Every year, I set goals like most everyone else on this day or near it. I have a blog, so I get to reflect semi-publicly about my success and not so much successes. Resolutions get a bad reputation, but we can only do more good if we are trying to, so I really like them. That being said, let's see how 2017 went. I mean, we all know 2017 was mostly terrible. But let's see how the goals went.



1. Learn to Sew- Nope! Didn't get there at all, and I am still wearing leggings that essentially look like assless chaps. The longer I spend as a mother, the more I look like Christina Aguilara in the "Dirty" video, and not in a good way. This one is making the list again for 2018, because I know I can do it.


2.  Take Better Pictures- Eh, yes and no. I think I have Lightroom and Pic Monkey mostly figured out, so I know that the pictures on this blog are improving. Someday, this thing is going to look professionalish! That being said, I know this is one I would still like to keep working on, because I would like more effective shooting.

3. Use Even Less Fossil Fuels- Yes! I think we are to the point where we are filling up our cars less than once a month. We also are getting really good at buying everything locally or secondhand, so our stuff is using less fossil fuels as well. I walk a LOT. We do most of our basic shopping on foot during the week. I am nervous this won't be the case in 2018, because the baby will get too big to carry and the Bub is potty training, but in general, I hope we can keep up the momentum.

4. Grow Teal Tuesdays- No, I really let this one fall apart. Our September turned out to be a bit of a mess and honestly all of our holidays and special events were not the best this year. Definite goal for next year.



5. Embrace Meatless Mondays- Yes! I wouldn't say we are scheduled enough to really do it on Mondays, but I would guess at least 2 of the dinners we plan every week don't have a protein. And we have been serving the same amount of meat we always did, but now it is across four people, so our servings are getting smaller too (this really helps). This one turns out to be pretty easy as you find more and more recipes you like. I even tried and like mushrooms now!



6. Throw an Awesome 30th Birthday Party- A party was thrown with lots of Harry Potterness! Super fun to do these crafty parties with my mother-in-law, and now we have lots of cute Harry Potter stuff in our house. In 2018, we will be going smaller.



7. Finish this Table- Done! Thank goodness for paternity leave, because we got a lot of things off that darn to do list. Super proud of our table, which we got for no money and we will keep forever. Even if it did take us YEARS to complete that project. Next year's big project? Bookshelves!

8. Be a Better Responder- Eh, some? I try, I really do, but this will probably be a thing I work on forever. Sorry friends, I really do love you.

9. The Great Donate 2017- I didn't make it to 2,017 things, but I still think this project was a complete success. I will write more about it later (maybe later today? Hard to know) but I feel like gifting and donating was a totally encouraging, life-giving, and house-cleaning goal this year, so maybe you will join me next year?

10. Fight for my Own Optimism- Oy, it's been a rough year. If you care about the environment, it has been a rough year. If you care about other human beings, it has been a rough year. If you have two tiny children and nearly no time for self-care or life-care or just holding it together, it has been a rough year.

But I am still going. And I am rallying within myself, because I truly believe that 2018 is a crossroads for our country, our world, and our environment, so I know I don't have the privilege of wallowing or feeling down long. And just being able to have that rally, knowing so much more about the world and my own blindspots now, feels like a new optimism. I am more involved than I have ever been, and that feels like optimism. The fact that I still write this blog, and that I am hopeful people can change their mind, see the problem, and choose to care feels like optimism .I feel  like anyone who is still fighting after this year drained everything is practicing a new kind of optimism. Look out 2018, because I have never come at anything harder.

Ok, so, 2018 was a bit of a mixed bag, but I am grateful to have survived this stinker year. How did you do at your goals in 2017?

Turning the page on a fresh year gives us a brand new opportunity to be a better version of ourselves. That's pretty exciting, and it is the perfect opportunity to start making some eco-friendly changes. It's the kind of thing we all want to do, especially after the ecological terrors of 2017, but it can feel impossible to know where to start. That's where these posts come in.

Becoming eco-friendly seems like a huge, daunting commitment, but you can actually make a huge POSITIVE impact on the world just by making some easy small changes. New Year's Resolutions can be all about changing habits, so why not stick with the junk food and make the world better instead?

2. Learning to Love What is Local

Buying local has a very specific reputation. A bearded hipster buying poems and honey out of mason jars maybe? Buying American has specific connotations as well- someone with a booby silhouette on his mudflaps who votes for Trump and hates immigrants.

Both are completely untrue. Buying American and buying local should and can be a totally mainstream way to live life. These simple principles fit all sorts of ideologies and do all kinds of good. They feel like a thing that is nice when it happens, but you really have to be hardcore to go out of your way for.

Want to save the world in 2017? Buy Local. Buy American. Not when it jumps out at you. Not just by accident. But intentionally and often. This can be shopping at local stores, eating at local restaurants, buying from companies that manufacture nearby, or investing in local farming and produce. It can be going to the locally-owned movie theater or going to the local park or coffee place. It can be shopping on Etsy instead of Target. It can be so many things.

How it's Good for You

Living in healthy communities is incredibly important for our health and state of mind. W. H. Auden called it topophilia- love of the place you live in. In this globalized world, we can see places as interchangeable, but your life will be happier if you love and take care of the place where you live. The wellbeing of your community directly contributes to your own happiness. You can read a great article here about how our cities, communities, and environments directly contributes to our happiness.

Ok, easy enough. Investing in our communities is investing in our own happiness. But what does investing look like? First, we need to get involved and invest our time. Second, we need to stop sending our money away and fiscally invest in our communities.

No one can solve your community's problems like you can, because no one outside of your community can understand those problems like its residents do. The whole world is filled with complex problems, and it might feel overwhelming. The best place to start is always your own backyard.

I don't even want to tell you how often I have heard someone complain how there are no businesses in their small town or neighborhood, then gone on to tell me they didn't buy from a local business because they could get it cheaper at Walmart. I am from a place where business after business has left, and I understand the fear and frustration of living in a community that is dying. But no amount of "Make America Great Again" can help you if you are sending every dollar you make off to some billionaire instead of investing where you live.

Yes, it is cheaper at Walmart, but what is the true cost? When you send your money away to the Waltons, it is NEVER coming back to your community. Ever.

You can say somebody should come and help your local economy, but you screw over your own community every time you choose to send your money elsewhere. Over and over again.

There is no "somebody should." If you are saying "somebody should" then you should. If somebody should invest in your local economy in 2018, one of those somebodies can be you. That means letting go of big chains, of places like Walmart, of getting the cheap deal. Let those places be last resorts instead of first stops. Enjoy the uniqueness of where you live. Invest that time making things better, but think about how to keep your money where you live (and not in the Walton money gardens).

If you have to get it new (or it's food), find it local. If you can't find it local, find it American. If you can't find it American, get it used. It will make you feel happier about what you buy if you are using your money to contribute to the wellbeing of where you live and support your community members.

How it's Great for the Environment

Now, why is buying local better for the environment? First and foremost, the further you and your stuff travels, the more fossil fuels it burns through. Only 10% of what most Americans buy is made in America. That means 90% of your possessions are world travelers. If you buy 100 things, you have supported 90 trips across the globe. That's a lot of fuel.

Secondly, if you invest in companies that are investing in their communities, you are much more likely to keep your money where you live. To take care of the people where you live. Capitalism is designed to alienate us from the labor (and the waste) of our stuff. The more you prioritize the local, the more you actually know and appreciate about how something was made. You stop buying disposable junk when you know the hands that made your stuff.

If you care about ethics or how other human beings are treated (so hopefully, all Christians at the very least), buying local or American tells companies that you will not support how badly they treat other human beings. This is more important than we can comprehend, because this weight pulls on our Earth and our psyches.We hear again and again how incredibly poor conditions and compensation are for workers who are making our "Made in Elsewhere" clothing or toys or food. These are other human beings, with mothers and families and needs. But they are so far away from us, we just see "Made in China" tag and don't think of the mistreated person behind it.

So, shopping local makes your community healthier, your life happier, and it cuts down on your fossil fuel usage and overall waste.

How to Do It

Buying local is anything but mainstream, and it may seem like a pretty big "little" resolution, but trust me. It's doable. If this blog makes one argument with all of its shopping lits and links, it says that most things are still available made in America.

The more investment we feel in our own communities, the better we take care of them. We shouldn't just be buying locally, we should be aware of what's going on locally. What can we be making better locally? Don't like how it is where you are? The good thing is that the more local you are, the bigger a fish you are. So make a positive splash.

Want to change the world this year? Start small. Start local. These are my best little local resolutions. Let's do this.

Give up your Chains

This is SUCH a fun resolution. Give up chain restaurants for the year, and every time you go out to eat, try a locally-owned place instead. Another way to do it? You can only go to a chain restaurant once for the whole year, so you have to really think about when that would be. Get on Yelp and try everything in the top 30. Revisit something you know has changed hands.

Explore Local Food

 Sites like this one give you information on what produce is in season in what locale. You can find cool Etsy seasonal charts as well- Jessica Haas have my favorite ones.  Do the research and find out what is grown near you. Then use that.

Most communities, even the small ones, have local grocers. My hometown of 4,000 has one, and it is awesome. Start your grocery shopping there. What is there and how can you use it? This is a cool way to be inspired, and you can support more local growers. Look into Co-op or CSA boxes too.

Best the 10%

The average American buys only 10% American goods. Pick a happier, higher percentage. You can buy American-made for SO MANY THINGS. I have List Over List to help you. Truly, you could pick 100% and still be successful, but even 30% is huge. Set a high bar for yourself, and see every purchase as a fun challenge (or a trip to the secondhand store).

Pick 3

Think of the things you buy the absolute most. What 3 things do you always buy at the grocery store? Can you find out exactly where they come from? How about ways to recycle their packaging? By greening (and localizing) your most common purchases, you can maximize your positive impact without spending your whole life reading about this stuff (though we love your company here).

Take a Second

Before you hit "buy," read up first. Always read the tags! This blog is all about letting you know other options available, so no one ever has to say "Everything is made in China" again. Seriously, NOT TRUE. If you need something from your house, try the wedding registry. For baby stuff, I have a baby registry filled with Made in America and eco-friendly baby goodies. The information is out there. Just resolve to check up when you can!

Resolve to always try before you buy. Keep a list on your phone of things you want to buy and search them on here. I promise you, you will be surprised.

Make a Local Love List

 I write a series on 5 local businesses and companies people love where they are at. Can you make that list off the top of your head? Then I have a mission for you! Let 2018 be the year. Resolve to explore all the wonderfulness that is near you.

Join (or Start) a Buy Nothing Group

If you live in a city, joining a Buy Nothing group is one of the best ways to connect with your neighbors, save money, and share with them. If you live in a small town, it is a great way to support each other and save money. If your neighborhood or town doesn't have a Buy Nothing Group, one of the greatest things you could do in 2018 is get one started. Seriously. It is that important. If you want to learn more about the Buy Nothing Project (and see whether you have one), check here.

To Go Bigger- Make One Big Change in Your Little Corner

There are still so many cities and communities out there that don't realize their natural environment is their greatest asset. They still use plastic bags. They don't have recycling.  You may live in one of those places. Go big and do something to protect the environment right where you live. 

Annoyed that your city doesn't offer recycling? Organize and do something. Frustrated that your horrible state just outlawed outlawing plastics (I'm looking at you Michigan), time to get some grassroots boycotts going NOW. Knowing what is going on is your basic responsibility as a citizen where you are. Want to up your resolution this year? Change something. Start small and make big waves.



Woo! I am excited about this one. What are you going to buy local this year? If you missed the first set of resolutions, read up on how to reduce your meat intake in 2018!

So 2017 has been epically terrible for the environment. If you are paying any attention at all, it can be so easy to feel terrified and helpless. But I am here to tell you, 2018 is the year we can turn this all around. But we need you, and your family, and your friends.

So I am going to throw out some ideas of resolutions you can make this New Year's. These are just suggestions of places to start, but they will make your life happier and the world better all at once. Way better than resolving to eat less cake, right?

Maybe it's the first time you have been thinking about trying to do something about it. Maybe you have been milling since America left the Paris Agreement or the pictures of plastic in our oceans were plastered everywhere.  But you aren't alone, and this is no time to feel hopeless- it's time to get to work.

The problem is HUGE. And we are all a part of it. But that means we have the power to make a difference and that's amazing. It doesn't have to be a huge change or a difficult one to make a HUGE impact. Make some little changes. Tell your friends about it. That's it. So let's get started as we head into 2018.

1. Take it Easy on the Meat.
 Give Cows a Chance.

How It Helps You

When talking resolutions and diets, we mostly think of cutting down on treats or snacks. Meat generally looks "healthy" because we need protein, but if you want to turn around your health, meat might actually be the PERFECT place to moderate. Cutting down on meat can help you lose weight, be more active, and protect you from heart disease, cancer, even impotence (unless you are Ron Swanson, obviously)!

Meat has more and more connections to health issue, so most doctors and organizations suggest cutting back. The American Institute for Cancer Research says you should eat no more than 18 ounces of meat a week. Most other sources I could find said 10-12 ounces. Lots of us eat WAY more than that, though it has been going down.

Want more evidence that eating less meat is better for you? Here, Harvard will tell you all about it.

from npr

How it Helps the Earth

Meat, especially beef and lamb, have absolutely terrible environmental impact, so eating less can really lessen your footprint. Red meats have extremely high CO2 emissions, use tons of fossil fuels and water, and are one of the top contributors to climate change. Top US nutrition panels are advising we all eat less for the environment and for ourselves.

Skipping that burger turns out to be a pretty kickass solution to all sorts of nonsense.
Have a drought? Eat less beef.
Driving way more this month? Offset it by eating less beef.
See a pattern? We all need to eat less beef. Vegetables use less water, less land, and creates less CO2 and waste. There is no downside here.

There are other benefits as well. Meats at supermarkets come wrapped in plastic and styrofoam. Mushrooms and beans? Not so much. Changing your approach can cut down on your waste as well.

Eating less meat means you can eat more ethical meat as well. If you are an animal lover and a meat lover at the same time, you might ask yourself whether the meat you buy actually upholds your respect for animals. I personally believe that animals can be treated humanely and with dignity, but I know that is often not the case, and you have to know what you are paying (more) for.

from Research on Global Markets

So, Let's Make A Change

This week, keep track of how many servings of meat you eat. If it actually feels like more than you need, maybe this is the perfect place to make a resolution. 

Am I telling you to become a vegetarian? Well, you can if you want, but I won't be joining you (been there, but can't pull it off now). We all need to curb our diets, and we can make a huge impact on our environment and our waistlines by cutting back in 2018. Here are some ideas of how-

Meatless Mondays

Have one day a week with absolutely no meat in it. Think of it as a fun challenge, because there are so many great recipes and ideas out there. I'll be sharing recipe roundups with vegetarian options every week to help you out. You could do all vegetarian lunches also- whatever works for you, but just make it part of your routine.

Plan Around Veggies

Yes, we may not be huge veggie fiends, but make the challenge of this year to try to learn to love them. It's as simple as changing how you talk about food. Usually, when someone asks what you are having for dinner, you reply "Chicken with..." why not say "Veggie pasta with chicken?" Less meat and more focus on stuff we relegate to sides can TOTALLY change how we think about food.

Make Beef a Special Occasion, not a Routine

Cut Down Portion Sizes

Make up the difference with vegetables or beans. You will be healthier, and eating 2 fewer ounces a portion will add up over the course of a year. Do a regular cheeseburger, not a double. You don't have to go cold turkey, just always make the smaller choice. We make a whole lasagna with two sausages or stretch 4 chicken breasts over 3 meals. It saves money and the Earth!

Know Where Your Beef Comes From

 Maybe you are thinking of how beef is important for your local economy. Sure that might be true, but is your beef actually coming from there? When you eat at a fast food restaurant, it has traveled. At many grocery stores, it has traveled. Buy less, buy local, and you can put that money to use where you live and get better quality meat.

If You Want to Do More

Already pretty light on meat? It might be time to dive into less dairy. I haven't eaten red meat for years, but I love milk, so I am going to work on cutting back.

Another option is to write your favorite restaurants and ask for more meat-free options or to know where their meat came from. They won't respond to the need for more vegetarian/ vegan food if they don't know people want it.

The theme for this year is to make personal AND systemic changes, so think about where you have power to minimize meat.

If You Want to go BIG

 Cut out some dairy or buy all of your meats local (that can be EXPENSIVE). Cut out meat completely and try living 2018 as a vegetarian. So many options! Fight for more meatless options or days at local cafeterias or restaurants that you are near often.




Animal products are a huge part of the Climate Change equation and a perfect place to start to make changes. It may not be the only change needed, but it is a huge little step that costs you nothing. You can take shorter showers, drive fewer miles, and turn off your lights when you leave a room. These are all great steps to take. But if you cut out half your servings of red meat a month, you will have more impact and do more good.