I'm Pea Green

I've always tried to take care of our earth in whatever ways I could. For years I've been careful not to let the water run when I brush my teeth. I've recycled aluminum cans and newspapers. I've used cloth napkins and towels as much as possible. I have a water filter on my refrigerator and also a pitcher so we can refill water bottles instead of buying them. I save any plastic bags I get and take them to the library where they reuse them but I also have "green bags" for the grocery store. Here's the problem.

I often forget to take my green bags into the store when they're right there in my car. I grab a paper towel without thinking when I spill something. I love hot showers and spend far too long in them. So instead of being this wonderful rich shade of green which would mean that I'm doing all that I could do save our environment, I'm sort of a pea green. Sickly green. So I'm looking for help here friends.

How do you recycle if you live out of the city limits and there aren't recycling programs where you live? How do you remind yourself to take your bags in, take quick showers, etc.? And what kinds of things are you doing for our earth that I could copy? Green is not my favorite color and I hate, hate, hate pea green.