Dear Betty: Reader Comment 11/30/18

Dear Betty,

You talk a lot about compost and I wanted to share my method with you.  I don't like to mix everything in the same compost bin and use it in my garden.  I have one compost bin for yard waste, paper, tissues, napkins, dryer lint, stuff from the vacuum, and the like.  I only use that compost on my yard.  My other compost is just for food scraps from the kitchen that I use on my garden after it breaks down.  I feel like this method is better for my garden.  Thanks!

Thanks for sharing your compost method!  I personally mix it all together. It is recommended to mix it to help it break down faster and keep things from getting smelly.  There is certainly more than one way to compost.  The important thing is that you are composting!  It is estimated that 20 percent of what goes into landfills in America is food waste.  When food goes into the landfill it doesn't break down like it does in compost, this is due to the anaerobic environment.  The food sits there until it eventually breaks down to a certain degree and this process leads to methane gas.  If every household composted it would make a huge difference.

-Betty

Do you have a question, comment, or suggestion?
I'd love to hear from you!

Email me at Mrs.Stebber@gmail.com or comment on the blog

My Dishwasher Broke

My dishwasher is fine actually, but everyone enjoys a nice Family Guy joke from time to time.  I’ve included the comic at the end of this fabulously written post for your viewing pleasure.

There are so many options when it comes to dishwasher detergent. Liquid, gel, powder, packs, and tabs. I typically use the latter but I realize now how stupid that seems.  It’s convenient, yes, but am I so busy or just too lazy that I can’t pour some gel or powder in there myself?  When I was little we didn’t have a dishwasher and it was usually my job to wash all the dishes by hand. Oh, the horror of manual labor!  I’m lucky I lived to tell the tale. Seriously though, I’m really beginning to question all of the things we use day to day to make life easier.  Just how easy does it need to be?

Because my family is on a noble quest of less, I looked for a simpler and more responsible option.  With frugality and sustainability in mind, I decided to try Seventh Generation dishwasher detergent powder.  I like that I can put more or less powder in depending on how many dishes actually are in the dishwasher and what state of cleanliness said dishes may be in. The detergent powder itself is phthalate free, paraben free, cruelty-free, plant and biobased, and has no added fragrance. I bought it in the box so that I can toss it in the campfire instead of plastic that needs to be recycled when the product is all used up.

So what do I use as a rinse aid?  Nothing. That part of the dishwasher has actually been broken since we moved into our house back in 2012.  I’ve never missed it. Do you spend money on Finish or Jet Dry because your dishes are actually so spotty that it would inhibit your ability to consume food and drink? Or do you buy it and use it because society has told you that you need to? Don’t let society tell you what to do. You’ll be surprised at all the things you don’t actually need or want.    

Weekly Weigh In 11/28/2018

It's that special time again!  This week the handsome husband put out a whopping one bag of garbage.  That brings our total for November waste to 3 bags of garbage and 1 1/2 bins of recycling.  Not too shabby!  

How did you weigh in this week?

Not to be Confused with Weinstein

Part of the less waste/sustainable lifestyle is investing in quality items when you make a purchase. The old adage 'you get what you pay for' is certainly true for most things. It’s better to invest more into one item that will last rather than spend money on several replacements of lesser quality for the same thing. 

One of the things I want to talk about on this blog is products that last and companies that I like. Harveys is a company that I have been patronizing for years and have found their products to be of extremely high quality. 

I first heard of Harveys about fifteen years ago when I was at work and a coworker had a new purse. I had never seen anything like it. The purse was black and made completely out of seat belts. I asked her about her unusual purse and she told me about Harveys. Back then you could only get a couple styles of bags in a solid color. Today Harveys offers many different styles, colors, patterns, and prints. I personally like to keep things on the simpler side and opt for solid colors and I like the style of the classic Harveys bag. 

Over the years I’ve purchased four different handbags and a laptop bag from Harveys. I passed the laptop bag down to my daughter and I donated one of the handbags since I no longer found the color (forest green) appealing. The bag that I donated looked brand new even though I had been using it for well over five years. Seat belts are rather indestructible by design, and the assembly, of these bags, in particular, is top notch. I’m willing to bet you could tie a Harveys bag to your car bumper and drive around town and it would still look pretty good after many miles.

Harveys bags cost a bit more than a bag you get at a retail store but much less than I’ve spent before on Coach bags. I haven’t bought or used a Coach bag in many years because I prefer Harveys. I love Harveys because of its high quality, durability, and uniqueness. A bag made of seat belts makes a statement and is naturally badass.

My badass Harveys bags

Slow Clap Presents: Big Mouth Billy Bass

Real story. Real Stupid.

Once upon a time, Joe Pellettieri was shopping at a Bass Pro Shop with his wife when a brilliant idea for a product came to her. “How about a singing fish on a plaque?” she said. It was that moment that Big Mouth Billy Bass was born.

Joe Pellettieri works for Gemmy Industries. You may not know that name but you sure know their products. Gemmy specializes in gag gifts and novelty toys like Sunny the Singing Sunflower, Kung Fu Hamsters, and a talking Christmas tree named Douglas Fir. They create fad products that are intended to sell fast and turn a profit.

Big Mouth Billy Bass was invented in December of 1998 and was ready to hit stores by the following summer of 1999. Billy is made from a hard plastic skeleton and plaque with a small motor for movement. He is covered in a latex rubber skin to give him a more realistic look. A team of artists, engineers, salespeople, and even a taxidermist worked to make this product come to life. 

When Big Mouth Billy Bass first came out he sang “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin and “Take Me to the River” by Al Green. The product was an instant hit and millions and millions of units were sold. Billy even outsold Tickle Me Elmo during the Christmas of 1999. The cost to Gemmy to produce a single Big Mouth Billy Bass was $4.50 and they were sold for $29.95. Gemmy will not disclose how much money they made from this product, but it is estimated that they made over $100 million in one year on the sales of the singing bass. 

Due to the success of this product, Gemmy went on to produce Travis the Rainbow Trout, Cool Catfish, and Rocky Lobster. There were also Christmas editions of Big Mouth Billy Bass and later an anniversary edition. Each of the subsequent products had varying degrees of success but none came close to the success of the original singing bass.

My two cents: On one hand, I applaud Gemmy Industries for expertly exploiting our stupidity and mindless consumerism. Who wouldn’t love to have that sort of money? Companies that make novelty and fad products are genius in many ways. They design products that appeal to consumers for a very short amount of time before they are put away and forgotten. The product doesn’t need to last long or be of any real quality. It just has to sell. On the other hand, I am thoroughly disgusted by this type of company. The products they produce are literal garbage and that is what they are intended to be. How many Big Mouth Billy Bass do you think are still hanging on someone’s wall? I would guess that there are very few that are hanging up and still in working order. I am positive that the vast majority of Big Mouth Billy Bass has long been laid to rest and forgotten.

Rating: I give Big Mouth Billy Bass 2 out of 5 possible slow claps. It’s a moronic invention that exploits mindless American consumers.

RIP Shower Pouf

Everyone likes a good lather in the shower and I’m no different.  I’ve come to realize that a shower pouf or loofah just isn’t worth it.   For starters, I’ve learned they harbor bacteria and are actually very unsanitary.  I usually keep mine for several months to be less wasteful but it is actually recommended that you throw it out after three or four weeks.  The one I’ve been using for what I now realize is a disgustingly long time is finally ready to meet its maker, so to speak. The shower pouf has been on my list of things not to replace at the end of its life now that we are on our journey of less waste.  The pouf is made of plastic, of course, and even if you argue that some are made out of recycled plastic or that some places recycle them, I just don’t find that suitable at this point in our journey. First of all, I don’t think recycling plastic into lower quality items justifies making plastic at the rate in which we do.  Second, I highly doubt that a plastic pouf can be recycled curbside. Even if it can be recycled, what could it possibly be recycled into? I really like how my family has been changing over to reusable items and I decided the best option is to buy washcloths that are one hundred percent cotton. I forgot to check for this minor detail when shopping so these new washcloths won’t be composted at the end of their life but it is still much more sustainable than a “disposable” pouf.  Reusable items are great because they save money and trips to the store. Reusable items seem to make life a little simpler, and I really like that. Obviously, reusable items are better for the planet as well. Remember the journey is about small steps, and every step makes a difference. If the shower pouf is a deal breaker for you, keep it, if not, give the old washcloth a try.

The pouf that is dead to me.

Christmas Tree Cagematch (and the tale of the golden shower)

Before you set up a Christmas tree this holiday season, there are a few things to consider.  Are real trees or artificial trees better for the environment? Do you own an artificial tree?  What becomes of an artificial tree when you throw it away? Are you allergic to real trees?

When I was little, my mom used to complain about the people who got real trees.  She said it was terrible that they were cutting down trees that would only be enjoyed for a matter of weeks before it was tossed out and forgotten.  I was young and naturally believed her. I thought that getting an artificial tree was the right thing to do, so when I moved out on my own that’s what I did.  Except for that one year when the tree got peed on.

A lifetime ago, my husband at the time and I were offered a real tree for free.  We had bought a home through Edina Realty and they were giving trees that year as a thank you.  I didn’t want it but he talked me into getting it. He argued that they look better and they make the house smell nice.  This was 2004 and we had a newly trained puppy that we had got just that summer. I worried that the dog would pee on the tree.  Looks like a tree, smells like a tree, dogs pee on trees, I felt it was a solid argument. I was assured that the dog was smart enough not to do that.  

After the tree was decorated and all the presents were beautifully arranged below, the dog came around sniffing. He gave that tree a golden shower that would make Tiger Woods and R. Kelly proud. Pee rained on the presents below. Can’t blame the dog, can you?

Needless to say, p!ss tree was a total pain.  The dog marked it and it made a huge mess. Worst of all, I was highly allergic to the tree and it made for a miserable holiday season.  I swore I’d never do that again, free tree or not. The following year Edina Realty offered another tree, we took a poinsettia instead.

When it comes to the environment, real trees are where it’s at. They are grown for the purpose of becoming a sacrificial holiday offering.  When one is cut down, between one and three are planted in its place. The trees that are growing clean the air and give you oxygen.  Artificial trees are typically made from PVC, which is highly toxic. The way the tree is built prevents it from being recycled, so every fake tree produced will eventually go to a landfill forever.  

Final thoughts.  If I wasn’t so allergic, I would get a real tree every year and make it a special family tradition.  Since I can’t do that, I plan to use our artificial tree until I’m dead or the zombie apocalypse commences, whichever comes first.  If you already own a fake tree, keep using it. Don’t scrap it because you find something better. At the very least, give it away or sell it if you no longer want it.  If you don’t own an artificial tree, go for a real tree and rub it in all of your allergic friends' faces.

Real tree wins!!!

Christmas Tree Cagematch

*Keurig AZ-1000

The long wait for an easier cup of coffee is over!  Just in time for the holidays, the Keurig AZ-1000 is hitting stores everywhere.  It’s this year’s hot item and everyone is going to want one. Give the gift of convenience to the ones you love with the Keurig AZ-1000.  This Keurig has everything you want from A to Z! Why 1000? Just because it’s so badass!

The old Keurig machines offered you a single cup of coffee easier than some caveman era machines that you had to put the coffee in by hand.  Who even puts coffee in a machine by hand anyway? And a filter too? Get out of town! K-cups changed all that by offering you an easier, faster way by just allowing you to pop in the K-cup, add some water, and push a button.  It was certainly better than the old drip coffee method but we have taken it one step further for you!

The Keurig AZ-1000 is simplicity at its best.  Simply open the box, take out your single use machine, set it on your counter, and the rest is history!  The secret is that each single-use machine is ready and waiting for you. Each machine is designed to be used one time to ensure you can get your cup of brew when you want it, how you want it.  

Every single AZ-1000 is preloaded with a K-cup, 6 ounces of water in a sealed pack, a thick Styrofoam cup, a lithium-ion battery, and an onboard computer with a sensor. The sensor is triggered when you set it on your counter and it immediately begins brewing your perfect cup of joe. Want cream and sugar, flavored syrup, a straw or stir stick? No problem! That’s what the onboard computer is for. It syncs with all of your previous selections and knows what you want before you know you want it. Did you know that you want a sprinkle of cinnamon and a little paper umbrella in your next cup? The Keurig AZ-1000 knew and that’s what it made for you. It also knows when you want whip cream on top, when you want a knitted cup cozy, and when you want your name handwritten on the side of your cup.

The Keurig AZ-1000 also comes with a thick plastic bag and zip tie for convenient disposal.  Just put your single-use machine back into the box, gently place it in the bag and secure the top closed with the zip tie provided.  You’ll find that we thought of everything because Keurig cares about you and the environment. Want another cup of delicious coffee? No problem, just grab another single-use machine and you are on your way to another perfect cup.  The Keurig AZ-1000 makes it that easy!

*Satirical Saturday brought to you by Betty

Black Friday

Black Friday has marked the unofficial beginning of the Christmas season since 1952.  The term “Black Friday” has many sources and it’s difficult to know with any certainty which one is accurate.  The term gained popularity in the 1980s and refers (the most commonly accepted reference) to retailers operating “in the red” for the majority of the year and then turning a profit, or operating “in the black” beginning the day after Thanksgiving when sales increase.  Again, there are different opinions as to the origin of the name. The day after Thanksgiving has been the busiest shopping day of the year, with a few exceptions, dating back to the 1800s.

Black Friday is a chance for people to score amazing deals and get a great deal of bang for their buck.  I went shopping once on black Friday with my mother in law several years ago. The stores were swarming with people and it was difficult to even walk through some areas.  People were rude and acting crazy, and I swore I would never do it again. I detest shopping anywhere, for anything, between the middle of November until January. It’s my personal opinion that most people are a**holes, and this time of year brings out the worst in those a**holes.  I try to start my Christmas shopping in October and I aim to be done by Thanksgiving, but this rarely happens. I try to order online after Thanksgiving or go shopping at late hours to avoid the sale crazed maniacs. I like saving money as much as the next tight a** but I’m not willing to deal with havoc to do so.

My issue with Black Friday is the perpetuation of mindless consumerism. Everything is designed to get your money and so many people spend money they don’t have on things that are not needed or appreciated.  I set an approximate budget every year and I try to stick to it. While we could afford to spend more on our kids, I firmly believe that there is a right amount to spend.  What’s the right amount?  It lies somewhere between too little and too much.  You don’t have to make it rain on Christmas, you just have to make it special.  I’ve noticed that often when children have more, they appreciate it less.  I’ll talk about some of the ways we make the holidays special in upcoming posts.

Before you head out to do your Christmas shopping, make a list and an approximate budget.  Think about what the recipient wants and what they need.  Give meaningful gifts instead of filler gifts that will be lost in a closet, drawer, or donated.  Ask yourself if what you are buying will be appreciated and if you can afford it. Don’t fall victim to the urge to give more because society tells you that you should.  

Make the holiday season special and enjoy your family.  Teach your children it’s about more than gifts.

Turkey Delight to Last a Fortnight

You bought too much turkey and now you have leftovers.  Don't despair!  I'm here to help with some delicious recipes that my family enjoys.  You will notice that my recipes don't have amounts to measure for everything, I just put in what I feel like and you can do the same.  You're welcome.

Turkey and Wild Rice Soup:

2-3 cups diced turkey

3-5 cups of cooked wild rice

carrots, celery, onion, mushrooms

vegetable broth (a box or two maybe)

white pepper

garlic

1/2-1 cup dry sherry

Saute your vegetables in butter and then add everything into a larger pot or crockpot.  I serve it with buns plump enough for Sir Mix-a-Lot.

Turkey Stuffing Roll-Ups:

16 slices leftover or deli turkey

gravy

stuffing

corn (or whatever leftover vegetables you have)

Mix the stuffing and vegetables together.  Grease a 9x13 baking dish.  If you are using deli turkey, measure a half cup or so of your mixture and roll it up in the turkey slice.  If you are using leftover turkey, layer the turkey and the mixture in the dish.  Pour gravy over the top and cover the dish.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.  My kids really like this meal and I hope your family does too.

Turkey Pot, Turkey Pot, Turkey Pot Pie:

2-2 1/2 cups diced turkey

2-3 cans of cream of chicken soup or cream of mushroom soup

sauteed onions and mushrooms

a small bag of mixed vegetables

white pepper, thyme, parsley, garlic

4 pie crusts

This recipe makes two pies and you need two pie dishes.   Put one pie crust on the bottom of each pie dish. Mix all of your ingredients together and fill your pies.  Add the second pie crust on top of each pie.  There will be overlapping crust, so fold it in and roll it at the same time.  You should end up with a lovely rolled edge around the pie.  Cover the rolled edge with foil to prevent burning and poke a few slits in the flat part of the pie before baking.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes.  You can cover and freeze the second pie but do NOT bake it first.  To make the frozen pie, let it thaw in the fridge for 24 hours and then bake. 

If you try a recipe and like it, let me know!  I'd love to hear from you, email me at Mrs.Stebber@gmail.com

Weekly Weigh In 11/21/18

It's that special day again!  Garbage day.  Hooray?  One bag of garbage and one full recycling can today.  

How did you weigh in?

RIP Shaving Cream

The shaving cream can is the latest victim to bite the dust in my bathroom.  I bought this last can quite a while ago and finally used it up. I don’t have to shave very often because I have a three-pronged attack on body hair.  I’ve been using an at home laser for a few years and I also use an epilator to rip out any thicker hairs that dare to grow. Shaving, for me, is really just getting rid of any fuzzy hairs that don’t respond to the aforementioned methods of torture.  

The shaving cream can will tell you that some curbside facilities will accept it and that it will be infinitely recycled because it is made from steel and/or aluminum.  Don’t believe what the can says! It most likely cannot be recycled and it will end up in a landfill and the valuable resources it was derived from will be lost forever.  

The can is also going to tell you that its contents are good for your skin but that is a lie as well.  Canned shaving creams contain surfactants, Propylene Glycol, and mineral oils that are all bad for your skin.

There are other options that are sustainable, healthier, and less expensive.  There are a lot of options for shaving soaps and bars available online or at stores like Target or Lush.  Some require a shaving brush and others do not. I have switched to just using my regular bar soap as well as coconut oil for when I do need to shave.  

Make sure when looking for a new option to check out the packaging.  Ideally, you want sustainable packaging. Look for products that come in compostable material first. Packaging that offers closed loop, infinite recycling is also a good option. I make sure to buy my coconut oil only in a glass jar just for this reason.

Make small changes and give yourself time to adjust.  Slow and steady wins the race, with gorgeous hair-free legs.

The shaving cream that is dead to me

Slow Clap Presents: The K-CUP

Real Story.  Real Stupid.

The K-cup was invented by John Sylvan in the mid-1990s.  Sylvan wanted to create an easier way to make a single cup of coffee to end the dilemma of office coffee pots that grew stale and cold before they could be consumed.  Sylvan founded Keurig in 1992 and set out to create the single serve coffee machine. He chose the name Keurig because, in Dutch, its meaning is “excellence.” After several years and a few grants, the Keurig brewing system was ready to launch.  Sylvan sold his stake in the company he founded for a paltry $50,000 before Keurig hit the market in 1998. Keurig was then purchased by Green Mountain.

No one can argue the convenience of the K-cup.  It is quick, easy to use, and it has changed the way the world drinks coffee.  The problem with the K-cup lies in the massive stream of waste that it leaves behind and in its decidedly toxic design.

K-cups are made from number 7 plastic.  As dedicated readers know, plastic number 7 is the worst of all plastics.  It is often not recyclable and it is comprised of mystery chemicals that don’t fit into the category of plastics 1 through 6.  Plastic number 7 is what I refer to as “crap plastic.” Keurig says that their K-cups do not contain BPA but companies are allowed to use similar plastic that comes from the BPA family.  Keurig does not have to disclose what is in their plastic or if it contains chemicals similar to BPA because it is considered “proprietary information.” Plastic number 7 has tested positive for estrogenic activity, which means it is a known endocrine disruptor.  Keurig will also not confirm if they use polystyrene in their plastic. Polystyrene, a derivative of styrene, is a known carcinogen. When exposed to heat, all plastics are at risk for leaching, especially unstable plastics, such as plastic number 7.

A poll in 2013 revealed that 1 in 3 homes in America had a Keurig coffee maker.  In 2008 Green Mountain made $132 million on the sale of Keurig machines and K-cups. By 2013 Green Mountain made $3.1 billion (yes, billion) on sales, and in 2014 that number rose to $4.7 billion.  In 2013 8.3 billion K-cups were produced. If you put the K-cups together, end to end, you would circle the planet 10.5 times.  The next year, 2014, welcomed 9.8 billion K-cups to landfill across the world.

The coffee in your K-cup costs four times (or more) as much as the same exact coffee that you can use in a drip coffee maker. Why are people willing to pay so much more for the same amount of coffee and the same exact product? If people were forced to pay that price, they would be outraged.

John Sylvan went on to built a company that produces the most efficient solar panels to date.  He was interviewed a couple of years back by the Atlantic and he said “I feel bad sometimes that I ever invented the K-cup.”  When he was asked if he owned a Keurig, he replied “I don’t have one. They’re kind of expensive to use...Plus it’s not like drip coffee is hard to make.”

My two cents: I have a coffee maker that is single serve and it doesn’t use K-cups or a filter.  It has two mesh filters that you rinse and use over and over again. I use ground coffee that I buy in the bulk section at the grocery store and I toss the paper bag into the burn bucket when it is used up.  It’s not hard to make coffee, society is just lazy.

Rating: I give Keurig 4 out of 5 possible slow claps for being toxic, wasteful, and for catering to society's buy and toss mentality.

Plastic Number One

Resin code number one is Polyethylene terephthalate.  You may know it by the name of polyester, PETE, or PET.  Polyethylene is used for water bottles, soda bottles, “disposable” food containers, and containers for cleaning products.  

Polyethylene is a clear plastic that is porous and it has been known to leach.  The pores in the plastic allow bacteria to accumulate and this is one of the reasons that it is not intended for more than one use.  The other reason this is a single-use plastic is because of the leaching. The longer a substance is in contact with the plastic, the greater the chance that is has leached into the contents.  Leaching is more prevalent when the plastic is exposed to heat or sunlight.

Polyethylene is accepted by most municipal recycling facilities. It can be downcycled into polyester fibers for polar fleece, tote bags, furniture, carpeting, and paneling.  

Polyethylene is suspected to release (or leach) antimony and phthalates.  Antimony is a metalloid element most commonly found in nature as the sulfide mineral stibnite. Antimony is used as a catalyst in the production of Polyethylene.  Phthalate is an ester of phthalic acid and is used as a plasticizer. Plasticizers are chemicals added to plastic to make it flexible and moldable.

Depending on what study or report you are reading, Polyethylene is considered a “safe” plastic.  It is also thought to be an endocrine disruptor and carcinogen.

I try not to eat or drink out of any plastic but it is quite difficult in our world today.  It’s best to play it safe whenever you can by using glass or stainless steel containers. It might be worth it to buy natural fabrics like organic cotton, wool, or hemp.  

Thanksgiving Fun Facts

Thanksgiving is a delightful time of year that brings families together to celebrate the first harvest in the new world back in 1621. I’m thankful to the pilgrims for giving me an excuse to indulge in delicious food and drink too much.

Thanksgiving is also the time of year that we kick our trash mongering into high gear. Brace yourself for some Thanksgiving fun facts.

The average household throws away 33% of the turkey and 25% of all the food prepared for the day. Try to get the right amount of food instead of an abundance. You don’t need to buy the biggest dang bird in the store people. Chances are that you will have plenty of leftovers. 

During the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Americans waste 33% more food and create 25% more waste overall. That equates to 25 million extra tons of trash each season.

Besides buying the right amount of food, you can reduce waste in other ways. Don’t use disposable cups and plates. It’s more dishes to do but people prefer real dishware and it feels more elegant. Try baking things from scratch rather than buying packaged treats. Compost any food that does get wasted. Buy your liquor in glass bottles and recycle them. 

I have to admit I’ve only made a turkey once and it was with the assistance of my mother in law. It was Thanksgiving of 2011 and she decided it was time I learned how to make a turkey. I appreciate her effort and thoughtfulness. It was, however, a horrific experience that I liken to abuse of a corpse, that I care not to repeat. I was so disgusted by the process that I hardly ate any meat that year. I’m fortunate my mother in law delights in making the turkey and all the fixings. Thanks Char! She even boils the bones to make broth. I lovingly tease her that Jeffrey Dahmer would be pleased with her broth making process.

Enjoy the holiday of Thanksgiving and give some thought to less.

Jive Turkey

*Receipt Wars: CVS is King

Receipt wars get just about as much coverage as the Olympics, and for good reason!  It is no easy task to be able to spit out one, two, or even three feet of paper for a single (or minimal) purchase.  It takes a great deal of dedication and ingenuity to be able to think of all the extras that someone wants on their receipt.  There’s the purchase item, of course, but you need to know what store the receipt is from and it is ideally in very large print.  The address and phone number of the specific store should be listed, just in case someone should forget where they were when they bought that pack of gum or other arbitrary item.  The name and general description of the cashier should be present. Then there is your total as well as your total savings, not just for this purchase, but for the entire calendar year.  There should be a cryptic description for each item as well as an exceedingly long numeric identifier that will make no sense to anyone. A phone number and website for a survey should be included as well as a specific transaction number.  Rewards should be listed in large print as well as a multitude of coupons. Not just some coupons, there should be coupons for things that you want, things that you definitely don’t want, and things that you would never, ever consider buying.  What separates the truly great receipts from the run-of-the-mill receipts lies in the details. A truly great receipt will include things such as, the day of the week the purchase was made, the longitude and latitude for the store, the ambient temperature in the store at the exact moment of purchase, a horoscope that is specific to the individual making the purchase,  the position of the sun in relation to each of the planets, whether or not the stars are aligned in a favorable manner, and last, but not least, the receipt should have its exact length in feet and inches, as well as centimeters, so that it will be easy for customers to show off to all of their friends and family when they have the longest receipt.

*Satirical Saturday brought to you by Betty

Dear Betty: Reader Email 11/16/18

Hi Betty,

What about deodorant and antiperspirant? Is there some kind of option that comes in cardboard? They all seem to come in plastic and it's easy to toss them and be done.

Thanks so much for your email and question! There are a few options when it comes to deodorant and antiperspirant. One option is to get it packaged in cardboard. You can find a lot of options online, one of which is Meow Meow Tweet. I have not tried it yet but I know it gets good reviews and is available at Target. Another option is a paste that you can get from a variety of online stores or Etsy. The paste comes in a glass container that can be recycled. I have not tried paste myself. I have read that some people use an Alum stone to control odor. You are supposed to wet the stone and rub it against your skin to block odor. I can't see myself trying the paste or the Alum stone but they are options. I purchased a new deodorant from Tom's of Maine to try when my current one runs out. Tom's of Maine takes their plastic container back to recycle it, and it is a temporary solution for me. I'll talk more about it after I try it and see how I like it and when I try one packaged in cardboard that I like, I'll create a post for that.

-Betty

Do you have a question, comment, or suggestion?

I'd love to hear from you!

Email me at Mrs.Stebber@gmail.com or comment on the blog

Garnier is the new L’Oreal

I have about two feet of hair.  Some people say it looks beautiful and maybe it does but truth be told, I’m lazy and I just don’t like to spend time styling my hair, so long hair is easiest for me.  I’ve been called a fashionista but I describe myself as “slobby-chic.” Anyway, to tame my monster mane I used to use L’Oreal Elvive Total Repair Conditioner and L’Oreal Evercreme Deep Nourish Conditioner.  The Total Repair comes in a plastic tub that can be recycled and the Deep Nourish comes in a flexible plastic tube that cannot be recycled. When I got to the end of my glorious hair butter, I looked for a better option with the planet in mind.  There isn’t much for options in planet-friendly hair care. At the very least, you should buy something that can be recycled. I decided to try Garnier because they have teamed up with TerraCycle and have a free recycling program for the majority of their products.  When you send your empty Garnier containers back to TerraCycle, you earn points and later you can use your points to help protect the rainforest. Everyone loves the rainforest, right? Well, not the people who cut it down but they don’t count anyway. I now use Garnier Fructis Smoothing Treat One Minute Hair Mask.  At first, I didn’t like it. My hair didn’t seem as smooth and it just wasn’t the same. I continued to use it and now I love it. I think my hair went through a mourning period and together (my hair and I) we are stronger and better than before. You can sign up for free recycling programs through Terracycle. There is no cost and they cover the shipping label when you mail in your containers. Check out the free recycling program through TerraCycle, you’ve got nothing to lose and rainforest to gain!

Weekly Weigh In 11/14/18

This week I'm delighted to report zero bags of trash!  November is shaping up to be a good month so far and I'm hoping this trend continues.  Making better choices takes effort but each choice and change adds up.  Keep up the good work everyone!  

How did you weigh in this week?

The Day Farts Stopped Being Funny

I’m kidding, farts will always be funny.  The gas produced by cow, swine, and livestock, however, is no laughing matter.  

Methane is a natural byproduct of digestion, it is created by bacteria in the digestive tract and it escapes through burps and farts.  Cows are especially burpy animals and their burps account for 90-95 percent of the methane they release. How much can animal gas possibly matter?  A lot. In 2011 cows, swine, and other livestock burped and farted an estimated 119 million tons of methane gas. People are eating less red meat these days but our animals are bigger than ever which causes them to eat more, and produce more gas. Interestingly, methane is not what makes farts smell, it’s the sulfur that causes the smell. That isn’t true for me of course, because I don’t fart. Ever.

Even the manure emits methane.  It is common practice to store manure in a pit but that causes twice the amount of methane production than just spreading it on a field.  Putting manure in a pit encourages bacteria and methane production.

Carbon dioxide is often blamed for being bad for the environment but methane is 85 percent more powerful.  Methane contributes to the greenhouse effect which heats the Earth and causes global warming. Livestock is responsible for about 1/5 of all methane production.  Other contributors are the oil and coal industry, wetlands, oceans, and plastic that is heated by sunlight or exposed to saltwater. Methane is produced by landfills and it is converted into energy.  

Maybe it’s time to cut back on our meat consumption and start getting serious about all of the plastic we are putting in the ocean.  Don’t worry, there will still be plenty of farts to laugh about.

Slow Clap Presents: Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT)

Real Story. Real Stupid

Our story begins in 1874 when DDT was first synthesized by Othmar Zeidler. It wasn’t until Swiss chemist Paul Herman Mueller discovered its use as an insecticide in 1939 that it became popular for use. After this discovery, DDT was used everywhere for just about every reason, with very little testing prior to its release to consumers. Mueller was later awarded a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1948 for his breakthrough discovery.

DDT was used in abundance by the Allies during World War II to control malaria and typhus among troops as well as civilians. By 1945 it was being used by the government, farmers, and housewives in a variety of applications. It was used on vegetable crops, fruit fields and trees, fields for steer and dairy cows, and food processing plants. In the home, DDT was used as a fly spray, mosquito spray, ant poison. DDT was popular because it could kill anything and it was very effective in doing so. Women were encouraged to spray it in their cupboards, on beds, and in children's rooms. A company called Trimz came out with DDT wallpaper for children's rooms. Ads at the time featured singing animals, vegetables, and a housewife. “DDT is good for Me-e-e!” was the jingle at the time.

In 1962 marine biologist and environmentalist Rachel Carson published Silent Spring, a book that changed everything. Her book outlined the negative environmental impact of DDT use. She argued that pesticides are poison and are bad for the environment, insects, animals, and humans. By design, DDT kills insects, including beneficial pollinators. It affects fish and birds, and wildlife that eat insects, fish, and birds. Silent Spring inspired an environmental movement and lead to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. By 1972 the use of DDT was banned for agricultural use in the United States.

DDT is notorious for its particularly negative impact on birds of prey, specifically the bald eagle. DDT disrupts the female reproductive tract and impairs the quality of the shell. The eggs laid are thin and when the bird sits on them to keep them warm, they break and it dies. This caused a major decline in the population of the bald eagle as well as the brown pelican, peregrine falcon, and the osprey.

Between 1950 and 1980, 40,000 tonnes were used in agriculture worldwide. Since the 1940s 1.8 million tonnes has been produced globally. India is the only country still manufacturing DDT.

DDT absorbs into the soil, sediment, and aquatic organisms. DDT has a half-life in soil estimated to be between 22 days and 30 years. It has an aquatic half-life of up to 150 years. It has a half-life in humans between 6 and 10 years. In a 2005 study by the CDC, DDT was detected in nearly all human blood samples. DDT is an endocrine disruptor and carcinogen. It is passed through breast milk. There is a suspected link between DDT and breast cancer, particularly in women born before 1931 due to the heavy use of DDT between 1945 and 1950 in which they would have been 14-20 years old.

My two cents: When will we learn our lesson? It’s pretty stupid to spray pesticide all over the place and not think it will cause a problem down the road. It seems common sense that something that kills as its intended purpose will have ill effects on anything it comes into contact with.

Rating: I give the story of DDT three out of five possible slow claps for wreaking havoc on the environment and for being stupid on a Tuesday.

Dear Crest, You are Dead to Me. Love, Betty

I am a certified freak about oral hygiene.  I was actually told by my dentist years ago to stop brushing so much.  As if five times a day was excessive... Well, now I brush two or three times a day and floss every single day, no exceptions.  I get excited about a new tube of toothpaste or a new toothbrush. I like my teeth so white they glow in the dark. They love me when I go in for my cleanings.  I guess I’m an oral celebrity of sorts. Wait. That sounds weird.

Back when the world was still in black and white and I was young, I remember using Crest toothpaste.  It’s pretty much all I’ve ever used. I think it tastes great and I love it. Crest stopped using microbeads back in March of 2016.  So what’s my problem with Crest? The packaging! Sure, you can recycle the box but what about the tube? I don’t think any municipal recycling centers accept empty tubes of toothpaste.  You can’t compost it. You can’t burn it. It’s just waste. But Betty, it’s just one little tube! Is it? Annually in the United States, 400 million tubes go into our landfills and worldwide it is a staggering 1.5 billion!  So what is an obsessive-compulsive glow-in-the-dark teeth sort of gal supposed to do?

Not all challenges are created equal.  This was a painful one for me and one that I’m still working on.  The best option is to make your own tooth powder. My daughter Esmeralda (not her real name) tried a tooth powder recipe from Zero Waste Home and it left much to be desired.  Bravo for your effort kid. You can order tooth powder online or find it in some stores. I haven’t found one that appeals to me so I turned to Tom for the temporary answer.

Tom’s of Maine is a great company that produces products with natural ingredients and is moving toward sustainable packaging.  I chose Tom’s because they take back their waste for recycling through Terracycle. As all three dedicated readers know, I signed up for the FREE recycling program a while back.  Once I have enough empty containers to justify the shipping, I print a free shipping label and send it to TerraCycle. You can earn points to help protect the rainforest and you gain street cred as an authentic patchouli wearing hippy. Sweet!

It took some time to get used to the new toothpaste flavor but now it’s fine.  I’m still looking for a tooth powder with more sustainable packaging and will give a glorious review when I find one.