fruitabu.

so there I was, on my front porch reading a FREE copy of kiwi magazine I was given - when a mysterious, envelope stuck inside caught my attention. this wasn't the usual irritating postcard insert thats ALL magazine publishers include to drive us bananas - but a thicker package that BEGGED me to open it.

meet fruitabu. a whole new way to eat fruit, all smoooshed up and tasty. think like an organic, healthy fruit roll-up that is naturally sweet. the advertisement collateral blew me away. there were FUN stickers (that have adorned every piece of snail mail I've sent in the last few weeks), iron-on transfers to make t-shirts, a bumper sticker and magnets. their tagline and little creatures are the cutest and who can't like the word SMOOOSHED?

McAllister brought home some organic smoooshed fruit flats to try, and the strawberry is very SWEET and yummy. i've officially joined the fruitolution.

new ride.

Check out my new wheels! That's right, I downsized from 4 to 2 for the next couple weeks. In order to save LOTS of money, my jeep is over in Canada getting some love from my special mechanic! (future father-in-law)

My friend Betsy was nice enough to lend me her bike. It's been about 10 years since I rode a bike, but after day two - I have some tips for anyone using the main drags to get to work like me.

• Cut through neighborhoods and take side roads as much as possible
• WATCH out for cars zooming out of their long driveways, cause they don't watch out for you.
  
• Wear a helmet. (even if it's purple)
• Be on sprinkler ALERT. When you are biking 30 minutes with a 20 lb backpack - you need a refreshing shower every now and again.
• Bring deodorant to work.
  

Even though my new wheels aren't as nice as Emily's - I am doing my part as a GREEN citizen by biking. On rainy days, I will try out the new hybrid bus from the Rochester Transportation System. I read that the diesel bus is quieter and more fuel efficient.

gardening gold.

In our attempt to be good, green citizens - we've started a compost. It's introduction required a change in my 'toss in the garbage' behavior. However, like any quick learner - I was speedy up the learning curve. I now look forward to reducing our weekly waste that used to go to the curb.

Up until last night, things with the compost had been going GREAT. Granted - I don't like the look of the ugly thing in the back of the yard, but McAllister has promised me that our gardens will flourish as a result of the organic material that it produces. Plus I'm now distracted with some fun composters I found online and rekha's great comment about using the bamboo fence to hide it.

Well - last night McAllister informed me that those crazy city squirrels of ours have dug a little tunnel underground that leads up and into our compost bin! Those little buggers are FEASTING on what is supposed to turn into gardening gold for us!! BOO.

I guess it's better they eat our onion scraps rather than the onions we planted in the ground - but I'm still fuming. And they better NOT call on all their friends about the feast like they did with our Indian Corn last fall. I'll be really steamed.

Perhaps I'll call my friend Sondra for the ingredients in her squirrelly cocktail. That'll teach 'em.

hybrid parking.

'

When we were in Canada last weekend, I dragged McAllister to one of my fave stores - IKEA. On our way in, I noticed Ikea now has parking spots reserved specifically for hybrids! Even though I don't have one yet, I think it's way cool. I later read that despite the 'hybrid' text on the sign, any 'green' vehicle can park in these spots. And I'm not talking about the color of your car either.

A green car is any low-emission vehicle, as defined by the recent Canadian federal government incentive program. Ikea even has implemented an anti-idling program, to encourage shoppers to turn their car off while LOADING up all their goodies. Neat-o.

I wonder when the Ikea stores in the US will start to have the sign? Just another example of the 'going GREEN' trend phenomenon that is occuring all around us.

byob.

That's 'b' for b-a-g.

Some speculate that the average person gets 500 plastic bags per year. YIKES. While I was visiting my mom, I read about how California law may require retailers to sell reusable bags soon. She had one at her house, but forgot it on our grocery store trip!

I figured I'd do my part too, so when McAllister and I went grocery shopping 2nite - I planned on buying some reusable bags from Wegmans. I'm already off to a pretty forgetful start (and they wonder where I get it from ;-). After checking out, I realized I FORGOT to buy them. So I had to stand in line again. My plan is to keep a couple in each vehicle, hopefully in plain sight. Not that we're not environmentally conscious - we already reuse all our plastic bags for doggie duty.

shamrock coasters.

I went to Albany for the weekend, to visit my crafty Irish friends.

I made 6 festive shamrock coasters as a gift for my lovely hostesses. They were a nice, functional gift and really fun to make too. I even was able to enjoy them most of the weekend during my stay.

Check out my projects page for the how-to!

going GREEN.

In the spirit of the upcoming GREEN weekend, I thought it would be timely to introduce a new, buzzing, local business here in Rochester....

Green Way Cleaning, is the new biz in town! It was started by a couple of stay-at-home mom's with an eco-friendly passion. They've introduced new products & services for those that want to introduce a green way of cleaning into their homes. They have residential cleaning services, do public speaking engagements and even sell the cleaning products they make.

I just ordered the Green Way Caddy!

10 ways to reuse your Target bag.

they are so smart at target. right on the bag - they suggest 10 ways that YOU can help by using their bags for other purposes. Such as:

1. Tiny Trashcan Liner.
2. Doggy duty.
3. Water Balloon.
4. Roadtrip rubbish.
5. Soggy Laundry.
6. Ice pack for head lump.
7. Toiletry tote.
8. Kitty litter liner.
9. Tomorrow's lunchbag.
10. Care package padding.

I use #2 regularly, sometimes #4, and #9 often too. #6 can be used for any body part - like my knee last night after falling down our icy stairs. And #7 can be used for more than just toiletries - just ask JON, he uses them for plain LUGGAGE.