Bring My Own Bags

Most of us have a cupboard that is a mess of shopping bags. I stuff these bags in this cupboard, where I don't have to see them, and I think I'll use them again. However, it turns into giant cupboard for storing an unnecessary amount of plastic bags.

I finally made the choice to buy a couple of those "green," reusable grocery bags for about $1 for each bag and cleaned our the bag cupboard. Now we have a use for each kind of bag:

• Plastic bags: trash bags for our smaller garbage cans like in the bathroom.



• "Green" bags: for general shopping at the grocery store, Target, etc.



• Large garbage bags: trash bags for our large garbage can in the kitchen.



• Paper bags: bags for donating clothes, books, etc. or for carrying supplies or gifts outside of the house.
  

I also found out that most grocery stores will give you a five cent discount for each "green" bag you bring; Sunflower markets give ten cents per bag.

I helps to keep the "green" bags in my car trunk. Otherwise, I tend to forget them, or when I have an impromptu trip the store, the bags are with me.

Hidden Treasures at the Street Fair

One of my favorite things about Tucson is the 4th Avenue Street Fair that comes to Tucson every spring. It is fun to walk down 4th Avenue and browse the tents full of fresh, fun, and funky arts, crafts, and goods for sale. It's always a good time with friends!


The 4th Street Fair is free entertainment! Plus, you get the chance to be outside as spring hits and catch a bit of a tan. It's kind of like a big treasure hunt, and provides hours of fun and entertainment for free (that is, if you pack your own food & water). And don't forget the people-watching.

Ashley and I bring some cash for food, the kind of greasy fair food that really only tastes good when it is sold out of a stall window, you know, fry bread, kettle corn and pulled-pork sandwiches!


Oh yeah, and we look for one or two unique items to bring home.

This year, I stumbled upon two new vendors that were my favorite at this year's street fair, both for totally different reasons:

• Black Canyon Restorations
  Black Canyon Restorations, in their own words, "try to salvage as much material as possible before it goes to the landfill. We use old windows, molding, glass, hardware, stove parts, bed frames, barn wood, railings and many other materials that are incorporated into the design and assembly of our products." Reduce, reuse, recycle, and look good doing it!
  
  Perfect! Black Canyon Restorations has artsy, unique pieces that we just fell in love with!Plus, they were reasonably priced! We bought a shelf to display my small collection of tea cups and saucers. I loved that the hooks were made from old silverware. It's unique, fun, and okay, it did make me feel a little heroic to support such a creative and environmental effort.

• Golden Designs
  With an event like the 4th Avenue Street Fair, there is a plethora of tie dye. It lured me in as I got lost in all the music and art. But after browsing through a number of tents exploding with tie dye, I finally found a vendor who tie dyed on clothing made in the U.S.A. Sold! I came out proudly with a tank top that was made in the U.S.A. and dyed by a small business owner!

We mark that off as a good day with a couple fun treasures!

Shopping with a Social Conscience

Shopping with a social conscience means to me:

1. Reducing or halting oppression of human beings around the world
   
2. Supporting the fellow American and the American economy

I don't think any of us want to support a sweatshop; we don't want to contribute to or continue the oppression of human beings. And given the opportunity, we would choose to help stop the oppression of our fellow brothers and sister in humanity.

However, much clothing is manufactured outside of the U.S., and the truth is, I do not know how other countries, namely second- or third-world countries, treat their employees. Mostly, I hear its bad. I took a peek at the tags of the clothes in my closet, and found a veritable who's who of countries known to have problems with poverty: Indonesia, India, Honduras, Vietnam, El Salvador, etc.

I'm pretty sure I have contributed to the oppression of the poor without a thought. I don't want to continue that trend in my life: thoughtless spending with possible anti-humanitarian consequences.

I am trying to change my shopping habits. What's my method?

1. Buy American (look for the "Made in U.S.A." label)



2. Buy used



3. Borrow (not buy) items from friends that I will only need for one or two uses

With the American economy in the dumps, it is even more important to put our American dollars back into America. I want to support our home town businesses, factories, and manufacturers. Do a little homework, and look for American-made products.

Some of my favorite brands that are made in the U.S.A. are

• Byena Clothing



• American Apparel



• Vera Bradley
  
  

Buying used also puts money back into the local economy as most thrift stores are putting money back into the local community and local aid for those in need. Buying used also reduces waste, helping out our environment.

Plus, some stores will give you cash or store credit for items that you bring in, which is a great money-saver. If shopping is about wasting time, socializing with friends, and the thrill of the hunt, there is no better adventure than diving into a thrift store. A couple of my favorites are:

• Plato's Closet



• Buffalo Exchange



• Saver's

It's true, I probably won't ever be a fashionista, but I can change the world one outfit at a time. I can't help what I already own. Those are dollars already spent and goods owned. However, I can change my shopping habits starting today.

Saving the Planet, One Load of Laundry at a Time

I try to keep laundry a once a week event in our house. We were trying to figure out how to cut corners and save the planet, and reducing water usage seemed a practical way to do that. The goal was to limit our household to doing three loads per week:

• One load of laundry for me


• One load of laundry for my husband


• One load of household (sheets, towels, rags, etc.)

One load of laundry per person, per week.

This is an average, and the general rule is that all clothes are washed on cold (another money-saving tip), and households are washed on warm.

The surprise result of doing laundry this way was that I noticed my closet was still bursting with clothes on laundry day. However, my favorite pieces were always in the laundry, leaving clothes I had lukewarm feelings toward hanging in my closet, untouched, unworn, unused.

I concluded that I have more clothes than I need or wear (which I'm sure most of us do), and it was time for the purging of the closet!

Less clothes = less laundry!