Caffeinate Me Up!

See? What was I just telling you about bringing in your own cup?!? Good things happen! All right, all right, I've got to give Starbucks some credit. And you betcha I'm heading there before my long drive tonight. Gulp, gulp. (Because I don't know the appropriate sound effect for teeth staining.)

Happy, Happy Earth Day!

We all know what Kermit said. However, as wise as The Frog is, I don't think that being green is really that difficult. Of course, what constitutes being green for one can be completely different for another, right? Never using plastic bags versus living without electricity are a wee bit different. But let's face it, unless you're No Impact Man, we all have quite a bit of work ahead of us. So today, on this dreary Earth Day (is Mother Earth actually crying???), let's all try to take some steps in a greener direction, shall we?

Some simple tips:

- Make a real, concerted effort to say "no" to the plastic bag.

Okay, this is an ongoing rant for me. Yet, ironically (and hypocritically of me), I occasionally find myself making an unplanned stop at Target and needing one of those damn bags. (Other times, I have punished myself for my shortsightedness and gone bag-less which has resulted in a juggling act of toothpaste, cat litter, and a bunch of other crap I undoubtedly dropped on the way to the parking lot.) My point is, I think we all know that these things darn bags are bad for the earth. If you have a car, it's pretty easy to throw a few canvas bags in the trunk for those regular trips to the store. There is also this marvelous little guy. Tragically, I recently lost mine and need to get myself a new one ASAP. (P.S. My birthday is coming up). This thing takes up very little room in my purse and is great for vegetables from the farmer's market. Barely weighs a thing.

- Get yourself a thermos or travel mug pronto.

Again, especially easy if you travel by car but also not a big deal to link onto your backpack or messenger bag if you walk/bike/mass transit yourself to work. Plus, a lot of coffee places are now giving you a few cents back if you bring your own mug and why wouldn't they? Saves them money at the end of the day, too.

- Give the dryer a rest.

Dryers use a crazy amount of energy and they certainly add to the electric bill. For $30, you can get a couple of drying racks and save some cash in the long run. Or think about installing an outdoor clothesline. There is nothing better than snuggling into bed on a summer's night and smelling your clean, fresh, line dried sheets. And the other awesome thing about drying racks? If you live in a climate like Wisconsin's which is insanely cold and dry in the winters, you will be adding moisture to the air. (Plus, your clothes will dry LIKE THAT.) So let me recap: saving energy, saving money, and no need for a humidifier. Ta da!

- Wash your clothes in cold.

Cut down on using warm and hot water. It is rarely ever necessary. And of course, don't run the washer unless you've got a full load.

- Ditch the harsh chemicals and befriend vinegar and baking soda.

There are a ton of ways you can clean with these two agents alone. Check it out. Plus it's so cheap!

- Stop eating Bessie.

As I write these very words, I know there is a good chance that over the Easter weekend, I will attend a cook-out and partake in meat consumption because God knows I love a juicy burger now and then. However, 99% of the time, I don't. Not only do I no longer feel good about eating animals whose origins and treatment are unknown to me, the environmental damage of our meat industry is monstrous. I would add a link here to back up my claim but there are about a bajillion out there so do a little google search if you'd like to learn more. Cutting back on your meat intake will not only do wonders for your health, it will undoubtedly do good for the earth. Trust me.

And there are, of course, many others things that we need to remind ourselves of. Turn off the lights! Unplug! Buy in bulk! Buy locally and seasonally! Use your reusable containers instead of buying teeny individual sized anything! Stop at St. Vinny's or Goodwill before Target to see if they've got what you need! Set up clothing exchanges between friends and families! Start asking your local cafes and shops where their recyclable bins are located so they'll start to get the hint that you care! And if you want more ideas, check out this link.

It's all about taking steps. We all have to start somewhere. Even though I feel pretty good about the way I treat the earth, I wonder why it is that I still don't have a bike. (Sigh.) Yes, steps. And if your first step is making a hippie move and hugging a tree, go for it. I hear they still like that, too.

I'm All About Toxic Love Stories

Ah, don't you just love it when your hormones are messed with in a non-natural I-NEED-CHOCOLATE-RIGHT-NOW kind of way? And aside from what plastics might be doing to our bodies, I absolutely cringe when I think about the environmental effects of all that unnecessary packaging and those godforsaken grocery bags.

So of course, in my completely nerdy way, I absolutely cannot wait to read this book. Because of course, as you know, I'm all for the uplifting stuff.

Wasn't I JUST Wearing My Flannel?

Yes, it's been a while, hasn't it? What can I say? With weddings and birthday parties and the like, I guess I've been busy feeling a little old.

Birthday are one thing. Do I love the fact that my dear friends are now hitting those really significant numbers? Not so much but it's a fact of life. I can deal. But weddings? They're not necessarily in the cards for everyone and I'm fine with that, especially when it comes to people I helped raise.

It's strange enough when your friends start getting married but when a person you used to buy Play-Doh for suddenly shoots you a glossy, purple and white wedding invitation in the mail one day, it kind of makes you want to wrap up the most giant Play-Doh pack you can find (maybe even the prized hair salon kit) instead of actually going off of the registry and buying them that Cuisinart juicer. Because really, all you can you think is, how can she be heading off to the altar when I've still yet to buy a piece of brand new furniture in my life?

Sigh.

And I thought I had hit rock bottom a few months ago when I had heard that Pearl Jam's Ten album turns twenty this year. (Ironically, their album was released a mere two weeks after this girl was born.)

Double sigh.

I mean, do I really have to deal with the fact that my beloved grunge band (who caused my dear friend and I to waste hours of Physics class time figuring out the words to "Even Flow" instead of trying to determine when those two damn trains traveling at different speeds would actually meet) and my beloved girl are getting kind of old themselves?

What really kills me though is that I'm just on the cusp. I know that in the next few years, all of my "little" cousins will start with these invitations, too and I will suddenly turn into that relative who can't help but make reference to the day when I used to change their diapers because quite honestly, it really does feel like just yesterday.

On the bright side, it feels pretty wonderful to see a beautiful, beaming bride make her way down the aisle and know you had a little something to do with here she is today. I guess that's the trade-off for feeling like a dinosaur. I think I can take it. And maybe the next time I'm dealing with a bridal gift registry, I'll go ahead and buy one of those juicers for myself, too. After all, if they're becoming real deal adults, I guess I can be one, too.