Little Girl Green

Gone Vegetarian…

glassbathtubgirl — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:43:48 +0000

It’s been months since I’ve updated this site and for that I apologize. There are many reasons for the delay, including but not limited to the fact that I couldn’t remember my password and trying to keep up with 4-5 blogs is ridiculous! However I am committed to keeping up with my commitment to find ways to live an earth-friendly lifestyle and to teach my kids to do the same. So in my quest I have recently done the unthinkable. I have decided to eliminate meat from my diet. I’m not going vegan (because I am not hardcore like that) and because I am not against eating meat by any means. I just don’t agree with the standards our government has for raising and slaughtering animals as well as their willingness to allow them to be injected with hormones and antibiotics. The things our government are allowing in the food industry is disheartening and the best way I know to impact those idiotic decisions is by abstaining from eating meat. I still cook meat on occasion for the family and I still cook with eggs and milk, but my family is also used to substituting almond milk and soy milk so I wouldn’t say we are heavily reliant on those things. Many of you have probably heard of Meatless Mondays. I think if any family willing and able could try going meatless at least once a week, it would be nothing but great for not only your health but also to show yourself that it’s possible to skip meat and find other ways to get protein and it has been a particularly good way for me to try new foods I never thought I would enjoy. So, if you have been thinking about going meatless, I highly recommend doing the Meatless Monday thing. It’s been fun discovering new recipes and actually getting my kids to eat them! In fact, if you ask Mazzy how much she likes peas, she’ll tell you she likes them better than candy. What a weirdo!

So here’s some inspiration if you need it:

Just a couple dishes (minus the black bean tacos) I have made with a new meatless product I discovered thanks to some friends (thanks Laurin and Mikee!) called soy curls. They are made from whole soybeans, as minimally processed as possible and made using non-GMO soybeans. They absorb whatever flavor you add to them and are stored in your freezer. I believe the name is actually Butler Soy Curls and they are made in Oregon, CA. I have fallen in love with these and so have my family! Compared to regular meat, they have so few calories and no fat or cholesterol. Amazing! They can be purchased at the Nature’s Food Market and Juice Bar located downtown at 1918 G street. I’m only telling you this because as someone who despises tofu, I am amazed at how easily I can fool my taste buds with the soy curls!

So there you have it. I’m pretty sure this new diet will be life-long for me. I am making it my mission to help my kids realize that food isn’t just crap you stuff into your face, but rather it has a purpose to nourish your mind and body. So far, they have been weened off of chicken nuggets and “fast food” is not in their daily vocabulary. In fact, sometimes I hear them argue about who is eating “healthier” and it’s the best darn feeling ever!

Hopefully my next post will be about the garden I started. I’m pretty excited about it.

Earth-friendly at the Gym

glassbathtubgirl — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 00:36:48 +0000

I recently sold my soul to the gym. This is all sorts of awesome! I get to get myself in better shape and have some time to de-stress. So far I’ve been going 2-4 times a week faithfully but it was hard trying to carry a towel, my phone, my keys, water and my extra clothes without something to put them in. I had found a cute vegan duffle bag a while back and added it to my list of amazon goodies. For our anniversary my husband bought it for me! The company is called Bungalow 360. I am so in love with this gym bag! Not only has it saved my arms from gym-gear overload, but it is made using earth-friendly materials! Thank you Bungalow 360 and thank you husband for the gift! Here is my bag with the elephant design:

My newest obsession

glassbathtubgirl — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:57:01 +0000

I just had all four of my wisdom teeth removed two weeks ago and the slow healing process was made worse by the illness I had a week prior. I have lost 13 lbs. since and although that isn’t a bad thing, I lost most of the weight by living on a liquid diet for 2+ weeks. One can grow tired of their choices on an all liquid diet but I found something incredible one day and I think I am just a teency bit hooked…

It’s a vegan chocolate drink called Mayesa and it is super healthy, super delicious and super good for the environment!

You should click the link to read about how the drink came into existence as well as how it is packaged in an environmentally friendly manner. It has been just what I needed when I got tired of soup and milkshakes and it is packed with so many healthy things that I have needed while trying to heal.
Enough bragging. Visit their website and see for yourself!

Reusable snack bags!

glassbathtubgirl — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:21:30 +0000

In my quest to get greener, I stumbled upon something mighty amazing while making my Amazon wishlist. I found these reusable snack bags and stainless steel containers. Perfect for taking to work or on a trip and it gives me an alternative to plastic. Score!

The company’s website can be located here.

I am really looking forward to using these!

DIY hand sanitizer

glassbathtubgirl — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:39:57 +0000

I always love getting emails from Melissa, whether it’s cool music recommendations, knitting advice or something “green” that she knows I’ll appreciate. She sent me this recently and I am going to try it out soon. I’m all about the DIY!

Here’s the recipe for DIY hand sanitizer!

“You can earn those eco-friendly DIYer brag rights with instructions from Eco-centric blog, EcoSalon:
In a small bowl, mix ¼ cup each of pure aloe vera gel and grain alcohol with 5 drops of tea tree essential oil. To make it smell less pungent, add 5 drops of your favorite fragrance oil. Using a funnel, pour this blend into a bottle small enough to stash in your purse. (Rinse out an empty tube of makeup or lotion to make use of waste.)
Check out EcoSalon for more info on this DIY hand sanitizer as well as a recipe for a DIY surface disinfectant. And after your hands are reasonably clean: tell us about how you’re keeping the germs at bay (or about how you prefer to tough it out in the battle with them).”