That's right. I - the semi-conservative/business professional - am going hippie on your ass. Not like dirty-not-bathing-dreadlocks hippie. Just bring a bag to the supermarket, switch to mostly organic products hippie who consumes less. Why, you ask? I saw this video, and it changed my perspective - A LOT. It made me realize that I don't need to be constantly purchasing, consuming and wasting products.
One of the first things I did was evaluate all my health and beauty products. These are things I am putting directly on my skin, and absorbing into my body! EW. Some of these things are petroleum by-products, and I don't know why that grosses me out so much. I made the switch to L.USH cosmetics (the period is there after the L so that L.USH won't come up in a random G.oogle search or whatever). The products are all natural and use safe synthetics. They also come with minimal packaging, which is great. I have been using the solid shampoo (which is like a bar of soap, but you just rub it in your hair, and it lathers. Amazing. And, there's no plastic bottle to throw away later. See, everyone wins. I highly recommend trying something out. They have soaps, solid lotions (which are pretty decadent), face masks, everything else.
I am also trying to switch to more organic grocery shopping. Buying organic is hard, you have to purchase smaller quantities and hit the market more often, but I much prefer it to feeding myself with chemicals and pesticides. Now, going organic is super expensive, so I am not balls to the wall or anything. I am just trying to change one or two things at a time, baby steps. We'll see how it goes.
Here's the video that changed my perspective. Maybe if many of us make small steps, we can make a little bit of difference (I sound like a "The More You Know" PSA - ugh! - please don't think I am a fruitcake!) It's about 20 minutes long, so it's kind of a commitment. But it's very insightful and really makes you think!
I think I might have mentioned this clip to you! If you want to further educate yourself, I recommend reading The Omnivore's Dilemma (it's second on my reading queue) which apparently blows your mind about food including organic and checking out the website www.cosmeticdatabase.com where you can get health data on your cosmetics, soaps, etc.
ReplyDeleteThe thing that makes me sad is that I have to drink bottled water at work. I mean I can bring a thermos of ice cold water but that lasts me til 10 am at the most. But I refuse to drink the water that's coming out of the pipes in this old ass building. It's probably got enough lead and mercury content to kill elephants. That and during drought it sometimes looks green/brown. EW. WTF VCU. Potable water, is that so hard to ask?
ReplyDeleteBut besides that, I am all for doing my share in not being wasteful. How do you like the shampoo cake bar product?
I PINK PUFFY HEART THE SOLID SHAMPOO. I am actually getting depressed because I have had to switch back to the old stuff (I want to completely finish it off, you know, not being wasteful and all). I am anxious to get back to using the bar shampoo. I have actually converted the hubs too! He loves the way it smells (who would have thought him for a hippie?)
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