What is it that holds us back from doing the things we want to do? For over a year we have had the book Better World Shopper. http://www.betterworldshopper.com/ A Good Shepherd nun, Sister Mercy, gave this book to Josh during their environmental work together. Although we'd looked through it and discussed our desire to change our habits, we never actively made that first step. Recently, Josh purchased the iphone app. This app has now changed the way we shop and our desire to support certain companies. (Just another impact the iphone has had on us! : ) ). We discovered that the main place that we shopped (or supported) received a very bad score. This score is based on how the company impacts human rights, the environment, animal protection, community involvement and social justice. Realizing that when you purchase items from a company, you are supporting their practice. For example, if we purchase a cheap shirt from a department store, we are saying it's more important to pay less money for an item than it is for another person to earn a decent wage and be treated fairly in another country. Our dollars are going towards oppressing someone else. Feeling this way, we decided that we wanted to change that. We want to support local farmers and companies that are doing good works whenever possible. So, we have decided to begin shopping at Whole Foods. In the past, we would do this for special occasions or for a treat. It's always been something we enjoyed. We had our first trip the other night and had a great time. We have felt great about our purchases, knowing that it will help us appreciate the blessings that we have been given, allow us to be an example in supporting upstanding organizations and know that in some small way, we are making a difference. Whole Foods was our first step. Now, we are actively checking the score of each company and product that we are wanting to purchase. If the score is not good, we do not purchase. In response to those who may say that this type of shopping is not cost effective or that we could be getting more for our money, this brings another great point. Too much of something is not always a good thing. Our country is the most over weight country in the world because we eat too much low quality food. So yes, while we purchased fewer items at Whole Foods, we have felt better about what we've purchased and what we've eaten. It's been a very good experience. Below is a snapshot of one of our yummy Whole Food Meals!
Also this week, we celebrated Coty's 7th Birthday! He is getting to be such an old man and it's so cute! We sang Happy Birthday to him and gave him a special treat....a cookie shaped like a Gingerbread woman wearing a coconut bra and grass skirt. He loved it! He spent the rest of the night curled up on the electric blanket and sleeping. All in all, I'd say it was a pretty perfect night for him. Happy 7th Birthday sweet boy!
OH! And thankfully, the washing machine is back in working order. YAY! It's been a good few days!
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