My Magic Numbers

I always have "magic" numbers rolling around in my brain... A 5 minute shower, the 17 minutes it takes to drive to the office, 65 Christmas cards to send out, 12 treats for my preschooler "star of the week", 2.5 pounds of meatloaf to prepare, 4 parent teacher conferences to attend, 1 clarinet recital and so on.

These magic numbers aren't always met. I'm often late to work, I stand in the shower too long on cold winter mornings, I still haven't sent out my Christmas cards and as for the upcoming parent teacher conferences? Let's just say I have a sticky note on the steering wheel of my van so I don't forget...

However there are a few magic numbers that I don't even think about anymore. I used to count how many paper towels I used in a day, trying to shrink my usage. Today I realized I bought a six pack of paper towels back in the hot and humid summer months and haven't bought a new package since.

I used to count juice boxes, bottled juices and cans, making sure I had enough for all my boys. Today, as long as I see each boy's SIGG, easily identifiable by the unique designs they each chose, sitting in the fridge, there is no need to count. I can make more tea, more lemonade or just fill them with tap water.

Each trip to the store used to make me count plastic bags I took because I forgot a tote bag in the van or just plain forgot to tell the clerk to use my own bag. I got into the routine, carrying bags in every store, even the mall, and haven't taken a plastic bag in so long... well, I just can't count how long.

The moral of story? I might not hit all my magic numbers that I intend to when I start out my day, but taking some time to stop and count the ones I have hit time and time again is rewarding. And, it will make me feel a little better about something I'm sure to forget tomorrow. Now, how many treats do I need for the preschool this week? Lemme count...

Challenging an addiction

I decided that I have an addiction. Not drugs, alcohol, TV, food, cigarettes. Nope, it's worse than that. I have been trying to get off the paper towels for months now and it's real, real hard. ACK! Doggie barf, where's the paper towels? What, we don't have any? Then I get the shakes and sweats and stuff. Clean dog vomit with a real, actual towel? Well, then what do I do with the towel? ICK, you mean I put it in the washing machine with my clothes? OMG!

So, when Chile decided to host a challenge ridding us of our addictions, I thought this might be the time. See, this is just one last thing that I think I needed help getting over. It's more of a habit, mindset and germ-phobic issue than a need for the towels. And, I really believe that ridding myself of this habit will free me of the constant need to run to the store for "one thing I forgot". I have too many kids, dogs and things to do to be running to the store to buy paper!

Today, I am beating down on this addiction - Zero paper towels used on day 1 of the challenge! And, I wiped up doggie drool, mopped the entire house, cleaned the bathroom and a variety of other household chores that would have had me dragging along an ever-shrinking roll of towels. I have about half of a roll left, and I am hoping that it will last me a long, long time. Ending my addiction, one doggie drool puddle at a time!

My Algebra Teacher Would Be Proud

I didn't know I knew how to bake. I didn't know I could make it through the day without using a single paper towel. I didn't know I could get through the week without one trip to the store. I didn't know I could start a recycling program for the Little League. I didn't know that the only mill that stone grinds flour in our entire state is 40 minutes from my house. I didn't know I would like shopping at a thrift store.

I didn't know a lot of things. I guess I didn't know that I just wasn't done learning. See, I thought I had passed the task of 'learning' down to my kids. After all, isn't it their turn to soak up the knowledge from wise and witty teachers down at the middle school? When I started on my path to greenness, I didn't stop to take in to account that I would be learning along the way. Learning about farms, filters, pesticides, chemicals, animals, vegetables and miracles. I have been reading books, writing letters, joining groups, listening to other experts and even, maybe once in awhile, teaching someone else a little about being green. I haven't done this much learning since about the 11th grade - and most of that was about boys, track meets and hair-dos.

I am sure the learning isn't over, every day I read another chapter, find a new friend and discover another resource to teach me one more thing. So, what I learned today? Treading down the path to greenness isn't always about DOING something, it's actually about LEARNING something. The more you know, the easier it gets too. I am no longer afraid of local food challenges or speaking in front of the entire Little League about recycling and I am even getting comfortable with the fact that I just might not be dependent on paper towels for the rest of my life either.

I updated my To-Do List and my We've Done It List - because I deserve to scratch some things off in those two columns. I learned something, I tried something, I grew something, I read something and I gave something up - all without a fight. My Algebra teacher would be proud. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to run to the thrift store for a new container for the green bean sprout my son learned to grow in science class!

To-Do List - Paper Towels - Again

Still trying to break that habit. I've gotten better, really I swear. First, I bought the recycled version. (not as strong, somewhat wimpy and thin!) Now, I am trying to use less than a hu-mungo handful to wipe up the doggie drool, or the kiddie drool, whatever. So, in the spirit of using less, I bought two dishtowels while at the Green Street Fair from the nice little coalition Handmade Detroit. Basically, it's a nice mish-mosh of crafters who work together and shared some space at the fair selling their handmade goodies. I managed not to buy a purse, belt, scarf or any other fashion item, but for $7 found a nice two-pack of flour sack towels embellished with scrap fabrics. Cute, and the red stripe goes with my kitchen, 'cause you know that's important!

So, I have been trying to dry my hands or the occasional splash of water with the towel instead of the paper. I still can't force myself to clean food-goo or doggie drool with it. Yuck, ick, ugh. Now I wish I would have bought another two-pack because I feel that the towel really needs to be washed every other day. At least. Maybe more. Can you say germ-phobic anyone? So, I did a quick look on Etsy and found nutnutgoods - she has some cute organic flour sack towels printed with food grade inks... Mother's Day is right around the corner, maybe I will get lucky?

To Do List - Old Habits Die Hard

Ending my addiction to the paper towel is on my list. This is a shameful one... While I recycle every teeny shred of paper, paperboard, glass, plastic and aluminum that crosses my path (occasionally I even pick through other people's trash!), I just can't seem to stop using paper towels. Yesterday we were finally pulled out the last roll of paper towels from the jumbo-sized, plastic wrapped, (sorry, FakePlasticFish!) Costco-purchased, hulking paper towel monster hiding in my basement. So, I figure it's time to start cutting back. Maybe, just maybe, I think if I buy the recycled version of the paper towels - albeit at a higher price - maybe I might start considering using LESS of them. That's the first step, right? Cutting back? And, they're recycled, so it's slightly better than where I was before. So, I bought a three-pack of 100% recycled paper towels from Trader Joe's. The paper towel monster in my basement is no more. Once I learn to use less, I am hoping to find an alternative that I can live with to reduce my usage even further. Maybe I can challenge myself to one roll per week? Or even per month? Time will tell, but I am on my way!