Bottled water is bush league

Happy Go Green Monday friends! Do you drink bottled water? If so, here is some interesting information I read today in a Power Point presentation.

1) 86% of plastic watter bottles end up in the trash.

2) The average person spends $400 per year on bottled water. (Imagine what you could spend that money on...I know I would rather spend it on something other than water!)

3) If you leave a plastic bottle of water in your car, chemicals from the plastic can absorb into the water and potentially cause cancer and other health problems.

4) Bottled water costs 1,900 times more than tap water.

Still think drinking bottled water is a good idea? I didn't think so. I'm not claiming that I don't ever drink it...I just try my best to always have my Sigg (feel free to re-read last Monday's blog: http://cestlaviebyelle.blogspot.com/2009/08/go-sigg-or-go-home.html) with me and/or drink tap water whenever possible. If you think tap water tastes bad, then invest in a Brita pitcher or filter for your faucet.

If you still insist on drinking bottled water, then recycle those bottles! It's very simple. You can either toss the bottle in the trash or in a recycling bin. The choice is yours. Let's do our part to help Mother Earth by not adding to the waste that drinking bottled water creates.

Jessica, The Family Hippo

Happy Friday friends! I want to share this lovely video that my sweet friend Jennifer sent to me. Knowing my love of animals and of South Africa, she knew I would enjoy this video. Please take the time to watch this short video (click on the link below) that shows how animals can see past what they are and not worry about the differences that can separate species. Let's take our cue from Jessica and try to do this with each other.

http://inspirationmanifestation.com/241/jessica-the-family-hippo.php

Go SIGG or go home!

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you all had a fantastic weekend. I was blessed to have spent it in the North Georgia mountains with a wonderful group of friends. We rafted the Ocoee and had an amazing time! I even managed to fall out in the Olympic section :) (Picture to follow once I get it.)

Today's green tip is to use (or buy if you don't have one) an aluminum water bottle. My favorite kind are SIGG water bottles. They stay cool, don't leak, and are absolutely fantastic! Visit SIGG's Web site at http://mysigg.com/?gclid=CIPj_sjLvJwCFRyenAodmFieoQ. I have the smallest size and the largest size, and I love them both. For those of you who know me, I drop things a LOT, so these durable bottles are perfect for me :) I've included some of my favorite designs pictured above.

SIGG's Web site explains their products the best: "SIGG, "The Original Swiss Bottle", is recognized world-wide for Swiss quality and craftsmanship that comes with nearly 100 years of heritage and experience. Produced from a single component that is seamless and has no comparable weak points, SIGG bottles are tremendously durable and virtually unbreakable. In June 2006, Backpacker magazine conducted a relentless field test of leading water bottles brands. With the services of a 100 pound cannon packed with golf balls, they were able to destroy all of the targeted bottles – except one! Following the bottle barrage, they dubbed SIGG "The World's Toughest Water Bottle."

As a member of the Sierra Club, I love that SIGG has partnered with this organization-"As a proud member of 1% For The Planet, SIGG will donate $1 for every bottle sold to the Sierra Club to help ensure that our country's natural beauty and resources are taken care of for future generations."

Let's do our part to help keep our beautiful planet clean by using reusable water bottles instead of plastic bottles. Go SIGG or go home!

Slow down Speed Racer!

Today's green tip comes from the Sierra Club's daily email newsletter, The Green Life. It applies to everyone but especially to all of the crazy drivers in Atlanta. Slow down Speed Racer!!!

"Not only does aggressive driving aggravate others: it also wastes gas. To prevent excess pollution (and to preserve others’ positive moods), drive within the speed limit, accelerate and brake gradually, and use cruise control on highways. Driving in a too-fast, herky-jerky way can lower gas mileage by 33 percent. Plus, your zen-like lack of road rage will clear the streets of psychological pollution too."

Les Papillons Magnifique

I have always had a fascination with butterflies. My favorite dress when I was little had a beautiful butterfly on it. My first tattoo was a butterfly :) They just have a special meaning for me. In the Christian church, butterflies are often used to represent new creation in Christ. I feel that God has used butterflies in very specific and meaningful ways in my life. Often when I am feeling sad or down, a butterfly will fly past me. I truly believe that this is God's way of showing me that He loves me and is always watching over me. When my dear friend Kevin died in 2000, I was driving to my friend Katie's house and was terribly upset. As I prayed for Kevin and his soul, a gorgeous red and orange butterfly flew past my car. I instantly felt comforted and knew that Kevin was at peace. I pray that you will be blessed with your own version of the butterfly.

"What the caterpillar calls the end of the world,

the master calls a butterfly."

(Richard Bach)

Dans les nues

"God made everything out of nothing, but the nothingness shows through."

(Paul Valery)

GO Green Monday

I've decided that every Monday I will feature a green tip of the day. I got today's tip a few weeks ago from the Sierra Club's daily email newsletter, The Green Life.

Tip #1: Turn Off the Tap According to the Eco-Dentistry Association, running the tap while you brush your teeth wastes around 90 glasses of water per day. Save thousands of gallons of water each year by taking a moment to turn off the water faucet each time you brush. Teach your kids this rule early and they'll be water-savers for life.

This one's easy friends...just turn on the water when you need to rinse-no need to leave the water on while you brush your teeth. This wastes water and raises your water bill. GO green!

Home is where the heart is: The Sequel

Having spent the past week with our friends from Cape Town, God once again reminded me that home is where the heart is. When I went to Cape Town last year for a mission trip, I was pleasantly surprised that I felt completely at home despite the fact that I had traveled half way around the world. The people at our partnering church were absolutely lovely and welcoming, but it was Christ's love that truly bonded us together. When I returned to Cape Town with globalX (http://www.goglobalx.org/) in May, I once again felt like I was coming home.

I continue to marvel at how God's love and grace can make strangers feel like family and bring people together from very different cultures. He transcends all borders, races, and cultural divides. Saying goodbye to James, Janet, and Asanda last night was difficult, but I know I will see them again. We will all rejoice together one day in God's kingdom...where our home will be for all of eternity.

"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." (Philippians 3:20-21)

Every day for Him

Last Thursday night my best friend Pam was involved in a horrible car crash. Fortunately, she sustained only minor cuts and bruises. The severity of the situation made me stop and contemplate how we often live our lives.

We are all guilty of taking each day for granted when in actuality, every day is a gift from God. We save our fancy dishes and outfits for "special occasions" and keep telling ourselves that we will go there, call him/her, visit it one day. Well, my friends, today is the day. Tell your loved ones that you love them. Pop the question. Take that special trip you have always wanted to take. We only have a limited number of days on this earth, so make today the best day yet.

I continue to praise God for saving Pam, and I plan to live each and every day to the fullest until God calls me home.

"He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. He brought me into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me." (Psalm 18:16-19)