Bulk Shopping

Bulk shopping is the best. I don't know if I wrote about this. I probably did. Whatever. I did write a post - I just went looking. It's here. But, I went shopping again today and it was lovely. Here are some more of my zero waste journey points. 

- I use my produce bags to put the bulk foods in when I'm at the store. The scale won't zero out if I use a jar. Then I transfer when I get home. The picture here is a picture of after the transfer. Isn't it lovely?

- I have stopped putting the stickers that I print off with the price sticker on my container. I don't want it. I did try putting them on my arm tonight...that was a bad idea. I learned that putting stickers on your arm is a good way to get a free arm wax. I lost a lot of hair. More than that, I lost pride.

- I store my bulk in jars. I think this keeps everything more fresh.

- I keep my jars in the cabinet! The less sunlight, the more fresh. Maybe. I don't really know. Maybe that's about clothes in clothing stores...oh, they keep the color. Whatever. I'm not rewriting this bullet. It's a line. Meh.

- When buying bulk, I only buy things that I know I'll be able to use. So, today, I bought goji berries, almonds, sliced almonds, pepitas, poppy seeds, dates, and sunflower seeds. I'm planning on making crackers! I also (since, you know, vegan jazz) need more protein, therefore more seeds! I love seeds! It's simply the best life.

- Not all produce bags weigh the same amount! The scale must be zeroed at all the times.

- The simply most wonderful produce bags are the little sheer ones! With the small tie at the top. Oh, no, string pull thing. Is that called a tie?

Anyways, y'all, shop in bulk. It creates less waste. It makes you shop more intentionally. It brings joy to your heart. Oh, wait, that may just be mine.

I must sleep. This is getting ridiculous.

Peace.

This simply isn't centering. How frustrating.
Well, well, well...
It centered after I captioned it. 

                              

Cherry Picking

Oh, happy...

Hello, hello, hello! Yesterday was Father's Day. More than that, as a family, we spent time cherry picking! I could have taken a picture in the moment of picking, but no. That would have been a waste of good family time. 

But we picked cherries as a family, cut off the dead branches (so the tree can thrive), and made a cherry crisp. Oh, and we pitted the cherries. That was an adventure in itself. If you find me on instagram (sidannwest), you can watch that video. I'm not really sure how to put a video on here. Oh well, there's my life for you.

But I was so excited! My sister and I, the night before Father's Day, sat out by the cherry tree, after picking lots of cherries, and had a chit chat for hours. Oh, it was so lovely. I love my sister so much and I find so much joy in our conversations. Anyways, intentional conversation and cherries make for joyful day.

...breakfast.

Oh, also, I picked lemon balm leaves because I thought it was mint leaves. It wasn't. That was an odd things to experience.

But, anyways, on Father's Day, we picked the rest of the cherries! We then took them inside, pitted them with my pop's cherry pitter, and made a cherry crisp. What a lovely family time to spend together.

Anyways, I have continual encouragement for you to spend time finding a local fruit tree where you can get local (and sometimes free!) fruit. Then you can help the tree by taking its fruit AND you can help sustain yourself by having fruit. Plus, if you have a lovely human to pick things with, then you can sustain that relationship.

All the happy, wonderful things.

Peace.

Protein

For the majority of me living my 'adult life', I have struggled to eat protein. I don't like to cook meat and beans weren't something we really ate growing up...and even when did, I picked them out of my food. I'm not a picky eater, just a sophisticated eater. =]. 

Anyways, for the next couple of months, I'm trying out veganism. My only real thing to hold me back was protein, but I don't really eat meat or eggs, so there's two sources that I don't have as is. I really eat a ton of fruit and veggies, and I've been wanting (okay, not really...maybe need?) to cut of dairy to test if I'm sensitive. 

But I found this lovely chart! So join me in finding joy in it. I made lentils last night (they're fantastic). I find loads of happiness in seeds. And in tofu.

Also, find joy in this - there is protein in lots and lots of vegetables. Google it. Then watch Forks Over Knives and let's have a conversation about it.

Peace.

Collapsible Cup?

My. Cup. Collapses.

Here's my bomb cup.

And I'm really fond of it! Weekly, I bring my own cup to church (to cut down on disposable use and by classy as all get out). When my family went over to Ireland this past week, I wish I had a cup so I didn't use disposables during all the happy coffee times.

Alas, no cup. I made lots of coffee cup trash.

When I came back, I talked about making one purchase. This cup! Well, not this exactly. Just something like it so I can keep it in my bag and forget about it and then remember I have it and save the world.

Anyways, check my super cool cup out.

I used it at the coffee shop today and the lady thought it was the neatest thing ever! She was scared that pouring coffee into it would cause it to melt. Nope. This jazzy jazz is made of silicon. That's sand. I think. I googled it on the google at one time. And then my adorable cup of coffee came to hang out with me while I read my Bible.

Here's an Ireland photo.

Also, other life notes. My basil plant and mint plant have been growing lots and lots over the past couple of weeks and I'm quite the excited to add mint to tea. Maybe I'll make homemade pesto. Maybe I'll be the best chef ever.

Hmm. Also, I'm trying out veganism for the next while because it sounds fun. I realize that I probably need more hobbies because that sounds so fun. But I've tried new foods! Jicama, amaranth, fennel, portabella mushroom, hmmm...probably other things, but whatever. I like all the new foods. 

I enjoy my cup.

Life is lovely.

Peace.

Oh, the Library

Drink a cup of coffee with your books.

Free fun for all.

I signed up for the summer reading program at my local library. If you don't know how cool that makes me, go watch an episode of Arthur and come back. Anyways, as an adult, I still get prizes and get encouraged to read!

You see, being a teacher, I thought I was above motivation driven by getting a prize. Nope. I'm not above that. 

Anyways, my only encouragement is to check out your local library. And maybe get eight books on history that you may never read. But, alas, you must try. 

Lynda and I took this in Ireland 
this past week.

I did that.

I got eight books. 

Peace.

OH. NO. Another free way of sustaining friendships and a love of learning. I'm going to host a reading and tea party. I'll post more about that later. That's how this post relates.