Becoming A Modern Day Model Citizen Pt. Deux

Charity for charity's sake.

I think Lily Tomlin said it best "I always wondered why somebody didn't do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody."

We are all somebody. Maybe not as funny of a somebody as Lily, but somebody none the less. Earlier this week we talked about being green and today I'd like to share some fun ways to lend a hand in your community. Occasionally I help serve dinner at a homeless shelter here in Austin, TX called the ARCH. I'm on an email list and when they need me I go. It's allowed me to meet some really neat people and see a side of my city that I used to just pass by. Since I do not have a lot of expendable income, my time is the most valuable thing I have to offer. I think the same goes for most people these days. And with the economy hurting as it is at the moment there are a lot more volunteer opportunities out there.

Here are just a few:

* If you'd like to get charitable along side your friends I suggest you throw a bake sale or YART sale and donate part of your proceeds to a local charity. Baking some cupcakes and take them directly to the homeless shelter would be a genuinely good deed as well. And perhaps, if you live in a place that is cooler than Austin TX, consider having a picnic in a your favorite park and then literally pick up some litter once you've finished dining with your friends. You could separate all the recyclables and take them to the recycling center and pat yourselves on the back.

* If you are an animal lover you could walk a dog at your local animal shelter. Lots of animals have been displaced as people have lost their jobs and our furry neighbors need some love too. If you fall in love with one of them you could offer to foster them until they find a permanent home. Shelters often do not have a lot of money and this helps them out tremendously.

* Sort donations at a food bank or goodwill. Most of these centers deliver to a plethora of different locations and truly need you help, because it's not all peas and carrots. There's so much more work to it.

* Be a Baby Cuddler! Hospitals, orphanages, group homes & nurseries need people to come in and simply hold babies. These little bundles of joy need human contact to begin developing their social interaction skills. It will literally change their lives. You could help them increase their learning abilities and build stronger self-esteem. Sometimes babies who were born prematurely will stay at the hospital for months, but their parents have to go back to work. That's where you come in, to be there when their parents simply can not.

* Do you have a green thumb? You could help teach elementary school children how to garden and what it means to eat organic! I've seen lots of schools around here put in small gardens for their students. They learn about composting and which bugs are helpful or harmful. Down the road it means healthier kids who care about what they eat and where it came from.

* Every city has a homeless shelter and they often need a lot more than someone to help them serve dinner. They need hairdressers to volunteer a haircut or two so that their clients can go out and get jobs! The ARCH is always asking me if I know anyone who can come teach the men who live there how to play chess. They even have art teachers come volunteer their time so their residents can creatively express themselves.

* Join your local Food Not Bombs chapter. You will meet some very awesome and highly progressive people while getting a lesson in vegan cooking

To find awesome opportunities in your area please visit www.volunteermatch.org - you will be glad you did.






Do you already lend a hand? I want to hear all about it! Please tell me your story in the comments.

xo!
Bonnie Rue

Become a modern day Model Citizen Pt. 1

I didn't just name my clothing line Model Citizen for any old reason. I chose the name because that is what I aspire to be. Sure, I have a ways to go, but luckily I can't shake that old Gandhi quote "Be the change you want to see in the world" & I just keep on keepin' on the path to becoming a modern day Model Citizen. Join me in my journey!
Over the next week I will be posting some fabulous and easy ways to kick start the Model Citizen inside all of us.

Today lets talk about being Green!

First off, to be a Model Citizen, one must be conscious of their actions and the results of them. Obviously littering is a big no no and recycling will get you high 5's all the way around. But as a lady have you ever thought about how much stuff you throw away every month that just ends up in the land fill? Tampons, disposable razors, cotton balls, maxi pads, etc. Well, we've all gotta cut that out. We've got to replace these things with reusable products that come with much less packaging. Lets have a look at whats available to us these days shall we?


Personally, I don't want to know how many disposable razors I've heaved into the landfill since I started shaving 15 years ago! Don't get me wrong, I loved those little pink razors, I even made a shirt in homage to them, but sometimes you gotta choose function over fashion. Luckily, now you can get your legs bare with care using the Retro Razor! It'll give you a closer shave and the only thing you toss is the metal blade itself. Greener, cheaper, closer!

Say buh-bye to tampons! The Diva Cup is here to save the day & save you money! Yes, it is literally a cup, it does not absorb, it collects. You change it every 12 hours, wash it off and tah dah - use it again! You buy 1 (yes only 1) a year! You won't be asking around in the ladies room for a tampon ever again and you will no longer be throwing away tons of bleached out cotton that had to be grown somewhere. Total Win! If the concept makes you tightly cross your legs and shake your head, remember what the A Team taught you - Knowing is half the battle! Visit www.divacup.com for some in depth QnA. Seriously though - if every lady who read this blog in the last month used a diva cup instead, there would be about 20,000 less tampons in the landfill each month! That's some crazy math.

While we are waving goodbye to tampons, lets say farewell to their Maxi-pad sisters of the south. There are TONS of options for reusable liners these days! They come in all shapes and sizes and are made from a wide array of fabrics that will make you say "ooh aah" and some will even make you chuckle. Etsy has a large selection and you can also check out Lunapads for all your PMS precautions.

Since we're on the subject... I was recently introduced to another eco-friendly creation for your girlie bits. Time to climax with a conscious using the worlds first sex toy made with 100% green technology! The Earth Angel! Dang, even the name is fantastic! This vibrator (and the packaging) is made entirely of recycled plastics AND requires NO batteries! It charges manually through a small crank tucked into the base of the toy. Turn it 4 times and you've got 30 minutes of fun in your hands. Turn it 8 times and it will purr for an entire hour.


Hopefully these few suggestions has you thinking about other things in your life that could be replaced with an item that has a longer shelf life. We've only got one planet and it will really suck if we gunk it up with all the junk we do not want.

For more inspiration in the green department you should calculate your personal carbon footprint with this handy dandy footprint calculator.
How do you measure up?

What's next up on How To Become A Modern Day Model Citizen?
Creative ways to lend a hand!

Until next time...
XO!
Bonnie Rue

Summer Time Blues

I get hung up on things. Obsessed, infatuated, fixated, consumed, whatever you want to call it. Sometimes it's a fleeting thing and sometimes it becomes a life long addiction .. such as my love for BIG noses & GIANT earrings. These things will never fall out of favor with me. Ever! Currently I find myself feeling Blue. If it's blue, I want it, I need it, I've got to got to have it! And my pocket book is feeling weak under the weight of my desires.

Recently I purchased the most adorable blue shoes from Irregular Choice. I picked them up at Creatures, a little boutique here in Austin that I love! When I put them on there is no way I could feel blue. They scream "take me out, lets dance this mess around!" I must obey. It's hard to say no to Irregular Choice. They recently opened their online shop and I've already picked out another pair of shoes that I MUST have! If you can figure out which pair they are I will send you a Blue Tiger's <3 Cupcakes brooch. Leave your guesses in the comments below! I'll give you some hints - they are tall and blue (of course).

In other blue news I picked up this adorable bag from Eli Makes and it has become my #1 grocery store/ farmers market companion. It's made from oil cloth so it stands up to the wear and tear and is easy to clean. Much appreciated. I can't even tell you how much I love the oil cloth lace that lines the edges of the heart and the trim of the bag. Such a fantastic detail. People always ask me where I got it, so now you know! Thanks Eli!


AND because I am obsessed, infatuated, fixated, consumed, etc. I am currently sporting a bright blue mani pedi (which looks fantastic with my new shoes, btw). When I saw OPI's Blue My Mind I had no choice. My mind was blown and my toes are blue. Making me very blue and very happy. OPI has just teamed up with Sephora for a new line of polishes that will knock your socks off. Which is great because no one can see your lovely feet with socks on. Check it out!



If you actually suffering from a case of the summer time blues I suggest you load up on some blueberries. My boss calls them "the #1 berry" and with good reason. They allow the body a greater ability to release dopamine (the stuff that makes your brain all glowy when you fall in love)! Blueberries contain tons of antioxidants that trigger the growth of new neurons in the brain's hippocampus that governs motor skills, memory and learning. Their smell is known to trigger other feel-good neurotransmitters like and serotonin. These #1 berries also help that regenerate skin cells and their blue color instantly lowers heart and breathing rates and hence, reduces stress. You gotta love that.

In short - blue is the new black!
If you want to win this snazzy brooch just guess which pair of shoes is next on my hit list. First person to guess correctly will be the winner du jour!

*facts about blueberries were lifted from faq.com

There's no place like home! There's no place like home!

Summer is so serious! It has been NON STOP! Between the heat, work, Model Citizen & trying to find a new place to live I have not had a moment to even begin to update my blog. Which saddens me to no end. It's not like I don't have a place to hang my (fabulous) hat in this heat, but as I've mentioned before, I am staying with friends and living out of boxes during this record high summer. But - that brings me to the big news!

Austin (my manpanion) and I have decided to say Buh Bye to renting and Hello to home ownership! After 10 lovely years of living in Austin we feel it is high time to plant some serious roots and buy into this city that we love so. It's not the most original idea, sure, but we are very excited! It's kind of weird though - all of this is happening while he is on the road touring with his band. So, I've been house hunting rather than blogging, designing and going to yoga.
While I day dream of something like this:

The reality of my bank statement is keeping my head from floating into the clouds.

Ooh - look at the time! I'm off to look at a house now! Keep your fingers crossed for us!