The Evolution of a Green Girl

paper

2010-04-15T23:37:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it really hurts me physically, and makes me sad to see so much waste. Paper is the one that set me off today. Just thoughtless, making way to many copies by mistake then throwing them away (not even recycling) without a second thought.
There isn't any space right now for me to be inspired or look on the bright side or think of how I can make a difference and be a change agent. Right now I am just sad about the waste and thoughtlessness of it all.
Tomorrow I will make a difference, tonight I will just go to sleep.

Toxic vs Non-Toxic Cleaners

2009-12-07T21:38:00.000-08:00

I had my first visit to the Household Hazardous Waste recycle center last weekend. Wow, let me start by saying that placed smelled really really really really bad. Gross. So I drive up and they have the guys working wearing the protective tyvek suits and I am not suppose to get out of the car, they come up to me with a cart and get the stuff from my vehicle. I guess that is for everyones protection.
What is so amazing about the whole trip is what I was dropping off. Household cleaners! Yep the stuff you use to clean your house that ends up down the drain and in our water is the same stuff that to be properly disposed of you need to go to a toxic waste plant. It's really insane if you think about it. I mean really if you need a mask, rubber gloves and/or a 'well ventilated room' to clean your bathroom maybe you stop and think about what this would do for your health. Read your labels, consider this before you buy any new harsh chemicals.
Now I know that all 'natural' cleaners are not created equal. I have tried several. Bottom line is baking soda, white vinegar and elbow grease goes a long way. I use emagineGreens non toxic cleaners and I love them. And I am not just saying that because I sell them :) I also love LOC (Amway)
Share what cleaners you like/use that are natural or non toxic.

This is a rant about one of those defeats the purpose things

2009-11-04T00:14:00.000-08:00

Today I went to Staples to get some office supplies. Now I haven't recycled my ink cartridges there in a while but they use to give me a $3.00 coupon right there to use for my next purchase. Well they changed policy and I would have had to fill out an application (one colored piece of paper) for a staples rewards card (plastic card) and they would send my coupon in the mail (more paper, transportation etc) for me to drive back there (more fuel) to use my plastic card and paper coupon as a reward for recycling. Is it just me or is that a bit over the top? Waste, Waste, Waste. +I understand from a business perspective wanting to get names, retain customers with loyalty programs etc, but still.
While I'm on the subject let me share my Victoria Secret story. Yes I'm a sell out and shop there, but that is not the story. One day when I was shopping they were running a promotion if you tried on one of their new bras you would get $10 (or something) off your purchase. So fine I will try one on, I'm in the dressing room anyway. The girl in the dressing room writes my name on their little glossy colored paper card to prove that I tried it on. I take the coupon to directly to the register to pay where she takes the coupon, tears it in half and throws it in the garbage!
Does anyone else see the waste of time and resources in this? Instead of blogging I should be writing to these companies and offering alternative solutions. Right now I just want to bitch about it. I will write someone about it later.
It's crazy how thoughtless we are as a society on just the everyday stuff.
It's like I said before, we really need to start paying attention and just changing our habits so they become the new way of living our daily lives and doing business.

Don't listen to grandama

2009-10-30T00:43:00.000-07:00

Several years ago I attended a seminar and remember a story that the instructor told. I am paraphrasing so bear with me.
The story is about recently married young woman who was going to cook her first holiday ham dinner for the family. So she asked her mother for advice and mom told her to cut off the end of the ham before baking. When she asked why her mother responded with 'I don't know it's what my mother always did'. So they called her mother to ask and she said "Because my pan is too small"
The moral of the story is question why things are done, the reasons may be out dated. Or don't just do what everyone else is doing. Something along those lines.
I was thinking about that story a couple of days ago when I was in the produce department at the grocery store. I watched shoppers all around putting fruits and vegetables into individual plastic bags. Sometimes it would be just two oranges. So much plastic! One woman even put a bunch of bananas in a bag, complete with twist tie. Now I use to always put fruit in bags because that's what I learned from my mom and observing other shoppers. I think that is why everyone else does it. One day a few years when I didn't use a bag for my fruit the girl at the checkout told me to use one next time! Seriously? Why? Why did we start that anyway? I can see with the small, fall through the cracks kinds of fruits and veggies but it's really out of hand. Some of the stores have redesigned the carts to have a cup holder for the coffee drinks you buy in those disposable cups you get while shopping. I think someone should design the carts where you can put your fruits & veggies in a safe spot and then we won't need all those plastic bags. If you read this and it inspires you to do this, feel free to cut me a check.
When I was training to start my emagineGreen business I learned that we go through a million plastic bags a minute! Can you imagine? Does that number surprise you? Since then I use my reusable bags and my string market bags for my fruit veggies. My point isn't to get you to buy one of my bags (however they are great bags, you may want to). I do hope that you use reusable bags or at least start with not using a bag unless it's really necessary. I challenge you to pay attention next time you are at the store and see how many plastic bags are wasted.

Having green or being green...and Halloween costumes

2009-10-29T03:22:00.000-07:00

I have been shopping around this last week for my Halloween costume. My daughter bought me a cape with the recycle symbol on it a while back, so I am going to use that and be a green superhero. I found something to wear with it at a thrift store which was a very green way to do things I imagine. But I really, really want to buy these green boots I saw at the Halloween store. And a matching green wig! I can actually give you around 10 different ways to justify the purchase, but I won't that's not the point.
My point is when I was married and had money I wouldn't have had a second thought about buying the boots (and the green wig)I would have just bought them. They really do match the cape and would be super cute. But I am not going to buy them. I have instead went with what I have in my closet (black boots)to create the costume. I don't need any more 'stuff'. And besides it's what eco-girl would do.
Not having money has been a good lesson for me. Having less green in the wallet is making me more green for the planet.