OMG has it been a year!

Well  happy birthday to me and my blog, I hope this means I get two birthday presents this year.  OK so I will be the first to tell you, but I honestly do not believe it myself, today marks the one year anniversary of this blog.  Really I must say that I am pretty proud of myself to keep this going for a year.  But to have actually accomplished something with the blog, well that just makes me super awesome, really you are laughing at me, come on please let me have my delusions, please.  I know that I owe a lot to the support of family, friends, and yes that little bump from the local NPR station and newspaper helped too.  I doubt I would have gotten very far on my own.  Maybe I should end my Grammy/Oscar acceptance speech now, but I can't so haha.  I am very grateful for all the help I have received.  I have also learned that I do have some great friends that are truly inspiring, and hopefully that inspiration is past on through some of the wonderful reading that is published on this blog (still laughing, oh about the awesome comment, ok keep laughing).  So with all that said I would just like to say a very big thank you.
Now I could continue this post with a "Random Charlotte year in review" but instead of re-boring you with all the old posts, I just wanted to go back (don't worry this will be short) for just a second, and discuss what started this blog, Leftover Love (aka taking your own doggy bag to restaurants).   Now as I have said many times this is not an original idea, but it is still a good one, that to be very honest I am not quite sure why it is not catching on faster.  Anyway the concept is similar to taking your own shopping bag to the grocery shop (or every other shop that hands out plastic bags), but instead of the grocer you are at a restaurant and instead of bag you take your own leftover box.  Beautiful, easy, love it.  The thing is, this concept most clearly illustrates (at least to me) that it is the small things that we can do everyday to will help protect our planet.  I know that sounds cliche, and that I say it a lot, but for me it is the bottom line.  No planet, no us, so then what was the point fighting over all the other issues.  I know to some being green is hip or trendy or whatever, but really it is survival (and also very cost effective, which for cheapskates like me should be very attractive).  Being green means caring about others and be willing to make small sacrifices that help for the greater good.  It does not mean putting up solar panels you cannot afford or living in the top of a tree.  But it does mean giving up your bottled water, taking your own leftover container to restaurants, hiring (or lowering) the thermostat a degree or two.   Not everything has to be easy, convenient, and comfortable, all of which is promised with a disposable lifestyle.  I want to remember, and I want to set an example that every action counts, even the small ones.
So have I done something great like I wanted?  Maybe not.  Have I done something that matters?  Hopefully, even if it is only to me.  But I have tried and I will continue to try, because that is all anyone can do (at least that is what my parents told me).  Hopefully I will continue to live by my words, and then my actions will create an example, if for no one else, then for me and my family.  So I will end here with another big thank you to everyone (but I especially want to thank those who take their own leftover containers and  practice  (yeah I said practice like it is some religious experience) leftover love, man I am horrible!! but I am kidding).