treehugging tips: love the one you're with

simple and green tip 04: love the one you're with

my parents still have some kitchen appliances that they got as wedding presents. my dad had "the brick" until just a couple of years ago until he upgraded for a very modest, newer model. they have both always had the "if it ain't broke, why fix it?" mentality. 

i have 12 purses in my closet alone.

the husband and i were having a conversation last night about how in today's society things just keeping smaller and sleeker, faster and stronger, better looking and...well, just better. once you finally get the money to purchase the newest version of your favorite device, they have already come out with a newer version to outdo it. wanting the best stuff isn't a sin (guilty, as charged), but what is wrong with the one you've got? unless it is broken to the point of it being unrepairable, sticking with what you already have (i.e. ipods, laptops, shoes, cell phones, etc) is one of the easiest ways to reduce your impact on the environment. 

i have practiced this treehugging tip when it comes to my ipod. i have the oldest version you can get. it's cracked, chipped, heavy as sin and isn't much to look at, but it gets the job done. i love it and until it can't hold a charge anymore, it is my music-holder of choice. but in many other ways, i have been sucked into the ways of the world, wanting the newest and greatest, and more, more, more of everything. the gimme-gimme-gimme attitude has only left me with a whole lot less money and a whole lot of crap.

throughout the last couple of weeks, i have been wanting to simplify everything in my life, from my choice of food, entertainment, lifestyle and most especially...my closet. by doing this, it can save resources for the planet and money for myself and the husband. no longer is the girl who received daily "welcome laura!" popups every time she logged onto a different clothing website. i don't want them to know me by name, and i don't want to keep items in the cart, just so i can buy them later on. 

i may never be perfect at this, but it is something to strive for on a daily basis. it is also a great way to get your life back into perspective and by loving the one you're with, we are showing even more love to the environment....

"i am only one, but still i am one. i cannot do everything, but still i can do something; and because i cannot do everything, i do not refuse to do something that i can do." ~helen keller