Reusng those bulk bags

I got somethings in bulk and get some nice bags from Earth Fare  that have the zip type tops.  I usually have a bag in my reusable bag I got from them so I get the same things again.  BUT sometimes I forget to put it back in the bag... so I have a few sitting around.  I also work at a warehouse club were I get some good deals on things like berries. You know when they have too many and more coming in at the height of the season. So I got some strawberries and thought I freeze some for later.  I saw my bags and thought ok it might have a little bit of the sugar in them but then it won't hurt the strawberries. Why not?  I also have a raspberry and  blueberry bag.

Back to school Lunchbox Kit.

I almost missed the email asking me of I would review the new Rubbermaid Lunchbox Sandwich Kit... I seem to be getting a ton of spam in my email lately. I have tons of money waiting for me to let some lawyer pick up for me... LOL Plus someone told the internet about my weight gain... dang I didn't think it was that big of a deal..   I am getting tons of emails telling me that they have wonderful  products to help me.. lose it.



The Sandwich Kit includes a sandwich container sized for regular and specialty breads, two sizes of snack containers.  Two are smaller and the third is the same size as two of them together.  I Love love love the blue ice thing that fits with the containers. They snap together, saving you space and things getting dumped out.  It is microwave-, dishwasher- and freezer-safe and BPA-free! 

So I did use this for MY lunch..... I took it to work in my built lunch bag which some say it is a small bag and shocked that the sandwich kit fit in my little bag... LOL  I love it.  It is easy to use and I take a salad or sandwich in the bigger container.. treats or another snack in the smaller containers. Croutons. Etc.  If I don't take any snacks I still snap the ice pack on the top but you can snap it on the bottom if need to.  LOL I do after I have eaten what was in the containers and want to make room.

OMG I went to the Rubbermaid site and see they are sold out but they have a coupon if you buy at your local store.  It on the right hand side of the page.... PLUS they have more Lunchbox items than just the sandwich kit  (hey it can be used for more than just sandwiches).

But I love Rubbermaid for their reusable containers and even their Adventures in Organization Blog.  You can find some great ideas there. Check them out!!

 This video is crazy cool...
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The LunchBlox Sandwich Kit is currently available for purchase at Target, Kmart, Kroger, Safeway, Bi-Lo, Winn-Dixie, HEB, other grocery stores and select Wal-Mart stores.  Don't forget to get your coupon on the Rubbermaid site!!!


Save money on lunch bags and paper bags check out the new Rubbermaid Lunchbox Sandwich Kit...

 I did receive the sandwich kit for review.  I was not paid for this review. these are my opinions.  Pictures and video are property of Rubbermaid.

 

Happy 4th

I have had a little fun with pinerest and thought I try some of the ideas I saw on one shirt... LOL  I did have a fail with the blue shirt I tried to spray paint white stars on. Doesn't work too well. The beach pen just made pink stars. Which was very upsetting.  I made a blue t-shirt with the beach pen and left it over night and it bleached it white... BUT that was a different shirt..... Oh well.  This one didn't want to bleach white!!!! 

I started with a white t-shirt.

 I printed star on sticker paper.  I just googled star stencil and found a site with the t-shirt idea!!! LOL so she had one that had 6 stars on it.  I thought too cool I could do 6 stars on front and 7 on the back.  I used fabric paint for the blue... I didn't have blue spray paint... so I thought I try the blue paint die and found fabric paint.  Yea... but then I didn't get to try the regular paint used as a dye... giggles I guess I can try that some other time...

The strips are old t-shirt material.  And the bottom of the t-shirt
I cut to have only the top blue.

A Fathers day gift

I know it is a little late but I made my dad some coasters.

I found the idea from pinterest. But I wasn't too sure about the foam board they said to glue the washer onto. I thought oh I can use cork board... SO I have to say when I saw theses coasters for 99 cents at Walmart I thought that would look nice.  Easier but hey I though it look neater.   I went ahead and glued the cork to the plastic coasters anyway.  They where glue like a small amount in the middle.  I got some washers and had some left over  (I got the smaller ones) .  SO I glued them to the cork.  Of course I did placed them inside one before gluing so I could see my pattern before gluing.


 I did make lasagna for him like I do almost every year for his birthday and father's day.  He gets the left overs to eat when he wants.  Lasagna does freeze well but he tells me that many times he doesn't get to freeze it because he eats it all!!

Mini Me??

Sorry kinda blurry but you get the idea.... 

I made a dress-form just like the video I saw on Threadbanger.  It was quite funny when my daughter who helped me put on her facebook:....  not what I thought I be doing today: Putting my Mom in a trash bag and using gorilla tape! Oh yea many family friends wanted to know if she got all Dexter on me.... LOL

I wore a tank top and placed a trash bag on for the base.  I did find a site that had the way to make one bookmarked but lost it.  Heck I thought I know the basic steps.  I remember reading that they used 3 rolls of duck tape to make 2.  I told the daughter I make her one but she decided that she really didn't want to get "taped Up".    I still have a 2 rolls and half of the gorilla tape.  That's why it is black not the gray color of duck tape.  LOL I also got my daughter a roll of the fancy duck tape with blue flowers to bribe her to help... and I really didn't need to I just had to ask.  I love that kid... LOL

I didn't have a ton of fabric to stuff it with.  I did add some newspaper... I didn't like the newspaper it was too lumpy not solid enough for a dress form.  I used some foam filler and it was like DANG! it's only 1/4 filled??? SO I then got fiberfill and stuffed it.  I was lucky that it was on sale.....  It took the whole bag...  Really?? Oh my goodness....

Sad thing is after it was done I asked really??  I LOOK like that??  LOL I know I don't have a huge chest but this made it look tiny, and where did my waist go...  Oh well I guess it is the way it was stuffed and it still has my basic measurements so I can use it .   I have used it already....     I really have too many t-shirt I didn't wear because of the neck and arms  being to tight.  Now they are cool looking....

Goo Removal

I so love pinterest!  I even have a board I named Green Household Tips .  I found a pin that had gunk remover.

Non-toxic replacement for Goo Gone! The recipe for the remover is equal parts coconut oil and baking soda.  I keep my coconut oil in my refrigerator and it will be more solid that way.  I did warm the oil in the microwave before adding my baking soda.  I was not sure if this goo would work to remove goo.

AS you can see I did use it on my honey jar and the label came off very well!! I have used peanut butter to remove labels but the clean up was a pain. AS anyone that has cleaned out a peanut butter jar.  PLUS I would have to let it sit for a while to get most of the label off.  And many labels where  stubborn and would still use goo be gone on the last sticky stuff that won't come off!!

I also did a couple of plastic bottles that where left in the house. A sport drink bottle and a lemon aide bottle that the kids left here.  I removed the sticking stuff off the plastic and didn't scratch  the plastic up....   I am going to put some water in the empty bottle and freeze them.  They are hopefully going camping with me this summer.  I will use them to keep my food cold.  If they melt they are drinking water!!

But the glass jars will be used to hold my sauces or dressings.

 

My straw ....

Sorry I didn't post this blog post earlier but I thought I show you my glass straw I was telling you about.... From Glass Dharma .  But I got it in the mail last week...

I have had a couple heart attacks where I thought Goodness.... I better be careful I might break this thing.  But I didn't.  It been very fun to drink my drinks from a glass straw.  FUN! Really silly but it fun.

 

TP rolls

I might not use a lot of paper towels but I do use toilet paper. So when the Southern Institute posted it's toilet paper roll Challenge  I thought why not have some fun and do this.  I did start by cutting my rolls up into strips.

 Funny thing it was like I knew this was going to be happening cause I found like 3 rolls in the bathroom on the shelf near the TP holder... LOL.  That and my paper towels which I use very rarely ran out that day.....


   I tried a couple different ways and I didn't like it at all.  I was trying so hard to make the curls turn into hearts... and keep it all the same size... wasn't happening at all!!

So I just started to put the cut circles together and I thought wow a flower... and I ran with it..

I like the curls... I had to keep them... SO I added them to the points and after hot gluing them together I painted the whole thing black.

Cause I like wrought iron.  I have enough of it in my living room.  Make that a lot of it... there is always room for more!!

My wrought iron look a like wall hanging:

Love it Free Glass Straws

It was one of those nights, reading the stupid stuff on Facebook, scrolling down kinda in a burr of half reading it half not. I then see a magazine I liked... that had a post on Glass Dharma giving away free straws!

Be one of the first 1000 people in April to write an essay Titled : “I love my glass straws”.  




Here is my essay:

I love Glass Straws Because

   I love glass straws! It's a very creative idea to help reduce and reuse. How can you beat that? You have 2 out of the eco-friendly three Rs. And knowing the fact you can't recycle the plastic straw then it is a win win product. Walking the walk talking the talk of being green. NO more of these plastic straws and those static charged paper liners. Plus supporting a green company.

 Who could not love glass straws! It is a reward to our littlest environmentalists that do the right thing but keeps fun in reusing. Plus the fun factor is also important to keep the young mind interested in keeping up recycling, reducing and reusing! A perfect gift for your eco-friendly person on your gift list. Hint hint, to all my family reading this.... However my daughter shouldn't be reading this... I know she likes the color straws.... Even as a grown women I know she would love these. I know her mom does!!!

So head over to Glass Dharma and get your free glass straw!!

Wabi Sabi

What is Wabi Sabi?

Google the term and you will find many different ideals to the meaning.  Basically it is a Japanese way of life. It is not easy to translate. Finding so many different thoughts to the term! I love the quote from Wikipedia:


"[Wabi-sabi] nurtures all that is authentic by acknowledging three simple realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect."

Lately I have been seeing Wabi Sabi in the finding love context. But I have looking for info  that states the meaning is to find beauty in imperfection.  A few sites are the monks tea party type, that are teaching the simple way of life.  Slow down and enjoy: ″wisdom in natural simplicity". Or for art the idea of beauty in natural flaws.  To the idea of living a simple zen life.

A zen life? Isn't that a song? Sounds like it doesn't it? But I hear that and thing yea that would be nice in this day and age living a zen life would be a welcome change...  Not having deadlines, snow storms, or fanatic calls from family and friends dealing with crisis. maybe I am zen, talking to the person to help them find the answer, or just to have a ear to say OMG that sucks... and having someone say I am sorry to hear you are having a crappy week...

Wabi Sabi Love... I have told the girls to not try to find Mr. Perfect or Mr. Right, find Mr. I can live with the flaws..... You can't change him just as he can't change you.  Find  We are ourselves together and we work.

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be,” Lao-Tzu.

But I find the art to find beauty in imperfection.  Cracked vases are as beautiful as new.  That broken candle holder that I got from the Salvation Army store is beautiful even without the chain that the previous owner  might have hung it.  Even keeping the two links add more interest to the piece that sits on the end table I have been looking for something interesting to place there for months....

My favorite incense burner is a old sugar dish that I love the shape of but has a crack.  Even after the creamer broke I couldn't throw it away.  I turned the crack to the wall. I took a picture of it and the crack wasn't even noticeable on the picture! So it took a picture of my wizard.  Poor man was knocked over lost his point of his cap and got a couple chips of his base but I love this piece too much to throw away.

Or finding beauty in nature like the zen gardens. I love drift wood.  Don't know why.  Just do. It's beauty and the way the water made the marks maybe. I think there is power in the beauty of driftwood and have a few pieces in my house as decoration.  Plus of course plants are natural beauty to bring in the home, right now in the middle of winter my plants have died.  I not sure that buying more would be a good idea.  The shock of taking them into 20 degree weather would kill them anyway, so I will wait til spring........

Guess I am (was) wabi sabi before it was cool...

Very cool idea.

Renest is a site that has some good ideas for going green and decorating your home.
  I saw a vintage car mirror as a table top mirror.  Now all I have to do is find a vintage car mirror laying around.... LOL

Halloween Recycled Crafts part 2

SO one night while bored I was lost on the web found myself looking at craft ideas for Halloween. Some how don't remember how I landed on The Swell Life. Where I saw some cool Candy corn bottles.  She used spray paint for the yellow and orange part but I used regular craft paint.  I couldn't find cheap spray paint, I mean I was dropping $6 a can for large colored spray paint. I went to the craft store and spent a dollar for each color....
I spray painted them white and let dry.  Then I painted the colored part.   I did have paint a couple coats to the colored part.  I let dry between coats.  I also sprayed the finished bottles with a clear glaze to help keep the paint from being washed or chipped off......

So even more bored I went and googled poison labels.  I found a few and got them from all different places.... a couple of bottles I spray painted black to look more spooky.  While others I keep clear to add crazy stuff to the bottle to match the label.  Like fairy clippings I have glitter and feathers in the jar.  A couple didn't make it to the picture, like swamp fog with used drier sheets; oh the girls never can hit the trash can for some reason!!! Plus a bottle with the label can of worms... I am going to cut up pieces of black and brown yarn for that... you know I looked for small rubber snakes and can't find them... but I have a bottle of juice that will be emptied soon and will have red liquid replacing it.  I have the label vampire blood  to add to it...


 Oh yea I go a little crazy on Halloween 

There are ghost on my porch!

Recycled halloween crafts !

I remember seeing a craft from the magazine Family Fun. The thing is I didn't remember it fully. I didn't remember the lights inside... Some how I thought it was electric tape for the eyes and mouth... oh well they turned out great! I used empty oxygen boost bottle and a empty green cleaner bottle.  I even used empty milk bottles and cider jugs works well , even with the semi-clear bottles they look fine from a distance. I did add some off my rocks I used for drainage in my container garden to keep them on the porch and not to fly away to the neighbors yards...

I did lose a grave marker earlier this week due to the rain and wind.... I pulled in to the drive way noticed it in the neighbors yard.  By the time I got my cold stuff in the refrigerator.  It was gone.... Bummer....

I do want to make some jar cute-ies.  I don't remember where I saw them but jars being painted and decorated like pumpkins.  I thought I make some ghost too.  Plus the mummies like on  Family Fun  but with jars not toilet paper tubes.... but hey I have selective memory... but it still works out.

Pizza Pizza!

Wouldn't this be great? I can see places giving a discount if you return the Pi Pan!!

Cutting the waste and cutting the carbon that is put into the environment.

I do love pizza and would pay a deposit for my first pizza to get a discount if I return it on the next pizza... hey maybe that can be a incentive for places.............

Do you Plarn?

Plarn is yarn made from plastic bags. You can weave them into mats or you can crochet using plarn.
. I like this video cause it shows you how to cut the plastic in one long piece.... I have seen directions to cut the bag into small loops and to wrap them together to make the plarn, but that is good for bulky items. I also seen a woman that used her drop spindle and made plarn that looked like tatting yarn!!

This video this artist take the plarn to a whole higher level! Very cool stuff....

Fuse..........

Fuse your plastic bags and make new bags......

Another WOW story

I know it happens in almost every home. Someone throws their coat on a chair.... So a designer named Joey Zele`on came up with a chair made of plastic hangers!!

I know I do it myself... with my  purse also hanging there.
I even got a wire over the door hanging hook thingy... but habits die hard!

Plus where am I going to put the wipe off the wet dog towel??? LOL



How cool is that? a chair that reminds people to use the hanger...
But then I can see my family just lloking at it and say wow that's crazy and throw their coat over it anyway........ LOL
Would you get a chair like this? I would think it would be a good chair for a public place but then that me...

Use less...

Doing my eco-friendly thing, I have a old office chair that I sit in as I surf the web.... but the problem is that the  cats also love it.... they have realy really like it...   As you can see, they like to climb to the top of the chair.  Sometimes they  will sharpen their nails on the side there!!!

It kinda bothered me that I had this horrible looking chair, it wasn't broke or really too bad, just has this part of the chair that is torn up!!!

I was reading the Sunday Morning paper and noticed that one store had bucket seat covers on sale. I thought wow that might work.... Oh yea it works.... Yea the back isn't as tight as the cover would be in the car.  I thought I might cut and sew something to help it if needed. But I use that sun pillow because I am short and my legs don't hit the floor while my back is to the back of the chair. 


Aw I have a "new" chair and I didn't add to the landfill! My family laughed when they saw it and asked where I go the just one seat cover... Really they asked if I had the other one... LOL BUt I think they are getting one for their beaten up chair..........

Starting a new Tradition

Well it's going to be a Thanksgiving one that isn't at my house!!! OMG  it been a lllllllllloooooooooonnnnngggggg time that I haven't had to do most of the cooking!!  This year it will be done by Gpa and the college right here in town nephew.  My brother and his wife are coming up. Miss Animal Rights  and Tech are coming too...

I have purchased  some plastic containers for the left over food.... ( I know I was going to cut down but thought that the plastic will be easily to pack to travel.)  My nephew, I,  Miss Animal Rights and Tech have a half a hour drive.  My brother on the other hand has a 3 hour drive home..... So plastic Non BPA plastic won... They  will hopefully be reused Well I know that we will reuse them......  Kinda like a early present to help them take home some extras!!

Now the bad part I work tomorrow and will be picking up some things after work.... yea I get to stand in line.....
My list:
Pumpkin pie
Hawaiian rolls
Apple cider
that set thing for the kid's new place....

So I want to tell you all  
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! 

Too much Candy!!

So trick or treat  week-end is coming up! Oh the candy....The candy.... Oh we used to have candy until Christmas. I would throw it away and replace it with the Christmas candy. Then we throw that away and replace it with Easter Candy.... Well if I only had  something like  Halloween Candy Buyback!


So if you got way to much candy; why not let a dentist buy it back??

. Check out the Halloween Candy Buyback site. Where you can search for a dentist in your area that will give you around  a dollar a pound for your candy.  Wait they do something good with it. They send the candy to Operation Gratitude , who sends it to our soldiers. Win win. You get rid of candy you have too much of, the kids get some pocket money and our soldiers get some candy and a lift in spirits!

Yea the older kids might not like the fact it is only a dollar a pound but hey that one more dollar they didn't have before.. Plus a great way to get rid of the candy that you don't like of course after you bargained with your friends... ( and the candy mom and or dad needed to inspect closer...)