Innovation

Ladies, I've said it before and I'll say it again: the money I spent on my diva cup was the best money I've ever spent. An innovation that makes periods safer, cheaper, easier, and ecological? Yes, I think I will.

laundry time

More than a year ago I wrote this post about making our own laundry and dishwasher detergent. A year later, I've settled, possibly forever, on this recipe featured on SouleMama for our laundry. To cut even more cost, I use the uber-economical Ivory soap. I wasn't able to find much information on Ivory's ecological rating, but based on what I did read it seemed okay.

The detergent works great, is cheap to begin with, and seriously, a batch lasts a looong time, at least for this family of three.

But honestly, my favorite part of the recipe is that Lissie is now getting old enough to pitch in some muscle:


Lissie took this picture of me taking a turn. Journalist in the making, no?

If you do decide or have decided to do either this or a different recipe, let me know how it's working for you.

Christmas Makeover

Remember this post from January? In it I talk about de-commercializing Christmas. Well, Derrick and I have finalized our plans. The catch is I'm going to need some help from you more clever and crafty types to hook me up with some great ideas.

First let me give you our reasons for changing the way we do Christmas. As a married couple we've found that we both dislike, and are therefore pretty bad at, shopping for other people. Derrick hates shopping altogether, and I am terrible at guessing what other people might like. We are also busy people. With me juggling school and a baby and Derrick juggling classes, work, and a commute, we would put off Christmas shopping until the last minute. When that last minute arrived, we'd bite the bullet, call a babysitter and spend a stressful evening navigating a busy mall to make guesses as to what our beloved family members might like. After this last Christmas, I decided this method had lost whatever appeal it ever had (was it ever appealing?).

Don't get me wrong. I love family. I love Christmas. I love making family members happy. But couldn't it all just be a bit more meaningful for them and for us?

Our plan, therefore, looks a little something like this:

We plan ahead.

Instead of buying "stuff", I decide on a project for each person or couple that we can work on together as a family, particularly with Lissie's help (Christmas fiasco babysitters need not apply-I want her to be involved and have fun too).

This project can be a craft, display, something useful, or just some way for our family members to remember us (and Lissie, in particular) by throughout the year. My only other rule be that it is something they can actually unwrap on Christmas day.

I would especially love for these projects to indicate that Lissie was involved in the process.

So, my crafty readers, what say you? Any thoughts or ideas to help a sister? I'll be starting a Pinterest account, perhaps you could share ideas with me on there?

Moby Dick and Environmentalism

An off-putting title, I know, but Ishmael continues to amaze with his ironic witticisms. Here's one for you:

"But, though the world scouts at us whale hunters, yet does it unwittingly pay us the profoundest homage; yea, an all-abounding adoration! for almost all the tapers, lamps, and candles that burn round the globe, burn, as before so many shrines, to our glory!"
Melville, Herman. Moby Dick. Kindle Version, Location 2132-42.

Whaling must not have been very pretty. According to Ishmael it is a scorned profession, even during Melville's time. Think about those awe-inspiring, mysterious creatures being harpooned to a bloody death, hauled into bay and then chopped into bits for their blubber and meat. For the average civilian it must have been like watching a unicorn getting their horn sawed off to make baby diapers. Alright, perhaps not that bad, but you get the point. Not sure that you get the point?

Okay, the point is what we consume speaks more loudly than the things we supposedly denounce. Don't like oil spills? Don't like pollution? So what? Am I sounding preachy? I don't mean to be. Consuming resources, like it or not, is a part of human life. But being human also means that we can do the following: We can consume less. We can consume responsibly. We can be less hypocritical about our choices. These are all things you've heard before (I hope). Interestingly, these are things I wasn't planning on learning from Moby Dick. Thanks for reading.

Product Review: The Diva Menstrual Cup

When I posted this a few months ago, I got a couple of "hell no's". I was also, however, extended the challenge of trying it out and letting you know what I thought. I'm following through on that challenge. If anyone reading this is squeamish or just plain not interested in female menstruation (I'm looking at you, Dad), please stop reading this and wait a week or so for a different post to appear. The rest of you, here we go:

First of all, I can't believe I've never heard of menstrual cups before I ran into that wiki-how months ago. Considering that they are, in fact, safer than tampons, much less wasteful, and are infinitely less expensive over time, I really didn't have to think too hard before taking the plunge and buying one online here. Because I've given birth vaginally, and am on the downhill slope to thirty, I bought the Model 2 cup.


I also decided I couldn't resist calculating my normal menstruating costs, which is being done by memory, so there's some give or take here. Historically, I really hated cardboard applicators, so my tampon of choice was Pearl which on Walmart's site goes for $8.68 and I could use one of these boxes to get me through about a period and a half. I also would buy Always pads for about $6.97 every two or three months. Low estimates show that my menstrual costs would hit at about $96 every year. The Diva Cup, which I bought for $32, not including shipping, lasts for about 7 years. Wowza--I just saved myself $640!


It's true that it might take some time to adjust. It certainly did for me. In fact, after the first few days I wasn't sure I could take it anymore. Luckily I stuck with it, and by the second period I'd figured it out. First of all, if you do decide to buy it, cut off the stem and file down the edges. Trust me on this. Secondly, strengthen your muscles down there by doing some Kegel exercises. Not to get too TMI on you here, but mine kept sliding down but the week before my second trial period I focused on doing Kegel exercises and it worked much better. Thirdly, wear a pad at night, just in case. Or just wear tampons at night, if you prefer. You'll still be reducing your costs and the amount of waste you're putting in the landfill if you wear four tampons a month instead of however many you'd normally use. I also highly recommend that you watch this video . Scratch that. Watching this video is imperative to your understanding of how this fascinating, yet simple, piece of technology works.


I'm being completely honest when I say that, yes, switching to the Diva cup was an adjustment, but I leak a lot less, and my periods are pretty guilt free now. Plus, I never have to worry about stashing enough tampons or pads to get me through the day or trying to remember how long ago I inserted my last tampon. Although I'm not ruling out tampons completely, I plan on buying my daughter(s) diva cups fo sho.


My review? **** stars. Make the switch; the planet (and your wallet) will thank you!

Homemade Laundry/Dishwasher Detergent

I made my first batch of homemade dishwasher detergent a few days ago and made my first batch of laundry detergent today. Since I haven't actually used it yet I guess I can't really officially weigh in on how the laundry detergent works, but I have no reason to think it won't be just fine. I'm really not that picky about laundry soap. The dishwasher detergent worked great. Honestly. I couldn't tell a bit of difference between loads washed with store-bought and homemade.

So why do it? As I posited in my first blog post about going green, I think there is often an environmental and economic advantage to making smarter, more eco-friendly choices. This is definitely the case with making homemade laundry/dishwasher detergent, particularly if you are inclined to buy eco-friendly detergents. Alas, sometimes it can be tempting to save some money and buy the cheapy, harmful detergents. To escape the moral dilemma, it's easiest to both save money and reduce one's harmful footprint.

So without further ado, how is it done?

There are a ridiculous number of recipes for both types of detergent, but I used this to make the laundry (I used Ivory soap) and this to make the dishwasher. If these don't seem to work for you, or you are interested in looking at some other recipes, you can check out this site for different ideas on laundry detergent. I also came across this recipe on soulemama and I really liked how easy it was. I think I might skip the liquid recipe I used this time for my laundry soap and give this a try next time.

So how economical is it really? It depends on what type of detergent you're interested in using. Since I'm interested in using "green" soap, I compared my prices to eco-friendly soaps I found on costco.com. A 150 oz container of Seventh Generation laundry detergent goes for about $24.99 a pop. For my laundry detergent I bought a big stock pot for $12 so I could easily melt my ingredients, which added greatly to my costs. I also, of course, bought washing soda, borax and ivory soap. My upfront cost ended up being $22.16 with tax and I filled a 150 oz countainer. I predict I'll most likely get 5-7 more batches from what I already bought, so you do the math.

For dishwasher soap, Seventh Generation detergent goes for $5.09 without tax for a 45 oz container. My upfront cost for homemade ingredients ended up being $8.77 with tax, not including the vinegar (which will last me for probably 6 months). This one is a bit trickier to calculate, since I don't have a handy-dandy way of measuring what I made (I'm using an old yogurt container to store it in), but the yogurt container holds 32 oz. and I made enough to fill 1/4 (so about 12.8 oz) of the container. I predict I'll probably get 6-8 equally-sized batches out of what I bought for $8.77 (but since borax is called for in both recipes, my numbers might be a bit off). Not to get too math-eager (not to mention boring) but if I make 6 batches of 12.8 oz, I'm able to make 76.8 oz for $8.77 and it costs about .11 per ounce of dishwasher soap, almost exactly what it costs per ounce of Seventh Generation. However, these are only predictions, and we'll have to see what I'm able to make with the ingredients I've got.

I hope this post wasn't absolutely dull, but since I know some people who are interested in making the switch I thought I'd post and fill you in. Happy washing!

Going Green

Photo from www.dbcpr.com

Maybe you don't believe humankind is responsible for global warming. Maybe you do. Maybe you are or aren't an environmentalist. Maybe you're as confused by all the conflicting things said about different methods of green-living as I sometimes am. Wherever you stand on the issue, I think certain aspects of going green make perfect sense - economically, socially, and of course, environmentally.

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Our family certainly doesn't rank on the higher echelon of eco-consciousness, but this isn't something we're proud of. Indeed, I've met several families that are exceedingly conscious of the health of the environment. They've worked their stance on environmental issues into the way they live and even the way they raise their children, battling needless consumerism and wasteful living. I deeply admire those families.

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This post, I hope, avoids a tone of self-satisfaction, because there is so much room for personal and family improvement. And though I will include some things we've been doing to make an attempt at green living, the main purpose of this post is to include a list of our yet-to-be-realized resolutions. Most importantly, I'm interested in opening this discussion up to you; to read ways in which, whether "going green"was your original goal or not, you've found sustainable green solutions for yourselves or your families, or your own goals for living in an environmentally-responsible manner.
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Recycling. I got into the habit of recycling while we lived in Boston, and silly as it may sound, it's addicting. For the brief period of time we lived in Utah without a recycling bin, I felt guilt-ridden everytime I threw away something I knew could be recycled. I imagined the plastic milk-container, the cereal box, the aluminum can taking up needless space in a landfill. So we've been renting a recycling bin and plan to do so forever (unless of course we move somewhere that has a more modern and comprehensive attitude towards recycling). Derrick even goes to the trouble of carting home recyclable materials from work. What a hunk.

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Consumerism. This is something I've been thinking about a lot lately, particularly after Christmas. Particularly after reading Chandler Hatch's "Ethical Consumption: Eat No Evil, Wear No Evil, Buy No Evil" in BYU's December Political Review. We're in the process of re-thinking Christmas while still preserving the most important aspects of it for us. In short, I'm interested in de-commercializing Christmas. Plans are in the works and aren't entirely formulated, but it might mean we will buy a lot less presents next year.

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Also, as I've mentioned before, I don't like buying plastic toys for Squirt. I like buying her used books. I like buying used clothes. I'm becoming increasingly interested in buying products, particularly food products, from companies that are actually interested in health and the environment. I take reusable bags to the grocery store. I rescue items from trash heaps I know we can use. Yay for me.

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What's Next? So much, I hope. One of my biggest regrets is not using cloth diapers for Squirt. At this stage in her development, however, it doesn't make much sense for us to introduce them, but we'll definitely use them for future children. Several of my friends make their own clothes and dishwasher detergent, which reduces cost, both financially and environmentally. This is something I want to learn to do. I loved our Christmas card this year, but next year I want to find a recyclable option (because let's face it, you've probably already thrown it away if you got one). I want to make more vegetarian meals. I want to learn to do simple sewing so I can repurpose or repair our clothes. I want to buy as locally as I can and grow more vegetables in our garden. In short, I want to buy less, consume less, and throw away less.

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So now I turn it over to whoever is reading this. There are lots of things I've missed, and my list is by no means exhaustive, but they are some things I've been thinking about lately. What about you? What have you done/are doing/want to do to live a little more responsibly? Please share!

Toddler Christmas Shopping

Kind of sad, kind of funny, but this is my second Christmas as a mom but my first year in which I actually purchased gifts for my daughter. Last year our funds were reduced to very little. Plus, we knew she wouldn't really care, which eased our guilt considerably.


This year I've had more fun than I'd anticipated choosing gifts I think suitable. First off, let me say the following: 1. I loathe Barbie dolls. 2. More generally, I like toys that are gender neutral. There are multiple reasons for this, but probably the most important is that the majority of gender-conditioning toys are just plain creepy. 3. I don't like buying plastic toys.

Working around that criteria proved not too difficult. Squirty is drawn to our fridge, possibly because she's attracted to the loot within (she's 30 lbs. for a reason, after all), but she also really loves magnets. Rather than go for the plastic alphabet fridge magnets we all know so well, I found some wooden letters for a great price. Why do I like wood? Isn't cutting down trees bad? Well, here's my logic: Trees are a natural resource that reproduce, or can be planted and replaced, fairly quickly (in comparison with oil-based plastic, anyway). And let's get real, plastic fridge magnets don't exactly qualify as family heirloom material, so one day they'll get thrown away. Wooden fridge magnets are biodegradable, whereas plastic magnets aren't. Less junk that will stay in a land fill forever. In addition to the fridge magnets, I bought some adorable wooden blocks, since Squirty loves, loves, LOVES stacking and organizing things.

Alright, so I sold out for this one, but I did cave and bought her a Disney Princess Coloring Book. I generally dislike Princess stuff, but for some reason I bought it. Don't ask me why. If any of you have seen Blame it on Fidel and happen to agree with the dad that Mickey Mouse is a fascist, you may have some idea how Derrick will feel when he sees the baby open this marketing trap from Disney. Sorry, dear!

Here are two books I adore that I found on sale at BYU's bookstore:

I couldn't have lived much longer without this book in my house:

I want to know: what's your toy-buying criteria? Even if it's the exact opposite of mine, I'd like to hear it and why. Or,

what are you getting your kids for Christmas? or,

what do you do when you feel like marketing companies are taking advantage of your child's innocence?

Alright, so I'm a Materialist

...but I want this car SO BAD!

Maybe I'll convince Derrick, once the Hyundai exhales its last shaky breath, to use it as a commuter vehicle. On weekends when he's not looking I'll go joy-riding. Tee-hee!

In other news, I finished reading Paul Tough's Whatever It Takes, a book I will constantly reference in a search to understand education, inner-city poverty and parenting. Though it sounds unlikely, it was the most riveting collection of studies done on the three issues stated above I've ever read. Honestly. Riveting.

My next bit of fun reading will be this book:

Thanks for the loan, Lindsay!

The Fruits of our Labors

Our first garden was a little half-hearted this year. It seems we struggled most with the easiest crops: radishes, carrots, peas, zucchini and summer squash. Our crops of tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers and even a lone pumpkin did much better than we expected. We started the bell peppers from seed, a task we heard was rather difficult, and therefore felt we'd be lucky if we got any yield. You'll see our teeny-tiny bell peppers below, but we're proud nonetheless!

And don't you think they look stunning in my lovely Chaco bag?

Thanks to Elizabeth, my absent but wonderfully eco-conscious buddy.

Mormon Woman Shaves Head for Good Cause(s), then Blogs

So many Americans (and others around the world) have watched with powerless horror at the disaster occurring in the Gulf with the BP oil spill. That's why I was pleased when I read about an NGO collecting hair from salons, pet groomers and private donors in order to make what is called "hair boom" - nylon stuffed with animal and human hair - which is then used to soak up the oil. The NGO is Matter of Trust, based out of San Francisco and they have really energized many dismayed people into action, including myself!

Salons in virtually every state are collecting the hair leftover from a hard day's work, stuffing it in plastic liner and shipping it to Matter of Trust's designated sites where it is then stored until it can be turned into hair boom. How brilliant, using a renewable material to clean up a big mess.

Photo courtesy of matteroftrust.org

I must be upfront about something, though. The truth is, I've always wanted to donate my hair - and buzz it. You may think I'm strange, but it's always been on my bucket list, though something I'd been saving for a "future day". When I read about Matter of Trust though, I really felt motivated to finally check this to-do off my list. I had a rough few days, one of exhilarating highs when I was definitely going to do it and depressing lows when I heard that BP was going to use oil-based commercial booms to clean up their mess (go figure, huh?). However, further research into Matter of Trust's site assured me that if I did donate my hair it would certainly be used. Communities all over the coast are requesting hair boom and the NGO has been extremely professional in putting oil-exposure in the hands of trained individuals. Additionally, they have a very organized system for boom-gathering (after they've absorbed as much oil as they can hold) that is in accordance with their various city and municipal regulations. It was a nerve-wracking decision, but after a depressing day where I'd called the whole thing off, I realized I was too far involved and I had to do it or feel miserable.

On Matter of Trust's site, a list of participating salons is readily available. One such salon is the Aveda Institute of Provo. In addition, they give free hair cuts to people donating to Locks of Love, a cause I also deeply wanted to contribute to.

Walking into the salon. I look much more confident than I feel!

My anxiety-ridden sister-in-law. Supportive, but anxious nonetheless.

She's holding my sweet baby. We call her Squirt.

Discussing how to go about doing this. They also wanted to make sure I was committed enough to not chase them down with a shotgun after all was said and done :)

Some play time while getting everything ready.

After measuring my hair, the students at Aveda determined that much of my hair was long enough to donate to Locks of Love (10 inches). To ensure this, however, it needed to be sectioned into little ponytails. The parts lacking in length, in addition to the clean-up buzz, were donated to Matter of Trust.

Finished ponytailing.

Buzzing off the first pony. Note the intense look of concentration on my face. Deep breathing definitely came in handy.


Ultimately, we found it too difficult to buzz underneath the ponytail, so we used some scissors instead. Still doing some deep breathing :)


We drew quite a crowd.


Mandi, discovering her true vocation in life.

My friend, Brittany, doing what she does best (she's a hairstylist).


Lawn-mower head. Cleaning this up was the next step.



Even the Squirt wanted to help. Look at her face!





The final product! What an awesome team we all made.

Goodbye, beautiful hair.

I am a proud woman.

How wonderful that my hair could contribute to two such important causes: wig creation for cancer patients, and the cleanup of a terrible disaster. I feel great and fail to be self-conscious of my new hairstyle. My husband has been wonderfully supportive and the baby still recognizes me, so that's great too. I highly support this movement. If you are so able, please locate a salon near you to find those contributing to this effort. You don't have to buzz it all off...unless you want to.

Family Bicycling

We decided to start bicycling as a family. To spare you a long and boring story, let's just say we had our reasons: it was a less expensive hobby for us to start (Derrick has a great mountain bike left over from High School and Amanda and I inherited Mom and Dad Hull's bikes), Provo is a great location for bicyclists, with one kid it really isn't that hard, it's fun, it's healthy, it's eco-friendly, you get the idea.

For any families with young children, I highly recommend the front-mounted iBert safe-T-seat suggested by my friend, Elizabeth (Thanks!). It has great safety features and gives the kids a better view. It also allows for more parent/child interaction during bike rides and it's extremely easy to put on/take off.

Getting buckled in...

and ready to go!

Just look at her face! She loves our bike rides, but we're still working on her endurance. So far she can only last about 40 minutes or so.

We hope to give you more updates on our bicyling adventures as time goes on.