sew fun!

I started sewing classes last night -- the first class was really great. They last for five weeks and go over the basics like hand sewing, and how to thread your machine. There are only 6 people in the class which makes it great for getting the attention you need for each lesson.

I've sewed before (bags, curtains etc) but I wanted to learn the basics. It's strange how you think you know the basic, basics -- I learned so much last night! By the end of the class we will have made a pair of pants, a skirt or both so I'll post my wears then!

Green!

I just posted this on Oprah's site and thought I'd share it with you!

I was so excited to see Oprah's Green show! I've been attempting to go green for quite some time now and it hasn't always been easy! One thing I've learned is to do small bits at a time. Currently I've put myself on a phased in/out approach and it seems to be helping. So far I have managed to stick with the following:

• I always say no to plastic bags; instead I bring along my "Workhorse" bags that I purchased from resuablebags.com -- they're great because they fold up in your purse so you can carry them anywhere!


• no ziplocks for us! We reuse all the bags (and there are tons!) from the bread we buy, frozen fruit (perfect for freezing meat portions) etc.


• I try to always have my coffee mug with me for trips to the coffee house


• I carry a 32 oz Nalgene bottle of water (from the tap but filtered through a brita) with me everywhere


• I clean everything with vinegar and water and I use cloths instead of paper towel for this (windows, sink, toilet, floors [with a bit of lemon] -- for the tougher areas like the tub I use baking powder and a bit of elbow grease ;)


• I use dishwasher detergent from Seventh Generation and soap from Method


• I switched to organic shampoo and conditioner by Kiss My Face contained in biodegradable bottles. I just switched to organic coffee from BC; drink organic green tea and use organic milk and yogurt.


• we have a GREAT "green bin" program in Toronto, which takes everything from soiled napkins to fruit and veggie scraps so we have barely any trash. And of course we recycle but try to REDUCE, then REUSE first -- those are the first Rs in the list.


• After the show I tried to limit the number of paper napkins I use -- I had some cute little cafe cloth napkins so I'm using those.


• I also became a member of GreenDimes which I LOVE!

Next on the list: post-consumer recycled TP and papertowels (though I'd like to soon switch to rags for everything); phase out my current clothes detergent for something greener; phase out the plastic bags I use for the "green bin" and phase in "BioBags" which are made from corn and are 100% biodegradable.

Whew -- I can see how people get overwhelmed! But if we just take one step at a time, individually we can make a difference!

Grow Grass Grow!

this sunday we spent the entire day cleaning up the back yard -- we have long grasses in kind of bordering the yard and we were told that we should cut them down in the spring. last year we left them and they weren't as pretty as I think they can be. SO we chopped them and now it seems so bare back there! I hope they grow fast!

I also hope all of the other flowers and bushes grow fast!

short limbs aren't so bad after all

I used to curse every time I would go in a store to try on pants or jeans or even long sleeve tops -- toooo looong. I didn't want to buy long pants and jeans because I would just have to hem them and that was a pain. There's an art to hemming jeans so you can keep them original hem. I knew it was possible but how!?

Imagine my delight when I found out how to do it on Dacia Ray's site . Of course I went searching for it AFTER I had already hemmed a pair of jeans the wrong way but but nevertheless I had the instructions now!

I decided to take a crack at altering the sleeves on my jean jacket in the same fashion and for the most part it worked! I still have a few little touch ups to do by hand but I am very happy with the outcome.