My Green Glasses

Going Green Through Art

I have loved to create art all of my life. Drawing and painting are a hidden passion and I’m finally getting back into it. I plan to sell my artwork this summer at the Art Walk at Market Common. Since I’m not sure how it will go, I’ve decided to share my booth space with a friend. We can split the booth fee and share a space. Probably a good idea in this economy.

My passion for art comes from my dad’s side of the family. My Aunt Jeanette Walker (Jett Walker) has made art her life. She attended the Academy of Art in the Bay area and turned her creativity to working in paint, etchings and sculpture. I have always admired her. My dad creates art through model airplane design. These model airplanes are the real deal, not the radio-controlled versions.

Art is something that you feel inside and outside. Sometimes I can just pick up a paint brush and just create something. Other times art can’t be forced or stressed, it has to flow.  My art medium is paint because I love moving paint and mixing colors. My best work is nature and I love to reflect its beauty.

I found green artwork to be a passion for its recycled value and its final design. I define green artwork as any art that is created on something that would otherwise be thrown in the garbage. Some of the greatest pieces of art is found on wooden boards from shelving units, old windows, and old doors. There are several artists in the Myrtle Beach area that create their art on recycled pieces: Kimberly Dawn Clayton, Caitlyn Beidler (http://www.caitlinbeidler.com) and Angela Jordan. Its amazing what you can find in the trashcan that can be transformed into a beautiful piece of artwork!

This summer through the Global Awareness Project in Myrtle Beach, an Art Walk series will take place at the Market Common. The first Art Walk will be June 13-14 and the theme will be environmental. I will be there along with hundreds of other artists.

Surviving the Suffering Economy

Have you ever looked at your bank account and asked yourself, where did the money go? In this time of seriously being broke, day-to-day living starts to get depressing. Going out to splurge on a pair of shoes or a handbag seems to be a thing of the past. Everybody is strapped for cash and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better anytime soon.

My husband and I have found ways to trim the money fat and still not get depressed over it. We’ve sacrificed eating out for lunch during the workweek in order to go out to dinner and a movie. Its worth the wait! We realized that we could easily spend $75-125 a week just on lunches. Every now and then, we still go out with the boys or the girlfriends. This was a change, especially for us. Packing your lunch seemed so elementary, but in this day, its really the best way to save your funds. Just a simple sandwich or dinner leftovers make for a great lunch and keeps your dollars in your wallet. Plus, you don’t have to expend gas to go out!

Going green in your cleaning routine may be a helpful solution for those willing to try something different. Cleaning products are no doubt pricey, but going back to basics may help. All cleaning agents are originally made from a few general ingredients: baking soda, lemon juice, vinegar. Try using just baking soda with a tad of water for cleaning your bathtub/shower, stovetop and anything else that holds grime. I’ve found that it helps those surfaces sparkle. Plus, its environmentally-friendly. I recently bought a 12 lb. bag of baking soda from Sam’s Club for just under $4. My close friend told me that you can also wash your clothes in straight baking soda - which I plan to do when I run out of the 144 load bottle of $28 Tide.

There are many budget tips and tricks, you just have to be willing to make changes and sacrifices. Our rule is that we eat dinner at home every night unless we go out with friends or a date. This way, its way worth it to spend time with people and its more special. Rules help us keep boundaries in our financial limits, otherwise if it were up to me, we would always get take-out. Besides the money, I also think about the amount of waste from take-out. Compared to eating at home, the only thing I actually throw into the trash are polystyrene trays, plastic wrap and any seasoning packets.  Everything else, cans and boxes, gets recycled or reused.

I believe going green helps to save some green. I don’t think I’ve changed who I am, just have a different outlook and a conscience effort doing my part. Conscience efforts make all the difference.

Styrofoam Recycling Initiatives

Several companies are taking initiatives to eliminate and/or recycle Styrofoam from their products.  They also have made it a goal to reduce packaging and waste overall. The following is a list I’ve compiled of those companies.

Apple Apple and the Environment
Amazon.com Frustration-Free Packaging
Wal-Mart Canada Styrofoam Article

Attempt to Ban Styrofoam: Usage Log

Polystyrene (aka Styrofoam) is one of my biggest recycling challenges and considered a waste nuisance.  Whether is comes from packaging or fast-food restaurants, its a problem.  I would like to ban Styrofoam from my life, but its so hard.  I thought if I used my SIGG bottle more, then I wouldn’t have to use Styrofoam.  My biggest weakness was the drive-thru, especially Sweet Tea from Chick-fil-a, Oliver’s and Donzelle’s.  However, when I go to a fast-food joint or get take-out - there are no other alternatives.  I have even taken the time today to contact Chick-Fil-A about my issue. I thought, well why can’t I bring my own cup?  They do it at the gas station and Starbucks for coffee, why not BYOC (bring your own cup) for soda and sweet tea? Hopefully someone will get smart and start this trend and I will hopefully hear back from Chick-fil-a.

My Annual Styrofoam Usage Log.
Jan. 4 - Fatz Cafe: Four Clamshell Take-Out Containers, Two Medium Drink Cups (this killed me)
Jan. 5 - Donzelle’s: One Medium Drink Cup (sweet tea)
Jan. 8 - Chick-Fil-A: One Medium Drink Cup (dr. pepper)
Jan. 11 - Bonjangles: One Large Drink Cup (dr. pepper)
Jan. 16 - Chick-Fil-A: One Large Drink Cup (sweet tea)
Jan. 26 - Home: One Medium Meat Tray
Jan. 27 - Donzelle’s: One Medium Drink Cup (sweet tea), One Medium Meat Tray
Jan. 28 - Fuji: One Medium Drink Cup (sweet tea), One Sushi Tray

2009: The Year of Being a Better Shade of Green

After reading Sustainable Dave’s blogs and tips, I feel inspired to make a better effort in my own life.  I am a Recycling Coordinator and I probably generate a fair amount of trash.  We put out our trash every other week, which is not bad, but I think we could do better.

I would like to challenge myself this year to be a better shade of green.

Let’s start with GREEN goals for 2009:

1) Start backyard composting. (I promote this at work and need to start it myself, I plan to blog about my experiences)

2) Use the SIGG. (I half use my SIGG and need to use it fulltime)

3) Ban the use of Styrofoam. (this will be the biggest challenge)

4) Create more art. (anyone have a hot glue gun?)