Ditch the Disposables Challenge

I'm cross posting this with my Panjo Blog.

One blog that I really like, Crunchy Domestic Goddess, has issued a challenge for September and October- Ditch the Disposables!!! From her blog:

" We live in a society of convenience, where throw-away products are the norm rather than the exception. But all of the disposable products take resources and energy to produce and then, of course, get thrown away, filling up our landfills. All of this is bad news for the environment."

There are many easy ways you can make a change. Below is a list of suggestions, many of which we already do in our home. I've made little notes next to some of them sharing my thoughts.

So what am I swearing to give up? Disposable coffee cups from Starbucks. Seriously, I work right upstairs from one, and often grab a drink on my lunch break. I have a reuseable mug in the office, but I never think to bring it down with me. Same goes with weekends when we stop by Dutch Brothers for an afternoon treat. We all have travel mugs (even Max) but I never bring them with me when I go to a coffee shop. Until now! I mean really- Ron has one of these and they stay hot for something like 5 hours!

Here are some ideas from Domestic Goddess to get you started. You can make the switch from:

Paper napkins to cloth napkins (There are lots available on Etsy, or at thrift stores. I'm sewing some right now...)

Paper towels to cloth towels (we could be better at this)

Tissues to handkerchiefs (sometimes I grab one of the cloth wipes for Max if he's got a cold, but never think of it for myself. I should make some)

Paper, plastic or Styrofoam plates to your kitchen plates

Inexpensive plastic “Take & Toss” sippy cups to Sigg or Camelbak bottles or the Kleen Kanteen ***We LOVE our Sigg and Kleen Kanteen cups! Max has one of each. I prefer the Kleen Lanteen for him because the spout is easier to use and doesn't leak if it's on it's side. Great way to avoid the BPB's in plastic, anyhow! Especially if I've left water in it for a day or two- no plastic taste with the KK or Sigg bottles. ***

Disposable water bottles to (again) reusable bottles like Sigg or Camelbak **Again, we love these. For adults I like the Sigg better- perect size opening to drink from.

Swiffers (or similar products) to a broom and dustpan or mop (or use reusable cloths like cloth diapers/terry inserts in your Swiffer

Disposable dust rags to cloth rags

Disposable diapers to cloth diapers **I could go on about this forever- we love our cloth diapers! I do admit to having disposables around for travel and for when I get behind on laundry, but the cloth ones are much nicer. We love Fuzzi Bunz, but there are many options out there to choose from.

Disposable wipes to cloth wipes (inexpensive plain washcloths work really well). This is the best part of using cloth diapers, using cloth wipes! It's nice to have an extra thick barrier when you're cleaning poop. I make mine with one layer of soft flannel and one layer of terrycloth, then surge them together.

Disposable feminine products (tampons, pads) to reusables like DivaCup, MoonCup, Glad Rags, Luna Pads, Pretty Pads, or New Moon Pads, among others **I made this change about 6 months ago and wish I'd done it sooner. I love love love the DivaCup. So easy and convenient. And for those of you who have tried those messy "Instead" things- it's nothing like those. And think of the money you'll save- $25 for a Diva Cup that lasts years.

Grocery store bags to reusable bags I'm terrible at this. Oh, I have plenty of reuseable bags, I just forget to bring them with me. Working on it! I think I might get one that scrunches up really small like this and carry it in my bag.

Paper lunch bags for Cloth Lunch Bags, Insulated lunch bags, Bento Boxes, or metal stacking tins. We have the metal stacking tins and LOVE them. And Max loves to take them apart and put them back together again. If you really want to go all out, I've heard these Mr. Bento Box's are awesome. Supposedly they keep your food piping hot (or cold) for hours.

Plastic sandwich bags to Wrap-n-Mat. Again- we seriously love our Wrap-n-mats. I have a few, and the cool thing is that when you open them you have a built in placemat.

Plastic disposable utensils for bamboo or metal ones. These bamboo sets are great. If you eat out a lot, or get takeout on the run,. why not carry a set of these in your bag? Has a napkin and everything.

So there it is. Challenge yourself to make a change for 2 months, then see if you even want to go back! Or simply pick another item from the list in 2 months and take another challenge. Head over to Crunchy Domestic Goddess and tell her what you are ditching- she'll add you to the list of people and blogs who are taking on the challenge.

Big Truck Day 2008

Big Truck Day is possibly the second coolest event of the summer (next to the Oregon Country Fair, of course) for Max. It's a free event that takes place at a community center in Beaverton. They have every truck you can imagine, and the kids can climb into them, "drive", and honk the horns. There is everything from semi-trucks to street sweepers and school busses. Unfortunately it was 100 degrees this year, but we went early and max had a great time nonetheless.

Our first stop was the snow plow.
Max was unsure of the horn (they were loud!) but once he did pull the chain he got a great big grin on his face.
On the back of the snowplow was a sand distributor. Ron explained to Max how it works, and Max was just enthralled. The bulldozer was big! Ron and Max are making their Incredible Hulk fists.
The back of the ambulance

This tractor was one of Max's favorites. He loved the big tires.

Didn't I say they had EVERY truck?
We're looking forward to next year, and hopefully it won't be as hot!

Summer Fun

I have a bunch of great photos I've been meaning to post, so here's a catch up of some of our summer.

Good times at the Oregon Country Fair. It's unlike any fair you've been to, it's truly a magical place! This was our 3rd year, but the first one where Max could enjoy the shows. He also had a great time camping and sharing his wagon with his buddies.

Fourth of July neighborhood parade.
Fun at the Wilsonville water park.
A visit from the cousins.

We had a great visit with Amy and Hal and their son Indigo. They have a nice backyard where the boys could run around and play.
Bath time kisses
We have found some great garage sale finds, including a new tricycle and his now coveted rollerskates. He even uses them at the same time.

The Value of a Good Tantrum

This was written by Juli Idleman, it came across on an Unconditional Parenting group that I am a part of. I like it so much, thought I would share!

The Value of a Good Tantrum

Last weekend, somewhere between the collards and the spinach, the peaceful plodding of putting in our Fall garden went wrong and I got really grumpy with my husband, Tom. One minute we were chatting over seedlings and the next I was feeling wronged and misunderstood. After some less than helpful squabbling, Tom, brilliant man that he is, took a deep breath, looked right at me, and said, "OK, tell me all of it."

"I hate it when you judge me!" I ranted and raved. I went on recounted inconveniences that were building steam in the back of my mind as resentments. Before I knew it, I was talking about the hard look in my mother's eyes when she deemed one of my childhood accomplishments beneath her notice. He was sitting right beside me handing me a Kleenex. And I was already starting to feel better.

When I stepped into the garden half an hour before, I had had no idea all of that was brewing inside of me. If my husband hadn't stopped to pay attention and listen, I might not know it now. That gift of caring attention helped me release the feelings that were interfering with my ability to relate to Tom and feel connected and understood. I also learned some important things about myself while building a stronger sense of closeness in my marriage.

And this is exactly what children need when they have their tantrums. Whether you are four or forty, being human means having to deal with a lot of feelings, feelings that don't come with a time stamp. They can sneak up on you, just like Tom triggering memories of how small and insignificant I felt as a child under my mother's judgmental gaze. And we all, big and small, deserve the opportunity to share how we feel in a caring, thoughtful and non-judgmental space.

It saddens me when I hear parents proudly say they don't put up with tantrums and send their kids off to the solitary confinement of their rooms until they can behave "properly." I know they love their children, but what a lost opportunity to nurture and support them! That would be like my husband telling me, "I have no intention of loving all of you. I only want to see the parts that work for me."

We are social animals. We all need connection with others. And sometimes, when we are overwhelmed with feelings, relating "properly" gets hard to do. But opening your heart and your arms to the feelings that are overwhelming your child clears her mind, allows her to think and learn unhindered by emotional baggage and builds an essential level of trust and closeness in the relationship between you.

So, the next time your two year-old starts to fall apart in the grocery store, just imagine I am there with you, with one arm around your shoulders saying, "Wow! You're a lucky parent. What a great chance for you guys to get closer." Maybe that will help you take a deep breath, bend down, and say, "Tell me all of it."

--Juli Idleman

Muffin Tin Monday- Party!

This week there was a party theme for Muffin Tin Monday over at Sycamore Stirrings. I went with a build-a-car theme.
Bread cut into the shape of cars and trucks, peanut butter mixed with honey and flaxseed, and various foodstuff to decorate with. From top right to bottom- sesame sticks, sunflower seeds, dried green peas, strawberries (sliced in circles to use as wheels), smiley face cereal, circle crackers, more strawberries, and pretzel sticks.

I have to go to work, so I won't get to see him enjoy it. I will make sure my mom takes pictures and will upload them later!

Muffin Tin Monday

I have been so excited to start Muffin Tin Monday. It's a brilliant idea by one of my cyber-friends, Katy. I met Katy when we did a swap on Etsy- she got a cape for her son, and I got a couple of awesome shirts that she made. Since then she has closed her Etsy shop, but she now has time to make this wonderful blog- Sycamore Stirrings. She has some very inspiring ideas, one of which is Muffin Tin Monday. What a great way to remind myself to think out of the box (and into the tin...) and also to sneak in some new things for Max to try in a fun way. I even went out and bought a super cool heart shaped muffin tin. Then when I got it all put together then I couldn't find my camera! I had to use my cell phone and the color is terrible- it looks pretty unappetizing. But really it's good, promise! And Max loved it.

carrots, grapes, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, hot dogs, and a blueberry banana muffin

I'm going to try to do this every week. Posting it on my blog(s) will hopefully keep me thinking of more creative things to put in the tins each week. Sorry for the cross-post on both my Panjo blog and my family blog, I'm having a hard time deciding what to post where! Crafty stuff on my Panjo blog, family stuff on my family blog... but then I want to share the crafty stuff with the family. Ah well, I'll figure it out!

Funny things...

Max is talking up a storm these days. He says the cutest things. I keep saying that I need to start writing these things down, but I never grab a notebook and just do it. So here it is, while they are fresh in my mind.

Today we were driving home and he noticed an "ouchie" on his knee. He was fiddling with the teeny tiny scab, when all the sudden he says, "Look! Mommy, look, look! Has catchup in there! I make a mess..." I look back and he's picked the scab and sure enough there is blood on his fingers and smeared on his knee. "Catchup" LOL! I suppose we should be grateful that he's gone this long and has no idea what blood is!

A few weeks ago he was snuggling up to me and he puts his hands on my cheeks and says, "Love your cheeky's mommy." I say, "Aw, my cheeky's love you!" Then he says, "Love your beeps." ... beeps? I say, "You love my beeps?" "Yes, I love your beeps. [pokes one of my moles] beep! beep!" I think "beeps" is a much better name for them than "mole", wouldn't you agree?