Cheaterpants

So, October - now nearly-over - was No-Buy Month (if you're unfamiliar with No-Buy Month, click here for more info). And I have to say, I did better than in July, but not as well as in January or April.

Here are the things I bought.

A pair of pants, a pair of socks, two pens, and two Halloween cards.

Being green, as I've mentioned before, means being intentional. And being intentional implies, you know, intention. Unfortunately, a lack of foresight tripped up my intentionality.

Mid-month I had to attend a conference in Chicago (I live in Houston, where the sun shines and the palm trees sway, even on October 30th). And I failed to think about the fact that it might be, say, a few degrees colder in Chicago than in Houston.

You see, common sense sometimes fails a deep thinker.

I realized the day before flying out that I had only ONE pair of work pants (I wear capris every day, March through October). That was not going to get me through five days in Chicago, due to my propensity for spilling coffee on myself semi-regularly.

So, I had to buy another pair of pants. I was feeling guilty, but then I remembered that although it's a goal to buy no non-consumables during No-Buy Month, we have to consider purpose over process. The purpose is to cut back on unnecessary consumption, to save money, and to spend less time on materialistic pursuits. And that I did. Having more than one pair of pants, while an American-style luxury in many parts of the world, is hardly unnecessary in our country's professional world.

The other purchases? The socks and the pens were also conference-related (again, I didn't realize that a person has to wear socks in October in some climes). The cards? They were a totally trivial purchase, but did make someone smile.

No-Buy Month has made me realize that I really do need to put some time into my work wardrobe, but that I can do it in a sensible way.

Nevertheless, I'm totally going shopping on Sunday.

DIY Sunday - Upcycled Fabric Flowers

Rain ... rain ...

... inspires the domestic diva in me!

So, among other domestic doings, I decided to embellish my cardigan with a fabric flower.

My inspiration was Jayma Mays's character, Emma, on my newest obsession, Glee. As a former high school member of the vocal jazz ensemble, The Teepee Lighters (our mascot was "The Indians" -- maybe someday I'll write about the Native American carpet scandal of '93), I'm Glee's target audience - choir dorks from schools in bad-to-medium neighborhoods. All season I've been admiring Emma's retro-inspired outfits, but since it's No-Buy Month, I couldn't emulate her style without some DIY action.

Photo courtesy Fox TV

Emma wears sweater sets, chunky necklaces, and flower-bedecked cardis, for a 1960's-style, unbeknownst-to-her awesomeness. Hopefully, she'll be able to get the guy!

As usual, I searched the interwebs for directions on how to make my own retro flower cardigan, and when I didn't find exactly what I wanted, I made something up. Here's how:

You will need:
Paper (for the pattern)
2 types of fabric - stiff cotton or felt will work best (I upcycled a retired Western shirt and used some other fabric I had lying around)
Needle
Thread
Scissors
Some kind of button (cover it with fabric if you want)

Step 1: Make a pattern for the petals.
You can decide what type of petals you want - rounded, pointy, heart shaped, etc. But they should be narrower on one end than the other. Make one pattern that's large (about an inch long) and one that's smaller. (Scroll down to look at a picture of some petals below)

Step 2: Cut the petals.
Take Fabric #1 and cut 4 petals using your larger petal pattern as a guide. Then cut 4 of your smaller petals from Fabric #2.

Step 3: Sew the petals.
Thread you needle and loosely sew your petals onto a thread, stitching at the narrower end of each petal. Alternate larger and smaller. You want to sew very loosely (for you sewing types - basting), so all of your petals lie flat on the table, like so:

Step 4: Pull tight.
When all of the petals are on the thread, gently pull your stitches tight. Your petals should all snug together, and then you can smooth them out the way you like. The center will probably look messy:

Step 5: Create the center of your flower.
Sew the button into the center of the flower. I used the snap from my Western shirt, and simply cut a bit of the fabric around it to sew it on. Once you've sewn on the button, you can tie off your thread.

Step 6: Put your flower to work.

I sewed mine onto an old cardigan so I could be cool like Emma Pillsbury, but you can use it for a brooch, a handbag decoration, a barrette, or whatever your heart desires.

Heck! You can create a whole fabric bouquet!

To Buy ... or Not to Buy ...

Well, on the first of October, the answer will be ... not to buy!

It's No Buy Month again! Yaay!

In 2008 I experimented with No Buy Month in January -- a post-Christmas time of consumer celibacy in which I did not buy any non-consumables (food and entertainment were OK).

I liked it so much, that this year I started 2009 with a resolution to celebrate non-consumerism with No Buy Month every third month -- even though Obama probably wouldn't enjoy the way I'm refusing to support the economy.

Why do I like No Buy Month?

A few reasons ...

1. It increases intentionality. Living deliberately is a richer way of experiencing life, I find. I realize this is in opposition to the "Be Spontaneous" ethic. I often wish I was more spontaneous, but I tend to process slowly. I overthink. And for overthinkers, deliberation is enjoyable.

2. It calms life down. So, sometimes when I'm driving home and I feel a little restless, I think, I'm going to go to Target ... I spend money out of boredom. It's the American way! Michael Moore would probably back me up. I LIKE to buy stuff. Don't get me wrong. I am not anti-buy-stuff. I might wish I was. But I'm not. I just think I might be able to find better ways to use my time.

3. I save money, duh.

Do you want to have fun and not spend money? Do you want to participate in No Buy Month? Join in!

Not Easy, or: In Which Andy Gets His Promised Shout-Out

This is a blog about easy ways to be greener.

Lately, however, I haven't found it easy at all. In fact, just call me Catfish the Grouch. Notice that I haven't been blogging much lately. That's because I'm a little ball of negative energy. Maybe it started with the announcement that Canadian geese aren't migrating, because it never gets cold enough in Alaska to make all the effort of flying south worth it. Or maybe it was because my new office, despite being filled with socially-responsible types, has only plastic forks and cups and spoons, and not a re-usable towel in sight. Or maybe it's because my neighbors decided to throw away all the recycling that they've been saving, instead of simply waiting until Tuesday to put it on the curb.

Grump.

Argh.

Blergh.

To top it all off, my A/C is busted which just makes me cranky -- I know that using air conditioning is not green, but it's pretty necessary to make life in Houston bearable. We've been having a run of 90+ degree days.

Boo.

Hiss.

Frown.

It's time for an attitude adjustment. Or, as we said at the camp where I worked, whenever things went awry: "That's the best." So, I'm going to give props where props are due, and give Andy the shout-out he's been waiting for, in hopes that pondering his kindness will turn my frown upside down.

It all started last weekend, when my friends and I rented a beach house. We brought massive amounts of food and beverages, and had a grand ol' time. There was, however, no recycling available at the beach.

"What should we do with all of the bottles and cans?" someone asked. (In case you were wondering, they were milk bottles and soda cans, obviously). "Should we try to recycle them?"

Now, I know I should have jumped up and revealed the big "S" on my chest for Super-Recycler, but I just didn't see myself having time the following week to make it to the recycling center. To top it all off, someone said, "You're the green blogger. Shouldn't you take it?"

I am a contrary Mary, if there ever was one, and that is the sort of statement that makes me want to scream NO! It's a character flaw, I know, but it's my character flaw.

That's when Andy got all gallant and noble and said, "I WILL TAKE THE RECYCLING."

And I admit I was relieved. Because, yes, I am the green blogger.

But did I mention that I am cranky?

Grumble.

Harumph.

Humbug.

Andy turned to me and said, "I better get a shout-out on the blog." He was kidding, but he does deserve a shout-out, because really, this whole green living thing isn't going to work if every person has to go it alone. Sometimes, when we get green burn-out, someone else has to take the recycling.

But I promise, I'm working on my attitude. No-Buy Month is coming up -- woohoo! -- and maybe some of you will want to join me in eschewing non-consumables for 30 days. Sounds depressing, I know, but actually, it's a spirit lifter.

Greening My Closet

Recently, I received my weekly Gorgeously Green newsletter to find an article on how being green demands a certain level of forethought and organization. This resonated with me, as I've noticed that eating fewer processed foods, saving energy, and consuming less all involve planning. For example, those savvy Light Green readers who have followed me from the beginning (you know who you are!), may have noticed that July should have been another No-Buy Month for me. Unfortunately, my lack of planning has tripped me up.

At the beginning of this year, I resolved that every third month, I would not buy any non-consumables for thirty days. January and April were successful, and some friends even joined me in April. However, because I didn't even realize that July was here until the third (which, I think, speaks volumes about the degree to which I am wrapped up in So You Think You Can Dance, to the exclusion of, you know, actual reality) I was not able to prepare for No-Buy Month. I realized that I needed some additions to my professional wardrobe for an upcoming conference. What's a girl to do?

I decided that although I was going to have to make a couple of purchases, I should not go about it willy-nilly, but attempt to be a better planner and truly evaluate what I actually needed and what I did not. To do that, I had to get a sense of what I owned that was appropriate for five days of professional dress. That would involve ... CLEANING MY CLOSET (cue opening strains of Thriller).

This has become the Holy Grail of Household Chores around here, because my clever cat, Wily, has discovered that it is fun to pull things off the shelves in the closet. I shove the clothes back onto the shelves without folding them, resolving to clean it up on the weekend. This has been going on since January. You can probably visualize the mess that's been created, but if not, here's a look-see:

Wily surveys the destruction he hath wrought.

Throughout the process of cleaning my closet, I came up with a few organizational tips that you might be able to use if you want to green your closet, garage, etc., all going back to the three R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle).

1) Reduce. Or ... Lay your embarrassing level of consumption out on the table (or bedroom floor as the case may be):

In contrast to many Americans, I think I have a low-level of consumption. My apartment and car are both small, and what I can buy is limited by the amount of room I have (or don't) to stash stuff. Nevertheless, I find that twice a year I'm a little sickened by how much I've accumulated. The key is to really get a good look at the stuff, and evaluate what can go on to another, happier life. I happened to throw my stuff all over the bedroom, then asked myself the following questions:

2) Reuse: Can your stuff help someone else?

When I evaluated my things, I found there were lots of things I didn't need, but that others could use. That big pile in the middle of the floor? That all went to Goodwill. I choose to give to Goodwill, because I like the focus of their work, but there are many charities that also need your donations. You can find one that suits your sensibilities.

3) Repurpose and Reuse: Can you use your stuff in a new way?

These T-shirts were too grungy to go to Goodwill, so I was going to throw them away. But then I realized that they could make lovely cleaning rags, thus reducing my dependence on paper towels.

4) Re (or Up)-Cycle: Can your stuff be transformed?

Due to my long-running fascination with boho chic, which has once again become de mode, I had a lot of clothes made out of cool vintagey fabrics, with beautiful screen prints, or that were too sentimental to give up. I did not want them cluttering my closet however. These, I boxed up for upcycling. They can become the linings of knitted handbags, embellishments on clothes, or the raw material for handmade greeting cards.

Here's the finished closet:

I was happy to discover that, after all of that, I needed to buy only a cardigan and a blouse to create the five days of professional outfits that I needed. And I'm much happier every time I look in the closet.

Just a note: This week we passed 1000 hits! Huzzah! Thanks for reading, and keep coming back for more.

Coming up: As promised before I sprained my hand, recipes for homemade hummus, and an Auntie Chronicles. Also, a few thoughts on greenwashing.

No-Buy Month - How's it going?

Sorry, I have been a bad blogger. Work has been crazy, blah, blah ... there's really no good excuse. But work has been crazy.

I'm currently ensconced in another hotel room, and have to do some work before bed (and I just learned that American Idol has become a crazy train ... Quentin Tarantino? "Falling Slowly" is an obscure song? That skinny girl with elbows at the judging table? See, staying in a hotel room can be a bit shocking sometimes.)

I wanted to take a moment, though, to update on how No-Buy Month is going. I've done well, though I did go out to the bar Friday night. And I'm psyched to see that now 30% of the loyal readership is involved in No-Buy Month.

Keep it up, and leave a comment below to let me know how it's going for you.

And just because it's been a while, here's a Cute Cat Picture for you:

Coming up: I promise to be better about posting, and I've got some recycling stuff to share, along with my thoughts on the Fox network's green promotion. Because I know you've been thinking ... I wonder what Catfish thinks about that?

No-Buy Month - Free Fun

Nothing beats the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center on a beautiful day. It's open from 7-7 every day, and they host classes and events as well.

Can you believe this is the middle of Houston?

The bluebonnets are the symbol of Texas. Their season is almost over.

This little guy was taking a rest by the turtle pond. Somehow, that doesn't seem like good decision making.

No Buy Month Challenge! Day 2

Yay! I've had more than 500 hits on my blog, and more folk have joined the No-Buy Month Challenge -- now two are attempting No-Buy Month with me. That's about 20% of my loyal readership -- you do the math.

I was a bit tempted to falter and make a quick, 1-click Amazon purchase when I learned that Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is out. I'm a member of the target audience for a product like this -- people who love period pieces but wish there was a little more gore in Jane Austen. I reminded myself, however, that I have PBS's Little Dorrit to fulfill my quota of corsets, and David Grann's Lost City of Z to fulfill my quota of gore.

Little Dorrit is the Masterpiece Classic (now with more Laura Linney!) version of Dickens's classic tale -- if by classic you mean "the Dickens novel nobody reads." It's about debt, getting out of debt, and how people maintain their dignity -- or don't -- in times of economic crisis. Basically it's your most recent issue of the New York Times. With corsets. That's the thing about Dickens. Just when you think it's safe to throw him into the rubbish bin of "out," he saunters down the red carpet of "in." Check out installment 2 on Sunday. Check your local listings (I can't believe I just said that.)

Charles Dickens. Favorite of your English teacher. But don't hold that against him.

The Lost City of Z is a non-fiction book about the search for a mythical city in the Amazon. I'm learning a lot from it. Mostly, I'm learning that I never want to go to the Amazon. My favorite part was the description of "kissing bugs," which bite your lips, depositing a protozoa which kills you twenty years later. Gross!

All in all, I have plenty to entertain me without spending another dime.

No-Buy Challenge! Are you up for it?

OK, kids. It's time to get psyched! I am issuing a challenge, Light Greenies! (That's what my ten -- it used to be only five! - loyal readers have just been dubbed).

Turtles are slow -- just like slow money.

In the spirit of slow money, your challenge is this: participate in April's No-Buy Month. This year, I resolved to practice the "No-Buy Month" every third month (Click here to find out more). January was my first No-Buy Month of the year, and I challenged myself to buy nothing non-consumable for an entire month.

In April, I want to go a bit further. Nothing non-consumable, and no entertainment dollars - no movie tickets, no restaurants (except when I travel for work, but WORK is paying for that), no bars, no roller coasters. Of course, all bills will be paid on-time - or nearly.

This is going to demand a lot of me, and I hope my friends will climb on board the Slow Money, No-Buy Train with me. For this challenge, you're invited to participate in any way you see fit -- you make your own rules. Feel free to go by my original rules: Nothing non-consumable for one month. Or if you want to really kick my butt, plan ahead and say you're not going to buy ANYTHING for a month.

Of course, the real reason I'm hoping my friends will join me is so I will have some folks to do FREE stuff with!

So here is the challenge:

In the comments section - here or in a subsequent No-Buy post -- assert your commitment to the challenge. Keep me posted of your progress by commenting throughout April.

One lucky participant will be chosen at random to receive a PRIZE - because I love prizes. The prize, naturally, will be some green goodies.

More info to follow... and yes, moms and dads, diapers DO count as consumables.

No-Buy Month

Tempted

And lo, verily, though I walk through the Simon Malls Galleria during No-Buy Month, and gazeth upon an outfit that would be perfect when I present in front of 150 people tomorrow, the Lord giveth me strength, and I avoideth temptation!

Actually, I'm not so strong. If I didn't have a raging sinus cold, I probably would have gone in and tried on the outfit and if it fit, I probably would have justified buying it, despite the fact that it is decidedly non-consumable and No-Buy Month is about not buying non-consumables ("It's for work!"). Luckily, I was feeling crappy, and didn't have the energy to walk inside.

I did cheat the other day at the grocery store, buying a spray bottle that cost $2.59. It is NOT consumable. I am, however, going to use it to spray vinegar instead of bleach, so at least it's a bit greenie.