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Look, I've never been environmentally friendly. I've frequently said that if I save the environment, I'd be putting all the environmentalists out of a job, so therefore I am helping the unemployment problem. But this month's Small Change challenge was to go green and I have to say I owned this challenge. We used hand towels and cloth napkins instead of paper, I turned down bags at places like blockbuster and toy stores when I bought one thing I could easily carry. I stopped using a disposable water bottle for the gym and carried a plastic bottle. The weather was so beautiful this month I was able to open the window and not run the heat or the air. I did not go so far as to buy canvas grocery bags, but that's because I use the plastic bags to pick up the dog's poop.
Next month's challenge is to make someone's holiday a little better, a little bit easier. Where I work we routinely deliver turkey dinners to the needy. But there are other ways to do a similar thing. Drop canned goods in the basket at a grocery store, donate food to a food pantry, or help at a soup kitchen. Really, anything you can think of to help someone who would not have Thanksgiving without it.
Okay, I never say that, I'm incredibly anal about time. But, I'm running really late this month.
This post should have gone up on Tuesday.
It's that time of the month again, no, not that time of the month, time for the Small Change recap and new challenge.
Ironically, Beth forgot to post it and I reminded her. Somehow that means I'm in charge when her son is born. I feel like the person who didn't go to the meeting at work and got signed up for every project. But, Beth is fabulous and deserves some maternity leave, even from blogging. And I love this blogging campaign and I'm happy to help.
I already blogged about how I did the challenge before it was announced. And I hope that counts because I don't think I did anything else remarkable for a stranger this month. I always hold doors open for moms with strollers, so I'm sure I did that, but nothing sticks out in my head.
Next month's challenge is going to be a tough one for me. Yell at me now, but I am so not environmentally friendly. I would be, except that every time we recycled our recycling bin got stolen. I got a little sick of calling the county every month asking for a new recycling bin, so we stopped recycling. Maybe that will be my own personal challenge this month. Get a new recycling bin and use it. And Doug wants us to use less paper towel and more of the many dish towels we were given as wedding presents. So, maybe I can be a little more green.
If you haven't signed up yet, please do so. Just remember that come February Small Change is mine and my regular readers better step up or it's banishment for you! (I'm so kidding, like what I need is less readers!)
P.S. Yesterday (um, 3 days ago) I was was featured here.
P.P.S. I'm already saving the world! I picked up a DVD for Michael today (at a consignment store, it's like recycling) and I turned down the bag. I just put it in my purse. Look at me, I'm going green!
I love Beth's Small Change challenge this month.
In fact, I did it two days ago without even knowing it was this month's challenge.
Two women were trying to get to the beach with two jogging strollers, lots of beach stuff, and two babies. And the beaches on the outer banks have stairs to protect the dunes you have to go over to get to the beach. People were walking by these women with no offer of help. I grabbed one of the babies out from one of the women when the stroller almost fell on top of her causing her and the baby to tumble down the stairs.
At first she was a little freaked out. Hey. I would be too if a stranger grabbed Michael from me. But, when she realized why I did it, in order to HELP, she fell over herself thanking me. She and her friend set up their strollers and went off for an early morning jog on the beach.
When they came back I asked Doug to help them get their strollers up the stairs. And once again, they thanked us profusely.
I did this because I'm a mom, and I know what it is like to have all that stuff and not enough hands. I did it because they needed help. I did it because it was the right thing to do. And I'm glad Beth gave us a reason to do things like this more often. I just wish the women on the beach weren't so startled that someone actually helped them. It's really not that hard to be kind.
It's time for the Small Change Month 7 recap. And you know what, this month's challenge was so easy, I didn't do it.
This month's challenge was to donate anything, to anyone. And I fell down. Last month I donated clothes and furniture to the Lupus Foundation of America. Can that count?
Just yesterday I got an email about a used book sale to benefit Team River Runner, a recreational charity for wounded US soldiers that teaches the soldiers kayaking and other activities they are able to do. We have a ton of books and I think I'm going to spend the weekend picking which ones to donate. (If you are in the DC area and want to participate, send me an email at jodi(at)lucidphoenix.com and I'll get you the information.)
So, in the end I was too early and too late. But I did something, and that is what this challenge is about.
And, like always, go see Beth tomorrow to find out what her next challenge is.
you hit three grocery stores in 5 days. Yep, Costco Friday, Giant Sunday, and Trader Joe's on Monday.
I'm hosting three events this week. I had a 'ladies' night out jewelry thingy last night. It's like Avon or Tupperware but with jewelery and wine. Lot's of fun, but a friend of mine and I decided we had to make enough food for an army. Friday I'm having my regular playgroup here, and this weekend I'm arranging a spa bachlorette party and I'm in charge of snacks. So 3 grocery stores in 5 days.
I haven't been to Trader Joe's in like three years. I know, blasphemy. But the closest one is 20 minutes away, and I would literally have to drive past 5 grocery stores to go there. Now I do that for Harris Teeter, but for some reason I forgot the wonderland that is TJ's.
That store is amazing. I bought so much crap and spent less than $50. I think TJ's has won my heart back. Now I just have to figure out where I am putting it all.
Oh, and another mom thing, are you are concerned about the trash at your local playground or park? Go check this out! I came up with the Small Change challenge this month.
Okay, well, I did nothing. I failed the challenge. But, for a medical reason. I am not allowed to give blood. I am so anemic that if I give blood I pass out. So, they don't like me giving blood. Plus, my blood just gets thrown in the garbage anyway, and it seems silly to do that. As for the bone marrow donation, I should have signed up up, but I didn't.
But, not to despair, new challenge, next month! A chance to redeem myself. Come join us!
Sorry this is a day late. I did the blog exchange yesterday, so Small Change got pushed back.
This months challenge was to clean out your house and donate the items. Well, I did that last month, so this month I did the big ole nothing. I know I suck. I meant to donate more stuff, but I just didn't get around to cleaning out again. But, we donated 2 bags of clothes, some furniture, and old toys to the Salvation army last month, so I feel like I did pretty good. (And to all those participants whose stuff didn't get out of the house, call Salvation Army, they pick up at the house. I'm all for donating that's easy).
Please, please click on over and see if you want to participant in the new challenge. Putting aside my performance this month it is normally pretty easy, doable stuff that makes a difference.
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Now, for the Announcement. I'm going to be on Blog Talk Radio, again, tonight at 9:10 pm. This time, hopefully, you will able to hear me. I'm going to be talking about Mommy guilt, more specifically, guilt around the inability to breastfeed. So, if there is anything you'd like me to mention, leave a comment here, or you can leave comments or questions for Kristen, the host.
 Labels: Random Bloginess, Small Change
Well, I didn't exactly follow this month's challenge. The challenge was to make a sacrifice and donate the money from the thing you sacrificed to charity. Beth's example was to top eating out or using takeout.
We rarely go out to eat, and when we do, it's because we are running errands and get hungry, or it's a date night out, or we are with our families and they are paying. We used to eat out all the time, but once Michael was born that just got to be not so easy, although Michael tends to do well in Restaurants. He goes to bed at 7, and during the week Doug gets home at 6:30, and Michael has normally already eaten dinner. We do eat out on the weekend sometimes, normally lunch because we are out and about.
When Michael was first born we ordered takeout a lot, at least once a week. But we cut back when I went back to work part-time and took a pay cut. Now we are down to 1-2 times a month, and normally there is a very good reason neither one of us feels like cooking. I make dinner most weeknights, and Doug will cook on the weekends.
I couldn't think of anything else that we could sacrifice. I guess it could have been Starbucks, or shopping, or other things, but I jut never did it.
But, we still made two charity donations. We donated some furniture and Michael's old toys to The Salvation Army, who will sell them in their thrift stores and donate the money to a needy family.
I also made a contribution to a friend of mine who is doing the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. This is a charity near and dear to my heart because I did the walk a few years ago when it is was three days and run by Pallotta Team Works. It was one of the best things I have ever done. I made lifelong friends and I signed up completely on my own and joined a team. If you are thinking about doing it at some point you really should, especially since it's two days now and has better organizers, but that is another post. I know breast cancer is not a children's charity, but I think kids benefit from their moms not dying, so it fits the bill.
Also this month was Michael's birthday party, which asked for charity donations instead of gifts. About half of the attendees followed that request, and people picked really neat charities that I had not heard of which made me glad.
If you have not gotten involved yet with Small Change and would like to, tomorrow the new challenge will be up. I hope to actually do that one.
Remember this , Beth's charity campaign? Well, this is my first monthly post. Michael and I sent a card to Caroline. Because I am so prompt and anal, I sent it the day the initiative was launched. A few days later Beth announced that we should take pictures of our cards. I don't have a picture, but I sent it, I promise. I also sent these- Ignore the blank marks, I took out some personal information. My own contribution to the monthly challenge was to ask for a charity donation in lieu of gifts at Michael's second birthday party. I know some people will bring gifts, and that's okay. I hope most don't. So tell me, if you received an invitation like this would you bring a gift, make a donation or both? And why? And, would you be offended? I've been told by some this was rude, to assume gifts and to ask people not to bring them. If you have not signed up to participate in Small Change, please think about doing it. Yes, Beth is a friend, but I also think her charity campaign is amazing. Please join. Go check out this month's challenge. And, Happy Valentine's Day.
Some of you might have noticed this on my blog- For details, click here.
I am proud to say, that I know Beth, like, in real life. We have totally hung out. (Well, it was once, but still). She is as lovely in person as she seems on her blog. When she approached me about being a charter member of her then unnamed charity blogging thingie, I was thrilled, and honored.
The thing about blogging is, you meet really cool people, virtually, and in real life. I started this blog after reading other Mommy blogs for over a year, and being amazed that they could put virtual pen to virtual paper so well and describe how I felt. Doug said, you read so many blogs, you might as well write one, and that's how this blog was born. But since I have been writing it, I'm amazed at the amount of comments and emails I get. I've made friends, real friends, they just happen to live inside a computer box. Beth's Small Change initiative is everything that is right about the Mommy blogging community. Go look at the post and see the amount of comments she received and people asking to participant. For free. Maybe it will give us some traffic, but I highly doubt people signed up for that reason. If you haven't done so already, please go visit Beth, and think about signing up. And if you don't think you can make the commitment of once a month, well, then just do this month's challenge, which is sending a card to a sick kid. I felt so good about myself when I put my card in the mailbox. Labels: Random Bloginess, Random Friendness, Small Change
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