Orange is the new green

“Reduce, reuse, recycle” seems to be a prominent phrase as people  talk about “going green.”  I’m all for reducing, but cutting out paper towels or remembering to bring reusable bags when I head to the grocery store is a little tough.  We do our best with recycling, though, with our giant recycling bin.  Thanks, Arlington County.  But by far, I like “reuse” the best.  This little orange gingham top is part of a bloomer set that I bought from Ragsland probably six years ago.  My daughter wore the daylights out of it—with a long sleeve peter pan  collar blouse in the fall, turtleneck in the winter, short sleeve peter pan collar blouse in the spring, and sans shirt on summer evenings on a trip to the Florida Keys.  A dear friend had a baby girl four years ago this week (happy birthday, A!) and when she was big enough, I ripped out my daughter’s monogram and put hers in its place.  Now that another very dear friend has a one year old, I found myself once again ripping out an old monogram and replacing it. Though it could use a good pressing, this little outfit is in great shape.  And it makes me so happy to see another little girl toddling around in orange gingham.  I love that someone else can enjoy it, and I really love that when I see her I can fondly remember my now Rapunzel-haired second grader running around with her teeny little sprouts for pigtails.  Who knew going green could be so sweet?