EARTH DAY 365 PROJECT

Earth day is every day for us as we make subtle changes every single day. Calley at Eco Chic is doing Earth Day 365 Project, listing 40 things for the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day... Let me see if I can do this in the order that I started!

1. Turning off lights when not in use
2. Reducing my red meat consumption. I'm still working on the hot dogs. I found some nitrate-free ones. Yay!  Now switching it to turkey dogs...soon. Turkey bacon didn't go too well. I only buy ground turkey now.
3. Recycling papers
4. Recycling cardboards
5. Recycling plastics
6. Recycling glasses
7. Turning off water when brushing teeth. I'm still working on when I'm washing dishes that are not dishwasher-safe.
8. Not buying much make-up. If I do I would look for eco-friendly alternatives.
9. Buying all natural biodegradable laundry detergents. I mostly use Country Save. I have another full box to go. I've been hearing a lot about Rockin Green which I would love to try!
10. Washing clothing in cold water
11. Running the dishwasher and the laundry machine only when full. 
12. Setting my AC/heater to 77/72, respectively. We use the fan if necessary. I actually don't mind the summer setting but the winter setting I have to bundle up. My comfortable temperature would be 75, LOL!
13. Switching to cloth diapers. It's been 14 months since I started CDing.
14. Using cloth wipes
15. Line-drying my cloth diapers.
16. Unplugging appliances when not in use.
17. Not buying water bottles.
18. Not buying soda pops. Hence, I don't really recycle aluminum cans.  It's also calcium-depleting and very bad for you!
19. Switching to mostly CFL light bulbs
20. Buying all-natural and non-toxic cleaning products. I need to start making my own with products that I have aroound the home like vinegar and baking soda!
21. Using cloth napkins instead of paper towels. I haven't brought any paper towels for a few months now.
22. Using cloth towels to clean up. Once I started I can't believe why I buy the disinfecting wipes in the first place!
23. Reusing grocery plastic bags as trashbags.
24. Bringing reusable tote bags for groceries
25. Not buying plastic baggies when packing lunches. This is hard when Sissy has to bring in a throw-away lunch for her field trips! I've actually managed to save some small paper bags that Hubby gets from his adult drink.
26. Planting a garden. Hubby does this. He plants tomatoes (cherry and regular) and cucumbers. We already have sour lettuce and herb plant that my mom gave to me and a strawberry patch garden.
27. Using reusable drinking bottles
28. Packing my lunch to work
29. Going paperless for paying bills
30. Using mama pads. No more buying disposable pads.
31. Using less tampons. I brought a diva cup. It's actually easy to use once you get used to it. I don't think I can do it if I'm not at home, though. 
32. Choosing all-natural and/or organic food when possible
33. Buying more local grown foods
34. Using low to zero VOC paint. I can't stand the smell of paint. It gives me a headache. Hubby, please, buy these instead! Sissy wants to redo her room. We actually haven't changed the original color to the house since we moved in about 4 years ago.
35. Shopping less for things. I loves a saving but started not buying stuff just because it was on sale!

I'll add more when I can think of anything else or start something new. There's always plenty of room for improvements!

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The best part is about being eco-friendly is my family can save a lot of money and live a healthier lifestyle!