Want to do something good for yourself & the environment? Try adopting a few easy habits to celebrate Earth Day this year.
1. Recycle, recycle, recycle! It may seem obvious, but I'm amazed at how many people still don't recycle. If you live in Chattanooga, go to http://www.recycleright.org/ to sign up for free bi-weekly recycling pick up. You don't even have to sort it!
2. BYOB - Bring your own bag! Plastic bags take hundreds of years to break down in a landfill. Most European stores eliminated complimentary shopping bags years ago. Many grocery stores now offer reusable bags for purchase, or round up all the old freebie canvas totes you have around the house. I keep a pile of them in the trunk of my car, so I'm always ready for a grocery run.
3. Shop thrift or consignment first. Before you buy a brand new item of clothing, see if you can find what you need in a thrift or consignment store, or on Ebay. You'll lessen your environmental impact, and the impact on your wallet. If you need some inspiration, you can read about my year of no new clothes here and here.
4. Ditch the dryer. If it's nice out, hang your clothes on a clothesline outside. It's that easy! You'll save energy and extend the life of your clothes. We lived without a dryer for more than a year when we first got married, and I didn't really miss it much at all. Now, we just use it when it's raining or we're in need of clean undies, stat.
5. Drink tap water. We have the safest drinking water in the world, so ditch the bottled water, folks! All those bottles just create most waste, and studies have shown that the chemicals in plastic water bottles can leach out into the water. Use a water purifier or filter if you're concerned about taste. Carry your water to-go in a stainless steel (not aluminum) bottle, or make sure whatever bottle you're using is BPA-free.
I could go on, but I promised these would be easy! Let me know if you have any questions, or need more suggestions. The best thing you can do on Earth Day is go outside and enjoy it!
"The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." ~ Psalm 24:1
I successfully went a whole year without buying any new clothes. Shocked?
I am a little bit, too.
Last year, when the presents were unwrapped, the bubbly uncorked, and people were resolving to be thinner, wealthier, and better-looking (or something like that), I decided to challenge myself to buy no new clothes for the entirety of 2009. “New” is really the key word here – I bought clothes that were new to me, just not new to the rest of the world.
I like clothes. A lot. Legend has it that I began to pick out my daily attire at age two, because something my mom had chosen for me didn’t “mats” (I was apparently aware of the color wheel long before I had enough teeth to say “ch”).
I treat clothes like souvenirs. I like to buy them when I travel, bringing a little piece of the world home with me. Currently, my closet holds shirts from Dublin, scarves from London, a skirt and sunglasses from L.A., Cubs shirts from Chicago. . . it’s kind of like World Market, without the well-coordinated décor, edgy music, and off-brand Nutella.
And, being a good, thrifty Presbyterian, I am also highly susceptible to the “itsareallygooddeal” disease. This illness can strike suddenly and without warning, usually within a tight radius of the Gap clearance racks. And no matter how cute that $12 Target bargain is, those add up fast, and were leaving my closet too full and wallet too, well, empty.
I also stopped buying new clothes to lessen the environmental impact of all those clearance rack spending sprees. If I don’t buy a new sweater, it means someone has to make one less sweater, and those materials and energy aren’t used. The consignment shop sweater has already been made, it’s already “out there” in the world, and by reusing it, I reduce my resource consumption, albeit by a very, very small percentage. While one sweater isn’t going to make a very big difference (or for that matter a whole year of clothes purchases) it is still something I can do, and in the end has changed by buying habits.
The rules of my experiment were simple. No buying new clothes. Consignment stores, thrift stores, garage sales, Ebay, and Craigslist were all were acceptable clothing sources. In an effort to learn a new skill, I was also allowed to wear anything I could sew myself (which sadly turned out to be, well, nothing). I could wear anything given to me as a gift, because I didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings (and I have a rule to never, ever turn down free J. Crew. Just sayin.’).
Surprisingly, my year-long experiment was much, much easier than I expected it to be. Probably the most difficult was when I traveled to L.A. and had to deal with the candy-shop assortment of colorful boutiques laid out before me. I bought accessories (not forbidden) and sought out some cool thrift stores and consignment shops. I didn’t get to clear out the H&M as I would have liked, but my shopping need was well satisfied. For the rest of the year, I found a few key thrift store jewels, and got creative with how I put the rest of my wardrobe together.
If I had to summarize everything I learned this year in one word, it would be this: Ebay.
No, seriously.
I never knew what a treasure trove of fashion awaited me in cyberspace! Ebay-ing for books, electronics, and Christmas presents was old hat, but clothing was a new challenge. One that takes patience, proper measurements, and some more patience. In order to be a successful Ebay clothier, you need to know your measurements and stick to brands you know and trust (for me it’s the ever-lovely J. Crew). I would scour Ebay for the particular item I was looking for (most of the time jeans or boots), add a bunch of items to my watch list, watch as most of them went out of my desired price range, bid on a couple, and maybe win one. It took me about two months before I finally found the tall, brown boots I was looking for (new shoes weren’t off limits, just more than I wanted to spend), and I had to buy two pairs before I found one that fit (after a few forlorn sighs, the other was promptly re-listed). But in the end I ended up with a great pair of brand new $300 boots for $60, that I wear almost daily. Jeans are a bit tricker, but if you find a brand and style you love, keep scouring Ebay for them. I bought two gently used pairs of (J.Crew!) jeans for under $12 each, and that is so much more satisfying than buying the same jeans out of the catalog for $80.
I ended my retail-fashion-fast on New Years Eve by stopping at an outlet mall somewhere in Indiana. Or maybe it was Kentucky. (We were driving home from Wisconsin on our Christmas adventure across the Midwest, and I’d spent so many hours in the car at that point, I wasn’t even sure what state I was in.) All I know is, while we were chugging along I-90, my sweet husband suggested we stop and stretch our legs and let our dog relieve her ever-patient bladder. And then we pull up in front of the J.Crew factory store. Yes, folks, my husband loves me.
All that to say that one pair of cargo pants, corduroys, and a sweater later, my fast is over. And while it will be really nice to walk into a store and buy a white dress shirt if I need one, rather than scouring every thrift store in town, I don’t think I’ll be returning to my old shopping habits any time soon. I still plan to turn first to Ebay whenever I’m looking for a new pair of jeans, and thrift stores can more than satisfy any hint of “itsareallygooddeal” disease that may come my way.
And for all of you who stopped reading five paragraphs ago because this post is so damn long, here’s a recap: I didn’t buy any new clothes for a year, I survived (thrived, even!), and you should try it too.
I threw that last little encouragement in there for good measure. If you’re thinking of giving up new clothes for a while and need some pointers, let me know.
In the meantime, I’m going to try to figure out something to resolve for this new year before I blink and it’s 2011. Any suggestions?
One of the stipulations of Project Rewear is that I can wear any new clothes that I sew myself. A talented seamstress I most certainly am not - curtains and pillowcovers are about as far as I can go. One Saturday, though, I decided to practice my skills (or lack thereof) on an old bedsheet, so I took a simple tunic/dress out of my closet and tried to copy it. I turned it inside out, marked the outlines on some thick paper we have leftover from one of our remodeling projects, and called it a pattern.
Here are a few long-overdue pictures from my pattern-less dress-making adventure:
First, I cut out my tracing.
Then, I cut the fabric to match.
Whoops. I think I got a little spray bottle-happy while ironing.
I basically just sewed the sides together, gave it a hem, and sewed the fabric under at the neck and sleeves. The neckline was the hardest part. It didn't turn out so great.
And, ta-da! Please excuse the lack of makeup and the rediculous pose. While I wouldn't leave the house in it, my bedsheet housedress is pretty comfortable. Hey, it's practice people. Everyone has to start somewhere -- do you think Martha was born with a perfect slipstich? Well, probably, but not all of us are that lucky.
Yep, somehow I managed to get poison ivy on the first yard work day of the spring. And I even kept myself busy potting herbs while Lee and some helpers did the dirty work of pulling out a bunch of old fence and brush, just so I wouldn't touch any of the stuff. But still, it found me, via Lee or the dog or some clothes. Ridiculous. I spent most of Easter weekend on ice like an oyster, cleaning and slathering my wounds with Caladryl in an attempt to avoid a doctor visit and the inevitable steroid shot (overused immune system suppressent! aak!). My avoidance turned out to be in vain, though . . . after I started to swell up like a balloon and could barely move, I gave in, and am now altering between jittery from the 'roids and sleepy from the copious amounts of benedryl i've had to take. Fun. Times.
Oh well, I'm started to heal today. As much as I like to forgo traditional meds in favor of natural alternatives, sometimes it's helpful.
I figured I had better add a March installment of this series before March is gone completely, so here it is.
Avoiding retail clothing this month was quite simple, mostly because my sweet and thoughtful husband gave me a J.Crew gift card for our first anniversary (that's right folks, 1 year!). I happily shopped the J.Crew sales (remember, gifts are ok) and made out like a bandit with a super cute navy cotton taffeta skirt, a salmon-colored cardigan (one of my 2 favorite colors), and a black sleeveless sweater with chiffon rosettes (I love J.Crew's embellishments).
In other "non-retail" shopping news, I have been on the lookout for a pair of brown/tan gladiator-style sandals that wouldn't break the bank (actually not hard to find in this economy, as cheap fashions are popping up everywhere), but would also be good for my feet. Enter Dansko!
Now, I nursed a mild hatred for the famous clog company for some time. You see, I think clogs are ugly. Clunky. And hard to walk in. And even though Danskos were supposed to be marvelous for your feet and back and such, I figured there had to be cuter ways to take care of yourself. Then, I discovered that Dansko made other things besides clogs! Who knew! In fact, they made some very cute non-clog footwear. Now, there was comfort I could get behind. I found my first pair of Danskos, black strappy sandles with a slightly chunky heel, on a clearance table at a local shoe store. Cute? Check. Comfy? Check. Cheap? Check. Tongue tied? Yep. Then, I found the illusive cute and good-for-me gladiators a couple of weeks ago on ebay. Score! Here are the beauts:
(photo couresty of ebay seller theshoemart)
So, if you're in the market for some shoes, can't spend much, but still want something a little more durable than Payless, try ebay. These were one of last season's styles, but, um, really, who's going to know that? And they were less than half of the retail price. The moral of this story? Don't be afraid to look for clothing and shoes through venues you normally wouldn't think of (ebay, craigslist, etc.). You might be surprised at the selection and price, and you're preventing the needless manufacturing of an item that may already be out there floating around someplace.
Project Rewear has been a breeze so far. Coming off of some serious December pre and post-Christmas sale shopping, I haven't been lacking much fashion-wise. I did, however, make my first non-retail clothing purchase - off of Craigslist.
Craigslist is a thing of beauty. We've furnished 1/2 of our house from Craigslist (the other 1/2 is from Ikea), and generally remain Craigslist stalkers for those "too good to miss" deals. The actual Craigslist purchasing transaction often feels like a shady drug deal (ok, all drug deals are shady). Sometimes you go to the seller's house to pick up something you're going to purchase, like a couch, but sometimes, if the item is small, you'll meet in a central (well-lit) spot.
So, I met this gal, with her convertible Victoria's Secret dress, at my favorite grocery/deli/hang-out spot. After standing in the brutal cold for a few minutes, I saw someone looking equally as lost/guilty as I was, and we made the swap - my $25 for her super cute red dress. The deal was done, I hopped back in my car and shivered home.
Fun, huh? Supposedly you can wear it in a bajillion different ways, but I've only discovered three so far (and I've only worn it as a skirt. It's waaaay too cold right now for a sleeveless dress). I'll try to figure out some more soon a post a couple of pictures.
I discovered this dress on VS's web site about a year ago, but wasn't about to fork over $100 for it. I am quite happy with my $25 version.
I think the first non-retail adventure of the year was a success. For those wishing to ditch "the Man" themselves and join me on Project Rewear, the moral of this story is: Shop Craigslist.
I only made one real resolution this new year's. Actually it's not really a resolution as much as it's a challenge. For the whole of 2009, I will be attempting to avoid buying any clothes at a retail store. Before you gasp and say, "What?! That's impossible!" - let me explain further.
I love clothes. Oh, how I love them. Particularly anything to do with J.Crew, the Gap, and cute vintage finds. I am also extremely budget conscious, which means I shop for bargains like it's an Olympic sport. Most of the time, finding deals is a very good thing, but that also means if I find something I like that's on sale, whether I need it or not, I'll buy it, because it was "such a good deal." And as my closet gets fuller and fuller, I keep on shopping, and keep on packing it in, because I enjoy it so.
But all those little "finds" add up, not exorbitantly or anything, but to more than I need to be spending on clothes I don't need. Plus, new clothes come with an environmental price tag as well - it takes a lot of energy and resources to make those jeans, and the list of clothing companies that could be qualified as environmentally conscious is still pretty small.
So, this year, I will not buy a single piece of clothing at a retail store. I will, however, continue going to thrift shops and consignment stores occasionally, because I don't really want to give up shopping cold turkey. I've also been attempting to further my sewing skills, so any clothing I can sew is fine, and will be a fun challenge (and you can't really impulse-buy patterns and fabric). Underwear, socks and PJs are exempt from the no-retail rule, for obvious reasons (thrift shop undies? I don't think so).
I hope to keep my thoughts and progress logged here, at least every couple of weeks, throughout the year. I'll also keep you supplied with pictures of anything I attempt to sew, or especially cute items I pick up thrifting. Feel free to comment and share your own thrifting or sewing tips!
Yesterday I hung a load of clothes out to dry on my front porch. I’m sure our house looked like redneck central, clothesline strung haphazardly between the porch posts and our socks and undies waving in the breeze at passersby. But I don’t care. I love it.
We do all of our laundry that way, actually. At first, it was because we had to – we had a washer but not a dryer. But now I keep putting off purchasing a dryer because I love letting the hot summer wind do the job for me. Maybe it’s nostalgia – I remember watching my grandmother do the same – but I get a small thrill whenever I haul a load of freshly-washed towels out the front door.
I like simple things. Summer makes me want iced tea (unsweet!) and lemonade. I prefer cooking to going out. I’d rather walk the dog than go to the gym. Now that I finally live in a house, I’ve planted some flowers and herbs, and I’m extremely proud of the baby tomatoes popping up on my three potted tomato plants. Next year I’m hoping to plot out a tiny garden in the backyard.
I’ve also recently become aware of the dangers of basic hygiene products. I grew up eating wheat bread, taking vitamins, and cleaning the house with vinegar, but who knew that toxic chemicals were lurking in my shampoo? And laundry detergent, and cosmetics, and toothpaste, and the list goes on and on (click here for a link to a great article on shampoo, and here for one on parabens). I’ve become an even more obsessive label-reader, and have switched my shampoo to Burt’s Bees and use aloe vera gel in my hair instead of styling products (I can honestly say my hair has never been happier). The all-natural mascara, on the other hand, is taking some time to get used to – it smells terrible in the tube, but it does work pretty well. And at least it’s not toxic. The shampoo discovery was just the beginning of a massive greening effort that will probably take me some time. I’m grateful for a supportive husband, even if he’s not fully convinced of the dangers. He’s even switched to mineral-based deodorant and natural toothpaste, and that, my friends, is love. Seran wrap and Ziplock bags are next on my hit list. I’m about to purchase some giant stackable bins to expand my recycling effort. We’re also drawing up plans to build a permanent clothesline in the backyard, so our skivvies won’t be on display to the neighborhood.
