One of These Things is Not Like the Other

In my efforts to get the plastic out

I am doing what I can without breaking the bank.

Albertons had bamboo cooking utensils for $1.00 each

I saw them at the checkout.

Normally it is very easy to withstand the temptations of candy bars and magazines.

However when I saw the bamboo utensils on sale I could not resist.

I had just seen the same ones at True Value the week before for $6.00 each.

They may not be the top of the line but they work for now.

One small step

it is what I am working on.

Did you do anything this last week to get the plastic out?

I would love to hear even if it was something small.

One small step is better than nothing.

Weekend Links 5/29/2010

It has been an busy week. I accomplished two out of the twelve things on my list. I will have a big reveal on Monday, just in time for Made it on Monday hosted by Skip to My Lou. I realized that this weekend six years ago I was hired at a little family owned restaurant as a hostess. Only to move on to server and then manager. Hmm, I just hired at a little family owned restaurant as a hostess. Not that I want to manage again but I find it interesting. Anyways, this is the official beginning summer for us and I am starting off beginning a new job, training Saturday and Sunday! So I putting up links in hopes to have an easy Saturday day with the family.

2010 Sunscreen Guide by Enviroment Working Group

I personally do not like to use sunscreen, seriously! We try to stay out of the sun during peak times of 10-2. I only use it if we are in the pool. Otherwise, we use olive oil. I am not kinding and you heard me right I use Olive oil. It is a natural sunscreen. I tested it on myself one day and was fine. The next day on my fair skinned children and nothing, they were protected. You do have to re-apply more frequently but it is natural. I buy the Trader Joe's spray can of olive oil, no joke and I spray it on my kids and I and it works.

DIY: Super Simple Market Bag by Simple Organic
Perfect timing to make new ones out of old shirts and get rid of my plastic ones.

Sonlight Curriculum is celebrating 20 years and a chance to win curriculum

We Remeber and We are Thankful Here is what this weekend is really about! Our soliders! Thank you to the men and women who protect our freedom with your lives. I am thankful and blessed to know you do what you do. These photos are amazing!

Get the Plastic Out

Get the plastic out, it seems crazy but I am trying. I have read quite a few blogs about the subject and I am convinced to get rid of the plastic. I watched Fake Plastic Fish's video about plastic consumption and I really have not thought that far. She has been doing this actively for almost three years.
Here are a few posts to help you:
No More Plastic Food Containers, Please!
Clean Out the Plastic Cupboards by Kitchen Stewardship
Life Without Plastic has products and articles

So now you have watched her video and you feel overwhelmed at all the plastic you ARE using. Fret not, if we do this one step at a time, it will not be so difficult.

Yesterday, I took all plastic food storage containers out of my drawers. I already had a pyrex set of glass food containers. I am in the process of switching to stainless steel canteens for water. We have been using Camelback plastic containers that say no BPA, but I do not feel it is enough. I am swtiching my spices to glass containers. Bulk foods to glass containers. No, I did not go and buy a boat load, I am using my old pickle jars, pasta sauce jars and jam jars. Goo gone gets the labels and goo of and I labeled the tops of the lids. Plus if you buy bulk foods you can take your glass jars and/or drawstring bags. Have the clerk weigh them empty and add your goodies and they will deduct and charge you according to your product not your container. I have stopped using the bags at the grocery store but I do use the Trader Joes reusable plastic bags, so I guess after my dutiful dozen I need to make canvas grocery bags.

Here are my spices, I got both of these spice racks for five bucks total at a garage sale.

The spice containers, I have been collecting for awhile.

On the right I have baking soda and powder, and cornstarch all in jam jars and peanut butter jars.

These are my beans and oats in pasta sauce jars.
I still have plastic containers for my rice, noodles and flour.

If I had all the money in the world I would go out and buy new pots and pans, containers, dishes and cups all stainless steel. But I don't, so for now little by little I will get out the plastic. I am going to look on craigslist and Freecycle for free stainless steel and and make a trip or two to Goodwill and thrift stores in the area.

I had no idea how much plastic I had in my house! It is definitely a process and I am excited to see what I can do.

There are a lot of good sources out there and I will try to post what I see too.

How much plastic to you use?