Currently April works part-time as a career consultant. “I love my job because I am able to use the strengths God has given me with many facets of what I do and I enjoy helping to empower others to achieve,” she said. “The other things I really enjoy are bringing beauty to our world through gardening or design and decorating, encouraging others, traveling to unique places, snorkeling and spending time with friends and family. Unfortunately, traveling and snorkeling are sidelined right now as we pour into building a family and have less money.”
In what ways do you try to live a healthy life?
Living a healthy life is always present in my mind – even when I reach for the chocolate and ice cream. Generally, I ask myself, “How will whatever I’m choosing to consume or use on my body or do impact this one body that God has given me?”I try to take thirty to fifty minute walks four to five times a week either with a stroller and my 1½-year-old or by using an elliptical machine which helps me both physically and emotionally.When grocery shopping, I avoid processed foods as much as possible, buy fresh produce/organic type of “the dirty dozen” if possible, organic milk and eggs and meats that say they are free of antibiotics and growth hormones.
I also try to avoid using chemicals in our home and am still working to improve in this area. I try not to let things overwhelm me and just do my best with juggling the best choices I can make given my time and money constraints.
What have been some easy, healthy lifestyle changes?
Easy changes? I can’t recall anything really being easy. It takes effort to change, and it may take more time or more money.
What are some difficult changes?
When buying organic you have to fight the frustration of such a difference in price if it is something you have committed to paying for. At first it is torture to compare prices.
Exercising is really tough now that I have a child, but I must make it a priority to help myself in a variety of ways.
Trying to figure out what products are better for you can be overwhelming at first but once you learn more and more it becomes easier.
What has been the biggest thing you’ve learned so far through Accidentally Green?
Reading Accidentally Green has reinforced some things I have read or thought about doing and helped to motivate me more – for instance, trying to use more glass containers vs. plastic for freezing and cooking.
It also has opened my eyes to things I did not know and that sadly should not be. For example, how our government doesn’t regulate what is in personal care products and sunscreens. I am very bothered by this fact and now realize the toxins that we are being exposed to when we I thought those things were safe. I will continue to strive to become better aware of what to avoid.
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If you're searching for ways to live a healthier life that honors God, yet you're not incredibly environmentally conscious, then you're in the right place. While I try to glorify God and use my ten years of journalistic experience to create a healthy home for my family, most of my choices just tend to be green ... quite accidentally. – Hilary
Buying organic is a huge challenge financially, isn’t it? I try to shop more often for those things and buy less at a time, being much more conscious of waste. Hopefully the more organic, chemical-free/antibiotic-free/hormone-free products are in demand, perhaps the prices will come down eventually. I can’t buy everything organic, but I definitely am more conscious of things we eat a lot, like chicken and eggs, etc.
I totally agree and HOPE that prices may come down once healthy and safe products are in demand, Jacque!