Handmade Harry Potter house

My cousin built this AMAZING Harry Potter house in 8 months from scratch, 80% of it from recycled and repurposed materials–Pringles containers, cardboard boxes, tissue paper, packing materials, small plastic tips off nasal spray. Many of these items he found in his own recycling bin, some out on the curb that folks had put out with the trash.

 

Free teaching tool

By signing up on line and participating in the Recyclebank program that Jamie told me about (thank you Jamie), we get points for recycling every week. By answering surveys on line to learn more about recycling, I can accumulate even more points. The points can be used for various things—to buy items from a refurbished and green-ish store, a magazine subscription, every once in a blue moon a coupon for 10% off groceries at the grocery store, Publix, and lately to park at the beach for $1 all day, just to name a few.

I hadn’t received a magazine subscription in forever. In my opinion, it was something else to read, get rid of and just more waste.

But wait…

After I look through it, I can leave it at the V.A. Hospital for someone else to look through, recycle it, or use it as a teaching tool by cutting the pictures out which I find relaxing.

 

Reusing what you have

Though we planted too early this year in the hot southern sun and everything flowered and bloomed and bloomed and flowered and never produced any food, we did learn a lesson.

Packaging surprise

I received a gift in this little package and found it to be just about perfect.

I’ll reuse it over composting it.

Reuse, reuse, reuse

As a passenger in the car, I noticed I was driving behind something that made a lot of sense.

Though I’m not promoting Coca-cola in any way, shape or form because it’s horrible for you, it does make sense to reuse the bottles and recycle the cans.

If every company took on this attitude, we’d be a very different society. So, kudos to Coca-cola as a company for reusing, at least.

What company has surprised you lately?

Can’t recycle it? Terracycle it.

Terracycle is yet another resource to help with zero waste for the days when… well, we’re just not so perfect and give in to the chip bag. I know I’ve written about it before, but I tell ya, even through all this moving, it’s one thing I’ve kept up with.

(My dad even keeps all his non-recyclable trash for me and I send his in with mine. Thanks daddy!)

Sorting party in living room.

Sustainable, handmade toy gift ideas

I found these ideas at the in-laws this summer.
And a big shout out to the both of them for the four extra hands when we moved in. Cannot thank you enough! We appreciate you both and all your help!

Take a peek at these homemade toys!

What can I do with this?

These reusable bags aren’t as sturdy as the canvas bags. They are great…..until they tear. 😦

So what are my options? Any ideas?

Homemade bird feeder from license plate

Did I show you these?
When we moved in, the previous owner had left them in the back yard.
What a creative idea!

Reusing gift wrap

My in-laws gave us beautifully wrapped baby gifts when they showed up for the arrival of their first grand baby.  Curly, pink ribbon swayed and bounced off the packages.

Guess what I did with that ribbon?