Sociable Guerilla Bagging

How do we stop using these?

PLASTIC BAG CONSUMPTION FACTS

• Each year, an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide. That comes out to over one million per minute. Billions end up as litter each year.

• According to the EPA, over 380 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps are consumed in the U.S. each year.

• According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. goes through 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually. (Estimated cost to retailers is $4 billion)

• According to the industry publication Modern Plastics, Taiwan consumes 20 billion bags a year—900 per person.

• An estimated .7% or 49,600,000 end up as litter each year.

• Four out of every five bags handed out at grocery stores are plastic.

• They are rarely recycled and don’t degrade in the natural environment, much less in a landfill.

Morsbags

It can be hard to make a difference in the world, but even something as small as a reusable fabric tote can make a big impact on the world. They have a free pattern for an easy to make tote, a forum and even printable lables to spread the word. Check out the flicker group too!!

And whats better than making a fashion statement and saving our ecosystem at the same time?!!!

all photos courtesy of www.morsbags.com

What does one wear to a luau?

I have been invited to a luau party this weekend, but the question remains....

Hummmmm, nope not going the coconut bra and grass skirt route.

Now this might be a good idea....

Now if I could just find some fabric and fast!!!!

Should I buy a Lottery Ticket?

What a great week last week - see a few nice things happened to me

I won the Aveeno give-away at Middle Ageless. Love the blog and  Middle Ageless Forum!! You really must check them out.

My Ripley won the Best of Show at the Pet Day here locally. She is my sweetie, a daschund piebald dapple mix (piebald and dapple are colorings). Here she is being silly for the camera.

And lastly my son went to his prom, and they are so cute!! A big deal for thier age you know!!

Great weekend!! Now should I buy a lottery ticket or has my luck run out - haha!!

Blogger's Quilt Festival

Amy is hosting the third blogger's quilt festival

Please go check it out, lots and lots of eye candy in the flicker group pool.

I'm getting back to...

After an emotional ride I am ready to get back to normal!

I finished the blue dot skirt and with or without weightloss it's done and fits me now. I will post pics as soon as there is a pretty day, it's been raining and yucky outside. I bought some beige linen/rayon blend for a pair of cropped pants. It's in the wash now and will be washed and dried again to shrink it before I start cutting. I am thinking of New Look 6354. I like the wide elastic waist, and the fact that they do not look like elastic waist pants I luv! I have made them before but need to grade the pattern up one size.

And maybe Hot Patterns Cowl-neck top. I think they would look good together.

I am also getting back on the wardrobe therapy, even though I am so far behind I am going to get it done because my closet needs it!!

Self-Degradation

Self-Degradation: The act of degrading one's self, or the state of being so degraded.

My blogger friend Elise posted some thought provoking questions on her blog. With her 'Who the Hell is That' moment I can definintely identify with! I don't know who and how we have been brainwashed into thinking we aren't good enough, but I know it must stop!!

BUT IT IS HARD! When all around us we are constantly attacked by images and statements telling us how to look, how to feel and how to live our lives.

'Buy this, take this, feel this way'

I guess this would be akin to an addict and how they cope with life day to day, and avoiding the downfall of giving in to the affliction - pain, suffering and disease. We have to deal with loving ourselves on a day to day basis, or we will fail!

One way I am coping with 'Self-Degradation' is to have the outlook that we are all beautiful pieces of art. Yes art!!

While some art is openly beautiful, as in the Venus de Milo and the Birth of Venus - other art is beautiful in translation. When we say "she/he is beautiful" the term beautiful is descriptive of your attitude towards that individual. So can beauty be defined? No. For if I believe something to be beautiful you may not necessarily have the same opinion. Would this then be where our confusion lies? As we don't need to please everyone, but only ourselves!!

Beauty: the quality or aggregate of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or spirit .

 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder' - but are you not the beholder? Don't you have the power to say what 'is' and 'is not' beautiful! When you degrade yourself you are taking away your power.  Your power to see the beauty that truely is you. You dare to look deep inside and know you are beautiful and unique. Become empowered and fight those feelings of self doubt and self bashing. Realize the beauty of the world and how you are connected. Stop poisoning yourself with feelings of pain, you have the power!

Life's bumps in the road...

Thank you all for the warm thoughts and hugs!!

You have helped me and my family in a rough time.