February Plan and (eventually) Results:
Purge plan for February:
Kitchen purge #1 Get rid of all cooking items that aren't currently being used (pots/pans/small appliances).
Rusty tins, cleansers we haven't used in years, assorted other stuff - BYE-BYE.
Plastic soda can holder, knives, ceramic bowls, heading to DD's school after the winter break. Whoo-hoo!
Rusty nut cracker in the garbage. Coffee travel mug up for donation along with some plastic food storage containers that we don't use. A neighbor just claimed these two items plus a glass that we don't use.
Random things found in the kitchen cabinets...
More random unused stuff.
Rusty tins, cleansers we haven't used in years, assorted other stuff - BYE-BYE.
Plastic soda can holder, knives, ceramic bowls, heading to DD's school after the winter break. Whoo-hoo!
Rusty nut cracker in the garbage. Coffee travel mug up for donation along with some plastic food storage containers that we don't use. A neighbor just claimed these two items plus a glass that we don't use.
Green plan for Feb:
3. Choose natural personal care products and cosmetics
We use Burt's Bees hand salve and lip stuff. I am hoping to find an alternative to Aquaphor that my skin will accept. I use natural shampoos for myself and the kids most of the time. Our soap bars are transitioning from Dove Sensitive skin to Dr. Bronner's castile soap bars. I am hoping to find a way to keep my skin outbreaks under control without using steroid creams. I currently use a very small amount of steroid cream nightly. I haven't used cosmetics of any kind for years.
I bought California Baby's Calendula Cream yesterday - an attempt to replace Aquaphor for our hands. For me, it failed after one use. I could feel my hands drying out after using it. That happens with every lotion whose first ingredient is water. Hopefully I can use it for something, because 2oz of the stuff cost over $12.00. Sheesh. Oh, and the packaging is very disappointing, too. Plastic bottle and cap, with a plastic "disc" over the top when you open it, sealed by more plastic around the top of the jar. The jar is recyclable (#5) but the rest is trash that won't decompose. Yuk.
I have purchased a bunch of essential oils, and am gradually finding ways of using them, blended, in our home. I have been using oils for diaper rash (if successful this would eliminate Desitin and similar ointments from our house.) I am hoping the oil blends can replace a number of personal care products in our home. I've been using Sweet Almond Oil (organic) on the kids after the bath instead of Aquaphor much of the time, with good results. DS has some eczema rashy spots, which I am paying special attention to, but they seems to be pretty manageable. They're not going away, but they're not too bad either....
4. Go for recycled, naturally bleached toilet paper, paper towels, and tissues
Progess:
I do not use paper towels, and we nearly always out of tissues. My kids use cloth wipes for their noses. I don't like them much when I'm sick, but I try to compromise.
I purchased toilet paper this month that was made from recycled paper. It's more expensive, and we'll likely go through it more quickly than the 1000-sheet roles, but I will try to be more conservative...Actually it seems to have a lot of sheets like the others we've gotten. It seems to be lasting as long...Duh, there it is right on the package. 1000 sheets. Yeeks. :P
We use Burt's Bees hand salve and lip stuff. I am hoping to find an alternative to Aquaphor that my skin will accept. I use natural shampoos for myself and the kids most of the time. Our soap bars are transitioning from Dove Sensitive skin to Dr. Bronner's castile soap bars. I am hoping to find a way to keep my skin outbreaks under control without using steroid creams. I currently use a very small amount of steroid cream nightly. I haven't used cosmetics of any kind for years.
I bought California Baby's Calendula Cream yesterday - an attempt to replace Aquaphor for our hands. For me, it failed after one use. I could feel my hands drying out after using it. That happens with every lotion whose first ingredient is water. Hopefully I can use it for something, because 2oz of the stuff cost over $12.00. Sheesh. Oh, and the packaging is very disappointing, too. Plastic bottle and cap, with a plastic "disc" over the top when you open it, sealed by more plastic around the top of the jar. The jar is recyclable (#5) but the rest is trash that won't decompose. Yuk.
I have purchased a bunch of essential oils, and am gradually finding ways of using them, blended, in our home. I have been using oils for diaper rash (if successful this would eliminate Desitin and similar ointments from our house.) I am hoping the oil blends can replace a number of personal care products in our home. I've been using Sweet Almond Oil (organic) on the kids after the bath instead of Aquaphor much of the time, with good results. DS has some eczema rashy spots, which I am paying special attention to, but they seems to be pretty manageable. They're not going away, but they're not too bad either....
4. Go for recycled, naturally bleached toilet paper, paper towels, and tissues
Progess:
I do not use paper towels, and we nearly always out of tissues. My kids use cloth wipes for their noses. I don't like them much when I'm sick, but I try to compromise.
Holistic Moms Network Green Plan:
This month's resolution is an effort to simplify and to focus on what matters: eat whole foods. Eat foods in their whole, natural state. Look for foods that are the same as they come out of the ground or in their most natural, simple form. Organic - great! Local - fabulous! But whole is our primary resolution.
Progress:
I have already signed up for CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) for this year's growing season. We have joined the same farm in the past. It is organic, and wonderful. Each week we pick up a share of the farm's produce, which varies from week to week, depending on what is ready to harvest at that time. The food tastes amazing (picked fresh as opposed to picked early and shipped), it's organic which I love, and it encourages us to eat veggies we may not otherwise try. I love it.
I am trying to be more cognizant of serving raw fruits and veggies as well as cooked with most meals. This is a tough area for me. But the kids LOVE fruit and veggies too, so I just have to HAVE them.
I am trying to be more cognizant of serving raw fruits and veggies as well as cooked with most meals. This is a tough area for me. But the kids LOVE fruit and veggies too, so I just have to HAVE them.
Exercise:
Walk in the 'hood: 5
Wii fitness workouts - 15 minutes most nights
Swimming with the kids: 3
Walk in the 'hood: 5
Wii fitness workouts - 15 minutes most nights
Swimming with the kids: 3
From Jan plan: I gave away a bunch of kids' books to friends. The remaining books will be donated or tossed (some are in poor shape.)
4 books given to Children's Museum (brought 1 home)
I have a food processor that we got as a wedding present that is in the original box and has never been used. We will celebrate our 10th anniversary this summer! Do I keep it because someday I might need it or is it time to purge my own kitchen????
ReplyDeleteYour progress sounds great- keep it up!
JSN