My Diet

I have been trying so hard to eliminate dairy from my diet. I don't like what I have read on the dairy industries and their treatment to the animals and the earth. My confession this week, is...................... I eat CHEESE!!!!! AND EGGS! I once went an entire year milk-product free. I felt great! I lost weight, had great skin, and rarely felt sick. But sometime in the past year I don't even think twice about eating it. I don't drink milk, but I do eat cheese! Why? I don't know. Maybe exposing my lack of self-control will motivate me to do what makes me feel great!

I will probably always eat eggs that come from a chicken I know. A family friend gives me a dozen every so often. I know that those eggs come from a chicken that was fed a vegetarian diet, and given fresh air and natural light.

So I am going to give up milk products!! Starting tomorrow.... and I will update occasionally on my confessions.

Out with the Old and Fruit Fly Don't Bother Me!

Now, I know that this confession sounds EXACTLY like Nichole's confession last week, but I am a food waster and and a bug killer!

There is a cabinet at work filled with junk. I hate that cabinet! You open the doors and fruit snacks, chips, and sugary cereals come falling out. In the 4 years I have worked here it has been like that. Well, I have a goal of greening things up in this house! Last night I asked the parents if I can throw things away. They told me that they would do it themselves, but they don't know what to keep or toss. Well, I took care of it. Except I feel both invigorated and disgusted! The amount of food (money) that I threw away is embarrassing, and it isn't even my fault. A very large kitchen garbage bag didn't even hold the contents of past date, unappealing food. And the oldest thing in the cabinet...... a bag of dried pineapple, expiration date..... December 26, 2006!!!! Ugh!!!

I did, however, empty past due fruit cups to recycle the plastic. I recycled all the cardboard packaging, and anything else i could sort out.

Even though I felt horrible tossing so much out, it needed to be done! Now that I have a lot more control over the grocery shopping, I'm so excited about healthier choices being in the now half empty cabinets.

Now for the bugs. I have been in an on and off battle with fruit flies.Here, at work, we have our own tomatoes and compost pile. My theory on how the flies infested the house is.... compost-pile "natives" left little eggs on the tomatoes and while the tomatoes sat on the counter, they hatched out and took root here in the house. ALWAYS wash your vegetables as soon as you bring them in!

I can not keep up with them! They find their way into the trash, into the garbage disposal, and into the guinea pig cage (poor Lady Jane). I can even see them perched on the window sill. So I made little "humane" traps.... i would take a bowl, put mashed banana inside and cover it with plastic wrap, making a very small opening. When the bowl was full I would cover it and release them outside. That didn't work. They are laying eggs somewhere! So this week I changed the guinea pig cage numerous times, tried not to throw anything they consider yummy in the trash, and made a death trap! I used an old salsa jar, put some apple cider vinegar in it, and the poison....... dish detergent! They went in for the snack but the sticky soap caught them and they drowned! I also sprinkled borax in the trash cans and down the garbage disposal. Today.... is a better day!! Hopefully this method will work. I have looked up other ways.... like plants they don't like... so, I am going to try that next week if they are still here Monday!

Just so you know... I actually do feel bad killing bugs! But I feel no remorse about killing the fruit flies.

Amy's Organic

One of my favorite and most convenient food brands is Amy's Organic. It's a food company that makes delicious all natural vegetarian/vegan foods. They have a great website with a lot of information on their products. This company is very sensitive to costumers with dietary restrictions, providing many gluten-free options, along with dairy-free, soy-free and nut-free.

I often enjoy the black bean burrito for lunch. It is so quick and easy... perfect for a busy day. I also love their soups! Adding more fresh veggies to it makes it extra delish... my favorite?? AVOCADO! I am always looking for more things to add avocado to!!

Amy's Organic carries a great alternative to chicken noodle soup. So next time you have a cold and wish there was a vegetarian version try Amy's Organic no-chicken noodle soup!!

Although a little pricey, Amy's Organic products are tasty and easy. I highly recommend you try out the many tasty options!

I am a gas guzzler!

I am a gas guzzler, and a procrastinator, this "friday" confession is being posted on a tuesday because of my relentless procrastination! I am sorry! I am sure that my semi-green friends will forgive me!

So this, I mean, last week I went to work at 6am... I sent the kids off to school... and drove all the way back home for my break. Then at 2 pm drove all the way back to work... worked and drove all the way back home again. It's not that I live that far away from work... but far enough to put use quite a bit of gas. Also, I don't drive a fuel efficient car either! I drive a Honda Element to and from work equaling 26 miles.... so last week doing this 3 times added an extra 78 miles on my car... causing, not just wear on tear on it, but also the environment! I'd like to say that i drove nice and slow, conserving gas mileage, but i did not.... I WANTED TO GET HOME AND GET HOME QUICK!! Well.... this has cost me... not only the extra gas money, but also the hefty ticket I got on Friday!

Needless to say I am driving slower, conserving my gas. I am also finding things to do near work that won't involve long drives.

How I am a Semi-Green Girl by: Rita

I was born to live as naturally and eco-friendly as can be. It was a desire inside of me when i was a little girl. I loved the outdoors, I loved nature and I was all about 'saving the rainforest'. My grand-parents and parents have always been very conservative in their use of things... although mostly for the sake of being frugal, it has been an encouragement. Things in my house always got reused. I thought ALL house-holds reused plastic bags... I never saw a plastic bag being tossed without it having a second usage first.

As a teenager I was an inactive "green" girl. Lazy, and effected in the wrong way by the disgusting non-conserving ways of my time. In 11th grade my science teacher brought that desire back to surface. The science class was called "Environmental and Natural Resources". I loved that class and all i learned. All the documentaries, projects, and field trips got that earth-loving desire to become active.

In recents years, though, I am a green girl in many new and active ways. Natural beauty products have become a must in my life. Natural shampoos have changed my hair, jojoba oil and tea tree oil has changed my skin. Conventional medicine is a last resort. I don't eat meat, and have VERY minimal dairy products. I recycle like crazy and love co-ops!

I love thinking of new ways to minimize the impact on the environment. The beautiful things on this earth is a gift, and I want to take care of them!

The Good:

• I try my best to do the 3 R's...............REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE.
• I teach these ways to the 3 children I am a nanny for.
• No Meat
• Natural Products
• I compost
• Opts for organic whenever possible

The Bad and Ugly:

• When I am really thirsty and don't have my reusable water bottle, I BUY BOTTLED WATER!!!
• I love 'to-go' coffee.... the convenience, the flavor! But oh! the amount of cups i toss!
• Even though I'm a vegetarian, I buy leather shoes..... oh! the hypocrisy!!!
• I travel far distances to have fun.... Oh! the gas I waste!
• I often leave lights on in empty rooms........ I DONT DO IT ON PURPOSE! I PROMISE!!

I am Rita, a GIRL trying to live a SEMI-GREEN life.