My last post was getting too long and I loathe the "wall of text," so I'm breaking this up.
Everyone always says that the little things make a world of difference, over time. I wanted to share some of the little things I've changed about my habits to help the world around me.
-Reusable grocery bags
-Buying cage-free (and or organic) eggs I have a co-worker who has some backyard hens and has offered to barter her eggs for baked goods.
-Membership to local Produce Co-op, Urban Acres. I stumbled upon this Groupon deal in January, and a coworker of mine went halfsies on it with me. Their main store/pickup location is close to the zoo, so it works out quite well. Since joining, I've discovered that I like yam, radish, turnips. I discovered that I do not like beets...yet. I'm still trying to figure out a way to cook them. The co-op price ends up being about $2/lb, which on average is probably a little more than what I would spend on produce in the grocery store. But on the other hand, all the co-op produce is organic, most of it is local, and I am eating a hell of a lot more veggies now than I ever have. Partly because I don't want to waste my hard-earned dollars, but I can also see and feel a difference in my body. It's a win-win.
-The zoo struck an awesome deal with DART, Dallas's transportation system, for discounted rail passes--close to 75% off. A requirement of our house search is to be within 5 minutes of the DART line that runs by the zoo. Right now, between driving to Denton for school, driving to Plano for thesis work, and driving to the Zoo for work work, I am filling up every 5-7 days....and I'm averaging about 36-40mpg. My gas usage will drop dramatically when all is said and done. Cannot wait.
-We bought an HE washing machine. I love it.
Future plans for becoming greener:
-cloth diapers (when the time comes)
-making household cleaners (so much can be disinfected with vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, and the sun!)
-GARDENS! RAIN BARRELS! VERMICOMPOSTING! oh, my!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Little Things - Part 1
It's been sooo long since I've last posted. It's also been a supremely busy semester at work, home and school.
Well, let's see what's been going on:
Scott and I decided to try to buy a house. We both have definitely learned a lot about houses and about ourselves (and have been humbled in the process). We found one we really loved, but got out-invested at the last minute. I say out-invested, not out-bid, since we offered more, but the other guy offered cash, as-is. Cash is King, apparently. We're back again at square-one. Yay.
My graduate lab successfully hosted our 4th annual conference, the Art and Science of Animal Training. It was amazing as usual. I really wish I hadn't been preoccupied with housing stuff, or I might have absorbed a little bit more. Conference weekend is always extremely fast-paced and full of so much information, that it take a few weeks to reflect on what you learned and pick out the points that mean the most to you.
Scott's friends got married on St. Patrick's Day.
I somehow managed to volunteer myself to help plan the zoo's Earth Day celebration, called Party for the Planet (P4P). It's a 2-day shindig during Earth Day weekend in April. I am managing Sunday's festivities after a 24-hour trip to Houston/Montgomery for a friend's wedding the day before.
One of my oldest friends is getting married!! Her family moved in down the street when I was in first grade. She was one of the only kids my age in my neighborhood. We grew up exploring the woods and pasture behind our houses and shared a passion for art and animals. We really didn't get to hang out that much after she graduated high school, but we ended up at A&M together and got to hang out a few times. I was so happy to see her and her fiance two-step at our wedding. I am SO excited to see them get married.
I'm going to be a (fairy) god-mother to Baby Mac (my niece)! That's going down in May.
Steph, Scott and I are going to BONNAROOOOOOO in June!
Oh, and I started a brand new thesis project last week! The good news is that it should be a much cleaner project, and I don't have to backcode a year's worth of data.
A lot of little things going on, and time is flying by so quickly!
Well, let's see what's been going on:
Scott and I decided to try to buy a house. We both have definitely learned a lot about houses and about ourselves (and have been humbled in the process). We found one we really loved, but got out-invested at the last minute. I say out-invested, not out-bid, since we offered more, but the other guy offered cash, as-is. Cash is King, apparently. We're back again at square-one. Yay.
My graduate lab successfully hosted our 4th annual conference, the Art and Science of Animal Training. It was amazing as usual. I really wish I hadn't been preoccupied with housing stuff, or I might have absorbed a little bit more. Conference weekend is always extremely fast-paced and full of so much information, that it take a few weeks to reflect on what you learned and pick out the points that mean the most to you.
Scott's friends got married on St. Patrick's Day.
I somehow managed to volunteer myself to help plan the zoo's Earth Day celebration, called Party for the Planet (P4P). It's a 2-day shindig during Earth Day weekend in April. I am managing Sunday's festivities after a 24-hour trip to Houston/Montgomery for a friend's wedding the day before.
One of my oldest friends is getting married!! Her family moved in down the street when I was in first grade. She was one of the only kids my age in my neighborhood. We grew up exploring the woods and pasture behind our houses and shared a passion for art and animals. We really didn't get to hang out that much after she graduated high school, but we ended up at A&M together and got to hang out a few times. I was so happy to see her and her fiance two-step at our wedding. I am SO excited to see them get married.
I'm going to be a (fairy) god-mother to Baby Mac (my niece)! That's going down in May.
Steph, Scott and I are going to BONNAROOOOOOO in June!
Oh, and I started a brand new thesis project last week! The good news is that it should be a much cleaner project, and I don't have to backcode a year's worth of data.
A lot of little things going on, and time is flying by so quickly!
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