Tuesday, December 27, 2011

2012 Plans

It's that time. Can't you feel the almost new-ness in the air, begging you to set goals? Ok, maybe I am just in love with goals. So, here are the Bisnett Family Resolutions for 2012.

1. Pay off our evil credit card. It is for 'emergencies' but really it just lures me into 'good deals' that turn into high interest. Bleh you evil credit card! I am glad there is only one of you to be gone!

2. Contribute financially in a well rounded manner.
           This year we have chosen: TARC and CASA through United Way for pay check deductions.
            We also plan to be a due paying members of
                   La Leche League (ok just me here though if Matt could breastfeed...),
                   Sierra Club,
                   and Attachment Parenting International.
            I am also setting aside to make once a year donations to Washburn. I am hoping specifically the        psychology department and the LinC office. Still figuring out how to do that.

2. Contribute time wise. We want to make sure whatever we do we can do it as a family so Aurora can grow up in a caring environment. So, I think for contributing time we will:
             gather food items and donate in the harvesters bin each grocery trip to Dillons,
             make and deliver snacks to Ronald McDonald once a month,
             volunteer in community gardens in the summer,
             hopefully volunteer once a month at harvesters,
             and crochet 6 projects for donation (this one is just me to, Matt will not be crocheting any time soon).

3. Be active members.
            read a book with the API book club
            attend Sierra club once a month
            attend La Leche once a month
            attend lovely Fiber Fridays at least twice a month
            attend 4 Fast Forward events
            attend 4 Parents as Teachers events outside of home visits
            attend 1 playgroup a week
            attend 6 story times
            attend wellness center at least 4 times a week

4. Be a friendly friend. I will:
           teach sewing to my sissy
           take Matt on dates once a month.
           have a girls night
           teach anything I know to whoever asks

5. Continue education. I will:
            attend one college level course or obtain a certification relevant to my field.

6. Learn more about finances:
           attend finance series with Matt

7. We will become zero waste
           we have been prepping for this and last weekend was our last regular grocery trip. We splurged on the junk food we will no longer be having. Along with this keep up with our ethical shopping standards.

8. We will be more involved in nature. We will:
            bike to UUFT once a month in the nice weather
            camp at least 4 times
            go on a hike at least once
            go to the lake at least 4 times
            join a sports team outdoors

9. Maintain a minimalist household
           We just cleaned out yet again. It is getting to be empty, finally! Feels good.
            Unplug for electronics so much: read 4 fiction books, 2 non-fiction books, 12 diy projects

10. Create a timeline for home building
          We want to begin building in 3 to 5 years.
         

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Ethical Clothing Shopping

So, it has been a LONG time since I have gone clothing shopping for myself. Lately, I have been working to get down to my bare minimum wardrobe modeled off this: http://www.fabulouslybroke.com/2011/07/the-minimalist-wardrobe-30-pieces-would-be-my-barest-of-bare-minimums/ . I tweaked it to meet my lifestyle needs and added shoes and such. My thought is to only buy to replace a piece in the established wardrobe. Unfortunately, as I went through my clothes I noticed most all of them have snags, frays, holes, etc. So, it is definitely time to do some shopping. I have been researching my booty off to find the most ethical companies to purchase from that have the kind of clothes I need.

TIME OUT TO WHINE

Why oh why is all organic and hemp stuff just yoga and lounge wear? Surely there is a person in the business world who also wants to buy things that don't support slavery or harm the environment! We can't all just lay around doing yoga all day and meditating no matter how relaxing it sounds.

Ok, back to the blog. So, here are the places/brands I have found with A and B ratings on ethics and the environment that make business type clothes.

Patagonia
LL Bean
Autonomie
Maggie's Organics
Levi's
Timberland
Gap
Nordstrom
Cutter and Buck
Abercrombie and Fitch
Calvin Klein
Izod

SHOES
UGG
Earth Shoes
Birkenstock
Timberland
Reebok

Expensive crud I know! Who said minimalism was cheap? Oh well, it will last a long time, not use slaves, and you know will either be donated or upcycled in my household. I wish I could find if ColdWater Creek was good or bad. I am in love with them. Anyone know?

What is ACTUALLY Needed/Wanted When Having a Baby

As my little one closes in on the year mark I have been noticing all the things that were thought to be 'necessities' are in fact not. Instead not much is really needed and what is nice to have wasn't even mentioned pre-baby. So, here is my guide, from my experience, of what is good to have for a new baby.

1. A carseat. No, not a travel system. That was a waste. I only use my stroller as something to hold purchases, like produce at the farmer's market. All the while Aurora is in a wrap or on my hip. It is big, bulky and expensive. It came with the infant carrier carseat. Let me tell you, not only is it not convenient to carry it isn't the safest way to carry your baby. I was too short to use it on the grocery cart (which is a safety hazard anyways). The only good was when she was napping on the way home we could bring her in without waking her up. Instead, invest in a good carseat that has high refacing weight and height limits so they can stay in the 500% safer way to sit for longer (AAP recommends at least 2).

2. Diapers. Ok, unless you are going to do 100% complete elimination communication you are going to need some diapers. Sure you could use receiving blankies as flats and use old sweaters to make woolies, but I honestly wouldn't do that unless I could afford nothing else. We tried several different kinds of cloth and spoies before deciding on Sunbabies pocket diapers, which are awesome! They grow with her, are snaps so she can't take them off, are easy to use, and quick to dry. And drying on the line is the best, something I am so glad to have now that I have a litle one.

3. Amber Necklace. OMG Aurora is in such a better mode when she wears this. No real issues with teething so far with it. It is weird that it works, but it does.

4. Shower Chair. We have a lovely baby SPA for LO, but what's used most of the time? The shower chair. It sits in the shower and attaches to the side so it won't move and keeps her in place. So much quicker and easier and she loves it. She just showers with me when she needs washed.

5. Shirts, oneies, and baby legs. The fancy clothes are adorable yes, just keep in mind ease to play and ease to clean. At home LO is diaper only and baby legs if the floor is cold. We had sooo many swaddlers, guess what, they serve no purpose.

6. Toddler fork and spoon. Aurora loves her independence. A toddler fork and spoon let her learn on her own, at her own pace. I don't have to worry about her poking her eyes out and she doesn't have to worry about me trying to make her eat anything.

7. Wraps. When Aurora was a newborn a homemade Moby, AKA several yards of jersey fabric, was the only wrap I needed. It covered her and kept her warm. She slept in it, snuggled in it, nursed in it while I went about my life. Now that she is bigger a ring sling works great for short trips and a mai tei for longer walks. So much easier then any stroller and she feels so much lighter than just carrying around.

8. Diaper bookbag. Plan diaper bags are silly to me. A travel bag makes much more sense. It is easier to carry, less 'girly' and more functional. Who needs a giant awkward diaper bag? What the heck are you carrying around in that thing?

10. Books and some plush and wooden toys. No plastic needed. Wooden teethers worked great, wordorf dolls are wonderful or just rag dolls you make at home. No only do handmade goods have more meaning, they support local and independent businesses, ethical practices, and don't have harmful chemicals in them. They also last so much longer which makes them a bargain. Aurora's favorite toys are homemade or upcycled.

What you don't need:

1. Travel system. Bought this, collects dust. Who really uses these bulky things?

2. Baby meds. They all have food coloring, HCFS, and artificial flavoring in them. Hello, a baby does not know what cherry flavor is!

3. Johnson and Johnson. Chemicals bleh! Aurora is no poo and then has some safety first organic body wash and lotion. We are slowly working her over to Dr.Bronners.

4. Baby foods. Google baby led weaning. It is pretty much the best!

5. Swaddlers. I got like a million of these, never used. She hated them.

6. Exersaucer, jumper etc. Just let them play! They don't need to be cooped up.

7. Crib. So many dangers so we never used it. Bedsharing is pretty much awesome. She sleeps better, we sleep better. We don't even have to wake up to nurse.

8. Pack and Play. Again, just let them play! I mean watch them, but let them explore.

9. Plastic crap. It is just going to break, fad, and expose you to chemicals. It harms the environment, it is not local, many times has lead in it, and the workers have very poor conditions. Buy America, or at least not for China.

10. Tennis shoes. Aurora is just now wearing shoes at one and only because it is winter. Who wants shoes weighing them down. I for one like my toes free!