Taking Steps and Making Strides to be More Environmentally Friendly - Paper Towels

The last of my paper towels. Soon to be replaced with a rags

So, I have recently started a new journey to becoming more environmentally friendly and a better Environmentally Responsible Consumer.

The past few weeks since I've been thinking of ways I can cut down on waste in my home, how I can better serve as well as to save money on unnecessary products.

I think that it's sometimes difficult in our need-everything-now, throw-away culture to take a step back and really take a look at how much we buy, waste and throw away simply because we can. We have SO MANY options available to us in North America that it's become so simple to throw something away, whereas just a few generations ago, they were told to "Make Due and Mend"

One decision I've made for my household, and one that seems to cut deeply emotionally for me is... no longer buying paper towels. I *love* paper towels. I use them to wipe up spills, I line my produce drawers with them, I'll occasionally blow my nose with them, I clean my mirrors with them and the list can really, go on for just about ever.
Anyhoo... I'm on my last roll of paper towel, and it sort of sucks to see the roll get smaller and smaller, even though I'm glad it means I'll be taking another step towards being more Environmentally Responsible.

So, I've upcycled a large, empty coffee can that I covered with contact paper, both of which were already in the house to hold my rags on the counter so they are still easily accessible and in a convenient place for anyone to grab. I think I'll probably end up finding a nice basket or something at Value Village  or on sale at one of the grocery stores I frequent and use the can for something else in the future, but for now, that's what I'll use when my paper towels run out. 

While I love using paper towels and they are convenient, I think it will feel good to make the change and to be more Environmentally Responsible.

*UPDATE ABOUT ONE MONTH AFTER I RAN OUT OF PAPER TOWEL*

So, I am still using my upcycled coffee can to hold my rags and I am still liking it. The only thing that sort of bothers me is that when my cutting boards and hot pad/trivet thinger slip and end up on the counter, they push the can all around, but that's not really a huge deal. I guess what I would like is if the can were heavier to help keep the cutting boards etc all in place and standing up against the wall like my paper towel holder did.

C'est la vie, small price to pay, right?

Taking Steps and Making Strides to be More Environmentally Friendly - Water Usage

In the past couple weeks I have been thinking of being more environmentally friendly and trying to think of small ways I can make an impact, because I think that even the small stuff adds up and can make a big difference.

I've always thought of myself as compassionate and I always think of cutting down on the waste that is created in our home. I mean, I have my Starbucks travel mugs, I have reusable shopping bags, I try to recycle and compost as much as possible, I switch off the car when I'm at a stand still instead of letting it run idol (Like, at the car wash... not in traffic) and I try to wear a sweater instead of turning up the heat. There are a lot of other things that I let slide because I don't think of it or I'm being lazy.

Recently, I've been reading this blog http://www.trashisfortossers.com/ and it has REALLY opened my eyes to the amount of waste we create in our home. A little rundown... Lauren lives in New York and took Environmental Studies in college. She wanted to live her values and with a couple of actual life events that made her think and an "Aha! Moment" she set out to live a zero waste lifestyle. In her journey THIS  is the garbage that she has produced! All contained in a mason jar! I think that is ASTONISHING!

Anyhoo, one of the ways I'm trying to be more friendly to our planet is to use less water. I'm a mom of a toddler, so you know that my showers are already short... but some other ways I'm trying to cut down my water use is by turning off the water while I get my hands all sudsy, then turn it back on when I'm ready to rinse (I'm already good at leaving it off while I'm brushing) and turning it off when I'm measuring water an for cooking and my 3 cup measure is already dirty and needs to be washed, so I'm forced to use my one cup measure.

BUT! The BIGGEST change for me is - plugging the sink while I'm washing dishes. Yup. I'm totally that person who wastes TONS of water doing dishes. I've never plugged the sink. In fact, my foods class teacher and I had it out because according to her, by just leaving the water running, I was "Doing the dishes wrong". Not that I agree with her now that I plug the sink, I don't think there is a wrong way to clean your dishes, but there is a less wasteful way, for sure.

So, here's my system:

First, I fill up a small plastic tub, which is only to be used for rinsing, with super hot water. Then, I fill the sink up halfway with hot soapy water and the cleaner dishes that need to be washed and that will be easier to clean, rinsing them in my plastic tub and setting aside to dry on my drying mats to the right side of the sink. (Utensils, drinking glasses, dishes without oil or greasy food leftovers etc).

Second, once the first, "cleaner" batch of dishes are done, if the cleaning water is still relatively clean, I'll wash the dirtier, greasier, more nasty dishes in the same water. If the water is starting to get gross, I'll empty the sink and then pour my rinsing water from my plastic tub into my sink and replace the water for rinsing. Wash, rinse, repeat. (Yes, pun intended.)

So yeah, it's a big change for me to go from washing in running water to washing in a full sink, but I feel good that I'm using less water, which results in a lower water bill AND helps the environment AND it's more quiet time for me - washing dishes used to be SO LOUD with the running water. Plus, this way, so far for some reason, I'm doing my dishes every night, which means they are getting put away each night, which means I wake up to clean counters. At least, the ones from morning-dinner are getting done. If there are any "after dinner" or snack dishes after we eat, they wait until the next day

Yup, I think this is going to be something I keep up with :)

Eight Months of Loving Victoria

Little Miss went outside in her first snow this year! (The very little we had for the short time we had it)

 

She didn't really like snow this year, next year, I'm sure she'll have much more fun.

 

 

She's started making a "clicking" sound with her tongue

 

 

Little Miss loves to throw her hands in the air and throw them around like she just don't care! All. The. Time. But especially when she's eating something yummy.

 

 

Little Miss has started lifting herself to standing on furniture. Stools, rocking chairs (that have been tied to stop from rocking), the couch, the coffee table, the outside of her crib when we play in her room, the outside of the tub, the walls and just about anything else she can get her hands on.

 

 

She was a little wobbly at first...

 

 

But she's got it now! And she's taking safe risks and is learning what works, and what doesn't :) <3

 

One of her favourite people (and her belly twin) is her Fa Fa (Her grandpa)

 

 

She tries to get into things she shouldn't... like the bookcase... or the family stocking...

 

She was plum tuckered out by the time the families Christmas Eve festivities were done. She didn't even wake up when she was taken out of the car seat... or when we walked to the house in the chilly night air... or when we got inside and Chatum was racing around because he was so excited to see us. Her head hit her crib mattress without even a whimper.

 

 

Another one of her favourite people, her Nana... and her jewellry. <3

 

Cheerios! Pretty much endless fun and entertainment!

 



I think the scariest words I've ever uttered, when she was climbing to standing on a chair - "Okay... I need to back off, you don't need me all the time..."

 

I often ask myself how time passes so quickly, and I'm constantly amazed at how much Little Miss is changing

 

Little Miss got to see her Grandma Mary again, for the second time in her short life. It was a VERY short visit with my mom, and LM played shy, but warmed up to mom in a short period of time. 

Six Months of Loving Victoria

Victoria LOVES Klamata Olives... one of the only things I could eat that would stop my morning sickness with her. She also really likes liver pate, not sure where that came from, but I'm glad she's getting her iron. Not going to fight that!

 

We are slowly cutting out co-sleeping, which I am comflicted about. I am happy I get some me time, but one of the best things is watching her wake up, take a look around and then giving you a HUGE smile, because it's like that that's exactly where she wants to be.

We are SO lucky to be living so much closer to family now that we've moved. I didn't realize it before, but we really needed it. Almost desperately.

I hope that you don't have anything really terrible happen to you in your life, but I hope you have serious challenges that you need to learn how to overcome and rise above.

Bathtime is one of my our favourite times in the day. Little Miss laughs and smiles SO much during our baths. She loves to relax and lay back in the deep water while she rests her little (and growing) feet on my belly while I hold her under her armpits and support her head and neck so she doesn't tip back so far.

We've started using Burt's Bees products. The Baby Bee bubble bath and the Baby Bee lotion smells AMAZING! I really like that it's 98%-99% natural, tear free, not tested on animals and that the bottles are mostly from recycled materials.

 

She took her very first photo this month. (With some assistance, but I was surprised to see that I got in there. I fully expected it to be a full on picture of the ceiling.)

And she took her very first selfie, too! (Again, with some assistance.)

I am SO choked up (and unbelievably proud) that she will be 7 months old tomorrow... and shortly after, eek! Let's not go there!

Five Months of Loving Victoria

Moving with a baby is HARD work! Very time consuming indeed.

I feel like I have a lot less time to do things in, but I still very much want my focus to be there for Little Miss when she needs me - all the time

Flying with her wasn't as NEARLY as difficult as I thought it might be. She really surprised me and slept on most of the two flights. Only got a little scared when there was some turbulance as the second plane was landing - and then she laughed because she got butterflies

She LOVES big, fun moustaches!

I'm FINALLY able to get some pictures of her smiling, since she doesn't always get super distracted by the camera anymore.

It is SO nice to be near family again. In this picture I'm sitting with my brother (6 years my senior) and his little girl, about 10 months older than LM

She has 4 teeth now, and my guess is, that by the end of the week, she will be crawling. She is SO close!

(I know this isn't about her, but I have bangs again! And I am LOVING the change)

Time is going MUCH quicker than I would like.

Four Months of Loving Victoria

Little Miss has a new favourite thing to do recently. Sticking out her tongue as well as pppppthhhffffttt sounds.

I always want to be there for her to depend on. I can also see myself losing jobs in the future due to taking time off last minute so I can be there for her. (Hopefully that won't be the case though)

I'm not looking forward to sleep training or getting her on the bottle very much.

Time is running through my fingers MUCH too quickly!

Three Months of Loving Victoria

My little turtle <3

I can see time slipping through my fingers much too quickly. In just a few days, my little girl will be 4 months old, and then it's only 8 months until she's a year old... where does the time go?

Her hand eye coordination is improving at a phenominal rate. I love it when she puts her hands together like in the above photo... so precious.

Sept the 14th, she had her first two teeth pop out. This picture wasn't taken on the same day... you try putting your fingers in your babies mouth to take a picture of teeth. Bubbles and a tongue easily get in the way.

 

 

It seems like I can never get over those moments of Mama Pride... and I love that.

 

 

 

I can't wait until she is old enough so we can go on Mommy Daughter Dates. We can go out for brunch or lunch, go to the spa to get a pedicure and our hair done together. And if money is tight for whatever reason, I can make us a special snack, grab my nail polish and buffing brush and we can do each other nails. I can fix up her hair, and she can mess around with mine :)

 

 

In quiet moments like this, it nearly breaks my heart (and fills it with joy) that one day, my Little Miss will be a confident, amazing young woman who will have her own wings and won't need her mama anymore. So I snuggle in real close, breathe her in and try to soak up every second of her.

 

 

 

It's a challenge to be a good mom and let her be daring and explore her new world, try new things and take chances. I *HAVE* to let her be daring to grow and develope. I want so much to be there to catch her when she falls, but I think that sometimes, I have to pick her up after she stumbles to be able to learn what she needs to.

 



 



This amazing little person is mine, and I am OVERWHELMED with how much I love her.

Oh, The Changes One Year Can Bring

It was something that was said at my baby shower, "It's amazing the changes one year can bring..." and it's true. It's AMAZING.

In the past year, one of my girlfriends pointed out, that two of us were now pregnant (one of our babies has been born now), one of us got married and another has received her visa and is now a citizen of our beautiful country. (We're glad we get to keep her :D ) All of our years have been full of ups and downs, but the closer I get to my due date, my more profound it is to me.

One year ago today, I would have already known that I was pregnant. My first pregnancy ever. I couldn't wait to share the news. And I didn't feel bad about spreading the word. I told friends, I told my hair stylist from where I used to live, I told pretty much all my family. My cousins, my favourite aunt, my grandparents, mom, dad, sister and brother and the list goes on.

A few weeks from now (last year) I found out I was having a miscarrage. And after that, I would find out that the pills that were supposed to help my body "clear things out" and recover from my miscarrage more quickly didn't work - and that I was still technically pregnant with a child that would never be.

One month after the beginning of my miscarrage, I went to the hospital with a few loved ones and underwent day surgery. A D&C since my body couldn't get expel the fetal tissue by itself. A month of being "pregnant"

I can tell you, that there were lots of tears, some anxiety, shock and a delayed (albeit short) stint of depression. I remember talking to my sister on the phone shortly after my D&C and saying that I felt fine mentally, and *really* I was okay. I remember her on the other end quiet... and then said gently, "Oh honey, it hasn't hit you yet..." I remember thinking,  (I might have even rolled my eyes a little) "Hasn't hit me? It's not going to, I'm fine." And little did I know, it hadn't hit me yet - I was just in shock. And THEN the emotions and crying came.

Waves and waves of emotions and crying. After one wave would pass, I'd feel great and think, "Okay! That was the end of that, let's move on with life." And then shortly after, another wave would come rolling in and it felt like the undertow would take me below the surface and I couldn't breathe. I would panic and start to wonder when this would end. I got tired of thinking that maybe I was okay, just to be knocked on my ass again. Eventually, I just expected the waves of sadness to come - and ironically,  when I expected them to come - they stopped. And really, thank goodness, because after a month of going through a miscarrage, surgery and dealing with the loss, I was glad when it was over - even if I did expect another wave to hit me for quite a while.

I think that the volunteer work that I did, the time I spent outdoors for the spring/summer and getting a new dog really helped to pull me though, along with the amazing support I had despite being so far away from home and my family.

And today, I am 32 weeks pregnant and going into my 33rd week. My little girl is rolling around and throwing punches - and she is REALLY strong. And *really* active. It hits me almost every day that in a few short weeks I'll be strapping her into the carseat (which I'm going shopping for today) and taking her home - it's such a wonderful thought and I can't wait until that day is realized.

The difference this past year has made is huge and profound. How I went from mourning the loss of a child that I would never meet to anticipating the arrival of another - I can't even begin to explain. The transformation and how far I've come. From sorrow and having no interest in even thinking about starting to try and have a family; and then starting to be okay with the possibility of trying again; and then going through the process of being prenant - even with the doubt and anxiety and frequent visits to the doctor and having to get ultrasounds early on to feel like this really might happen. Really getting from that low point to being at peace with the way things are.

I can look back at me and my situation a year ago, and not be sad or cry or feel like something is missing. (I feel like I've started rambling since the beginning of the last paragraph, so maybe I should wrap it up... it's clear in my head how I feel, but I'm not sure I have the words to express it clearly...)

I guess, if I could tell me from one year ago anything, it would be that everything will work itself out and you will be okay. Those waves will come and and feel like you're being pulled out to sea, but you're heading somewhere new and wonderful... but for heavens sake girl, keep that life jacket strapped on tight, and make sure you don't lose your bikini!