Reduce Your Use Challenge

Earth Day is about two weeks away.  In the last few months, I have been working on reducing my use of plastic.  I wish I can say that I have reduced my use by a considerable amount.  I have been phasing out the plastic food containers in my home.  I have been using glass containers, mason jars, and metal containers.  We do use reusable water bottles instead of purchasing water bottles.  Unfortunately, I am still guilty of using plastic sandwich bags, not bringing my reusable shopping bags when I go shopping, and not bringing my many reusable travel mugs when I buy coffee.

We can turn a blind eye to this plastic problem, or we can face some of the facts (1):
     - at least 8 million tons of plastic enter the oceans yearly,
     - there is more mincroplastic in the ocean than there are stars in the Milky Way,
     - more than 60% of marine litter is plastic based,
     - the average U.S. citizen consumes 167 plastic water bottles each year, and only recycle 25% of
     them.

It doesn’t stop there.  Most of our clothing are made with synthetic fibers which are made with plastic. And these fibers go into the ocean when we wash our clothes.

Plastic doesn't just impact our environment.  Plastic is also toxic to our health.  There have been links to plastic and many health issues such as cancer, birth defects, encodrine disruption, and so much more.  These fibers that go into the ocean are eaten by the fish which we consume.  Plastic has contaminated not just the oceans but has crept into other food sources. I urge you not to take my word for it and do your research.

Plastic is so convenient, but I think it is time that we think about whether or not the environmental and health effects are worth the convenience.  We are called to be good stewards- of the world around us as well as our own health.  When God created the earth, it was good.  Yes, we live in a fallen and broken world and we cannot completely be free from the use of plastic but each of us can do our part and be responsible for the "Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of the Earth," (Genesis 1:26, MSG).


In the next two weeks, I am working on reducing my use of plastic even more by using reusable sandwich/ storage bags, my reusable shopping bags, and using my reusable travel mugs when I get coffee outside of my home.

Here are some ways I will be reducing my use of plastic.  A HUGE shout out to my friend, Christa, for her recommendations (the straws, bamboo toothbrushes, water bottle).

1- Reusable coffee mug.  Even paper cups are lined with plastic.  Stay away from plastic tumblers and instead go for glass or stainless steel tumblers (not aluminum).  This is my favorite travel mug which was given to me by my Secret Santa this year.

2- Reusable water bottle.  I love my 32 ounce Klean Kanteen, 24 ounce MyBevi water bottle, and my 17 ounce S'well yoga bottle.  These are all insulated stainless steel bottles and keep my water cold all day long.  Although I have links to these for Amazon, I suggest that you check out the clearance section at Target.  I paid about $7 for my MyBevi.  I also paid under $5 for son's MyBevi.    S'well bottles are pretty pricey.  I found mine at Target's clearance section for under $10.

Christa loves her Life Factory water bottles.  I had one of them but lost it somewhere.  My boys can't bring glass to school and this is why I opted for the stainless steel bottles.

3- Store food in glass or stainless steel containers and mason jars.  You can get these from Amazon, Target, Walmart. I love these because they are sturdier than their plastic counterparts.  I purchased these stainless steel containers for my boys' lunch.

4- Reusable shopping bags.  Almost all retailers sell shopping bags.  These bags usually cost no more than $1.99 depending on the retailer.  You can also purchase insulated shopping bags, which are even better for cold or frozen food.  At one point in my life, I was a shopping bag hoarder.  I loved buying them whenever I go to a store I haven't been in. I haven't purchased a bag in awhile but I have over a dozen of them.

ImageCredit: Amazon.com

5- Reusable covers by Beeswrap.  You can purchase a pack with one small, one medium, and one large wrap.  You can use them to wrap food and even to cover containers.  They last a little over a year and can stick to most containers.

6- Packing regular utensils instead of plastic utensils for my lunch and the kids' lunches.  I love these cute utensils with chopsticks since I sometimes make makis (Japanese rolls) for my boys' lunch.

7- Reusable stainless steel straws. I have not used these yet but this is one of the items that I plan on purchasing these when we do eat out.

8- Bamboo toothbrushes. Plastic is used for EVERYTHING.  Replacing your plastic toothbrush with a bamboo one is one less plastic that ends up in the ocean.

There are SO MANY WAYS we can reduce our use of plastic.  It can be overwhelming to go cold-turkey with your plastic usage.  That's why I urge you to pick two or three items that you can replace with non-plastic alternatives.  Let's be good stewards of God's creation.  Which of these are you committing to use?

<3,
Marie


1- McCarthy, J. (2017, June 12). 9 Shocking Facts About Plastic in Our Oceans.  https://www.ecowatch.com/plastic-oceans-facts-images-2436857254.html

Love Yourself Challenge

Valentine's Day is 10 days away.  You can buy into the commercialism that it is, and maybe get disappointed by your better half's lack of romantic ability.  Or maybe become bitter about the fact that you have nobody to celebrate with.  OR you can throw all your expectations away and just show yourself some love.

I think that self-love isn't easy for a lot of women.  There are those who have been too busy taking care of others their whole lives and just don't have time to even think about themselves.  There are those who have repeatedly told they are unworthy and have come to believe this is true.  This causes these women to hate themselves.  There are also those who have been told that loving yourself is being selfish.  And then we have those on the other end of the spectrum that are border-line narcissistic.  I am in no way advocating selfishness or narcissism.  What I am saying is that need to be able to love ourselves.  We need to stop feeling guilty about taking time for ourselves.  There is a healthy balance between loving ourselves and STILL loving and caring for others.  This healthy balance comes when we see ourselves as God sees us.  In fact, I think that when we have a healthy love for ourselves, we can love and care for others even better.

Last week, in my Hope Prevails Bible Study group, we dug into Scripture to remind us how God sees us.  Here are some I would like to share with you to help you with this challenge:

You are beautiful. (Psalm 45:11)

You are loved. (Jeremiah 31:3)

You are the apple of His eye. (Zechariah 2:8)

You are holy and dearly loved. (Colossians 3:12).

You are valuable. (Matthew 6:26). 

If the God who created this amazing and complex universe loves you, how can you not love yourself?  So, I'd like to invite you to a Love Yourself Challenge. 

Each day, for the next 10 days leading up to Valentine's Day, you will take a few minutes celebrating YOU.   Some of these may seem like simple activities, but if you're like me, you don't take the time for yourself. There’s laundry to be done. Cupcakes to be baked. Kids to be driven.  You know how it goes... For the ones that ask you to list or write something, you can share it on social media (#loveyourselfchallenge) or write it in your journal.This isn't meant to stress you out but to help you take some time to appreciate and love yourself. 

Day One: List at least 5 things you like about yourself.  Don't focus only your external features, but both your internal and external qualities.

Day Two: What is one thing you have to forgive yourself for?  Write yourself a letter of forgiveness.

Day Three: Take a photo of yourself laughing. Bonus: Post it on social media without doing a retake.

Day Four: What is one thing that makes you unique?

Day Five: It's FRIDAY!! Pamper yourself.  Get a mani/pedi and take a long bubble bath.  OR, if that isn't in your budget, but a new nail polish color.  At home, take a long bubble bath and give yourself a mani/pedi. 

Day Six:  ENJOY a cup of coffee or tea. REALLY sit down and savor that cup.

Day Seven: Create a playlist of your favorite songs.

Day Eight: Draw a heart on our wrist to remind yourself you are loved.

Day Nine: Take a photo of something that brings you joy.

Day Ten:  Whether you have Valentine or not, get dressed up with your favorite outfit. Write yourself a love letter.

So, will you join me in this challenge?  

<3,

Marie

2017 Plans

Happy New Year!  Aren't you glad it's 2017?

A lot has happened in 2016 and it included a blogging break from this blog so that I can dedicate more time in Read Pray Move Ministry.  However, at the end of 2016, Read Pray Move Ministry had to face a major change.  You can read more about it here.  In a way, it is a relief to enter into 2017 with a new direction, but to tell you the truth, I am a little apprehensive.  We hit the ground running in 2016 with our game plan and schedule, and things didn't turn out quite the way we planned it. 

Although 2016 was a whirlwind of unmet expectations, God's timing was and always is impeccable.  Towards the end of the year, I was blessed to have two weeks off from school for Christmas break.   In the last two weeks, I spent my free time digging into God's Word and reading Wild and Free.  In my digging, and a few devotionals I have read, I came across Proverbs 19:21,"Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails."

I have read and quoted this verse before.  However, as I was praying for my verse for 2017, this came to me loud and clear from more than one source. This short, two part Proverb was exactly what I needed  to remind me that GOD IS ALWAYS IN CONTROL.  I am here for God's glory and purpose. I won't waste my time lamenting over 2016.  All I know is that I have learned not to ignore the still small voice that tells me to pause as long as I need to for God's leading.  But what does this mean for me for 2017?

     1- I will set my goals, but it will be wide open to God's leading.  As much as I want to have a set
     game plan for my ministry and business, I won't set it all in stone.   

     2- I will create more white space by going back to the priceless lessons I have learned from
     The Best Yes by Lysa Terkeurst.

     3- I will still provide support for those who seek to get healthy through my challenge groups and  
     also through our online community, Faith, Fitness, and Fellowship.

     4- Something that I would really like to work on is limiting my time in social media.  I don't
     know what exactly this looks like but I know that it includes regular breaks. 

One of my plans for 2017 is to send out a weekly Health and Fitness related email that will include a motivational or inspirational message, a recipe, and a bonus workout circuit.  If you are interested in receiving this email, please sign up here.

Here's to a freeing yet productive 2017!

-Marie

Minecraft- a learning tool?

So this is a random post from someone who typically writes about faith, family or fitness, right?  Well, in a way this is a family related post.

Every summer, I put together learning assignments for my boys to prevent the dreaded summer brain drain.  It isn't always easy- especially when we go away or when it is a Vacation Bible School week.  There are some days when I let them slide.  This year, however, big boy is in that irritating tween phase where they like to try to push and test boundaries.  So, I'm being firm and consistent.

Anyway, today was his first writing assignment.  The assignment was to write a persuasive essay about a topic that he feels passionate about.  Like most 12-year-olds, Minecraft happens to be on the top of his list.  I wanted to share the essay he wrote about Minecraft. I edited his commas and apostrophes but I kept the substance and content alone.  Keep in mind that this is a 12-year-old's essay...

     In my opinion, I think Minecraft is a good learning tool and you should agree.  It was developed by a Swedish game developer named Markus Persson or "Notch."  Its release date was May 17, 2009 and it turned into a multimillion dollar video game.  To some people it's a video game, but to others as well as myself, it is a great learning tool.
     So you're probably thinking, "Minecraft, a learning tool? No way!"  or "It is a video game."  But have you really explored the world and Minecraft or Minecraft itself? Schools worldwide use Minecraft for math and maybe science.  Sure it has the hostile mobs that you kill but it shows the strength of your sword.  I learned that diamonds are the strongest gems and maybe even the strongest substance in the world, just from killing zombies, creepers, and skeletons.  It also teaches you a lot more about rocks and minerals.  It shows how certain items are harder to get than others.  For example: emerald is really rare.
     Minecraft can be used in the math department too.  From simple geometry to area and parameter.  How? If you are building a house but don't know how to make it as big as you want it to be, you can use the area formula.  If you want your floor to be a full 25 blocks total. EASY! 5 by 5! It can be used in art also.  Want a cool statue? Just use pixel art.  If you want to dye your leather armor, pick certain colors to mix up the dyes.
     As you can see, Minecraft is not just a video game but a learning tool hiding in plain sight.  It can also stretch your creativity and imagination.  Figure out a way to make a working car without downloading a mod. Make a house with working appliances.  In other words... MINECRAFT IS GREAT!! :)

It's not too late to get your child(ren) into some summer learning.  I'll be posting some resources and ideas on Monday.