Uncategorised – A Plastic Free Me.

Goodie Bags

Dear family, friends and complete strangers,

When did Goodie Bags become expected at a child’s birthday party??

I know it has hayppened because my child doesn’t want to miss out on hers but I can’t work out when it occurred. I vaguely remember Isa (my almost 4 year old daughter for the complete strangers amongst you) attending a birthday and being handed a colourful bag full of “goodies” and not really knowing that it was hers to take home. Obviously when I say goodies I mean baddies but I am sure you have all worked out where I am heading with this.

I was having a few ciders with a very, very good friend of mine this evening and we started talking about Isabella’s impending 4th birthday party and the fact that I am not doing goodie bags. I mean if that’s your thing go nuts but I am not spending the time or money on them. Nope no tiny plastiv pots of Play Doh or bubble mixture, no lolly pops or mini chocolate bars, no,no,no,no!

I remember birthdays being musical chairs and pass the parcel. Sometimes there were prizes but more than often not and nothing but a song and a bit of a sugar high was really expected.

Cut to 2016. Theme, decorations, venue, food and if that wasn’t expensive or time consuming enough I, as a mother, am meant to believe that goodie bags are an essential part of a child’s birthday. Sorry but, well just no. It’s not essential that is ridiculous!

So, will my daughter be scarred by the fact that her friends are not going to be taking home a wee bag of waste after her party? No, because the kids will run around like maniacs and have a great time and when they leave they can take with them the memory of a fun afternoon with their friends that their mums and dads won’t have to throw out the following day because it’s broken or finished or has been left unplayed with in foot well of the car.

Something to think about.

Fail to Prepare, Prepare to Fail

Damn it! I was the epitome of that stupid saying today.

I had already planned to write my second post about preparation and the steps I need to take to have a successful start at this plastic bag free bizo. But then life happened as it often does and I found myself at 4 Square getting a few things which turned into a dozen things because I haven’t done the groceries this week becuase I wanted to be prepared first! I came home with 3 PLASTIC BAGS! FAIL FAIL FAIL

Lesson learnt – Do it now not later. I have now gathered togther all of my reuseable shopping bags, folded them neatly and put them in my car.

Problem – what about the flimsy bags for fruit and veg? I buy loads of fresh produce so I can’t just let it all roll around in the bottom of the trolley. The check out people would not be very enthusiastic when I give them 2 dozen mandarins to stack onto the scales.

Solution- there are great reusable bags available for purchase. Just ask Uncle Google where you can buy “reusable produce bags” and you will have your choice of options. Link below is one example but they vary in size, price and funkiness or discreetness depending on how you roll.

Problem- too late for me to order them now for my grocery shop tomorrow!!

Solution – just a get out of jail for tomorrow I am going to take my stash of plastic bags that I already have at home. They are a mish mash of New World, 4 Square and even Pak n Save which is pretty shameful. My justification is that I won’t be getting anymore bags than I already have and once I receive my awesome reusable bags I can recycle all those multicoloured death traps I have been hoarding in their own purpose built carrier!

So if you see me at New World tomorrow filling a Pak N Save bag with potatoes please don’t judge. I swear I will be prepared next time.

Goodie Bags 3 Pack – Reusable Bags

Who cares?

I do. I know loads of you do too. It’s huge and I can’t stop thinking about it. There is plastic EVERYWHERE I look. How can we stop it? I am not sure yet really but I will find out and tell you about it.

I thought my first blog post would be light hearted and quirky. Turns out that it’s not. The amount of plastic in my house actually makes me feel sick so there isn’t much to be light hearted and quirky about. I am going to change. I am going to BE the change and I am inviting you to come on my journey.

I am going to become plastic bag free and reduce the use of any other plastic packaging in my house. Sounds easy, maybe not. Might find out a few things about myself in the process.

Here we go….

Day 1

Start writing a blog about it – check ✔

I will beat you plastic! Mark my words.