I've denied it so far and I still hate to admit it: I've gone through my life as a consumer, without giving so much as a thought to what my wasteful habits have done to the environment. I now stand convicted. Seriously, I feel convicted and now I have to take responsibility for the damage I've done and start looking for active ways to put a stop to it (I doubt I can undo what's already been done).

So, in a desperate attempt to redeem myself I hereby declare myself a tree hugger. Think it's extreme? I used to think it was, but I've come to see I have to go all the way if I'm going to change my daily wasteful routines and habits. Here are just a couple of steps I've taken in an effort to create a new, more environmentally friendly routine:

- Cloth diapers. Yes, I know, this sounds kind of extreme. But it's not so bad as it sounds. Nowadays you can buy cloth diapers that work just as well or better than disposable ones. And yes, it will be a little more work for me to wash them, but it helps to think of the ton of waste (yes, literally one ton per child) that won't be dumped in a landfill to finally decompose about 500 years later.

- Recycling. This is one that I was already doing but I've decided I need to be more dedicated.

- Reusable grocery bags. No more paper or plastic for me. Cloth is the new coolest grocery bag.

- No more Wal-Mart. This one isn't just about the environment but about fair trade and even American and world economy. I've been meaning to cut this one out of my daily routine for quite some time now but hadn't taken the time to find a new place to shop. My new stores: Food4 Less and Dillons (both under Kroger). Go here to find out why I will be shopping at these places. Also, local shops such as Fox Farms and Suzanne's.

If anyone has any suggestions of what else I can do, please comment. Maybe there's something you've been doing, please share. I'm very excited about the changes I'm making and I'm hoping to find others who feel the same way so we can feed each others enthusiasm.