Let’s eat!

If you know me, you know that I like to eat out, a lot.  I can’t cook at all (I’m tragically hopeless) and no one’s around to cook for me, so it’s not uncommon for me to eat out once, twice, or even three times a day.  One thing I love though, is supporting local business.  I even have one of these shirts to prove it. Please check out one (or all) of these local restaurants.  You’ll probably see me there at one point:

Young Avenue Deli
I’m the type of person who orders the same thing everywhere I go.  I can’t go to Young Avenue and not get The Bren and sweet potato fries.  It’s definitely worth the sometimes spotty service. (Hey, gotta be honest…)

Lunch crowd at The Deli

Central BBQ
This place is dangerously close to where I work.  Every time I drive by, I debate pulling over for some nachos.

Memphis Pizza Cafe
I’m a thin crust gal, and MPC does it just right.  Their sandwiches and salads aren’t bad, either!

Cafe Eclectic
My only regret about this place is that I didn’t discover it during my Rhodes days.  Maybe I would have gotten a lot more writing done.  I’m a huge fan of breakfast food in general, and I like places that I can camp out to do work (but avoid lunch hour for that).  Plus, if you feel stressed, just order something like:

RP Tracks
Not only is this my favorite after-class drinking spot (only night classes, of course), but they’re great in the lunchy daylight hours, too.  Pigging out? Go for the nachos.

Trolley Stop
This is a place I’m dying to frequent more often.  Had a wonderful lunch there, but an even better to-go pizza there.  Their pizzas are HUGE, local, and delish.

Happy Mexican
I have to include at least one Mexican place, and Happy Mex is by far my favorite.  During the summer, it wasn’t uncommon to see me there several times a week.  In fact, I have a collage of Happy Mex pics on my fridge:

Happy Fridge

Let’s close it out with dessert, shall we?

YoLo Frozen Yogurt

I’m not a creative person, but I LOVE creating my own frozen yogurt.  Especially with local fruit and baked goods.  They also have a very philanthropic side to them and quite frequently donate some of their sales to local charities.  You can’t beat it. T.C.B.What?

One of my many YoLo creations

Muddy’s Bake Shop

Just look. How can this picture not make you happy/experience uncontrollable cupcake cravings?

I <3 Muddy's

What are your favorite places to eat local?

Turn off water!

So I brush my teeth… a lot.  This whole week I’ve been trying to be more aware of turning the water off while I’m doing it.  And admittedly, I left the water running the first time I brushed my teeth after blogging.  What a waste! Now, until it becomes more of a habit, I have this to remind me:

(even written in green)

The O2E Challenge also tells us that recycling all of our plastic bottles will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 16.7 pounds a year, per person.  Well, first of all, I’m going to try to stop buying plastic bottles in the first place.  I used to be a water bottle fiend, until starting this blog (see entry 1).  But, I have also been saving recyclables in the sink and taking them out to the curbside recycle bin.  See?

(please excuse the post-workout attire, over zealous look on my face, and crummy iPhone resolution)

So thank you, blog, for making me more accountable.  You are certainly a big help in the effort to go green(er).

My goal is to lose 5850 pounds

Earlier, I mentioned in brief passing that the BRIDGES Center is my inspiration for this blog.  Let’s delve deeper:

BRIDGES builds a community of leaders to advance racial, economic, educational and environmental justice.

BRIDGES is a great place.  The building itself is the first commercial green building in Memphis, and their mission serves to bring the people of Memphis together through several leadership training programs for youth and adults.  They also want to make Memphis a better place, and have implemented an environment sustainability program called O2E (Ordinary to Extraordinary).

The purpose of O2E is to use the BRIDGES Center as a teaching tool to provide experiential, hands-on learning for a diverse group of youth and adults to become leaders for environmental sustainability.  You can even take the O2E Challenge to join other Memphians in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

One thing they suggest is to turn the water off while brushing your teeth (reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 5850 pounds per year).  I may or may not do this already; I’m not sure.  One thing for sure though, now I know to pay attention.

Seems easy enough. Let’s all try it, shall we?

Take the Pledge

Today is a special day.  Yep, it’s America Recycles Day.

Since 1997, America Recycles Day has been held on November 15 to celebrate and promote recycling efforts all over our country.  Of course, everyday should be a day to recycle, but this serves as a great reminder to make a more conscious effort in our attempts to better the world.

You can even take a pledge, here.

I did!:

One action they suggest is to tell 5 friends about how easy recycling can be.  So, many 5 people will read this blog.  Consider yourself part of my pledge.  (Thank you!)

O2E, and beyond

Small victory today.  While shopping with my mom, the saleslady started to separate our purchases into two bags.  Me, having a ginormous purse, asked if I could stick my new shirt/pant combo in there.  One bag saved.

This may seem small, but every bit adds up.  I can’t wait to start learning more tiny things that make big differences.  And I can’t wait to share more about my inspiration, the first commercial green building in Memphis, the BRIDGES Center.  There are so many cool facts about the building that make it so unique.  BRIDGES even has a program (Ordinary to Extraordinary, or O2E) that’s all about learning and living green.

Stay tuned.

Here I go green.

So. Half because I have to, and half because I want to, I’ve decided to blog.  About what?

Going green.

I’m admittedly less green that I should be.  In fact, this is currently on my bedside table:

(leftover from the gym, mind you)

There also might or might not be a leather jacket or two in my closet. (The confessions keep coming…)

I’m not the LEAST green person on the planet, but we could all stand to do some green improvements, right?  And that’s my plan.  Goodbye plastic bottles, prepare to be replaced.