I am having a much more difficult time with this coffee cup challenge than I thought I would. It sounds silly, but part of the enjoyment of drinking an americano from the local coffee shop is sucking it through that weird-shaped oval/square opening. I seriously think it tastes better! Maybe subconciously that’s why I have forgotten my own coffee cup all but twice (read the last post to see what happened one of those two times!). I have been saving the paper coffee cups and reusing them at work. But, the other day I was reusing one for the 3rd time and I put water and soy milk in there and then in the microwave……for too long. My cup got soft and wiggly and sort of slumped all over my friend’s microwave. This, my friends is coffee cup karma!
Whoops again
January82010It happened again! Maybe I have my girlfriends to blame…? Last night I stayed out too late. I went to the Calder exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum and then out to the infamous Zip Zap Cafe. A Cortes by Gus had me smiling, until about 6:15 this morning when Kanye started singing to me (he’s my wake up call on my phone alarm!) I was tired, but I had a plan. I would get ready for work, including eat breakfast, except for making coffee. I make a soy latte pretty much every morning and drink it as I get ready to leave. Today my goal was to get out of the house as fast as possible, and skipping the latte making meant adding 10 minutes of sleep. I didn’t plan to try to make it with no coffee (don’t be silly!), I planned to go to one of two coffee shops, depending which bus I thought I’d catch. When I watched the 49 drive by me from a block away, I didn’t curse as usual, instead I took the next right and headed to Vivace where the espresso is strong and the work is done for you! It was drizzly and chilly and I was happy as a little clam holding my hot ……PAPER!? cup. Darn it! I wasn’t even awake to realize it until it was too late. It’s like wearing one navy blue sock and one black sock, once you’re in this far, it’s too late. I’ll try again tomorrow, and Nicole and Jessica – don’t keep me out so late!
Coffee Cups
January82010I thought I wouldn’t know what to write about with this new challenge, I mean really how hard could it be? Just bring a coffee cup with me whereever I go! I was walking to work on Tuesday and really didn’t think I’d have anything to report. Then, about 2 hours later my teaching partner asked if I would walk to get coffee with her. I said I would and went to get my travel mug, but behold I had left it at home! My first challenge! Do I walk with her but get nothing? Do I just say ‘oopsie’ and move on? All these thoughts ran through my head, but what was that way at the back of my cabinet in my classroom….? A disposable paper coffee cup (with lid and sleeve!) that I had rinsed and saved eons ago! Score! We made our way to the shop and I explained why I was carrying a paper cup with me (she thought I already had coffee in it). I ordered my drink and went to pick it up. After adding a shot of cold soy to my drink, I grabbed my cup and headed out the door. It wasn’t until the moment I realized I didn’t have a free hand to open the door that I noticed I had kept the cup from my classroom in MY HAND the whole time. So, I double – fisted it back to school, one empty and one full and vowed to keep both cups and their lids and sleeves at the back of my cabinet for next time (and I’ll make her take the other one so she doesn’t distract me again and make me forget!). Old habits are hard to break.
Green Challenge
January32010I am taking on a new challenge thanks to my favorite blogger (soulemama) who pointed me to Hip Mountain Mama’s idea. The goal: make one change a month to help our earth, and blog about it. So, here I am. Day 1 (which is really day 3 for everyone else because its Jan.3) and my goal for January:
To only drink coffee from a reusable cup. I live in the coffee capitol of the U.S. and drink a lot of americanos. Now, I will only go to a coffee shop if I bring my own mug or sit and drink it there. Doesn’t sound like a big deal, but I must admit, I most want coffee as a way to give me a boost for the last part of the day, and I usually drink my coffee at home before I leave for work so I don’t have my mug with me.
So there you have it, 25% of my goals set!
What are you doing to be green?
Fashionista Part II
March142009When I was nursing JJ, I watched “What Not To Wear” on TLC……religiously. There was no good reason, just that I had to nurse JJ and had 30+ minutes to sit still. I blame this on a renewed interest in fashion. I always felt sort of embarrassed by my interest in fashion because: a- I’m not that fashionable b- I don’t really endorse watching TV, especially not cable and c- I’ve always considered fashion sort of self-indulgent for rich folks.
But recently, I read this in Mason Dixon Knitting Outside the Lines: “On one morning, while we sat drinking coffee, I realized in a flash that Madame X doesn’t dress herself; she decorates herself. She’s not tracking down her least-bad–fitting par of blue pants, the way I do. She’s operating under the same impules that leads a person to hang stuff ona Christmas tree. It’s not profound, or important, or efficient. It’s fun. It’s pretty. I’d never thought about this.
When people put a lot of effort into what they’re wearing I have always concluded that they must be shallow, vain or boring. I never entertain the possibility that they’re simply having fun. But during my visit with Madame X, I realized that she goes to her closet every morning with a little thrill. “It’s time to decorate me!”"
After reading this, I got it!
a- I’m still not that fashionable, but it sure is fun to try!
b- I don’t watch a lot of TV, but What Not To Wear continutes to entertain me (and I love my source! – Thanks, Lee)
c- I am simply decorating me, and an upcoming clothing-exchange is just within my budget!
The Best Day of the Year
November122008
My mom hasn’t always been a marathon runner. It’s fairly new. I should have seen it coming. When we were kids she would give Sarah and I pillowcases and we would not return home until they were full. Not just almost full, or close to the top. I mean pull-on-your-shoulder heavy, 2-week sugar high stash, lose a glass slipper late at night. She was a trooper. A marathoner. Sarah and I would go home and lay out all of our loot. We’d trade peanut butter cups for lollipops (1:3) and nerds for hershey’s bars (even then I liked dark chocolate). So, it is this that I attribute my manical trick-or-treating skills. Thanks for the marathon genes mom, I love you. BOO!
Ravelry
October82008I was recently introduced to a fun website called ravelry.com. My favorite part of it is that it helps me stay organized in my crafting endeavors. For example, I can add all of my knitting needles and yarn and then search for patterns based on those! No more wasted skeins and unused needles. If you enjoy yarn crafts, please check this out.
Mel, you’re hat is on the way……..
cancel yellow = get green
September142008seriously, when was the last time you used the yellow pages? most of us go to ‘google’ and type in ‘thai food, capitol hill’ or ‘pediatricians west end atlanta’ and get more choices than we know what to do with. this was in my most recent copy of body and soul magazine. we cancelled ours today.
summer projects
July162008I recently taught Little J how to sew based on suggestions from The Creative Family.
Here is his first project. When I asked him about it he said, “I like it ’cause I use Mama’s knitting, there’s no paper, it’s a blanket.”
This is what summer is about for me, having the energy to get out projects beyond paper and markers. Hope you are enjoying summer in your own special way. Cheers!
