Steps Toward Sustainability

So I was hoping to get this post published around Earth Day, since April is recognized as Earth Month. But, taking life as it comes, I am just now getting to finish it...on May 1.

Anyway, a friend of mine works for Recyclebank, a company dedicated to eliminating waste worldwide by rewarding people for taking steps toward sustainability in their everyday lives. {It’s super cool…you should check it out!} Earlier this month In April, I went to Recyclebank’s website to check out their Passport for the Planet initiative for Earth Month. I started in Europe and the facts were astonishing. But one in particular struck me the most.

Gloucestershire, United Kingdom

The Strauss family is big on recycling. Called “The Greenest Family In The World”, this family of three only generates one bag of garbage a year. By composting, buying recyclable products, and reusing as much as they possibly can, they are truly masters of sustainability.
 
One. Bag. Of. Garbage. PER YEAR!!!!!

This blew my mind. Then Recyclebank asked how many bags of trash my family threw out per month. How close to the Strauss family could I come in my own life?

And it got me thinking…

How could I take steps to eliminate waste in my household in order to reduce the amount of trash I throw out?

Luckily, I'm pinning away lots of crafty ideas for future reference. That's when I remembered one pin in particular--a tutorial for reusable "paper" towels. Perfect! I hate going through so much paper product and this would be a perfect way to begin eliminating waste in our household. Not to mention, the cost of all those paper products over the span of a lifetime is probably quite astounding. So, I set to work making these babies and I'm sold! I'll be making more. Lots more. For me. For gifts. Whatever. They're awesome! Terry cloth on one side. Soft flannel on the other. They are super absorbent and rise to whatever occasion might be necessary. They snap together and we found that when you forget a bib, two towels snapped together make a pretty useful makeshift bib for our messy little eater!

With the handy snaps, this doubles as a hand towel!

This is just step one toward sustainability in our household. We are compelled to continue the journey, creatively exploring ways to eliminate waste, preserve our environment, avoid harmful toxins and chemicals and live the way God intended.

How have you taken steps toward sustainability in your household? I'd love to hear from you!

Hop on over to Frugally Sustainable to check out other great sustainable ideas! 

In defense of Pinterest

Because when my husband says to me every night are you really pinning again?????? a defense is obviously required.

My first thought upon discovering Pinterest was where have you been all my life?

My second thought: How in the world will I ever have time to do any of the things I’m pinning when I’m so hopelessly addicted to pinning?

So I pinned and pinned and pinned. Then I pinned and pinned some more. Then I finally had enough of my pinned life – a magical wonderful place that was completely fabricated from the messy coagulation of my pin boards and would never exist in real life {because no one's life is a pintastic nirvana}. And I began to create, do, make. {While still pinning, of course}

And when my husband says Mmm…this is delicious! Where did you get this idea? I say Pinterest.

Or when he applauds me for creating some clever household product, I ask if he wants to know where I got the idea. He knows. Pinterest.
 
So, whenever he asks me “The Question” I just remind him of all of the reasons why he actually loves Pinterest too.

Perhaps its the Guinness brownies.

Source: shallwecook.blogspot.com via Tabitha on Pinterest

Or the 30-minute mozzarella

Source: simplebites.net via Tabitha on Pinterest

Which I used to make homemade pizzas on the grill. Yeah, they were amazing. He was impressed.

Or maybe it's the more practical things...like a homemade mosquito trap.

{He definitely liked that one, because he's still fuming over the fact that one of the feral cats roaming our hood knocked it over the same night we put it out, spilling nearly all of its contents}

He always asks to use the coconut oil body butter I made with lavender and tea tree oil.

Source: livingthenourishedlife.com via Tabitha on Pinterest

Oh and he thought this multigrain bread was to die for.

Source: ourbestbites.com via Tabitha on Pinterest

And he said that I looked beautiful when I rocked the circle skirt I made for Easter.

{Don't mind my awkward pose. My husband's not the most patient photographer and I was rushed into position}

For whatever reason {and there are many more}, I think I've made my point. My husband clearly benefits from all that pinning!