I'll Show You Mine if You Show Me Yours, or, The Crap That Lives In My Purse.

I've seen posts like this all over the Blogosphere lately, so I'm finally jumping on the bandwagon. I wish I remembered where I'd seen them all so I could give credit where credit is due. If you know, please email me so I can edit this to include those bloggers!

Exhibit A:
My Gap handbag I got on sale for $16.99 a few weeks ago. Looks innocent enough, right? Yeah, well, let's just say looks can be deceiving, people.

Exhibit B: This is me. Apparently.


In true Ally Sheedy/Breakfast Club fashion, I dumped all its contents onto the living room floor. Then I took photos of things in small groups. However, please note that not surprisingly, no makeup, fun headbands, or Capn' Crunch cereal were found in my purse.

In no particular order, here is everything that was/is in my bag.

1.) About 22 pieces of UNused Kleenex. Because it would be too easy to keep it in its handy little travel pack.

2.) New package of Heartgard for Monster. I don't accept plastic shopping bags, so sometimes I just stuff things in my purse.

3.) New package of Frontline for Monster. Got 1 vial free. Yay! I never get anything free! Well, I didn't. My dog did.

1.) Bag of almonds for me. Been using same Ziploc for them for entirely too long. Because I'm green. Or just gross, your call.

2.) Animal crackers, one pack per hooligan. Never ever leave home without sustenance for kiddos. And they have to be exactly the same, or it might cause World War III.

3.) Annie's fruity bunnies. The girls' favorite snack. One I can feel sorta good about. Maybe.

4.) Think Thin protein bar. My favorite meal on-the-go.

1.) Envirosax reusable pink bunny shopping bag. Holds up to 44 lbs. of stuff. Always keep one balled up in my purse.

2.) Purple reusable produce bag from Whole Foods. Always keep one in my purse.

3.) Small pack of Hello Kitty wipes. Because my kids had to have 'em & because Hello Kitty rocks.

4.) Pink composition book. For all the stuff I'm not writing or should be writing down.

5.) The Alchemist by Paulo Coelo. Haven't started reading it yet. Never be without reading material.

6.) Box of Altoids. Because I have halitosis. Or diarrhea of the mouth. Or something. I stink.

7.) Boxes of crayons from Nordstrom's Cafe. I think they get thrown away (after use) otherwise, so we bring them home. Like we need more crayons around here.

Misc. papers:

1.) Agenda from my most recent PJ Library Committee meeting with my notes scribbled all over it.

2.) Yellow menu from Great Harvest Bread. Because I absolutely need more carbs in my life.

3.) Black sunglasses case from Ann Taylor Loft.

4.) ASPCA brochure: 101 Things You Didn't Know Could Harm Your Pet. Because I love my doggie (and animals in general) and support the organization.

5.) PJ Library enrollment brochure so I can stalk Jews people while I'm on the go.

6.) Small, white bullet-shaped Natracare tampon. (under the sunglasses case) Because even when I'm in the red, I'm still green. But not like all Christmas-y, because I'm a Jew and we do Hanukkah over here.

7.) Flyer and hand-written notes from a workshop we recently attended where Susan Stiffelman spoke about "Parenting Without Power Struggles." One of my children who shall remain nameless is the reason we attended said conference. Hint: her name begins with "A." But I'm not saying anything more.

8.) Ginormous vet bill receipt for grooming and labs for Monster. But bonus-- a rebate form for the Heartgard! I can get 12 whole dollars back! Woohoo!

9.) Miscellaneous note/list of stuff I need to do but haven't yet. Oy vey.

1.) Pens--six of them. Because somehow, even with that many in my purse, I'm always digging for and unable to find one when I most need it.

2.) Random Hello Kitty band-aid. Because boo boo's happen. A lot. And only something with that god forsaken cat on it Hello Kitty can stop the fake tears.

3.) My regular key chain and my spare car key chain. Because it really makes sense to drive around with my spare key in case I lock myself out of my car.

4.) Contact lens case.

5.) Stupid Sprint cell phone. That doesn't give me any service in my own house.

6.) Small tube of Cetaphil hand lotion.

7.) Small bottle of hand sanitizer.

8.) Box of Shut The Hell Up gum. Just because I liked the box. 12 kinds of awesome, people.

9.) Hobo wallet from my BFF Shelly Kramer. It's da bomb diggity. And she has one just like it.

10.) Misc. hair clips/accessories including Hello Kitty ponytail holder. Because in case it's not obvious, we like that chic. I mean cat.

11.) Old bottle of Cymbalta which is now filled with various vitamins, Advil, and Pepcid for all the heartburn my kids give me.

12.) Plastic witch finger with red nail polish on that I was instructed to hold onto because someone else was too lazy tired busy to hold it herself.

So let's see what's in YOUR bag!

Introducing Our New Green Stamp of Approval, or, A Fun Button I Know You'll Want to Use in Your Own GREEN Post!

Deb over at Menopausal New Mom and I have been getting our GREEN on a lot lately, and Deb decided we should make our features a semi-regular thing. Lee of Road Trips For Wine and  Observe and Distort was kind enough to design this cute little button just for us. So from now on whenever you see it, you'll know a product, idea, or company, etc. has our official Green Stamp of Approval and you can trust that we've already done the homework for you. Should you decide to do your own green post, please feel free to nab this button and link up with us! Already Tracie over at Stir-Fry Awesomeness has done her green deed du jour. Please head over to her place to see her gettin' all Martha Stewart what she's been up to. Deb over at Menopausal New Mom has gone green by giving new life to old items, so head over there for her practical and easy green tips.

This weekend the girls and I went GREEN by perusing a local farmer's market on Saturday morning, where we scored some homemade rhubarb and strawberry preserves, pasta, arugula, and raw honey, among other things.

(for those of you in KC, we visited the Old Overland Park Farmer's Market at 80th & Metcalf)

It's GREEN to shop local and support nearby farmers. The produce is fresher since it's bypassing the grocery store, and therefore it lasts longer. Straight to you from the farm. I was quite pleased to see it was crowded (we don't often go, but I intend to make this a habit and teach my girls as we go along) and I lingered as long as the girls would allow me. Afterwards we made a quick stop at Whole Foods (another thing I'm making a habit of)---oh how I love that store! I used the arugula in a salad with some pears, pecans, and parmesan cheese. It was delightful! I broiled salmon to go with the spinach lemon herb pasta---delish! It feels incredible to eat things that are so fresh, natural, and good for us.

Later we passed something that brought a huge smile to my face--our local Ripple Glass collection dumpster. It was overflowing! I got about 12 kinds of verklempt and had to stop for the photo op. Here in KC, our recycling crews will not take our glass from the curb due to the danger involved--which means many people are just throwing it in their garbage cans. Fortunately Ripple Glass has given us a solution. They have set up these big purple beauties everywhere (read: you have no excuse, everyone can find one that's convenient) and you can drop your empty wine beer glass bottles, jars, etc.off there.

(for those in KC, this is the location in Corinth at 83rd & Mission, but there are many others!)

Have you done something GREEN lately that warrants borrowing our awesome button? Let us know! Better yet, write your own post about it and link up!

Happy Earth Day! What Kind of Bagger Are You? Take My Poll, Too! --->

Last week Deb over at Menopausal New Mom wrote about how many plastic bags we consume each year---500 BILLION. If you missed this mind-boggling post, please check it out here, it's a must-read. It was she who inspired me to go incognito and hide out in my minivan in various grocery store parking lots over the last few days. I put Laurie Berkner on my iPod to distract the girls, but Abby looked at me quizzically as I tried to discreetly lower my window every few seconds to get a shot, "Mommy, why are you taking pictures of people?" "Because Mommy is being sneaky," I told her. They laughed and laughed as my heart rate shot up every time I thought someone was noticing me and what I was doing.***and yes, these are all real photos I took here in my hometown over the last week.***

But I have to know. Be honest, now! (& please take my poll ---> )


Are you a (1) Everything But the Cases of Sugary Soda Goes in a Plastic Bag Bagger?

(and you in your cute lil' Volvo-- don't be tryin' to tell me you can't afford to buy some reusable bags)

Are you a (2) Two Plastic Bags Bagger?

(C'mon Mr. Manly Man. Man Up Already and Get Some ReusaBALLS!)

Are you a (3) I Don't Even Try To Hide It, I Even Enter The Store Without Reusable Bags Bagger?

(so did you leave 'em in the car & you're too lazy to go back, or do you seriously not own any of your own bags?)

Are you a (4) I Even Carry My Craptastic Subway Sammie in a Single Plastic Bag Bagger?

(or Exhibit B, just your regular groceries in a single bag? C'mon. COME ON.)

(Seriously---do you honestly need that ONE bag?)

,

Or are you a (5) This Bag Is Da Bomb Because It Speaks For Me Kind of Bagger?

This is my personal reusable bag and several months ago I gave away one just like it. But I'm not giving anything away today because I want you to get off your fannies and JUST DO IT already. Get your own. Nag your friends to get their own. Give them as gifts along with some Green cleansers, reusable chamois, etc.

I went to Hy Vee in Mission (a local grocery store) and spoke with one of the managers, Robert. I showed him these and even gave him the purple one to keep:

(reusable produce bags I bought at Whole Foods)

I was wearing my Earth Day t-shirt, had a cart with my reusable bags & groceries inside, my Shatto milk in glass bottles, etc. I told him that as a Green Gal, I'd love to see his store selling these right along with their reusable shopping bags. I added that Whole Foods is doing it and that they've also done away with plastic bags. He didn't have much to say, but was very nice and seemed enthusiastic. The whole time in my head I was thinking about Deb's post where she confronted the manager about the litter in his parking lot. "TAWANDA!" I thought.

I am taking responsibility. I am demanding change. I'm going to keep doing it until it happens.

I encourage you to join me.

Happy Earth Day. Let's change the world together. You can also go to Deb's blog today because she's hosting another phenomenal GO GREEN GIVEAWAY---check it out!

Edited to add: I stash my reusables everywhere--the car, by my back door to the garage, in my purse, etc. so I'm rarely without. If I forget them, my "punishment" is to buy a new bag or two wherever I am shopping. I have quite a collection and have put some in The Father Load's car as well.