Gratitude

Finally, I am feeling a little better. Still stuffed up but not wincing in pain every time I swallow. That's an improvement I am thankful for.

I can't believe that January is almost over, that's just crazy, but I suppose that is what happens when all you can do is lay low and hope the illness goes away soon.

I feel like my body and mind has been on "life support only" for the past 30 days, just doing what I can do to maintain daily necessary functions. Lunches, Laundry, basic cleaning, minimal cooking.

I'm going to give it a few more days of laying low, but then I am itching to get going!

For anyone interested our canine companion is still with us, he is slowing down some days, however there has been no change to the size of his tumor or his personality so we are taking things day by day with him. One day he will sleep a lot and the next day he will jump around the house like a puppy. He can't jump into the car or on the bed anymore and needs help for that. When he gets up from a long nap he weebles and wobbles a little to get his "land legs" again. Having been through this before, I realize these are signs of what is to come. But for now his eyes are still sparkling and his temperment is good so we are greatful for each and every day he is still with us.

I'm starting to get itchy (not in a bad way).

• I feel the need to stretch my wings and my creativity this year!
• I have to prepare for this new family member.
• I have boxes of clothes to sort.
• I have a child to move into a new room.
• I have supplies like diapers and wipes to buy now while I can afford them vs. after when I am poor and on EI. I use cloth diapers and cloths for wiping when I am at home, but for night time and travel I use disposable. I figure half way is better than nothing at all.
• I have almost everything I need as far as Equipment goes a carseat, a bouncy chair, a crib, a highchair. But we are going to need a new stroller as our last one was old to begin with and we got rid of it when the girl was done with it.
• I have a batch of birthday cards to make for April, May, June and July because I'm sure the last thing I will want to do in the few weeks before and after the baby is make cards.

A few more days of laying low and healing and then I need to "kick-it" if I am going to be ready for the rest of 2010.

Anyone have any suggestions for baby products that I need to know about. It's been 4 years you know I am kinda out of the loop!

Grocery Shopping Bags

So let's talk about some of the things we do our use to "go green" or reduce our "carbon footprint"

By now I would assume that everyone has purchased one or two of your favorite grocery store "eco-bags". I am a Sobey's shopper myself so I have the bright green bags with large photos of Artichokes, blueberries and oranges on them. Not to discriminate I also have a couple from Zehr's, Chapters, my local butcher shop, drug stores and some that I have won as prizes.

But Shannon you ask, How many bags to you have? Too many! probably 20, that's just crazy talk. Unless you are Kate Gosselin shopping for a months worth of groceries you can't possibly need 20 bags!

The truth is...I can't remember to put them back in my car... and when I do, I have forgotten to take them into the store. Unbelievable. So with approximately 20 bags I have managed to mantain a routine of cycling them through the purchase, unpacking, storage and eventually ending up back in the car to get used at the grocery store again.

I do have shopping bag envy though..... and it looks like this.

Blue Avocado is probably the chicest, cutest supplier of eco friendly shopping bags. They have bags for everything, shopping, produce, insulated. EVERYTHING. And they fold up into a cute adorable pouch that can fit in your purse.

So if I'm on anyone's Christmas list this year. This is what you can get me.

How many grocery shopping bags do you have?

Shannon

:)

Life is Green and the living is EASY???

By now we are all aware that we need to take care of this planet of ours. We are walking a fine line in time. Consumption is so high! If we move past this breaking point we may not be able to come back from it. And I for one do not want that to happen for my children.

We are raising the most eco aware generation. My 5 year old often comments "oh oh mommy someone is using the earth as a trash bin" when we see a piece of litter in our travels. He often want to stop and pick it up. Sometimes we do and sometimes we don't, but I keep a trash bag in the back of the car for just such occasions.

The school boards have made tremendous strides in promoting litter free lunches and our school in particular has even adapted their schedules to allow the kids to have snacks before recess in order to cut down on the litter that often crept into the school yard.

For school this year I was able to find a good lunch bag and purchased some glad containers, tupperware and Kleen Kanteen water bottles. Over the year I hope to transition over to stainless steel food containers like these but man! they are more money so I am opting to purchase 1 container ever few months and by next year should have a very nice collection.

One of my favorite people Sara Snow has a great back to school post on Treehugger.

Along with the "equipment" to store a green lunch you also have to hunt a little to find snacks and food with less packaging. I buy treats like dehydrated fruit and cookies in bulk so there is less packaging. Don't get me wrong I am not above throwing cheese strings in there or Fruit gushers. But those are for those days when I don't practice Positive Habit #1. Enough said.

In the coming weeks we will look at all kinds of tips to work through one by one to "live green" and help make our planet enjoyable for generations to come.