I rode my bike to school yesterday...

which also happened to be the hottest day of the week! (way to think ahead)

The whole trek is 4.2 miles (roundtrip) - and I - the coward that I am (or klutz) rode illegally on the sidewalks. Not that anyone was using them to walk on, in fact I'm lucky I didn't bite it a few times due to the sidewalk's lack of upkeep.

This is my new bike: a Schwinn cruiser - Jag - u - ar... oh yeah, the klassy-est of bikes - almost like the Jaguar of bicycles???

Not a classic Schwinn - but still cool none the less.

I hope to use it to run errands, do grocery shopping etc... I wish St Louis didn't have so many slight inclines. Maybe I should see a doctor!

My husband bought the Men's bike - now we match... awww...

Happy Earth Day!

This is NOT me...

In honor of Earth Day and the return of the pretty weather, I am getting my clothesline out of the basement! Time to dry my clothes using solar AND wind power. Wow.

Line drying isn't my prefered method of drying my clothes for a few reasons:
1. I'm lazy. which leads to point number
2. The clothes are usually really wrinkled when they get dried outside, leading to point number
3. I'm lazy.

Does anyone have any tips for line drying your clothes?


(Thanks to www.stacksandstacks.com for the image - I wonder how her mom jeans hold up getting dried outside...)

Earth day is right around the corner

and everything I pick up is a constant reminder.

At first I thought "Hey, people are getting this!" then I realized that it was a clever marketing ploy. "What should we put in the magazine this month?" "Oh just throw in some Earth Day stuff, next month we'll do that spread on what type of diaper Brangelina thinks is best."
"Oh and did we get that shipment of virgin paper to print with horribly toxic ink on?"

I know - I'm speaking hyperbolically - but I really get peeved that the easier it becomes to be "green" the more packaging, wasteful products, etc companies come up with to waste our money on!

OK - I'll step off my soapbox - I'm really not here to complain...
I'm here to make you feel guilty about your choices!


Here are my Earth Day resolutions - things that I have decided to do to help save the world:

Switch to hankies
During allergy season I use many, many, many tissues! I do try to buy the ones made of recycled paper, but that is not always possible.

Get the clothesline out
It is almost warm enough to get our clothesline back out. The only thing I still haven't figured out is how to keep my clothes from drying all wrinkly - any suggestions for easy outdoor drying????

Stop getting lids and straws at restaurants.
Each time I hit Bread Co. I've decided that I definitely do NOT need a lid nor do I need the stupid plastic straw wrapped in plastic. Also at "fancy" restaurants (those where they bring your drinks in real glass, glasses) I am going to stop asking for straws, too.

For ladies only - I'm warning you, men, if you are sensitive, you will not want to read this one:
I'm going to start buying stuff from diaperware.com- check out "mooncare"... I think this is a bit too sensitive/personal to share with you on the blog - so don't expect any reviews!

Finally - after we pay our outrageous tax bill! (I know, no politics) I am investing in some good canvas (organically produced, of course) bags for grocery shopping. Now I wish I had a good corner market where I could walk and shop daily... argh - stupid Regal Foods, stupid gas station people who won't sell to the organic cool market! Just wait, I'll save the neighborhood after I save the world. I can only do one project at a time!


whoo hoo - look out world! I'm comin' to save ya'! I know these don't seem like HUGE changes, but I think that is the point. You can't change your life style in one day/month/year it is going to take many little steps...

Feel free to post your thoughts on drying clothes outside - or on little things you can do that could make a big impact...


(Thanks to www.parks.ashland.or.us/earthday/ for the cool logo - their earth day celebration sounds pretty neat - carbon neutral, zero waste... wow!)

Want to stop global warming?

The following post was taken from enviroment.about.com It was written by Larry West - and this site seems to be a good site to get your self aquainted with what is happening to the enviroment. These are pretty easy, simple ways to get your home more earth-friendly, while not changing your entire life!


Burning fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal, oil and gasoline raises the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and carbon dioxide is a major contributor to the greenhouse effect and global warming.

You can help to reduce the demand for fossil fuels, which in turn reduces global warming, by using energy more wisely. Here are 10 simple actions you can take to help reduce global warming.

1) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Do your part to reduce waste by choosing reusable products instead of disposables. Buying products with minimal packaging (including the economy size when that makes sense for you) will help to reduce waste. And whenever you can, recycle paper, plastic, newspaper, glass and aluminum cans. If there isn’t a recycling program at your workplace, school, or in your community, ask about starting one. By recycling half of your household waste, you can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.

2) Use Less Heat and Air Conditioning

Adding insulation to your walls and attic, and installing weather stripping or caulking around doors and windows can lower your heating costs more than 25 percent, by reducing the amount of energy you need to heat and cool your home.

Turn down the heat while you’re sleeping at night or away during the day, and keep temperatures moderate at all times. Setting your thermostat just 2 degrees lower in winter and higher in summer could save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each year.

3) Change a Light Bulb

Wherever practical, replace regular light bulbs with compact florescent light (CFL) bulbs. Replacing just one 60-watt incandescent light bulb with a CFL will save you $30 over the life of the bulb. CFLs also last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, use two-thirds less energy, and give off 70 percent less heat.

If every U.S. family replaced one regular light bulb with a CFL, it would eliminate 90 billion pounds of greenhouse gases, the same as taking 7.5 million cars off the road.

4) Drive Less and Drive Smart

Less driving means fewer emissions. Besides saving gasoline, walking and biking are great forms of exercise. Explore your community’s mass transit system, and check out options for carpooling to work or school.

When you do drive, make sure your car is running efficiently. For example, keeping your tires properly inflated can improve your gas mileage by more than 3 percent. Every gallon of gas you save not only helps your budget, it also keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

5) Buy Energy-Efficient Products

When it’s time to buy a new car, choose one that offers good gas mileage. Home appliances now come in a range of energy-efficient models, and compact florescent bulbs are designed to provide more natural-looking light while using far less energy than standard light bulbs.

Avoid products that come with excess packaging, especially molded plastic and other packaging that can't be recycled. If you reduce your household garbage by 10 percent, you can save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.

6) Use Less Hot Water

Set your water heater at 120 degrees to save energy, and wrap it in an insulating blanket if it is more than 5 years old. Buy low-flow showerheads to save hot water and about 350 pounds of carbon dioxide yearly. Wash your clothes in warm or cold water to reduce your use of hot water and the energy required to produce it. That change alone can save at least 500 pounds of carbon dioxide annually in most households. Use the energy-saving settings on your dishwasher and let the dishes air-dry.

7) Use the "Off" Switch

Save electricity and reduce global warming by turning off lights when you leave a room, and using only as much light as you need. And remember to turn off your television, video player, stereo and computer when you're not using them.

It’s also a good idea to turn off the water when you’re not using it. While brushing your teeth, shampooing the dog or washing your car, turn off the water until you actually need it for rinsing. You’ll reduce your water bill and help to conserve a vital resource.

8) Plant a Tree

If you have the means to plant a tree, start digging. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. They are an integral part of the natural atmospheric exchange cycle here on Earth, but there are too few of them to fully counter the increases in carbon dioxide caused by automobile traffic, manufacturing and other human activities. A single tree will absorb approximately one ton of carbon dioxide during its lifetime.

9) Get a Report Card from Your Utility Company

Many utility companies provide home energy audits to help consumers identify areas in their homes that may not be energy efficient. In addition, many utility companies offer rebate programs to help pay for the cost of energy-efficient upgrades.

10) Encourage Others to Conserve

Share information about recycling and energy conservation with your friends, neighbors and co-workers, and take opportunities to encourage public officials to establish programs and policies that are good for the environment.

These 10 steps will take you a long way toward reducing your energy use and your monthly budget. And less energy use means less dependence on the fossil fuels that create greenhouse gases and contribute to global warming.

Tired of junk mail?

From Real Simple Magazine (one of my favorites!);

1. Call the Credit Reporting Industry Pre-Screening Opt-Out hotline
1.888.567.8688
They will remove your contact info from the preapproved lists for the four major credit
bureaus. This hotline has been recommended by the Federal Trade Comission's website and
been cited by Consumer Reports.

2. Register by mail with the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service
Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 643
Carmel, NY 15012

or online - www.dmaconsumers.org

You should see a decline in direct mail marketing within three months.

3. Finally, when possible withhold your contact info and always request that your information not be sold ot other companies. Contact your bank and credit card companies and make sure that your name is removed from any shared mailing lists.