Nothing New. Nothing Wasted.

Stretching my creative muscles

2010-12-14T11:59:00.010-07:00

For many people this time of year is a time of showing appreciation to those who are important in our lives. For me I think about the recycle and garbage man who takes my 'waste' every week; or the librarians who are always so helpful tracking down books for me; or the folks at the bottle depot who always give my boys suckers; the teachers who... teach! Of course there are family and friends as well. Being that our family is of a faith that has different holidays, we are still free to help our family and friends who do celebrate this season.
Many people have asked us, 'How are you going to 'handle' Christmas?' We all know what Christmas was intended for, and see how it has somehow morphed into a medley of materialistic mayhem! :(
I know our family isn't faced with the magnitude of celebrating as most of you are - the tree, the lawn decorations and lights, the interior tinsel, perfect presents piled high, but we DO have people in our lives that we honour on their special holidays, and as such will have gifts to give like everyone else.
Being that we aren't buying the newest gadget for $19.99 at the action aisle of a Big Box Store, we are using our creative muscles to present thoughtful gifts to our important people.
One project I am working on for my mother in law is making a scrapbook mini album of recipe tags for things like playdoh, goo, dough buddies etc and providing the necessary ingredients to make them, such as food colouring, flour, salt etc. I am able to make the tags out of materials at home, and buy the ingredients at the grocery store, or find them in my own cupboards. This provides nana and her boys hours of fun and activity together. I'm sure she doesn't need any more knick knacks, coffee cups or kitchen towels. This would also be a great gift for a parent with a toddler or even your day home provider.
How much fun can you have with a 2X4 piece of wood?! I can have LOTS!!! I have glued three staggered length pieces on top of each other, painted white, glued some cotton from the vitamin bottle along the bottom and decorated it as a snowman with buttons and a hat from an old teddy bear. You can also do the same shape, wrap it in a ribbon with a bow and use chipboard letters to write 'Let it Snow'. SO many possibilities out of scrap wood and old house paint.
I wish I could post pictures to show you... but since 'my' people may be reading this post, I have given away too much already! lol
These gifts can work for budget savvy people too. The activity basket will maybe cost $10 and the 2X4 projects came in under $2. Yes, more time and thought is involved in these gifts, and you may even get dirty making them, but that is the part that makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. ;)

30 Days of Giving

2010-11-01T10:42:00.005-06:00

This site trickled onto my facebook newsfeed - and although it is a small departure from our 'nothing new, nothing wasted' challenge, it shares the same backbone - intentional, conscious, thoughtful choices and actions.
I have come to love challenges, so I am going to embark on intentional giving for the next 30 days. This blog appears to be written by someone of a certain faith, but don't let that stop you if you are of a different one - all the mighty religions of the world teach the Golden Rule!
http://myblessedlife.net/2010/11/30-day-giving-challenge-day-1.html/comment-page-1#comment-25152

Another challenge....

2010-10-29T14:31:00.004-06:00

As this challenge draws to a close, I find myself thinking ahead and wondering what to do for a challenge next year. This challenge really brought our family together on the same page. It gave the kids a great family identity. I am SO proud of them! If Jamie or I found ourselves pining away for something we saw on t.v. Andrew was always the first one to remind us about the challenge. Now, rather than ask 'Can we buy that?' they say, 'When we chose to buy things that are new, I think I would like to have XXX.' They are putting more thought into it now. They have been told that as a reward for participating so enthusiasticly all year they could each pick out a new toy once the challenge is over. I see them weighing their options and thinking about it a lot more.
People have asked me what is the first thing that I will buy once the challenge is over and I honestly don't know! What I have been thinking about though, is next years challenge...
The options are as endless as they can be personal. It can be anything from start recycling, to volunteering once a month, to starting family dinner/game night to finding a new way to meet some of your needs or wants. It doesn't have to be something you 'stop' doing (like we did with not buying anything new) it can be something you 'start' doing! That is going to be our focus this year. I just don't know what it is yet! Have you ever thought about what you would do?

show time...

2010-10-29T14:27:00.003-06:00

As I write this, Global Calgary news are on their way to come interview us again. I always feel like such a poor ambassador to this challenge when I am interviewed. Trying to sound articulate and say something thought-provoking or inspirational while on the spot is a challenge all in itself! I have new respect for those who do it on a far more regular basis than I do!

I would get fired!

2010-10-06T14:30:00.005-06:00

It is a good thing this blog isn't my job - because I'd get fired for inactivity! I am here now so lets see where my thoughts take me...
It is getting long now. Tedious. Tempting. We have been doing this for over nine months now. I can even see the light at the end of the tunnel! But I can also see the tunnel is full of enticing things I want that I have to walk by to get to the end of the challenge and see the light. Take two weeks ago for example - Craft, Stitching, Scrapbooking trade fair. I felt like a crack addict in a crack house!! (I mean no disrespect with that analogy)I was surrounded by all things creative. There were moments where I literally vibrated! lol Stickles for only a dollar?! Gorgeous ribbon for only $3?! That new thingamabob that looks like it will make my life so much more worth living?! On and On and On. I tried to tell myself that if I bought, I'd actually be *saving* money because I know I will buy it eventually. Some booths I walked by with my blinders on and didn't even dare explore.
Looking back now, I learned a couple things about myself; 1) it is okay to be tempted, it is what you choose to do with that feeling 2) that if I was really in the zen of this challenge I'd be able to explore each booth without blinders on, with peace in my heart. 3) that I managed to make it through the fair because I had friends keeping me accountable 4) in a lot of ways the challenge was a gift - an 'out' because I could have spent hundreds of dollars that day! lol 5) that I am proud of myself.
Not buying on the spot has enabled me to really think hard about the stuff I wanted to buy. I now have 3 months to weigh all things and make an informed, delayed, thoughtful decision.
Now is the challenge in the challenge for me - I've been great all year. I guess these next 3 months will tell me what kind of woman, consumer, or role-model I am. It will test my virtues of committment, perseverance and follow-through.
It will be interesting!

Shopping soothes sadness?

2010-08-14T08:05:00.006-06:00

Yesterday was not a good day for me. It was one of those sad/mad/tired/hopeless feeling kind of days. And nights. All I wanted was to curl up and fall asleep reading book 5 of a series I have been reading. But I didn't have book five. I called the library to see if they had it. It was closed. I posted on facebook and asked if anyone had it that I could borrow. Nada. I wanted to escape so badly that it crossed my mind to break the challenge and go to the store and buy it. (Then I thought about sending my husband, because he is less recognizable! lol) I gathered some strength around me and curled up to watch PVR'd America's Got Talent, a shabby chic book to finger through and tried not to think. (did you guys see that 10 year old little opera singer?! Wow! The world is sooo gifted with talent)
So at the end of the day I managed to fall asleep and wake up this morning in a better mood. Without breaking the challenge. Shopping doesn't have to be our savior.

WHAT?! That is sooo cool!!

2010-08-05T11:10:00.004-06:00

Just when I think the exposure of this challenge can't possibly go any further, something else pops up! I just found out that we are featured in an ebook! http://www.earth.10top10lists.com/
These people looked at over 3000 sites and chose what they felt were the best 10 sites, on being green or going greener, in 10 different categories. Our blog is featured in the 'Inspiration' category. Other categories include children, garbage, pets, home, garden, money, resources, life and self. Remember - there 10 different sites in each of these categories. Please go check them out!

Going Global :)

2010-08-05T10:43:00.006-06:00

The great guys from Global National - Francis Silvagio and his cameraman Mike, came out yesterday to follow up on how we are doing in the challenge and how we are handling a time where most of us ARE buying new - Back to School. We went out to the Salvage Centre where they saw that we were able to get some newer looking clothes, binders, pencil cases, even new packs of paper for when the boys return to school in September.
When I was growing up, it was almost considered a 'right' or the norm, to turf everything from one year to buy all new for the next; even if last years supplies were still good. This challenge has caused us to challenge a lot of what we always took for granted without even thinking. Why can't we reuse a binder? Is it because we aren't into last years colour? Are the doutangs really needing to be replaced just because a subject has been written in a corner? I looked at the stuff and wondered. If I am not into last years colour, why can't I just slip a different colour paper into the plastic sheath? Or print an 8X10 poster of whoever is 'cool' this year, whether that be Dora, Hannah Montana or Rescue Hero's? For the doutangs I could decopage over last years subject with a new piece of paper, or cover it with a sticker or picture. Pencil crayons CAN be resharpened. Many other supplies like scissors, markers, even paper can be found second hand pretty easily. We are meeting our needs through several different avenues - freecycle, second hand stores, the Salvage Centre, garage sale, and even hunting through our own house!
Some families worry about keeping it current so their kids don't feel left out of the 'cool' loop. I certainly understand that. People are transitioning through their stuff at a dizzying rate, so more often than not, my kids can find something that is 'in' when it is still 'in'! We are also teaching them about branding and how not to depend on brands for their identity. The tag on their shirt doesn't say if they are cool or not. How they view themselves says more about that then anything.
Does it take extra time to do this? Yes. Is it fun to use our creativity? Yes. Are the kids at the beginning of learning and being cognizant of their actions and purchases? Yes. Do they still long for something wrapped in 10 lbs of plastic off the action aisle? Yes. Are they learning delayed gratification? Yes. Will they get over it and find other ways to satisfy themselves and the fun factor? Yes. Am I beyond proud of them and our little family? You bet!

Two year olds, flat screen t.v.'s and more

2010-07-24T18:15:00.003-06:00

Three years ago I asked my husband if we could buy this house. He said he didn't care, as long as whatever house he lived in he could have a flatscreen. Done! haha (a great house in exhange for $2000 t.v.? SOLD) (I love my husband - he is a Newfie at heart - layed back, never asks for anything, accommodating and very very funny!) The t.v. and Will are... I mean, were, roughly the same age. (Will turns 3 in 3 days) Unfortunately the t.v. will never see another birthday! Will got slap happy a couple weeks ago. We let him live! lol In keeping with the challenge I went on Kijiji (second hand online site) to look for another flatscreen (I admire those families who go without t.v. We are NOT one of those families, but when this story is all said and done, we wondered if the Universe was trying to tell us something!) I found a beautiful 46 Aquos Sharp. It was thin. It was light. It was beautiful. It worked great when hubby bought it. It broke sometime between getting it here and setting it up!!! It was $800. I didn't even know what to say. My husband said he'd have gotten more joy out of driving down the road throwing hundred dollar bills out the window. It would have brought someone happiness. We really debated what to do then. We didn't want to make an unwise decision and buy another one off of Kijiji - because the only other one was older and not a good brand. We slunk ed into Sears and walked up to the electronics department and told our sad story. She was very informative and reassured us that these t.v.s ARE very fragile. She then led us to one that was almost bullet proof (she literally banged on it. I cringed. what if she broke 'our' t.v.?!) Jamie said he'd take the hit and we could blame him for breaking the challenge. I was desperate and agreed. But then she told us it was a demo model. (and had only been for a few weeks) I raised my eyebrow and hubby and I looked at each other, and signed on the dotted line.
I can't be sure if we broke the challenge or not. Technically it WAS a demo model, but I think we fudged the spirit of the challenge a bit. I've found a lot of grey areas with this challenge. I am learning that it is a balance between smart, thoughtful decisions, and not stressing out if we stray a couple times throughout the year. After all, it is OUR challenge. Not the media's or the naysayers. It started out as ours, and will end as ours and we are the ones who have to live with the decisions we make. And having their mother in the loony bin for the next 5 months because she's had no down time while the boys watch Treehouse,(commercial-free cartoons 24/7) simply isn't good for the boys! ;)

Confessions...

2010-07-24T17:55:00.003-06:00

I bought pillows. 5 of them!! Two for our new arrivals (I mean, nothing says 'Welcome to our home' than a new pillow, towels - Oh yeah... I bought towels too!!) And three for the boys because we finally bought proper covers for them and the mattresses. (second-hand from the salvage centre) I've tried to go the cheap route over the years - which meant PVC leaking sheets that probably ate some of their brain cells, (or they would know how to listen... I'm sure of it! haha)stunk up the house for days and ended up ripping when they jumped on the bed. (Yes. Boys jump on the bed. I let them. It is what they are supposed to do) So a few nights ago I trapsed off to Walmart to go to the non-food part of the store. I was giddy! Looking behind myself, waiting for the 'I thought you weren't buying anything new' Police to tap me on the shouldar with one of those raised eyebrow looks, I confidently got a cart and turned right to 'stuff' instead of left to food. Having not shopped for new for quite a while, I luxuriated in it. haha Went over all the details, trying to make the best decisions for my pocket book as well as Mother Earth's.
To be smart in this challenge I've learned to own it for our family and not for the details that will spur the naysayers on. Yes. I bought new. My family doens't need to sleep on pillows that have been peed on, (remember, boys. 3 boys!)blood from nose bleeds (boys) and boogers! (sigh... boys) And I am not welcoming my MIL with a pillow in the same condiiton!
I bought 3 waterproof pillow case covers (and of course the pillows) two waterproof mattress covers to prevent the mattresses from soon ending up where we took the old ones today - the dump. I'm not convinced that they are the best environmentally - but until those become readily available to the regular consumer, these will have to do.
At the end of the day I got inordinate pleasure from buying the most simple and basic of things - things that are behind the scenes and hardly exciting! (but after nearly 7 months of not buying anything new, it satiated my 'buy-bug'!)

Marilyn, my mother in love is moving in!

2010-07-24T17:42:00.002-06:00

We have the extraordinary privilege of being able to open our home to my husbands mother and her bf - moving all the way from Newfoundland. A HUGE move for her, who has lived her entire life in one place and had never been on a plane until we flew her here in December last year. It had been 24 years since Jamie had seen his mother! Anyway, this presented me with a challenge! Develope a nice living space for them. We had a bed and armoire already, but had to buy another one for the renter we have living with us as she had to give up her room to accommodate the new arrivals :)
The Salvage Centre is my saving grace! It is a place kinda like a garage sale/second hand store. People drop things off that they don't want anymore, and people take what they do need for a very low price.
I have managed to get a bed for our renter (no a frame yet) and dressers, chair for MIL's room, frames to spray paint and make her an art gallery wall (pictures of her family is what keeps her happy) and a bedspread set, as well as some little things to decorate her new room with. I know I have gotten other things, but they have been rolled into our stuff already and can't remember what is 'new' anymore! haha Perhaps if I muster some smarts, I will take a picture when it is all done and post them here to show how easy it is to make a beautiful, comfortable, 'new' room for next to no money and very little resources. It does take time, creativity, planning and an assumption that you will get what you want and need :)

Update of Andrew's resource training...

2010-07-24T17:36:00.002-06:00

If you remember, Andrew desparately wanted a certain book from the school book orders. Obviously we could order it. So plan B went into action. We DID find it at the library, but not OUR library. They ordered it for us from another library and we had it in a few days. Read it. And returned it. Andrew is a hungry reader, but like me, once a book is read, it is time to start a new one. There was no point spending $6, costing the earth more resources and missing out on a valuable experience of learning to be more resourceful. Challenge for the win!

I suck and I am sorry!

2010-07-24T17:29:00.002-06:00

It has been quite awhile since I last wrote. I haven't even opened my blog since may or June or something! Things have happened here and there, but I guess I wasn't taking the blog part seriously after all the hype died down. I honestly expected to see the 'follower' numbers drop drastically, but when I cautionously signed in a few days ago, I saw that the number actually rose!! So I guess I better suck it up and get reporting on how our adventure is going....

One of 'those' learning experiences...

2010-06-11T09:28:00.003-06:00

Andrew learned a valuable lesson the other night - the lesson of being resourceful and finding what you want in a different way. We DID go to the library to ask if they had the book he was looking for. I coached him a bit on what to say and then hovered around like any mother would! haha
The library didn't have the book. BUT it was in the system at a different library so they are ordering it for him!! LOVE the library! LOVE when being resourceful pays off... because to be honest, other than the couple other ideas I had to find the book, if none of those paid off, I don't know what I would do! I know we would have been faithful to the challenge, but wasn't looking forward to a sad boy and having to reexplain why he couldn't have something he wanted. Like so many times though, he experienced what the rest of us, I'm sure, have experienced so often - he had forgotten all about it by the time he got home from school!

One of 'those' mornings...

2010-06-09T11:12:00.004-06:00

Andrew, our 8 year old book lover, came to me this morning wanting his wallet so he could buy a certain book from the last bookfair of the year at school. It is hard to remind him about the challenge when it is for books... I mean, it isn't like he is asking for plastic dollar store crap or the newest whatzit from the action aisle. As we were discussing it, he became upset and pouty thinking that there will never be a book fair ever again. I understand his pain. I've walked by quite a few things that tugged at me, for the most part now though, I don't even remember what they were. I wanted nothing more then to give him the $5 for his book. I mean, no mother likes to see thier kid upset. We knew there would be some rough patches throughout the year with this challenge - and really, we haven't had too many. What amazes me though is Andrew's fortitude and understanding. After we talked about it and I shared with him something that I wanted but was choosing to not buy, and he knew he wasn't alone in this, and that the challenge will end, he was fine! These children are so resilient!
My plan for tonight, to teach him other ways to get his needs and wants met, is to take him to the library and have him ask the librarians if they have the book that he can sign out. If that doesn't work, we will move onto using the internet as a resource - asking for it on freecyle, posting it on Kijiji or finding a used copy on Amazon. Even if we don't find the book he is looking for, he will have learned the valuable skill of being resourceful.

Decorating with stuff you have...

2010-05-14T14:56:00.003-06:00

Here is a site, Tattered Angels, that shows how we can make pompom flowers using stuff laying around - tissue paper, (or you could use old sewing patterns), some string and of course some Tattered Angels Mist for colour.

http://mytatteredangels.com/blog/?page_id=667

Birthday Update

2010-05-14T13:26:00.008-06:00

So the big day has come and gone - Ben's 5th birthday party. It was the usual stuff: food, friends, family, fun, chaos, cake, and candy.
There were no decorations... except the poster that our 8 year old colored for our 5 year old and stuck to the outside of the front door. The place didn't look festive from a streamers, balloons, and confetti point of view. And I am okay with that. I do wish I had put a little more thought into it though because I am sure I could have come up with something.
Ben asked about decorations and I told him about the transistory nature of them and the waste they produce. He was thoughtful for a moment and then said, 'well, maybe next time we could make reusable decorations.' I will tell you my friends that I almost cried! He GETS it!! At 5 years old - a fairly egotistical age that thrives on routines and traditions and longs to belong... saw past all that and was able to problem solve in such a creative way - to meet the needs of not only our challenge, but the environmental needs, AS WELL AS tweeking the traditions a bit to still conform with what we as a society has deemed appropriate for a party. I was blown away; Blown away at his creativity, and stunned for me not thinking of it sooner.

So we didn't have decorations this year for Ben, but we are going to start thinking of some great decorations that we can make once and use for all our birthday celebrations and start a tradition of our own; A tradition of longevity, items with memory and family time while doing it.
What I love most about this journey so far, is how creative we get to be! But without a doubt the best pay off is our main intention being fulfilled - the kids are GETTING it!! Our children, all of our children, are so resilient at this age, and no one is more creative than them! Perhaps BP should ask the kids how to solve the oil problem in the gulf, or world hunger, or what to do about our landfills.

cake and presents and decorations... OH MY!!

2010-05-07T13:59:00.004-06:00

It has been a while since I last updated the blog. Not much has been happening to be honest :)
But Tomorrow is a different story! It is Ben's 5th birthday party! I will admit right up front that I haven't, unfortunately, put a lot of thought into it :( Maybe it is because I can't believe he is 5. But most of it is because I am trying to figure out how to honour Ben, have fun and still fit into societal norms. I think what we deem as a 'party' could use an overhaul though. Balloons, hats, signs, banners, table cloths, trinket goodie bags and on and on... I LOVE to decorate, make pretty, and show off my creativity as much as the next mom... but I am becoming more conscious of the amount of resources it takes to make a party look good for a couple hours. Last year we strung crepe paper up in the trees and on our old boat (if you can call it a boat... it is more like a bathtub toy by the time it hits the water!) because Ben was having a 'Fishing' themed birthday party. We by no means went over board, but once it was over, there was the giant wad of crepe paper. Of course we recycled it, but now that I have invested a little more heavily into exploring waste reduction, and resource sustainability I cringe at the thought of decorating now. I know. I know. Trust me, I know, that it is moderation in all things... and I am in no way suggesting we take the fun and beauty out of things,but I have also started to ask, 'what does it really mean to honour someone? How can we show them that we honour them, without dishonouring something else?
I don't know the answer for our family yet. But we are trying something new tomorrow and we will see how WE like it, how the kids feel, and if the parents are putoff by the lack of 'stuff' or refreshed that maybe the pressure to make the greatest party 'ever' has been taken off.
Expect an update on how this all turns out....

What are you doing?

2010-04-25T10:30:00.003-06:00

I read a quote last night that speaks so strongly to me and I wanted to share it with you. It got me thinking about the efforts many of us make; and when, sometimes, we fall off the wagon...

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena: whose face is marred by the dust and sweat... Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat." Teddy Roosevelt.

So what are you doing? Are you trying to be healthier, but couch-potatoe it with a bag of chips more often than not? Are you trying to be more environmentally friendly but hate having to wash out the tin cans in order to recycle them? Are you trying to eat more local, but it seems more trouble than it is worth? Are you trying to be kinder to all who cross your path, but cringe inside when you encounter 'certain people'?
Well, at least you are trying. And so am I.

I don't know how you are going to feel about this...

2010-04-24T22:02:00.004-06:00

but I bought something new! I just got back from Walmart. I wondered through the aisles touching all the new stuff; imagining having this and having that; quickly justifying in my head why I could have this or have that. I flipped through the magazines, pretended to know what I was doing looking at seeds (are McKenzie Organic or McKenzie Heirloom better? Is 2.99 a pack a good price?) I checked out the lastest color trends in the summer accessories aisle and tried not to focus very long in the arts and crafts/scrapbooking aisles. For a few instances it was like being a kid in the candy aisle! I haven't really been in a non-grocery store for months! But I got a hold of myself and had our challenge uppermost in my mind.

But I had gone there with a specific purpose in mind. Glue. Mod Podge glue. (LOVE their site - so many great ideas it feeds my creativity daily)(and no, Mod Podge isn't paying me to say this or sending me free glue! haha) I am starting an Etsy site (a site to sell vintage or homemade items) with some cool things from yester-year as well as some of my own creations if I can ever get to it. One of the things I am very passionate about is keeping good usable, beautiful things out of the landfill. And if it takes a pot of Mod Podge to upcycle something, I believe the trade off is fair.
What do you think?

Muddy Boot Dreams

2010-04-21T11:42:00.003-06:00

Muddy Boot Dreams has posted a blog about Nothing New Nothing Wasted. She is funny and gracious and her enthusiasm and encouragement is heartening. Go check her out! I posted a link in the 'interviews and blogs' section.

A dime's worth of time for a nickle's worth of cash...

2010-04-21T10:57:00.004-06:00

A good point has been brought up by a comment made by 'Manganic' under the post 'So much for that'.
"A dime's worth of time for a nickle's worth of cash" may not be good value."
And certainly this is true - if our main purpose was to save cash. We have many reasons for this challenge, only one of which is saving money. Our main focus is to teach not only ourselves, but more importantly our children, the value of a dollar, delayed gratification and reevaluating our needs and wants as well as how to meet them.
Our situation may not be the same as everyone's - as a stay at home mom, I have the time to research what works best for our family. Being married to Jamie is also a great gift as he is uber handy, talented and open to thinking outside the box. I don't know how well this challenge would work if we both weren't on the same page. We also have the benefit of our children being young and impressionable - either by us, or consumerism.
I had to smile as big as a cheshire cat the other night. Jamie and Andrew (8 year old son) were watching a commercial for some fishing lures - 'the newest and greatest the market has ever seen'! Jamie and his boys are big fishermen. While Jamie was oohing and aahing over the lures and how he has always wanted them and how great they were, Andrew calmly said, 'but remember our challenge dad'?
Aahh... maybe the point IS being passed on. I am not concerned if there are people out there who 'don't get it', all that matters to me, is that my 8 year old does. :)

So much for that!

2010-04-19T18:22:00.003-06:00

While watching the interview with Nothing New Nothing Wasted on Global National news tonight it dawned on my husband and I that it was quiet in the house. Too quiet. And with 3 little boys in the house 'quiet' is synonomous with 'up-to-something'!!
Sure enough they were!
A friend had decluttered her kids toys and had given me this 'make a plastic frog' craft thingy. It looked cool, in good shape, and not really used. My plan was to give it to my 4 turning 5 year old for his birthday in 3 weeks. Well now I need a new plan, because, you guessed it, they found it! I will give them kudos for playing quietly and cooperatively with each other though.
Sigh.

Global National

2010-04-19T13:51:00.002-06:00

We are so surprised at how much attention our challenge is having. Global National phoned this morning to set up an interview for 1.5 hours later. Jamie and I are getting really good at cleaning the house really fast! haha
So check out the interview tonight (Monday, 19th) at 5:30. I wonder if the camera will add 10 pounds to my nose again?!

Calgary Herald newspaper

2010-04-16T08:51:00.003-06:00

TGIF!! Not only is it a gorgeous day in the neighbourhood, but an article came out in the Calgary Herald today. I have posted a link in the 'interviews and blogs' section. Another side note - the article starts off with reporting that we are 'against buying anything new'... it is not that we are 'against' buying anything new; it is that we are making a conscious decision to go to the other end of the buying spectrum so that next year when we start buying again, we will be able to know where the middle is for OUR family. As have been proven this year, we aren't against new brakes, toothbrushes or underware! haha

Global T.V.

2010-04-14T16:51:00.003-06:00

For those of you who missed it, I put a link in the 'interviews and blogs' section if you would like to see the short T.V. segment. Gil Tucker and his camera man Tom were so nice, friendly, and personable.

Western Wheel

2010-04-14T16:28:00.004-06:00

Check out the 'interviews and blogs' section for an article that came out in our local paper - The Western Wheel. There is a quote in there of me saying that 'the world doesn't need to make anymore shoes and that there are enough shoes in the world'... I had to laugh, as I figured I would get some flack from that. Just to let you know, that isn't quite what I said. The world CAN keep making shoes, it is just that it doesn't need to make a new pair for me all the time as I can find some second hand that I would be more than happy with. It is hard for reporters to transcribe an interview over the phone, so it is understandable that miscommunications take place from time to time. I am unconcerned about it, but just thought I'd clarify before I got a bunch of understandably confused responses! haha

In the newspaper

2010-04-13T13:16:00.001-06:00

Another update. We were also interviewed by the Calgary Herald and the article is coming out this Friday (I believe) in the Real Life - Green Guide section. So Keep an eye out for it, but I will also post a link when it is available.

On T.V.

2010-04-13T13:04:00.004-06:00

Today started off interesting. We received a phone call from Gil Tucker of Global Calgary News. We made arrangements to meet at a local thrift store to talk about the challenge. Gil and Tom (the camera man) were so nice and friendly and laid back. I however was nervous and probably came across as a little confused! haha Hopefully they are brilliant editors and can find some usable tape in there! If you want to check it out, the segment should be on tonight at 6:55 pm or maybe first thing tomorrow morning or at lunch tomorrow. I will post a link once it is available to watch online.

Lighten up a little!

2010-04-12T11:29:00.011-06:00

That is what I need to do anyway! This journey of caring for ourselves and the earth and its bounties doesn't need to be a stifling burden, a lesson in deprevation or overly complicated.
(I tend to make things complicated. Always have; like the time I considered not marrying my husband if he squeezed his toothpaste in the middle - I mean, how annoying is that?! How could a person live with THAT for time and eternity?! (I only just recently, after 10 years and 3 little boys got my own tube of toothpaste - talk about liberating!)
ANYWAY!... I called my mom the other day talking about what to plant in the garden (my first garden ever, and what we planned to live the summer months on) when I froze... I had vowed to not buy anything new this year (other then groceries and such) ... how can I buy seeds?! My mind raced as I thought about asking people for their old seeds, but not knowing if they were still viable or not. I thought about plants that I could transplant from other people. As I was freaking out, my mom calmly said, 'Jessica... seeds count as food.'
Right!! Sometimes I can't see the forest through the trees. Sometimes I am so rigid that I can't think outside the box; and I know by the comments of some other people about what we are trying to do this year, that there are others who can't either.
We have a glorious opportunity to not only reduce, reuse, and recycle, but to rethink, renew, and rewrite the future. Try not looking at this like a burden (more to worry about) or that something has been taken away from you, (shopping) or that you can't make a difference, (does one leaf on the tree really matter?) or that you don't know where to start. (so many important options) Have fun with it! Let creativity, open-mindedness and non-judgement (of yourself and others) be the first ingrediants in your green journey. I know I need to! :)

More IS more... sometimes.

2010-04-11T16:04:00.006-06:00

I have a boeing 747 getting ready for take off in the kitchen. Oh wait... that is my dishwasher. We bought it 3 years ago. We bought a lower priced one. It worked well for the first little bit, but as friends and family can attest they haven't drunk from a clean dishwasher washed glass in years. I just tell them that it is sterilized gunk! Every time I 'wash' the dishes and open the door to put them away I want to go postal!! They are anything but the sparkling specimens I see on commercials. (and yes, we have tried the Jet Dry's and what not)
We have been given some flack in the media about ruining the economy by not buying anything new - our entire capitalistic system is going to self destruck!! (in 5 seconds... LOVE Inspector Gadget... wish he was on the case of planned obselescence - he and Penny would figure out how to make products last longer then the warranty!)
Well, let me say this... when we DO go back to buying, we will be making more informed choices, where the bottom dollar isn't always the guiding force. Sometimes you can't get more for less. Sometimes you have to spend more to get more.

Dollar Store Distraction

2010-04-09T16:30:00.006-06:00

I walked by a dollar store yesterday - lots of colorful stuff hanging in the windows and sale signs beckoning my arrival. My initial thought was, 'I should go in there after.' (doing my errand). It was an automatic thought. I don't NEED a blessed thing from The Dollar Store. So that got me thinking about how many times I used to go in a store 'just to look around', 'just to kill time' (don't like the term 'kill time' by the way... we should be 'living' our time, not 'killing it', but anyways...) 'see if I need anything', and other such justifications of why I should enter a store.
Now I have no good excuse to enter a store unless it is the grocery store, or the occaisional second hand store if we do discover something we need.
So I asked myself 'how do I feel about that?'... I laughed and realized that I felt completely fine!! Almost free. Still had a little niggle to 'just go and see', but at least I was concious of it this time, and was able to make a thoughtful decision.
So I smiled and got back in the van and drove home.

Nice!

2010-04-06T18:38:00.002-06:00

I would just like to shout out to San Grewal and the Toronto Star as they mailed us 5 hard copies of the newspaper artical that started all this!!
He had said he would send me some copies, but I never really expected him too - I know reporters are busy and things slip their minds, and after all, we are just one little story on one day of the year.
His thoughtfulness is a breath of fresh air!

to buy or not to buy?

2010-04-05T10:54:00.008-06:00

One thing I didn't count on when I naively created this challenge for our family was the destructive curiosity of the 3 little boys! Our two year old has stuffed a bunch of tooth brushes down the sink. Easy fix you may be thinking - just unscrew the pipe below and they will fall out. And they would have, if the fellow who installed the sink 14 some years ago didn't make the steel pipe too long! Now the plastic peice won't slide down far enough. We will have to cut it off. The long and short of it is, one pipe is too long, and one is too short! It will probably cost only a few dollars to fix; but a challenge is a challenge. So. What to do now? Post on freecyle or kijiji that I need a plastic pipe thingy for under the sink? (because everyone will know what I am talking about right?! lol) or drive to the hardware store (five mins away)(Hmmm... or maybe bike there!) and buy a brand new one? Or drive across the city (45 mins) to the Habitat for Humanity Restore on the off chance that they have what we are looking for?
You may be thinking that I am over thinking.
And you are right!
That is what this challenge is all about. Thinking. Making conscious choices.
We never planned on making these choices with so many people watching our every move and ready to critize us. (read some of the comments from the Toronto Star article)
So I will put an attempt on freecyle or kijiji if someone knows what the heck I am talking about, and will gladly take it if it is local, and we don't have to wait too long for a response. Failing that, I WILL go 5 mins to the local hardware store and buy a BRAND new one. Why? 'cause the point of this isn't to be so rigid that we lose our common sense, and because another point of this is to make the right choices for not just our wallets, but for the environment. Driving across the city to 'maybe' find what we need just to be rigid in our challenge and cocky in our report to the blog isn't a wise move either.
And I guess we will need new toothbrushes...

feels the pressure...

2010-04-05T10:48:00.003-06:00

self-inflicted pressure mind you! I feel like I need to be blogging more and have dreams at night about not having written that day and getting in trouble! I was feeling like no one was even reading it so why feel the burden to write often, but then heard from 3 different people that they check it daily and were sad to not have any new fodder to mull over! So here I am babbling on not even too sure if anyone is following! haha

I should have paid more attention...

2010-04-02T16:24:00.008-06:00

when my parents tried to teach me how to garden, (and my husband would add, cook!) but I was too busy being a teenager who thought she knew everything, and thought that gardening, cooking, knitting, baking and the like were things that 'old' people did. Now I am 35 and don't know how to make a turkey dinner, bake buns or shortbread from scratch, pickle cucumbers or hem pants.
Sigh... well... I guess I am 'old' now as I find myself (some would say 'finally') drawn toward the domestic arts! Some times I frantically phone my mother with questions such as, 'how do I hard boil eggs... step by step?', or 'how do I wash the afghan you gave me for my 18th birthday?', and the question of today... 'can I take out last years leaves from the flower beds (because it looks messy) or do I have to leave them in there to provide mulch'? (and how do I make that look nice... or is the trick to change my mind about what looks good?)
Mom didn't answer the phone. So I abandoned my rakes, shovels, hoes, scrappers and thingymabobs and called it a day.
I'll work on my green thumb tomorrow.

Earth Hour

2010-03-31T19:22:00.002-06:00

Beautiful pics from around the world showcasing before and after the lights went off during Earth Hour.

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/03/earth_hour_2010.html

I probably shouldn't be blogging about this but...

2010-03-31T16:50:00.004-06:00

but I am steamed!!! Our boys don't have hoards of toys, but what they do have they can't seem to handle. All I asked for was 10 little wee minutes of them helping ME help THEM pick up THEIR stuff.
Too much to ask apparently. You'd think that I'd asked them to walk a mile in my shoes or something!! So I lost it... and I am not even feeling like a bad mommy! This madness has to stop somewhere sometime. And it is today - March 30 2010.
Sigh. Who am I kidding?

Let it rain, let it pour, let it...

2010-03-29T12:04:00.004-06:00

get collected somehow?!
We used to have a rain barrell - one that even looked like a barrell, and had the tap on the bottom and the mesh on the top (to keep debris and mosquitos and drowning little boys out.)
But because it was cheaper (plastic $60) it cracked. Cracked beyond repair, or reuse for anything else. Luckily it was able to be recycled... but now we are left with no way to collect the springs rain.
So now I am scratching my head trying to figure out, in light of the challenge to not buy anything new, and that we plan on turning our flower beds into food forests, how to collect our rain water in a safe, effective manner with some curb appeal.
It is a legitimate concern I have to keep my boys out of it - they are 8,4 and 2... and the other day we found them on the neighbours roof!!! (fyi - we are apparently raising monkeys over here, so that makes 'baby-proofing' more complicated!) If you live in Canada, you also know that mosquitos are our national bird (!) and are a force to be reckoned with, so we need to reduce the amount of standing water around the yard. (hence the mesh being a necessary component of the rain barrell.)
I don't have the answers yet, so if you do, please share!

Earth Hour

2010-03-28T11:44:00.002-06:00

So Earth Hour snuck up on me last night. We had big plans to do... something; but then I had a nap! I woke up 15 mins before Earth Hour. We turned all the lights and the computer off and sat oddly in the livingroom wondering what to do next. As we looked out the window the boys asked if we were going to see fireworks! haha Not knowing what else to do, we read The Lord of The Rings by flashlight for an hour. Ben fell asleep on the floor as we read. It was a sweet hour. Not as well-thoughtout as I would have liked, but sweet nonetheless.

My first time in 20 years!

2010-03-28T11:36:00.002-06:00

So Hubby has been working on getting us all bikes and helmets etc for the last couple years at garage sales and such. Yesterday was the big day - the first family ride. Hubby and the boys have gone before, but not momma. So I was... scared. Yes, that adequately describes it. So when Hubby said that the tires wouldn't hold air, I was relieved! Yeah! No bike ride for me today!! But Hubby had an ace up his sleeve - the Salvage Centre. So off we all trapsed to the Salvage Centre and for $2 he was able to get me a new tire (and new tires for our 8 year olds bike once he wears through the ones he has on now) LOVE that place! So within the hour, all 5 of us were riding off down the trail. And yes, after 20 years, riding a bike for the first time is just like, well, riding a bike!

Dewey's Treehouse: Frugal families in the news

2010-03-26T11:23:00.000-06:00

Dewey's Treehouse: Frugal families in the news

Phew! That was close!

2010-03-24T14:13:00.003-06:00

Our heads are still reeling from all the attention our little challenge has spured. I woke up this morning to my 8 year old telling me that he was going to buy something at the book fair today. My first thought was 'NOOOO, everyone knows what we are doing now, and you even printed off The Star's article and took it to school!! People are watching us now!' haha But I swallowed hard and I gently asked him 'what about our challenge?'. He rambled on as best he could trying to justify his purchase of a Tech Deck (not even a book after all). He seems to think that his challenge is to try and win a Wii... what that had to do with the book fair, I don't know either! He walked away to get ready for school and when he came back I gently said to him once again that I'd like him to reconsider buying something at the book fair. I wasn't authoritative or pushy. He really felt like this was his decision... because it was. The point of this exercise isn't to brow beat our children into our rules, but for them to recognize the value of this experiment themselves. He thought about it for a couple seconds and then said, 'Okay, I'll just get a gum ball after swimming then'. PROUD momma bear over here!... but we shall see what comes home in his backpack today!

Awakening the Dreamer - Changing the Dream

2010-03-23T15:23:00.004-06:00

I have since been trained as a facilitator, so if you are intrigued by what you see on the Awakening the Dreamer site (especially watch the 4 minute video) then please look for a symposium near you!

When I was invited to the Awakening the Dreamer symposium - I thought 'GREAT! I'd love some encouragement and renewed energy to make MY dreams a reality!' (and it was a nice break from my three little boys!)
I was about 2 hours into the 4 hour program thinking it was taking a LONG time to focus on 'my' dreams. I was fascinated by the images from around the world, enraputed by the stories and astonished with the facts,... but when was it going to be about me?
And that was when it hit me... if WAS all about me, AND had nothing to do with me, all at the same time. Now I may be simple and take a while to catch on, but when I do, I latch on like a bulldog! I've latched onto the idea of an "Environmentally sustainable, Socially just, Spiritually fulfilling human pressence on this planet."

It is about more then recycling, practicing the Golden Rule, or saying my prayers. It is about more then my small, single, prideful dreams. It is about more then paying lip service to nature, species and human rights. It is about more then awakening - although all these things lead to awakening.
It is about changing the dream of the modern world. And the dream is 'So powerful is the light of Unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.' It is what holds the boulders together, it is why the flower turns toward the sun and why the moth burns its wings on the lamp.
It is about LOVE. Love for self, all others, and earth.
And it awakens in our heart, grows in our home, blossoms in our community and flourishes on our planet.
So I am going to go home, recycle, live right and pray with my little boys, and plant a seed of awakening in their hearts, so that this world is a beautiful garden for all of earth's treasures.

Find your local resources

2010-03-23T12:34:00.003-06:00

There are a great many resources available to help make this challenge not only managable, but fun and fulfilling!

1) Freecycle (an internet site where you can pass on stuff you don't want anymore, or acquire things you need - all free of charge)

2) Libraries - great source for not only books, but movies, magazines and story kits for kids. Our town also has a Toy Library which operates much the same way as a regular library. This allows the kids to get their 'fill' of a certain toy and the enjoyment of getting toys they may not have been able to get otherwise.

3) We are all familiar with second hand stores, and garage sales, but there are also stores like The Habitat for Humanity Restores where you can buy things for your renovations, or even to furnish your home.

4) Friends!! You have some and can be one! :) We were born wanting to be of service and make a difference.

5) In our town we have a place called The Salvage Centre - where items destined for the landfill, but are still in good condition are dropped off and if you need something you can buy it for very cheap. All the money raised goes to local charities and we have furnished pretty much our whole house over the years... you'd be suprised what people get rid of!

6) There are various internet sites such as Kijiji or Craigslist where you can advertise to sell or give away some of your stuff, or buy what you need. Most local newspapers are online now and have a free classified section online as well.

7) Our imaginations! My husband took an abandoned bbq, sawed the legs off of it and viola - a fire pit for fishing and camping! It cost $2 and kept most of it out of the landfill.

Follow up 'answers' to curious questions...

2010-03-23T12:06:00.004-06:00

I can do nothing but shake my head at some of the comments or questions that have been raised.

1) YES we are buying NEW food... I don't know any other way to eat unless I had a few stomachs like a cow, or was a baby bird with regurgitated food from my mother! lol We do have plans to turn our flower beds into food forests though, try to eat as local as possible and as Food Inc suggests, 'only buy food your great grandmother would recognize as food'... so out goes yogurt in a tube, Scooby Doo, Shrek and Dora gummy treats in unrecyclable packaging and microwave popcorn.

2) Someone has pointed out that many many people go for very long periods of time without buying something new - not by choice, but by necessity, like the elderly or those on welfare. And she is absolutely right! Our challenge isn't to disrespect those in that situation, and if we thought more about each other, and less about 'being' the Jonses we'd all be better off. I thank the people who have the resources or desire to buy new things for their families, cause when they are done with it, it can serve a great many more people. As our consciousness chanages we will make better buying decisions, not just with our wallets in mind, but also for the earth and those who inhabit it.

Many questions... creating answers.

2010-03-23T10:54:00.004-06:00

There have been many questions and comments that folks would like some clarification on... so I will do my best to satisfy those, but please know that I don't know all the answers and we are figuring some things out as we go along...

1) Gifts for holidays, birthdays, etc:
I am fortunate to be among friends who are on the same page as we are in regards to gifts - second hand is fine, even prefered. Another thing we do is give 'experiences' rather then toys, such as gift certificates to the movies, book store, zoo, science centre, bowling etc. Great, almost new toys can also be found at garage sales and second hand stores. We are trying to rethink what it means to honor someone, and get away from The Hallmark way of celebrating. It does require a bit of creativity and planning, and being a lot more thoughtful about our decisions.

2) Some people, rightfully so, are worried that if this catches on and more people by used, that the economy would fail. We know we are going to one extreme here. We have spent years, as a society, on the other end of the spectrum where new was better and 'enough' tasted like 'more'. So we are purposefully going to the other end of the spectrum to truly reevaluate what is essential and responsible ways to get it, so that next year we will be more clear about what we need and how to get it in ways that is good not only for our wallet, but also for the earth. When we do start buying again, we plan to support local as much as possible. There are some fantastic artisans and producers out there that aren't found in an aisle at the big box stores and we plan on supporting those people.

3) We know that we aren't the first to embark on this journey - thankfully for all of us there are a great many people challenging themselves to do more conscious living and less impulsive buying. We didn't start this challenge as a way to save money, but since my husband has been laid off it has taken a great deal of pressure off.

4) We don't feel we are being unfair to the children at all. We are all making sacrifices for this to work. The boys are really learning to focus on what they really DO want, instead of blowing in the marketing/media wind. Our 8 year old is so convinced he wants a Wii that he dreams about it, enters contests for it, and wakes his brother up in the middle of the night to talk about it! haha As a family we are being more active too - getting down on the floor together, going to the park etc. and THAT is what kids REALLY want... not the latest whatzit from the action aisle.

Today

2010-03-23T08:32:00.005-06:00

Double Wow!!
Woke up this morning to a phone call from a radio station in Toronto (too sleepy to remember what it was called) wanting to interview us live this morning! In about an hour we will share our story again.
It has been very interesting to read everyone's comments - both on the blog and in The Star. Some supportive, some not so much - lol. I don't know if it is because I am getting closer to 40 years old, but the nay-sayers don't bother me at all and I am able to take them either with a grain of salt or as constructive criticism. We know what our true intentions are, and I don't mean to sound glib... but that is all that matters. :)
Well, since I started writing this, a second radio station - CKGL 570 Gary Doyle show in Kitchener just called for a live interview in about two hours!! What a snowball effect.
I will keep you updated as the day progresses. Thank you so much for checking in with us!

The Toronto Star

2010-03-23T00:31:00.004-06:00

Wow!!
I am feeling completely intimidated right now! What started out as a simple family challenge to not buy anything new this year is turning into so much more. When we first mentioned our challenge on Facebook a few weeks ago we never imagined that our story would end up being featured in the largest newspaper in Canada - The Toronto Star!!
Being interviewed prompted us to make a blog of our journey; the first journey for me was figuring out how to do that! I am not too techno savvy, but with some help from friends I muddled my way through it.
Since the interview, and now that it is published, and the blog has been created I feel a real responsibility, hence the intimidation! haha
We plan on doing our best this year. We don't profess to be radical by any means, just a family reevaluating the 'stuff' in our lives. That being said, there are a few things that we will get new this year - brakes for the truck... and underware! haha
So I hope you check in with us as the blog progresses to get ideas and keep us honest! It has already been quite the ride!

So how did all this start?

2010-03-20T12:46:00.017-06:00

A few years ago I read a book called 'A year without made in China' by Sara Bongiorni. It was about her family's journey to not buy anything made in China - not as a political statement, but just to see if their needs could be met with products made closer to their home in the United States.

I came up with the idea of challenging our family to not buy anything new for one full year. We have many purposes for embarking on this challenge:

1) delaying gratification to help us determine what we really need or want, and how we can find creative ways to acquire those things without further harming the resources of the earth.
2) teaching our children the value of things, dollars, opportunities, and choices. 3) to find out if having less IS having more.

So how have we done 3.5 months into this journey? Is living the simple life... simple? Have we saved money or resources? Are we having fun? What have we learned so far?

Well... we ARE having fun! Especially my husband and I! My hubby Jamie wanted a fire pit for camping and fishing... so he took an old, broken bbq and sawed the legs off it, and viola! perfect fire pit! Yes, that saved a bit of $$, but it also saved most of the bbq from going to the landfill.
We have fallen off the wagon a couple times though. At the beginning of the challenge we forgot about it and unthinkingly bought a magazine. I will also admit to not being able to pass up the local scrapbook store's closing sale. It is a learning curve for sure.

And we are learning many things! Firstly, how unconscious we've been with our purchases in the past! Every time we pick up something now, we are consciously making choices, and that is what it is really all about. Shopping isn't 'bad' - especially when you are supporting local businesses, artisans, markets and friends.

We have found being on this challenge that we are never in any stores!! (other then for groceries) The amount of material distractions facing our boys has been drastically reduced. We've reclaimed a great deal of the toy room by streamlining their toys, and said good-bye to buying the entire media package that comes with most kids movies and shows lately. (ever notice when a new movie comes out, you could furnish your entire house with Sponge Bob, Spiderman or Dora?!)(and how often does a new trend come out? - ALL the time!!)

2010-03-20T12:21:00.002-06:00

Who: Our normal, unassuming, curious family of five.

What: Creatively finding ways to meet our needs and wants while not buying anything new.

When: January - December 2010

Where: In all areas of our lives, but more specifically in our consuming habits.

Why: To create a NEW norm; to grow our consciousness to such a point that we are truly thoughtful about our consuming choices; to use goods the earth has already paid for.