Time Is The Enemy

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Posted on July 7, 2013

We have had a busy few days and my plastic-free challenge has taken a bit of a beating. On Friday we went shopping and I had my share of successfully avoiding plastic packing. However, some items were not so easy.

First, we bought sausages at Aldi for a planned BBQ with visitors on Friday evening. I buy these because a) I like them and b) the sausages are gluten-free. The downside is that they come in a plastic tray and are covered in cling-film. I try to limit the damage (marginally) by buying the bulk pack of 24 sausages. Am I kidding myself?

The other purchase pictured below is some bells in a plastic packet. I wanted these to make some Christmas earrings as we were going to a Christmas in July celebration on Saturday evening. They were not an essential purchase but I did share them with a friend and I will store them in the original resealable packaging so that I can use them on other occasions.

On the other hand, I did do better with some of my other shopping. I went to the butcher to buy chicken breast fillets, chicken thigh fillets and minced beef. All of these were packed into my own containers (plastic) that I took with me to the shop.

The cabbage in the background was bought at the local fruit stall were I shop regularly. The usually have cabbages cut into quarters or halves and wrapped in cling-wrap. I asked if I could have a whole cabbage and the owner happily collected one for me from the cool-room. I did not really need a whole cabbage but I used this strategy to ensure that I did not get one wrapped in plastic. I will make sure that it is used and not wasted.

The cream cheese was another rare purchase for me. It was required for a recipe I was making to take to the Christmas in July party. I made a conscious decision to buy the pack in the cardboard box rather than the plastic tubs. Inside the box the cheese was wrapped in foil which I carefully washed and dried but then discarded in the rubbish as I was not certain whether it was coated with plastic film.

I do not have a photo but I also bought a 500g punnet of strawberries for the recipe as well. They came in a plastic punnet but it was marked with a recycle symbol so that is where it ended up. I also bought the larger punnet so that there is potentially less plastic per strawberry. Perhaps??

What I have learned from this is that the less time you have, the more likely you are to succumb to items with plastic packaging. If I had more time I would have sought more plastic-free options. For example, I know that if I drive about an extra 4km I can pick my own strawberries and bring them home in my own fabric bag. If I had remembered to source the bells last week I could have looked in some craft shops near my work and maybe found some being sold as loose items. That way I would have ended up with 2 bells (what I needed) instead of 12. I rarely buy cream cheese but this has reminded to me to look into alternatives which I may be able to buy without plastic packaging. I also need to look into buying sausages from the butcher. They will have to meet a couple of criteria – be suitable for my dietary requirements and also that we actually like them.

Any suggestions for avoiding the dreaded plastic would be appreciated.

Failure or Opportunity?

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Posted on July 3, 2013

It is now the end of Day 3 of Plastic-Free July. I was doing well, mainly because I had not bought anything, but tonight we called in to the supermarket on the way home.

We bought ice-cream in a plastic tub, milk in a plastic bottle and a block of butter wrapped in paper. 2 out of 3 – FAIL! So now I can do one of three things:

Declare this challenge a failure and give up – not likely!!

Accept that this will always be the case and not worry – possibly??

Keep a list of all of the single-use plastic items that we buy during July and use it as a prompt to consider alternatives, both this month and in the future – definitely!!

The list will be added as a tab at the top of my blog so you can keep track of how I am going.

Project 333 – Winter Wardrobe & Wishlist

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Posted on May 28, 2013

Since it will officially be winter in 3 days I thought a post about my winter wardrobe was in order. We live in a relatively mild climate but it still gets cool enough to need more than summer-weight skirts and t-shirts.

Over the last 10 months I have lost 8kg so that has necessitated moving a number of items along as they were simply too big. This has pared down my wardrobe even more. However, a bonus is that I can now wear these 2 jackets.

They were a neat fit when I bought them a couple of years ago and a little over a year ago they were destined to be given away.

I also have a black cord jacket and a pink suede one.

One of the few things I have bought for this winter is a new pair a tailored black trousers as I did not have any trousers suitable for wearing to work in winter. I gave my only pair away at the end of last winter as they were too big. Last week I had to buy a belt because even my new trousers are a bit on the loose side. I did try the next size down but they were a bit too tight.

I generally wear a collared shirt (3/4 sleeve) under the jacket to work as I don’t want to be rugged up because I work in an air-conditioned office. I have 5 striped shirts. There are also these 2 lightweight knits.

A couple of sleeveless vests, 2 pairs of jeans, 3/4 sleeve tees and a couple of rugby tops pretty well round out my work and casual winter wardrobe.

My shoes are 2 pairs of flats – red and pewter, red lace-up casuals and RM Williams boots.

Now for the wishlist:

Black skirt – purchased and waiting for me to shorten the length
Grey patterned cord skirt – waiting for me to refashion it from a skirt that is too big
Plain black lightweight knit – in the cupboard but need grey skirt to wear it with
Grey/charcoal trousers – need to buy
Black flat/low heel court shoes – need to buy
Black low heel boots (knee-high) – need to buy to replace the high heeled ones I have given away as they were too high and I did not feel confident walking in them
Black stockings – need to buy
Scarves – I would like some lightweight plain coloured scraves – probably black, fuschia and red with possibly mint green or purple as well. Just need to go looking.

I need to try on some boots to see whether they will suit me as I am not overly tall.

I have 6 pairs of grey stockings (most unworn) that I bought last year in the USA and after wearing them a couple of times I have decided that I do not really like the colour, hence I need to buy some black ones.

Recently, I bought 2 pieces of cotton lycra fabric which I hope to be able to make some 3/4 sleeve tees. One is black and cream striped (narrow stripes) and the other is plain in a raspberry colour.

Now that I have written it all down, my plan seems quite realistic and doable. What do you think?

Stop the Sabotage

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Posted on February 13, 2013

It occurred to me recently that many people are constantly sabotaging their own decluttering efforts.

They are hauling garbags of ‘stuff’ to the op shop, filling the rubbish bin each week and trying to find time list items on eBay in a vain attempt to claw back some of the money they have spent on unwanted items. Yet, these same people are often using every strategy possible to score a good deal on clothes, shoes, bedding, magazines, cosmetics and anything else that comes their way. It is only a bargain if you truly need it.

I feel that cheap or bargain-priced items are the nemesis of decluttering and minimalism. If you need to outlay a significant amount of money on an item you are more likely to stop and think twice about whether it is really worthy of a place in your home.

So, how do you resist the plethora of bargains?

Unsubscribe from all of the emails from shops and shopping sites – this is a continuous process and you need to be vigilant
Make sure you have a ‘No Junk Mail’ sticker on your letterbox
Do not buy magazines
Do not buy newspapers
Limit viewing of commercial television
Deactivate your eBay account
Set financial goals that require you to limit your discretionary spending in order to achieve them
Remember that shopping malls are not entertainment venues
Take things to the op shop – do not bring more stuff home
Shop with a list (and stick to it)
Send someone else to do your essential shopping
Buy 1 or 2 good quality items instead of 10 cheap versions – t-shirts are a perfect example

Do you have any other ideas for keeping the clutter at bay and the money in the wallet?

No Place Like Home

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Posted on February 10, 2013

We have been away for a few days in Melbourne. It was a lovely break and we stayed with our daughter. Our activities can be summed up in a few words – shopping (clothes and shoes), eating and sightseeing.

Both The Duke and I bought clothes and shoes that we needed. Some of it is to replace existing items in our wardrobes that have seen better days. I will do a separate post soon about the clothes and how they will fit in with my existing clothes.

Missy took us out to dinner last night at the Woodlands Hotel which was really lovely and today we caught up for lunch with other family and friends.

Yesterday we went to the Immigration Museum and saw the most interesting exhibition, “Leaving Dublin” which is a photographic essay of the current wave of people leaving Dublin as a result of the economic downturn.

As the saying goes, ‘there really is no place like home’ and now I need to unpack and put a load of washing in the machine, make our lunches and plan what I am going to wear tomorrow.

Project 333 – A Perfect Fit

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Posted on February 6, 2013

I have been continuing my quest to own only clothes that I truly love and wear regularly.

When I first became involved in Project 333 in April 2012 I took 4 items out of my wardrobe that did not fit me. I was not prepared to get rid of the clothes at that time as they were almost brand new and I was not ready to let them go.

Fast forward to July 2012 and I decided to embark on a grain free, gluten free diet for health reasons. Coincidentally, I have lost 8kg in 6 months.

In October I tried on the skirt and decided that it was never going to suit me whatever size I was, so that went to the op shop. There was a pair of white linen 3/4 trousers which 6 months earlier had not been even a glimmer of hope of zipping them up yet now they fitted.

Tonight I decided to check the other 2 items in the bag. They are cotton drill jackets – one red and one a dark charcoal in an identical style. They now are also suitable to wear so will be added back to my wardrobe as the weather cools down over the next few months.

It is just as well that I had these additions because there is going to be some more culling of the wardrobe contents before long. There are several pairs of 3/4 trousers which are really much too loose and now are quite unflattering. Some of my skirts are also rather loose.

I am trying to think carefully about what new items I might buy and make sure that they fit with the existing pieces in my wardrobe. We will be in Melbourne this weekend so I am hoping to find some trousers that will be suitable for winter here. I will also look out for anything else that is on my wanted list.

Don’t Do It

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Posted on November 19, 2012

Have you heard of Click Frenzy?

Please boycott this ridiculous consumerist nonsense which is designed to quickly part you and your money.

If you do not need it then do not go shopping – whether it be online or in a store.

A Fresh Look

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Posted on September 21, 2012

One of the benefits of holidays and being away from our home is that sometimes you can take a step back and review things from a distance.

A few months ago I considered buying a new doona cover for our bed since the one we have had for over 10 years definitely does not match the current colour scheme. It has been like that for about 4 years but it had taken me that long to consider it. One of the things that was holding me back was why get rid of the existing cover which is still in excellent condition.

While we were away I suddenly realised that the doona cover on our bed would look perfect on the bed in the guest room and then I could justify buying a new one for our bed.

Here is the revamped guest room.

On Wednesday we looked for a new cover which proved to be quite a challenge as it is obvious that the colours in our room (Wedgewood blue with cream trim) are definitely not the latest trend. Most of the bed linen was either neutrals in cream/grey/coffee palettes or bright geometric designs. However, I eventually found something suitable.

I also bought another cover in a grape colour with a muted floral design. I will use that during the winter months for a change. This is the first time that I have ever had bed linen to change with the seasons. Thanks to the sale prices, I was able to buy the 2 covers for the full price of just one of them.

I am very happy with the results of my rearrangement of the bed linen. Now I have the bedspread which was on the guest bed to put away in the linen cupboard while I consider its fate.

Most of our furnishings/colours are relatively classic and are chosen because they are what we like rather than what is this year’s “must have”. This can make things difficult at times, especially when you are looking for a colour or design that is not ‘in’.

Do you follow the latest trends in interior design or are you happy with what you have? Any tips for updating on a budget?

Zero Waste – Is It Really?

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Posted on July 29, 2012

One of the things that I am really passionate about is waste – specifically packaging. For many years I have worked hard to reduce what I bring into the house and while I am nowhere near the nirvana that is ‘Zero Waste’, I generally do a pretty good job.

Today we went shopping for various things. One thing I bought was some sliced salami. Whenever I buy deli meat from the supermarket or meat from the butcher I always take my own plastic container and ask them to put the meat directly into the container and to stick the price label onto the lid. Most of the staff are really good and simply weigh the container before adding the produce.

However, sometimes it can be challenging and you have to constantly watch what is happening or otherwise you can be easily blind-sided. We have had instances where my request was followed and then they wrapped the whole container in miles of cling wrap or put the meat in a plastic bag before putting it in the container – AARGH!! Today the young girl clearly had no idea how to establish the tare weight of the container so she spread a plastic bag on the scales, placed the salami on it and then tipped it into the container I had provided. I chose not to say anything as it only causes distress to all concerned.

Also, there was not enough sliced salami in the display so she got more from the coldroom and sliced it. The piece she retrieved was wrapped in clingfilm and this was removed, discarded and a new piece re-applied when she had finished slicing it. The display trays are covered with cling film also.

So, by taking my own container and refusing plastic bags and outer wrapping, can I regard this as zero waste?

Buying dry goods from bulk bins creates the same dilemma because although you buy them loose from the bulk bin they have been decanted from some sort of packaging. At least it is usually a large quantity such as 25kg of flour or sugar so there there is less packaging per kilo.

I still buy my cheese from both the supermarket or the local factory where I can get 2kg blocks but they are still wrapped in plastic.

When I buy fruit and vegetables I always make the choice to buy loose produce that I can put in my own tulle bags that I made even if it is more expensive than the pre-packaged option. A good alternative is a Farmers’ Market, though you do have to check as some stalls do package things into plastic bags. It is a matter of being committed and voting with your feet as to where and how you shop.

Yandina Markets photo

The only true zero waste shopping is what I can collect from my own garden – eggs, avocadoes, citrus fruit, spring onions and parsley was the haul for today.

Do you try to avoid packaging when you are shopping? Does this influence where you shop and what you buy?

Shopping At Home

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Posted on July 11, 2012

In years gone by the phrase ‘shop at home’ usually referred to mail-order catalogues. This meant that you could peruse the pages for your choice of everything from underwear to saucepans. It was a service provided to people who lived in remote areas. Imagine the excitement when the carefully-chosen and long-awaited parcel arrived from the city stores (Myer and David Jones) to families on outback properties.

Shopping in the comfort of your own home was also a driver of many ‘party plan’ and catalogue businesses. These included Tupperware, Avon and Nutrimetics, to name but a few.

More recently, much of this shopping activity has been surpassed by buying online. I have bought things online, but usually only after considerable research. It makes shopping easy, so easy in fact, that I think some people have accumulated much more debt due to the ease with which they can part with their money or more likely, credit.

My shopping at home, today, was none of these. I merely walked downstairs to my store-cupboard and replenished supplies which would otherwise have necessitated going to the shop.

This morning there was no cereal nor much psyllium husk which I have on my cereal. So I headed to my cupboard and picked these two buckets.

Here are my pantry containers refilled.

This afternoon I ‘shopped’ again – this time for raisins and sultanas as I wanted to make a boiled fruit cake.

Having a store of staples means less trips to the shops which in turn saves time, petrol and opportunities to spend money on other items. It makes sense to me to have a supply of goods on hand in case of a range of possible emergencies or disasters. As well as food I keep a supply of other items such as toilet paper, toothpaste and soap.