Money, Meet Mouth.

You know that saying, "Put your money where your mouth is"? Well, for as much as I love A) Shopping and B) Voicing my opinion; I've never really been the type of consumer that really boycotts a store or brand because I don't like their business practices, marketing technique, or spokesperson. Not that I don't think I am influenced by those things to BUY products if I LIKE what I see-I'm sure I am-but I can't remember actively NOT buying a brand because I didn't like something I read or heard about them. But, I'm starting to be a little more conscious of these things, and I think it's time for my money and my mouth to coordinate a little better. I've seen a couple of things lately that have led me to decide I want to be better about which companies I choose to give my money too, and I think with that comes sharing why I've made those decisions (good or bad).

In case you didn't know, it is Earth Week. What commercial did I start seeing this week? A Kleenex brand commercial for "Hand Towels." Yes, disposable paper towels for your home bathroom. Now, I'll admit. I hate those hand dryers in public restrooms. I much prefer to have a paper towel in those situations. But I know the hand dryers are more eco-friendly, and the super-powered ones are kind of cool, and its nice to have a little mini-heater in the winter. But at home, I use cloth hand-towels in my bathrooms. I have never once wished I had paper hand towels at home. But Kleenex has devised a way for you to spend money on stocking your home-and your neighborhood landfill-with more paper towels. I think what irritates me the most is their ad slogan for it-"Your hands are only as clean as the towel used to dry them." Um, if I'm only using my hand towel to wipe my clean hands dry, what's the problem? I don't know why this product infuriates me so much, aside from how not-GREEN it is and what a waste of money it would be. But, it makes me want to switch to Puff's or Target brand kleenex for good!

Someone else who didn't get my business recently? Nike. See, I've recently begun a diet/exercise routine designed to A) get me into a bridesmaids dress I bought three years ago and B) start a healthier lifestyle so my doctor will lay off (yeah, yeah, I guess I want to lose weight and be healthier too). I hadn't bought a pair of athletic shoes in about 3 years, and really needed a new pair for my exercise routine. But they are expensive. And I didn't know where to start. I've bought Nikes in the past, but I've been really irritated with their support for their spokesmen who have engaged in some very offensive behavior. I think I've probably blogged in the past about how irritated I get with celebrities who screw up and don't "suffer" in their lifestyle at all, like the rest of us would if we engaged in such acts. So, the company's support of Tiger Woods, who humiliated his wife not to mention put her at risk for who knows what kind of diseases, and Ben Roethlisberger, who's now been accused of rape three times, doesn't really "speak to me" as a woman that this company shares my values. I know Tiger has apologized, and really, what else can he do at this point? But allowing him to represent your products, says in a clear tone: We don't care that he cheated on his wife with dozens of women because he sells. I know Ben hasn't been charged or convicted of anything, but as this article points out, Nike won't even speak up to say that in its defense (although a lot of sports writers-men I'm assuming-are defending(!) him). It says nothing, which says in a clear tone: Maybe he did, maybe he didn't-it doesn't matter to us either way. And overall, the company's choice of representatives for its brand says: We don't care about how men treat women, as long as they are good at their job. And I know some would argue, that's not Nike's job-they make shoes. Might be a valid point. But if they want me to buy their shoes, I need to think they care about me-not just my feet; and I need to feel good giving that company my hard earned money, or maybe there is a better choice. And they have a choice too, and the choice they've made to retain athletes of such questionable character reflects the character of the company, and that's not company I want to keep-or support.

And in case you are curious, I did buy a pair of shoes-Adidas Supernovas.