February 11, 2006
Vice to virtue
So I was in the pantry, clearing the blades of the shredder (clogged with the latest credit offering to which my own alma mater sold us out), when I saw one solution to the bag dilemma sitting right there on the shelves:
If you can't tell from my incredibly bad photo, it's the wrapping that comes around an eight-pack of paper towels. I hacked off the top, and now, though still a bit large, it will fit inside the shredder basket. It should be clear enough for the recyclers -- they just need to be able to see the contents.
So that's one reason to feel a tiny bit less badly about the paper towel addiction...
Posted by jennie at 09:12 AM | Comments (0)
January 31, 2006
Buckets!
I'm lucky in that my town has a small-"chain" supermarket (with all of two stores) that is equal -- and in some ways, superior -- to Safeway and Albertson's.
Being independent, they have freedom to do things that megagrocers might scoff at, like cheaply selling their used plastic containers. Yesterday I spied a bucket once used to hold candy canes at the cash register. Since the bub already has a sand bucket, I now have a cheery, minty-fresh bin to hold my dirty cleaning rags in the laundry room.
Posted by jennie at 10:33 AM | Comments (0)
January 30, 2006
Jar measure
I love reusing glass.
Recently, I bought some refrigerated red grapefruit slices in a jar (yes, I'm too lazy to scoop my own grapefruit, but I still want the nutrition). When I peeled off the label, I found the glass graduated in half cup increments, up to two cups. Not unheard of, of course, but something I haven't seen in a while.
After washing and air-drying the jar, I decided to test the accuracy of the levels against my Pyrex measure. And found that it's certainly accurate enough for everyday cooking:
As I only have one two-cup liquid measure, it's kind of nice to have another on hand (for free, no less). And if I wanted to prepare an ingredient ahead, and refrigerate, the lid makes that easy.
Posted by jennie at 02:20 PM | Comments (0)
January 27, 2006
Foiled
So, our new (single-stream!) recycling program allows shredded paper! Wahoo!
But. Only in clear plastic bags. And I can't find any in town. Not even at Office Despot, where they sell shredders. No shredder can liners, nope.
Driving home from the grocery, I thought I might have a solution -- produce bags. But, alas, they're much too narrow.
Retailers don't use clear plastic. So I have to order out for special bags if I want to recycle all the shreds we create because of the [not nice word] credit card snail spammers.
Posted by jennie at 09:03 PM | Comments (0)
December 28, 2005
Can you believe it?
I actually had to leave a Freecycling group because the drama/self-importance made me want to puke. Yay!
Posted by jennie at 08:52 PM | Comments (0)
September 04, 2005
Ah, By the Way...
We have a new team member, if you hadn't noticed! Everybody, meet Celeste, a crafty British recycler. Welcome!
Sorry I'm a bit slow on the intro [and every other type of] uptake lately. We'll just chalk it up to my all-too-swiftly approaching dive into the true mid-thirties.
Posted by jennie at 10:13 PM
August 12, 2005
Flaming Mad! Ugh!
Why? Why do people toss perfectly good toys (or any perfectly useable items, for that matter)? I'm sure they don't stop to consider all the energy, labor, and resources that go into a substantial item such as the rock-solid Fisher-Price barn we found in the dumpster this evening (no, not the vintage one that holds a dear place in my heart, but, still).
There's simply no need to throw good things away, with so many good options for reuse out there. Freecycle it. Craigslist it. Give it to one of the dozens of resale charities who would love to receive it (some will even come right to your door to pick it up!). Donate it to a women's and children's shelter. Hell, just leave it in your driveway or at the neighborhood playground with a note for some random family to pick up.
Ugh. I'm done now.
Posted by jennie at 08:18 PM
August 10, 2005
Wind Me Up
Have some old Legos, a geeky boyfriend, and loads of yarn to wind?
Care of Craftster, a link to the coolest yarn winder out there, along with a link to how it was built.
Posted by spring at 02:02 AM | Comments (0)
August 09, 2005
You Wouldn't Expect Any Less
As if you needed another reason to love Target:
Last year, Target Corporation recycled over 400,000 tons of materials nationwide including cardboard, paper, fluorescent lamps and ballasts, food, batteries, and shrink wrap. Additional waste was reduced through merchandise salvage programs and donations of unsaleable items to charitable organizations and humane societies. As product packaging is the biggest source of waste for a retailer, Target works with vendors to reduce packaging without sacrificing product protection or consumer information. Target realizes millions of dollars per year by reducing waste and expanding recycling.
Winner of the California Waste Reduction Awards Program in 1997 and 1999-2004.
Posted by jennie at 05:01 PM
August 04, 2005
Pardon Our Dust
Just gearing up for the Blogathon. Had to switch from Blogger to MT at the last minute, and so things got a bit harried. I'm still not completely satisfied with the layout, but for eleventh hour, it'll do. If I have time I may be switching things around here and there.
You'll notice the current archives are in the sidebar, and the old Blogger archives in the link up top there. That will be rectified eventually.
Posted by jennie at 11:32 PM