Over Her Green Head

This is a short story.

I went to Target today. I forgot my cloth bags, so I had to take their plastic bags since I had too much to carry in my hands. I thought about going home to get the bags, but that negates the purpose since I'd be wasting gas doing that.

I asked the cashier to just combine the bags since she had made my green heart palpitate by double bagging everything and placing only a couple items in each. She obliged by combining everything into 3 double bags. But then...

She threw the bags I didn't want in the trash. In the trash. In the trash. In my mind, I thought she'd use them for the next customer.

I took a deep breath, picked up my heavy, over-stuffed bags and walked towards the door.

What would you have done?

The Green Baby Shower

A year or so ago I threw my sister-in-law a "Red Tent" baby shower. I was reminded of this shower yesterday while reading The Eco-burban blog. So, I thought I'd tell you a bit about the concept today at One Green Baby Step.

First, the Rent Tent part of the concept was really just to bring some useful things you used with your baby that you could introduce to a new mother. It was about women sharing with women.

The overall concept of the party was for friends and family to bring my sister-in-law items for the baby that they were no longer using but she could use. Many times people have things their baby barely wore, didn't wear at all since it was the wrong season, barely played with, etc. Some people don't feel comfortable with having their baby or child use items from strangers, but if they are gently used items from friends they are thrilled and grateful.

To make a long story short, she received probably ten times the baby items someone would receive at a traditional shower. (Side note: She did have two showers, which I suggest. Every new Mom wants new things for her baby too!) Her friends and family were absolutely elated to give her all the almost new things they couldn't bare to just see drive away on a second hand store truck. They were excited to tell how their child used each item. It made for great conversation versus what can sometimes be the mundane conversation of a traditional shower.

So, if your friend is having a baby and their family is throwing the traditional shower. Why not throw them a second shower to celebrate the environment?

Jeanne R
www.greenergrassnotes.com

Green Cleaners. Could it be this easy? We'll see.

As you know, I am constantly trying to find (a.k.a. worrying about) ways to make my daughter's world safe and healthy. I seem to obsess over chemical products and her breathing them in to her little lungs. I mean, how could those little lungs handle any but breathing in clean, fresh air with all that climbing and dancing she does? Not to mention chasing our poor little dogs.

I found an article in my latest issue of Parents magazine to be interesting. I had heard in the past from other Moms in passing that you could use vinegar to clean. I haven't tried it yet though. In this issue of Parents ("Cleanup Time", Parents, August 2008, p.87), they give the following recipes using baking soda, distilled vinegar, olive oil, and lemon for Eco-Friendly Cleaners:

"All-Purpose

Mix a solution of one part vinegar and one part water in a spray bottle. Good on glass countertops, and toilets. Don't use on marble.

Laundry

Add 1/2 cup of vinegar during the rinse cycle to soften clothing and cut down on odors. (need that for the dog bed!)

Bathroom

Mix water and baking soda to form a paste to scrub fixtures and tile. You can also sprinkle baking soda in the toilet bowl, add a splash of vinegar to make it fizz, and then clean with a toilet brush."

I haven't tried any of these YET. I plan to give them try and test their effectiveness. Try it and let me know what you think....

greennews@greenergrassnotes.com

Jeanne R.
Greener Grass Notes
www.greenergrassnotes.com