Further simplification...

Crap plastic toys...

Made in china...

Imported food...

The list goes on...

I randomly and sporadically yet frequently (is that even possible?) think about these *issues*. I might ponder for a few fleeting seconds or mull it over for a few minutes before finding it all too difficult to focus on for a length of time and move on until next time. Reading Sharon's blog tonight gave me more focus, even though I'd already spent time mulling over these very issues about 3 times today already!

I'm thinking it's time to come up with a plan! That little thing called guilt is creeping in as I learn more, and I see this guilt as the positive kind that then kicks me into action.

I have been gradually dropping food items off the grocery list that are coming from afar. We have completely done away with bananas, the kids haven't even asked about them - we were buying 6 bunches a fortnight! Quite large $$ savings to the bill too. I am still stuck with quite a few items from Australia (particularly gluten free), but I'm ok with that and have a few other items I need to work on.

This week I have bought less organic milk (very spendy as well) in a bid to cut our dairy consumption down, so will see how that goes.

As for the crap plastic toys - I see no point in ditching what is already in the house if the kids are playing with them still, but out goes the junk that is broken and no more is to enter! And to think that today, Nathan played with a length of wool and Danielle's tricycle for about an hour - tying it up, making knots, attaching things...

Made in China...this is SO hard! I was discussing with Simon about a few things we would like to get for the kids - ie a soccer/basketball. I wonder if there are any NZ manufacturers who make these? I am going to need to be patient in my search, instead of whipping down to the big red shed to grab the nearest ball I see. I recently bought some little positionable wooden dolls for Danielle and some wooden cuisenaire rods from the Playcentre shop without thinking, and yep! both made in China. So frustrating and so many habits of a lifetime that need challenging.

Unfortunately $$ do talk for us in this household when making purchases. But I am now going to be looking at the cuttings we are making in dairy products, meat and bananas as being an increase to our income and therefore gives us the ability to be more mindful in other areas as well - so it may well balance out!