To Do List

I am a list maker. I rarely get to mark all of the items off on my list, but I enjoy the process of making the list. I like to think making a list helps me stay organized, but if I look at it closely, I would see that it just feeds into my procrastination. After all, when you consider the amount of time I take to -write list-rewrite list in nicer handwriting-find a cuter notebook to write list in-rewrite in new notebook- I could have marked off all the items on my last 5 lists.

As I mentioned, I like the process of putting pen to paper, but I found a new site I might try out (in the hope of saving some trees). Ta-da is a simple tool that lets you create to-do lists for yourself and for others.

I also found an interesting blog, http://www.todolistblog.com
Sasha Cagen has collected people's To Do List from all over the world and written a book about them. To-Do List is a collection of 100 handwritten lists and the stories behind them. To-Do List celebrates the world of the overlooked and mundane, letting our lists serve as unique windows into who we are. Nothing is more revealing than someone's to-do list. A possible stocking stuffer for the list maker in your family!

Zwaggle

The need to nest has taken over, and I am no longer in control of my urge to clear out and get rid of things. Fortunately, Bob has the "bug" too and has posted a couple things on the Freecycle site I mentioned on an earlier post. He also spent time going through boxes of old office stuff and was able to get rid of a lot - I must say it made me tingly all over. Even though I am 6 months pregnant (and as big as a barn) staring at the boxes full of recyclable paper makes me feel a ton lighter! And the best part is tomorrow is curbside recycling day . . . YEAH!

Zwaggle is another option to get rid of your unwanted stuff in a responsible, eco-friendly way. Zwaggle is an online community for parents to share with other parents. Using our points based sharing system, parents spend less money, time and resources providing for their children.

By using Zwaggle, families are able to eliminate clutter, outfit their children, and participate in a trusted, on-line community of like-minded parents, while conserving our precious resources: time, money and the environment - leaving more of these for our children.

Zwaggle provides members with a trusted place to:

• give away used goods that are no longer needed by your family
• receive value from their used goods via our proprietary points based system, called Zoints
• use those Zoints to obtain items you need for your family

Leaf Magic

A fun afternoon . . . Bob raked up leaves into huge piles and the kids did their best to spread them all over the yard again . . . . they had a blast!

FreeCycle

Today we packed up trash bags and other shopping bags full of "stuff" and headed off to the Salvation Army drop-off truck. Of course, being the day after Thanksgiving the truck wasn't at its normal spot. After driving around a little I found a drop-off box and unloaded the van, but I was only able to put in the bags that were tied up which left me with a few bags I was unable to unload. Unfortunately, I am left with a few bags in the back of my car that will probably remain for awhile until I am gently "forced" by Bob to get rid of them. If this is not your idea of a fun Friday morning there is another option . . . The FreeCycle Network.

The Freecycle Network™ is made up of 4,173 groups with 4,109,000 members across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer (them's good people). Membership is free. To sign up, find your community by entering it into the search box or by clicking on “Browse Groups” above the search box.

For Safer Baby Bottles

Newsweek, Christina Gillham
Published November 19, 2007

As if parents didn't have enough to worry about with the confusing and seemingly never-ending toy recalls, now comes a new concern: bisphenol A, or BPA, a component of the polycarbonate plastic that makes up many baby bottles and sippy cups, which has shown the potential to cause a variety of health problems. While the Food and Drug Administration has not found reason to ban the chemical, some studies have shown that even low doses of the chemical in lab animals can cause neural and behavioral effects, and possibly lead to obesity, decreased fertility and some cancers. It's enough to get environmental organizations to press for change. "We think it's health-protective to really regulate this chemical to decrease human exposure," says Anila Jacob, senior scientist at the Environmental Working Group (ewg.org).

If you think it's better to play it safe, here's what you can do to protect your infant:

* Breast-feed if possible.
* Don't heat bottles with liquid in them or put warm liquid into the bottle. Heat can cause the BPA to leach from the bottle into the liquid. Get rid of bottles that are scratched or cloudy. Studies have shown that the more bottles age, the more likely the chemical will leach into what's in the bottle.
* Buy bottles made of glass or of polypropylene or polyethylene. Many manufacturers are now marketing "BPA-free" bottles made with these alternative plastics. Born Free (newbornfree.com) and Sassy Baby (sassybaby.com) are two such companies. Thermos and Luv 'N Care make BPA-free sippy cups (both available at buybuybaby.com).

I'm an Aunt . . . to a future NBA player!

William Archer Andrews "Zeke" arrived at 11:40 PM November 16th...........what a birthday surprise (11 days early) to his mother (Katherine's birthday also)........ The excited father is hoping for a b'ball player - 8 lbs. 13 oz. and 22 1/4 inches long.........

1985 Alabama Auburn

"The Kick" I feel a repeat coming on! Roll Tide

Missing You

An unusual pairing but I love anything Alison Krauss does.

Calculate Your Impact on Climate Change

Climate Change: What's Your Impact?

Inevitably, in going about our daily lives – commuting, sheltering our
families, eating – each of us contributes to the greenhouse gas
emissions that are

causing climate change. Yet, there are many things each of us –
as individuals – can do to reduce emissions. The choices we
make in our homes, our travel, the food we eat, and what we
buy and throw away can help ensure a stable climate for future
generations.

Use The Nature Conservancy's online carbon footprint calculator to
measure your – or your household's – climate impact. The calculator
will estimate how many tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse
gases your choices create each year.

My individual score was 24 which means I am
personally responsible for emitting 24 tons of CO
each year. My minivan definitely doesn't help . . .
Bob wants to start a compost pile . . .
I might have to cave!

41pounds.org

41pounds.org stops your junk mail for five years for only $41, which is less than 70 cents a month. You can use other services or do the leg work yourself, but we decided it was worth the minimal cost to have the service.
Great Christmas gift idea for your friends and family.

NO MORE JUNK MAIL.

• Save time by eliminating 80-95% of your daily junk mail.
• Save trees - 100+ million trees destroyed annually for junk mail.
• Save water used producing and recycling junk mail.
• Reduce global warming - energy used for junk mail.
• Support your favorite charity - we donate when you sign up.

In our first year of operation, we have eliminated over 1 million pounds of junk mail!

The Grays' go GREEN

ACME Bags™ - Recycled PET Dual Handled Tote

Bob purchased these bags for us to use. I have to admit at first I was a little hesitant .... I thought it might be pretty dorky to walk into a store with my own bags or the cashiers would be annoyed at something that wasn't routine. Well, I got over myself and used them at the grocery store this weekend. Happy to report I received an "awesome" from the young cashier and Bob discovered if you use your own bags at Trader Joe's you are entered into a monthly drawing for a gift certificate for groceries. Bob and I each have a set of 4 and we leave them in our car for each shopping excursion.

The coolest thing . . . . the bags are made from recycled bottles. The fabric used to produce each of these bags reclaims about 10 recycled plastic bottles/containers! Check them out and feel good about making a small change that could have a huge impact!

98% post-consumer recycled content Made from recycled plastic bottles & containers Stylish, strong & durable Innovative long & short handles Carry over shoulder or by hand Fabric is soft & strong (unlike some scratchy recycled PET bags) Made with fair wages / fair labor

Holiday Tradition: A Visit From Santa's Magic Elf

A great little holiday tradition to start with your family. Read more at

OrganizedChristmas.com

What would happen if one of Santa's elves came to your house to visit?

He'd arrive sometime before the holidays began. Sent by Santa to check on good little girls and boys, he'd roam the house at night, popping up in the most unlikely places come morning.

Sometimes, elf mischief would take place--and he'd be caught red-handed! Finally, on Christmas Eve, he'd report to Santa and hitch a ride back to the North Pole ... until next year.

If you can imagine it, you can do it: meet Santa's Magic Elf!

'Tis the Season

For those of you who like to start your shopping early and take great pride in finding the "perfect gift" I have a site for you! My dear friend, Ilene has a blog, "The Ferret Online". If you are searching for something on the great World Wide Web she can be of assistance. Check out her site, she has great product recommendations and reviews. She will be happy to be your personal internet shopper and help you find that perfect gift.

Princess Meg & Sir Davis

GRANDPARENTS: to see more pictures and order some for yourself go to http://www.graypictures.shutterfly.com
the password is the answer to this question:
The name of Alana's hometown is?

Meg's First Big Girl Haircut

Meg loved having her hair washed in the "big sink"

Yani was so impressed with how still Meg sat (so was I)

Now where is that part?

The blow dryer was definitely the big hit of the day!