21 Days to Change the World

2009-03-15T22:11:00.002-04:00

Oh you want to know what this is all about.

You definitely do.

At least, if you have kids around this week - you do. Or you have friends that have kids around.

Or whatever.

Check it out here:

http://scrappykimzkorner.blogspot.com/2009/03/mom-stuff-and-mason-jar-obsession.html

Rain and smells and random ramblings

2009-03-10T23:07:00.004-04:00

If all of the raindrops were lemon drops and gumdrops

Oh what a rain it would be...

I would stand outside with my mouth open wide - ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah

I love that song. Great one for the shower...

Ok... other than money... and chocolate because I think those are fairly obvious - what do you wish was falling from the sky right now instead of rain?

Come on - something great. What is it for you?

I myself do love really crunchy red seedless grapes (freshly washed of course and nice and cold)

And dill pickle chips are fab although kind of sharp falling down maybe.

Green olives. Yum!

Pickled beets too. Imagine the mess though. We would look like the movie Carrie! Ick!

Speaking of a mess - we have a dog. She's kind of a pain in the ass, if you know what I mean. And she smells bad right now. (Long story - I did just bath her though - she has "issues")

And when I look longing out into the rain of my backyard, I do really love a good rain, all I can see is her poop. There I have said it. And I will admit, I have looked through the fence at the neighbour's yard to make sure that she has poop all over hers too and she does. Which makes me feel a lot better about our dog poop, if there is any good feelings about it to be had.

I did spare you all by not photographing it for you and posting it here. No need to thank me. I can just feel the loving thanks coming through the net as you read this. (Seriously - there really is a lot of it out there).

Have you ever called a Dr. Poop or Doggie Doo-doo service? We haven't but our neighbour has. Just wondering if you thought it was worthwhile - that's all. I usually just wait until we have had a few dry days strung together, you can imagine why I would do that, and then I rake it all into the shovel and into the garbahgio. I am sure there is a lovely, more eco-way of dealing with it, but I don't know what it is. If you've got a suggestion, I am opening to hearing it for about another week or so. Then I will just go out and deal with it.

I hope it storms tonight - I LOVE that.

(Great pic above courtesy of some random website I found when I googled "rain image" - called The Firefly Forest - kudos!)

Question of the Day

2009-03-04T09:39:00.002-05:00

If you eat two packets of Quaker Weight Control oatmeal and you mix it with tons of grapes, raisins and berries and then you put cinnamon sugar on top - is it still weight control?

What about if you wash it down with 3 cups of coffee over the course of the morning?

I'm thinking probably not - but yum!

This weekend is going to be the one that works!

2009-02-20T15:40:00.004-05:00

I have been spinning my wheels but no more!

This year has not started out well for health and wellness in our family. We have had chicken pox - then a mysterious virus that couldn't be identified - now DD has a chest cold and DS has a fever and can't eat with headaches. MAN!

Ok - so it could be worse...

With all of this I have missed a few days of work and become behind in my housework etc etc etc. So now, this weekend - I will get it all done. How? Don't know yet. But I am determined to go to work on Monday am completely in charge of the world. Well, my world anyway.

I will try and post a few updates here - but if I don't get to it, you will know why.

When I sit down at night to rest - I am going to work on this guy.

In the world of Flylady they call this a Control Journal. Except this one ain't pretty. I think that's why I don't love it and want it out in the public eye - so it goes out of sight and then out of mind. It is meant to hold all of your important paperwork. Contact info - schedules, menus, lists, stamps, bills (except we always pay online as soon as they arrive to get them out of the way), school lists etc etc.

For a long time, I had it going strong - but I have let it go. I am going to get it going again. And I want to make it pretty... Then maybe I will leave it out where it can be seen and used. We'll see how it goes. No pressure...

If I get it all set-up I will let you know and get some pics for you. I did find some cool things in it when I opened it up last week - like an article about my parents from the local paper regarding adopting older dogs (Good Ole Uncle Bogey). Sorta fun to browse through my life circa 2006ish.

Do you have one? What's in yours?

Just 'cause I love y'all... here's a recipe for you! Nice warm wintery soup for you and yours...

Can you tell things have fallen off the rails for me?

2009-02-18T16:07:00.004-05:00

Well they kind of have.
However, the things I did work on seemed to mostly stick. I reorganized my kitchen and re-purposed all the cupboards. See my cookbooks above - now they are all out in the open where I might actually use them. And I have if you want to know... see out of sight out of mind is totally true!

I would like to tell you that my sink is always empty - but it would be a big fat lie. It is a lot more often empty though and that is something.

I am still using a lot less plastic bags but sometimes I forget. On the weekend I went around the house and found all the reuseables that had migrated to different areas and collected them all up again. Now they are ready to go back in the car where they belong (and get used).

Last month, I told you about my jars and Chef Michael - well - that one STUCK and I am IN LOVE with the system. To show you - I took some pictures I thought you might like.

Baking on top two shelves - all of my herbs and spices on the bottom - you may not be able to tell but the jars are 3 deep in some places! Tons of stuff fits in this cupboard!

Do you see Gabby's Girl Gourmet cupcake maker? All her "baking" stuff fit in here too...

See how I labeled them? You can't see them but they are there so you never have to front-face them! How very Sleeping with the Enemy of me... Mwah ha ha.

Seriously - do I have a problem?

Here lives all my pots and pans. Since I do cook at home more than we take-out these get used all the time. This means that in the old cupboard they never stayed stacked. This spinny cupboard as we lovingly named it used to hold all the canned goods. Problem was, I never knew what I had because it would get buried at the back or in the middle of shelves.

Just a question - who WAS Susan and was she really lazy? Somehow I doubt it!

Now I am posting this picture - and now that I have taken it I realize I need to sweep... however, here are all my canned goods. I think the kids chucked that crackers in there - but all my pasta is on the left, oils at the bottom... canned in behind - you get the idea. And I know what is in here because I can mostly see everything...

LOVE it.

Last but not least, my apothecary jar who lives on the counter. Now you tell me - do any of your cupboards comfortably hold an upright cereal box without taking up all the space?

Mine don't.

So I bought this guy and he holds the cereal. Now I am not going to apologize for the lack of homemade granola here girls - it's Cinnamon Toast Crunch and I'll tell you - it never goes stale in this house. The black thing you see is my 1/2 cup measuring spoon which stays in here. The kids get their own breakie in the morning now - and almost no mess... One of the best $6.99s (I think!) I ever spent on a home organization device...

Chef Michael - we love you!

2009-01-25T22:59:00.002-05:00

Do you ever watch Chef at Home?
With Michael Smith and his wife (no idea what her name is - only that she has curly dark hair and a maritimes accent) and his cutie patootie Gabe?
Ok. Well, if you don't - you should.
That is all I will say about it.

So once you watch it like the good little blog followers that you are - you will undoubtably see his incredible amazing much-coveted pantry.
Oh yeah Michael Smith - well I spent all day today... (and I do mean ALL DAY) taking every single thing out of every single cupboard in my kitchen. Then - I cleaned them and put every single thing away. Except for all the things that I am purging.

I am purging my toaster oven (never use it), old electric tiny juicer, rice/veggie steamer which is just another thing to plug in and then wash and put the 50 parts away again and a multitude of cookie tins, strange lids to things which I don't remember and much, much more.

And if you have seen Michael Smith - you will know about the Mason Jar. Now I LOVE mason jars. Weird, I know.
They are just so darn useful.

Today I sent hubby off to Canadian Tire to load up on even more mason jars. I was tad worried since it isn't really pickling season that he wouldn't find them but there were tons over there. He also stopped by the bulk barn for me to get some gluten free pasta and a few spices I was running out of.

I put every spice from my existing cupboard in its own tiny mason jar.
Then I labeled them (on the bottom) using my fantastic dymo label maker. What an awesome Christmas gift that thing is - we use it a lot!
I put all of my baking supplies in mason jars or giant plastic containers, also picked up by DH today. Labeled those suckers too.
Then I put all my pasta, rice etc etc etc in jars and put them all away.
I switched around almost every cupboard. All my pots are where my cans were and vice versa.
I imagine it will be pretty funny watching me cook around here for the next few days. People may here the odd "crap", "damn" or "sugarballs" around here when I reach in the wrong dang cupboard until I get used to it all.

But when I open the cupboards now - and all the Tupperware is stacked, lids on, ready for use - I swear I can hear the angels choir singing Hallelujah just for me. And for hubby too.

If I wasn't totally dog-tired right now I would take a picture and upload it for you. But that part will have to wait until another day.

I hope you are all doing well!

Monkey Wrenches and Sidestreets

2009-01-05T11:08:00.004-05:00

We have SPOTS over here!
Actually it's my son - he has the chicken pox poor kid. And he is COVERED. When my daughter had them they were so mild and few that it was almost a non-event, like, what's the big deal guys?

Now I know.
Boy do I know. My heart is breaking for this little trooper because he is so tough and brave but dying to scratch. And it's early days yet.

We have been doing tons of snuggling. I have brawled using Bakugans a lot. I never win one battle. Not one. But it sure is funny when he says, "That's okay mom, you might win next time" and then proceeds to kick my butt again.

We stayed up until 1am watching Ironman because that is what he wanted to do and he couldn't sleep anyway with the itching.

Today we will make a great grocery list and go through the freezer, pantry and try to menu plan using some of the many things we already have. I am famous for buying more and more and more. If there is ever a blackout/snowstorm and you can get yourself here - I can feed you. Especially if you like baked beans, rice or chick peas. Or frozen waffles. Or granola bars. We got em aplenty. And thank goodness for that.

Make a menu for the week if you can. I am going to try. Now that we are all back-to-school/work/karate/sports (except for the chicken pock kid) we gotta get back on track.
Jump on too if you like.

Here's wishing you an itch-free long-nap kind of day.
I'm tired.

I Resolve...

2009-01-01T22:50:00.002-05:00

Do you make resolutions?
I sometimes do and sometimes don't.

I think I will this year...
I think I might even add to them as the days go by this week on the way back to work...
I have been off on holidays since mid-December - my longest vacay ever - and I have to say, it is like a dream. A crazy, busy but extremely awesome and fun dream. As there are still a few days before reality... school, sports, work, lunch-packing, diet maintaining duties - I think I will revel in it.

Like today, for example - I resolved to stay in my pjs all day and do basically nothing.
Mission accomplished. We played hours of Animal Crossing on the Wii with the kids. We did not answer the phone (sorry to anyone who may have called). We didn't really clean up. We chilled and snuggled. My daughter, who just turned 8 on the 30th of December made her 1st muffins from scratch with no help and minimal supervision. I just got the things out of the cupboard and put them back. She did the rest - dishes and all. I cooked a pot roast for the fam... A sandwich for me. I cheated on my diet and I am ok with it.

Tomorrow - I clean.
The alarm will be set for 7am. I will jump out of bed and get dressed "all the way to my shoes" as Flylady would say. I will put up my hair and start a pot of coffee. I am deciding tonight which room I will start in.

I vote, front hall and living room. That is where I will start tomorrow am.
Once begun in half done right?
How hard was that?

I am even going to put my runners in the bathroom for a reminder when I get out of bed.
If I can get this crazy place tidy I will be happy for when all the company comes over this weekend. And really, as I look around - it's not more than an hour or two away from really quite sparkly all over. Just need to put some more decorations away and find a home for some of the new toys and games. Gotta mop and dust, dust and mop.

As for the long term - I resolve:
-To be nice to myself and thank myself for all I do by being happy.
-To have a million experiences. We started by going to the Rangers game the other night and I even went and got my daughter's picture on the big screen for her birthday. She was tickled. A small feat for a big reward.
-I will use all of my gift certificates. I have gift certificates for all kinds of places. I will redeem them to $0 because I deserve to enjoy the gifts I have been given. And I will use them on me - not on stuff for the kids.
-I will go horseback riding this year.
-I will take pictures til the cows come home.
-I will continue on my healthy eating journey.
-I will exercise at least 3 times per week.
-I will try and bring my lunch to work.
-I will go and see Mickey and Goofy (really - we are going in May!!)
-I will say I love you more often.
-I will add to this list and check back in on it often.
-I will continue to make a difference in the world, in my own way.

Do you have resolutions?
You should write them down if you do.
If you don't - that's cool. A list is only good if you check it off completed anyway and it doesn't work for everyone.
This year, I wish you peace and happiness in all the ways you can never buy.
Happy 2009.

2008-12-26T22:32:00.006-05:00

It has been insane.

I wasn't ready for Christmas. Were you?

I mean, I made it in under the wire. Last minute crazy mall shopping against my will.

In fact, I actually have two more presents to buy for people I won't see until next week.

I have ideas you understand - but not the presents.

Ok.

I don't really have any ideas either.

And my house is

SIDE

You wouldn't believe one house could be in this state. And Christmas morning wasn't even here - we sleep over and open presents at my parents house and then cart it all back here in bins and bags and everything is now strewn from room-to-room.

However, it was, in a word - SPECTACULAR.

And I am sorry that I haven't blogged.

Disgraceful.

I hope you and your families had a most incredible and amazing holiday.

And that you all have a wonderful new year too.

I am not going to promise to blog in the next day or two. I will really try!

But I am going to promise to clean my house and put everything away tomorrow. (Except it is fun to keep it out and play with all the new stuff - if I put it away we might forget about something right???)

I promise to make a martian.

And to play this:

And I think that is as far as I want to plan. It's more fun to just go with it once in a while right?

Although I am going to pick up some groceries, maybe a nice roast for the family...? Ahhh Betty has been missing me like I have been missing her...

And some logs for the fireplace. Hmmm.... That sounds nice already!

Peace xoxo

2008-12-10T08:06:00.002-05:00

Today is a great day.
Yesterday was a great day.
Yesterday when I was walking into the front door of my work - I was thinking - who has it as good as I do at work?
I couldn't think of anyone.
My day only got better after that -- even though it is an extremely busy time right now.
And at home I am busy too.
But I am pretty lucky.

Today's job is to make sure your sink is still shiny. Do one load of laundry. Just one all the way through - dried, folded and put away. When you are putting the load in the washer - try this. Sort enough clothes for the next load. Then stop. Leave in on the floor or in a basket of its own in front of the washer.
When you move your washed load to the dryer - see if you can stop yourself from putting that new load in the washer.
Don't turn the machine on if you don't have time or intention to see it all the way through - but - put in the washer for next time you are ready.
Just an idea for today...

Do something lovely for yourself today. Have a bubblebath. Light some special candles. Read for an hour - something frivolous or meaningfull, whatever... Drink a cup of tea or coffee and really enjoy it. You deserve to feel amazing today!

MWAH!

A tiny bit of space causes a large adjustment!

2008-12-07T23:13:00.003-05:00

My son (the younger of my 2 kids) lost his 1st tooth today. My last baby is becoming a big kid!

I myself still feel like I am a teenager most of the time. So how can my kids be losing teeth and getting older?

So not cool.

Wasn't he just born yesterday? Or at least just last week?

Man -- he is one handsome kid though.

Thanks for letting me share a bit!

It's Day One again...

Got all the teachers gifts purchased today. Made a couple of Christmas cards.

Best of all, I went out with my daughter, mom and sister - I saw some friends at a shop we all love and I had some lovely snuggle time with dh and kids.

What could be better?

I hope you had some quiet, family or friend time today with some loved ones.

Tomorrow -- try and give your bathroom a quick wipedown and swish your toilet really fast before you go to work - or before you leave your house in the morning.

Makes a big difference!

Today is Day #21!! We have a Winner!

2008-12-06T09:21:00.005-05:00

Ok - so it's Day #21 and I can officially say that the shiny sink thing is ALMOST a habit. I say almost because there have been one or two nights where I just couldn't drag myself back to the sink to empty it and clean it out at night. And I am being honest - it has been more recently than I would like - but - every time I had to wake up to a yucky sink full of yucky stuff I was sad about it and vowed to do better.

How's it been going for you?

I found that this sink generally kept all the counters clean if not the kitchen table. And the tidying around the house has been a lot more awesome. Since my relatives came over to visit we have done a pretty good job of keeping things at least tidy enough that if someone came to the door - I wouldn't be embarassed.

Flylady calls this the CHAOS - or - Can't-Have-Anyone-Over-Syndrome which in our house was pretty often. Check her out more at http://www.flylady.net/. So it is all getting better. I think I would like 21 more days to keep working on my house and home habits and since none of you commented otherwise - I will assume it's alright with all of you.

During the next 21 days, I will share with you my home successes, shopping triumphs and the continuing saga of the plastic bag phenomenon. Can you believe 2 terms of 21 days are up?

In this time, my husband and I have also been on a very huge change in our food/diet lifestyle. To date, (about 5 weeks have passed) I have lost 8.5 pounds and my husband has lost 11 pounds plus both of us have lost many, many inches. Man we have got lots going on lately around here!

Jenn - My sister Laura drew the names and you are the winner of the bracelet giveaway! Send me an email with your address and I will mail it to you - or if you are going to our favourite store this weekend by chance, let me know - I will be there tomorrow for part of the afternoon... Maybe we can run into each other there and I can give it to you in person!

I wanted to share with you all some cool shopping bags I found. Remember I said that I found some cool ones with a cool store? Well - here are some pix:

So here it is... only 99cents and made entirely from 2L plastic bottles. The store owner (Tootsies - if you have one near you, stop in and grab some of these!) told me that the cost is 99 cents for him to buy but he doesn't try to make money on them - he just wants to do his part in the environment too by selling them at cost...

So this is how many of my Christmas gifts will be delivered this year - this is our replacement for wrapping paper... Cheaper and reuseable!

Here is what it says on the tag:

"This reuseable bag is made from approximately 4 recycled plastic bottles. That's a very good thing.

-Annually we consume in excess of 500 billion plastic bags. That's 1 million per minute.

-Only 1 in 200 single use plastic bags is actually recycled.

-Every plastic bag ever used still exists today, and will exist for up to 1,000 years. Plastic bags are not biodegradable.

-This bag is 100% recyclable.

-This bag is made from 85% post consumer recycled plastic.

-This bag can replace 50 or more non-recyclable bags.

-This is all a step in the right direction for the environment and the future."

Pretty cool right?!

And the black tie version:

What did I get done so far? PD Days off work rock!

2008-12-05T15:49:00.007-05:00

1. Parent Teacher Interview - check.

2. All the new dishes washed, dried and put away - check. These are them - hot right?!!! I am so totally stoked - Orange is my favourite colour ever! And these are a nice pumpkin smoky orange which is fantastic!

3. At least 2 people crossed off the Christmas list? - At least. I think I can cross off 5 or 6 once I sit down with the list and double check. I will update the list while sitting at the dojo during karate tonight.

4. Old dishes found a new home - check. Our friend and daycare provider was happy to take them off our hands. They are nice dishes - I have just had them for AGES and want to redecorate in here. Already washed up and delivered.

5. Recipes - no baking was made today so far. However, I do have meatballs in the crockpot for the family with homemade sauce (I made it up by grabbing items from the fridge - hope it tastes good!) If it gets raves reviews I will post for you all. Meatball subs it is! The kids are pumped.

6. I did not get all the wrapping paper organized - but I did call my grandma for a big chat, which I have been meaning to do. Important jobs like this need attention.

7. Karate gi - washed and dried and ready to put on in a few minutes.

8. Healthy food all day. Check!

9. I did not get my soy latté today but that's ok - I did get a Timmys which made me happy as well! Tomorrow maybe on my travels...

10. Purse purged, sorted and put back together...

Wanna see? It really wasn't as bad as I thought. The danger of a big purse is a big bunch of stuff you don't need in it. But there wasn't a lot once I dumped it out. Just seemed like it.

Did you do your purse today?

That AERO bar was my son's. The kids helped me clean the purse by eating those.

Not too bad right. I put away my Christmas receipts, chucked the rest and filed.

I checked the ipod for battery power - still good.

I put one of my 2 pairs of mitts in the closet.

I organized and files the papers that were in there and put the jewellery away. Awesome!

Went Christmas Shopping tonight... Figured something out, made my list and checked it twice.

2008-12-04T22:11:00.003-05:00

Figured out:
I need to clean out my purse.
Seriously.
It's full of S*T*U*F*F
I hate stuff in my purse.

So Tomorrow:
*There will be pictures of the purse purge.
*And I will draw a name for the bracelet and pop it in the mail. (So go and comment on that post if you haven't already - you might win!)
*I will show you the amazing thing I ordered from AVON to bring order to my gift wrapping needs this Christmas.
*I will post a recipe for 3 quick and easy teacher/coworker gifts that literally take under 10 minutes each to prepare and look yummolicious...
*And I bought some amazing shopping bags made entirely out of recycled 2L pop bottles. I will post a pic and tell you where I got them. 99 cents - Yahoo!
*I will knock at least 2 people off my Christmas list because it is a PD day here and after parent/teacher interviews are done in the morning - I am hitting the shops, sans enfants if you know what I mean, and getting it done!
*I will eat amazing healthy food all day with no JUNK.
*I will get myself a Starbucks soy latté because I deserve it as a special treat
*I will print and enlarge a photo at Blacks I recently took of my sister-in-law and brother-in-law. Then I will frame it because it is their 20th wedding anniversary in a few days, and the picture turned out great. I am kind of proud of the picture actually.

Tonight:
I scored some seriously great Christmas presents at an unexpected place for an amazing deal.
I also got all new dishes for my kitchen which I have been wanting to do for years. Literally. So I found the most incredible prices and even though it is so close to Christmas, I couldn't pass them up. Too cheap and EXACTLY my colour (Pam - you will die when you see!)

Tonight I won't:
I need to clean up in this house again - but not tonight. Every day starts out amazing and by 10pm somehow a little tornado has ripped through this place displacing things. I am going to enlist the help of said tornado(s) tomorrow morning in rectifying this situation.

Right now:
I am going to bed. Right now. Going to snuggle with my daughter (yes I know, she's still awake - but it's a special PD Day eve!!!) and read a book with her.

Do you know what you are doing tomorrow?
Make a list.
It's great.

Day #18 What should we do next?

2008-12-03T19:53:00.002-05:00

I think we should keep going on improving our homes for another 21 days - get us through to Christmas holidays - then start a new poll with all of us to decide what is next? Is that cool with everyone?

Today I am going to give you a crockpot recipe as promised... I almost never cook from recipes, which I know drives some people crazy I know (you know who you are...). So I am kind of just going to wing it here too... But I will try and be as precise as I can for you. I am not a chef - I wish I were - so I can't vouch for it turning out perfectly.. Only that I have made these recipes many times and they turned out for us 'kay?

You should also know that I don't eat any meat. I won't even taste it so I am going on the word of the family that it tastes good...

Chicken in the crockpot. Just did this one last week!
--Buy a chicken. A whole one. In pieces, like a kentucky 9-cut or whole. If you are working with whole bird check for gizzards and stuff inside and discard (ick!) and you want the skin on and the bones in. Since it will be cooking for a long time - these are a good idea.
--Set the crockpot to low and if you have a timer - use it. I have one but haven't exactly figured it out so I just set mine to the lowest setting and leave it all day while I am at work. Sometimes that is 8 or 9 hours. Perfect.
--Using your favourite spice mixture (italian seasoning, cajun or mexican blends are all mixtures I have tried) coat the bird all over while the skin is fairly dry. Then it will stick.
--Add 1/2 a can or bottle of beer. If you don't have that - add 1 cup of white wine. If you don't have that - use 1 cup of chicken or vegetable broth.
--Throw in a whole bunch of garlic cloves peeled but not necessarily chopped. Saves time.
--Toss in a whole chopped onion, white, yellow, sweet, not sweet - doesn't matter.
--I add about 1/2 a pint of grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes - whole, not chopped.
--Add 1/2 cup of your favourite tomato sauce or BBQ sauce - homemade or store bought, doesn't matter around the chicken.
--Cook all day. When you get home the bones should just fall right out of this guy.

TIP: You know a chicken is cooked when you pierce it with a fork down to the bone and the juices run clear.

--Cut it up, serve with your favourite side or salad.
--Enjoy!

Follow us!

2008-12-02T17:59:00.002-05:00

Hey!

If you aren't already a follower of this blog officially, click the Follow button at the bottom on the right hand column to receive updates when we add a new post...

Come on! You know you want to!

How else could you get lovely recipes from Betty Crockerpot pictured above. Tonight I will look up one of my crockpot recipes and share it for you on here. I LOVE her.
If you have named your crockpot too - let me know. It's silly but fun!

Prize up for grabs... Tell your friends!

2008-12-02T17:52:00.004-05:00

I know it isn't much - but I used to make beaded jewellery and a friend gave me her lovely beads when she purged her craft room last week. She is moving to a new home and is taking this opportunity to get rid of things she won't use anymore and passed them along to me. Smart गर्ल for purging!

So I made her a bracelet to say thanks (which she loved I guess...) and I made this one for you guys. Well.. one of you guys anyway!

Post a comment in this thread and try to tell at least one friend about this blog before Friday at 6pm and I will draw a winner and send you this in the mail. You will note - it has 21 beads on it!!!

Sorry I haven't updated in the last couple of days - my house is upside down right now with the flu. I came home sick from work at lunchtime today and by the time I got my coat off I got a call from school to pick up my daughter - then at 3:30 my daycare provider arrived with my son in her van, he had just been sick all over the washroom in his Kindergarten class as well. Poor thing - he was so embarrassed! So - it has been eventful around here and it's keeping me (even though I am sick myself) walking around disinfecting things around the house today... Argh...

Comments trouble...

2008-12-01T10:40:00.004-05:00

Hey guys!

I have been having some trouble with the comments section - my email was putting all your wonderful comments in the spam and I just found them all now but I can't retrieve them for some reason... Hopefully they are surfing back through cyberspace and will pop into my inbox shortly so I can share them.

Sorry about that!! So, if you have been wondering where your comments went - that's what happened.

Home today so I have a couple of posts for you I will try and get up on here - and a giveaway!

Stay tuned!!!

Saturday - Day #14!! Lots to share

2008-11-29T09:01:00.005-05:00

So much has been going on... Lots of new things to share and information to pass along.
For starters - I have a few links regarding plastic shopping bags. I will be honest - it is SUPER hard to leave the plastic bags behind when going in for Christmas gifts, especially on my lunch break because even with my purse bag - it isn't enough! But I am doing pretty well. I haven't had to grab to many and all that I take I reuse reuse reuse.

Some good news locally for us regarding this... Our stores will all now have a plastic bag charge of 5cents to discourage people from taking bags... while a few people grumble, most see the need. Thanks to Pam for the links!

Here is the link to our local newspaper here in Ontario...
http://news.therecord.com/article/450871

And one from Toronto - http://www.cp24.com/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20081126/081126_plasticbag/20081126/?hub=CP24Home

This plastic "tax" has worked in other countries and regions. We'll see what it does for our consumption around here.

In our family, we have decided not to wrap presents this year as much as possible. I think Santa will still be sending his gifts in the traditional paper but for the rest of the gifts, from mom and dad and aunts and uncles and nanny and poppy it will be cloth shopping bags. When you think about it - a shiny gift bag is often $1.99 at least while a cloth shopping bag is only 99 cents. With this new rule at the grocery stores, it may be more challenging for a little while to get bags so I am going to snap them up for Christmas while I can!

My mom Kathy wrote a great post for us regarding the purchase of Christmas presents and toys for kids - read it right now! Right here:
**********************
Christmas is a perfect time for decluttering…the house is cleaned in preparation for decorating and some of our things are packed away while our seasonal favourites take centre stage. As you unpack our Christmas treasures, check for items that are damaged and either repair or discard. Evaluate what you have and using the “one – in, one- out rule – don’t accumulate any more than you can comfortably store.
While on the topic of decluttering, be mindful of adding clutter to your home and others by falling prey to the lure of fancy gadgets and trendy toys that will soon be gathering dust. Before purchasing the latest “must have” gift for children, take some time to learn more about it. Let the child see it “in person”…maybe it’s not as great as it seems on TV. Consider the play value, will it be something that will be enjoyed for months to come ? How about a “disposable gift” like a gift certificate for movies or an indoor playground or a membership to a children’s museum.
Finally, going back to our first 21 days, find environmentally friendly ways to wrap your gifts. Many stores sell reusable shopping bags for less than the price of a paper gift bag that is only useful one day a year ! Use your imagination to decorate the bag with bows or tags to give it the festive touch. With a little effort we can all enjoy a “Green” Christmas ! Happy Holidays everyone !
Kathy
***********************************************

Thanks Mom for your thoughts and for the inspiration to change our wrapping habits. I know we have definitely decided that less is more this Christmas - and we have also limited the number of gifts we are exchanging. We already have all that we need... so we will still have lots of presents to enjoy I am certain of it - but we are sharing our bounty with all of the charities we donate to, the sending of our old toys out for others to enjoy, the Angel Tree (we have always given to this amazing group), and getting just a few good toys that they will really play with is making a difference.

Ok - I am not a super uptight person except for a few things. Mostly if you open a drawer in this house - expecially the kitchen - it is probably cluttered and unorganized and you have to dig for the item you want. It's in the right drawer mind you, just not all lined up nice and neat. I have more interesting things to do than line up my wooden spoons, you know what I mean? With 2 kids and pets and a husband who from time to time puts the dishes away, I can't really enforce a line 'em up set of rules around here I don't think.

But, 2 things I get a little uptight about - the fridge (where I store my family's nourishment!) and my cupboards of spices and cans. I forward face labels like at the grocery store most of the time, kinda like that guy in the movie Sleeping with the Enemy only not in the same creepy scary way I hope. My fridge is usually super organized. Not today mind you... but on Sunday when I am back from grocery shopping - I clean it out. So much easier to do it all the time. Here is your job for this weekend if you have time. You need about an hour for this job depending on how your fridge looks right now. Mine takes less time now because I do it often but the first time was about an hour for sure...

1. Open fridge. Take a "Before" picture if you want. I find it satisfying to look back after - but it's up to you...
2. Get a pen and paper and put it beside you.
3. Grab a bowl of soapy water and a rag or other cleaner for the shelves.
3. Grab your kitchen garbage can and have a bag for recycling next to your sink.
4. Start on the top shelf. Take everything off the top shelf and take it right out of the fridge. If there are any jars that are almost empty and you know you won't use that little bit - put them in the sink for rinsing and recycling. Don't start washing them yet - just put them in the sink. Check inside your cream cheese, sour cream or other containers and see what's doing. You may find the source of funky odours this way. Better out than in right?!
5. Before you replace what is left - add any items you have to replace on a list (a ha, the reason for the pen and paper!) - but don't buy things you didn't finish unless you know for sure you need them for a recipe this week. It can wait until you need it and then you are saving money too.
6. Wipe the shelf.
6. Replace the items. I line stuff up or put them in groups that make sense together when I put them back - but you don't have to.
7. Repeat on the rest of the shelves
8. Do the crispers and the door. Take all the junk out and wash or wipe these down too.
9. Get the garbage out and rinse and either find a use in the house for or recycle those plastic containers and glass bottles... But here is the thing - you can't keep them if you aren't going to use them RIGHT AWAY - then they are just clutter again!

When you are done you will have a good grocery list started - just check the cupboards and the freezer and away you go!

The other cupboard is my spices. Did you know spices go bad? I didn't realize that until I recently watched one of the many cooking shows I love (that's the only tv I actually watch - food network, so fab!) and they were talking about getting rid of old spices. Makes sense because you know who have opened that package of rancid walnuts or funky almond slivers in the cupboard - or ack - pine nuts! Right? Can't you smell it right now just thinking about it?
And who wants icky nuts in your baking - not me! Spices, as it turns out, same deal. You gotta check for freshness and replace. I think buying those giant bulk sized packages are maybe a bad idea unless you feed large crews of people all the time. I like to use a large variety of spices all the time - so I have small quantities of many. The only exception maybe is at canning time...

Here is the inside of my mom's spice cupboard - doesn't it look FANTASTIC! All label maker-ed up! Gooooo mom!

Going to a Christmas party out of town tonight. Trying to get revved up. Not super pumped just yet because I don't know what I am wearing and what the kids are wearing. Gonna get off this computer and go get that done!

Have a great day everyone! Have a wonderful Saturday!

Day #11 - halfway!!

2008-11-26T23:08:00.001-05:00

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has."
Margaret Mead

Just something to think about...

Day #10 - It's Tuesday... How's it going?

2008-11-25T21:59:00.003-05:00

I have a bunch of pix to share from around our house. I kept promising these and then would run out of time... And I have a few tips to share tonight as well...

Also we have a wicked name for the crockpot! Thanks ladies for sending in your ideas. I fell in love right away with the name!

She is called "Betty Crocker-pot!" Isn't that BRILLIANT!

I will post you guys a recipe for your crockpot this week for sure!

See above - what you see there is my kitchen at 6:39 pm.

But how does it look at 7:39pm. Look down. And what is that in the middle of the stove? Tonight's dinner? No my friends, read on!!

Those dishes in the sink are clean. When I stopped to take the picture, I was helped my girl with her homework - so these are just drying up in the sink! All clean - NOT guilty! Ha ha ha!

Tip: If you put a pretty display on any appropriate flat surface, see my dining table here, you are a lot less likely to place junk or piles of stuff on it either. Doesn't it still look pretty after almost an entire week. And I promise - except for dusting it on the weekend - nothing has been piled here at all - and I have added the tradition big bowl 'o' Christmas nuts. Unfortunate fact: We do not actually own a nutcracker that really cracks nuts. Just the decorative ones. Oops.

And some pics of the basement renos! I keep taking about it... here are just a couple to share... more once we get some proper new chairs and stuff... Here is the floor I laid my very own self (with just a little help, okay lots of help, from my family of course!!)

And here is what is sitting on top of that delightful beauty of a floor!!! Put these up ourselves!

I put out just a few of my favourite Christmas decorations. This is just a start - we have boxes more to put out!!
I LOVE nutcrackers at Christmas time.

Tip: As you take out your decos this year - get rid of, donate, give to a relative and purge your Christmas decorations. Think of it this way... if you aren't going to put it out this year - why would you next year? Get rid of it instead of packing it away for another year!!
If you have lots - take a picture of all the boxes you take out this year and then a picture in the new year of the reduced number of boxes you have to pack again after the holidays. So satisfying!!!

Tip: Think about what you are going to have to do tomorrow evening (do this every night!!!) and take things out of the freezer and put it in the fridge. Figure out if you need a trip to the store on your lunchbreak or at some point during your day. Plan at least one dinner ahead and it says that panic, driving home from work, what the h-e-double hockey sticks am I going to cook when I get home. I do this every night and sometimes am still asking myself this question at 6:30! That baked chicken with herbs will be heated up tomorrow night with some veggies, rice or pasta and voila! DONE like Dinner... (Sorry, couldn't help myself!)

Peace y'all - one month til the big day!!

Sunday the 23rd - AKA Day #8 and it's time to name my crockpot.

2008-11-23T21:15:00.005-05:00

Awesome!
SO far in the last 8 days we have a lot to celebrate!
-My dining room is so nice, well, you could eat off the table (wink wink)
-The kitchen is sparkly. From the sink on outwards.
-I washed the floors on my very own hands and knees yesterday before the company arrived and today, I just need to walk about with a wet cloth and touch up the spots that happened today. So much easier to keep clean than to get clean right?
-The bedrooms all got fresh linens from my amazingly organized linen closet. Man that's nice crawling into a crisp clean smelly-nice bed.
-The toilets were all cleaned. Tub too. Hung up the fancy shower curtain and put out the brand spanking new bath mat. We deserve it as well as visitors. It's not going back in the cupboard waiting for a bathroom reno like it was before. Forget that!
-The family room in the basement was swiffered and dusted. Most of the movies and books around the house migrated down there to the new shelving units. Where they belong.
-The kids got to jump in the jumpy castle which came in for a visit from the garage. (Yes we have a jumpy castle and yes we use it in the basement. Highly recommended. I love that thing too)
-Bought a new area rug for the new rec room too. Totally worth it for as long as the cats can refrain from leaving a hairball on it. Should be good for a while I guess.
-Visitors came and went. Meals were cooked and served and washed up after.
And, a little thing that makes me smile so much...
...there is nothing except my beloved crockpot on top of the fridge and I even shined her. I really do LOVE my crockpot - just had to get a new one on Thanksgiving weekend too cause my old girl cracked and cooked her last meal. Some people name their cars, or their houses. I am naming the crockpot. Definitely a girl - her name will be... ??
Send me a name suggestion and I will pick the one I like the best. And I will post a picture of her with her new name. Come on - she needs some direction! PUH-LEASE! Pretty please with some roasted chicken and veggies in it?
If we get at least 4 name suggestions - I will post a lovely crockpot recipe for you to enjoy as well. I have MANY!

Okay... one more job for you to round out the weekend. Whether it is Sunday night or Monday when you read this - go have a lovely bath with something extra awesome and smelly that you received as a gift and were saving. Never save these things - they are meant for you to enjoy.
Get a book, a cuppa tea, a glass of wine, some candles if you like and get in the tub. If you HATE the tub as I understand some people do (I don't get it, the hating of delicious bubbly soapy smelly hot relaxing peacefulness - but I am not here to judge! LOL) have a long shower. This one time, do not worry about the water bill or shaving your legs if you don't wanna... just go in for the sake of going in and feeling all warm and clean after. If it's bedtime - do this and then crawl directly into bed with a book or your spouse or a show if you have a tv in your room...

I'm going to the tub NOW! Right after I clean out the litter box (Ick - dreaded destestable chore!) then I will be squeaky clean and smelling great for bedtime. Meee-owwwwwww sisters!

G'night!

What Day is it? This week is cuckoo!

2008-11-22T09:56:00.002-05:00

This week feel apart for me a little as it relates to blogging. However, my sink and counters still look amazing.

Last night my cousin Erin called and said that she is arriving with her family today around 2pm and along with her is my cousin Jerry - who lives in England normally - and his fiancée Sarah and her little boy. HOORAY! Instant party.

But what does this really mean for my house. In a word - holy crapola!!

It's okay. The kitchen (thanks to this blog and thanks to all of you for playing along) is pretty ok. I jumped out of bed early this morning and all of the beds have been change-sheeted. The bathroom upstairs needed just a little bit of attention and it's almost done.

I stopped for about 15 minutes while my daughter was in the tub and totally cleaned the linen closet.

Here is your job for today - if you have a linen closet - or other place where you keep all your towels and stuff - CLEAN it!

-throw away ripped ones or ones that are decorative but you actually hate them and never put them out.
-Add some of that stuff to your donation bag you started because these are definitely something that anyone could use
-get rid of any junk that got stashed in the cupboard (I found Polly pocket stuff, books and costume jewellery in mine) - put it away or chuck it.
-Fold up all the towels nicely and neatly and make lovely stacks of your linens.

Tip for sheets and bedding: I read this is a Martha Stewart mag years ago - fold a whole matching set of sheets, shams, dust ruffles, etc. and store the whole lot inside of one of the pillowcases for the set. Then you don't have to worry if the elasticy sheet doesn't lay flat and if you have to make a bed up in a hurry, you just grab the set and head to the proper room. Cool right? I have been doing this for a while and it rocks. I also have a elasticy sheet folding seminar for you - which, I hope I can post tomorrow - I will take pics with my daughter and post it here for your enjoyment if you like...

That's it for now. I am doing a major quick-clean. Flylady calls this a crisis cleaning (which it is really) and I have 2 hours left before I promised myself I would stop and jump in the shower.

So go now and look at your linens. If you are already sorted out in this area - check your kitchen towel drawer (mine is bursting full!) and see if you can purge there as well.

Also, dust on top of your fridge. I swear, get on a chair (be careful) and just have a peek - it's crazy up there if you don't do this often.

I hope you all have a fantastic day! xo

2008-11-20T07:58:00.002-05:00

I have been working each night on my basement and it's almost done! TRIM and BASEBOARD on last night - and if you know my husband and I - we NEVER get the trim and baseboard on in a finished room. Most of our projects come to a grinding halt right here - but now - we are afraid no more!! We did it - with a lot of help from my mom, dad, sister and brother in law. Awesome!
So now, I get to reorganize the rest of the house where stuff got stashed post-June-flood.
Tonight - all the books in the house (and we have TONS) will get sorted, purged, picked over and the ones that get to stay (and that is LOTS) will move into their proper home in our basement. Books I have borrowed from others will be returned, magazines will be recycled or put away and DVDs and Movies will all find a shelf.

Today - go through your literary clutter if you can and get rid of at least 15 minutes worth of old papers, books, mags or anything else wordy. Get a small bag and drop off magazines to a senior centre, doctors office, daycare centre (they use them for crafts) or hairdresser - or just get them in the blue box. Just make sure it is okay with the places you are thinking of first...
Got a great book but you won't read it again - pass it on - share the story with a friend or neighbour.

Have a great day!!

More pictures tonight - I swear this time!

2008-11-20T07:49:00.002-05:00

Dee asked a great question - what do those donation places take?
Good one!
Usually the two that call me on a regular basis are Cerebral Palsy and Diabetes Association although others have as well - they will usually take small household items (I read that to mean, toys and books and working small kitchen things and especially old coats, boots and mitts) and all the clothes you can pack in. What they do - from what I understand - is sell them to places like Value Village and other thift stores for money and the money goes to their charity.
I guess you could ask them when they call about a certain item if you have one set aside for a donation - or - you can just put it out on the day and if they don't take it from you, move it to the curb. You can also drop things off at thrift stores in the bins they place outside. If it is bigger furniture pieces, I am pretty sure you can list free items on Kijiji and just arrange to leave the item out if someone calls. I am more apt to just stick a "free" sign on things for the whole Sat or Sun (my garbage day is Monday) and almost always the stuff gets picked up by someone who wants it.
That way is just as effective in getting it out of your house.
One day this summer, we put a bunch of baby stuff out there one time (stroller, bouncy chair etc) and a family who was just moving here from Newfoundland stopped and took all the baby stuff as they had a little one already. It seemed like they were moving here without a lot of belongings. My husband was outside when they stopped, got chatting and even found more stuff from the garage that we were gearing up to get rid of and he loaded it right in their car. They were really grateful and we were feeling really blessed and glad that our things enjoyed by our babies weren't going to end up in a landfill somewhere...
Either way - you don't need it anymore... pass it on! Great question Dee!

My bad... and then, my oh so good.

2008-11-19T11:11:00.013-05:00

So the dining room table is a spot where people, myself included, pile up stuff that they want to put away later.

Well, no more.

I actually am going to post these "Before" pics which I can't even believe - but I will... Don't be scared. The "Now and Forever" pics are coming up right after!

No friends, you are not imagining things - there is a foam sword on top of my dining room hutch. I think I put it there when my son was whacking his cousin over the head with it and making her squeal - and not in a delighted way.

Please though - don't fear - in only 12 minutes... we have this...

Hold your applause until the end okay...

And who would even consider placing anything out of place in this lovely display? (Nobody who wants to remain unharmed - that I can assure you!)

Look - no sword!

And you are not seeing things, I lit the decorative candles. I am home alone, with no company, but I deserve to enjoy my surroundings as much as my company would right?

Please - go find a pretty/smelly candle at your house and light it for me okay?
Do you have 12 minutes today to make sure your dining area is lovely - for you?
It would have taken less time but when I took the things out of the dining room - I put them away in their proper places and I didn't just move them to another spot in the house. And I swept. When the kids get home tonight - I am going to get them to use the lint roller on all the chair seats. Sounds like a job for an almost 8 year old and a 5.5 year old right?

Day #4 - Christmas is coming

2008-11-19T09:21:00.002-05:00

Dee's comment from the other day sparked an idea... She really liked the idea of tucking away a donation bag and just adding to it - me too!
The trick is putting stuff in it as soon as you think you might - and not looking back! You can't sort the bag later - the items have to go in and stay in. If you look, you second guess, if you second guess it ends up back in your home - and very likely not in its proper place!

So I have one and a half bags already full and guess what is in them - TOYS! What a great time of year to purge the toys in the kiddie rooms and living rooms to make room for Christmas season when all your family and friends and Old Saint Nick will descent upon our homes in a frenzy of boxes, toys and those twisty grey things that could elicit a curse word from the most upstanding of citizens.

Go now, donate 3 things and throw away any toys that are missing pieces. This is a great chore for today! Put batteries in toys that you are keeping and I bet the kids start playing with them all over again. Plus - you get to check your stash of batteries so you know what to buy for those pesky presents. (If we need Ds we have Cs... If we need AAA we have AA - you know the drill!)

Check your puzzles too. That's a great activity for the kids - like this, "Hey kids, let's put these puzzles together and if there are pieces missing throw it out!"
Then they say, "Cool Mom! That sounds like a blast!"
Then you do that.
Don't go saving the pieces for crafts (well, if you must just save like 5 pieces - but not five boxes)
You know you aren't going to draw a new piece to fit the empty space right?
Chuck it!

Start with that - more to come later today!
Sorry I forgot my sink picture last night but I swear it was spotless and I cleaned my whole powder room top to bottom in exactly 15 minutes and 29 seconds (man my timer is LOUD!) and I even had time to clean the floor on my hands and knees, the baseboards and the doorknob in and out. I wiped the whole door and toothpaste marks on the wall and then all the usual good stuff like the sink and toilet...
Fresh as a daisy.

Today I will tackle the dining room too - how does yours look - mine is SCARY! Maybe I will give ya the before and after if I can stomach the shame!
(No really, it is scary because all of my Halloween decorations are stacked on top of it not put away - terrible!)

I was thinking...

2008-11-18T17:44:00.006-05:00

About changing the world. The first 21 (24, 25, 26.. because of course we are still staying plastic bag focused in our daily world) we were focusing on the big world - the whole world - the environment. This 21 days we are focused on our own individual worlds - that space that is just yours.

Goethe once said, "Let everyone sweep in front of his own door, and the whole world will be clean." And if you think about it - that's just what we are doing. We can declutter and organize our homes, bless others with our donations, keep our friends and family safe and healthy by giving them a clean and loved place to spend time with us. So cleaning our homes can be helping to make the world better.
Just a thought...

More pics to follow from my home tonight! I hope you are taking some before and after (okay - just after if you want to!) of your home so you can go back and reflect on the changes you see after 21 days. I am. I think it could be a good exercise and maybe even a reminder of how it could look again in the future if we don't take a few minutes each day...

By the way, 15 minutes in the your bathroom(s) could make an ENORMOUS difference. If you did the sink yesterday - then go back and spend 15 minutes. Don't empty all your drawers, cabinets and shelves in there - just go in and quickly give it all a good wipedown and swish around the bowl with a little cleaner. I'm gonna! I have a 5.5 year old boy - you know what you can find in front of a toilet right? Remember - we are going for tidy and clean, we're NOT asking to be able to perform open heart surgery in your tub!!

Give it a go! Go NOW!

Day #2 of Decluttering and Organizing

2008-11-17T23:34:00.004-05:00

So it's Day 2 and I realize that we haven't done any actual decluttering or organizing... or have we? How does your sink look right now? Don't remember?? Go have a look. If it doesn't look spotless and shiny - stop reading now and get 'er dun! I will show you mine again at the bottom of this post!

I find that starting somewhere and making that one little chore a habit quickly spreads. I am kind of starting over in a lot of ways right now - it has been an insane couple of weeks. But I let myself have these times where things aren't as organized and I just remember - getting back into it and having a lovely organized home isn't that many steps away and I can do it.

The Flylady (see previous post) would tell you to set a timer for 15 minutes and just see what you can get done, as fast as you can, before the timer goes off. Pick a room and make a game of it. She's totally right. I got a good timer at the grocery store that is nice and loud... and it starts to beep a few seconds before time actually runs out so you can race to the finish. It's pretty fun and if you have kids - they TOTALLY love this part of the game. Like, who can put all the shoes in the hall closet before 2 minutes runs out? Or who can get all the toys back in the toybox in under 3o seconds? They are aged 5.5 and almost 8 and still going for it...

But there is more lovely suggestions out there besides Flylady - although I do LOVE her - I have this book as well which I purchased a few years ago.

I won't give away all of Linda's secrets but here is a short one for you:

"Carry out these few tasks on most days and you'll find your life running smoother than you could imagine. Miss a day... well, the dishes will still be there tomorrow.

Make beds
Put dirty clothes in the hamper
Hang up clothes
Clean up spills
Wash dishes
Wipe counters and stovetop"

And of course, I would add -- SHINE your SINK!

I have 2 chores for you today -

Find a box or a garbage bag and a corner of the house where you would like to store things you are ready to donate to charity. Label the bag and place it in the designated spot. Don't leave it in the middle of your living room - somewhere tidy and out of sight. Over the next few days, try and find one thing (no matter how small) in each room of your house that you would like to recycle, throw away or donate. Then - and here's the kicker - throw it away, put it in the bag to give away or get it in the blue bin. Do it right away... Don't think about it for later.

Second chore, go and shine the sink in (one of?) your bathroom(s). Just try and prevent it from spreading... Go ahead - try it!

Ok - here is my kitchen now. Remember the messy counter I posted last night?

Here it is - I got it done!!

Pics of the sink...

2008-11-16T22:43:00.005-05:00

So - today we had a renovation day again. We have been working on re-decorating our basement post flood in June. We wanted something on the floor that would be ok if we get more water in and we wanted to repaint/decorate and make it into a real family room down there. When you first walk into the house you currently see the living room and invariably that means toys, kid socks, books and well... people stuff.

We try to keep it all put away but with our hectic schedule it is a constant battle.

I did not get to all of my housework today as I like to on Saturdays and Sundays and since we were at an out of town wedding Friday nite and Saturday - you can imagine the state of affairs over here right now.

However, I did commit to 21 days to get, as my father always says, "A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place."
Here is my sink. It took me until 10:30 to get it here since I couldn't work on it during the day or even in the evening - but I am quite proud of it.

I think I will leave the paper in it until the morning to remind me how proud I am of myself for getting this done - and to prevent anyone from throwing their morning dishes in it before I get to enjoy it in the am...
And lest you think I am perfect (I know, you were thinking it for a second...) ~ Here is the other side of the counter -- warning, it is not a pretty site!

But don't worry - this mess will be tidied up by the morning! Hope you have a lovely night!

2008-11-16T18:01:00.003-05:00

Is your sink clean, empty and shiny?

I followed a lady called The Flylady (check her out at www.flylady.net but I warn in advance, you could spend days reading all of the amazing material on her website and in her book!!!)

The first principle of decluttering is to find the place to start. We always start with the kitchen sink. As the sink goes, so does the rest of the kitchen. So if yours is full of dishes or not shiny - go and empty it, even if you just have to load everything onto the counter so you have a place to start - do that.

Then shine your sink. The Flylady has amazing instructions on this which I will try and link you up to it here later on!

Just empty it - wash it with some soap and use some windex to make it shine...

We'll do more tomorrow. Wash your dishes if you need to/want to - but make sure to leave your sink all empty and clean when you go to bed tonight. It's so nice in the morning...

More tomorrow...

Remember - you don't have to be rich to be clean! (I heard that from a friend once and I always think about it when I am cleaning up the house - anyone can do this - and you don't need any special supplies or cleaners... just motivation and some elbow grease.)

Stop now and get to it!

Do me a favour!!???

2008-11-16T09:40:00.002-05:00

Go and take a look (and if you are really brave - a digital picture) of your kitchen sink.
I will tell you why a little later.

Starting again! Organizing and Decluttering...

2008-11-15T21:38:00.002-05:00

Okay so I think it is a good idea to start this challenge tomorrow - Sunday... That means I might just have a few minutes to sit and compose a really great post for you all - I know I thought I would have time Friday but life just don't work the way you like sometimes you know what I mean?

My husband and I were just talking about this and we figured out that if we count our front foyer and the upstairs landing as one room and the garage as another - then we have 15 rooms in total in the house. Considering there is bound to be a day or two in the next 3 weeks when I won't have any time to post or even work on the home - I should be able to give tips for each area of our homes. I hope to send you lots of tips and recommended reading - and - I may even share my shame with you and let you see some pics of the secret stashed-in corners of my home...

I have tons of reading and information to share - but for now - get some sleep!!! Have a happy evening...

21 days down!!

2008-11-15T21:23:00.002-05:00

I can't believe I haven't had the chance to post since Tuesday!
SHAMEFUL!!!
I just returned today from a wedding out of town. What a whirlwind. Since it was a Friday evening wedding it was quite the endeavour to get all of our family coordinated from our different workplaces all from our town to another town using the minimum number of cars and still all get there on time. We almost made it! We were late getting to the cocktail hour - however, there was a very big accident on the 400 so it was a bit of a zoo...

We didn't miss anything really - and we weren't the last ones to arrive so all was well.

I know for me personally, I feel like the last 21 days (22? 23?) were a huge success and transformation for me. I know that the odd plastic bag will enter the house - but our whole family is just so much more conscious of the consumption of these materials. The kids noticed and remind and encourage and hopefully - we have started to create little green who will go forth and be green in so many ways. Maybe this little start on our part will help shape their environmentality (I love that word!) - I sure hope it does...

Keep up the awesome work on the bags! I know I will. Send me any successes or funny stories if you like or post them in the comments section - I would love to hear if this has been helpful to you or not!!!

ONWARD decluttering!!!!!!!!!!!!!

18 days done - only 3 more to go!

2008-11-11T17:36:00.004-05:00

I fear the Christmas shopping.
Today I went to get my 1st couple of Christmas gifts and found that I ended up with a plastic bag. This time at least I had somewhat of an excuse (I think) - the gift I bought, actually for a wedding this Friday, was too big to fit in any kind of cloth totes... BIG box. And I was in heels shopping on my lunch so what do you do?
Did I do the right thing?
Well, maybe not - but I can tell you this -- the bag is so big that I will definitely be reusing it over and over as I travel from home to home this holiday season bringing the necessary baked goods and gifts that travel everytime you leave the house it seems like.

So I will relinquish the guilt - have to right?

What does this mean for Christmas shopping? Well, there are a couple of facts I know for sure:
-I will keep comfier shoes under my desks with my multiple pairs of heels kicked under there for wearing on lunchtime Christmas shopping
-I will only buy big things on weekends when I can keep them in the cart bagless and go straight to the car with them
-I will plan shopping trips really well (ha ha ha I crack myself up sometimes) and TRY to make less trips and know exactly what I am trying to pick when I get there.

Maybe I will put a sticky note on the fridge to remind myself about bringing bags in and force myself to put a tick on it if any bags get in the house. I still think I will congratulate myself that since mid-October - only 2 more bags have been consumed by me!!!

My dear husband asked me last night if I meant to put Saran wrap on the shopping list. (He said - isn't that unenvironmental??) Hey - I think he's brainwashed now too! LOVE it!

Don't forget - De-cluttering is coming up in just 3 days (Friday - which happens to be a day off from work for me due to the Friday nite wedding in Barrie) and Iwill have lots of time to get the first big post done!

I got 2 new cluttering and organizing books last week at a book fair in our work cafeteria. Mostly common sense stuff BUT doesn't mean we can't use the reminder sometimes for common sense items too!

Maybe as a prize - I will mail one of these new books to one of you guys as a reward for playing along and posting your clutter successes with us here...

I think we need some kind of a tracker. I will work on that before Friday!! I am VERY excited about this one as I am just finishing the basement reno this week - JUST in TIME!!!!

Tell your friends okay!???? Especially if you are afraid of eating cookies at their house because there might be cat hair in them!

Today is Day #16 - only 5 more to go!

2008-11-09T09:30:00.002-05:00

I went on YouTube.com and there a TONS of videos about plastic bags and their impact on the environment. I found a general environmental message from our own spokesfrog - here it is below - but check out YouTube sometime and just type plastic bags - there are some GREAT vids!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFz1CYyE4ZI

2008-11-09T09:22:00.004-05:00

Hey guys - Pam sent me her story from yesterday...
I have a new story from my travels yesterday too - I will post mine later on today.

----------------------
Pam's story!
Net Gain = 1 plastic bag

Ugh. So frustrated. I can't believe I came home with one today. I was so prepared. Had a bag of cloth bags with me everywhere went. Even came home with one empty one. So what happened? Well, we went to the farmer's market and DH likes on particular kind of apples - Golden Delicious. The vendor already had them packaged in a plastic bag and DH did not ask her to dump them into one of our cloth bags. And I was standing right there...but did I jump in and assert myself? Nope. Should I have? I felt a little rude.

You know it seems kind of ironic to me now that I think about it. The farmer's market is all about supporting local growers, buying fresh, etc. Yet they give out a lot of plastic bags. Strange. Still, I was happy to see I was not the only one there toting cloth bags. In fact, I saw cloth bags (other than my own) in nearly every store I was in today. A good sign indeed.

It was great to see the dollar store clerk in Kim's post http://21daystochangetheworld.blogspot.com/2008/11/day-15-little-task.html noting that people are saying no to bags. Yea! My biggest beef is with retailers who just really want to give you that bag. I know it is a form of advertising for them, but hey if you really want to get noticed put out a really functional, well-priced, long lasting cloth bag. It will go places you could only imagine!

*********************************************************
Thanks Pam!

Well I did manage to make myself a "purse-tote" but I didn't have any of the nicey nice ones that clip closed all tiny so instead, being me, I improvised. You can too...
You will note that because I knew I would lose the elastic every time in the chaos that is my giant purse (I gotta lotta stuff in there!) that I attached the elastic to the handle and it's actually quite small and compact... and I can't lose my elastic when I use it - HA!
You can do it too!!!
I still have to give one away to someone. Working on that one for sometime this week!

Day #15 - A Little Task

2008-11-08T09:36:00.002-05:00

When you were looking for your cloth bags around the house - did you find lots?
I found that I had more than I thought - and then in the middle of this adventure I went to a tradeshow and got a few more (I really wish I had grabbed as many as I could but I am in marketing - but shy at swag-grabbing - is that weird?)

Ok - so I have more than I need right now... A good problem to have to be sure.

So I gave one to my little sister the other day.
And I going to find someone else to give one to this week but with a tag on it that I will make that says - Pass on Plastic - Put this in your Purse! (I'll post a pic once I have it done!)
I am going to try and find someone that is not in my immediate family too... and look for one of the bags that clips or folds up really small in my collection. If you have lots - can you do this too?

This is good practice for when you are just running to the pharmacy or a smaller shop.
For example, I was in Rogers Video last night (got a new Wii game that kicks some BUTT - literally!) and I had to decline a plastic bag twice! The girl was just being extra helpful - no complaints about that, she was awesome. I stuck the game in my purse since it was small - but I don't have a folded bag in my own purse yet. Doing that today too!

All my bags are in the car though - and that is working out awesome.

I was also at the dollar store near my house the other night while one of the kids were in their karate class and I declined the bag and used my cloth one from the car. The man even commented to me that lots of people lately are saying no to bags. (Hooray!)
I just said - "Yeah, we're trying to save the environment from too many plastic bags even a little bit. He thought that was good!"

Day #14 - Can you believe we have only a week to go???

2008-11-07T22:45:00.001-05:00

Just a thought!

"Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round heads in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status-quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify, or vilify them. But the only thing you can't do is ignore them.Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do. "
(Jack Kerouac from his book, On the Road)

Lucky Day #13

2008-11-06T07:35:00.003-05:00

And I dodged an unlucky forgetfulness last night. I was at my sister Megan's brand new house - she was unpacking and since we live so close to a grocery store and I needed a few things anyway - I thought I would run over and get my stuff and get her some milk and bread and cereal and I filled up my cart and got to the produce section at the end and realized -
my...
bags...
are...
in...
the car!

Well you can imagine that it is like 8:30 and I just want to get home and well, I am running out of grocery bags and stuff so ...

I parked my cart with the self-scan cashier and went out to the car to get the bags. No way was I taking ANY!

And when I was all done and feeling kind of good - I gave one of the cloth shopping bags to my little sister too - she said she has 4 but I figured she could probably use a few more!

I was kind of proud of myself for running out to the car! Be proud of yourself today too!
Only a few more days and we are on to decluttering - are you ready!???
I AM!!!

Day #12 - Oh yeah - we rock!

2008-11-05T22:58:00.003-05:00

Pam has created this awesome post for today - thanks Pam!!! You rock girl! Kim.
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We're well on our way to establishing our new habit - no more plastic bags! Although they do seem to magically appear in the strangest places, don't they? Just last night, my MIL dropped by and after she left there was one on our Island. I'm guessing it came in the door with my MIL although I distinctly remember seeing a cloth bag sticking out of her coat pocket as she left.

But I digress. Our lack of dependency on plastic bags fits well with our next challenge - the focus on decluttering. Think about it for a minute. When you get home with all those plastic bags, where do they go? in a cupboard? a closet? Aren't they just adding to your clutter?

So, already in our first 21 days, we have a "two-fer" (where one change results in 2 benefits)! This is excellent news. May as well be productive while we're at it, eh? Do you have any two-fer examples? Any positive side effects or ironic efficiencies as a result of eliminating/reducing your reliance on plastic bags?

What's really on my mind today is the size, colour, shape of our cloth bags. Where do you get your bags? Do you have a favourite? How long have you had them?

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I've collected my bags over the years through trade shows, free promos, gift with purchase, etc. My oldest is from grade 10 and my newest is only a few weeks old. I prefer the one's with flat bottoms for groceries, although they don't fold as small for convenient purse carrying.

I'm sure you've all seen the PC bag - http://www.presidentschoice.ca/FoodAndRecipes/HealthyLiving/Editorial.aspx/id/653 - they've gained a large following since their introduction and even sold out! I don't have one personally, but I've seen people in the store with entire sets! What about the shopping bin? http://www.presidentschoice.ca/FoodAndRecipes/GreatFood/ProductDetails.aspx/id/18755/name/PCGREENShoppingBin/catid/64 Have you tried these? Any benefits to this over cloth bags?

(Note from Kim - my sister Laura swears by the bin - she loves hers and wouldn't give them up for anything! She says that they hold a ton and it makes the cart stay nice and organized whilst still shopping. I say - it ain't a plastic bag and go for it!!!)

Day #11 - Making it cool to be green

2008-11-04T08:01:00.003-05:00

Kermit knows. "It ain't easy being green" Actually I am finding it really easy being green. And perhaps he was just really speaking on behalf of his seaturtle and other wildlife buddies for whom he is the itinerant spokesfrog - asking us to do our part.

Read this article from the National Geographic website. I already feel pretty cool pulling those cloth totes out of my purse. The article is great. Might be time for some letters to our MPs and MPPs and your state representatives or political leaders where you live.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/09/0902_030902_plasticbags_2.html

11 Days to go! Wow time is going fast!

2008-11-03T23:11:00.005-05:00

We are doing really well with this challenge.

I have a few updates...

Still doing fantastically with no bags and we have no more sandwich bags either in our house. We started out the school year with "litter-free" lunches - although things do still create litter like granola bars and crackers that come in packets. But we eliminated juice boxes this year and do not buy ANY and the kids use refillable containers that they bring home each night. We also stopped buying water bottles and we bought a water cooler which we adore - it does hot and cold water! Best purchase! We love it!

AND we finally ran out of sandwich bags and no more will be purchased!

I did try and pre-emptively buy some bio kitchen garbage bags though for that day when I run out of old grocery bags - but they didn't have them at my store. I will have to start looking. My supply is depleted by more than half - so I would hate to run out before I have a solution.

Let me know what you guys find!

Here is a couple of pics we took this weekend when we were out for a birthday party...

But we are working on it - aren't we!!?

As for the poll - it is all closed and the focus will be on de-cluttering and organizing in the home. I have tons of resources for this one - so keep checking in!

Here is a small chore - if you see one of these wayward bags when you are out walking - and you can safely do it - could you recycle it or get it out of the beautiful trees!?

Have a wonderful evening!

Today is Day 8! Only 13 days to go and we officially have ourselves a fantastic habit!!

2008-11-01T09:38:00.004-04:00

How has it been going for you?

So far, except for the one slip up - it has been not too much trouble really. I am adjusting to the random cloth bags turning up all over the house from the in and outs they are getting - but I can live with that!

This weekend is, in a word, HECTIC.

With Halloween last night and karate for my son, and with hanging out with my niece in the afternoon (she's 2 and I forget how busy 2 is) and the Halloween festivities at work, and everyone coming over for T-or-Ting and today with karate for daughter and 2 birthday parties - one 11-3 and the next 3-10pm - it should be insane but in a fun, high-pitched yelling, too much cake and candy, driving around town a lot kind of way. To get through it, I predict staying positive and enjoying it because if I don't - it could get kind of stressful and they will only be young and need me to run them around for such a short time really. So I am going to love every second of today - and listen carefully to their excited tales of their party adventures - and yes, rub their tummies if they eat too many sweets because, I would have done exactly the same thing when I was a kid.

Also I have some projects due (one due today) that I haven't started - but it's a fun project so I can live with that - I just have to squeeze it in.

So if the household projects have to wait another weekend - oh well I guess. Our home isn't likely to ever be featured in "In Style" so as long as it's clean and we don't trip over things going up the stairs, things are good.

And de-cluttering looks like it is the next 21 days - so that can be my excuse for now! HA!

Remember if you are out Christmas shopping or stocking up on groceries or birthday gifts (!) for friends, take in your bags! I have another fun post from Pam which I put up just below. We used our cloth grocery bags for trick or treating last night! Perfect!

Gotta get ready now - let the GAMES BEGIN!

Here is Pam's awesome post. Pam - thanks for sharing this with us! She even typed it on a Blackberry which sitting in an airport yesterday - Go girl!

Cloth bags - not just for groceries!!

One of the messages we're trying to convey during these 21 days isthat cloth bags aren't just for groceries. From clothes shopping to running to the corner store, cloth bags can go anywhere.

Where have you taken yours?

I'm sitting in the airport and I can't help but notice that the gate attendent has a cloth bag. I wonder what's in it? Her lunch? Some water? Her purse? A change of clothes? Regardless, its good to see that cloth bags are everywhere. We must keep up our efforts though. When I stopped for a package of Halls, I was offered a plastic bag. I politely said no.

What is the strangest place you've seen a cloth bag?

What non-shopping activities do you use yours for?

I've taken food in mine to a potluck. Used on to carry my library books. Emptied the contents of my pantry into one when we were moving our island to put in a new kitchen floor. As a child, cloth bags were part of our summer vacations. From beach blankets to picnic supplies, Mom had dozens of uses for them. Maybe the most seasonally appropriate use is trick or treating!
Happy haunting!

Only 1 more day to vote on what we do next...

2008-10-30T20:07:00.001-04:00

See the bar on the right and scroll down - vote if you haven't yet ok?
So far de-cluttering and organizing our homes has it!

Day #6 - Holy Cow! Can you believe it!? (Only 15 days to go!)

2008-10-30T19:56:00.005-04:00

Today was a frenzy.

Last night was a frenzy.

Tomorrow (Halloween already!) and Saturday with double birthday parties to attend and a karate class the morning after the night before for the kids - promises to just about turn us into permanent walking dead ourselves.

So let's talk a little fun with the bags and I offer you a challenge.

I found this little website on other fun, strange and wonderful things you can do with plastic bags. I did once use bags to do Smooshing on the wall for a treatment a la Debbie Travis' Painted House circa 1997... It did NOT turn out like Debbie's but I digress...

Here is the site:

http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2007/08/plastic_bag_crafts.html

I challenge you over the next few days to find something online - or tell us about something weird and wonderful you have done with a plastic bag. Check out the link too - maybe it will inspire you. I found this pic on the linked site - my kudos to whoever took the pic/made the bag.

I have to say that tonight - I am exhausted!
Can't wait to sing my pillow to sleep...

2008-10-29T09:01:00.002-04:00

What would be better than me sharing Pam's story with you? Pam telling you all her story in her own words - so here it is:

Here is her tale:
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I grew up with cloth bags (cloth diapers too) just goes to show you the kind of Mom I have. But Mom will be the subject of another post. She's been using cloth bags for groceries for as long as I can remember (ballpark the 80s), long before it was vogue and the "green" thing to do. More on that later.

My bags
Growing up with cloth bags means I've amassed quite the collection. The oldest one in my collection is a tote (perfect for going to the library) made by one of my best friends for her grade 10 sewing class project. Needless to say, after more than a decade of use the straps are getting a little frayed. The newest is a bright red bag from one of our divisions at work and the subject of one of my stories below.

One might think that even though I was the kid getting the cloth bags out of the closet to go do the weekly shopping that this would not be a habit I'd have to work on. Well, my dirty little secret is that every now and again, I would "forget" my cloth bags to get a few bags for the garbage. Thanks to yesterday's post, I now have alternatives (who knew!) and will be actively pursuing them once my plastic supply runs out.

The Stories
I've had a few adventures with my cloth bags over the last few weeks that have caused me to laugh. One would think that even though all of the stores are selling their own versions and becoming more "green" focused using cloth bags (no matter what size, shape or colour they are) would be a breeze.

Challenge #1
There's one large grocery chain that I visit on an irregular basis where I no longer get my groceries packed. I haven't quite figured out if it is because I'm not using their bags, if it is because my bags don't quite fit on their miniscule bagging stations or if pack your own is the new vogue as well. While it irked me at first (the people in front of me using plastic got their groceries packed for them), I actually quite like packing my own groceries. Still, it just goes to show that if you buck convention sometimes you're out on your own.

Challenge #2
At another large grocery chain store (which I visit regularly), I seem to have a hard time finding baskets lately. DH and I only go through $20-$40 worth of groceries a week (plus the stockpile of meat, canning, etc. in our freezer), so I'm usually in and out of the grocery store and the express checkout quickly. Recently, I've taken to using my cloth bag as a basket, filling it up as I go through the store, emptying on the conveyor belt to be scanned and providing my bag to be filled again so I can go home. Seems simple, seems logical, right?

Well, let's rewind a couple of weeks. It's 4:30, I'm leaving the office and I need to pick up a few things. Luckily my newest bag (bright red) is still in my car. Brand new; hasn't been used yet. Perfect. Off to the store I go, not a basket in sight. No worries, I have my new bright red bag. I head off with my bag, pick up my items and get in line. My turn comes, I take everything out, line it up on the conveyor belt, and put the bag at the end. It's once of those nice one's that has a flat bottom and stands on its own. Did I mention my bag was brand new (I think I did). Because of this is has a environmental tag on it (brown with green arrows and a thank you message on the back - I believe).

The cashier rings everything through. I'm digging for my wallet and waiting for her to give me to the total. I don't hear anything so I look up. She's examining my bag, trying to find the UPC code to scan it. I gently tell her that it is my grocery bag and she gives me a look and then my total. I can't believe she tried to charge me for it!
Note: said bag is bright red and that store's bags are black and green!
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I think it is super cool that you still have the bag your friend made you in Grade 10 and use it. I think that is so awesome and what a good friend that makes you! Do you still see that friend? Does she know you still have the bag? So many questions...

Please share your funny stories about this if you like - post them in the comment section or you can send them to me KimberleyRS@gmail.com and I will post them here for you...

Here are some ideas for you:
-Have you ever held up the line because you left your bags in the car?
-Do you have any cloth bags that are printed with something not quite appropriate but you use it anyway? (OMG if you do, send me a pic too!)
-Do you have a pet peeve about a certain bag because of its shape or size?
-Have you ever been accused of stealing because you pack your groceries in the bag and then carry them to the counter? I do the same thing as Pam mentioned where I leave the cart/basket and shop using the bags (when I just have to grab a few things) but I am just waiting for someone to come and ask me if I "plan to pay for those carrots?!"

Actually I have a short story. I was using a reuseable shopping bag on Thanksgiving weekend that was a thick plastic. My gramma bought it when we were at the beach for carrying the wet towels around and so I took it to the store - and the handles broke while I was carrying cauliflower and broccoli which kept half rolling out of the bag. So the man in front me in line offered to let me place my bags in the bottom section of his cart (since it was empty anyway) and his wife looked at him with this LOOK. You know the one right? He was really sweet but I declined. I didn't want to cause any trouble... ;)

Day #4 - Doing.. well.. OK I guess

2008-10-28T19:40:00.006-04:00

Will we always be able to sing and dance in the rain?

So I debated about telling the truth about something. I thought about it since I arrived home for dinner and I decided - if I didn't, this place wouldn't be authentic or real. And that's not what we are about. We are not about perfection. We are about improvement right? And effort? And positive reinforcement. So even though the idea crossed my mind to just keep quiet... I couldn't do it.

So, what's my crime?

I brought home one plastic bag today.

Here is my night, and it is no excuse - well... it might be a little bit of an excuse.

Left work at 4:30 to run and grab the kids at daycare.

Changed daughter into karate gear in the foyer of the daycare provider's home.

Threw kids and their 700 school bags, crafts, Webkinz, coats, hats, mitts into my car.

Drove to karate and dropped off daughter.

Took son to the Superstore to grab a Halloween costume, some milk, cucumbers and bread.

By now, it is 5:10 - I know time flies when you are having fun!

So we shop, we pack our grocery into our cloth bags we brought in with us - yes sir, yes sir, 3 bags full.

Twice I reminded the bagger (and they NEVER bag for me so I don't get it!) that I had my own bags and I didn't take any from her. I was really nice about it though and so was she. She just wanted to be on to the next person in line.

So we dash across to grab my daughter some new "fur"-lined crocs and a Bakugan for the boy (he's addicted and I am enabler).

I realize that I have to get back to the dojo and get my daughter so we dash out of the store - I practically knock over a lady who was in the store with my 3 bags full - she smiled though and I said Sorry!

We get in the car, drive past our house - see husband is home - drop son off and all the groceries - grab the crocs and run over to the dojo to pick up the daughter because I think I am almost late. Get there and wait - they go long in class.

Grab daughter, run home, serve crockpot dinner onto plates and realize something awful...

There is a white plastic bag on the counter.
Where did it come from?
I look at it - no store name.
It wasn't there before work.
What?!
I KNOW I took my bags in and used them - remember the cashier and our reminders?
I ask my husband - where did this bag come from?
He says, "I think you brought it in with you from shopping."
My heart sinks.
I look inside.
Receipt from the croc store.

Dang.

So I am telling you because it's okay. I am sad that I didn't even realize he bagged the crocs and that I took it from his hand. That's how the plastic bag is so part of our routine. And I will make sure it doesn't happen again. Sneaky little plastic devils!

So, I told the truth and I'm glad. If you forget - it's okay - we won't judge. We will tell you that it is okay and just try again tomorrow.

Tomorrow I will tell you the story of my friend Pam. She started to tell me about a time when a store tried to charge her for using her own cloth bags instead of taking plastic. I didn't get to hear the whole story - but I will ask her again and post it here if she is cool with that.

In the meantime, Joanne asked about what to use for her garbage when she runs out of grocery bags and I have to tell you - I was wondering EXACTLY the same thing. I am still doing research but here is what I have come up with so far... I will also keep my eyes peels in the shops.

http://cdn.ecosafeplastics.com/qs/product/25/2584/143236/0/0

These eco friendly bags have undergone testing and break down quickly at normal outdoor temperatures in landfull but do not rot in the day or two that you have them in your bin.

They are likely more than people normally pay for grocery bags - but not much really. 30 bags on a roll at $3.99 - not a big investment in our earth I think. Our daily coffee certainly costs way more than that!

They have the big plastic garbage bags for the curb too.
Here is an article about the extra costs though just to cover both sides...

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_11100.aspx

My daughter asked if we could just use the garbage can without any bag at all. You totally could. It might get gross and smelly and awful to clean though. But you could.

If you recycled absolutely everything you could, and composted the rest - there really wouldn't be much in the end anyway.

Our dog would happily eat all the leftover food scraps (regardless of what there is!!) but I think that way we would just end up with a sick dog I think.

My answer is to just check the organics aisle in your own grocery store or around the other grocery bags and see what is available. I am betting there are also tons of places online to buy these things as well... if you are into that. I bet Canadian Tire has some options. Or the hardware store where you live.

I tell you what though - I really want me some "furry" crocs now.

Day #3 - Only 19 more days to break the habit!!

2008-10-27T23:03:00.010-04:00

So it's been 3 days. I am noticing some strange things are happening. We need some terminology for it maybe to define this unique side effect. At work we call it "scope creep" when the scope of a project creeps outwards until you have this massive undertaking when you thought you had a little set of tasks. Happens all the time.

Well, this "creeping" here - what should we call it?
Side effect sounds a little like a rash or low grade fever. A virus that spreads is infinitely worse. It's not quite a snowball though - we don't want any melting of our good work. Needs a positive term. Let's call it "a la mode" - does that work? That little extra delicious something added to something that is already spectacular!

Ok - that was a long way to get to the point - sorry... but in the future if I refer to "a la mode" I mean some great lateral bonus caused by our current focus. Cool?

So my husband was totally into this whole idea, as I mentioned but here is my first a la mode for you - he went out the very next day and bought these:

Pretty awesome right? He just came home and said - "...you know I was thinking about the bags and so when I went to grab a coffee - I grabbed these too!" Come on - is that cute or what?!

These beauties were about $4 each and come with a coupon inside for a free coffee - and everytime you bring your cup such as the one above - they take 10 cents off your refill. Pretty wicked right? I washed mine out but today went without my trip to Timmys since I ran out of time this morning. Can't wait to give it a go tomorrow!

Please leave a comment today if you get a chance so I know you are checking in! Let me know how it is going for you so far... I didn't go to any shops today or yesterday - so I am still good for my goal of no new bags. The husband and kids too. We are all on track!

How is it going with you?

It's Day #2 - We made it!! 20 days to go before we are free of the plastic!

2008-10-26T10:12:00.004-04:00

We did it! Day #1 was a big success! We did not bring one new plastic bag into our home. I went out to a shop, black cloth bag swinging proudly at my shoulder and I was watching people I passed and quite a lot of them had their bags on too. I know it is a cardinal sin to speak to people in lines or in elevators (although I talk to them mostly anyway) but maybe one time this week tell someone you are glad when you see them using their cloth bags. Just mention it and give them a compliment. I bet it would make them feel good and it would probably even encourage them to remember as well...

Yesterday I talked with the kids and my husband about the importance of bringing our own bags (now there's a start, a conversation) and we were all in total agreement! We went to the store and remembered and hubby went out twice and declined the plastic bag he was offered. (I'm so proud of him - although not all that surprised he was so supportive of the idea.) We discussed at some length what to do with the bags we already have in the house. Do we recycle them? Do we keep using them for garbage bags like we do now until they are gone? I mean, they are already here and produced right? There are a million articles about this topic if you wanted to browse. We are still on the fence but for now - we are using up what we have and still reading more to figure it out.

Here is one article I found - it makes some good sense. I am not sure I am at the level of washing out my plastic bags and then using them for a rainhat - but I will leave that decision in your capable hands... Everyone has a comfort level.

http://www.fakeplasticfish.com/2007/09/some-of-my-best-friends-are-plastic.html

If you want to recycle them, check the website for your area and see what their rules are. Also check with your own grocery store - they may have a recycling bin for old bags as well.

I thought I would include a small objective each day if I can. For Day #1 we went through our closets looking for any cloth bags we already had. And we placed them by the front door or in our cars. For Day #2 please try and read at least one article about this topic and tell one friend about our plans okay?

Post a comment and let me know how you did yesterday! I would love to know if you had any interesting adventures and your habit-breaking successes.

Remember also that this is a plastic bag blog only for the next 20 days. Please vote to the right about what habit you would like to break next or post a comment if there is something else you wanted to work on.

Day #1 Tiny Update

2008-10-25T14:10:00.003-04:00

To my surprise and delight - my husband was completely into this - and even said, "What is the best way to get rid of these plastic bags we already have?"
Gotta love that right?

I thought I would maybe add some Daily Tasks to help us all meet the goal - so here is the goal for today...
** Go through your closets and find any reuseable bags you already have and make sure to keep them all by your front door or put some in your vehicle(s) right now - okay.... GO!

Starting Small AKA Day #1

2008-10-25T07:53:00.000-04:00

Small change can be huge if it takes away our creature comforts and everyday conveniences.
We are starting with these guys... plastic grocery bags.

For 21 days no new shopping bags will enter our house except when we have carried it into the store in the first place. The trick is going to be convincing my husband that this is something to stick to. I am going to work on him later today - but for now this is the pledge.

We will remember our darn bags when we go into a store every time. Even if it means we have to leave our parcels and run out and get them - or carrying smaller amounts in our purse or in our hands - we will not take those darn plastic bags!!

Not convinced?? - check out this link! Be sure not to miss the ticker at the top of the screen or to the right on this blog. Let's see if we can slow that sucker down!
http://www.reusablebags.com/facts.php?id=15

Many of you will say that you re-use them and recycle them and I do too. That's awesome but it is not enough. Browse the net and just read for yourself the animals that die each year by becoming tangled in plastic shopping bags that never break down. Here's a quote from the above link:
"Plastic bags don't biodegrade, they photodegrade - breaking down into smaller and smaller toxic bits contaminating soil and waterways and entering the food web when animals accidentally ingest."

Shocked yet? Just remember, it's not just animals who are in danger. The "top of the food chain" is still the food chain.

Strategy -- One of my troubles is remembering to take them in the store in all my frenzy of busy errands, working full-time and running a household and a couple of kids (I have 2 aged almost 8 and 5.5). I always have these shopping bags in the back of my car but I forget to actually take them into the store. Starting today - I am going to keep 2 on the front seat beside me to serve as a reminder to take them in the store!!

Want to join - post a comment here and if you a have a similar blog or a blog related to our current topic - include your address and I will add it to the blogroll!

Posted by Kimberley at 4:38 AM 0 comments

21 Days to Change the World - Welcome!

2008-10-25T07:38:00.001-04:00

I have been inspired lately in so many ways.
Strangers and friends alike have impacted my life in profound ways.
Litter-free lunches at our school have rocked my world.
So we are going to start small.
We are all environmentalists. Even though we are just a little family trying to do the right things, our responsibility to help keep our world a cleaner, greener place. We will embark on other changes too that will impact us at home, in our health, in our diets - but you can join us and make change for yourselves as well.
Add us to your blog reader.
Leave us a comment to encourage us and other readers to keep on going.

This is not an environmental change only blog though. We are starting green but will hopefully change our family in other ways including our health by making good healthy choices, decluttering and organizing our home, finishing home reno projects that have been sitting unfinished or even unstarted for ages, and improving our communication with each other and our friends and extended family. We are not counsellors or health and exercise experts by any stretch. We are just a little family. Play along with you if you like.

We will add Daily Posts - numbered for your convenience so you can jump in anytime and play along. You can change your own habit, separate of ours and just use the daily updates as encouragement if you like to help you stay on your own journey. Whatever you like and whatever you take from this is up to you!

We will include lots of pictures if we can (time permitting in our busy little family) and link to great websites to help you do your own research and form your own opinions on topics we are following here.

Come on - join us! What's 21 days anyway? That's not even a month of your life to try it out!
Even if you quit after a week - at least you tried. Nothing ventured nothing gained right?
And you can start over anytime! No judgments here!

Please leave lots of comments, but please be respectful. If you leave something inappropriate or hateful - it will be deleted. Having a different opinion from ours, respectfully stated - will be welcomed and encouraged here in our space.