Valued...and not so valued.

Linda asked me to list six things that I value and six things that I don't support, and because I love reading Linda’s blog, Remote Treechanger (in Australia!) I thought I'd oblige. She posts about her plans for her meals and her garden, her 5 kids and what she’s reading and throws in lots of nice photos and videos, too. I think she had something deeper than this in mind, but here goes…

Six things I value…

1) The Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Sponge – let’s just say that a box of these is cheaper than a paint job and almost as effective.

2) Aunt Jemima Complete Pancake mix and my Chantal mixing/pouring bowl. With enough coffee, pancakes on a weekday just might be possible! But don't ask for bacon.

3) My scotch tape dispenser – mostly because it is missing….again…. But it looks like this one. Have ya seen it?

4) My handwritten, non-virtual monthly event planning calendar, which is, for once, not missing (thank god!)

5) Stories Children Need – this is a book that my grandmother used to teach from in a one-room schoolhouse in the 1930s.
6) Reading aloud together. My kids are 8 and 10 and able to read on their own, but I love the fact that they still like to do this, even though they probably aren't curling up together this cozily anymore and might end up bickering after 10 minutes or so..

Six things I don’t support….

1) Detergent that claims to wash more loads than it really does. Purex claims 32. I counted 14. Purex, I will no longer support you!

2) Walmart -watch the documentary "The High Cost of Low Prices" and you'll know why.


3) Proposition 8- or any other legislation limiting any couples' right to marry.

4) “Eco-friendly” plastic bottles that actually make the product more frail and harder to re-use. (Why re-use, when they're so fun to crush and stick in the recycling?)

5) Any product which advertises itself as being “lower in sugar,” but is actually replacing the sugar with Splenda! Get a clue people. This is not the way to wean our kids off sugar. The only way to do it is to stop giving our kids super-sweet tasting things all the time. Please, please just concentrate on making a product with less sugar that still tastes good.

6) School “Holiday Gift Boutiques” for students. I know that it’s a nice way for kids to do their holiday shopping for their family members. But what about kids who aren’t celebrating Christmas (this is a rather diverse public school, folks)? What about kids who don’t get $20 bills as a matter of course from their parents because it’s their grocery money, and feel left out as a result? What about the kids whose parents are trying to create alternative holiday traditions where the giving of stuff (especially plastic junk made in China) is less emphasized?

Well, I just got rantier and rantier, didn't I? This is the part where I’m supposed to tag 6 people - but since I would consider myself lucky if 6 people read my blog today, I’ll just say that I would love to hear about what you value, and what you don’t, in the comment section, on your blog, or whenever we next run into each other!