For years environmentalists have been promoting reusable shopping bags to cut down on the amount of plastic bag waste generated by grocery stores. Although I loved this idea in theory, I must confess I've been a slow adopter. I found it hard to remember to take bags to the store, and often the bags were too small. Now I've found a bag that works for me, and I'm finally developing the reusable shopping bag habit.

Recently I loaded up my three kids and hit the road to travel from North Texas to Florida. In a van. (Gas guilt much?) When we arrived and I unloaded the van, I was shocked to see the immense amount of trash that we ("we" meaning "they", of course) had accumulated in just 3 days. The only green living was the in the chocolate milk bottle left in the heat.

In 2008, there's no need to explain that a 'green kitchen' doesn't mean walls painted the color of sage or mint or lime or olive or even the lovely celadon. For anyone thinking about building a dream kitchen, environmental issues join long lists of considerations, even requirements.

When my little dog stretched dramatically, I'd laugh and call it his doggie yoga poses. Who knew about doga (rhymes with yoga) at the time? Not me, but it turns out it's all the rage.

Al Gore has won the Nobel Peace Prize--an honor he'll split with the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Al Gore, whose dedication to environmental issues had earned him the nickname “Ozone Man” — “Ozone,” for short from President George H.W. Bush during the 1992 presidential campaign, is the controversial and committed icon to reduce carbon emissions.

September is National Sewing Month.  Last year, if you recall, I gave you some guidance on the basics of sewing (here, here, here and here.)  This year, we're applying those lessons again. I've picked a favorite craftying activity of mine: sewing some kind of bag.  It might be a simple grocery tote, a cute felted bag, or a real purse. There will even be some talk about what you might not want to do.