A Green-ish Life - just a girl trying to live a green(ish) life

The Year of Lost Adventures

It’s pretty hard to recap a year of no blogging into one short post. Ha! But for the sake of sanity & being concise, I’ll give it a whirl anyway.

Life around here is very different from the last time I blogged. It’s been almost a year (& my posts before that were spotty at best, let’s be honest), and not only have we added a third munchkin to the mix, my eldest is in preschool a few hours a week, and we’re muddling through parenting three different personalities at various and challenging ages. (Yes, I know. They’re all challenging ages.)

Beyond mama bear-ing it, I’ve spent the last year (plus) focusing on improving our eco footprint, minimizing the harsh chemicals in our home, dabbling in greener & more natural solutions to cleaning our home, our bodies, our clothes. I’ve attempted my own cleaning solutions with essential oils. I also use oils to treat our moods and basic boo-boos. In the last few months I’ve shifted our eating to a much healthier, locally-sourced, pasture-raised focus. The Whole30 was tough at first but SO good to do! And from someone who used to be THE definition of ‘consumer’ I’ve been trying to embrace at least a slant towards the minimalist direction…which is certainly a challenge when you’re a confessed shopaholic, you love fashion, and you still want to do up your sparsely-decorated home. But I’m trying. I’ve tried a capsule(ish) wardrobe & learned some important lessons from that attempt. And M and I have eliminated SO. MUCH. STUFF. from our basement storage. You wouldn’t even believe how many bags and bags of clothes we donated to Goodwill….not to mention duplicates of dishes and mugs and such from our kitchen and plenty of boxes of things we don’t use anymore. (Like my amazing stainless steel fondue set that was only used once, ever…shocker.) I still have more to go. I have boxes and boxes of clothes that I’d love to thrift but just don’t have the time to pursue selling them, boxing them, shipping them…wouldn’t it be great if a service like that existed??

Anyway, here’s my challenge: I love the idea of the pursuit of less. I like the shift of focus from more ‘stuff’ to more ‘experiences.’ I have completely gotten on board with sustainable fashion, slow fashion, eco friendly fashion, however you want to say it. (Yes, KC, I’ve become even more granola than ever. Ha!) I genuinely want to reduce my carbon footprint, reuse what I can, recycle everything. I save glass jars for my own sauces and try to reuse plastic containers in any way I can. I’ve reduced the amount of paper we use in the household (I’m not sure it’s possible to eliminate altogether with 3 under 4 years old…). I want to grow my own vegetables and install a composting station in our backyard, although the 12 deer who eat breakfast and dinner on our property make that somewhat difficult to carry out. But the biggest hurdle to this endeavor is the mindset of consumption / wanting what everyone else has and the throwaway culture that I like so many other Americans have grown up in and surrounded by. Quite frankly, changing that is hard to do. It requires immense discipline and effort, especially in a city where recycling isn’t a massive concern and you have to work pretty hard to do it properly, and in The Age of Comparison, where you scroll through image after image of pretty things on social media and all you have to do is click ‘like’ and you can buy everything in that image!

But I care about this. I want my daughters to have a healthy planet. I want them to have a healthy LIFE. So, I am pursuing a green(ish) life for the benefit of us all. (Spoiler alert: therein lies the new blog name that is coming) 😉

So what about you…have you any green living tips for me??

When Taking Care of Yourself Isn’t Just About You

Last month I had a little pregnancy scare. At the time it was pretty frightening, because I was afraid I was going into preterm labor at just shy of 31 weeks. And I knew that baby girl was transverse (sideways) so would not have been able to come out on her own at that point. I had a busy day and was doing a thousand things with the girls and when I finally got us in the car to drive over to my parents’ house I realized that I was extremely nauseous and just didn’t feel right. Shortly after we got there, all of a sudden my Braxton Hicks contractions (harmless, not real ‘labor’ contractions that most women have throughout their pregnancies) became intense, and started coming frequently and regularly. It got worse and worse and then I started to get sick. I hadn’t had much to eat that day so before long the sick episodes were just heaving up bile (sorry, graphic) and they seemed to trigger contractions too. It was pretty horrendous. Instead of a nice afternoon of playing with the girls at Nana and Papa’s house, it turned into me pretty much sitting on the floor of the loo, waiting to get sick again. Over the course of a couple hours I went from feeling pretty nauseous to having regular, intense Braxton-Hicks contractions, repeatedly vomiting, worse and worse chills, and a whole lot of trepidation.

My dad drove us all home since there was no way I could drive, and stayed to help me get the girls in bed. I spent some time on the phone with the out-of-hours answering doctor for my OBGYN and he suggested I try to hydrate as best I could, and see if I could keep fluids down. (Apparently if you become dehydrated in pregnancy it can cause vomiting and bring on contractions – I did not know this!) If I couldn’t keep fluids down, I’d have to go in for IV fluids, and if I did keep fluids down but the contractions didn’t stop, I’d have to go in to triage. He kept telling me not to worry yet because I am not considered at high risk of preterm labor, since both my girls went nearly to term and my blood pressure is generally low rather than high.

Even with that advice, it was so hard to keep calm, especially with M still out in Arizona for work and not due back until the next day. I half didn’t want to tell him what was going on because I knew he’d worry, and I knew he couldn’t catch an earlier flight than the one he already was scheduled on. And I kept telling myself that it wasn’t labor, it wasn’t labor….but all I knew was I felt the pain and pressure of regular, frequent contractions, and I just kept remembering that the last time I went into labor I didn’t realize how far along in the labor I was and nearly didn’t make it to the hospital in time. I was feeling so weak and lightheaded from the frequent vomiting episodes I just couldn’t see how this was going to improve. I managed to drink half a glass of water, which came back up faster than I got it down. It was looking grim. My mom arrived to relieve my dad so he could go home and take care of their horses, and she settled in to spend the night. (Thank God for my parents being nearby, and so good at rolling with the punches!) She in all her motherly wisdom said to stop drinking cold water and take tiny frequent sips of tepid water instead.

I was finally able to keep some fluids down and had an hour or two without getting sick, so I was told to try to get some rest and see if the contractions slowed down at all. I slept for maybe an hour or two but spent most of the night wide awake, worried, and supremely uncomfortable. I finally was able to fall asleep around 5 am, only to wake at 6:15 with Bug. Thank God by then the contractions had returned to an irregular, infrequent pattern of ‘typical’ Braxton-Hicks. I felt like I’d been hit by a truck but really, since emptying my stomach so much the day before, I’d only been able to drink maybe a glass and a half of water and a few sips of a Pedialyte solution, so I was still dehydrated. I was so relieved that I didn’t have any indications of labor any longer but I could barely stand up for any period of time.

The next few days were pretty low. I laid on the couch for most of them, feeling like I was operating at about 15% capacity. I canceled my trip to Nashville as I was supposed to leave less than 24 hours after the contractions finally slowed down, and I was so disappointed to miss my trip – my last solo venture before this little babe arrives, and a chance for a weekend of girly chat and catch-up with my friend Emily – but it worried the both of us that something could go wrong with me being so far from home. Turned out to be a wise move since there was no way I could have managed walking around various airports, changing flights, dragging luggage around – I couldn’t even stand up to make lunch for the girls for a few days. And then since recovery was going so slowly, I had to miss my NYC bestie’s newest babe’s baptism 🙁 and a chance to see her in person too! I won’t lie, I was feeling pretty sorry for myself for a couple weeks there.

Here’s the thing: self-care is a phrase that gets tossed around a lot, and it obviously does mean taking care of yourself. But most people invest a lot of their own time and love and energy into relationships with the people they care about (be they children, parents, spouses, friends, whatever!). And one of the critical results of proper self-care is that you’re rejuvenated enough to continue caring properly for those around you. I certainly see it when I take a few hours to do something outside of the house on a weekend – my patience level sort of resets, so I can begin the new week without any of the frustrations from the prior week resting on my shoulders. In pregnancy, you are so interconnected to that tiny life growing inside you that self-care is even more important. Something as simple as forgetting to drink enough fluids for a day or two turned into a worrying situation, and ultimately could have resulted in preterm labor. Thankfully it did not! But I was reminded that I can’t put myself on the back burner as I usually do, when I’m focusing on the kiddos and getting things done around the house, because putting me on the back burner also puts this little growing baby on the back burner – and that’s unfair. I’m the only one taking care of her – it’s all on me.

Don’t feel like you’re being selfish. When you brush aside the idea of taking care of yourself first, remember that everyone around you also feels those positive effects of you taking care of yourself. Remember – it’s not just about you!

Beneath the Trees

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Hump day. The middle of the week. Halfway to the weekend, halfway done with the workweek (whatever that looks like for you). It may still be cold up here but at least the sun is shining! Currently I am finding it much easier to write creatively, in response to prompts and such, than I am to write about the general goings-on in my life – for whatever reason! So I’m going with it and decided to share another little piece of a story that I was working on last month…

She watched the road widen in front of her as she rounded the bend in the deep, green woods. Off to the left the cliff edge fell steeply, rocks and boulders haphazardly marking the perilous journey down to the crystal clear waters. She wanted to stop right there and leave the car, go and kneel on the edge of the road and bury her hands in the fresh earth, soak up the scent of the cool breeze drifting in from the sea. Soon, she thought to herself. Just keep going a little further.

As she continued winding through the forest, she absentmindedly fingered the tiny wooden relic in her hand, so worn from decades of subconscious and superstitious rubbing that it was now completely smooth. She could just make out the carved shape of a black bear, but even if it looked like a mere piece of the smooth walnut wood it was made of she would still treasure the small token as if it were pure gold. A tear slid down her cheek before she even noticed that she was on the verge of crying, and she ignored it, letting it forge a wet path down her face and hang momentarily at the curve of her chin before it dripped down into her lap. She no longer had those heart-wrenching moments of sorrow and grief throwing her completely off balance, but the periodic waves of sadness continued to ebb and flow, ebb and flow, even several months later. They always will, she thought mournfully.

Blinking several times, she focused again on the road ahead. The woods were so grown up along this part of the journey that the direct sunlight disappeared entirely, and only an emerald glow could be seen in pockets where the trees weren’t quite as close together. She was familiar with these roads, but it had been a long time since she had taken this path, so she wanted to be sure she didn’t miss the turn. She squinted and leaned over the steering wheel. There it was – nearly overgrown as always, but still visible if you were looking for it: a slight clearing amongst the brush, and a small weatherworn sign that was no longer legible. She pulled her car into the clearing and turned off the engine. Gripping the steering wheel tightly, she closed her eyes for a moment and gathered herself mentally. She wasn’t sure if she was ready for this.

As she stepped out the only sound was the snap of a dry twig cracking underneath her foot. She paused and took a deep breath, looking up into the canopy of the trees above, searching for a break in the green and a hint of the afternoon sunshine. The sharp chirps of birds overhead calling warnings to each other about her presence returned her to the moment. She grabbed her bag from the front seat and slung it onto her back, then slid the tiny carved bear into her front pocket. Closing the door, she headed for the trail that she knew was on the other side of the clearing and began her long hike.

So…as readers, what do you think? How does this blurb make you feel? I always have such a clear picture in my head but this time I can see this branching off in a few directions, so I’m intrigued to see where this leads. When you read a story, do you name a character in your head that hasn’t been named yet by the author? (Confession: I feel like that is the hardest part of a story for me, choosing a name for the main character – anyone else!?)

A Blogger (Re)Introduction!

Heeeey there! I know that I just blogged on Monday (true story!) but before that post it had been a pretty long and unplanned break since I’d been active in this space. I was actually wondering how on earth to re-enter the blogosphere’s orbit when my friend Emily reached out with her idea for a blogger re-introduction as many of us have been quieter than usual around here lately, and I jumped at the idea!

So let’s see….

I’m Rebecca! I am currently mom to two daughters aged 1 and 3, and have a third on the way shortly (yes, life is a little bit chaotic!). As if that weren’t enough, we recently added a black lab puppy to the mix who is in desperate need of obedience school – but the girls adore him and he makes for good entertainment at times! I’m married for four years to a wonderful Irishman who had my heart from our very first date. I met M back when we were both living in London, and after getting married and starting our family over there, we decided to make the big move Stateside, back to the general vicinity of where I grew up in western NY state – which is totally bizarre after 12 years out! I blog here at The Adventures of Bug and Boo, which started two years ago as a way for me to keep all of our family and friends up-to-date on our escapades, since most lived far away from us in multiple countries and cities. (Bug is my nickname for my first kiddo, from “Lovebug,” and Boo was my nickname growing up – clearly cringe worthy terms of endearment run in the family!) 😉 In the time that I’ve been blogging, I’ve been learning an awful lot about parenting, having a few identity crises, and picking up some pretty great lessons about writing again too.

I had a pretty successful career for over a decade at a large investment bank, and making the transition to stay at home mom hasn’t always been easy. But it makes more and more sense with each little chick that we add to our nest, and that validates my decision a little more each time. I often miss things about living in Manhattan and London – but there are some wonderful treasures to be found living in a less hectic, more family-friendly environment that are priceless in comparison (certainly at this stage in my life!). Some of my favorite things? God’s love, reading for pleasure (despite the hazards!), chocolate baked goods (think brownies, cakes…), spending time talking with friends, swimming, trying new recipes, writing (of course), family hugs, spicy food, traveling, and having mini adventures with my husband.

And some more completely random pieces of information! :

Where was the last place you traveled to? San Francisco! In February I took a long weekend to visit my BFF from middle school, and meet her new baby. It was my first time on the west coast and I fell in love! SF is so different to NYC & London but it’s an awesome city in its own right. And the FOOD…I will definitely be back!

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what are three materialistic things you’d take with you? A solar-powered mp3 player, a vending machine that dispenses limitless Chipotle, and an e-reader stocked with 1000s of books.

When was the last time you tried something new, and what was it? I joined a D-Group last month. Think of it as an intense and awesome Bible study, where you focus heavily on reading scripture and work through your understanding of it with a small group. It’s been so quenching for my spiritual growth and I’ve also become a part of a fantastic community of women as a result!

If you knew you could not fail, what is the one thing you would do tomorrow? A cool answer would probably be ‘run for President!’ but there’s no way I want that job! Something I’d truly LOVE to do?? Become a neurosurgeon. The brain is flippin’ fascinating, folks.

What is your earliest memory? I have vague memories of looking up at the corner of one of my first bedrooms, the wallpaper and colors and the window. But my earliest interactive memory is probably reading a Frog and Toad book at a screening for kindergarten entry when I was five years old. I remember liking the book and having to read it out loud into a cassette recorder.

If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? I love spicy food from all different cultures so I’d probably say, burritos with fresh guacamole and salsa.

Do you like your first name and why? If not, what would you change it to? I do like it, although I didn’t growing up – there were seven other girls named Rebecca in my class year at school, and most had the same middle name too! I used to write pretend names in my journal, completely uncommon ones that were nothing like Rebecca – like Jaz, or Angel, ha. Now I love it because it’s part of my identity, and it’s what my parents chose to name me – specifically because of the meaning in their baby book (“bound to God”). I can’t imagine being called anything else.

If you could give yourself one gift, what would it be? Sleep! Oh, seriously? Still sleep. 😉 OK. How about an endless supply of grace? Adulting is hard. Life is hard. Being better able to give myself grace in all of the mistakes I make, and not constantly hold them against myself, would be such a wonderful gift.

Would you rather be the person asking the questions in a conversation or the person answering them? I don’t mind answering questions at all, but I truly love to ask them. Inevitably someone’s answer will trigger a follow-up question in my mind – I just love learning about what makes everyone tick!

If you had to live in a place where only one season existed year-round, what would that season be? Spring. Visually I think it’s the prettiest season with all the greenery and budding blossoms, and baby animals about. Plus it can be either nice and cool outdoors or edge towards warmer – but you rarely have to worry about snow and ice!

If money was no object, what would you do all day? Read books, write a novel and a children’s book, have living room dance parties with my girls and snuggle with them during their naptimes, bake, volunteer with charities that focus on social justice / giving a voice to the downtrodden, and go on a date with my husband.

And now that you know everything there is to know about me, below are some truly awesome ladies whom I met on this fantastic blogging journey, and who have since become friends and wise counsel to me on many topics ranging from learning Mandarin to hosting linkups. Definitely go and check out their re-introduction posts too, you won’t regret it!

Amanda || Knock on Wood

If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? I would totally be cool with eating pizza for the rest of my life. You can switch up the toppings and essentially have something different each day. Plus you still get all of the food groups!

Cassie || Sage

Would you rather be the person asking the questions in a conversation or the person answering them? I’m a complete introvert and have been told that I don’t talk about myself very often, so I guess that implies I would rather be the person asking the questions in a conversation.

Anne || Love the Here and Now

If you could give yourself one gift, what would it be? Without fail, it would be self-confidence. I constantly second guess decisions and choices and don’t attempt new things because of a fear of failing or judgement. Truth be told, I could fail and be judged and I would be ok. Self-confidence would give me the edge I need not to care about those things and would enable to me to live free of doubt, fear, and feelings of inadequacy.

Lindsay || Bourbon, Lipstick & Stilettos

If you knew you could not fail, what is the one thing you would do tomorrow? I would do web development/design. It is a dream of mine, but I’m struggling to find time to study and perfect it!

Kelly || Southern Komfort Blog

If you could give yourself one gift, what would it be? I would have to say the gift to be able to travel (no worries about money, who would take of the pups, boring adult things). I would love to travel all around the nation and the world, just meeting people and doing life with them

Emily || Ember Grey

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what are three materialistic things you’d want with you? A notebook, pen, and Sun-In. (Obviously.)

Christine || Christine Everyday

If you knew you could not fail, what is the one thing you would do tomorrow? I would go skydiving! That’s something I’ve always wanted to do, and if I knew for sure that I wouldn’t crash-land, I’d totally sign up.

Meagan || All the Joys

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what are three materialistic things you’d want with you? A camera with unlimited memory, chapstick and a Kindle preloaded with hundreds of books. (too much?)

Emelia || Dream Big and Buy the Shoes

If you knew you could not fail, what is the one thing you would do tomorrow? I’ve always had the dream to be a wedding planner, but I would love to work with all types of events. I have a love of details and creating beautiful memories, so I would give it all to be an Event Planner and have the opportunity to make special moments for other people.

Enjoy getting to know all of these awesome ladies!! And do me a favor and share one of *your* answers to the questions above in the comments – I love hearing from you! 🙂

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