I feel 'used'

I think I'm going to join a book club. I've been meaning to do it and now that I've found out a co-worker is part of one I may just hop on board. This month's book? Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. I've got until April 27th to read the book so I better get on it! But before I can, I need to get a
copy!

I do my best to steer clear of big bookstores like Barnes & Noble and the like and make an effort to support local bookstores. Even better, they earn extra gold stars if they sell used books. If more people purchased used versions of books that have been around for many moons then it means less trees are turned into new books. Plus, I get to give my new-used book a new lease on its inanimate life. One can even find great deals on used reads (I find amazing books at thrift stores for a quarter!) Or I turn to BookMooch.com and swap out my old books (that I don't feel like keeping around) and get other used books in return for free (minus the cost of shipping). And then there is always the trusty library. It is definitely the best option except for the fact that I'm a bibliophile that loves building the ol' collection.

The next time you're fixin' to get a book, get it used. It will make me and the pound-puppy-esque book happy. Don't want them anymore? Donate them to the Goodwill, library, your local book program, give them as a gift, and even trade/Bookmooch them.

Trash, Recyclables, and "Other"

About a year ago I paused as I was about to toss my vegetable "trimmings". Wait a minute...green bin. It had been instilled in me since elementary school to separate my recyclables but why hadn't I been putting my fruits and veggie refuse into the green/yard trimmings bin? So when you enter my kitchen you will see 3 different receptacles: one for trash, a second for recyclables (it's the round one for those confused guests. Round...Recycle...Rrrrround....Rrrrecycle), and my lone blue bucket for, well, anything that is grown/compostable (veggies, fruits, tea leaves, coffee grounds, and the occasional eggshells). Every few days I just carry my bucket out to the green bin and toss everything in. The city of LA is going to turn the yard clippings and the like into compost and mulch anyway so why not re-route my rotting fruit and vegetables from the trash bin and turn it all into nutrients for someone's garden someday.

My bucket really is my more inexpensive (read: free) alternative to actually having a backyard composting bin (since I live in an apartment and have nowhere to put my it) or owning an indoor composter by Bokashi (for the urbanite who wants to keep a mini composter in their humble abode). I like it because I wouldn't have to deal with composting worms. It's funny how I've been ogling this item online lately instead of the usual cute dress or shoes. A green girl can dream...

In the meantime, I will continue to use my trusty bucket, eventually get a Bokashi, and ponder how to get my neighbours to join in on a communal backyard composting bin.

My bucket use is actually really fun for me because I like to monitor how much stuff I throw out in general. (I've got environmental impact guilt as powerful as my Catholic guilt!)
I feel good when I see my recycling bin and bucket overflow and I barely have any trash to take out ( find myself taking out my one trashbag every 2-3 weeks. This is good but not great). I would, however, like to get to a point where I have less waste all together and I only have to make bucket trips. Happy to report that I am getting there.

Friday Bar Hops

Yes, it's Friday. Can't complain. A few of my friends and I are going to hit up the Downtown LA bar scene tonight (my Japanese friends are playing a gig in Little Tokyo). Going out for drinks, too, tonight? Think before you drink! Along with making sure you're not driving home drunk (my friends and I opt for cabs when going Downtown) you should think about how you're going to take your drink. If you're ordering beers be sure to get one on tap. That's one beer bottle less to deal with, folks. It's all about workin' the pint glasses. (Better to reuse than to throw-out or recycle). And you may be more likely to try out different beers!

I'm a fan of Stella and thank goodness the Seven Grand serves it in pretty goblets!

Wind It Up!

FYI: Don't forget that we turn our clocks one-hour forward this weekend. Hooray! It will be lighter out when I leave work. Oh Springtime...

Next time you're in the market for a new clock why don't you opt for a wind-up one. You don't need to plug it in and it doesn't require batteries. Plus, they've got the cool old-timey feel! And the ticking can lull you to sleep.

Note to not forget to wind it up again (I would do it before bed) otherwise your clock slows down and you're timing will be off!

(Clock pictured is of the Ikea-ilk)

Run Responsibly

Spring is nipping on my heels and that means one thing: "Prep for Summer Body!"

I've been putting off/avoiding having to join a gym for a couple of reasons.
a.) I'd rather not spend X mount of dollars on a membership
b.) The amount of energy a gym uses is astronomical (powering equipment, keeping the A/C on, etc.)

So I opt for lifting weights and doing crunches at home, walking, taking the stairs, and I might even try to hula-hoop my way to fitness like this woman here.
Plus, running outdoors let's me enjoy the outdoors and I get to see my neighbours more often . And it's free and environmentally friendly!

Now I'm in need of new running shoes so I've been online trying to look for some made out of sustainable/recycled materials. It's easy to find sustainable sneakers but running shoes? So far I've come across "BioMoGo" from Brooks running shoes called Trance 8 shoes which feature a bioplastic midsole that will degrade in about 20 years (2% of the time traditional midsoles breakdown). The uppers will still feature traditional oil-based materials, though.
Unfortunately for me, the Trance 8 won't be out until July of this year! No instant gratification here.

Another cool shoe find that I've been ready alot about lately is from Nike and their Reuse-A-Shoe program. Nike doesn't have a sustainable shoe yet (I don't think) but they are taking in your old running shoes, turning them into "Nike Grind" and use this to make different parts of sport surfaces in communities around the world: cushion surfaces for basketball courts, synthetic soccer fields, tennis courts, running tracks, and even playgrounds for the little ones. Find a Reuse-A-Shoe recyling location near you here

If anyone knows about a sustainable/recycled material running shoe that's out now let me know. I'm on the hunt.

plastic-less produce

I've been really good about reusing my paper grocery bags and handy cotton and canvas bags when I go shopping. I get really happy when I see more people doing the same thing. People are starting to get it! But what's silly is seeing these reusable canvas bags filled with small plastic bags of produce!

Do what I do and refrain from produce plastic all together! I just pile my fruits and veggies into my cart and go my merry way. Everyone tosses these bags out anyway once they get home. No harm in placing your stuff on the conveyor belt. You're going to wash your food later on anyway. And the plastic bag isn't really saving your produce from getting squished during the ride home - it's a plastic bag not a metal box! Other shoppers see my produce go down the conveyor and hopefully they will follow in my footsteps.

But if you still want a bag of sorts you can re-use the plastic bags for your next grocery and/or farmer's market trip, reuse mesh bags that you get when you buy oranges or avocados, or you can buy these reusable mesh bags. They are quite cheap (10 for $1.95) from the grassroots store

You can also get these smaller reusable canvas bags from Moondrop Clothiers
They come in different sizes so peruse the site for the perfect fit.

for the pearly whites

The time is coming up for me to switch out my toothbrush. If you're in the same boat then you should opt for a recycled toothbrush! One of the popular brushes hail from Recycline. Their "Preserve" brushes are made from 100% recycled plastics, 25 percent of which comes from Stonyfield Farm yogurt cups. How awesome are reincarnated yogurt cups? They are only $2.50 each or 4 for $13. Pas mal. They even throw in a come in a convenient little travel case with little vent holes to help keep your toothbrush ‘fresh’.

When it's time for a new brush just place your old one into a convenient postage-paid Recycline mailer and your old brush will be reincarnated into plastic lumber. Brings a smile to my face.

Get your own recycled toothbrush from Recycline
Or check out Vegan Essentials
Or your local Trader Joe's