Community Revitalization...in Las Vegas

Las Vegas is experiencing a renaissance of sorts. Thanks to the vision of Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos, a whole new wave of community development & interest is piquing, especially in the downtown districts otherwise known as 18b or The Arts District and Fremont East. As someone who has a community development/college leadership background, this is exactly the type of revival that I was looking for when I moved here last August. Everything kind of fell into place. I enjoyed the tight-knit campus community that I experience for my 3 1/2 years in college. I participated a lot- serving on multiple committees, working for a variety of organizations, founding a magazine, working as an RA, going to campus events practically daily, and of course taking classes. I immersed myself in it. And then I got an internship that changed my life, which happened to be in the bustling commercial/residential district right next door that was once awarded one of the top 10 neighborhoods to live in! It was a brilliant experience.

Anyway, this time in my life felt exciting because I was so connected to the community. I had an active role in it and I was part of the decision-making process for certain events, changes, and improvements that the community would face. And that made me elated!

So, back to Las Vegas. The same type of community vibe is slowly but surely emerging here as an alternative to the sprawl of Las Vegas suburbs. It's only in it's infancy (literally- the #VegasTech movement just yesterday celebrated it's 1st birthday!), but shows serious promise for reawakening a group of passionate people who want to better the city in their own unique way. I'm loving it. Anyways there are a few important organizations/links I'd like to share for anyone who is interested in learning more about the project. I'll try not to include press here because it's exhaustive- you'll have to do a quick google search to read up on all the amazing positive press we've received. Anyway here goes!

• Greener Blocks...aka #BAGB; Making downtown more sustainable one block at a time
• Downtown Project; Tony Hsieh's hub for spreading the movement
• Ayloo.net; A local startup connecting passionate people & timely projects 
• Downtown3rd; A once-weekly farmers market embracing local farmers & produce
• Springs Preserve; an amazing nature preserve that promotes science, nature, learning & sustainability
• /usr/lib; A tech library & meeting place for #VegasTech and community minded individuals
• The Beat; offers coffee, beer, wine, food, vinyl & a casual meeting spot for locals

So those are the most mainstream organizations & ideas floating around downtown right now. Their span and influence is only going to increase as more and more people start getting empowered by the message. I highly suggest taking a look at any one of these to see how each branch is working together to weave together a common culture in the city. 

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I am a big proponent of living minimally. That means only buying what you need...getting rid of what you don't...and not assigning emotional attachment to your belongings. I learned this really quickly as a kid; nothing made me feel better than throwing out bags and bags of useless junk I had accumulated! I realize not everyone gets the same rush, and a lot of us have really sentimental items that we own. You know, that dress that you wore on the first date with your now-husband that's faded, out of style, and doesn't quite fit right anymore. That birthday card that your great aunt gave you with a sweet message inside. I could go on and on. I do it too. However, there comes a certain point where enough is enough and (I, at least) start to feel consumed by what surrounds me. I stumbled upon this funny but oh-so-true guide to getting rid of all the "stuff" in your life. And even though I had a laugh, some of it is so true. It was originally posted by Julien Smith over at In Over Your Head. I think that by reducing the bonds we feel towards our stuff, we can focus on more important things, like strengthening the bonds between ourselves, our neighbors & the wider community. Like making sure our community is economically sound, has plenty of opportunities for work, play, and culture, and is an overall happy place to be. Anyways- here goes!

The Short, 16-Step Guide to Getting Rid of Your Crap

1. Enter the front door of your home. Toss off your shoes. Notice, lying beneath, a pair of boots you have worn only once. Shrug.

2. Turn on the television and sit on your Ikea couch. Attempt to relax. Awaken 20 minutes later, realizing that you’ve been passively flipping through channels. Turn off the TV, remove the batteries from your remote. Toss them in your Blendtec blender. Stop yourself moments away from doing something drastic.

3. Briefly fondle the iPhone in your pocket. Stop yourself, realizing you were about to do the exact same thing with Reddit as you just did with TV. Call and cancel your data plan in the nick of time.

4. Begin to wonder what people did before television and internet access. Observe the room around you, looking over the unread books and unwatched DVDs lining your dusty shelves. Consider shopping, then picture the unworn clothes occupying your cavernous walk-in closet.

5. Realize your imagination has turned all black and grey.

6. Suddenly recognize that you haven’t used your “spare” room… ever.Do the math and realize said room is costing you five or six hours of work per month. Take out a piece of paper and compare it to that trip to Japan you’ve been meaning to take. Stare at the math in disbelief. Stuff the paper in your mouth and begin to chew.

7. Realize that the brief emotional rush that accompanied the purchase of each item in your home is now gone, leaving only the object itself in its most basic, uninteresting form. The gorgeous, pastel designer couch has become simply a chair. A beautiful glass buffet is transformed into a mere table. A set of immaculate handmade dishes has aged into nothing but a bunch of plates. Your goose down duvet is actually just a blanket. Wince.

8. Glance down at your groceries and realize that the Doritos, Lay’s, and Ruffles you purchased are all just coloured corn and potatoes.

9. Open your credit card bill. Wide-eyed, discover how often you’ve confused shopping with actual extra-curricular activities. Consider joining a monastery.

10. Remember that time you went over to a party in a friend’s pseudo-abandoned loft. Recall the roommates, the self-made art and photos on the walls, the obscenely cheap rent, and the embraced simplicity.

11. Begin to make a quick list of the top 10 things you own in terms of how much they cost. With horror, make a second list of the top 10 things that make you happy. Sense the creeping dread as you realize there is no overlap between the two at all. Shudder in terror.

12. Decide to have a packing party like your friend suggested one time. Take the old sheets you never used from Crate & Barrel. Cover all your stuff with them. Endeavour not to uncover it unless you decide you need to use it.Realize suddenly that you would never use anything at all because you are never actually home.

13. Remember a time in childhood when you were more excited by ideas, love, travel, and people than by anything else. Realize that you have, somehow, bought into a new religion, and that malls, from the inside, look exactly like cathedrals.

14. Consider starting a fire.

15. Consider that, perhaps, you are more than just your stuff. Begin to take a long walk. Breathe.

16. Begin to relax. Give yourself the freedom to begin to dream again.

10 deliberate things.

So I kind of stole this concept from one of my favorite bloggers out there, Miss James from Bleubird Vintage, but I think she'll approve. Her blog is amazing, from snapshots into her life as a mom of three with one on the way, healthy/delicious recipes, and inspiration on how to live simply & happily. It doesn't hurt that her husband is a wonderful photographer & the photos liven up her page in a way that is breathtaking! Anyway this is my 10 deliberate things post, adapted from her 10 pretty things. 

1. A deliberately beautiful piece of public art

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2. A deliberate plan to improve a park in London for the 2012 Olympic Games

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3. A deliberate way to incorporate some vintage/upcycled map love into your home!

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4. Six steps on how to eat consciously & deliberately for your body 

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5. A deliberately positive message to keep in mind (seen at a co-op in my hometown!)

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6. A deliberately peaceful moment from my grandmother's backyard in 2010

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7. Living deliberately & consciously doesn't just apply to "stuff", but relationships too

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8. A deliberate use of old or discarded books so they stay out of landfills (& it's pretty cool, too)

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9. A deliberate way to reduce your portion size & measure correctly for preparing foods at home

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10. A deliberate reflection on how humans should consider their presence in the world

source unknown- anyone?

Subway is Contributing to Massive Waste, One 6-inch At A Time

Okay, I don't hate Subway. I actually really like their ham subs, plus their meatball one is decent. I go maybe once a month. I like that their mission is to provide fresh food and that goal is actually attainable through their planned operations setup. It's great.

However, I was thinking today about the massive waste that Subway contributes to the Earth each time someone rings up their lunch special combo for $8.55. More often than not, you're given your sub in one of those long, skinny plastic bags. More often than not, you and your significant other/co-worker/children sit down at Subway to indulge in one of their "healthy" meals (note the sarcasm, but that's another story). More often than not, said patrons will quickly take their wrapped sub out of the bag that it was put in a mere 20 seconds before, and throw it out. And, more often than not, that bag looks like this:

This is my bag from my sandwich earlier. Apologies that it's upside down, but I needed a quick photo!

The bag is clean, just slightly wrinkled, and completed devoid of any food scraps. After all the sub was wrapped in a paper, too. So what worries me is that the life-span of each bag is about one minute if the patron is eating in the restaurant. I recognize this is a different story if someone is taking food out, or if they have leftovers. But what about everyone else that finishes their meal & then throws out the crumbs and packaging? That's probably tens of thousands of Subway bags ending up in the trash after only being used for a minute.

Surely, Subway could re-evaluate it's usage of the bags? I've noticed that in some locations they've begun offering baskets instead of bags for foodie's who want to sit & enjoy their sandwich. That's awesome. But maybe not enough, if not all locations offer this. Remember those plastic bag caddies that our parents had that we thought were so silly? My dad had one under the sink AND one in the laundry room (commitment).   Subway could integrate an inexpensive device like that near the trash cans in it's current and future locations so that customers can actually recycle the plastic bags that are barely even used. I would venture to guess that this would reduce Subway's costs if they could have an ongoing source of recyclable bags that could be made into future Subway bags. It would at least create an environment of goodwill if patrons see that their favorite fast food restaurant is becoming more responsible for the consequences of doing business. Win, win- no?

Now, this doesn't really solve the problem. I am sick of plastic bags everywhere, and would honestly prefer it if Subway found a solution to just not produce them anymore. But at least this is a step in the right direction to reduce their waste contribution in an already cluttered, littered world. Thoughts?

Talking Trash on NPR

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Everyone who knows me will attest to the fact that I am an NPR whore. I even enjoy listening to their quarterly pledge drive. I grew up with my grandmother having NPR on all day every day. My dad does it too. I'm getting pretty close. Anyway, Fresh Air (broadcasted outside of Philadelphia) is having a program all about trash today! According to them, Americans throw out the most trash per day out of any other country. Apparently we dispose of seven pound of trash...per DAY! That is outrageous and something we should all work towards reducing. Anyway, host Terry Gross will be chatting with journalist Edward Humes about the journey that trash takes from us to the landfill. And probably what that means for our Earth & future. Definitely tune in for what's probably going to be a really interesting conversation! Usually Fresh Air is on at 1pm & 7pm local times but it varies so check your local station just in case. Happy listening!

You WASH these?

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A few days ago while at work, a coworker complained that she had forgotten to bring a fork and knife from home to eat her leftovers with at lunchtime.

"Oh, I have a set you can borrow!" I said, pulling out a mismatching plastic pair. I told her I had just washed them yesterday so they're fine to use. What happened next was incredible. She simply looked at me, incredulously, and said, "You wash these?" They're plastic. Why don't you throw them out?" Profanities went off in my head like fireworks.

Just because something is plastic doesn't mean it can't be washed, reused, upcycled, recycled, etc. Her first thought was to toss it in a garbage bin with no regard- an attitude that I think can only be a result of being so disconnected from what actually happens on the journey from your garbage bin to a landfill. I buy durable goods whenever I can- we don't use paper towels, napkins, or disposable plastic/paper plates, cups, or silverware in my apartment. Any plasticware we do have is washed and reused! I always used to smirk at my grandmother when she would do this, but now I understand the value of it. My husband doesn't quite get it, but we're getting there. I'm not perfect, but at least we put in an effort. I was incredibly surprised the way my coworker looked at me, as if she had never considered saving plasticware. Sure after awhile the integrity of the spoon/fork/knife is compromised (the same way some people say you shouldn't reuse plastic water bottles too often- bacterial residue), but that doesn't mean you can't get full use out of them.

Has anyone ever done a double take at your cost-cutting/eco-friendly measures? I have many more I can think of, but I'd like to hear what other people have to say as well...

xoxo Becca

A small trip to the grocery

For me, part of living deliberating (or consciously) means watching what I put in my body. For years I was raised in a house where my parents drank Diet Coke like it was water, we gorged ourselves on American cheese, and everyday was like Thanksgiving with out of control portions and way too much carbs and fat. And Iʼve taken huge steps to change that. Iʼve almost completely gotten rid of soda from my diet. And I started excluding specific foods from my diet as well- including pizza, burgers, American cheese, and bacon. Foods that do nothing to nourish my body & instead just reduce it to waste practically.

Anyways, Iʼve started buying more consciously as well. Today my mother-in-law drove my husband and I to Costco so we could stock up on essentials & get to use her membership discounts. We ended up getting there just as the store closed, and get this- she left her keys in the car. With all the doors locked. With the engine running.

Long story short, we never made it into Costco. While I donʼt like to support Walmart (or Costco, really) and do my best to avoid purchasing from them, we were in desperate need of groceries.

So this is what I purchased:

Concentrated pineapple juice (for cocktails!), $1.44

Flash-frozen corn (2), 1.96

Fresh chicken breast (10 lbs.), 21.00

Flavored Sparkling water, strawberry & peach (2), 1.36

Generic strawberry low fat yogurt, 2.18

Chocolate almond milk, 4 pack of 8 oz., 3.81

Vanilla almond milk, 1 quart, 3.42

Fresh strawberries, 3 packs, 4.98

Red grapes, almost 2 lbs., 2.60

Fresh bananas, 2.5 lbs., 1.44

Smart water, 1.25

Honey Bunches of Oats cereal, 2.02

Granola/raisin cereal, 4.50

Gatorade for the husband, 1.00

The total I spent was $55.34. Not bad for the amount of food I got, I think. It hurts to dole out a chunk of change all at once, but when I think about how much I spend going out to eat for lunch, this was nothing!

Its really difficult to change your diet up, but buying fresh reduces packaging waste by so much. No chips, Pringles, boxed dinners, etc. The amount of waste created is enormous! We all indulge every so often but I am making a serious attempt. Also, avoiding animal products helps to reduce the impact of your purchase decisions. The only animal products I bought were the yogurt & chicken breasts. Iʼd never tried almond milk before, and I didnʼt really like soymilk. I always stick with plain old cowʼs milk. But it turned out to be fantastic! Iʼm happily surprised.

On another note, I made tea today. I donʼt own a kettle & didnʼt want to waste money on one, so I boiled water on the stovetop. I have a little reusable cup that I can put loose tea leaves in, so I simply brewed it in the pot. I was pretty excited that it worked so well. My intention is to make high quality iced tea. Hopefully it turns out nicely.

xoxo Becca

Conscious Living...Around the web

I like to check out some subreddits, tumblr, & other blogs that I enjoy for inspiration on living simply, reducing your impact, and rethinking your community. These are just some of the few that caught my eye this week...Hope you enjoy!

....This is an awesome piece about a woman who repurposed a shipping container to create a home for herself and her daughter. It takes some really creative thinking to see the potential in that.

...Just a little reminder about happiness.

...A really cute way to invite some life into your home. This is cool for people who don't have a yard or who want something low maintenance!

...Homemade Zen came up with a nice little list on how to start living simply in order to feel better & do better.

 ...A eye-opening "Paradox of our Times" that definitely made me think about my lifestyle & choices a little more. Of course it's from the Dalai Lama :)

...Really interesting article/video about how a town in central Greece is using a barter system as opposed to a formal currency. Given the nature of the world economy crisis and rising inflation, this was a really good read!

Any others I missed? Have a great weekend everyone! I work Saturdays so Sunday is really my only day off & I plan on enjoying it to the fullest! I'm thinking morning tea, hopefully finishing the entrepreneurship book I borrowed from the public library, some housework (because one can never escape it), and maybe a movie night with my husband. Oh and I'm also supposed to be volunteering with this local community initiative called Build A Greener Block tomorrow for a few hours. We're taking old unwanted wood pallets and transforming them into furniture! I'll make sure to take photos to share. Learn more about the project at GreenerBlocks.com!

xoxo Becca

My first post

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Living deliberating is a challenge in this 21st century consumer society. I find myself struggling on a daily basis to avoid certain foods, behaviors, and activities that I think are detrimental to myself, my body, and the Earth. I feel such a big disconnect between myself and the people I interact with in life/work because people don't understand my point of view. At times I feel stuck in a society that has little direction or values. Now, that's a very broad generalization...But honestly. We (in the United States, at least) live in a world where people are obsessed with gossip, designer clothing, disposable relationships, disposable goods, electronics, quick fixes, discount deals and budget warehouses, consumer loyalty cards, ignorance, et al. I personally can't keep up with it and don't want to. I want to simplify my life in order to make my existence more meaningful. I care about the environment; urban design; how cities grow, shrink, and change; consumer behavior; volunteering; shared consumerism; infrastructure; DIY projects and self sufficiency; supporting local/emerging economies; art and more. These are topics I'd like to talk with other people about. I'm not an expert in anything in particular, though I do have a Bachelor's degree in Business & Marketing (contradictory, some would say, but that's for another day and another blog post!). What I do have are ideas, passion, & excitement for changes. I might not have much experience (again, relative...) but I am the type that jumps in and gets started right away. Anyway, I'll end my ramble and continue on to actual content on this new blog. But I must leave you with a few quotes that guide me-

"Every great wizard in history has started out as nothing more than what we are now: students. If they can do it, why not us?" - Harry Potter as written by J.K. Rowling

It may seem silly but this quote sticks with me. I am a die-hard Harry Potter fan, but it also describes an attitude of empowerment; no one started out an expert, or a CEO, or even a community activist. They were driven by a goal and simply made people listen to their ideas/mission/values. I want to become a postive change agent in the same way.

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life...and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world."

I was introduced to Thoreau the way that many students are: in my rhetorical literature class. At the time, I was tempted to say, "Wow, I don't understand what this crazy fool is thinking" because that's what everyone  else in my class murmured while avoiding my instructor's gaze (& implicit request to analyze the text!). But to be honest with myself, I fully understood his message. We need to truly live in order to understand why life is important. We need to experience things for ourselves, and seek out joy in the natural order of things. I even used one of his other extraordinary quotes as my yearbook statement upon graduating. No regrets! 

So, I leave you with these thoughts. Hopefully my intention isn't confusing; either way the true nature of my message will unfold as I express it throughout the posts. 

Carpe diem xoxo Becca