recommend an eco-friendly, affordable brand that doesn't leave detergent flakes behind, I'm going back to the liquid soap I trust and love.
• Using Bar Soap and Deoderant - This is one of my best decisions so far! Bar soap is way less expensive than body wash, and you don't have to keep buying poufs! I also believe it lasts longer, too! I'm also in love with the bar of deoderant I bought from Lush...I joke around and say I smell a little bit like nature, but I swear it's provided me the better protection than any other deoderant I've ever used.

Well, that's all I can think of right now, but I'd love to hear what others have done / plan to do as well. Please post a comment :)

A Twist on New Year's Resolutions

January 1 marked the beginning of a new year. But it was also the beginning of a new decade, a new month, a new week and a new day!

On New Year's Day, many of us make resolutions - usually a laundry list of impossible goals we plan to achieve in the coming year, such as working out, saving more money, etc. I say let's toss out those New Year's resolutions and make New Month resolutions instead!

By creating resolutions each month, we're more likely to achieve our goals, even if we repeat the same goal month after month. The shortened time frame (30 days instead of 365 days) helps because it allows you to achieve short term goals that may be pieces of a larger goal. For instance, instead of making weight loss your New Year's resolution, why not focus on adding more fresh produce to your diet in month one, walking for 20 minutes each day in month two, and so on and so forth.

One of my lofty resolutions for the year is to take better care of my body. So in January, my goal is to get a health assessment/screening and/or a physical. (I've been putting off a cholesterol test for months!) Once I know what kind of shape I'm in, I'll tackle different goals each month that will hopefully lead me to optimal health! (By the way, I'm adding "saving myself" as one of the focuses of this blog...I need to get in shape!)

***UPDATE 1/16/09***
I finally took my cholestorol test. The results? My cholestorol is low, and I have a low risk of getting heart disease. Woo-Hoo! :)
*** END UPDATE***


So....

What's your New Month's Resolution?