Reuse what you have: wax paper

Just thought I'd share this tip that was in our local newspaper the other day. This tip is good for people who eat cereal and use wax paper.

Save empty cereal bags and use them instead of buying a new roll of wax paper. This is only good for things that don't require the wax paper to be baked or heated up in any way.

I used it for drying no-bake cookies the other day and it worked great.

It pleases my green self and my frugal self all at the same time.

Reuse what you have: (or give it away) Freecycle

Have you heard of Freecycle? The idea is this:

It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer (them's good people). Membership is free.

I have been receiving the Eugene/Springfield freecycle group emails for months now, and have never been all that interested in what people had to offer. Which isn't to say it isn't fine stuff--just not anything I found myself needing. But the beauty of freecycle is that it quickly and easily matches up people who might be needing that exact thing with those who just want to be rid of it.

Just last week, there were three postings for things that I couldn't pass up--and I ended up getting two of them (like craigslist, sometimes someone else beats you to responding). The process went so smoothly--a couple of pleasant emails exchanged, addresses shared, and items put on porches for me to come and pick up at my convenience. And at the end of it all, I ended up with one bottle and one box of laundry detergent and an open but unused package of gdiapers inserts. How awesome is that?

A couple of disclaimers:

• You may want to sign up with an email that you check but don't use all the time, as there are many emails sent daily. But if you're really interested in something, you have to respond quickly, as stuff gets snatched up pretty fast.
• You may wonder what is the difference between freecycle and the free listings on craigslist. There isn't much difference, other than these get emailed directly to you, instead of you having to go and check craigslist daily for new listings. Also, people can put up an ad for something they need, to see if someone else on the list wants to get rid of that but didn't know it.

Reuse what you have: Super Foamers

Since I'm sure you don't all have the same blogs on your google reader as I have on mine, I thought I'd pass along a fun idea found on a blog that I read frequently. (Most ideas that circulate around blogland are recycled ideas anyway, which is half of the fun! It would be interesting to trace back an idea to its original source).

This is a super fun activity for kids, and perfect for summertime or bathtime.

Super Foamers

• used water/juice bottles (any skinny bottle with a smallish opening will work)
• bottle of bubbles
• old washcloth or towel
• rubberbands
  

1) Cut off the bottom of your bottle

2) Wrap a piece of washcloth or towel around the bottom and secure with a rubber band (I cut an old baby washcloth in half and folded each piece in half again--it was a great size)
3) Dip the washcloth in water first, then in a plate of bubbles

4) Blow! You will be amazed at the super foam that comes out the bottom.


My boys loved making Santa Claus beards with the bubbles. We plan to bring these back out during bathtime very soon.

Reuse what you have: water storage

With two little apple juice guzzlers in my house, you can imagine we end up with a lot of these:

So a few weeks ago after reading in the news about multiple natural disasters which affected the water supply in various parts of the U.S., I started to worry about my family's water storage. Because our house isn't very large, I've been using that as an excuse to not store water, always telling myself I would do it later when we had some extra room. Also, I never wanted to go out and buy bottles of water and have to haul them all home. (cheap AND lazy)

The very next day I found myself chucking one of those empty gallon apple juice jugs in the recycle bin, thinking to myself, "those containers are made of sturdier plastic than most," and at that moment I had a lightbulb moment. These gallon jugs (of which I've recycled at least 25 in the last few years) would make perfect water storage containers!

And so, as I've said before, recycling is great, but reusing is better. Store some water in your reused juice bottles and find peace of mind knowing you'll be prepared if there is ever a water shortage. Yes, your water will all have a hint of apple juice flavor, but in an emergency, you probably won't mind.

***Here is a very helpful website all about water storage. They say: "Every home should have a supply of water stored for at least three days of emergency use. Store one gallon per person per day, and one quart per small pet"

Reuse what you have: How to make your own foaming hand soap

The other day my friend, Megan, was over and she saw that the foaming soap dispenser in my bathroom was almost empty.

Side note: I love foaming soap. I like how it washes off your hands quicker and easier, and won't ever go back to the liquid soap. That's just my opinion.

So back to the story. Megan says to me, "you know the secret about foaming soap, right?" I was thinking, "yeah, that it's awesome?" But I shook my head. And she says, "You can make your own. It's cheap and so easy." (Am I the only one who didn't know about this?)

As long as you already have the foaming soap dispenser bottle, you can make your own! It is a great way to reduce and reuse. Here's how you do it.

1. Buy yourself one small bottle of liquid hand soap (the thick stuff)
2. Fill your foaming soap bottle 1/4 with the hand soap
3. Fill the rest of the way with water
4. Shake it up.

This really does work. I'll be able to fill up that foaming soap bottle 2 more times with that 99 cent bottle of liquid hand soap. Thanks for sharing the "secret", Megan.