This is why toddlers should nap

Because when they refuse to take a nap, they end up falling asleep in undignified positions and their mothers take pictures of them.

Yes, that is a pink sock he is wearing. The boy does not like wearing his own socks, but is obsessed with stealing his sister's socks (sometimes right off her foot) and getting me to help him put them on.

Waiting for mail

Remember when you were a kid and it was always so exciting to get mail? If you were like me, you really only got it once a year, when you had your birthday. As you get older, the thrill of it kind of wears off. You start getting bills and junk. It becomes few and far between that the mail is interesting.

Lately though, mail has become fun for me again. I am almost always waiting for something to be delivered to me. Since discovering etsy and the joy of online shopping, I buy as much online as in person. Right now, I am waiting for: a ribbon order, some books, some infant hats, reusable produce bags, some gifts I ordered off etsy... That's all I can think of right now. Oh, and my husband has a computer thing coming.

So, every day, I anxiously wait for the mail man to come. Then, after going out in the morning, I run to check the mail to see if I have any new goodies. Today I was dissapointed, but the thrill remains.

Then the doorbell rang at around 4:00. A delivery person. Alas, just my husband's computer part.

Perhaps tommorow...

Plastic Bags

So, after my post about going greener, I guess I should follow through and say what I am doing this month. (and I did start it at the beginning of the month).

This month, my family will avoid the use of plastic bags whenever possible.

First are the grocery and shopping bags that are used everywhere. We, like most people, have some reusable bags. The problem is, I am lousy at remembering to bring them with me. So, my plan is simple in this regard. I bring the bags with me. If I don't have them, I stuff whatever I just bought in my diaper bag, or I run out to the car for them. I think I forget them because I can. If I stop viewing as an option to take a plastic bag, it fixes part of the problem right there.

Next are packing up food and leftovers. In all honesty, it is rare that I can't put these things into reusable containers instead. This is an area where I am usually fairly good, but plan to be even more aware of.

The next thing is a purchase that I am pretty excited about. I was considering the countless produce bags that get used and how to deal with that. I figured somebody must have made reusable produce bags and went looking on etsy. I found this:


These are available in a fabulous store: http://FickleFaerie.etsy.com

So, I ordered a bunch of them and can't wait to start using them. They are also based in Canada, which is awesome because it means shipping is quicker and it doesn't go through customs.

While I wait for them to arrive, I am still trying to reduce the use of plastic produce bags. Normally, I put any produce in a bag, and that's silly. If I buy a melon, why does it need a bag? Ditto for a single mango, bunch of bananas or even a couple of one fruit. I even used to put my grapes, which come in a bag, into another bag. Why?

There is one area that I don't think I can stop using bags. Raw meat. I am a little anal about making sure they don't drip or leak, so I will continue using bags for those. Oh yes, and garbage bags. I think those are still a necessary use.

Resolutions

So, as anyone that has known me for long can attest to, I am a chronically late person. I got better for the last year or two before Spud was born. However, if even I can admit that it isn't that hard to get places on time prior to kids, it is hard after. So, I am once again late for almost everything.

Keeping that in mind, it makes sense then that I would be late with resolutions. Having said that, I don't really believe in making "New Year's" resolutions. I believe in making resolutions at a point in time where you are actually ready to change something in your life. So, in that respect, it's okay to be late.

My big resolution right now is to be "greener".

Now, we're not bad. We recycle (some stuff), we compost (but not in the winter), we try to use reusable bags (when we remember). 15 years ago, we would have been considered pretty environmentally conscious. Now, well we're maybe average, but there is lots of room for improvement.

What I plan to do is make one resolution a month regarding the environment. Not necessarily huge things, but things I think I can actually do. In one way, it seems like small things, but if I try to overhaul our entire lives at once, I don't see us sticking to it. If we pick just one thing to change each month, it becomes habit. By the time the next month rolls around, last month's habit has become part of our normal routine and we're ready to add something new.

So, Happy New Year! And, perhaps it will be a greener new year in our house!