On Consumption -or-A post that got way longer than I ever thought it would!

Consumption is a topic that I have been thinking about a lot recently. I feel as though society, myself included, is turning a blind eye to the amount of stuff that we use. I find myself asking; Why are the habits of this generation and this time so different than the behaviors of the past? When did it become OK to use, use, use, without any care or concern for how things will be replenished? How can I reduce what I use, appreciate what I have, and help create a richer place for the future? I wonder if this is a topic that most ever stop and think about. Is the average everyday person out there stopping to think about the effect of their actions? Do people realize that the tiniest of things that we do today will have an effect on tomorrow?

I stopped at the grocery store on the way to work this morning and purchased one item; a small box of food coloring. The grocery attendant happily put my one box (which was already wrapped in plastic) into a plastic grocery bag. I carry a HUGE purse and could easily put a sack full of groceries inside. I told her 'I don't need a bag, thanks', and was on the receiving end of a questioning glance (as always). Why is 'no bag, thanks' so hard to understand?

This could easily turn into a plastic vs. paper vs. reusable bag debate; the issue is much larger. Why are we drinking bottled water when the tap is usually cleaner and tastier? Why is it OK for you to throw your cigarette butt out the window of your car? Who needs to eat strawberries in the middle of January? Are we taking advantage of local recycling programs? Why do we need brand new cars every 4 years? Do you know what chemicals are in your [fill in the blank (shampoo, chicken, carpet, laundry detergent, etc.)]? When did shopping become a hobby? Why does a newlywed couple need a 4 bedroom house?

I believe that this issue boils down to the fact that 1. we have lost sight of wants and needs and 2. we have stopped thinking for ourselves and instead have come to accept the status quo.

We have become used to needing a lot of pointless stuff. We have also become used to getting what we want and therefore, somewhere along the line, convincing ourselves that we need it. I think that we as a society would greatly benefit from weighing our wants and needs and making sure that the two are in check.

I also think that we would greatly benefit from taking a long look at our current lifestyles and practices and deciding whether or not this is really how we want to live. When was the last time you asked yourself 'how is this made' 'what effect does this have on me' 'why do I want this' 'will I really use this'? We have fallen under the veil of consumerism and prosperity and have stopped living our own lives. Instead, we are puppets of TV commercials, the Joneses, housing bubbles, and the like.

What does this mean for me? How do I turn these thoughts into action? What about you? Are you stopping to think? Do you really 'need' everything you say you do? Is your life helping or hurting those around you and future generations?

Spring Cleaning #1

For about 30 minutes tonight my house reeked like salad. But, my windows are now clean, so who cares.
I'm never buying Windex again. Here's my alternative.
Step 1. Go to Target. Anything that starts with going to Target will be a success. Buy a $0.79 bottle of white vinegar and a $0.99 spray bottle (you can't use a bottle that already had chemicals in it.)
Step 2. Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1 cup water in the bottle.
Step 3. Wash 9 windows, a sliding door, and the glass surrounding the front door. Have some spray left over to do the mirrors.

The windows look great (scrub really hard and buff out the streaks) and I didn't put any chemicals into the environment. Woo hoo! Ever get a taste of Windex spray in the air? Not good, not that I'll be drinking this anytime soon, but I was not at all worried about getting it on my skin or in the air near my face. And don't worry about the salad smell. It goes away once the window dries.

Currently Reading...

What is new here... not much. It's cold and grey outside again. I was so happy that Spring was finally here; guess not. Crap weather really puts the kibosh on outdoor activities. I've been keeping busy inside with sewing projects, morning yoga sessions, reading. All good things.

Yesterday included the arrival of a package from Amazon. Woo hoo! My portion of the shipment included these two books.


Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childcare and Modern Maternity Care by Jennifer Block

Since viewing The Business of Being Born, I have taken great interest in the perspectives on birth and birthing in our society. The American view is so greatly skewed from the rest of the globe, and it leads me to ask, "Why do we 'do' birth this way? Why don't we see what works elsewhere?" If your answer is "Because what we're doing here works!" then you are grossly uninformed. From Block's blog, "4 in 10 women today are induced. 1 in 3 give birth by major surgery, the cesarean section. 1 in 3 vaginal birthers get an episiotomy — surgical scissors cutting your vagina. And most women will put their pelvic floors at risk by lying in a bed throughout labor and pushing the baby out while while flat on their back." That does not sound like a pleasant, nor medically necessary birth process to me. I could go on forever. I will spare you, although I do suggest seeing TBoBB and doing research of your own! I am looking forward to learning more about this topic from 'Pushed'. Husband is tired of hearing statistics. Sorry!



Bend the Rules Sewing by Amy Karol

Love, love, love this book! Love her blog, too, Angry Chicken. I've already done one project [Happy Birthday, Alysia!] and will do many more. For the most part these are small scale projects (read, projects using scrap fabric and not buying any new ones. Yes!) Watch out for typos, though. I was lucky enough to find one right off the bat. Almost made Alysia's bag with a 13" wide strap, instead of 3" as it should be. Whoops. Photos of that to come later.