December’s Monthly Friend is Adonia, who blogs about her
adventures living car-free in Los Angeles.  Read it here!

Name: Adonia Lugo
Age: 27
Hometown: San Juan Capistrano, CA
Current location: Los Angeles, CA
Occupation: Bicycling Ethnographer

Interests: Carfree transportation (biking, walking, trains), Intentional communities, Architecture, Anthropology, Public Space, Diversity
Dreams: Seeing more Americans embrace carfree transportation, Returning to the Pacific Northwest, Finding time in my busy schedule to start an all girl garage rock band

How long have you used reusable menstrual products?: Since January 2010
Reason for making the switch to reusables: My friends had good experiences with them, and it’s really important to me to cut down on what I’m sending to landfills.

Funny anecdotes, deep thoughts, or anything else you’d like to share: Making the switch to reusables has been even better than I expected. The options work perfectly for me as an active traveler and urban cyclist.

Diane used to work at GladRags years ago before she moved away to study Vipassana meditation.  We loved having her around then and we still miss her. It was always fun to watch her at lunch time intently writing away in her journal.

Name: Diane
Age: 37
Hometown: SF East Bay, CA
Current location: Charlotte, NC
Occupation: SAHM

Interests: poetry, flash fiction, Vipassana meditation, family life
Dreams: I have a one year old… my dream right now is to take a really long nap. Beyond that I’d like to continue reducing my carbon footprint, nurture a happy healthy family, and to write, published or not.

How long have you used reusable menstrual products?: 16 years
Reason for making the switch to reusables: It just made sense to the environment, to my health- it was a logical decision for me.

Funny anecdotes, deep thoughts, or anything else you’d like to share: (currently my mind is pretty clear… or full of hearing ‘mommy! mommy! mommy!… so I’m going to go now. I’ll think on this…)

We like to stay in touch with former GladRags co-workers because they lead such interesting lives.  Elizabeth is an inspiration to us and also to others. She is a great lesson in pursuing your dreams! 

Name: Elizabeth Marsh
Age: 32
Hometown: Duluth, Minnesota
Current location: I’m new to Madison, Wisconsin
Occupation: Unitarian Universalist minister

Interests: Racial justice and social justice work, being outside, bicycle and pedestrian advocacy, and good, subversive pop culture.
Dreams: I just accomplished my dream of attending seminary and being ordained as a Unitarian Universalist minister, so now I’m in the process of imagining some new dreams.

How long have you used reusable menstrual products? I’ve been relying on them for 8 or 9 years now.
Reason for making the switch to reusables: I switched for many reasons: environmentally, I could take my own responsibility for the lessening of paper menstrual product production and their waste in landfills.  I also appreciate the women’s empowerment that happens around reusables, and the financial savings are quite nice after all these years.

Funny anecdotes, deep thoughts, or anything else you’d like to share: My first exposure to reusable menstrual products was a decade ago, when I served in AmeriCorps in Portland, Oregon.  My work team took a tour of businesses focused on reduction and reuse of waste materials.  GladRags was one of these businesses.  An employee showed us The Keeper and all the women on my team were astonished: “How does that huge thing fit inside my body?!”  Little did I know then that I’d soon use The Keeper and GladRags, eventually work for the company, and now be sharing my story as their Monthly Friend.  I’ve learned so much from the whole company, especially the customers I worked with when I was a GladRags employee.  Many of us learned from each other that menstrual cups are not nearly as huge as they first seem.

September’s Monthly Friend is Cathy L., the author of
Greenblooded: An Introduction to Eco-Friendly Feminine Hygiene.
Pick up your copy in the Books & Zines section of GladRags.com!

Name: Cathy Leamy
Age: 32
Hometown: Boston, MA
Current location: Boston, MA
Occupation: Web developer and cartoonist

Interests: Comic books, travel, dancing
Dreams: Still under construction! Mainly I’d like to live in balance and still squeeze as much as possible out of every hour of the day.

How long have you used reusable menstrual products? About 12 years

Reason for making the switch to reusables: I first tried cloth pads when I was on a frugal kick and found recommendations on pennypinching websites. Once I got into the swing of using them, I learned more about their health and environmental benefits – that’s when I became more committed to them and to spreading the word among friends.

Funny anecdotes, deep thoughts, or anything else you’d like to share: After using cloth pads for so long, it’s neat for me to take a step back and see the routines I’ve developed that I don’t even think about anymore – wearing just a holder as a pantyliner for the few days before my period starts, stocking up my backpack with pads for the day (“long day ahead – better grab a few squishies!”), the soaking, doing laundry, and stacking the clean holders and pads tidily in their box when that week is finished.

August’s Monthly Friend is Eve Agee, author of The Uterine Health Companion.
Read our review of her book and enter to win a free copy here!

Name:  Eve Agee
Age: 42
Hometown: Fayetteville, Arkansas
Current Location: Fayetteville, Arkansas
Occupation: Author of The Uterine Health Companion, Life Coach, and Medical Anthropologist

Interests: Yoga, traveling, cooking, and spending time with my son, husband and friends.
Dreams:  For us to create a beautiful future for the entire planet–for all humans, animals and the Earth.

How long have you used reusable menstrual products: About nine years.
Reason for making the switch to reusables: I started using GladRags because they are good for the environment and wonderful for my health.  They feel good on my skin and help me achieve my goal of eliminating as much single use plastic as possible from my life.  When I switched to GladRags, I had been researching menstruation in other cultures and was so delighted to find GladRags which offer healthy, more traditional ways of honoring the menstrual process.

Funny anecdotes, deep thoughts, or anything else you’d like to share:   Menstruation is a beautiful, natural part of our health, that helps us connect to our creativity, power and vision.  I’m so grateful to GladRags for providing women with reusable products that celebrate our uterine processes.  We as women have tremendous power to choose products that will help improve our world and nourish our bodies.  Using GladRags is a fantastic way to do just that.

Hannah is one of two interns who will be joining the GladRags Team for the summer.  We’re super excited to have her on board! 

Name: Hannah Forman
Age: 20
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Current location: Portland, Oregon
Occupation: GladRags Intern! almost college graduate, life-long student

Interests: Nutrition, Yoga, German, French, Feminism, French feminism, Performance Arts, Traveling, Photo Taking, Bicycling and the Sun.

How long have you used reusable menstrual products?: Haven’t started yet but I am looking forward to it!
Reason for making the switch to reusables: Well, GladRags makes a pretty clever case for it – I’m concerned about the well-being of the earth, especially in this near-apocalyptic age (2012). I’m also concerned about the well-being of my body and would like to remain toxin free as much as possible.

Funny anecdotes, deep thoughts, or anything else you’d like to share: I used to  try to hide the fact that I was on my period at all costs. (similar to June friend) Now, I think that’s a misuse of time that could be spent not only feeling great instead of feeling ashamed, but also talking openly about what alternatives are out there to support us.

Alyssa is one of two interns who will be joining the GladRags Team for the summer.  We’re super excited to have her on board! 

Name: Alyssa Beers
Age: 23
Hometown:Monroe, Connecticut
Current location: Portland, Oregon
Occupation: Crazy/Sexy/Cool GladRags Intern for the summer! Artist, Musician, Wall Ball Enthusiast, College Graduate (anyone want to give me a job?)

Interests: Drawing, collage, bicycling, playing wall ball, free boxes, diy projects, braiding hair, the many colors of wood, novice gardening.
Dreams: Going on a bike tour (it’s happening in July!) & to stop biting my nails (might never happen).

How long have you used reusable menstrual products?: 3 years
Reason for making the switch to reusables: My friend Mary said she had to go put in her “blood cup”- I had no idea what that meant so when I asked the answer was “Oh a safe, reusable cup that holds your period blood” I said “I HAVE TO HAVE THAT”. I’d like to say I’m “environmentally conscious” and was surprised to learn there were such amazing products — some from right here in Portland! — that I had yet to even hear about.

Funny anecdotes, deep thoughts, or anything else you’d like to share: The first time I used my Keeper I totally poured blood all down my arm. In a public restroom. People thought I’d come out of the stall having murdered a small animal or something. I’m totally vocal about all bodily issues after spending many of my formative years afraid to so much as fart in a room with my friends. I’ve come a long way to now being comfortable not only talking about how awesome it is to use menstrual products that won’t harm me or my environment, but comfortable enough with my body to use ‘em in the first place. Really, all you need is that first time of being like, yep, that’s my menstrual blood on my arm, and then you’re set for life.

May Monthly Friend: Sarah Fauber

Name: Sarah Fauber
Age: 31
Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky
Current location: Louisville, Kentucky
Occupation: Self-proclaimed Jane of all Trades: nutrition and supplement specialist, childcare and pet-care provider, jewelry designer, soon-to-be self-published cookbook author, and seamstress.

Interests: Bicycling, party and small event coordinating and participating, VH1 “reality” TV shows, cooking and food research, reading.
Dreams: I have always wanted to own my own shop. It would be a place that could incorporate all the things I love to make and do and share with people. GladRags would definitely be available at my store.

How long have you used reusable menstrual products?: 8 years
Reason for making the switch to reusables: I made the switch after 3 years of hesitation. Primarily I was looking for an alternative to tampons that would alleviate vaginal dryness, be cost-effective, and not contribute to waste in the environment. It took a couple of months to get used to The Keeper menstrual cup but then I was so happy with it I bought one for a friend and she’s been using it for the last 7 years. I am continually enthusiastic about other benefits such as the reduced risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome, not having to remove my menstrual cup when I urinate, never having to worry about packing tampons with me because when I need it my menstrual cup is already on my person. And I love reusable pads as a cost-effective, environmentally friendly alternative to my menstrual cup or just as added protection. I’m always informing women I know or meet about reusables.

Funny anecdotes, deep thoughts, or anything else you’d like to share: For years I’ve had bouts of Menorrhagia, excessive menstrual bleeding. Sometimes my periods would be so heavy I would have to use two super-plus tampons and an overnight pad just to make it 3 hours. Occasionally my periods would last for over a month. The first time I was diagnosed with Menorrhagia I had never heard of a menstrual cup but wished something like it existed. The third and last bought of menorrhagia occured about 7 years ago and having my menstrual cup made going through it so much easier. During this time I finally correlated weight gain and consumption of hormone enhanced dairy with my bouts of Menorrhagia. After weight loss and a switch to organic, r-BGH free dairy it has never returned. It would be an amazing opportunity for women to be consulted about menstrual alternatives at their gynecological check-ups. And I’ve often wondered what possibilities would occur if GladRags menstrual alternatives could be a part of sexual education for young women. Here’s a funny little anecdote about a time at work when I was informing a female co-worker about menstrual cups she exclaimed “that sounds right up my alley,” and I replied “literally.”

April Monthly Friend: Viki Carter

Name: Viki Carter
Age: 38
Hometown: Boulder, Colorado
Current location: Denver, Colorado
Occupation: Hospice Social Worker

Interests: Spending time with my two amazing daughters, my husband, and our Boston Terriers; knitting, reading, music and art.
Dreams: Honestly, I am living my dreams – I love my job, my family, and my life in general!

How long have you used reusable menstrual products?: About seven years now.
Reason for making the switch to reusables: When my youngest daughter was born, we were firmly committed to cloth diapering, both for the environment and for her health. When my period started back up after her birth, I was having a great deal of discomfort and irritation from tampons/disposable pads. I thought; “Wait a minute – I am already cloth diapering – how is this different?!” I ordered some GladRags online, and have never looked back!

Funny anecdotes, deep thoughts, or anything else you’d like to share: I am so grateful that using reusable menstrual products has almost “forced” me to be really open with my daughters about this. We talk very openly about Mommy’s period and what it is and what it means. My oldest is showing all the signs of impending puberty, and she wants to use cloth pads when the time comes. Nothing will make me prouder than ordering her her very own set!

March Monthly Friend: Mary

Name: Mary
Age: 26
Hometown: Laramie, WY
Current location: Laramie, WY
Occupation: University Staff

Interests: Dogs, cooking, coffee, travel…
Dreams: To be a great mom (in 12 weeks when my baby is due!)

How long have you used reusable menstrual products?: 1 year
Reason for making the switch to reusables: I always found regular pads to be so uncomfortable, sticky, and frankly made me yeast-prone no matter how often they were changed. I know a lot of people are worried about the environment, and I care about that too of course, but the bottom line for me was comfort. I picked up GladRags at my local organic co-op and loved them! I have since switched over completely.

Funny anecdotes, deep thoughts, or anything else you’d like to share: So I noted above that I am 28 weeks pregnant. You might think, why does she even need GladRags??? Well let me tell you… it wasn’t too long into the pregnancy that I began to realize that when you are pregnant, everything drips like a faucet. I was at the library a few months ago in an elevator, trying to crane around to look past my belly to see what was on my pants when my boobs started leaking milk too. I may not be having my period, but if I don’t wear a liner every day it looks like I peed my (stretchy) pants! No fun at all. This is the adventure that is motherhood, I suppose. Since I had used GladRags my last few periods before I conceived, they were the natural choice for protection with the increased discharge and I am so grateful! Not only do I leak but I sweat too and I think I might die of heat rash if I had to wear sticky plastic every day. Yuck. Not only have cloth pads been good for me, they have been good for my baby too. I’ve been inspired to stock up on reusable breast pads and cloth diapers! These more natural options just feel right, and that’s important when I’m making choices for the little girl I love the most.