I would love to be 100% green in all the things I do, but that simply isn’t realistic for me.  To celebrate the “soggy” in me (vs. the crunchy/green part of me), I’m sharing 20 green things that I don’t do.  You can read #1-10 here.

20 Green Things I Don’t Do (#11-20) 

11. Use a Clothes Line – I want to use a clothes line.  I really do!  Sadly, this house didn’t have one when we moved in and installing one just hasn’t happened yet.  Someone please come to my house and install one of those cool pulley system lines off my deck!
12. Ban Plastic Toys – Plastics can be kind of scary.  Some toy companies will guarantee you that their products are BPA free.  Others won’t.  I would love if all of Grace’s toys would be made out of wood with nontoxic paint, but that isn’t very realistic for us.  Instead I’ve made certain things a priority (like play food that will certainly go in her mouth) and other things I’ve been more laid back about.
13. Cloth Diaper – I’ve already written about my 5 excuses and 1 true reason for not using cloth diapers.
14. Family Cloth – Some families who love to cloth diaper have taken it one step further by using cloth toilet paper.  My mother has threatened to write me out of her will if I ever take that step.  I’d like to stay in the will.
15. Recycle All Plastic – I hate to do it, but sometimes I throw away plastic containers.  My area only recycles a couple kinds of plastics, so that means that the rest usually get trashed.
16. Have a Paperless Kitchen – I would love to go completely paperless in my kitchen.  We already made the switch to cloth napkins, but those pesky paper towels keep showing up!  The truth is that my husband has a special place in his heart for paper towels.  I keep trying to change his mind, but I’d rather he help clean the kitchen with paper towels than not help at all!
17. Shop at Thrift Stores – I’ve definitely shopped in 2nd hand stores.  However, when it comes to buying my clothes these days, I just don’t have the desire.  My shopping time is limited, so I don’t want to search through racks and racks.  Plus I tend to buy things that are just ok and not always stuff that I love.  This fashion struggling mama needs to step it up a notch and quit buying things just because they are cheap!
18. Eat 100% Local and/or Seasonal – Bananas don’t grow in my backyard year round.  Or ever.  They still make it on the shopping list!
19. Recycle “Gray” Water – In the summer I try to utilize the water from my daughter’s baby pool and dehumidifier, but we don’t have one of those fancy water-saver-things that collects your bathroom sink water to use in the toilet.
20. Diva Cup/Keeper – If you don’t know what this is, then you’ll have to look it up yourself.  I don’t have the guts to explain it here.  

Now that I’ve spilled my guts about all the green things that I don’t do, I expect all my green readers to go running for the hills and all my regular readers to follow since I mentioned the words “diva cup!”

Are you running for the hills or do you feel relief from any I’m-not-green-enough guilt?

How are you doing on your 2012 goals?  The next Insane Goals link-up is on February 1st.  Plus, the 2nd Annual “A Day in the Life of…” Link-Up is happening in 11 days!  Have you taken your photos yet???

This post is being linked to Your Green Resource.

It was the first time I hosted a party and used real plates and silverware.

“That wasn’t so bad,” I said after I filled the dishwasher.  ”Just another green baby step.”

“Do you really think you only do baby steps??” questioned my sister.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re probably the crunchiest person we know.  We’re just soggy,” chimed in my brother-in-law.

That conversation happened almost a year ago, but it stuck with me.  Am I giving off a perfectly green image?  Am I being honest about how green I really am?

There certainly are many ways that I strive to be green, but it isn’t always easy.  There are some things that I don’t do because of cost, time, ignorance, local access, and even laziness.

But that is ok!!

Today I’m revealing the “soggy” in me.  It is time to let go of that not-green-enough guilt!

20 Green Things I Don’t Do (#1-10) 

1. Remember to use my Cloth Grocery Bags – I have gotten much better at this, but I do not remember all of the time.  Plus when I realize that I’ve forgotten them, I don’t turn back to get them unless I haven’t left the house yet.
2. Take Short Showers – In general, I’m not that great at “saving water.”  This is especially true with my long hot showers.  Sometimes it just feels too good to turn the water off!
3. Use Glass for Food Storage – I only have a handful of very small glass containers, but a whole drawer full of plastic ones.  In my defense, I have asked for a glass storage set for Christmas 2 years in a row.
4. Use 100% Green Bath & Beauty Products – All of Grace’s products are green; toothpaste, body wash, and even her diaper rash cream.  Mine are not.  I have a hard time with the price.  Today I received an order from Vitacost.com with some new organic products for me to try.  Maybe there is hope!  (If you are new to Vitacost you can get a $10 off coupon here.)
5. Unplug Unused Appliances/Electronics – Even when you aren’t using your TV it is consuming energy.  Some people swear by unplugging anything that you aren’t using to save money and electricity.  I am not one of those people.  I’m too lazy.
6. Do Paperless Billing – I know I should do this, but paying the bills is already a pain.  I don’t want to learn how to do something new.
7. Eat 100% Organic – I would love to only buy organic, but the cost is too high for some things and my access is limited.  My local grocery store doesn’t have a very good selection of organic items.  Currently I’m not willing to give up the convenience of my store in order to eat more organic foods.
8. Compost – Growing up we would throw a lot of things into the field behind my house.  Now that I live in town it all goes into the trash.
9. Bike/Walk Everywhere – I live in an area that makes it possible for me to walk Grace to the park, to pick up my prescriptions or take-out food, or to stop at the post office.  Sometimes I walk.  Usually I drive.  I never bike.
10. Drive a Hybrid – And when I’m driving Grace to the only-a-few-blocks-away park, it is not in a hybrid car.

Next week I’ll share with you 10 more green things that I don’t do.  UPDATE: Read Part 2 here!

Anything on my list surprise you?  How does your level of crunchy compare?

This post is being linked to Your Green Resource because sometimes green folks need to be released from that not-green-enough guilt!

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