Last week, my friends Joshua and Mandy spoke to their friend’s class on how they’ve made everyday changes to green their life. They streamed it á la Internet, and I found it oh so inspiring. We’ve been doing a lot already—recycling everything, buying less, eating at home, only having one car, and biking/bussing/walking as much as possible. I bought baking soda and white vinegar and made a half-butt attempt to switch to natural cleaning, but never really got there. But now I’m on a mission!

Here are the things I’m working on in the next couple weeks:

1. I’m replacing our shampoo/conditioner/body soap with Dr. Bronner’s and switching to Preserve toothbrushes and razors. Burt’s Bees and a washcloth for facial cleanser and exfoliating.
2. I’m going to be good and only use baking soda and white vinegar for cleaning. (One of the tricks I heard from work is to sprinkle baking soda on the bathroom sink and use half a lemon as a sponge. Lemony-fresh and no icky rags!)
3. Mrs Meyers will be the dish soap of choice again…it’s worth the extra dollars.
4. We’re going to develop a habit of unplugging all appliances (minus the fridge) when not in use.

And next year, here are some plans:

1. Initiate composting and a communal garden in the back yard (there’s two other tenants on the property). 
2. Bike to work when the weather is decent. (It should be here soon…)
3. Invest in better clothes that will last longer and can be recycled when they become too worn (cotton, wool, silk).
4. Buy produce from Farmer’s Market more regularly.

So that is the plan. I’m feeling like this is all very attainable as long as I set reasonable goals for myself. Rome wasn’t built in a day, you know.

Mr Dukes and I splurged a few weeks ago (guilty!) and bought a Wii as an early Christmas present to ourselves. The conditions were that we couldn’t spend any money on each other for the rest of the holidays. I have grand plans on gifts I can make him with what we have in-house (crocheted Wiimote cozy?), but I can’t share them on the blog because he reads it. 

Ok, enough talk. I’d better get started!

I’m determined to enjoy the next four years no matter what happens. Whoever wins will have my respect.

In semi-related news, I really REALLY hope Prop 1A passes.

I uploaded a few photos from Halloween. It was a small group with lots ‘n’ lots of babies. Thankfully, they are too young for candy…which meant more for us!

I would love to exclusively buy U.S. made clothing and support independent designers. Maybe someday I can afford to do that. Until then, I’ll just have to save my pennies!

Here is me in ‘86. My friends’ dad went to Japan on business so we were child samurais that year. I look so intimidating, don’t I?

Mr Dukes and I have been making similar, although not as drastic, changes to our spending. We’re trying to eat at home as much as possible, take advantage of Netflix and the public library, make all our Christmas presents this year, and resist impulse purchases, to name a few. We’ve also laid out a practical plan to be completely debt free in less than two years (which I am VERY excited about). 

I’m realizing that none of this is possible without a shift of mindset and the will to discipline oneself. I don’t think contentedness comes naturally (and it certainly isn’t encouraged by mainstream media!), but it is oh so rewarding. 

This time, we made it to Monterey. Apparently, October is one of their best months (80-degree weather!). It only took about 2 hours to drive there. Yay for living in the Bay Area!

We found some good eats, perused a great little antique shop, and saw a movie. And of course, we went to the Aquarium. See more pictures here. Fun times!