Megan Tietz :: SortaCrunchy

WFMW: Reusable Produce Bags

We are just about halfway through Crunchy Domestic Goddess's Ditch the Disposables Challenge, and I have to tell you - this has been so much fun!  When I shared my list of disposable items I wanted to ditch, I confessed that I have problems remembering to bring the shopping bags into the grocery store with me.  Well, I got that problem corrected by creating a little system for myself: I keep them in the trunk of my car now (rather than in the house . . . I mean, really, what kind of sense did that make?), and right after I buckle AJ into her seat before we roll out for the grocery store, I pop the trunk, get the bags out, and put them in the passenger seat on top of my purse.  No more forgetting my grocery bags!

Once I started using my grocery bags, I really got the urge to try out the reusable produce bags I had been seeing.  I looked and looked and kept coming back to these beautiful bags from Etsy shop (and new SC sponsor!) Love For Earth:

Not only does Kara of Love For Earth stock many color choices and fun options for her produce bags, she describes each product with such charm and humor that I just had to find out more.  She graciously agreed to partner with me in my disposable ditching adventures and sent me a set of bags (I chose green!) to help me on my path to a more waste-free home.

Y'all.  I have used these twice now and I LOVE THEM.  I was telling Kara over the weekend that I don't know how I ever lived without them.  I cannot tell you how much NICER they are to use than the wimpy, crinkly, unreliable plastic bags in the produce section.  And aren't the plastic ones such a pain to open?  Particularly when you have a grabby, wormy squirmy toddler who will find a way to unbuckle her cart seat belt and launch herself out if you dare to be preoccupied with more pressing matters.

And I am the only one who manages to get the sweet potato with the hidden claw that waits until my back is turned and then slices open the plastic produce bag so that when I lift the bag to place it on the checker's counter, the wily sweet potato and all of his buddies go free-falling to freedom?

Yeah.  That's not happening with these pretty bags.  All produce will find itself neatly and stylishly contained - at the store and in the fridge drawer.

Here they are in action in my own kitchen:

Look at those ribbon closures.  SO DAINTY, right?  These are just luxury, hands-down.  A nice little treat to reward yourself for buying fresh fruits and veggies.  BONUS?  One baby step closer to a waste-free home.

Oh, this poor guy.  He only WISHES he had been so lucky as to find escape from his fate by busting loose from a plastic produce bag:

What can I say?  She loves an avocado.

Oh yes, friends.  Reusable produce bags - they work for me.

Abudance of Gratitude and an Invitation to Give

I had sorta planned on an As He Leads Us post for today, but in all honesty, my heart and head are just reeling in the wake of the news of Gabriella Vega's stroke last week.  Every time I type or say that word - stroke - I just cannot believe this is really happening to sweet Princess G.

She is four years old. 

I've watched that sweet girl with the blond curls grow from darling little baby to vivacious preschooler, and to see her confined to a hospital bed without words and with little movement overwhelms me with crushing sadness.

My every other thought is of her and her mama Kristi and daddy Paul and little brother PJ.

I've found solace in the practice of gratitude.  With every laugh and through all the chatter and amidst the wrestling rough-housing from the girls, my heart stretches and snaps to Arizona, to Kristi at Gabriella's bedside, praying that she'll hear Gabriella's voice again soon.

I'm slowing down to listen and hold close and soak up the rhythms and routines and blessed normalcy of each day.

I'm

17. getting lost in the zen-like calm of snapping green beans at the sink.

18. grinning big in response to Aliza Joy's "dank you, Mommy!"  Oh, now that child has a heart of gratitude, to be sure.

19. indulging in a few extra moments with my fingers dug deep in appreciation of that mystical feel of flour and butter which have become one in the moments before the buttermilk splashes and reminds the buttered flour that biscuits need making.

20. happy sighing over biscuits that rise up and come out just right.

21. so, so, so grateful for an old friend's thoughtfulness in passing on something that met a need at the exact moment we needed it.

22. overjoyed to spend a Saturday afternoon on a quilt under the canopy of a pecan tree whose paternal arms have shielded decades of seekers-of-the-slow.  Markers took to journals while the last of the summer cicadas sang.

23. aching heart over the joyful innocence of Dacey's art where the sun shines always and every face beams with smile.

*****

I can never, ever put words to my gratitude for each and every one of you.  When I think back on the humble start of SC, I just shake my head.  At the start, I was just gonna talk about some cloth diapers a little bit, and now look at this place.  Just amazing.

Over the weekend, I hatched a plan.  I have been praying unceasingly for the Vega family, but I feel so helpless to help all these miles away.  But then I thought maybe . . . maybe I can help.  Here's the plan:

I'm going to put together an online raffle to be hosted here at SC.  All of the proceeds from the raffle will go to the Vega family to bless them and help ease some of the burden of the many expenses they are accruing in the midst of this circumstance.

To host a really great raffle that honors a really amazing little girl, I need some really big help.  That's where you come in.  I know there are some wonderfully, tremendously gifted people that hang out here. 

Would you like to join me in this by donating a prize to the raffle?

Here are some ideas:

* Anything handmade or created by you - knitted, crocheted, letterpressed, photographed - any kind of handwork or art
* Services you might offer - digital card creation, mama card design, blog design
* Products that you want to purchase for donation

The details are very loose right now.  I've never taken on a project of this size, but I've got a team of friends from the mothering community through which we all know the Vegas who have stepped up to help pull this thing off.

So this is our invitation to those who want to be directly involved in the creation of the raffle prize packages.  If you want in, leave a comment here or email me at sortacrunchy at gmail dot com.

*****

If your Monday promises nothing but the usual, hold your dear ones close and offer a breath of thanks to God for normal.

You can join others on the path of gratitude each Monday at Holy Experience.

SortaCrunchy Sponsor Spotlight: Moo Cow Momma

When I decided to take up Crunchy Domestic Goddess's Ditch the Disposables challenge, I knew I would need a little help in working towards a more waste-free home.  I browsed around Etsy and found a few businesses that were offering just the kind of reusable products I need.  Today, I am excited to introduce you to one of my Ditch the Disposable sponsors: Moo Cow Momma.

Barbara of Moo Cow Momma has been a delight to work with as a partner in this challenge.  She has sponsored me with some reusable products that I never dreamed I would use (more details and review to come later!).  For those of you who are looking for ways to ditch the disposables around your home, allow me to point you in direction of some of Barbara's offerings!

One of the very easiest changes to make in your home is to cut back on paper towel usage and rely more on kitchen cloth.  Barbara offers all kinds of reusable paper towels, including the very basic natural variety.  Currently in her store, you will also find pinks and purples, blues, greens, reds, and even a Halloween-inspired combo.  We've been using kitchen cloth for years now, and it is so much more amazingly effective than paper. 

Another benefit of replacing disposables with reusable is one your checkbook will appreciate - reusing a product saves so much money!  If you use Swiffer Wet Jet, you know that you must keep buying the mop pads.  Barbara offers reusable mop pads designed to fit the Wet Jet perfectly - and you get to create a custom set for your home with fabrics from Barbara's extensive fabric collection!  Barbara also includes "a recipe for non-toxic floor cleaner which you can make from ingredients you probably already have inside your cabinet."

I use reusable plastic containers for most of Dacey's lunch box contents, but I know she would be delighted with any of the reusable sandwich bags from Moo Cow Momma.  And if a standard sandwich bag is a little ho-hum for you, check out Barbara's sandwich wraps.  Very cool and VERY CUTE!

One last area I need to convert from disposable to reusable is food storage bags.  We don't use very many of these so I haven't really challenged myself in making the reusable switch, but when we do go reusable for food storage, I will be all over these super-cute, super-safe quart sized bags.  I'm thinking road trips, picnics, sporting events . . . so many ways these could be used.  And once again, these bags are totally custom!

I cannot tell you enough how highly I recommend Barbara and Moo Cow Momma.  From our first conversation, she has been extremely helpful, friendly, and prompt.  I received my package from her so quickly and her follow-up information and all-around customer service have been just outstanding.  If participating in or reading about the Ditch the Disposables challenge has piqued your interest in going more waste-free, I know you'll find something in Barbara's shop to help you on your journey.

Spend a few minutes browsing her store and I know you'll be inspired.  (And become a fan on Facebook, too, for the inside scoop on updates and coupons!) Happy shopping!