I figured that since I issued the challenge, I should be one of the first to jump in feet first. So, today when I woke up, I was ready to go – I’ll show you, I can reduce and reuse with minimal trash. Um, sort of. Maybe?

My intention for this entire challenge was more focused on having people become MORE AWARE and less about what actually went into the trash bags…

Today, my first activity resulted in trash. A dirty diaper. Not only did I already have trash at 9AM, but it was stinky trash. I changed the diaper and replaced it with a fresh cloth diaper. (By the way, I was going to take pictures but decided not to, you can thank me later.) Then, I headed to the bathroom to mix up the diaper wipe solution (a squirt bottle full of water and a squirt of her baby wash) so it’d be on hand for later (I use cloth wipes for non explosive diapers, cutting down on waste).

Then, at breakfast, I realized another place I create trash. The paper towels I use to wipe her face and hands and high chair tray after eating. So, today…I got out a wash cloth instead. I really do need to get a few “special wash cloths” to keep in the kitchen that are just for this purpose. Also, instead of reaching for the Kleenex when her nose started running, I used a cloth (old -as in she’s outgrown them -burpcloths).

I was feeling awfully proud of myself when I almost sidestepped into a puddle of Glory pee (the dog). Thanks for that. I’m definitely using papertowels for this mess. Sorry. I hurriedly took Glory out JUST IN CASE. If she pees outside, she MIGHT not go inside…which means, less trash, right? Right???!!!

So, moving on…I found a bit of tin foil hubby used to cook with last night and forgot to throw out. I threw it out. That counts as trash today. DANGIT. And then…the 2 DHL shipping envelopes got trashed…. DANGIT.

And then…I had to pee. (Useful information for you right there.) I considered my options and grabbed the toilet paper anyhow. I’d rather hold it then save TP. Sorry again. If it makes you feel any better, I only use 3-4 squares of Charmin Ultra.

Then, I made a large free-shaped (meaning it’s from remnant fabric and not an exact square…or circle…or triangle) cloth pillowcase type thing to stuff fabric scraps in. Once it’s full, I plan to close up the small opening and give it to Glory for her dog bed. She’s not happy with the shop rags I threw in there…she keeps pulling them out. So, she’ll get a “mattress” and I don’t have to throw it away. Plus, it’s totally washable.

Next, I had a few oranges on the counter top…I was afraid that they’d turned bad (mom would kill me as she gave them to me…err…a month ago?). But, no black spots. No spots at all. I opened one up and tasted…yep. Still good. Sweet! I cut them all in half and had my therapy, standing there juicing oranges. Gave baby some diluted juice and saved the rest (in the refrigerator for later). Then, I cut out the pulp of 1 of them and sliced up the peel. I’m saving the peel to try a candy recipe later tonight. What can I say? I was intrigued. I dumped the rest of the orange waste into my mini compost I made beside the house (it’s in a small crate).

Of course, we had a couple of casualties. Two bags were too close and within orange juice squeezing range and got stickified. I trashed those. I guess I really could have rinsed them out…but too late. I’m not digging them back out.

Then, it was time to do a little research. I discovered that the town my husband works in offers recycling. They can recycle paper/cardboard items all the time and plastic stuff they have certain days set aside (like 6x a year). SO, I wrote down the info and called the office to make sure I got everything. “Do I need to cut out the plastic windows on envelopes? No? Great. Can I recycle postcards? Yes? Awesome. Magazines, newspapers, books, business cards, brochures, and frozen pizza boxes? Yes? Lovely.” So, I made a “recycling area” by the trash can…just a paper bag where I put paper items to be recycled. Later, I will group the cardboard boxes in the garage to take to the recycling center. Or…for Steven to take to the recycling center

Total in trash for today:

- dirty diaper (ONE)
- piece of aluminum foil
- paper towels
-toilet paper
- two bags
- empty frozen pea bag
- DHL shipping envelopes (2)

Not bad, not bad…

Welcome back!

Have you ever stopped to think about the impact we make on this world? Have you ever stopped to think about the garbage that we daily consume and throw out? Have you ever thought about what it would be like if we all reduced our trash for one day…much less, for an entire year…or *gasp* for the rest of our lives?

April 22nd is Earth Day, and with that, comes a challenge for all of us to do something better for our Earth. And so, I have a challenge for you

Between now and April 22nd, for ONE DAY, try to reduce your trash to as close to “zero” as you can get it – And then document it. If you have a blog or website, write about it. Take pictures if you want. Or, if you have no blog/website, come back here and tell me about your experience (in my comments).

For one day, see if you can have no trash (or see how close you can get). Re-purpose the things you would normally throw away…and go out of your way to use things that aren’t encased in plastic, paper, styrofoam, paper, etc.

If you are up for the challenge, please sign up in my comments. And, to make the deal a little more sweet, I’m going to do a giveaway (which will be drawn from the participants names). Don’t forget to leave a link to your post if you do it!!

Baby L has been incredibly cranky since yesterday.  It was only a few days ago that I could stash her in her playpen for a few hours moments as I cleaned and um…did other stuff blogged.  But, now?  This playpen thing is met with loud sobs and the “crumple face.”  The word “No.” even elicits a few whimpers and the lip quiver.  What’s happening?  Is my darling and inquisitive and bull-headed (like her father, of course…couldn’t be from me) daughter becoming a *gasp* crybaby?

Some in my family think this new bout of sensitivity is from the allergies she’s developed (now THAT she gets from me).  I mean, who likes a drippy, itchy face?  She will soon inherit my toilet paper -everywhere-you-go legacy, who couldn’t love that?  But, no…I don’t think it’s that.  This kid voluntarily bangs her head on the floor and one of her favorite words in her vocabulary is “Ow.”  I really find it hard to believe that a runny, itchy nose would stand in her way (Kleenex, though…that’s a whole different thing – “For the love of God, mother.  Please stop wiping my nose!”)

Others in my family seem to think this new onset of tears stems from the fact that mean ol’ mommy is depriving her sweet baby (who is now a toddler) of the beloved bottle.  But, I don’t think so.  The kid and I have already had this talk:  “Suck it up kid, you’re a toddler now…Here…have another cheeto and quit your whining.”

I think it’s the skirt.  You know, this one.  She’s OBVIOUSLY still pissed because the first one didn’t fit.  OBVIOUSLY.  In fact, she was so ticked that she bit my poor finger when I had her “open up” so I could help her out with her dental hygiene.  (Observation: Nothing wrong with those teeth…feel strong to me.  My bloody finger thinks so, too.)

Looks like I’ll be making a new skirt (or dress) today.  I think I shall also make myself a padded jacket that ties in the back as well…for when I go crazy from all of this whining and gnashing of teeth (5 of them to be exact).

I got the itch again during Lorelei’s nap-time. No, I don’t have some weird fungal infection…I mean, the creative itch…I needed to do something with my hands…my mind.

I had seen a cool tutorial for a skirt a while back, and I thought I’d give it a try. During nap-time. So, I calculate my measurements and make my adjustments and even use another skirt as reference. A few hours later, I’m finished and Lorelei is awake.

Too bad it didn’t fit. That’s what I get for making baby clothes during NAP-TIME.

EDIT: I used THIS tute.

Friday, Baby L got some mail (just in time for her birthday) from her great-grandparents.  My Ma (we call them Ma and Pa) had had surgery (kidney removed, actually) not too long ago and wasn’t quite feeling up to the party.  So, she sent a card and money…and here’s L with it on her Birthday Eve (and yes, I totally just made that word up).

Lorelei loves money, but as you can see…not as much as she does her cards. 

Happy First Birthday, Baby Girl!!  Look what mommy and daddy got you!

A Crayola Colorfall Sudsworks!  –I’ll review this one later…but let’s just say I am NOT happy with it.  Crayola is about to get a nice and lovely letter.

THE PARTY!

When: 12 Noon
Where: Mimi’s (my mom’s) house
What: Lorelei’s Bday Party (ONE YEAR)

Decorations: giant pom-poms hung from the ceiling in different shades of pink and lime green (handmade), lime green tablecloths, and a pink bouquet (stargazer lillies and pink roses).

Food:  Pink Lemonade and bottled water.  Grilled hamburgers and hotdogs and toasted buns (which were awesome – Steven has mad skills on the grill).  Chips.  Baked Beans.  Strawberry Cupcakes with a Strawberry Glaze, some Cool Whip, and chocolate dipped strawberries on top.

Who (the people who showed):
Me, Steven, and Lorelei (duh)
Mimi and Gramps (my parents)
Grams (my grandmother) and the original Gramps (in spirit)
Josh and Katelynn (My bro and his lovely gf)
Aunt Sheila and Uncle Ben
Aunt Phyllis
Grandpa (Steven’s dad…aka Bill)
MaryKate and Kamryn
Aunt Teresa, Kandi, and Hope
Carrie and Bella
and Uncle Wally even took a break from hunting to swing in and wish the birthday girl lots of fun…

Her Outfit:  the dress I made for her (and pants and a LS shirt for warmth)

This look.  Yep, that’s pretty much the look we got while singing her Happy Birthday.  She wasn’t quite sure what was going on.

Blow out the candle!!  Or not.

Let’s play in the cake…

And in it goes…

Mmm…Cool Whip.

Oh ho!!!!!

Why hello…are you looking at me???

Cake Destroyer

Lorelei loves (at one year):Braincandy DVDs!! I can’t tell you enough how much I LOVE these DVDs (and L too). We have the Baby Einstein and a TON of other DVDs…but these. She. loves. them. Usually, she’ll watch an educational dvd for 10 minutes tops. These hold her attention for 45 minutes STRAIGHT (if we let her). -And, a quick disclaimer…while I don’t recommend letting DVDs and the such being the only way your child learns or acting as a babysitter 24/7, they really are OKAY if used sparingly and as learning AIDS (meaning they have hands on learning too). Anyway. These rock.

Board books and cloth books. We technically don’t have the one pictured…but I’m sure she’d love that one too! Books are one of her favorite things!
Little People. She loves these things!! She received 2 of these and 2 mini backyardigans from her Granny for Easter and she’ll carry them to and fro in her hands EVERYWHERE.
Fisher Price “walker”. It’s a walker, interactive toy (with music! – and the buttons make lights flash and all sorts of things), has compartments to put toys in and take toys out, ride-on toy, and roll-y toy all in one! She can spend a good hour playing with this thing – and it will grow with her! (It also helps barricade the stairs – haha)

And, this one…well…technically, it’s my pick. Although….Lorelei DOES love turning the pages (and trying to rip them out) and will try to carry it around. But, it’s up here for YOU. By now you are totally used to and have probably identified most of the child-raising how-to books that are mostly all the same. But, this one is different: It looks beyond the physical differences and stages your child will be experiencing and focuses on the psychological and behavioral stages and development. VERY GREAT book. Focuses on Birth to 3.  (By the way…there ARE more Touchpoints books for different ages)

****If you are family/friends reading this (for Lorelei’s birthday), we already have this entire list – so, I’m not hinting around. HOWEVER, check HERE for the major hints for things she’d love (or, if you want some more ideas for your own little one).

(Lorelei, trying to get to the stairs.  She just realized there’s more to this house she has yet to explore and is quite set on getting up there.  My toy blockade I set up isn’t really deterring or distracting her.)

From Lime.com 

Well, spring is finally in the air, and that means dandelions — a menace to some, but to an urban forager, they’re a delight. These yellow-haloed herbaceous plants can be used virtually in their entirety, are packed with essential vitamins and minerals (including calcium, potassium, iron, and vitamins A, B-6, C, and E) and best of all, are absolutely free. Heck, some gardeners would probably even pay you to take them away. And as long as you make sure you’re not harvesting from an area where pesticides are used (in many cities, this information is required to be posted nearby), for absolutely no money down, you can be gorging away like a frugal gourmet until summer’s end. Here’s what you need to know.

Leaves:

For salads and garnishes, the first young leaves are best (the ones before the plant flowers). Try them in place of arugula or endive. Mid-to-late season leaves are better as a cooking green — steaming, sautéing, or briefly boiling with a little apple cider vinegar or lemon juice will cut the bitterness, and don’t forget the garlic!

Roots:

While it’s hard for your average urban espresso junkie to take anything billed as a “coffee substitute” very seriously, it is true that a concoction of roasted dandelion root does taste vaguely like the real deal (ok, let’s be honest, really vaguely), but its healthful properties are reason enough to want to try it, regardless of the taste. For best results, harvest your roots in late summer/early fall, scrub clean, then place in a 200-degree oven for 1-2 hours, until dry. Turn heat to 375 and roast until dark brown (about 20 more minutes), then grind coarsely in a coffee grinder or blender. Brew with a Melitta-style filter, or in a teaball.

Flowers:

Dandelion flowers are so sunshine-y you almost feel bad for chopping them up, but there’s definitely something fun about creating edibles from this ubiquitous weed. While most people know about dandelion wine, they don’t realize that the blossoms can also be mixed in with pancake batter, fried in cornmeal, pickled in vinegar, or boiled with sugar, lemon, and pectin to make a sweet jelly. Fresh-picked dandelions are best of course, but if you need to store them, freezing them works too.

Now go forth and graze!