Bloggy Carnival Giveaway Day 3

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

***COMMENTS NOW CLOSED*** Today's giveaway is inspired by my trip to the grocery store, an email Drama Dad sent me and a funny video. He forwarded a slide show from The Pocono Record about plastic grocery bags and how harmful they are. Seeing the data expressed in numbers really hit home.

I'm sure these have gone around the web, but they're new to me. I found both the videos on You Tube. The quality (and music!) of the slide show isn't that great, but the other video is really funny.






This past Monday, I took all my canvas bags and one paper bag to the commissary. I had enough of my own bags that I only needed to take one (paper) bag from the store. And it felt really good.

I confess, I still have some plastic bags. I use them in my bathroom trash cans and for the cat litter. But I use them until they are nasty. When I find a better alternative I'll definitely switch.

One person really can make a difference. My small changes plus yours do add up. In the spirit of going green little by little, today's winner will get four re-usable bags from Trader Joe's (3 totes and 1 bottle carrier) and a $5 gift card.


To enter:
1. Watch the videos above if you haven't already or go to The Pocono Record's site to view the slide show (the slide show is much cleaner).


2. Come back here and leave a comment on this post and tell me your thoughts, impressions, what you're doing to go green or what re-usable bags you use (I'm looking for a few more cute ones) - required. Easy.

3. I MUST have a way to get in touch with you! NoReply@Blogger will not send you a response. I will have to delete comments with no contact info.

4. Comments will close on Friday, August 1st at 11:59pm CA time.

5. I will use random.org to draw the winner and post the results/notify winner via email and in a "Winners" post on Saturday 8/2.

6. You don't need a blog to win, but I MUST have a way to contact you. US residents only (sorry!)

You can still enter my first pendant giveaway here, the Chick Lit, Starbucks/Barnes and Noble GC and second pendant giveaways. I will have new prizes tomorrow and Friday. The easiest way to keep up, of course, is to subscribe to my feed but that's not a requirement of entry (yet, hee hee).

Thanks again for coming! Be sure to keep checking the Bloggy Carnival Giveaway hub for more great prizes. I popped in before posting and there were 800+ giveaways. I bet this year will break 1,000. Have fun!
add to kirtsy

68 comments:

  1. I love not using as many plastic bags...but I have the same dilema as you...what to put in the trash cans?
    My favorite reusable bags are: ACME Bags™ - Recycled PET EarthTote™ (this is REALLY big and is shaped like a paper grocery sack), Reisenthel - Mini Maxi Shopper (because it folds up into it's own itty bitty key-chain sized pouch so I can leave it in my purse and not be caught without a bag),
    Reisenthel - Market Basket (because I just feel cool when I carry it, and it holds a lot for short trips). All of these are available at reusablebags.com...I think they have pretty good prices, too.
    One thing we have done to reduce our impact is that my husband switched from shaving cream to those little shaving soaps with a shaving brush. That way we don't have the cans. It's also cheaper, and we can still buy them at CVS!

    onlycancan at hotmail dot com

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  2. I do not use plastic bags or paper any more. I'm still hoping to fin (win!) some good reusable bags that don't soil so easily. My kids have been trained.....they're the next generation of GREEN people. cdziuba@aol.com

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  3. I've been finding some nice, sturdy canvas bags at the thrift store. If I don't like what's on the front, I cut a piece of cute material and sew it over what ever is written. They're washable, too.

    I also have a couple of bags called Green Bags. I found them at an Organic/Green type store.

    I found a place online that shows how to make bags from old t-shirts. I made a few and my teenaged girls took off with them.

    For produce, I bought one bag and then realized that it was nothing more than a mesh laundry bag (like the kind you put baby sock in) with a loop sewed to the corner. I went to the Dollar Tree and was able to buy 2 for $1. They don't need a loop in the corner unless you want to hang them from your shopping bag.

    Oh, and I find it convient to have a tote bag to hold all my shopping bags. I have one that has a pocket on the front. In that I place my coupon holder.

    I still need a few bags. When I do a major shopping trip, I'm a few short.

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  4. I love it and if i's okay with you, i'd like to take the video to my blog! We are really trying too. I still use a few when we go MAJOR grocery shopping. I, like you, use them for trashbags, I feel like we are still recycling... I also use them to carrything in and out of the car, I use them to pad packages, when the kiddos go out over nigh, I use them for thier clothes so theri good bags dont get messed uo at thier friends house. I use them to put food in if we go to a reunion or something so that if anything leaks or splashes is goes in the bag, not all over the car. I keep several bunched up in a paper towel roll in the car, we needed them this weekend after the kids had been swimming, i put them in the seats so that the water didnt get all over my cloth seats...

    Yes, we do still get a couple here and there, but you see, you can still recycle them! lol After they have had all they can take, I take them back to the store and put them in the recycle bin!

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  5. We've mostly transitioned to reusable bags, but do want to find some good ones to hold produce instead of having to snag the grocery store plastic each time. And a couple of water resistant ones would be helpful too! Thanks for the video and the contest!

    f dot chen at comcast dot net

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  6. I just saw this Slide show the other day. My last blog post here tells about what kind of things I thought of. I'm for sure going to get some of the reusable bags!

    http://www.sharescribbles.blogspot.com

    alaskawildrose AT gmail DOT com

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  7. I have been using reuseable shopping bags for over 10 years now...even before it was "cool" to do so. I always walked to the grocery store, and it was just easier to use cloth bags. I have found, however, that I far prefer the stiffer bags, like the one that you have illustrated from Trader Joe's. I like that they stand up straight, so they are easy to fill, and they can hold a fair bit. The ones I have switched to have bright green kiwis on the sides. My mom sent them to me from a grocery store in Canada. I like that they are (relatively) waterproof as well. Sometimes we walk in the rain.

    When you go to places like Ireland and some stores in Canada, they will charge you for the plastic bags you use. I love this idea and think that it would help nudge people in the direction of using reusable bags or tote boxes. The only time it is a challenge is if you are a tourist and forget to bring bags with you, but all it takes is a little training.

    michelle at northofthe49 dot com

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  8. I too use the plastic bags for the bathroom trash cans.

    Totes I have: just an old-fashioned canvas bag, 1 decorated by my son in art class, a Target bag, a WalMart bag, a Fareway bag (yes, I'm in the Midwest), 3 HyVee bags, a Gateway Market bag, 3 Microsoft bags brought home by hubby from a conference.

    I know that sounds like a lot, but when you do all your errands at one time, it's very helpful to have many. I still don't have enough actually because I end up getting a couple plastics with each major shopping trip....so many stores.

    Thanks!

    kvicker at hotmail dot com

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  9. Thanks for the videos, that bag man was too cute, I must start attending my township's meetings more often ;)

    At our house, we recycle, but I know we could do more, we're learning still. I do love to decorate, so I guess I do a small part by buying things at garage sales and thrift shops and repurposing them into my home decor.

    I love Trader Joe's, that bag is adorable.

    Thank you for such an informative contest, nice to meet you!

    Bella

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  10. I've been converting now for 3 years. Every little thing you can do really helps. We changed our light bulbs 3 years ago. We're using tshirts cleverly turned into shopping bags/grocery bags, etc. We keep them in the car and i keep one in my purse for any and everything. Groceries, food, mail, baby toys..etc.

    We even have our own container garden this year and its going well. We also try not to drive much.

    Great giveaway!

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  11. I do my grocery shopping at Aldi so I always bring my own bags or boxes to put my food in.....I don't get plastic bags that often...but I should take bags to other stores as well.

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  12. I've mostly converted to reusable bags. I still use the plastic ones for my bathroom trash cans, and like you, I reuse them as long as I can.

    My next green thing is to put up a clothes line outside to save some energy rather than using my dryer so much.

    Awesome giveaway!

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  13. I, too, use plastic bags in the bathrooms. However, I have just started using green bags during shopping. I have 2 bags already, but really need to expand my collection.

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  14. I must admit I am new to the going green movement. I am starting with the cfl lightbulbs. I have seen alot about the reusable totes and I think that is a good idea and my next step. Thanks for the contest!

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  15. I've been trying to use reuseable grocery bags lately, but my problem is 1) I forget to bring them in the store with me! and 2) I live in a small town and the cashiers sometimes get irritated with the canvas bags. It shouldn't bother me, but sometimes it does. I'll just have to get used to it though! :)

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  16. I, too, am trying to remember to always take my canvas bags into the grocery store. Why do they always want to put the milk in a plastic bag? Why do they think God put a handle on it anyway?

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  17. I've been buying store bags! :) I've gotten my family into purchasing them! We have Shoppers' bags and I have one also from Earth Organic. :)

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  18. We have a few reuseable grocery bags, but I could always love more. I have a canvas one, and actually, when I was living in Brazil for a short time, I just used a backpack (which is great is you want to go-green by walking to the grocery store...if it is conveniet to walk there. We're lucky).
    Thanks for the giveaway.
    spondah[at]aol[dot]com

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  19. We use cloth diapers to go green. Some people think that the washing causes more water use and isnt' worth the switch, but the amount of water I use is equal to flushing the toilet for a potty trained person! And it IS less water than used to make disposables, plus, no waste!

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  20. I have seventh generation canvas bags that I use for groceries or farmer's markets, as well as a couple other large totes that I use for the beach or hauling goodies around. Any plastic bags I do end up with get used for doggie bags when I walk the dog. tinawittmer(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  21. I have yet to make the switch since I don't have any totes to use. I do reuse the plastic bags though for my bathroom trash can since there the perfect size. I do hate seeing plastic bags stuck on trees and knowing there floating in the lakes.

    samsakara@twcny.rr.com

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  22. I too have been using canvas totes for groceries and it really hasn't been that hard (sometimes the cashiers give me dirty looks, as it is harder to bag my stuff as I have a motley assortment of bags, not the nice square ones you are offering). I also have a foldable Envirosax bag that is great to stuff in my purse for more impromptu trips. I keep a bunch in the car trunk too.

    I love Trader Joe's and would love to win! Thanks!

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  23. I try to always remember my Trader's Joe tote bags.

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  24. Your "Trader Joe" reuseable totes are great looking! Our family has stopped using plastic water bottles and each have our own reusable bottle to fill!
    We also try to run many errands at once so we only make one trip instead of several. The thermostat is turned higher during the summer and lower in the winter. Another thing we have changed is lowering the temperature of our water heater and taking shorter showers. Please enter me in your tote drawing. Bella Bags by Marcia and Environsax have cute reusable tote bags. Thanks, Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  25. Yikes! Those statistics are just downright scary!

    I currently have a handful of reusable bags from Target. They aren't cute by any means but they are functional...when I remember to bring them to the store. That is what I am working on. Putting them back in the car after I unload them so that I have them for my next trip.

    i wish I had some suggestions for some cute ones, but I haven't searched around that much yet.

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  26. I use plastic bags for my trash cans in the bathroom and litter box as well. The one's I don't use go to Walmart for recycling.I also have canvas bags from my happy place...Target. They're cute and RED! I use the energy efficient light bulbs, and try not to run water when I don't have to.
    That's all so far.

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  27. I am dying to win some reusable totes! Right now I have an insulated one from TJs that I'm getting really good at remembering to bring with me. Other than that I keep saying that I am going to make my own, but it hasn't happened yet. Maybe I'll win one...

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  28. I have been phasing out plastic bags, and biking or busing to work instead of driving. It's not only good for my health (at least the biking) it is good for my wallet too.

    urchiken at gmail dot com

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  29. this would be great to win! I like to use freecycle. It's a great way to get rid of items I don't need, and to get items too. That way it keeps things out of the landfills that still have use in them! I find stuff by the dumpsters in my complex all the time that i pull out and list on freecycle. They have always had a taker! Thanks! trishblack(at)juno(dot)com

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  30. I reallly have just started going green. These bags would be my first. Thanks so much.

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  31. I have been trying to make small green changes, and I think that cutting out plastic bags will be my next move. =)

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  32. I have actually made reusable bags from those nasty plastic bags... now i use them like 50 times over!! These bags are so awesome though!! I would love to have them to use for groceries and all of my shopping really..

    Thanks for the opportunity to enter!
    monica AT mommybrainreports DOT com

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  33. Wow, I feel so ignorant and misguided about plastic bags! The other video was hilarious. I will definetly try to use less plastic bags,

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  34. I've bought reusable bags at walmart & walgreens and painted over the logos. Plus I'm using canvas totes. Whats nice is you can get a 3 pack for around $5.00 and then decorate them yourself and they do have several color choices if you don't find the color you want buy the natural and dye them. They are really cool if you batik them.

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  35. I didn't realize all of that about the plastic bags!! That was quite an education!! WOW!

    I don't like to get plastic bags because everything falls all over the car when driving. I usually ask for paper. In my quest to live a greener life I've thought about using my tote bags and forgo the plastic or paper question all together. The reason I haven't is because I USE the paper bags over and over again. If not for carrying clean laundry from my mom's house to mine or other things like that, then I use them to put my recycling in. In that sense I feel that I'm okay. I may change my mind on that, and if I do, I have a whole bunch of FREE totes that I get from magazine offers and charitable donations that I give.
    Thanks so much!

    Michele(CA)
    luvkittysmeowmail@gmail.com

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  36. Wow. Enlightening, and sickening at the same time. The magnitude of the problem just boggles my mind. I'll never look at a plastic bag the same way again.

    I'd love to win the totes. I like the slide show where it says the difference one family can make. It's always tough to convince myself that one person can make a difference. But after learning all of this, how can I not try?

    daisyaday [at] gmail [dot] com

    Thanks!

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  37. Wow. This really made me think---thank you. I'll definitely have to rethink how I do things.

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  38. Scary video when you think about it.

    We're doing our best to transition from plastic to totes. I need to get more totes. We go food shopping twice a month so that means a lot of bags and we only have a few. We always try and re-use the bags we do have so as not to need more but I'd rather have more totes.

    Thanks for the great giveaway.

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  39. I am definitely trying to use the reusuable bags - but right now I just have some ugly green Acme ones. Trader Joes bags are much cuter! Thanks so much for the giveaway!

    myshadow28(at)aol(dot)com

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  40. Yikes I have never seen this video but I knew it was a big deal. We have been trying to gather more totes and leave the plastic behind. Our grocery store recycles their plastic bags, I know that's not good enough but it's a start. I am trying to rid our home of all excess waste.

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  41. I've been using canvas bags, but I definitely do not have enough. That is an amazing video, I have not seen it before. Thanks for alerting us to it!

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  42. Going green is re-usable bags and being very creative with my "trash".

    We have a compost.
    Glass/ plastic / paper / some plastics are recyled at the curb.

    I live near a large company that recycles the other number plastics, colored glass, office paper, phone books, ... that many community recycle collection do not pick up. so I take advantage of that once a month.

    Oh, more companies are charging .05 for their "bad" plastic bags in which to put in your purchases.

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  43. I just heard of green doggie poop bags. I am going to try these out. I stopped using plastic grocery bags, but didn't stop to think about the plastic doggie bags I use on walks, now I will buy biodegradable ones! Thanks.

    Jennafer211 at aol dot com

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  44. I saw the slide and I have to say I am disappointed that no one told us this information sooner. We've been using plastic bags in grocery stores in the US for over 20 years. Had we known better, we would have done better.

    I use a large reusable Ikea bag at the store. I know it's plastic, but I have it and I figured I should use for as long as I should. I am eyeing your Trader Joe bags because I want it for my recycling center. We need a bag to bring recycling to our recycling can. In NYC, everyone has three cans (paper, plastics/cans and regular garbage).

    For the environment, I am not using the dryer as often as I used to. I hang my laundry on a line when possible.

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  45. You know, I hadn't realized until lately how horrible all these plastic bags really are. I recently bought some reusable bags from www.greensak.com, and I feel so much better using them. And my mom & brother have switched too. Working on the in-laws now! It's amazing how much more I fit into them, and frustrating when I see how many people leave the store with 20 plastic bags in their carts.

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  46. I got laundry bags. The ones with the draw strings along with totes to carry my groceries. My neice told me along time ago to abandon the plastic because it doesn't break down. She wanted to keep the planet in good shape for when she grows up and has kids. I promised her I would do my part. I also use only green cleaning products too.

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  47. I use as many natural cleaning products as I can -- dishwasher, multipurpose etc. -- We also have changed out our light bulbs for the cfls.

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  48. My grocery store sells canvas bags right next to the checkout stands so that everyone can either buy them or feel guilty for not buying them. :) Great video-I hadn't seen it before so thanks for sharing. Really makes me want to reduce my own personal use of plastic bags. Thanks for the giveaway. claireroach81(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  49. I use grocery totes, have more green cleansers again, for plastic bags I already have sometimes there are local orgs looking for those to recycle. Some schools have been getting $ for them. Old bags around here also become trash liners (used a few times)and poop pick up bags 9not reused haven't quite figured out the logisitics of that yuck lol). solta(at)hotmaildotcom

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  50. It's amazing how much damage those plastic bags can do to our environment and to birds and other critters. When I do get plastic bags I do try to reuse them (for example as doggie bags on dog walks). At least then they don't go flying around to all corners of the world.

    I have tried as much as possible to use reuseable bags. I have some I've gotten at Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and other stores. I try as much as possible to bring them to the stores with me. I'd love to have the collection of Trader Joe's bags. I NEED that wine one! Thanks.

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  51. We own bags from Whole Foods and Albertsons. One of the giveaways was giving away really cute bags from Whole Foods which were way better than our plain green ones. We never get plastic bags from the store anymore.

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  52. This is exactly why cities have started outlawing plastic bags..those photos are so sad.. As for going green we have been doing all we can for years recycling, buying greener and organic(products with recyclable containers ect), cloth diapering the kids including cloth wipes, using reusable bags (just use ones I get from nursing conferences and drug company reps). And as for our plastic in your bath they do make biodegrable trash bags...google
    Good luck ty
    cjinhb at msn dot com

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  53. I go to school in Seattle, a city that now charges a bag fee. It's only a few cents, but it does make people stop and take notice. I've been bringing my own bags for several years now. I love that I can express a little bit of creativity while picking up groceries.
    A great place to find funky bags is BlueQ.com I love the bags I've bought from them. My favorite is the Strangers with Candy bag.

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  54. Isn't that video so sad? The picture with the bird just standing there in the bag just kills me!!
    What am I doing? Well, actually my mom is doing it but I help (hehe). She crochets bags made from plastic shopping bags. We cut them into strips, loop them together to create a 'yarn' & she crochets some awesome totes & purses from them. Not only do they look very cool, but we are recycling about 65-75 bags for each new bag she makes. They are super strong (we lug tons of stuff in these) & will last a good long time.
    http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/arech/4Sale/leeann.jpg
    Here is a pic so you can see what I mean. If you crochet, there are tons of patterns on the 'net.

    OOoh Trader Joe's...I love that store!

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  55. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  56. I have gotten really good at always remembering to bring my own bags to stores. We leave our gas guzzler parked in the garage and drive my little car. We recycle as much as possible and I'm growing a big garden this year. (Well, as big as can fit on my small city lot!) Thanks for the giveaway!

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  57. These videos are powerful, Mel. I, too, live in CA. by the way. I live in North Orange County.

    I have purchased reusable bags, too. I sometimes forget to take them back out to the car after bringing them in. I am working on that. I have Trader Joes and Ikea. And, we use those bags for other things, too.

    We are really working on a number of things. It takes constant observation.

    Thanks for your generosity!

    KJ
    kjmt42 [at] sbcglobal [dot] net

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  58. So far I try to remember to use the canvas bags, but I need more! And I use a metal water bottle instead of plastic. :) Thank you very much for the great giveaway! nw_wife(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  59. I bring my own bags to the grocery market but I don't have enough and usually end up with a couple of plastic bags after all. But I do still use those in the bathroom trash. Any extra plastic that I have goes to the recycling center along with the rest of our paper, glass, etc. But I can definitely use more reusable bags. Thanks for the chance to win your great giveaway!

    proudyaya04 "at" yahoo "dot" com

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  60. I have been trying to move away from using chemicals to clean, and sticking with all natural ingredients such as vinegar and salt.

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  61. I have 4 re-usable bags but I'm always short and end up with a couple of their plastic ones.

    luckydolls123[at]verizon[dot]net

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  62. I love these adds! I agree we need to be more enviromentally friendly! I also am useing more orgnic reusable bags instead of the plastic stuff.

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  63. I love that the video points out the other countries that are seeing our waste & cleaning up their act... if only us "civilized" countries would do the same! Fortunately Seattle is following San Fran's lead & instituting a bag tax on Jan 1, so that should help.

    Personally, I use fabric bags for ALL of my shopping - even at the mall. I still get a few odd looks when I tell them that I brought my own bag, and I sometimes have to tell them 3-4 times & them transfer my things into my bag at the checkout because they just don't get it. It's sad, really.

    As for my favorite brand... it's Mimsi Bags, of course! I started making grocery bags for me, and had people asking where I got them & (yes, this actually happened) buying them off of my shoulder, so I added them to the site.

    If you want to get entered to win a free small grocery bag, head over to http://design-my-handbag.com and leave a comment on the bloggy giveaway (until 12:00 PDT today) or the "Dangers Of Plastic" post throughout August!

    And TJ's is totally my favorite grocer! Their dehydrated pineapple is sooooooooooooooo yummy!

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  64. I love my reusable bags. Most of mine have been obtained at my local grocery stores (WalMart, Brookshires, and Super One) for $1 each. They aren't too sturdy but they have been working fine for a few months now. I would love to upgrade to some more colorful ones.

    Thank you for hosting this giveaway.

    tiffanyannrosson at yahoo dot com

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  65. ROFL so funny! Seriously yes I use reusable bags...try to anyways. I have one trader joe's tote and another large tote from Sam's that has the stuff inside to keep your cold foods cold. I love it. When I do use plastic bags I try to recycle them. I am trying to get into letting go of plastic bags entirely. Our local Shop n Save has a place to recycle your plastic bags as well. Cool huh? Thanks!

    FaitHearinGodsWord(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

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  66. I think it would be great if they banned the use of plastic bags. Would help convince my hubby to switch over.

    I'm just getting into using cloth bags instead of disposables. I have to confess, I'm not quite sure how to use them at the grocery store. Do you hand them to the person bagging? Start bagging yourself? I know - I shouldn't be so clueless lol. It's out of the norm for me.

    But what to do with trash cans and er dog and cat poop. :)

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  67. I have reused my paper bags for years. Now I am building my selection of reusable totes.

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