Tuesday, April 24, 2007

SPT Earth Day

this week's challenge is reduce, reuse, recycle. where are you on the green spectrum? are you an active recycler? do you reuse ziploc bags? do you carpool? use a travel mug? how do you feel about "gently used" items? do you utilize libraries? thrift stores? (kristi??) are your children setting a better example than you?


I'm not really sure about this SPT challenge. I kept debating "to" or "not to". I have never really been one to really watch the things I do and the things I use and how they effect the earth or how they don't effect it. I'm glad I went ahead with doing this. It really made me stop and think about the things I do and don't do that have a direct impact on our earth.

The only things I could come up with that "save" me, or the environment from was that I ALWAYS wear my jeans twice before washing them. That is unless I have an accident, or need I say spill something on them, I rarely have accidents anymore unless jumping on the trampoline. I also do this with my workout clothes. I wear the same outfit for either two walks, or a walk and a run. Never do I wear them again after a run. They are absolutely disgusting by that point and in need of some serious soaking and washing. This surely saves water and detergent and that helps the environment, right?

My other thing I thought of, is really quite embarassing, if I do say so myself. I almost feel like I am in a support group where I have to confess some of my weird quirks. This will probably come across very strange to some, but may be somewhat normal to others.

Not everytime, but sometimes, when Jenny and I go to Chuy's for lunch, I bring along one of my to-go containers they have given me in the past full of creamy jalapeno. I have devoured its' contents, washed it, and brought it along to refill with the creamy jalapeno we don't eat to bring home. Surely, this is not dishonest, right? They can't reuse what has been on our table that we have been eating. If I don't pour it into my container and "save" it, it will find a new home down a garbage disposal or in a trash can. The only other confession I have to make about this, is after I do this, we sometimes ask for another one and I do the same thing all over again. Then if we get "Alberto" (our new favorite waiter) he brings us to-go containers full of creamy jalapeno. He also makes sure he hooks us up with a big bag of chips, and two, to-go diet cokes.


As I sit here typing this, I almost feel like some sort of addict or something. Hoepfully none of you will see me as psycho, just someone that loves a certain mexican restraunt so much that I will do just about anything to have leftovers from it.
Other things I've found I reuse are my tupperware containers(store bought ones and ones we brings home takeout in). I also save plastic bags from my shopping trips. You can never have enough of these. They come in handy when I run out of my bathroom trash bags, or just to reuse to take something somewhere.
Having three girls I started out savin gall of their clothes. I think I have had, at one time, 12 runbbermaid containers full of clothes. As the girls have gotten older, as well as the clothes, tastes change, and stains somehow reappear, so I've been going through them and keepin only a few of them. The others have made their way dwon the street to Taylor, and some have returned from her too. Then they make the all important trip to the local goodwill store. I've never been one to find great deals at our Goodwill but some people really score at these thrift stores. So I guess my donations are a plus for them.
I love to do yard work and to be outside. I use to consider myself a person witha green thumb, but not so much anymore. I love when Spring returns and I can get flowers and plant them all aroun our house. I had plans to do just that this weekend but never made it to the nursery to get them. Maybe tomorrow, after the rain passes us by, I will get out and put a little beauty back into my yard.

Thanks Lelly for another challenge. I just hope the little things I do are some what helpful in making our environment a lttle better.

22 comments:

donna said...

I do the same. I ALWAYS wear my jeans twice before washing them. (I never dry them. Just iron them) But I wash my workout clothes after every work out!!!! Working in your yard is a great way to make our Earth a nice place to live.

jenny said...

See you recycle more than you think! Okay I am laughing so hard at that to go stuff from yesterday. We are addicts. I love it. Great pictures!!

michelle said...

I linked to your blog thru Jenny's. I too try to wear my jeans more than once. Yea! for working in your yard. That is a great way to save our earth. I keep hearing about Chuy's. I am thinking it must be the same way I feel about El Charro in Mesa!

angela | the painted house said...

Off the subject, but...will my bod ever look as good as yours??? At 20-months pregnant I feel like a cow...doesn't help that we are taking the kids to the beach next week. I covet your arms.

Buffy said...

Love your post!! I love that you and Jenny are addicts with Chuy's and diet cokes. That is great fun. I'm happy for you guys that you have each other. You guys always sound like you are having so much fun. You aren't psycho on your leftover dishes...just smart!!

Allison said...

I will be glad to take some of the creamy jalepeno dip off of your hands anytime.
I too wear my jeans more than once before washing.

Good Job!

becca said...

Great pictures! I don't wash my jeans very often AT ALL (basically until they are so dirty I can't stand it anymore)! I wish we had a Chuy's near me, I would love to try it!!

carlo said...

i really want to hop a plane and come out to chuy's!

Jennifer (mom of four) said...

Great post. I do the same thing. I wear my jeans several times..really until they are slipping down before I wash them. I do that with several things. I enjoyed reading your blog. I love the matching outfits for Easter. I have three girls too along with one little boy.

Matt said...

It's the first time I've been to your blog and I feel like I know you! I loved the "take home" containers that you carried with you. What a great idea.

Rachel said...

You crack me up with this whole Chuy's thing...not to mention the obvious diet coke addiction (ha)! You're doing more good than you probably think...wearing jeans twice and the whole trash bag thing! Cute pictures...your a babe! A fun SPT!

Jill said...

I think bringing your empty container to Chuy's to stash your leftovers in is just good planning, and can I just say that I'm dying to try that dip!?

Elizabeth said...

All those things are great. Mexican food is a good thing to be addicted to in my opinion. I miss it here. There is nowhere good to get it.

Crystalyn said...

jealous that you love yardwork...i wish i did. i do love a finished yard though!

you are so cute angie...love that you don't let that creamy jalapeno go to waste! and i had to giggle when i read that you rarely have accidents unless on the tramp.

Greg said...

Hello Gordon Gang: Glad you like my book about daughters and moms! Best wishes, Gregory Lang

Andy said...

Well, I will be in San Antonio in June. And I guess I am just going to have to make a stop at Chuy's. All this talk about it makes a gal curious.

Barb said...

This SPT was a good one for self examination. I have got to find a Chuy's to try. Is it only in Texas?

Barb said...

I googled and answered my own question - Texas only, alright. However I found a copy cat recipe for your dip on recipezaar.com so I'll give that a try.

Bridget said...

You know I would never pass judgement on you for you Chuy's "recycling". We have to do what we can for out environment. :)I say we have to bloggers reunion at Chuy's instead of in Utah. Any takers?

sista # 2 said...

Cool SPT. That's gotta be some GOOD DIP!! Too bad it can't travel!!.....in the mail!haha
(well, actually, I carried fresh cooked refried beans on dry ice, all the way to south africa -to give to someone from Mesa who was craving them!!!! nice huh!)cute pix -Janae

Unknown said...

angie, have you considered some sort of support group for your creamy jalepeno addiction?!?

thanks for taking some time to really think about this challenge.

Anonymous said...

You guys and your Chuys-I don't know what my sister is going to do when she moves out here! She is going to have to request that they build one out here:)

I try to wear my jeans a few times before washing them as well-I refused to do that until college though. Cute pics:)