Sunshine Guerrilla: January 2016

Quote of the Week- Oh, Julia

by balfeo - Sunday, January 31, 2016

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Picture of the Week- Best Graffiti Ever

by balfeo - Tuesday, January 26, 2016

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Quote of the Week- Remind Yourself You are Kind

by balfeo - Tuesday, January 26, 2016

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Because I spent 2015 doing so much research on the eco-friendly and local options for what we buy, I found lots of things I loved in the process. These products all live in our house now, and they are great for us, as well as being better for the environment!

1. Fisher Fair Scones (and Scone Mix)- This is a stand in for all the cool Washington-specific goodies we have discovered this year, from Seattle Chocolates to Skagit Valley Bacon (life-changing). The Pacific Northwest has so many amazing local foods, and I am excited to explore more of them. Fair Scones are my favorite, because we made fun of it when we first saw these big SCONE signs at the fair. Who eats scones at a fair? Then, we noticed the answer was everyone. The line was so long at every seemingly-ridiculous scone booth. If you have ever moved to a new place, you know your best bet is to get in the long line, because everyone knows better than you do. In this case, it was so right! We had an amazing Strawberry Shortcake, and we lust over the scone mix at the grocery store all of the time.

2. Decomposition Books- I carry a little nautical number in my purse (more like a diaper yacht) when I leave the house, so if I have a good idea, I can write it down. I love them. Clever idea, great design, made in Brooklyn New York with recycled paper and soy ink. I can’t sing enough praises for these little notebooks, and I don’t think I would ever go back to virgin tree books.

3. Lifefactory Bottles- Both the Bub and I carry ours, and the glass and silicone design makes them easy to carry and way better for the environment than disposable plastic bottles. I just think they are adorable andglass bottles have worked really well for the Bub too. Need more ideas for a water bottle to love? Check here!

4. American Apparel Baby Clothes- I am not sure the world is ready to see me in this brand’s clothes for adults (I mean, spandex dresses with slits up to my armpit are for weekends only), but American Apparel’ssimple onesies and sweatshirts are the absolute staples in The Bub’s wardrobe. No cutesy sayings, great colors, perfectly comparable prices (you can pay for labors not sparkly doodads) and they can survive our Hulk-child, so I call that a win. When in doubt for a baby shower, anything from their baby department is sure to be a staple in a sea of cutesy business.

5. Yoda Hat- While we are on the subject of baby clothes, we mostly discovered the glory of used children's clothing in 2015 (the coat and hoodie in this picture are both consignment buys), but I did love finding a few adorable pieces that are all The Bub's own. My favorite is this Yoda Hat from Unforgettable Stitch, because I love a good baby melon. And I would never object to baby clothing with ears.

6. Uncle Goose Blocks- You have heard me sing this brand’s praises before, but come on, they are American gems! Covering everything from Japanese characters, to nursery rhymes, to the periodic table (I mean, how American is that? So many different cultures), these blocks are smart, beautifully-made, and The Bub loves to throw them and knock them over. I am sure we will get to the nursery rhymes more substantively later. These blocks and ANYTHING made by Green Toys are the absolute favorites in this house.

7. LL Bean Rug- Braided rugs remind me of home and family, and I always wanted them in my house. For my birthday, The Boy bought one to fill our dining room. I love how resilient it is against a constant downpour of cheerios, and it really looks beautiful. Plus, it was made right in North Carolina, so it didn’t have to travel too far to get to our house!

8. Epicurean Cutting Boards- Technically, we did not discover these this year, as they have been in our kitchen since California. But we didn’t realize that this company makes these long-lasting and recycledboards here in the US. I don’t know that I would ever switch to another cutting board now! And they have so many choices.

9. Dinosaur Tail- Since the Bub was being a viking for Halloween, we thought it would be fun for the Boy to be a dragon (a la How to Train your Dragon). He made most of his costume out of an American Apparel sweatshirt, but he needed a tail. I contacted KidHub on Etsy and asked if she could make a tail to fit an adult. I am so glad it all worked out and it is so adorable! I also love it because she made it so we could make it work for a kid too.

10. Autumn Moon Laundry Soap- I tried this soap as an alternative to the store brands, which use SO MUCH plastic! It's time in our house to turn away from as much of this plastic jug nonsense as I can. I wasn't sure at first how it would go, but I love Autumn Moon Soap Company's version, and it's amazing how long it has lasted (maybe I need to do laundry more?). I am still dreaming of making my own, but I bet I will order more of this as backup anyway.

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Quote of the Week- Cleaning

by balfeo - Sunday, January 17, 2016

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Little Green Dress- Taking America Across the Pacific

by balfeo - Sunday, January 17, 2016

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My Goals for 2016

by balfeo - Friday, January 15, 2016

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3 Things for Yesterday- Buy Me Once Shopping, Tights, and my In-Laws

by balfeo - Wednesday, January 13, 2016

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Yes, I am Judging You, and I Judge You Favorably

by balfeo - Monday, January 11, 2016

When I was home for Thanksgiving and Christmas, I was shocked by how many people responded to the blog and the Christmas lists I had written with the help of amazing friends and family. Lots of the response was positive, letting me know about an Etsy purchase or that they were using recycled paper towels (YES!! Why do non-recycled paper towels even exist?). On the other hand, I noticed some people were dismissive, incredulous, or even defensive about the recent posts on the blog. Honestly, at first I was pretty surprised; what could be offensive about a bunch of shopping lists? I had people give me or The Bub gifts that were made in China, commenting and taking jabs as if to egg me on to get upset and justify their expectations (I don’t rile that easily, btw). I had more than one person say they “didn’t have time” to worry about this kind of thing, which was especially discouraging, since I am basically trying to do the work for you so it isn’t a huge time-commitment! Just click the links!

Anyway, I have had some time to reflect on these reactions, and it seems to me that they were reading a judgmental subtext into what I was writing. That what they hear over and over again is that in my eyes, they are bad.

If I am pumped about recycled paper, I must think you are horrible if you don’t use it or wouldn’t use it.

I mean this lovingly. The subtext you are reading is not there. I don’t imagine anyone would actually follow all of the advice I give on this blog. I know I sure don’t.

When I walk into your house, I don’t wince at your stuff. I honestly don’t notice.

If you buy me something made in China, I may still love it.

If you still shop at Walmart, I still like you just fine.

Because all of these behaviors are the norm, and I participate in some of them, I really don’t think anything of it. I am PUMPED when someone tells me they made a change. I swear, this was the best Christmas of my life, because I was elated about gifts I had nothing to do with- a Lodge skillet! Reusable Made in the USA Gingerbread houses! Gift cards for activities and not stuff!If you want to make my day, send me a picture or a text about purchases like these, and I will glow about it all day.

Seeing people break out of the “what’s easiest? What’s cheapest?” box is incredibly cool and I am excited about it, but even if that isn’t you, or it hasn’t been you yet, it doesn’t change my opinion of you.

This kind of assumed personal antagonism kind of reminds me of language surrounding feminists. If you are a feminist, you must hate men. This is crazy! I am generally a big fan of men (especially ones who are also feminists)! Having a problem with systematic patriarchy, from which men also suffer, points to issues with cultural systems and assumptions, not with any one person. I don’t look down on people who exist heteronormatively, I think we mostly look that way from the outside, but I am always excited to know people who courageously break out of norms and fight for what they believe in. If that isn’t your kind of awesome, I guarantee there are other things about you that I find awesome.

In the same way, I am not nearly as critical of individuals as I am of companies (and the individuals that run them) that use unethical labor, wreck the Earth, or ship their product all over creation to use fossil fuels and cheap labor. Disgusting. I also hate that stores sell this to us like it is the only option, that “everything is made in China” or that you can’t do everything right, so why try at all?

This “you can’t do it all, so why try” attitude is my least favorite thing in life. Global news makes me feel this way at least once a day- if you add up all the awful, it really seems insurmountable, but I try to fight that instinct to give up. It’s encouraging intentional ignorance- “You know you can do better, but it’s ridiculously hard, so just keep doing what you are doing” It creates an us versus them that makes people feel threatened when you suggest they make small changes.

I blame sports. Specifically, I blame sports for you not liking my blog. Makes perfect sense, right?

I have noticed a real team mentality, where everyone has to be all or nothing on the same wavelength. Even things that shouldn’t be a debate seem to be a competition, and too often (for my taste anyway), it has to be black and white, winner and loser, no room for ties. We tend to turn on people who we don’t believe to be 100% on our side; as an uber-liberal, I felt pretty annoyed with other liberals after the Pope’s visit. He did so many great things while in the United States, but because he may have met with one person, he was horrible. Really? Really?

The point of my sports-bashing is that I don’t expect anyone to be 100% on my side here. We can be on the same team without being 100% on the same page. You do what you think is right based on your priorities. My Uncle David is not a huge fan of the climate change rhetorics or the EPA, but he and I both love Made in America. It is fine with me if he only finds a cool idea or two on here he agrees with, and I still think he is wonderful. The larger point of this is that we all have the agency in our life and our decisions to make positive changes in the world, so where we can, we should. Take one piece of advice or one link to one cool product, and I will be elated. And if I love you as an individual, that’s still true no matter what you buy!

If I have one point on here, it's that every purchase IS a choice, so even if you are just going with the Made in China, plastic-wrapped flow, that is your choice. Our decisions always have positive and negative effects in our own lives and beyond ourselves. Beyond that, I trust you to make the choices that are best for you.

We can all accomplish and learn a lot more if we can separate interpersonal feelings from larger social issues. It is so easy to feel offended when someone makes a suggestion, but it is always your decision whether or not to take it, and that choice can be based on your own research and priorities.

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This Month's Inspiration- Minimalism

by balfeo - Sunday, January 10, 2016

Donald Judd, Untitled, from eileencarpio.wordpress.com

Christmas is over, decorations are put away, and like most of us out there, I am trying to clean up my act in January! All of the holiday business (and treats) and a trip away have me ready to refresh my house, my life, and my body. The biggest To Do on our list is to start spring cleaning (yes, we know it isn’t spring yet, but someone explain to me why you would start cleaning once the weather gets nice outside). So this month is all about cleaning out and simplifying.

I love a good jumble, or a fun arrangement of a bunch of cool stuff, so my inspiration this month is the Minimalists and contemporary minimalist design, to remind me that sometimes keeping things simple can also make a huge impact.

Jackson Pollock, Cathedral, 1947- from wikipaintings.org

The minimalists were a bunch of individuals who came along at the end of the 50’s, when the psychoanalytically-loaded chaos of the Abstract Expressionists was gaining fame. Money, and oodles of imitators. AbEx artists like Barnett Newman, Willem deKooning, and good old Jackson Pollock used explosions of color and gesture to express their post-war feelings and anxieties. Lots of them. Feelings on Feelings on feelings. These paintings are so loaded with content that they are sometimes termed “allover paintings” They don’t have a focal point because there is just so much going on everywhere! That sounds like my house right now, with less masculine angst.

Donald Judd, Robert Morris, Carl Andre, and my beloved Dan Flavin among others introduced an entirely different approach to respond to these previous artists’ success. Rather than cover the art object with seemingly infinite gestures and emotions, they presented one idea at a time. In “Specific Objects” Don Judd argues that even abstract painting is playing into old rules of representation and perspective- he suggests to resist the onslaught of artistic expression by using clean industrial materials (steel or glass) instead of artistic materials (like paint or canvas). Judd also preferred sculpture, like this Dan Flavin Monument to Tatlin, because it presented one singular idea instead of many at one time.

Dan Flavin, Monument to Tatlin, 1966- from saatchi-gallery.co.uk

This theory may seem like a long way from my current mission to clean out my basement, and I won’t be interrogating the artistic expression of dusting, but hear me out. Our home has two functions- the practical functions (eating, sleeping, sitting, etc) and aesthetic functions (it says something about who we are to ourselves and to anyone who visits). I tend to prefer an aesthetic that says TONS of things at once about who we are and that is ready to fulfill ANY function that it might need to. In doing that, we have accumulated a lot of stuff. I want to re-evaluate the objects we have in our house, and hopefully diminish some of what we have collected, by coming back again and again to the question of function- how much can you get rid of if you just let go of what isn’t actually that useful or beautiful to you? Is it better to have a pile of things that fulfill a function, or a few that can address all those needs as well?

Tossing stuff may not seem eco-friendly at first. In fact, if you have bought it, shouldn’t you use it? In most cases,Yes! Please use it (and take care of it) if we can.

But here’s the thing. We as Americans have so much stuff that we no longer know what we have. How many times have you bought something only to realize you actually already had it at home? I know it happens to us! We have “condensation points” in our house that always seem full of stuff (the desk in the kitchen, the basement, the toy box) where new things land but hardly ever does something come out. Even when the house is clean, these little hoards still exist. So we keep getting toys, even though there are already ones getting no use. If you have so much that you can’t assess your needs or you can’t take care of it all, you have too much. This list wisely explores why we keep things when we don't need to.

Don’t throw it away- donate it. Put it up on Buy Nothing (no seriously, I will nag you all about Buy Nothing until I start hearing reports that you joined or started one- it is life-changing). I hate to throw something away, because I might need it someday, but if someone can use it now, why am I just hoarding it away? This became so clear to me after having a baby. They are in those clothing sizes for a month or two before it’s on to the next one. I could save all The Bub’s clothes for the next baby at that size, or I can pass it on in Buy Nothing, and five or six babies could wear that clothes before we even have another one. The more we share what we have, the less waste we create.

No small task, right? But this is what is on my mind this month. And as blogs like A Virtuous Woman reminds me, this is more than a question of mess, it is about stewardshop and focus. Setting some fresh new goals and cleaning out those cluttered corners. If November and December are all about buying ethically, January is all about taking care of what you have by getting rid of things ethically!

To live a more eco-friendly and ethical life, our house has two major hurdles to tackle: First, I want to do more research about cleaners- what’s the least toxic and waste-producing way to keep our house clean? How can I reuse these plastic spray cans instead of buying more? Secondly, how can we minimize the stuff in our house so we know what we have and keep it nice?

Theme for 2016? Less is the New More. Let’s do this.

Ok, so who wants to join us spring cleaning? So much fun, right? My (very) optimistic estimate is that we will be cleaning for about a month. I will try to share some of our ideas for thinning out collections and I would love to hear yours too! Happy Cleaning!