The Household COO

After a few experiences of not having a reusable bag big enough for my purchases, I decided to buy another ultra compact, extra-large shopping bag from reusablebags.com.

With open dimensions of 20.5″ x 16.1″ x 9.5″, a volume of 30 litres, I think we should be able to fit most shopping purchases in here.  It has a capacity for 26 lbs, which I think is plenty since any more would mean I wouldn’t be able to carry my son and my backpack with his essential items.  Since the Reisenthel Mini Maxi Hauler folds into a pocket size of 8.3″ x 5.7″ x 0.8″, it’s small and slim enough to carry around without the inconvenience of extra bulk.

And since I was already getting the bag, I decided to buy another 12 oz Kleen Kanteen stainless steel bottle for myself so I don’t end up drinking my son’s water when we go out.  Although I’ve generally been more concerned about using toxic products on my son, I don’t usually take much notice of the products I use on myself.  With more concerns about the use of polycarbonate bottles with regards to the leaching of Bisphenol A and articles advising against its use, I figured that I ought to try to minimise my own consumption of fluids in polycarbonate containers.  Besides, my son has dropped his bottle a few times already and it has a couple of dents at the base so it doesn’t hurt to have a spare. 

I also bought a sports cap for the bottle since my son has been quite capable of drinking fluids without a sippy spout for some time now.  He doesn’t really want to use bottles with the sippy spout any more because he feels he’s a big boy capable drinking from cups and bottles that Mummy and Daddy use.

If I can’t buy DVDs online, then at least I can buy stuff from reusablebags and be kind to our planet at the same time.  And now, I get another parcel in the mail.  Yay!

Today is officially my third day of being plastic-bag free, but since I didn’t go out yesterday, technically, today is the second day I have helped decline a plastic bag from shopping.  I went shopping with my SIL2 and brought out the bag my BFF gave me to help get me started on being bag free.  I also went online and bought myself another 5 bags from reusablebags.com which I’m planning to give to my SIL2 and my MIL so they can also go bag-free.

Reusablebags.com are having a special right now so you can get a Chicobag for $3.75 each.  If you’re not fussed about the colour, the black is cheaper than the other colours.  Plus if you buy five or more of the same colour, they have a special price for you. 

Chicobags fold up into a compact case that you can hook to your key chain, belt loops or handbag.  It’s so light and small, you could fit it easily into the glove box of your car or you pocket.  Go get one today!

Ok, ok, so I’ve been quite good with the declining of plastic bags whenever it was unnecessary, but I can’t exactly say I’ve been plastic bag free like my BFF who has been going green and strong for some three months.  Although we have those green grocery bags from Safeway that my SIL bought for us to use, they are pretty bulky and rather cumbersome to carry around.  Usually I end up forgetting to bring it along and then we have to use the plastic bags provided by the supermarket.

Recently, my BFF gave me a reusable bag she bought online from reusablebags.com which is much more practical because it folds up into a compact case that I can attach to my handbag.  Now I can bring it along with me everywhere and use it whenever I make a purchase. 

Today was my first day experiencing the plastic bag free life - I went shopping with my son and declined two bags.  One small step for Mummy, another leap forward for the green life. 

On my BFF’s recommendation, I’m also pretty tempted to get one of these thermal sippy cups for Gavin:

Currently, I’ve been using the plastic Avent bottles for Gavin - which is probably somewhat better than the water they give us from outside.  What I should start doing is bringing my own water for me, too - now that’s something I’ve been rather slack with.