A Week of Attire

So last week Rags to Stitches wrote a post that ended with a quest to wear and repurpose into new loved outfits, the items that we already own and have in our closets. The day before she'd hosted Four Flights of Fancy who had written a post about Lifestyle Dressing. Both posts made a lot of sense and got me to start thinking again about digging around in my closet and trying to actually put into use the many items of clothing that I own. In actuality there's too much in that closet, so I need to get in the habit of trying different combos and realizing whether the items are some that I LOVE (and hence should keep) or some that I just hang on to. (Plus this goes great for our two months of nothing new----I need to realize what I have!)

When I used to student teach and sub, I'd make a challenge for myself not to rewear any outfit exactly the same throughout the entirety of the month or term. (This is something Granny and I used to talk about too....infusing diversity into the classroom by looking presentable but with different combos, rather than falling into the rut of many teachers and wearing the same outfit over and over.......). Now that I'm working both jobs (and being "younger" than many expect to see in a college instructor), my professional attire has had to up the ante. Plus I got in the habit of the South and their version of professional attire (dress slacks, skirts, button-up shirts) rather than the uber-casual business wear of the PNW (fleece, a polo, and khakis anyone?!). It's interesting to see how one's style consistently evolves.....and last term I noticed myself reaching for the same standbys over and over as the term continued.

One thing I lecture on in my stress class is about how creativity is actually a stress reduction strategy.....and so rarely do we engage in as many creative endeavors as we once might have. While I need to do some planning ahead, so I don't increase my stress due to morning time constraints, I used to get a lot of creative enjoyment from mixing and matching outfit combos. SO for this next term, I'm going to attempt to come up with some new combos and really try to dive into the numerous items in my closet. Now that I'm on pinterest, I'm hitting up the outfit combos on there especially since I have similar items actually in my closet (although I'm forgetting to actually look at the inspiration board when I'm standing IN front of my closet!). You also already know of my love of What Not to Wear and I'm attempting to take items from my wardrobe and style them into similar things from the show......but just keep in mind that I'm a simple, plain jane sort of gal generally speaking.

But anyway, here's what I wore during this work week (and please forgive the distracting man cave background and horrible Iphone lighting):

MONDAY:

This is a look I got from WNTW actually, although it probably could have been better overall. I tend to not wear flats as much anymore to work, but my calves were sore this particular day. That skirt, cami, and those flats have seen so many uses that their CPU (cost per usage) has got to be close to pennies these days. Get ready to see that belt's CPU diminish to pennies too....

Cardi: clearance Sears, Cami & layering Tshirt: Target, Pencil Skirt: Penney's, Flats: Target, Belt: gifted, Jewelry: Walmart clearance & Target

TUESDAY:

I think you saw this in one of my other outfit posts but it's been one of my go-tos and I was running behind schedule this day.

Brown tweed pants: gifted Macy's, Blue ruffled tunic: resized Target, Boyfriend cardi: Target juniors, Brown suede boots: old Penneys, Chunky gold jewelry: Walmart and mom's collection

WEDNESDAY:

Simple & comfy business attire. Love argyle!

Argyle sweater: Penneys, Black pants: Thrifted Express, Black suede boots: Penneys, Same white cami underneath, Jewelry: gifted Lia Sophia

THURSDAY:

And you've seen this before too but I LOVE it! Comfy like pjs and totally work appropriate.

Black sweater dress: Dillards (South), Black sweater: Old Navy, Belt: Target clearance, same boots, Jewelry: Target & gifted Lia Sophia

FRIDAY CASUAL WORK AFTERNOON & ERRANDS:

Love this dress too and I've never worn it this way before. Usually I wear it with bare legs in summer, with brown tights/shoes/tank/belt, or with white cami & black tights/shoes/belt.

Green shirt dress: Banana Republic outlet/clearance, Cami, leggings, same belt & flats: Target, Same chunky gold jewelry

FRIDAY EVENING:

Never worn this either but liked the looks of it once put together.

Jeans: clearance Gap, Shirt: clearance Penneys, same Target shoes & cami, same gifted belt, Jewelry: Target & walmart clearance

Definitely a few new combos which made me happy! You'll see some of these pieces again, but here's hoping I'll drag some other items out of the closet that haven't seen as much use either. And have I mentioned yet that the heels on my black suede boots had gotten worn down so I took them to the local shoe repair guy to be resoled----worked out beautifully and had them back in 5 days---LOVED IT!

What are you wearing and enjoying these days?

The Weekend Post

Are you getting used to these weekend only posts? ;) I definitely have lots to say but just not as much time to write about it all. Luckily I took Friday entirely off of work since I'd already worked over my hours for the week and it made for a great three day weekend, although there's been grading of exams and prepping for this next week still going on. Hub's been in our hometown attending our high school's football game and going hunting for deer with his best friend. Beyond grading/prepping, there's been lots of enjoyment going on between the critters and I though! One of my favorite gals came over Friday evening until late, the dogs and I finally ran twice last week, and all around we've been enjoying fall. Here are some more fabulous things from this special season:

Two of my favorite indulgences of fall: hard apple cider and pumpkin beer. I've also taken a hankering to red table wines--especially the one by Middle Sister which my mom (who ironically doesn't drink alcohol) turned me on to....although it's definitely a bit more north of my typical wine price range....

Major's been spending nights cuddling up between hub and I during the week. Usually we don't let the cats sleep with us, but he's been so still (and cold!) that we've let him just hang out curled up in bed while we sleep.

The leaves are changing colors everywhere and its completely gorgeous!

I spent an afternoon mowing the lawn, reseeding some grass, raking pine needles, and putting one of our raised beds "to bed," so the chickens had the opportunity to finally free range. The dogs love following them around the yard, but man were those ladies difficult to catch this go around ;) Took me 15 minutes of chasing them before I finally had both of them back in their home!

Hub and I headed downtown to one of our funky favorite breakfast diners on Friday. It was neat to enjoy some delish breakfast together and led to a conversation about how we both, at times, wish we lived closer in. Even though we live 8 miles from my work, it takes 30-45 minutes of driving in order for me to get there and it's an hour commute for hub to get to campus downtown using public transportation. We love our rental and usually don't mind the 'burbs, but if we end up staying longer than I'm envisioning in the Portland area (it's definitely where the jobs are and hub could potentially have a grad program to go to after his undergrad degree.....) then we will probably want to re-evaluate where we are living in relation to my job and to downtown.

When hub and I got married as quickly as we did, we didn't really have the finances nor time to really think about rings. At the time I bought a simple white gold band that I wore and then added another ring about a year ago that symbolized my family when I was gifted a family ring with a unique stone from Granny. In my mind I always assumed that someday I'd get a different ring and after watching Blood Diamond (& getting into sustainability/simplicity), I've been against the idea of buying a new ring/diamond for myself. Hub and I hit some rough spatches this summer and one thing that came out of it all was my realizing how much I want us to have at least a few of the more "traditional" things, ie rings, dishes, etc that we didn't really do due to our chosen marriage route. While hub doesn't want to wear a ring (don't ask....), I've had it in mind to find a more traditional ring for myself. Yesterday I took my baby cousin (who actually just got engaged to her high school boyfriend who is training for the Army) to one of my favorite areas downtown. After looking at a couple other cutesy stores, we went into Gilt, which is a vintage and estate jewelry store. There were two rings that I equally liked but the one I chose felt more like a lifetime ring and I have to say....I LOVE IT! I love that it already has history (it's from the 1950s) and I love the swirl. While I usually try not to be too attached to things..it seriously makes me happy every time I've looked at it in the last two days......

The bedroom still isn't done but I thought I'd finally at least post a picture, as I don't know that we'll decide what we want on the walls anytime soon. I love how cozy it is and that it's a mix of new, organic, and old. The paint is low-VOC and is sort of a taupe color. The bed itself is the Sumatra II from Pottery Barn and the low footboard is perfect so hub's long legs can hang over still, the new mattresses from BedCo continue to be amazing, and we purchased the bedside tables for $20 a piece from our local Bimart. The lamps are ones I've had for years now that I got for $6 at Goodwill. The four panels of curtains are some I got on clearance at the evil store (Wal-Mart) and they were in our living room in Louisiana. Hub doesn't like extra decorative pillows so we only have regular pillows and we almost always have two down comforters. The patterned duvet is organic cotton from West Elm. Since we haven't really turned the heat on yet, I've got one regular sheet and one flannel fitted sheet on the bed currently ;)

I hate to admit that I haven't really cooked or baked in.....months. Yesterday morning I made banana french toast, and then this morning I made baked oatmeal using a recipe sent out by Two Frog Home via her newsletter.

Her Recipe is this:

Baked Apple Oatmeal

• 2 Cups Oatmeal
• 1 Cup Peeled, Cored, and Chopped Apples
• 1/3 Cup Chopped Nuts
• 1/4 teaspoon Ground Cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon Ground Allspice
• 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
• 1 1/4 teaspoon Baking Powder
• Pinch of Salt
• 1/2 Cup Unsweetened Applesauce
• 3/4 Cup Milk or Milk Alternative
• 1/3 Cup Sesame Seeds
• 3 Tablespoons Sugar

--Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9" Pie Plate
--Combine all the ingredients in a bowl, mixing until thoroughly combined and well moistened.
--Pour and spread into prepared pie plate. Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, the oatmeal will have puffed and be browned on the edge.
--Serve with extra milk/milk

I substituted dried cranberries and dried cherries for the apples, flaxseed for the sesame seeds, and I used shelled sunflower seeds for the nuts. It was a bit drier than other varieties I've tried but I liked that this version doesn't use eggs, and I ate it with organic vanilla yogurt so it was great!

 

The dogs have been pretty cooped up in the house and yard the last few weeks since we've been so busy so this weekend not only did I make sure to run them, but they got to go on several car rides. We drove the back farm roads looking for farms that would have decorative gourds this afternoon and then made a couple other errands the last two days. They always LOVE IT!

And I'm stoked because today I got to indulge in one of my favorite fall looks. :) Ballet slippers, beat up old jeans, tank, hoodie, and my poofy down vest.

LOVING FALL and hoping you are too!

It's All About Presentation

So if you know me really and truly, then you know that I've had a secret love affair for YEARS with the BBC and TLC versions of What Not to Wear (WNTW). Now while I will readily admit that I am definitely not Ms Fashionista (in fact there is much that is IN fashion that I think is ridiculous to spend money on) and while I also have issues with how fashion influences our throw-away-focused society, I have to say that I definitely think that how an individual dresses oneself can say a lot about him/her.

The interactions that I have with many individuals in my professional roles are sometimes influenced by whatever I am wearing. For example, when I am dressed in a professional manner (think pencil skirt and button-up shirt), I definitely receive more respect from fellow coworkers and from my students. In the past, I have noticed times when I have received better service while traveling and in other public situations based on what my appearance conveyed. I also can say from additional personal experience that what I wear on any given day generally is reflective of my mood and/or assists in changing that mood. For example, heels give me better posture, help make me feel more assertive, and thus convey more confidence.

The PNW (Pacific NorthWest) is known for its laid back attire, ie cargo khakis can be considered dressy here and fleece is in fashion no matter the season. We tend to think casual is a good thing and we don't hold it against people for showing off their awesome tattoos and piercings.  In the heart of my public health grad program and my focus on a life of simplicity, I wore less make-up and limited my wardrobe to what was always functional and what was needed. BUT the real South is a much different place in terms of a woman's presentation and frequently a woman is judged on her appearance. From my time in the South and in my adjustment to marriage, I definitely returned to putting more time in with my appearance, making sure to "put my face on" almost every.single.day, and taking care to select work appropriate attire which conveyed both professionalism and a feminine touch. Thus fashion in a sense has been its own transition for me after moving back from the South, and even though I'm back in our great PNW I'm not really noticing too much of a deviation from the professional dress standards that I adopted from the South (especially since they follow "the rules" of WNTW--double win!). As much as I really do hate to say it, one's appearance definitely sends a message to the individuals s/he interacts with and it does have the ability to impact the initial assumption that is created. In my professional role, I always want the initial perception to be a positive one, so to me putting in time to convey a message of professionalism is something that I feel to be important.

However, I definitely don't feel like a put-together-look has to be expensive. I will readily admit that my two go-to stores for YEARS (for work clothes especially) have been Target and JC Penney (and in rural Louisiana, they were my only real options anyway), although I'm a huge fan of finding JCrew style in their racks. ;) Moving back has had additional perks, as during the last few weeks, my mother has altered some of my clothes to better fit my body--LOVE THIS and I owe her immense gratitude.

Additionally, one thing clothing wise that I am absolutely loving about being back in the PNW is the fabulous availability of thrift and second-hand stores. Thrift stores in our rural location in the South never were that great and so it's been nice to be back in the land of reuse, where even "new" clothes can help save the pocket book and the environment. (And if I hit the downtown ones, I actually CAN find JCrew.....) Another thing I always love is when any of my friends of a similar size clean out closets....some of my most loved items have been acquired via someone else. ;) Thus I'm sure you can imagine how on cloud nine I was when two weeks ago I finally hit up the local Goodwill and picked up some immense steals:

Awesome (H&M) skirt for work: $4.99

PERFECTLY tailored work pants (Express) aka my butt has never looked so fabulous: $7.99

Black heeled patent shoes: $4.99 each

(Although I will totally admit that the pair on the left, while it was the EXACT shoe I've been searching for throughout the last 3 months, was at Goodwill for the simple reason that it rubs feet raw....so they've been relegated out of the closet....at least it's only $4.99 down and I still got two different wears out of them.....)

And this is also a pair of my most recent fab finds via my gal Heather who hosted a blog sale of her cast offs this summer and allowed me to scoop up this comfortable and amazing pair for a fraction of the price brand-new. (Plus the dogs LOVED smelling their old doggie friends via the package when it arrived!) I really love her idea of hosting a sale like this via the blog, if you want to see how she did it, you can find it here.

Since I'm such a fan of saving the greens (both the dollars and the Earth), anything I no longer wear I ALWAYS either pass on to someone else or donate to Goodwill, as long as it still has life left in it. It's incredibly rare that I throw clothes out and in the few moments that I do (aka ratty underwear or a totally stained tank), I still feel a sense of guilt.

Ironically this entire post originated in a mad closet organization session I launched on Labor Day, where hub had the immense joy (sarcasm) of watching me try on almost every.single.item in my closet and assist me in deciding if it looked good, bad, or tolerable. If I didn't love it or hadn't worn it, it either got put in the "mom-please-alter" pile or the donation pile (minus a few extreme winter items). The whole clean out process was good because I realized I have a lot more than I thought I did, I took stock of what I do have and developed some new combinations, and I made sure that whatever is in my closet is actually realistic for both my work and/or personal life. Now its all organized and it makes getting ready for work a more pleasant experience.

And since you've made it this far in the post, I'll let you in on a little fashion happiness secret:

one of Roxi's most-favorite-things-ever is "assisting" me with dressing for work in the morning. Every morning when I head into "my" room and open the closet to decide what to wear, Roxi comes scampering alongside with her tail a-waggin' and her big ol' smile. I know when she really approves of something when she flops down on her back and begs for a tummy scratch---that most definitely means the outfit is a keeper. ;) She (and a big cup of espresso) make getting dressed in the mornings a pretty entertaining experience! (And yes, if I could loan her out to put a smile on everyone's face, I most definitely would!)

(Two much older but similar posts I've written on clothes can be found here and here.)

So what about you---do you think fashion matters? Do you have a go-to outfit that you fall back on every time?

Hope you have been enjoying a great week and here's to a great weekend!

Portland's Better Living Show

The hub and I have been hearing the radio ads for the Portland Better Living Show aka Sustainable NW, so we had decided to head on over to the Expo Center today to check it out. You can't beat free admission and a wealth of free information from local resources and vendors. We did pay $8 for parking as it would have cost more for us to take public transport, but we came home with lots of great info and samples.

Six long rows of booths set up just like this and this one was one of hub's favorite as they had a lime plant for sale from One Green World. :) Also on display were concept and available hybrid and electric vehicles from Ford, Lincoln, Toyota, and the Smart Car. We watched a 20 minute presentation from OSU's Extension Services department on worm farms/composting and got some of our final questions answered in order to finalize our bins hub started a year ago. I finally saw what a G Diaper actually looks like---pretty cool in comparison to the old school cloth and pin set! We checked out some amazing products in the live sustainable home built and displayed in the middle of the venue.

Some of the other awesome booths:
--We were given a free tote bag by NW Natural
--Talked to Community Warehouse about donating excess furniture and goods for low income individuals to set up homes for free
--Provided a lil bag of free compost and seeds by Recology
--Saw amazing leaf artwork and design by Sage Designs
--Chatted with a guy about donating/disposing of household construction projects via The Rebuilding Center
--Got postcards from Metro to send out to stop junk mail
--Learned about Oregon Wild protecting Oregon's wilderness
--Picked up free recipes from Northwest Veg
--Tasted amazing samples from Dave's Killer Bread
--Were given a free EarthPot marigold
--Observed a new concept for raised beds using GreenBed
--Entered to win a wine tasting trip via Willamette Valley Vineyards
--Bought a reduced price Chinook Book......

....among many, many other amazing venues and resources.

Definitely a great re-introduction to the wonderful resources available here in our green Pacific Northwest!

New to Us Finds!

The hub and I have been on the look out for a new to us dryer. I'm sure I've mentioned that the last set we had was purchased for $100 from another soldier's wife. The set was pretty old but for $100 they definitely served us well! Although the last year, the dryer suffered from an extreme shriek and eventually the door was held shut by applications of duct tape. ;) We attempted to "door prize" purchase a new energy efficient set via the after Christmas sales, but didn't make it in time to Sears (apparently 4am wasn't early enough!!). So we've soldiered through with the old set and decided we'd keep our eye out on craigslist for a new dryer once we'd returned.

Well, the hub was talking about craigslist as we laid in bed waking up yesterday morning, so for the first time I set up and searched using the craigslist app on my Iphone....and what do you know....an unmatched but fairly new washer and dryer set for sale $350 for the both and within a 10 minute drive of our home. Hub put in the phone call and within an hour we drove over to check them out! The gentleman selling them had several other appliances for sale and is an appliance repair man by trade....he guarantees his used appliances for up to two months, switched out the plug on the dryer to the one we'd need for this older home (for free), taught us a few basic fixes that he gets a lot of calls on, AND told us where we can drop off (and get paid for) the old washer and dryer set.  A deal or what?! Needless to say, our new washer and dryer are amazing....and I don't know that we've ever enjoyed catching up on laundry as much as we have the last two days! Did I mention they both have increased energy efficiency features as well?!

Our second awesome find so far happened when we stopped off at Goodwill to look for some used furniture (we're in the market for a buffet/liquor cabinet option, a solid desk, and an entry way table......). One of the things I always used to look at in thrift stores/Goodwill was the art selection....and in this particular store we happened upon two faux paintings of Italy (which was where hub was stationed originally when he joined the Army). $11 later and we now have two decent pieces of "art" that hold meaning for the hub. LOVE IT!

Between craigslist and the major availability of Goodwill and thrift stores around here I have no doubt that we'll score some more great deals on the other items on the list.

The other awesomeness about the visit to Goodwill was that I asked the gentleman at the front door to verify that Goodwill accepts functioning and broken electronics for re-use/recycling. His response was that indeed they do and in fact, it's a necessity to keep electronics out of the landfill as harmful chemicals can easily leach into the environment.....SO GOOD TO BE BACK IN OREGON!!!!!

House Tour #2: Kitchen Area

THE KITCHEN IS THE HEART OF THE HOME

No matter what, the kitchen always tends to be the heart of the home. Regardless of how comfortable the living room, everyone congregates within our kitchen and it's adjoining area. In this photo you can see our pantry area, fridge (with photos & items of home, recipes, and a few restaurant menus), and large counter space. The candles and African violet are actually left overs from friends that moved, as well as two other plants not pictured. Top of the fridge has some glass storage containers (thrift store finds), a large thermos for hub's work, and usually bones for the dogs. In the background is the entryway to our home.

I'm not a huge fan of cluttered counter tops, but unfortunately that's how the back corner of our kitchen survives: bamboo and glass cutting boards, knives, microwave, bread basket on top of microwave, and well, booze. Right of the stove, utensils in the holder painted 5 years ago by my nephew and an old strainer which is our fruit basket. To the left of the sink we place a towel for drying dishes washed by hand. On the stove, you see an espresso maker (Italian style) and a pan of brownies (thanks hub!).

One of my favorites things about this space is being able to look out the huge window. Two stools up to the counter, the hand-me-down desk in the corner (which will get passed on when we're back home with my old desk), the bench my dad made for an apartment (storing our breadmaker & crock pot), and the futon (via hub's friend) finish off this space and make a comfortable area for company in the kitchen. The drapery rods are some that have moved with me from two different apartments and happen to match the hardware in this house perfectly.

These last pictures demonstrate some of the dog areas. To the left of the futon, their water bowl. To the right of the futon is a large outdoor/indoor rug to catch dirty paws that we can't wipe in time, their leashes hanging on the wall, and a basket that holds their toys and old towels for said paw wiping. ;)

House Tour #1: Guest Room

I've been spending the afternoon thinking about how happy I am that we have reached a comfort level with our home. Sure there are little decor items we'd still like to do, but for the most part things are how we intend to have them and the furniture is perfect for our needs for the future. I've spent part of the afternoon rounding up pictures of the house and looking through home magazines and blogs. Our home will never be designed to a T but it's incredibly perfect for us, and still with enough blank spaces to allow us to add artwork that has meaning to us down the road. SO I thought I'd share some photos and details with all of you over the next week :)

"If you want to make a difference on the planet, this is it: Have nothing in your home or life that you do not know to be useful, believe to be beautiful or know that you will strive to keep in your life forever."

--Natalie "Alabama" Chanin

 GUEST ROOM

 Those of you that have followed this blog for years probably recognize most of everything that is in this first photo. The mattresses are slightly smaller as now we have the full that came from the neighbors in exchange for our queen. The duvet is one my mom and I made out of two old sheets and the blankets are some I've had for years. The sheets are organic cotton. The chair used as an end table is now blue and the other is an original from my grandparents-sister-me. The photo on the table is courtesy of my brother and under it is Lady's favorite sleeping spot--right between my old rabbit fur slippers from my family in Argentina! The print above the bed is my favorite painting from the father of a childhood friend. The lamp on the left was from Granny for my first apartment and the lamp on the right is part of a set picked up at a thrift store.

The chest of drawers and shelf in this photo are from my childhood. My parents had them custom made when they were stationed in the Philippines and I recently repainted them dark brown and modernized the hardware. The shelves hold a few token travel items and a part of our varied books, while the drawers have work-out gear and undergarments. The clock on the wall is from my parents house, the rug was a Granny gift for an apartment, and the curtains were a set I bought for our living room here. 

 The closet is probably the messiest part of this room but the husband and I keep separate closets and this is mine. We removed the doors about six months back for easier access. We have the spare TV (from my coworker who moved) in there so any guests can watch a movie. You can see my shoe basket and a couple other boxes I have stored as well. ;) On the wall is my cork board with a few inspirational items and then push pins which hold up necklaces and my hook earrings go into the corkboard on the top. (I got this idea from a magazine a long time ago. You can also use push pins to hang hook earrings on if you need more room.)

And this is from the guest room looking out which hopefully will bring a smile to your face as its an example of decorating compromise. My husband and I have battled over his Kramer poster since we moved in together and I finally can see the humor in having it greet our guests on the way to the spare bedroom. (Where they can be sure to be greeted by interested dogs as well.....) :)

Wednesday Happiness

Wednesdays used to be my favorite day of the week because you're halfway through. So I thought I'd share some happier things:

My lovely sister found this great idea of making totes out of plastic bags. She's completed two and has requests for many more, but what a great concept of reusing those pesky plastic bags that don't hold very much into something that actually can carry quite a bit. I've quite enjoyed the stories of my youngest nephew in that family telling his mom about everything that could be put in one of those bags and how deep to make it so that it could carry even more. Here is a picture from when she was working on the second one:

We had a storm pass through here last night. While I might get tired of the rain at the end of our months long rainy season, I always love the beginning of the rainy season. The rain and wind whipping around has a sense of renewal, a sense of cleaning the Earth off for the coming year. Another comforting piece of this for me is that five years ago one of my high school best friends sent me a bamboo wind chime. That wind chime has followed me to almost every residence I've been in since then, and I have memories of many nights of hearing the bamboo chime clanging throughout the midst of a storm (much to my sister's dismay one night). However the chime itself has become a comforting sound to me...that regardless of where I am and how many changes I make there is a natural ebb and flow and consistency within it all. In recent years I've had to repair the chime twice, but I should still be able to get some decent life out of it yet.

Last night I finally finished my midterms and am now heading into the downhill wind up of papers and presentations. However the best part of the school factor is that a fellow friend/colleague and I met with a major Oregon environmental organization yesterday about potentially interning with them and several projects were offered to us as possibilities. This organization is one that I have been following and involved with on the peripheral for over a year now. They focus on many of the issues that I feel are most important and it would be an incredible opportunity to get to work with them!
What are some of your Wednesday happy things?

Another Weekend Away

As much as I love these weekends away without Internet, it really does leave a major pile of "to-dos" for when I return home. This weekend was spent with my grandmother at the beach and was incredibly relaxing and worthwhile. The older she gets, the more I cherish the moments with her and the wisdom she instills in me. One of my aunts and cousins came over on Sunday evening and it was great just spending time catching up.

I spent several hours on Saturday and Sunday attempting to sand down an old desk that I've had in storage over at the beach house. The desk was originally made by the boyfriend of my granny's sister. It was used by my father when he was younger, my sister, and finally was passed onto me when my granny was clearing out her house after my grandfather's passing. The desk itself is large with wonderful shelves but it also makes it a challenge when it comes to removing paint. I had originally attempted to strip the 2-3 coats of paint and finish but the stripping agent just created a huge mess. Not to mention I kept thinking of how horribly toxic the fumes and the thick liquid are for my health, and what to do with all the gunk once I'd stripped it? So instead I pulled out Dad's sander and spent two days just sanding down to the stain. Sometime in the next month or two before we close the house for the winter, I'll need to go back and do the finishing sanding so that I can finally bring the desk to my house for usage.

As I was sanding, I couldn't help but look up in awe at the beautiful view we have from the ridge of the hill the beach house resides on. Even when it was pouring down rain, I was still protected in the garage, surrounded by years of past projects and the numerous tools that were held in the hands of many of the industrious men in my family. I saw the shelf Dad created me for a previous apartment made from the loft bed he'd made for my dorm room. I saw the saw and lathe used by my brother to make beautiful gifts for family. I remembered years of watching my brother, father, and grandfather cut, nail, screw, measure, etc in order to add on rooms to the house and remodel what had previously existed. I re-lived helping Dad on one of his most recent projects. And with my hands stuck in Poppa's gloves, I felt protection from the spiders crawling around as I searched for the tools I needed on his benches. :-) But really most importantly, I felt so glad that while I still like my dangly earrings and shiny shoes, I am also happy to use a hammer, haul wood inside, and sand for hours in order to get the result I desire.

On the drive back this afternoon, I started thinking......about how strange it would be to not know how to do some of those things. I feel there is MUCH to learn about how to survive off the land and how to really get by....but I feel so grateful for the things that I do know, for the experiences I've had in my life, for the experiences taught to me by all four of my grandparents. And I have to wonder what it is like for individuals who have grown up never having any of those experiences. What is it like to not know how to catch a fish? What is it like to not know how to make a birdhouse or to cut a piece of wood? What is it like to not have seen a dead deer, or to have never picked berries, or made jam, or chopped wood? What is it like to have missed out on so much.....of self-sufficiency and existence?

Some would argue that we don't need to know how to do those things anymore, that technology will solve all our problems, etc etc. But how incredible to feel that connection to our history and to recognize that technology or not, sometimes it's just easier or more fulfilling to do it for one's self.....and to actually recognize the worth of the thing being created, produced, or consumed.

Eco-Fashion?

Wow-what a response to yesterday's posting! Thanks for all the feedback!

In yesterday's posting, I mentioned "not dressing like the typical environmentalist." Although now that "green" has become the new thing, I think there are many more individuals who dress in a more earth friendly manner without wearing burlap or Birkenstocks. There's nothing wrong with either of those in my mind however. One thing that I have found to be interesting though is that frequently over the last year, I have felt that my commitment to the planet has been questioned by the way I put together the outfits that I wear.

I have mentioned on this blog before that one of my favorite shows is What Not to Wear, even though I recognize that keeping up with fashion can be detrimental to the Earth. I do believe that we can and should reuse, recycle, and repurpose old garments into new however (I am always amazed at the individuals who can repurpose old garments into the most stylish new ones), and I am waiting for the day when true recycling of fabrics becomes commonplace. However I truly believe you can be both "green" and stylish, and I take pride in trying to look as put together as possible. (Although there's always a day for sweatshirts and worn-out jeans too...)

As a child, I grew up visiting thrift stores and wearing some hand-me downs from various relatives. Wearing second-hand goods has always been a way of life. Thus it should be no surprise that at least 35% of my clothes are previously used. I also believe in finding a good bargain when I shop for new clothes-although I will occasionally splurge on a garment or two. As previous posts have demonstrated, I also believe in extending the life of the items that I do own. Thus I have altered tanks and shirts to fit my now slimmer frame. I use the precautionary method of duct-tape on the inside of my flats so that my toe nails can't poke through. I sew up small rips, replace buttons, and occasionally will dye clothes to extend their life. And when it's all said and done, I will then pass on what I no longer wear to others and for resale. (Or with the case of my sad hole-y underwear, I will cut them up for quilt fabric scraps.)

In the last 4 months, I have been the recipient of several cast offs from my cousin and two friends that are near my same size. I especially love this type of free shopping!

One of the biggest changes that the simplicity movement instilled in me was teaching me to pare down the clothes that I own however, and to refrain from buying beyond what is needed (although I do still struggle with this from time to time). So while I have a couple trendy pieces, the majority of what I own mixes and matches with most everything else. Moving to the city also made me invest in flats (of which I've fallen in love with neutral ballet flats) that go with any outfit, are easy to pack, and can be worn for miles and miles of city walking. The other key thing I focus on (especially being from the PNW) is layering. Layering to me is represented by a stack of tanks and a stack of sweaters, as they go with just about anything.

However beyond paring down and focusing on versatile pieces, the best change has come in my ability to pack. For most trips, I can now make it with just a back pack. All it takes is a pair of pjs (boxers and a cami), a pair of jeans, a couple tanks, 1-2 sweaters, a casual dress or skirt, neutral flats, enough undies and 2 bras, a sweatshirt, my cosmetics bag, a good book, and maybe some running shorts and shoes for hiking. Stuff it all into a stow away back pack and you're good to go.

So just to prove my point, here are some examples of normal outfits to me:

This is something I would wear to class or just out and about during the week. The jeans (Banana Republic and very figure flattering) and sweater are from Goodwill. The embellished tank underneath was something my mom picked up (I believe it was cheap and probably not eco-friendly from Ross). The shoes are gold ballet flats that go with anything, have been duct taped, and have many physical miles on them.

This is something I would wear to work. The sweater was given to me about 3 years ago from my best friend once she was tired of wearing it. The tank underneath I bought 3 years ago also and was taken in this winter to fit better. The skirt is linen (a more natural fiber) and is from a eco-friendly brand I picked up at Ross. The shoes are the same as above.

This is something I would wear out and about, although I wore it to church on Sunday also. The tank underneath I got at Goodwill. The dress was a recent freebie from a friend. And the shoes: revert to the first outfit-just a different color and with even more miles.

So if you keep in good shape and use for years what you do buy new, if you swap clothes with family and friends, if you re-use and repurpose the garments that are already in existence, and if you clean them all in a more earth-friendly matter, then I really believe you can be green with style.

Dump Vs. Charity/Reuse

This morning while Dad and I were out changing my headlight (which thankfully on newer cars you only have to change the bulb rather than the entire lightbox!), I watched our neighbor from across the street begin to load the back of his F350 truck with a bunch of stuff from the side of his house. Included in the load were items such as: plastic children's toys (kitchens and such), a non-broken full length mirror, pieces of usable lumber, a folding chair, etc. Amongst that he did have "junk": odds and ends of scraps, etc (although even junk can be reused). Usually I would have bitten my tongue and just spent the day with negative thoughts ruminating in my brain about how much people waste. However I developed the courage to ask him, "Are you taking all of that to the dump?". His response was to the affirmative, which therefore promoted me to ask, "Why don't you take it to Goodwill instead?". And of course his response was that it was ALL junk! Sigh.

Now I had several options at this point. One of which could have included me going into a tirade and trying to pursade him into believing that he was contributing to a very negative problem of our society. However this is a gentleman who at one time had a "Sierra Club Sucks" sticker on the back of his truck window and I did not believe that anything I tried to say would sway him anyway. The point is that it still disheartens me to again see how often in our society we are a "one time use" society. We buy something and when we are done with it or a piece breaks, we throw the whole thing away. I understand at the same time that so many of our electronics and other items are difficult to fix or just as expensive to fix one part than to buy a new item. A perfect example of this occured within my own family within the last few days.

My brother called my father about two days ago and reported that his fridge was on the fritz. Dad was going to drive up to Salem to help him with replacing the fridge, but a wonderful thing happened. My sister-in-law was discussing the issue with someone at her work and a gentleman who works there was able to help them load the fridge and take it to a repair/recycle shop. The shop then told my brother that for only $30 they would take a look at the fridge and diagnose the problem before disposing of it. However they thought it might take a few days. So my brother and his wife headed for the beach house to spend an evening away and to get an extra mini-fridge we have in storage there, so they could keep some goods cold before possibly having a new or fixed fridge. On their way to the coast, they received a call. The original fridge was fixed and ready for pick up, and the cost of the repair was $54. How fabulous that instead of immediately buying a new item, this gentleman from my sister-in-law's work was able instead to help them with having it fixed! A huge financial savings for them AND a huge savings for the environment!

There is a current advertisement on the TV that just irks me and it relates to this concept of use and discard. I can't remember who the commercial is by (maybe Home Depot or something) but it shows a woman humorously demonstrating to her husband that they "need" a new fridge. However their "need" is all because she wants a water dispenser in the door of the fridge and not because the fridge actually needs to be replaced. Just another example of how current marketing practices encourage the habitat of buying for our wants, not because of our needs AND of our disposing of goods that still have use instead of really using an item for its entire lifetime before discarding it.

I hope that at some point with all of our high-tech knowledge, we can develop a manner in which to recycle all components of our items (including stoves, fridges, clocks, etc). One would think that we should be able to re-use or recycle about 75% or more of all of these items, even to produce new items for consumption. If we could take old items (which have no more use) and turn them into new items, the landfills would greatly benefit and I suppose even marketing would benefit as well. The improvement needs to come from consumer awareness and from consumers pushing for increased changes within the consumption, reduction, and recycling realms. My fear though, and one that I see every day through my interactions with the majority of my community members where I currently live, is that many individuals just do not care. As someone who overly cares, I just cannot fathom how people cannot care about the future of the environment, the future of their children, and even the potential health impacts that many of our products and gadgets have upon ourselves. Is it possible to change people into caring individuals? That I suppose is my question of the day.

May you each have a fabulous day and enjoyment of your weekend!