Yarn, patterns, plants and a ridiculously easy garlic bread "recipe"

My friend's wedding this past weekend was fantastic. All five minutes of ceremony were really nice, and there were even a few laughs snuck into it (despite it typically being such a *serious* thing). The rest of the day was really pleasant, even the caterers commented on how relaxed it was and said that it was a pleasure to have been there. My friend avoided all the wedding hullabaloo and just had a short, sweet ceremony with fewer than 20 people present followed by a BBQ themed reception with a delicious buffet and casual dress. She didn't even wear a dress (good for her--she's always hated them and weddings really should be about the people getting married, not some outdated tradition no one even understands anymore). All in all, I was thrilled it went over so well.



And I got new yarn!



Isn't it just fabulous? It's cotton, too, here come the washcloths!!

Speaking of fabulous things that people can do with cotton yarn, for those of you eco-minded (or crafty minded) people out there who own a Swiffer, there is a pattern for a reusable swiffer cloth here: http://www.sugarncream.com/pattern.php?PID=3920&cps=21191
In addition to being a FREE pattern that means cheaper living (don't have to buy swiffer sheets anymore) and less waste (yay for smaller dumps!), this pattern is also ridiculously easy and works up pretty fast. There's nothing like cheap, easy and environmentally friendly.

In other news, the little plant family in my window keeps growing (in numbers, not size...hahaha, although my ivy is getting rather large). The newest addition is a pink leaf plant...no name for that one yet.
BUT I HAVE RUN OUT OF SPACE!! My window is only small, and it now has four little plants happily growing away in it. What am I going to do?!?

Finally...I am a lazy, lazy cook. I just have no patience for it! I can sit and do crafty things for hours without a break but I cannot focus in the kitchen. Furthermore, I despise doing dishes, so I generally try to avoid making too many. But I sure am a sucker for good garlic bread. So, here's my "recipe":

-Take baguette, cut horizontally through the middle (like you would for a sandwich).
-Butter both halves (depending on how much you need).
-Spread minced garlic over the butter (I used the same knife...yeah, I know I am lazy) to taste.
-Sprinkle parsley overtop to taste.
-Put in toaster oven (or oven, whatever) until butter is melted and bread is all toasty and wonderful.
EAT IT! *chomp chomp chomp*

Well, I thought it was tasty. You don't like it, don't do it. Fine.

What's done, what's new, what's going on

So, I randomly came across this: http://www.aanuit.nl/ and am totally in love with that silly dog lamp featured on the opening page. Hahahaha!

Other than that, I am beginning to realize that this blog seems to be getting monopolized by my eco-musings.

I also recently finished my blanket! It didn't take me as long as I had anticipated and I love it to all to bits and pieces, as my friend Julie would say.
Ready?
Here it is!


Now that my big project is all finished, I have to find new stuff to do with my time. I made a washcloth on the weekend, but that was quick and easy...now I am thinking about making a baby blanket for a baby I know, since Julie generously donated a whole bunch of yarn to me.
There is one other thing...or two of them, I should say.



Is that not the single most hideous cushion you have ever seen in your whole life?! I inhereted this cushion, its twin and the couch that matched it when I moved out on my own. The couch was part of a sectional that had, somewhere in history, lost the last section. It got traded off for a big, even uglier and possibly older leather couch that smelled faintly of cat pee. Such is life. Anyway, by some strange stroke of fate, luck, whatever, the cushions have remained with me even though the couch is long since gone. Now, they're not entirely bad cushions other than their astonishing (slightly hilarious) ugliness. But something has to be done! I am not even sure it's healthy to look at them too long.

So, for my next project...I think it is time for a Cushion Makeover! Any ideas for the makeover, post 'em! I am so far torn between a patchwork cover or a crocheted cover of some variety. Hmmm...choices choices.

Victorious!

I found some! It's from Kiss My Face (www.kissmyface.com) which seems to be one of the better and more affordable companies for natural or eco-sensitive products from what I have encountered thus far. It was one of the only deodorants that stated it was biodegradable--even the Tom's of Maine company didn't (although they admittedly had much more pleasant smelling options).

In addition, while browsing the internet, I came across several sites with recipes to make your own deodorant at home. For the most part, they were quite cheap and easy to make, often using very basic ingredients that are quite natural. There are a few of such recipes on this site: http://www.thegreenestdollar.com/2009/04/how-to-make-your-own-deodorant/

If you live in the US, there's also Desert Essence Organics, which are free of just about everything in addition to being cruelty free and biodegradable. They don't make a deodorant from what I can find, but their products range from lip gloss to shampoo to sunscreen and smell heavenly. (http://www.desertessence.com/)

Just to have it said, I am in no way advertising these companies, just providing possible options for people who, like me, might be seeking some friendlier options than those most readily available to us. If you know of an eco-friendly company that you feel deserves some recognition, please send me a link!

Going Green is getting hard

We've all heard the expression at some time or another that if you are going to do something, do it well.

So when I decided I was going to go "green" I decided I was going to do my best. For me, part of that means switching to Earth-friendly products: I have been eliminating anything non-biodegradable from the products I use and switching them to biodegradable alternatives.

This seemed like a good idea--it IS a good idea--except that doing so has proven particularly difficult. Namely, I have found it challenging to find biodegradable options for sunscreen and deodorant. There's organic stuff everywhere, but that isn't necessarily the same thing (although the two do often go hand-in-hand).

Part of my motivation was discovering how non-biodegradable sunscreen actually impacts the environment. It is especially hard on sensitive ecosystems like the coral reefs, that require UV to function and are extremely reactive to any environmental change. The residue left over from non-biodegradable sunscreens in the water means less UV gets through to such ecosystems, which in turn means that they suffer for it.

I am a little disturbed by how this information is so little known, and how inaccessable "green" alternatives are. I go into a store and rather than having the greener alternatives right with the regular products where they can be easily noticed (and therefore encourage a broader population to try them, as opposed to just the green freaks who actively seek them), they are tucked away in some obscure section, like some sort of dirty little secret. It's a pity.

If anyone out there has any suggestions for a good biodegradable sunscreen or deodorant, I would love the input!