Eco-friendly Medicine/Personal Care and a Victory of Self-Control

So, if you've been reading this blog, you know that I make exceptions to my plastic avoidance in the name of medical and personal sanitation. I've recently found a potential fix for my band-aid situation. Granted, there's still some plastic involved, but no latex and more recycling involved in the packaging. Pretty pumped.

Another issue has always been feminine care. Apparently there are some options in that area too: eco-friendly products or the even more eco-friendly option of feminine "cups." I hear good things about both the Keeper and the Diva Cup. It's good to know there are options, even in these tricky areas!

Question for you -- any thoughts on non-plastic hair ties?

In other news, I was quite proud of myself this morning. I accidentally slept in the American University library (was doing research for a paper, got lost in an historiographical argument, stayed too late, couldn't figure out how to get home, decided to nap until daylight to avoid long dark walk, woke up much later than expected). On the (long!) walk home, I REALLY wanted to stop at Starbucks for coffee and a delicious breakfast sandwich. I managed to exercise restraint and wait until I got home, where I prepared my own "mocha" and a nice hot breakfast (no sandwich, since I have no bread, since all bread comes wrapped in plastic). That means I avoided using a disposable cup, plastic lid, and plastic wrapper from the sandwich. Yay for self-control despite absurd circumstances.

Plastic-Free is the Way to Be!

It's October 1st. That means that as of now, I only get to use one piece of new plastic per day. Modeled off of Kerry and Erin's rules, here's the game plan:

1. Use only one piece of non-reusable plastic/day for the month of October.
2. ANYTHING that is not reusable counts. A straw I didn't ask for (or asked not to have) counts. EXCEPT:
a) Medical Plastic. This includes Band-Aids, vials and tubing for injections, anything they decide to use on me in a doctor's office or hospital, and containers of prescriptions or vitamins.
b) Plastic I cannot see and legitimately do not believe to be part of a product before purchasing an item. See the entry on Kerry and Erin's blog about plastic IN one of their meals.
3. I will keep all non-reusable plastic until the end of the month. I will then recycle what is recycleable.
4. I reserve the right to revert to plastic abuse on November 1. We'll see how it goes. I may also modify my plastic diet to general mindfulness or to 2 or 3 items to make it more sustainable past October.

Watch here for stories of my trials and triumphs! Down with wasteful plastic!!