How I passed Home Ec in middle school is a mystery to me. I wonder about this between Google searches on uses for stale bread and other things I would’ve simply tossed in the trash in my pre-care-about-the-Earth/need-to-save-money days. My mom has lost more than a little sleep wondering how I was going to make it as an adult in this world, what with my willful ignorance regarding all things domestic. I heard her mutter, more than once, “necessity will teach you!”

Oh, has it ever. Let’s just say school’s been in session in a big way since I became a mom and had to stop calling a can of Red Bull breakfast. Since my son was born and saving money became my way of earning it, I’ve come up with a few Home Ec hacks of my own. A while ago it dawned on me that ultimately everything we do has an environmental impact. Everything. Including, of course, the way we go about the care and feeding of our families. More...

My son, Sam, discovered the joys of eating dirt, picking up pine cones, and rolling in the grass this week. During each of these discoveries, I was so moved by Sam’s utter delight and fascination with things I take completely for granted that I put my hurry aside to let him explore his ever-expanding world.

I should’ve expected this day to come. We took Sam for his first “fresh-air walk” two days after bringing him home from the hospital. We’ve walked nearly every day ever since. More accurately, I’ve walked while pushing him along in his stroller. Until he started saying “Walka. Walka. Walka.” (always three times) and pointing out the door. There is a big world waiting for him out there and he’s ready. More...

Turns out, going green doesn’t just mean staying comfortable in your hemp socks. Sure, you can dip your toes in the green pool and see how it feels for awhile but eventually you wind up getting sucked into the whirlpool of changes. The craziest part is that you know that’s where you belong.

In my first year of consciously living greener I made quite a few changes, some more challenging than others but nothing quite as dramatic as say, giving up something I really, really love. Like Red Robin’s Whiskey River Burgers. Or bacon.

But, it’s a new year and I find myself committed to the cause, for better or worse. So when EcoMetro readers Diane and Bonnie suggested I examine how my eating habits impact the environment, I had to take a closer look. More...

I’ll be honest with you. There are days I wish I’d never given in to going beyond being a green wannabe. I mean, as a wannabe, I always had my good intentions and list of excuses at the ready. But once I committed to making my confessions public, I sort of became responsible for doing more than just wanting to do my part for the planet, and actually being held accountable for it

As I reflect on the past year and look toward the new one, I’m happy to share that despite some of my misgivings I am a “greener” person since starting to write this column. Some of the ways I’ve changed have become so much a part of my new “normal” that I had to really think about what we do now that’s different.

Here are a few of the changes I hope add up to make a difference. More...