6 Easy Things

A few years ago I began an unsuspecting descent into complete hippydom.  The transition was slow - one minute I was researching recyclables and the next I am wearing homemade deodorant and experimenting with baking soda-based shampoos...

Because I tend to think about environmentally-friendly choices all the time, I am still a little surprised when I find out some people don't own recycle bins, or that they eat off paper plates each (or even the occasional) night, and I visibly cringe when I see a plastic bottle in a garbage can.

Yet, I would rate our family as "Intermediate" on the scale of wastefulness - We are mindful and do a lot, but we are still far from where I would like to be in terms of limiting waste and eliminating the use of chemicals in our home.  Check out the Zero Waste Home for an example of "advanced".  

At the risk of appearing preachy (I DO feel this is important stuff!), here are are 6 easy adjustments to consider for your home:

1. Plastic Shower Curtain Liner -  Get rid of it.  Free yourself of the need to clean it or replace it -
we've been using the decorative cloth curtain instead.  It works just as well.

2. Cloth Napkins - Easy, reusable, more attractive...
 
3. Use Real Silverware & Drinking Glasses - Again, easy, reusable, more attractive... I have recently given up all my plastic reusable water bottles for a plan old drinking glass at work (complete with coaster).

4. Wash Cloths - Handy, reusable, and perfectly sanitary to use to clean counters, wash baby faces, grown-up bodies, and dishes. All you are adding a teensy-bit more laundry - but not much, wash cloths are pretty small.

5. Handkerchiefs - For the occasional tears and nose dab, a hanky works great!  If you are sick and need to use something more frequently, just have a stack available.  

6. Bar Soap - Less packaging than shower gel and much cheaper!  


As with everything - I am not perfect...for everything I do well, there is a list of "opportunities".  I try not to stress when I can't follow the "rules" and I do my best to focus on what I can do better next time.

If you aren't already, you should try it too.

Flirting with the Hot 100

As much as I profess to love all sorts of music, I am not always the best at finding new music to explore.
The radio in my car is programmed to 5 radio stations: 1) NPR, 2) Alternative Hodge Podge, 3) 70s, 80s, 90s, and 00s, Hodge Podge, 4) Classical, 5) Bollywood, and I mostly just listen to the news.

My Pandora stations allow me to indulge my loves of everything from Charles Mingus to Bauhaus to The Black Keys.  But while my tastes vary greatly, you can see that I don't get much exposure to current popular music.  I have self-selected myself out the listening audience...because I quickly dismiss the genre as tiresome and uninteresting.  I realize this is not entirely fair to make such sweeping generalizations.  So I've decided to make it a regular habit to check out the Billboard Hot 100 and see if there is anything promising that I may be missing.

Here are my reviews of the latest Top 10 -

1) Blurred Lines - Robin Thicke featuring TI and Pharrell - Mediocre dance song with trashy lyrics.  No, thanks.
2) We Can't Stop - Miley Cyrus - This was my first attempt at listening to Miley Cyrus.  The music was boring and I gave up after about 1 minute and a half when, in all seriousness, she sang "hands in the air like we don't care" - as if no one had ever thought of those lyrics before.  Boring.
3) Radioactive - Imagine Dragons - Now this is more like it!  Kinda dark and deceptively simple, much more interesting to listen to.  I have already replayed it already and will look for more.  Success!
4) Get Lucky - Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams - Pharrell is everywhere, isn't he?  I never really liked Daft Punk, which I have found disappointing because they have all the makings of things I should like - they're French, have a cool name, etc. I found this song to be equally unable to live up to its promise...Pharrell has a great voice, but it was the same 45 seconds looped for about 4 minutes.  Meh.
5) Holy Grail - Jay  Z featuring Justin Timberlake - I like Justin Timberlake.  Why does Jay Z have to grunt through all his songs?
6) Cups (Pitch Perfect When I'm Gone) - Anna Kendrick - I have not actually heard the song.  I watched her make biscuits for a 1 minute and 20 seconds and didn't think it was worth the effort to continue.
7) Treasure - Bruno Mars - Oh My!  Bruno is a genius!  What strange forces have kept me away from his music?  Treasure is a keeper!
8) Clarity - Zedd featuring Foxes - Forgettable dance song.  YouTube froze about halfway through the song, I was not compelled to finish. Stephen said he recently downloaded another song from the same album, he says he likes it, I'll take his word for it.
9) Safe and Sound - Capital Cities - If this was background music somewhere, I wouldn't hate it.  It lived up to the title "Safe and Sound", it was comfortable, unchallenging...
10) Love Somebody - Maroon 5 - I don't understand all the fascination with Maroon 5, still don't.

I am pleased with the discoveries of Bruno Mars and Imagine Dragons.  Not a bad exercise!

As far what you may not see on the Hot 100...here are an additional top 5 for the week:
1) You Don't Know Me - The Polyphonic Spree
2) Right Action - Franz Ferdinand
3) Tonight We are Young - Fun
4) Lungi Dance - from Chennai Express featuring Honey Singh
5) Rich Kid Blues - Lykke Li

Everything is Far Away

Awhile ago someone told me not to tell anyone I lived in South Dallas.  I'm sure this person did not intend the comment to be as snooty as it sounds, but it did leave me a little ashamed about where I live.  After that comment I become prone to describe my end of town by its proximity to one of the nearby suburbs, omitting the phrase "South Dallas".  The truth is I do live in South Dallas and these days I'll mention the suburbs only to clarify that I don't live in one of the revitalized trendy parts.  Our neighborhood is decidedly lower middle class, with lots of trash on the street, and the occasional sounds of gunfire in the air. 

I am not ashamed - We like it.  

Our house is a perfect size with a great backyard, and our neighbors are friendly and courteous (aside from the occasional ridiculously loud party).   We are close to a lake, hiking trails, and a few good grocery stores and restaurants.  

When it comes to having fun; however, sometimes I do feel like I am on the wrong end of town.  It feels like everything is far away.  We can be comfortably entertained and fed on our end for a short period of time - but to enjoy the ethnic restaurants, book stores, clothing stores, kid events, etc. that we love, a 1/2 hour drive (at a minimum) is in order.  

Maybe I am still just not used to living in a large metropolitan area - or, maybe there is just too much sprawl in DFW.  I would love to live where I could just walk everywhere,  I'm sure everyone has some sort of fantasy to be close to everything they love, isn't that the reason for all those planned communities?  Ultimately, I love it here...I love all the variety.  For dinner, we could have everything from Texas barbecue to Ethiopian cuisine, there are festivals and events, arts and music of every distinction.  We may have to drive a lot, but there is never a shortage of something to see or do.  

Hello 4 Months Later!

Yes, yes...it has been awhile.

That is what happens when real-life takes over.  One minute, I am planning multi-cultural family outings; the next, work, laundry, toddlers, and a new pregnancy sap all my time and energy.

Things seem to be returning to normal with fall on the horizon.

Hello again.

What's Doin this Weekend...

There is a lot happening this weekend in the DFW area!

Saturday, May 5
Festival of Chariots...

 

AND...
Plano Asia Fest!

Cinco de Mayo Festival in Oak Cliff

Sunday, May 6
Kite Flying Festival in Plano

Then there's laundry, yardwork, naps for the baby, grovery shopping, homework, etc. <sigh>