014. Simplify Your Life. Do What You Love.

 

These two and I have recently become best friends. 

Written By: Ashley Solis 

About two months ago, I came across an inspiring article about living more simply. As soon as I finished this article, I wrote down on a blue post-it what I wanted my life to look like. This list included writing full-time, traveling, teaching classes, more yoga and other things that I find valuable. I felt calm, focused and more clear on my intentions for my life. 

A month later, I signed up for a writing class with Tammy Strobel, the same author whom wrote a book about simplifying her life and whom the above article is about. I have always enjoyed writing. Ever since graduating college, almost 2 years ago, I have done less and less writing. I needed to find a way to inspire my creativity. My sister and I have been contributing to this blog as a way to keep up with our love of writing. But at times I find that I have to force myself to write more. I tend to get distracted by Facebook,  Instagram, shows I have recorded, my extremely stressful job, and life in general.

I kept referring back to that article about living simply. One question that stuck out to me was, what do I "want" and what do I "need." Some may wonder, what's the difference? We all have the same basic needs, food, water, shelter, human connection and so-on. I thought, "What is one thing I could live without and also save money while doing so?" The answer was simple, cable. I do not need cable. I work for a non-profit and have noticed that money has been tighter than I am used to. Also, cable was becoming more and more of a distraction for me. I was not doing all of the things I wanted to. Instead of writing, I was getting sucked into watching marathons of "48 Hours Mystery."

On Wednesday, I cancelled my cable subscription. After being on hold for 15 minutes, a representative answered the phone. I told her I would like to cancel our cable. She asked with her scripted, "Is there something wrong with your cable connection or have you had any issues with the service?" I chose to give her the reason why, "No, it works fine. We decided that we want to save money and would like to spend our free time not watching TV." Her answer surprised me. She said, "My husband and I recently got rid of cable. We realized we were spending too much time watching TV. Now we read more, listen to music and even talk to each other, what a concept!" It was refreshing to hear her response. She's a salesperson, but a person first. We talked for about 10 minutes and she made the process simple and painless. It has been a few days and I do not miss it at all. I thought I was going to have some serious withdrawals. In reality, I have been writing more and focusing on that blue post-it. I am back on track.

This week's change, what is one thing that you do not need and can get rid of? What is your reason behind it? Is it wasteful? Saving money? Bettering yourself? Lifestyle change?

013. Water Wars

And Thank You
Written By: Jamie Solis

It's the year 2024 and you were lucky enough to survive the apocalypse predicted by the Ancient Mayans. Before feeling relieved, notice a more evident end-all-be-all situation on the rise. Record breaking heat has forced 14 countries to declare emergency droughts because they are utterly helpless. The changes in weather along with over-consumption of the world's fresh water (by previous and current generations), are to blame for this imagined future catastrophe.

If the viability of the earth in years to come does not worry you, wake up! Water is the quintessential resource which sustains human life on this planet. The composition of our bodies, as well as that of the plants and animals we eat, is mostly H20.

Our simple suggestion for the week to encourage your positive action...find ways to conserve water at work, at home and in the community. Shortening your showers can save water on a daily basis, assuming you shower regularly of course. When cooking dinner, try to cut down the amount of dishes you use. Planning your meal using one pan for multiple items, you will be making a difference. By not using more than what is truly necessary, it leads to less cleaning for you and more water for life. At work, encourage management to adopt water conserving practices.

Adopting our small suggestions will include you in making a difference. Please share some ideas with us on how to conserve water.

Be sure to check our facebook this week to see a great water saving video which can help you save water at home, work or wherever you have influence.

012: Just Say No

Just Say "No" to Receipts

According to the New Observer, there are 220,000 tons of paper produced for the main purpose of printing receipts in the United States each year. This adds up to 3.74 million trees! This seems crazy, but it is true.

We understand that for some purposes receipts may be the way you keep track of what you're spending, especially when swiping that card. We have news for you! The majority of banks now immediately debit your account when you swipe your card and place those funds in "pending" mode. Therefore, the need for a receipt after every single purchase seems unnecessary. We know that are our wallets end up with a ridiculous amount of wadded up little papers. We end up throwing away those receipts when they start taking up too much space.

Now you're thinking, "what if I need to return an item I purchased?" More good news! Many companies are now offering digital receipts sent directly to your email. Whole Foods Market, Nordstrom, Gap Inc., Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Patagonia, Sears and Kmart are just a few of the retailers that have gone digital.  We think this is an even better idea than those pesky paper ones, that you end up searching for while at the counter and you're telling the cashier, "I swear it's in here...somewhere."

We have noticed when we go to certain stores, the cashier asks, "would you like a copy of the receipt?" We say no thank you! Our suggestion for this week, next time you take some cash from the ATM or order that coffee, say no to a receipt.

In the mean time, what can you do with all those old receipts? Thedailygreen.com shares a 4 minute video on how to make paper out of your old receipts, junk mail, or any other paper you find. We will be sharing this video on our facebook page, so give us a "like" if you haven't already!

011: A Practical Replacement

Discover a new alternative to paper towels!

We are constantly trying to find small ways that we can be less wasteful. We have presented a few different ways to do this in past posts. Today we came across a pretty cool idea. We discovered paperless paper towels, also known as reusable paper towels. Check out this website, http://cateyedkp.tumblr.com/post/28130255598/unpaper-towel-tutorial, for a fun way to create this alternative. Of course you do not have to get this creative! You can use dish rags in place of paper towels. Also, if you would like an option that is both organic and fair trade friendly, check out PeopleTowels at http://www.peopletowels.com/. Using these cute and reusable hand towels for your personal use, even when on-the-go, reduces CO2 emissions, conserves water and reduces landfill waste.

This fun alternative got us wondering, how many paper towels are used each year in the United States? According to the American Forest and Paper Association, 7300 tons of paper towels are used each year. That's a lot of paper towels! Paper towels were invented in the late 1800's. They were originally meant to be used as a medical item. We understand that the great thing about paper towels is that you can dispose of them and they are more sanitary. But, it is one of those things that is also very wasteful and completely avoidable. 

This week, when you go to reach for a paper towel to wipe off that mirror or clean up a spill, grab a dish towel instead.

010: Nature Versus Narcotic Dilemma

 Can diet and exercise fix your every day ailments?

We recently watched the documentary, "Food Matters." This film focuses on how the food we put into our bodies is chemically engineered and lacking essential vitamins and minerals. Due to the lack of nutritious food, we are facing many diseases and issues with our health. We have all heard the saying, "you are what you eat."  It seems simple enough. None of what is in this film should be shocking, but it is.

We do not feel well, therefore we decide to go to the doctor. Ideally, the doctor would prescribe sleep, exercise, vitamins, healthy and nutrient rich foods and water. Unfortunately, more times than not, the doctor prescribes us a little pill. High cholesterol? Here's a pill. Can't sleep? Here's a pill. Headache? Pill. Sinus headache? Pill. All kinds of pills! Big ones, little ones, blue ones, red ones. Pills, pills, pills!

This film has numerous messages that we love, but one in particular continuously rings in our heads. Our bodies are made up vitamins and minerals. If we are sick, then we are deficient in one or more vitamins and/or minerals. Our bodies are designed to heal themselves. Why is it that we are told that chemicals (pharmaceuticals) will heal our bodies? Our bodies are not made up of chemicals nor are deficient in them.

This week's blog should challenge you to question the authority prescription drugs have over your ability to accept holistic medicine, natural remedies, or an overall healthy lifestyle as being the norm.

American culture has accepted the pharmaceutical industry with open arms. This acceptance has occurred despite the connection between the FDA and the drug companies. It seems to us that this is a major conflict of interest. The pharmaceutical companies are the same ones that are funding the research done by the FDA whom are supposed to certify that this drug is "safe."

It seems that Americans often expect manufactured drugs to fix ailments caused by their dietary, recreational, and every day lifestyle choices. According to the book, "Generation Rx: How Prescription Drugs Are Altering American Lives, Minds, and Bodies." by Greg Crister, one-half of Americans take 1 prescription pill daily, while one-sixth of Americans take 3 or more prescription pills every day in 2004. (Page 2) Prescription pills are often used to reduce cholesterol, lower blood pressure, enhance metabolism, treat depression, and much more. Americans are fixated on taking any drug that may potentially lead to a cure. The real question should not be "what is the cure?" rather, "how do we prevent this in the first place?" New drugs are being recommended to patients without thorough research on their safety, efficacy, and long term effects. For instance, one prescription pill named Vioxx was widely popular. It was prescribed to reduce the pain, inflammation and stiffness caused by different forms of arthritis. In about 5 years of its introduction, it was recalled for causing up to 100,000 heart attacks. Why are the regulations on prescription drugs not protecting the safety of the consumer?

The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for regulating food and drugs manufactured, distributed or sold within the United States. The FDA has the authority on determining which prescription drugs are safe, and which are not. While the FDA is supposed to regulate drug companies, it is unclear how successful they are able to do this because of their intimate ties within the pharmaceutical industry. The media is informing the public about how successful antidepressants are for our children one day. The next day, huge pharmaceutical companies are sued because they fraudulently covered up that their product has led suicide among their young patients.

While the FDA and pharmaceutical companies aren't offering much support to the consumer's safety, new types of prescription pills are being recommended constantly by deeply entrusted and educated doctors. Medical doctors are often the main source of information about which drugs and remedies can help patients avoid health risks and live longer. In reality, there have been numerous accounts of doctors prescribing pills that are are untested and unregulated. Why wouldn't a doctor recommend some type of healthy lifestyle change along with the prescription drug, or instead of it? The answer is simple...money.

Back to the documentary, "Food Matters." There are numerous doctors and other specialists that support the use of vitamins and healthy foods to cure what ails you. Watch it for yourself on Netflix. Visit their website for more information or to watch the trailer, http://foodmatters.tv/

This brings us to the small change you should make this week. Think about a pill you take, either prescription or over the counter. Now, what is the reason that you are taking this pill? Rather than popping that pill, search for a natural cure to treat the same ailment. We suggest http://www.earthclinic.com/ We understand that there are some diseases and viruses that do require actual prescriptions. We are not saying that you should suddenly discontinue use of those drugs.  We also understand that many of these can be treated over time in other ways. For instance, high blood pressure can be treated by changing your diet and participating in physical activity.

009. The Price of Information

What you don't know will affect you.

What is a fact? The definition of fact, according to dictionary.com is "something that actually exists; reality; truth." Okay, that seems simple enough. Wait, reality...reality... Reality is based on the perception of the person. Therefore, my reality is going to be different than yours and same goes for truth. Thus, "facts" can be and are altered to fit into a specific agenda. Our suggestion for this week: The next time you read something that is said to be factual, research whom is behind the very facts that you may accept and support.

Living in the 21st century, it is essential to know who is funding research and providing information in the media and public policies. While you may trust the source that is providing you with information, chances are your source may be funded by private companies or special interest groups that have ulterior motives. If an organization or group will benefit from you trusting their publicized knowledge, then it is important to check their references and authority on what they determine as factual.

A perfect example of knowing your source comes from an article written about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in April of 2010. After reading this article, we noticed that the voice of the author was down playing the amount of damage that occurred in the Gulf. Most people would not question an article published in National Geographic, but we did.  Upon searching for who funded the research we discovered, in very small print may we ad, that this was funded by Shell. Now, why would an oil company be interested in funding an article written about the environmental effects of an oil spill if not for personal gain? This should make you wonder...what other types of important information are being affected by profit?

Here is another example, the website called abortionfacts.com. After doing some searching, we discovered that this "factual" website is funded and operated by a Pro-Life organization. We are firm believers in respecting others personal beliefs and opinions. Unfortunately, the "facts" on this website were heavily supporting the Pro-Life organization. If a website is going to be named, "abortion facts," then the facts should try to be as unbiased as possible. In reality, the facts about abortion are going to support and undermine both Pro-Life and Pro-Choice organizations. Other websites dedicated to Pro-Life and Pro-Choice identify themselves as this either in their name or on their home page.

There are other types of funding  that can affect public information and lawmaking. One great example of this type of funded information is when political figures receive campaign contributions from private special interest groups and organizations. The Federal Election Commission publicly shares online which groups financially contribute to campaigns of individual politicians. This means the policy makers, who we are supposed to trust to shape our laws and society are each individually receiving money from special interest groups, and therefore may feel an obligation to support their values. It's easy to see who exactly is funding your favorite (or least favorite) politician by visiting http://www.fec.gov/finance/disclosure/norindsea.shtml and entering in the politician's first and last name.

We first searched Democratic Congresswoman, Dianne Feinstein. Upon clicking on the "Get Listing" button, we were presented with what appeared to be a dignified list of contributors including, "Reid, Harry via Friends for Harry Reid," "Solis, Hilda via Solis for Congress" and so on. These group titles are naming the contributors. These titles are actually links that connect to the details of whom actually contributed within each of these perfectly packaged groups.

Upon searching, we were not surprised that our female democratic congresswoman, Dianne Feinstein, has accepted numerous contributions from Planned Parenthood. In order to get this information, we first inquired who was in the group "Voters for Choice/Friends of Family Planning." Then, we were directed to another page in which we clicked on "Contributions Recieved by This Candidate's Committee". This is where we finally saw the "Planned Parenthood Action Fund." While this information is public for all to see, it is not seen by the masses.

To be clear, we are not saying that Planned Parenthood or any other organization should not have a right to lobby for their personal interest. We are simply stating that you as a citizen should be aware when voting for candidates, or failing to take action, of which value systems are funding those you are voting for or against. You may or may not agree with the values of Planned Parenthood or many other organizations that fund campaign elections. Therefore, it is important to be informed on who is contributing to the information and policy in the United States.

Overall, we would like to encourage you to check your sources, references and so-called facts. Everyone has values that they support. Be ensured that you are doing so because you are informed.

Tell us what you think!

008. Choose to Reuse

Thrift stores allow you to shop in a reusable way!

Each and every one of us has an impact on our environment, positive or negative. Since the industrial revolution, the prodcution and consumption of goods has increased dramatically. According to the Economic Research Survey 2007:2-5, 503 billion pounds of non-edible goods are thrown away each year by Americans. Help us eliminate unneccessary overproduction and waste! We are focused on resisting the current culture of over-consumption. Here are two simple ways to lower the amount of waste that is produced.

Paper or Plastic? Neither! Choose reusable bags instead of opting for paper or plastic bags at the check out stand. Keep reusable bags convienently located, which will help you remember them when you go shopping. If you find yourself with a few items that you are able to carry out, opt to go without a bag! Try and purchase reusable bags that have been recycled. Check out... http://www.reusethisbag.com/ and ecobags.com/Our_Products/Recycled_Products

Fabulous finds! By choosing to do your back to school shopping at a local thrift store, you will be reusing great and often well-made items. You will also find one of a kind items, save money and have fun! Some of our favorite stores are Buffalo Exchange (buffaloexchange.com), Labomba Vintage in Downtown Pomona (labombavintage.com), and pretty much any other thrift store we can find. 

Choose to reuse. Please share any other tips or ideas which resist over-consumption and encourage reusing!

007. Meatless Mondays

Make tasty vegetarian dishes at home!

 Soy chicken nuggets, veggie stuffed bell peppers, baked potato and rice.

OR

Enjoy vegetarian food at a restaurant!

Veggie burger and fries. 

The benefits to a vegetarian diet are endless. Choosing to go without meat has numerous positive effects on the your body and on the environment. According to the American Dietic Association (ADA), vegetarians are at lower risk for developing heart disease, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, colon, ovarian and breast cancer.  Unfortunately, many individuals believe that it is unhealthy to be a vegetarian. There is a great website that debunks many myths about vegetarianism. According to www.eatright.org :

Myth: A vegetarian diet is too strict and limiting. It would be too hard to follow.

Fact: There are many different types of vegetarian diets. A lacto-ovo vegetarian avoids meat, fish and poultry but may eat eggs and dairy products. A lacto-vegetarian will avoid meat, fish, and poultry but will eat milk, cheese and dairy. They will avoid eggs or derivatives of eggs. Vegans are strict vegetarians who avoid all animal products.

Myth: Vegetarianism is just a fad that will pass in a few years.

Fact: Most people throughout world history have eaten a largely vegetarian diet. Relatively recently, in Europe and North America, where meat and animal products have become affordable, diets centered around meats have become widespread. In other parts of the world, plant-based diets remain more common.

Myth: Vegetarians need to take vitamin or mineral supplements.

Fact: Most healthy vegetarians don’t need to take supplements although there may be exceptions. Someone switching to a vegetarian diet should meet with a registered dietitian to be sure that all necessary vitamins and minerals are being consumed from food sources.

(For a full list visit http://www.eatright.org/search.aspx?search=vegetarian)

Now that we've debunked the myths surrounding the healthfulness of a vegetarian diet, we will examine some dangers of our over consumption of meat on the environment. One-fifth of the greenhouse gas omissions in the United States are from the production of livestock. The overproduction of livestock has also led to a loss in biodiversity, water shortages, obesity, other health related problems, pollution and more.

Considering the numerous positive effects of choosing a vegetarian diet, we would love to suggest an all vegetarian diet to every reader. However, we understand this may be unrealistic for many of you. Therefore, in true Change Weekly fashion, we are suggesting a much smaller change this week; which is to begin implementing "Meatless Mondays." Obviously, your meatless day does not have to be on Monday. Rather, choose one day each week that will not include meat of any kind. You will be able to implement a change without it being a hassle.

Be sure to check in with our facebook for our favorite vegetarian dishes. 

A fabulous website for meatless dishes is www.meatlessmonday.com  or www.vegetariantimes.com

006. A Diamond is Forever?

Our answer to this question is "Yes!"

Have you ever stopped to think why the diamond engagement ring seems to be standard? Well, we have. What has made the diamond such a popular engagement ring in the United States over the past 100 years or so? Also, how has the popularity of the diamond affected the people whom harvest them?

Around 1870, diamonds were discovered in South Africa. During this time, De Beers Consolidated Mines gained control over most of the diamond supply to the world. To create demand and perceived value in the post-Depression and post-WWII era, De Beers began a very successful marketing campaign with the famous “A Diamond is Forever” phrase that you still see and hear today in advertisements. De Beers managed to convince the public that diamond rings were the only correct choice for engagement rings. Also, that engagement rings should be kept as heirlooms and not resold, therefore preventing a secondary market from being created. They even educated jewelers to instruct husbands to be that two to three months salary was the appropriate amount to spend on an engagement ring. 

If you have seen the movie, Blood Diamond, directed by Edward Zwick, you may be familiar with the allegations that there are clear links between diamonds and tyrannical force in Africa. These valuable stones are often referred to as "conflict diamonds." Many individuals have been mutilated and/or murdered in order to continue mining these diamonds. One former international organization, the Kimberly Process, set forth to prohibit conflict diamond sales worldwide. According to the Kimberly Process in 2009, the majority of the top ten diamond supplying countries were in Africa.  African countries made almost a billion dollars more in profits than Canada and Russia combined. 
Unfortunately, the Kimberly Process was not successful in preventing conflict diamonds from selling. A recent article in Time World, written by Alex Perry, is titled "Return of the Blood Diamond. (And we Don't Mean the Movie)." Perry suggests that the Kimberly Process may have done the opposite of their declared goal and actually assisted in the dirty diamond laundering out of Africa. 

It is important to note that some diamond producers have actually stepped up against conflict diamonds, even if it means taking an economic hit. As the original founder of diamonds, De Beers was known to harvest diamonds from anywhere and from anyone. However, De Beers has since realized that a diamond was meant to symbolize love, happiness and eternal love, and conflict diamonds symbolize exactly the opposite. Now, De Beers only uses stones that they mine, which has been a negative effect financially for the company. Even though the true creater of diamond engagement rings has adjusted their ethical standards, it has not started a trend. Conflict diamonds are still widely unregulated and on the international market. Also, some diamonds are represented as non-conflict, but the reality is that they may actually be the opposite. 

Rather than allowing society to dictate what we should like, it is important to stop and think about what we want to represent. The true representation of love should not be how big an engagement ring is. If you find it difficult to resist that diamond engagement ring, opt for an antique ring. 

Where did your diamond come from?

005. Grow Your Own

Grow Your Own Garden!

Growing your own fruits and vegetables has countless benefits to you, your family and the environment. This article will inspire you to start growing your own fruits or vegetables, one delicious and healthy treat at a time.

Locally grown produce cannot get any more convienent and local than your own personal garden! This leads to our first great reason to grow your own produce, because it eliminates the environmental costs of transportation. An entire pack of organic seeds in less than $2 and will save you money on produce in the end. Not to mention how much fun it will be to share your organic produce with family and friends. 

By growing your own produce, you are able to control and become aware of what is going into your fruits and vegetables. If you buy organic seeds and use fertilizer or compost that is free from pesticides and herbicides, you will be choosing a healthier alternative for yourself and your family. Growing your own fruits and vegetables is a sure way to avoid the harsh chemicals that are routinely used in produce sold at your local grocery store. 

Last, gardening is a great way to spend time outside to get fresh air. It can also be a great activity to involve the kids in. They will get a sense of where their food comes from and how easy it is to provide for yourself. Gardening is sometimes an aerobic activity, while other times it releases stress and anxiety. 

Please go to a local family owned business and purchase organic seeds and pots today. Be sure to follow the instructions and have fun! I started my garden today with squash and bell peppers. In order to document my experience, the successes as well as mistakes, I have started a Garden Journal as well. This will help me keep focused and ensure that I am constantly improving my gardening.