Preserve Toothbrush

I'm not sure if we've posted this before, but I was so excited about this purchase so I had to write about it! I just bought two Preserve Toothbrushes at Greenlife. If you haven't heard of them before, these toothbrushes are 100% made from recycled #5 plastics. One hundred percent! Exciting and awesome, no? Yes! Check them out, they really don't cost any more than regular name brand toothbrushes.

~Am~

Recycle your water filters

I was installing a Brita filter in our water filter the other day (it was waaay overdue, but those things can be so expensive!) and the beau asked what to with the old one. I said, I guess just throw it away. But he had a brilliant idea that showed my prowess has been rubbing off on him: why not recycle it?

So I did a little research and found this. So there are locations you can drop them off it to recycle, mostly the drop-off centers are located in Whole Foods stores. And there are none near me and if there are none near you, then this is what you can do: mail it off to a recycle center! So that's what I'm going to do, it'll probably cost me about a dollar or so to mail, but I think it's way worth it so it can be properly recycled! Don't you?

~Am~

10 things...

...you can do right now to help the environment:

(From here.)

1. Drink water instead of soft drinks.
2. Drink filtered tap water instead of drinking from water bottles.
3. Use a BPA-free container or glass container to carry your water.
4. Use your bike instead of your car to run errands.
5. Recycle your plastics, paper, cardboard and aluminum.
6. Print documents on both sides of paper.
7. Use old blank pieces of paper to take notes and write messages.
8. Bring and use your own coffee mug at the coffee shop.
9. Avoid plastic bags: use tote or canvas bags when shopping.
10. Eat some locally-grown organic vegetables instead of the ones from the grocery store.

~Am~

My little projects

I've had lots of time my hands lately. I've been unemployed for a while now. And while the I've been looking for well over four months now, it's in the last two months that the job hunt has become particularly hard and fatiguing, but that's a whole other post to be written. Since I've had beaucoups of time to play around with (I also usually get up at 6:30 in the morning 5 days of the week - because of my student teacher bf), I've been dabbling in some arts and crafts projects.

(The address book I made.)

Last week, I felt super-house-wifey and repaired a pair of the bf's work pants. In a fury one night, I made a tiny journal for him (wallet-sized) so he could always be able to write down his thoughts and ideas. This little frenzy turned into a full out project the next day. I made an address book!

I plan on making me more. They make me excited about writing stuff down. Of course, I like writing on anything - really.

~Am~

Finding New Uses for Old Things

In my own home, I am always trying to find more ways to be more organized - to live in a way that's cute and stylish as well as easy and no-fuss. So that's why I get super-excited when I think of new ways to use things.

For instance, this week I decided to use some used glasses in my bathroom. I used a pretty grenadine bottle and a conveniently small (and quaint) Maille mustard bottle to hold razors. I already use various small plates and bowls to hold our shower products (our bathroom is very prone to mold - we basically live in a basement). This week I added a lid of a rice container (it's big, round and pretty purple color) to one of the plates to separate the soap from the shaving cream can. I used a tea bottle to put our toothbrushes in and to keep them off the often gross sink.

So the next time you're in search of a new item for your home (either for practical or purely aesthetic purposes) look around your recycling and see if anything in there suits your tastes!
~Am~

Pangea Organics

Omg. I love this place. Discovered just the other day at Nest Organics (I couldn't help taking some the free samples they had), Pangea Organics carries organic soap and body care products.

Pangea Organics, with the slogan "Ecocentral Bodycare," makes natural herbal-based skin care products. They use only the best and safest products and they make sure you know what they are using by listing all their ingredients on every product.

Another neat, earth-friendly thing they do is have all of their products packaged in boxes that are plantable. The boxes are made of 100% post-consumer paper and organic seeds, such as sweet basil and amaranth. All you have to do is peel off the label, soak the box in water for a minute or so, and then plant it. Next thing you know - you have basil and amaranth sprouting!

C'est super-cool! ;) Check them out!
~Am~

swishing

During a discussion with my eco-minded friend who lives in England, she shared with me a trend that is all the rage in the UK amongst those who are living a sustainable lifestyle - swishing.

Courtesy of swishing.org

Swishing is the ultimate in reducing, reusing and recycling. Essentially swishing is a gathering of girlfriends in an upbeat, party-like atmosphere with the purpose of clothes swapping. Attendees arrive with one good quality item of their clothing or an accessory they no longer want/wear and leave with a new item from the pool of items brought by their friends. It's a win-win! You end up with a new piece to add to your wardrobe, without having to spend anything, and you have managed to put your old clothes to good use!

The website swishing.org has great information on upcoming swishing events - unfortunately, it seems the parties listed are exclusive to the United Kingdom. I couldn't find swishing in the US but I did find a great resource here in the US that takes swishing even one step further! Swap O Rama by Wendy Tremayne organizes events throughout the US. (I was surprised to see that an event had taken place right here in Knoxville!) Not only does a swap o rama encourage an exchange of clothing, these events have sewing machines and DIY stations where you can revamp your newly acquired item. A fashion show concludes the event!

In 2009, I challenge Lu, Am, myself and all of our readers to host an event! The possibilities are endless - wedding themed swishes, children's clothing swishes, etc! It's easier than you think. Swishing.org gives details on how to host an event including an invitation template. You may contact Wendy Tremayne via email to solicit her expertise in hosting a Swap O Rama event.

If you have participated in an event like this or are planning on accepting our challenge, please let us hear from you! We'd love to post pictures!

Cheers, Kimberly

crafster, whoa!

Are you ever in need of some eco-friendly crafting inspiration? I just found this jaw-dropping, super-useful crafting website. It's called Craftster. And yes, my friends, you will become an addict, just like all of the members who currently visit its site.

(Handmade bows.)

They have a whole slew of projects and tutorials. They also have contests going on all the time. In addition, pictures accompany all the posts and ideas, which make the readings superb! Some of my favorite ideas I've seen are:

-Gift Bows
-Bookmarks
-Cards

Check it out! There are loads and loads of ideas waiting to be discovered!
~Am~

refab.

I was browsing the never-ending blog universe when I found a posting about a wonderful crafter who uses reclaimed fabrics and turns them into new projects. Connie Crawley of Refabulous makes many different cloth projects from these recycled pieces that she finds, usually from thrift stores. She makes pin cushions, tote bags, catnip bags and eco-friendly fabric softener bags - to name a few.

Looking over her goods, I thought it would be the perfect place for Lu to get some goods for her recent move into her new apartment. Or the perfect place for Kimberly to get some catnip bags for her cats. Or the perfect place for me to get some pin cushions and fabric softener bags! Really, it's just the perfect place for the domestically inclined!

Check her out. She has an etsy shop and a blog. Enjoy.
~Am~

reusing your holiday papers

What does one do when the holidays are over and you are swimming in a sea of wrapping paper, gift bags and cards? Throw them away? Gasp, no! You reuse them!

(Photo via the bluegirlxo.)

I found this fab article on Crafting a Green World about reusing your holiday refuse. One of my favorite ideas is using the old paper to incorporate in sewing projects. Since I received a spiffy sewing machine for Christmas, I'm really excited to give this a try!



Any other ideas from the peanut gallery? Please - share it!


~Am~

buying green paper products

While you can avoid the use of paper towels by creating your own cloth towels and rags, one thing you can't get around using is toilet paper.

There's just no way around it - you have to use toilet paper. So what kind of toilet paper should you use?

If you can afford it, go green and go recyclable. Here are some brands that sell non-bleached, post-consumer, and recycled toilet paper:

-Seventh Generation
-Whole Foods Markets' "365 Everyday Value"
-Green Forest


From the reviews I've read, the best value and bang for your buck is Seventh Generation's toilet paper. So give it a try! And if you can find any more post consumer toilet paper brands, let us know!
~Am~

Skateboard. Stool?

These are a wee bit pricey, but I just thought the idea was super creative. Recycled skateboards made into stools. genius
http://www.deckstool.com/

Hope everyone had a good weekend!
-Lu

The Freecycle Network

Thanks roomie!
My roommate Lisbeth told me about this wonderful website.

http://www.freecycle.org/

Their Mission= "To build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources & eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community."

and what a good one it is.

Gifting being the key word. Everything is free.
I mean this is like a free thrift store online! Oh, thrift stores...how we love thee.
So next time you're thinking of throwing away an apliance, clothing, cds, crafts, frames, books...you name the item (someone out there probably wants/needs it)....you're remodeling your house don't know what to do with the old furniture? Don't throw it away!


Chances are they have one in your community. I looked up several smaller towns in my region and they all had a freecycle network.
This nonprofit movement is genius so be sure to check it out and participate within your community!

-Lu

Oh, Etsy!

How about some reusing & reinventing-
So here is the item:Clothespin. Not only are these great for hanging your laundry to dry (previous post by Am), but you can use them to hang cuteness in your home. Cuteness, as in photos, post cards, fabrics....you name it.

Wanna have the coolest clothespin in your neighborhood? You know you do.
Paint them, collage the outside, add wallpaper on the edges....these little objects have the potential to look super cute. And this etsy user...well she knows! (StellaBean)-




These could make cute gifts don't you think?

-Lu

Whoa!

I say whoa! because look who is updating for a change ;) Lu here, sorry for the lack of posts on my part, I have been a busy and diligent little student preparing for an art show in October and taking 18hours of classes. But enough excuses...cause non of them should count.

I've come to write about these lovely notebooks...that not only are cute, creative, and unique...but Recycled! and oh so easy to make.

My sweet mother (Martha Stewart of France) has made me several of them, and I have used them for study notes, journals, and even sketch books.
All you need is...
Paper scraps...and we can find those everywhere...just look around a printer- discarded printer paper is perfect, just use the clean side! take your old notes from last semester, who needs to remember about that geography chapter on soil...(my mother has now turned this chapter into a cute recycled notebook)
Some staples ( if you want to sew yours with cute string...go for it! the quick way is staples.
One sheet of prettier paper for the cover. (you could use a collage, some of your old art, patterned paper, old calendar photos...be creative this will be your cover.)
and last of all some clear duct tape to reinforce the side.
and voila!

Photos and examples from our beloved Etsy. Don't feel like making your own, Subu's handmade recycled notebooks, journals, books, and notepads are awfully cute.
~Lu

old skool recycling tip

It's been a while since I've been "back to school". Lucie did a fabulous blog (scroll down) covering school supplies but I thought I would pass along a related tip.

When I attended JMU back in the mid-90s, I belong to a very progressive environmental club, EARTH. One of the targets of our "green our campus" campaign was to get the university to use 100% post consumer paper in all of its offices. Paper, as we all know, is consumed in mass quantities daily on college campuses all over the United States. Fortunately, technology has led many students to use laptops instead of notebooks. However, if you have the need for notebook paper, why not try this tip I used back in my college days - make your own notebooks!

I found that in my day to day life, I came across oodles of paper that was only printed or used on one side. Flyers for bands, pizza advertisements, old syllabi, and notices can find new life in a notebook. All you have to do is get a three hole binder, a hole punch, a voila! a colorful and environmentally responsible notebook! Or if you would like an even fancier version, learn how to bind your creation here. Place a collection box in your common room area of your dorm or in your class area and an endless supply of notebook paper will appear! It worked all those years ago - I was able to get through my college days without purchasing a single sheet of paper! I hope you find this "old skool" recycling tip useful!

~Cheers, Kimberly