A Few of My Favorite Things

Along with raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, these are a few of my favorite things:

A programmable thermostat knows how to keep me warm at night. It was less than $100, took about 1/2 hour to install, and has saved me over $40 a month in winter heating costs. Plus, when I set it low for bedtime, it encourages the cats to come and cuddle with me! (Buy at Lowe's.)



These are my favorite bags, EVER. Though I have many reusable bags, including logo ones from Target and Whole Foods, sometimes it's nice to not be advertising for others as you're walking around town. I have carried whole Thanksgiving dinners, $70 worth of groceries, 20 library books and more in these bags.

Once they're loaded up, they don't weigh a ton, and keep their shape much better than cloth bags. Plus, if they get dirty from the week's CSA load, you can simply wipe them out with a damp cloth and they're good as new! (Buy at Mixed Bag Designs.)



This is a new one. I got this as a Christmas present. I love that it's so simple. Stacks of sheets framed with cardboard and a few thumbtacks, and you've got yourself a bulletin board.

I haven't tried hanging anything heavy on here, as I don't think it would stick, but it works perfectly for outgoing mail, coupons and other reminders as I'm heading out the door. (Buy at Uncommon Goods.)

Bulking Up

I am so excited, because I just learned that Raisin Rack lets you bring in your own containers for their extensive bulk bin food section.



I guess I have been trained to think that people aren't interested in slimming down when it comes to packaging waste. I was terrified to even ask, for fear of the usually ridicule I receive for trying to think "outside of the box." But there was no reason to be afraid; they were extremely pleasant and encouraging!



So I'm going to be sure to bulk up on yummy sesame sticks, red lentils for my Indian dal soup, fun granola mixes and slivered almonds, all without packaging! I'll probably just take a few old yogurt containers and start shoveling it in!

P.S. As far as the wallet goes, it got to keep a few pounds. The almonds, which usually cost $3 or more for a 6oz bag at Kroger, were only $5/lb!

Oh, What a Tangled Web We Weave

Since I've been working on so many crafting projects lately, I have been all tangled up in thread and fabric and other miscellaneous piles of unfinished projects.

Although I tend to use utilitarian containers that I already have lying around, such as plain cardboard boxes and food containers like the ones that spring lettuce mixes come in, I decided that I wanted something prettier and more stylish to help me untangle my life.

So, I bought some fun bins from the Container Store made out of old newspapers to store my pictures and crafty supplies.



I also found a fun use for this 24-case of Bud Light that wandered its way to my house over the holidays. Granted, this isn't going in a window display any time soon, but it works well with my laundry room decor! The cardboard dividers for the glass bottles help to organize small objects and would make a great container for Christmas ornaments.




And with a little more class, I was also able to repurpose this cigar box that a friend of mine found in a garage sale. It makes a wonderful and stylish jewelry box!




So it seems that Longaberger baskets aren't the only way to weave a new world. How have you recycled or reused old products to organize your life?

Selling Out

Part of being eco-friendly is selling out every once in a while.

That's why I've recently taken my books and CDs to various buy-back locations.

I took about 3/4ths of my book stash to Half Price Books on Shrock Rd and State St for resale. I was sad to see them go, but had not re-read one of them, ever. (Too many other fish in the sea.) Many of the books were relics from my college days, classics that I hope will find a good home with another college student looking to save money (and who will come to hate Blood Meridian as much as I did.)

A few weeks later, I went to Buybacks Entertainment on 161 and Cleveland Ave to sell back my CDs. Having migrated completely to MP3 format, these CDs were quickly expiring in a much-forgotten cabinet. (Poor Alanis' allergies started acting up from all the dust accumulating on her jewel case.)

I feel better knowing that my once-loved possessions will find new homes, and I can't complain about a little extra money in my pocket. If I weren't such a faithful library patron, I would consider buying some gently used books and CDs from these fine establishments.

Just "Concentrate"

Just concentrate. That's how those stupid 3-D Magic Eye pictures were supposed to work. (I never did see the dolphin.) But concentrating definitely works for the environment!

Next time you go to the store, consider buying your favorite products in concentrated form, such as juice, laundry detergent & household cleaners, dried cranberries, dehydrated veggies, etc.

Why, you ask? Consider that most of these products are simply taking H2O out of the equation. This means that you're making for a lighter load when hauling things across the country, buying less packaging AND saving space in your cupboards for all of those bulk items you want to buy.

Just be sure not to get a headache from concentrating too hard.