BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD~
To make it short, I used to run an eco-friendly e-commerce, but that does not make me an expert. I do what I can to research and share what I find through posts like "Links Worthy of Note" and "Green Tips" (like a mini newspaper) while having eco-friendly giveaways from companies that find my blog to be helpful to them. As a family, we are still working on being eco-friendly so throughout I will be posting about our own eco aspirations. Pleast note that not all reviews/giveaways will be GREEN but the majority of them will be.
Now for more detail :) Just like you, I am a parent trying to make better choices for my children, myself and for the world in which we live. I believe that even a very small contribution made by many can result in a very large difference in our future which is why I started MBG. Not every decision I make will be perfect but it won't be from the lack of trying.
We didn't always choose organic whenever we could or were even eco-friendly. In fact, it wasn't until some major life changes (for one my mother died of cancer after fighting it for 27 years), my Grandfather, my Aunts, an Uncle, and a first cousin who is the same age as me) and health concerns of my own that occurred in my life that had me going organic as much as I could.
Me and my Dad.
I am EXTREMELY proud to be my husband's wife and the mother to two wonderful boys who should be called men but sometimes I just can't admit that :) A-24 years old works f/t and is in college f/t, and J-18 years old, who has tourettes syndrome, just started college but is still trying to figure out what he wants to be when he grows up. I hate to break it to him that I am still trying to figure that one out for myself! We were also blessed with the most precious little girl who is 2 years old.
As you can imagine, my children being in different stages of life, means the conversations I have with my family really can jump around. Or maybe it's just me? Am I crazy? depends on who you ask but this is what my life was meant to be and I LOVE IT! Add in a dog and a cat to it all I just might be but most of the time I don't think so at all. haha. I love my husband and kids very much and really wish that I could have more but I do know my limits. Well, my body does! Now if I could just get my health back on track I will have it made.
I wanted to give my daughter more than I was able to give myself and my sons so I chose to rearrange my list of priorities. To give myself and my family a better understanding of why choosing organic and healthier options was best. Try that on a then 15 year old. It is much better now but definitely still in the works. Being eco-friendly just naturally followed.
I started to purchase organic fruit and vegetables for the family. We ate a ton of it and it is highest in pesticides so that was a good step for us. Things went from there. At the time I worked outside of the home so when I found a reusable lunch bag kit, along with reusable sandwich bags and reusable snack bags to use instead of using plastic sandwich bags and instead of us buying TONS of bottled water, we installed water filters and use a BPA free stainless steel water bottles instead. I felt like I really was doing something to improve not only my health but the Earth.
The more I read, the more I learned about the toxic chemicals to which we unknowingly expose our children. I support my local farmers and when it is time to purchase something new I try my best to either choose eco-friendly products, support local vendors, other small companies, or consignment shops and of course, wherever possible I buy organic. If I don't make my cleaning supplies then I only purchase organic or toxic free, and for any type of shopping I take reusable bags instead of using plastic/paper. I am definitely ALL about recycling too. When there isn't a recycle bin/drop off close to wherever I am, I have been known to take the items home with me so they can be recycled. While traveling I donate the magazines that I have read during the trip either at rest stops or offer them to people that I meet on the way. As you can imagine, that can get me some looks!
I knew my efforts wouldn't save the world but I didn't let that discourage me. Too many people feel "What can I do? I am only one person. No one else I know is" That may be true but if you made changes and suggested to your friends and family to make changes.... Wow. You would have such a great feeling of accomplishment! I know I did. I didn't convince all of them but hey, it was better than none. I definitely didn't give up either. Aren't our children worth it? Aren't we? Isn't Earth?
No one expects you to go all out. I started small, one step at a time. You know- one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. I still take small steps and some times it can be discouraging especially when I hear what others are doing, but again, we all just need to do what we can do; just as long as we are doing.
