2013: SIMPLIFY
My new kitchen composter kicked off a motivation in me to give back to the earth. I think by doing so I will also better myself in many ways. As such, I thought about some meaningful resolutions I would make for 2013.
#1: CUT THE CRAP
- buy local as much as possible. Ideally locally produced food and products, but that is often difficult, especially on a limited budget. If I can at least buy new things that are made in North America and NOT CHINA, I will happy.
- we already buy local eggs and maple syrup; local produce when in season, I make our bread, dinner rolls and pizza dough.
- less chemicals that I can't pronounce in my fridge and pantry. I think this goes hand in hand with buying local. Items that don't have a long transportation will have less chemical preservatives. When we can't buy local, I check the ingredients and try to avoid anything "artificial."
- we have switched from margarine to butter.
#2: 3 R's and a U: Reduce, reuse, recycle and UPCYCLE (I'm already on the right track here)
- being more vigilant with reducing and reusing before recycling.
+ We return our empty egg cartons when buying eggs.
- upcycle (think arts n' crafts!) Using something old to make something new.
+ Milk carton and soda bottle bird feeders
+ Christmas balls made from old X-mas cards
+ I buy a lot of 2nd hand items (reusing/ upcycling in some cases))
+ I sell, trade, or donate our unwanted items. I participate once per season in a swap meet with other families from Lachute at the CAL (Comite d'action Locale of Lachute)
- composting. I got a small kitchen composter from my mom for Christmas and it is wonderful! It holds about 5 days worth of food scraps in a compostable bag, which I then put in the brown bin from the city. In the summer I will start a compost pile, too.
+ So far this year we have already cut our actual garbage by half, largely due to composting.
- buying local also helps here, as most local products have less packaging and use less fossil fuels for transportation
#3: GO GREEN
This is a variation of the same theme.
-Using eco-bags
-using biodegradable, phosphate-free products in the house.
+I currently use Method , Green Works, and Attitude a lot, but I am open to other suggestions for efficient, environmentally friendly cleaning products. I am also open to making my own products (Vinegar and water, baking soda, etc), so if you have a formula you'd like to share that would be great, too.
#4: Darcy
This is last, but by far not least.
Darcy has occasional bouts of separation anxiety at daycare, school, and even at home with Daddy when I'm out, albeit rarely. I am approaching this by supporting her and building trust and security in her. I feel that although she must learn to cope with this and be without Mommy at certain times, that she must not be punished for her feelings. My goal is for her to become comfortable without me and learn to calm herself and most importantly know (trust!) that I will be there when she needs me. (Maybe not when she wants me to be there...)
There may be times that people think I am codling her or spoiling her when she's weepy and shy, but maybe she is just having one of her days when she really needs to be with Mommy as much as possible. Darcy is the reason I quit the job I loved and completely changed my career track and lifestyle...so I can be her mom and spend time with her while I have the chance. Of course, on the other hand, I am human and there are days when her mommy-needs don't fit the schedule or just simply get on my nerves...give me a bit of a break, too!
My new kitchen composter kicked off a motivation in me to give back to the earth. I think by doing so I will also better myself in many ways. As such, I thought about some meaningful resolutions I would make for 2013.
#1: CUT THE CRAP
- buy local as much as possible. Ideally locally produced food and products, but that is often difficult, especially on a limited budget. If I can at least buy new things that are made in North America and NOT CHINA, I will happy.
- we already buy local eggs and maple syrup; local produce when in season, I make our bread, dinner rolls and pizza dough.
- less chemicals that I can't pronounce in my fridge and pantry. I think this goes hand in hand with buying local. Items that don't have a long transportation will have less chemical preservatives. When we can't buy local, I check the ingredients and try to avoid anything "artificial."
- we have switched from margarine to butter.
#2: 3 R's and a U: Reduce, reuse, recycle and UPCYCLE (I'm already on the right track here)
- being more vigilant with reducing and reusing before recycling.
+ We return our empty egg cartons when buying eggs.
- upcycle (think arts n' crafts!) Using something old to make something new.
+ Milk carton and soda bottle bird feeders
+ Christmas balls made from old X-mas cards
+ I buy a lot of 2nd hand items (reusing/ upcycling in some cases))
+ I sell, trade, or donate our unwanted items. I participate once per season in a swap meet with other families from Lachute at the CAL (Comite d'action Locale of Lachute)
- composting. I got a small kitchen composter from my mom for Christmas and it is wonderful! It holds about 5 days worth of food scraps in a compostable bag, which I then put in the brown bin from the city. In the summer I will start a compost pile, too.
+ So far this year we have already cut our actual garbage by half, largely due to composting.
- buying local also helps here, as most local products have less packaging and use less fossil fuels for transportation
#3: GO GREEN
This is a variation of the same theme.
-Using eco-bags
-using biodegradable, phosphate-free products in the house.
+I currently use Method , Green Works, and Attitude a lot, but I am open to other suggestions for efficient, environmentally friendly cleaning products. I am also open to making my own products (Vinegar and water, baking soda, etc), so if you have a formula you'd like to share that would be great, too.
#4: Darcy
This is last, but by far not least.
Darcy has occasional bouts of separation anxiety at daycare, school, and even at home with Daddy when I'm out, albeit rarely. I am approaching this by supporting her and building trust and security in her. I feel that although she must learn to cope with this and be without Mommy at certain times, that she must not be punished for her feelings. My goal is for her to become comfortable without me and learn to calm herself and most importantly know (trust!) that I will be there when she needs me. (Maybe not when she wants me to be there...)
There may be times that people think I am codling her or spoiling her when she's weepy and shy, but maybe she is just having one of her days when she really needs to be with Mommy as much as possible. Darcy is the reason I quit the job I loved and completely changed my career track and lifestyle...so I can be her mom and spend time with her while I have the chance. Of course, on the other hand, I am human and there are days when her mommy-needs don't fit the schedule or just simply get on my nerves...give me a bit of a break, too!
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