less>more

Last fall a great new shoe store opened in our small town. And all the ladies said "Hallelujah!" Like most females I like shoes. There is nothing quite like a new pair of shoes. Lovely. Lovely.

I was finally in the market (aka have-enough-money) to buy a new pair of shoes so I walked across the street to Sole Obsession (right across from the museum, makes it a bit tempting eh Tami?). Ok. No, the story goes back...I was reading Kelly's blog (the foot wear peddler) and noticed she had some Simple Shoes in stock. I have been needing (yes, needing) a pair of Simple Shoes for a LONG time and now just like that *poof* across the street Simple Shoes.

Must. Go. Buy. And I did. I went, I saw, I tried on, I ordered, I bought.
That is the great thing. Kelly, will order for you. I tried on a pair of Simple Shoes to make sure of sizing, then special ordered this fantastic pair that she doesn't carry. She called me in less than a week to come pick up my new shoes. Fantastic! Why Simple Shoes? Several simple reasons. They are fabulously cute shoes. The company is committed to making their products 100% sustainable. They have reduced packaging - no plastic in that box; the packaging is made of all recycled materials and I can always use a shoe box. Did I mention they are super cute? Ok. Just wanted to make sure of that. And comfortable. Very, very comfortable
Details about my shoes (from here):

• I have printed organic cotton uppers
• I have certified organic cotton linings
• I have recycled PET laces (my laces used to be soda bottles!)
• I have Ortholite/recycled car tire pedbeds
• My outsoles used to be a car tire*
• I have a vulcanized rubber sidewall, toecap, and heelcap
• I have 100% post consumer paper pulp foot forms
• I ship to you in our totally state-of-the-art/back-to-the-future post-consumer recycled box
• I am part of the Better category

* The bottom of these shoes used to be tires that rolled around on an axle that was connected to a car. Given the inherent nature of use like this, some of the shoe bottoms (i.e. tires) are marked up a little. Sure, we buff them out and put them on the bottom of the shoes, but they still show wear. If you get them and you decide you can't deal with the past life of that particular car tire, we'll take them back, as long as they are in new and unworn condition.

Now I am looking toward summer. I am thinking these (Tube Top) in either black and white or sand and white. Or these (Cartoon) in black. Or...there are a few other pair I like...we will see, we will see.
It really is Simple. Go to Sole Obsession. Check out the Simple Shoes. If you don't love the Simple Shoes she has many other brands and styles to chose from. Like Dansko. Oh. I might need some Danskos.

p.s. I bought the socks in this post. The green ones with the orange on top. They go great with my shoes!

review & to do

This weekend was really fun! (How is that for a catchy beginning sentence? Makes you want to keep reading, huh?)...

Saturday morning Troy and I dropped Archer off at my parent's house while we had a day trip to Bellevue. Troy had to pick up a *gun* (surprise, surprise) and thought we could make a day out of it. I hadn't been to Bellevue square since Archer was a baby (I know the horror) - so we spent a few hours wandering around. I love, love, love spending time in Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma. We were very good though and limited our purchasing to a few (obviously much needed) items. I hate coming home knowing I spent too much on things I don't really need. This trip was perfect - browsing, inspiration, writing down some books to check out at the library!

We ate at the Cheesecake Factory (uh...YUM)! I had the most delicious Mango-rita - I am sure Troy could replicate it if he truly wants to make me happy!

The loot - sometimes the bags just make me happy!a litte of what was inside those bags (Archer's legos were taken out)

On the way home we stopped by Joel and Katrina's house to visit and drop off a birthday present for Madeline. We love to visit with them - don't see them nearly often enough. Well...maybe...getting Troy and Joel together is sometimes an iffy scenario! (haha)

When we stopped to pick up Archer he was evidently not ready to leave Grandma & Grandpa's house. On Sunday I asked my mom to pick me up a compost bin at the Re-Store before she brought Archer home, however a compost bin is evidently a very personal item and she didn't want to pick it out...So, a trip to Bellingham for me was necessary. My mom said she saw a compost bin in the Fred Meyer ad for only $34.99 so we went there and picked up this beauty!

WoooHooo! Jerrie's got herself a compost bin! I decided against a pile for several reasons (smell, neighbors, being right here, smack-dab in the middle of this town). My initial plan was for a pile, but I think this may make everyone just a wee-bit happier! Anyway...I am excited by the compost bin! (I can cross off one of those items on my "100 things to do" list. Yay!)

Well...that is is...our weekend all wrapped up this Monday morning.

Monday's to dos: go to the library (for real...wasn't that on the list last week?), clean off the kitchen table.
There. That is it. If I can do those two things I will have accomplished two much needed tasks. My books are overdue, I have a few to pick up which will expire tomorrow - good incentive to go. My kitchen table is in the kitchen, somewhere. Oh, I think it is under all that *stuff* there. I think I can see the legs. Ya, it needs some help! Wish me luck!

green up

In an effort to "green-up" a little more I have been trying to educate myself some more. As I have mentioned our family has always been pretty environmentally sound, however there is always more that can be done. Simple things mostly. I have increased the recycling effort by calling the disposal company. Amazing what one phone call can do. Anyway...I have listed some of my favorite "green" sites in the left hand column. Check 'em out and I will add as I learn more! :)

edited (for Tami): I called our local disposal company regarding the recycling pick-up of plastics. There is a whole lot of plastic confusion so I decided to just call. And I called multiple times. I would say "Hi it is me again. Can...such and such be recycled too?" The girl was really nice.

Anyway the result - in Lynden, if NV Disposal picks up your recycling, you can put in almost ALL plastics (not PVC - PVC is BAD). (Remember this is what I was told on the phone). Besides just water bottles and milk jugs they will take almost all your kitchen (i.e. yogurt, cottage cheese containers), cleaning (shampoo bottles, soap), and other plastics. Just remember to take the lids off including the dispensers on things like lotion, soap AND clean things out. That can be a problem, but take the extra step, use the water, clean out the stuff. Don't send any of that plastic to a landfill, please. :)

good news & bits 'n pieces

The good news: The "real" computer (aka "big" and "mine") is ready for pick up (still under warranty for 27 days!)! Yay!

Bits 'n Pieces: 

• we have used zero throw-away water bottles in the last two weeks 
  
• my pumpkins are growing (after Spazz ate the blossoms off of them a few weeks ago I was a little concerned)
• the fireworks booth begins on Saturday - love the fun of fireworks, thankful we live somewhere we can still light them off
• I have a whole lot of pictures on my camera ready to come off and make their way onto a blog...
• I found Seventh Generation supplies (just a few, but some nonetheless) at the local Ace Hardware store
• going to see The Love Guru with Archer today
• hopefully a trip to Village Books is in the cards today. I have almost $4o.00 in VB money! I really want The Big Green Purse and something fun...Any ideas?

Happy Thursday! Enjoy the sun.