Two times in a row!

So an addition to my goals is to not use a plastic bag when I go shopping. Even when I go shopping at Target.

I did this the other night. I am definitely not missing the big plastic bag. I carried my items around the store so why can't I just carry them out, place them in the seat next to me, then carry them again into the house until they reach their proper place?  It really is rather easy.

And when I go clothing shopping, I plan on using a large purse/bag that I already own to throw my things in.  1. I save plastic (which is the goal) and 2. I will probably buy less (this makes Jose happy).

Grocery shopping is a cinch. I already have three reusable bags that I purchased for my groceries, plus two freezer bags. I fit all that I needed tonight in those bags. No plastic bags! It really was a good feeling to come home and unpack my groceries and not have ten plastic bags laying around. 

I'm going to see how long I can go with out having to take a plastic or even a paper bag home from the store. I'll keep you updated on my record!

Yet again!

I'm turning it over again. I wouldn't say that I failed the last attempt, but I have most definitely slipped.

So I've got a new attitude..again.
So I'm going to try it...again.
A slightly modified plan, but still the same goal.

What I've done well so far...

We haven't really eaten out (at least not paying for it ourselves!). I did set it as a treat. We have one day a week that we eat out (and we pay out of our pockets). We ate all that we could at home, some days I had to scrounge around to find something to work...but it did!

I am reading more (not sure if that was on my list I posted) which is what I want to do. I fell in love with the book Green Chic and it is definitely making me think through some of the things we can do at home to save money and the environment. Definitely a good read and one book that I may have to revisit time and time again.

What I've NOT done well...

I haven't worked out in two weeks. So I've set a new plan. I'm going to try just walking/jogging. Jose is doing this three days a week...in the mornings! So I've got to give it a shot, but not in the mornings. I love my sleep to much! So I'll go and walk/jog in the evenings. I met with the director of our wellness center to help me get on track. She gave me some idea's of what I could do at home or while I was traveling. I'm going to learn to use the cardio lab so I can burn some of that extra fat. I told her my issue is more I need accountability. So next semester I think I am going to utilize a personal trainer. They're booked up this semester, but maybe once a month I can meet with a student trainer to help keep me on board. If I know I have to "report" to someone, then I'm much more likely to stick with it. At least stick with it long enough to create a habit!

So thats the update. I'll turn the leaf over many times I'm sure, but I'm ok with that. Its when I stop turning it over that a problem starts to form.

Today's thoughts...Apathy

Why is it that we are never satisfied? More, why is it that I am never satisfied.

I was flipping through pictures and places my friends are. Colorado, Florida, Chicago, Des Moines. I want to be there more than I want to be here. But really, would that bring me what I am looking for? NO!

I'm at a place where I am great. Love my job, love that my husband has a job he loves. We're in a great place to pay of alot of debt and we can do ministry(not always an easy combination to find). I have family close by and can see them when I want to. But why am I not satisfied? This is what I asked for months ago!

I have lost sight of alot of things. I have lost sight for the need of my Savior. He is the only one who can satisfy all that is within me. It is through Him that I find peace and satisfaction with all things. I've known this for a while now. And I've known that I am creating a divide. How did I let it become The Great Divide though? Laziness? Apathy?

Yes...all of the above.

I know where I need to be, I know how to get there but I repeatedly don't do anything about it. Why? WHY? I was hit straight between the eye's this weekend. I have a desire to lead and wonder why I haven't had the specific opportunities I am looking for. I can't lead beyond where I am. And right now I'm pretty low. Who needs a leader who isn't doing anything about their own spiritual growth? NO ONE! Who needs a leader who is merely going through the motions? Who knows the right words and the right things to do, but isn't deeply rooted? Again, No One!

I'm rooted, but I'm not cultivating those roots. So be praying for me. I'm going to create The List that several friends have created. I'm going to post my distractions around my house so that I visually see those things that are keeping me from being where I want to be...growing, rooting, and blooming in HIM!

I need to be challenged, I need to be encouraged, I need to be pushed towards Him.

Some good things come from Traveling

I love the feeling of Independence and having the self esteem to be able to eat by myself. I enjoyed a GREAT lunch at Bravo...one of my favs! Oh I was so excited about the Ensalda Del aCasa. I can taste it now just thinking about it! And their Peach Tea!! Fantastic!

I was able to read a little bit, but really I don't remember anything I read. I was to busy thinking about the bread and GREAT dipping oil they have. Topped with the big chunks of shaved Parmesan cheese.

Plus you get to meet new people who share some of the same things in common (jobs!) I had a dinner/snack with some other admissions and recruiting people from other schools. This one guy, old enough to be my father, was really sweet. He even stopped by to say goodbye and to tell me to have a safe trip!

It was a bit of a long two days on the road, but I made it through with some energy in tack. (For those who don't know, I had a High school college fair in Southern Indiana on Tuesday night and then another college fair just north of Cincinnati OH tonight) I was really jazzed tonight as the last few conversations (which were really good) were with Freshmen in High school and their parents. I am just excited that there are some students who are thinking ahead in life. They may not know what they want to do yet, but at least they are looking forward to something more than just tomorrow!

Going Green in Style

Really....I LOVE THIS BOOK! I am totally hooked. I don't think I am typically like this, but day two and I didn't want to put the book down, but for the sake of a good nights rest (and giving myself something to look forward to) I put it down.

Today I am so glad to find out that I already buy pretty good eco-friendly sheets. Yes, sheets. (oh the small things in life that bring me joy, great sheets) I have recently started hearing things about organic cotton and thought that some companies were just trying to pull the wool over my eyes and make more money, but there really is a thing of organic cotton.

Did you know that regular cotton sheets can be treated with 1.25 pounds of carcinogens and the same stuff that are used in pesticides and insecticides. Oh and that nasty smelly stuff that is used to keep dead carcasses in the sciences labs... formaldehyde, yeah that is found in the process of making cotton sheets too. YOU SLEEP ON THESE THINGS!!!


So if you are looking for something good to sleep on, try out Beech Jersey Sheets. They can be found at Bed Bath and Beyond. They may be a slight bit more than sheets you are used to buying (I never knew that sheets could cost you so much, these aren't that bad but some could cost your first born child). But they do last a LONG time. I have only bought two sets of sheets in four years of marriage, and one was for a spare bed that we had.

I was a little worried reading about the sheets because I was going to have a hard time giving up these sheets unless it was for something way more comfortable.

A Page Turner

So I added a Bookshelf to my blog to show the list of books that I am reading, or the ones I will be working through shortly.

I started A Generous Orthodoxy but haven't gotten past the introduction. I've heard it gets better, but it just isn't enticing me just yet.

But I happened to be walking through Target today and this little green book happened to catch my eye. I recently became somewhat heavily involved on the Recycling Committee here on campus. My family recycled for as long as I can remember recycling being something that people really do. Not hard core, but at least doing something. I feel guilty when I through something plastic, glass,metal, or cardboardish away.

But this Green book, green chic...Saving the Earth in Style. I want to be green, but I want to be "in style" still. I have been in meetings with students who are way green and way eco friendly. I just don't want to do the dreads, not shower, smell "funny", wear the same clothes all week long. I enjoy looking good (at least what I think is good looking). I enjoy getting my hair done, wearing makeup, wearing trendy clothes, smelling good, etc. I enjoy fashion and the latest styles. But I want to do my part to "Save Mother Earth". So this book really caught my eye.

I've read the Intro and two chapters already!! I don't want to put this book down. It is great so far. She talks about doing small things around your house that just add up to great things. Its not going out and changing everything at once. Little things like using less water (shorter showers), turning lights off, using compact flourescent lights, using cold water for all laundry, opt out of plastic bags when you shop when at all possible (just slip that greeting card in your purse, use easily home made cloth bags instead).

So far, seems easy to do my part to help fight global warming and save some land for future generations of Torres/Bunnell's.

Excitement on Campus

Have you ever really stopped to watch the squirrels? Yes, squirrels.

I swear Anderson University truely is one of the squirreliest places I've ever seen. We even advertise that on a few things hoping to entice the younger students. I have started counting. Anytime I am out in the Valley, I do a quick visual check to see how many squirrels are out running around. I typically can count a handful. Then as I walk through I see a few more up in the trees, typically I hear them before I see them.

The squirrels on our campus are crazy. Today Jose and I walked outside of our dorm and there is a squirrel running through the sprinkler. HE WAS RUNNING THROUGH THE SPRINKLER!! He stopped real quick when we walked out as if to say "Uh Oh! I was caught!". He shook off like a wet dog and went running off to check for more nuts. Jose and I just stopped, stared at each other in disbelief, and then laughed.

Later this afternoon I was walking out of the Haven and with in a few seconds of stepping outside I heard a loud ruckus. Trying to figure out what was going on I scanned and scanned and scanned the Valley. I didn't see anything, but then I heard the bushes russell a bit more. These two squirrels were just carrying on and on! One was chasing after the other and really just giving him the dickens. Chased him all through the bushes, out into the middle of the Valley in circle after circle until an unsuspecting student started down the sidewalk. The two squirrels stopped dead in their tracks. A split second later the squirrel being chased took advantage of the student's presence as it distracted the other squirrel and made a break for it. He just took a few leaps and then stopped dead in his tracks again, trying to anticipate what the student was going to do. The student was completely oblivious to the squirrels.

Eventually the squirrels moved. The chaser ran off after another squirrel and I watched them exchange a few frenzied high circle jumps (they look like they are on crack). As I passed the first squirrel being chased, I had to crack up. He was sitting on his hind legs and he was out of breath. His chest was pounding.

How can you not have a good afternoon with such entertainment so readily available on campus! That is just one reason I LOVE AU's campus.