Ever Stylish & Eco-Friendly Grocery Shopping

ECO-FRIENDLY GROCERY SHOPPING IS FINALLY “FASHIONABLE”!

I really miss Stacy London and Clinton Kelly.  But what pray, tell, does that have to do with eco-friendly grocery shopping?

Seeing them tear through the closet of some gal who was nominated to be a “target” on their television show, What Not To Wear, was like watching a fencing match.  Thrust (by the hosts),  then parry (from the wardrobe challenged woman). 

Actually, what I really loved was to go “shopping” all over NYC with them.  If you were watching carefully, there were also lots of valuable wardrobe building and “fit” lessons to be gleaned from each episode.

I found it inspiring to see how they helped this gal find her own “personal style” despite her, sometimes energetic, protestations.

Stacy and Clinton always made sure that every piece fit both her body and her own tastes.  Although they often attempted to change those tastes to the better.  I especially remember a rainbow-clown garbed gal…

STYLISH ECO-FRIENDLY GROCERY SHOPPING

Not that I ever wanted to be that woman.  I’ve actually made it a mission in my life to not be eligible for that particular honor. 

I have certain unwritten rules that I apply to all my daily outfit choices.  As I decide what to wear for any purpose or event, I apply them, even when heading to the grocers.

You won’t see me out and about in a T-shirt. I keep them to use as a swap from my moist PJ’s after a middle-of-the-night hot flash. (Yes gals, I’m a fellow sufferer!  And if you’re one of the lucky ones, I envy you!)

FUSCHIA AND LIME GREEN ATHLETIC SHOES… JUST DON’T

I don’t wear fitness shoes (sneakers) with most outfits, any season.  They’re reserved for the gym, sports or touring, where they belong.

This is what makes me nuts! Seeing a beautifully dressed woman who, in the quest for comfort, completes her ensemble with fuschia and lime green athletic shoes.

My apologies if you are one of those people, but it still makes me a little crazy.

My one concession to this rule is a pair of clean white leather Ked’s.  I’ll pack them for a cruise/vacation where I’m wearing sporty outfits and am doing lots of walking.  Every couple years I buy a new pair and relegate the old ones to garden duty.

WHEN YOUR SON KNOWS BEST – No, not about eco-friendly grocery shopping!

My oldest son is a clothes-horse, like his Mom.

He’s the one who showed me how to use a Mr. Clean Eraser to keep my leather Ked’s sparkling.  I raised him right!  Here’s another thing I like about my Keds.

I can toss the laces into a load of white laundry (inside a lingerie bag with my bras) and they come out looking brand new!  It’s a win-win.  

Anyway, to make a long story END, I tend to be one of the better dressed shoppers at my grocery store on any given day. 

REUSABLE GROCERY BAGS FOR AN ECO-CONSCIOUS COMMUNITY

And that includes my eco-friendly reusable grocery bags and totes.

But in my defense, I actually look stylish while I’m shopping because of my quest to live a more “green” lifestyle.

H.H. and I reside in a very eco-conscious community with numerous programs to assist residents in reducing their environmental footprint.

And as such, one of the things that is really frowned upon here is not taking your own reusable bags when you purchase groceries.

It’s just another one of those unwritten rules that I mentioned earlier.  

H.H. and I have been actively recycling our household trash for three decades.  So this seemed like a minor tweak that I could embrace, but it would be on my terms.

When I started looking at what was available at places like Bed, Bath & Beyond, Amazon and indie manufacturers, I was astounded by the expansive selection out there.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE

What had I been missing? Lots, it seems.  Here’s some of the wildly wonderful items I found:

REUSABLE GROCERY SHOPPING BAGS:

• Cotton Canvas Grocery Bags / 15″x 18″ /Fold-up with a snap for storage
• Reusable Polyester Tote Bags / 50 lb. capacity / Washable w/pouch for storage / Fun patterns & prints
• Insulated Grocery Tote / Stands upright / Handles and zip top
• Shopping Box Bags / Stands upright / Handles / Collapsible
• Organic Cotton String Vegetable Bags
• Trolley Bags (set of 4 fit inside the cart, including one insulated)  
• Cotton Bottom, Mesh Top, Cinch Closed (really cool!)
• Fabulous set featuring both cotton grocery bags and string produce bags
• Glitzy Metallic Grocery Totes (not my thing…)

REUSABLE PRODUCE BAGS:

• Fine Mesh Produce Bag 12 pc. Set / 3 sizes / Cinch close / Wash produce right inside bag
• Mesh and Muslin Washable Produce Bags
• Various sized cotton string produce bag sets to keep your purchases separate

I was particularly interested in insulated items, because the nearest grocery store is a 35 minute drive each way.  And to make things worse, I like the grocery store that’s about 15 miles further, better.  So, several insulated items were in my shopping cart as I perused the various offerings.

WHAT DID I END UP BUYING?

Here’s what I purchased:

• XL Insulated Grocery Bag Set (2 pack-gray-tote) from CGL Products/$21.99
• Foldable Cotton Muslin Grocery Bags (set of 2) from ECO Friends/$12.95
• Reusable Grocery Shopping Bags (5 pack – XL/50 lbs./machine washable) from beegreenbags/$14.55
• Reusable Mesh Produce Bags (Set of 12/3 sizes) from TiblueDirect/$21.99
• Cotton String Bag from Eco-Bags Products/$8.70

AS PHARRELL WILLIAMS SINGS… I’M SO HAPPY!

I can honestly say that there’s not a bad choice in the bunch! 

I’ve really enjoyed having my produce sorted and ready to be washed right in the reusable mesh bags!

The really clever thing is that they have the “tare” weight of the bag on a little label.  This allows the clerk to accurately weigh the produce, and I’m all the happier.

The insulated totes have proven to be a hard-working duo for the long trip to-and-fro the grocery store.  I will confess that I haven’t yet purchased ice cream to transport inside them.

That’s a test I’ll save for cool weather. (I haven’t dared to purchase ice cream since our move to the mountain.

I make it myself these days… check out my post for Summer Corn & Blackberry Ice Cream in case you want to try a fabulously different flavor sensation!)

That recipe is actually one of the fabulous desserts I served at the Fairies in the Forest Twilight Soiree Theme Party I threw to celebrate the waning days last Summer.

GO GREEN… IT DOESN’T HAVE TO COST YOU $$$

I will say that my eco-friendly grocery shopping and ever-stylish purchases have been serving us well.

And, I’ve looked darn good (if I do say so myself!) as I perused the aisles of my local grocer!

If you can’t justify the purchases just to look fabulous while you’re shopping, maybe you’ll decide that jumping on the “green” train is worth the price of these types of products. 

If not, I made good use of Aldi’s thermal and reusable bags for years and knew I was still doing my bit for my little slice of the earth. 

Anyway you choose to do it, please consider taking whatever reusable bags you may have lying around with you when you go shopping, Mother Earth will show her thanks in wonderous ways. 

Look out your window tomorrow morning, her sunrises are a daily dose of miraculous!

SHOW US YOUR “STUFF”!

What kinds of reusable grocery shopping bags or totes/containers do you lug to the store? 

How do you try to reduce your environmental footprint?  We’d love to hear and see just how you do it, your way.  

Come join the gang in our Facebook group and get in on the gabfest at, The Fab Life!  That’s where we show off our triumphs and share our pursuit of “the good life” with each other all week long.  

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