Leftover shredded wheat cereal

I noticed about a half cup of remnants at the bottom of my shredded wheats cereal jar. The question, as always, around here is: Trash, recycle, or compost. Well compost is good for most food except meat, dairy and grains.  And I'd hate to trash them. Recycling isn't an option, unless you consider adding them to a recipe!

So I found a recipe! Here's what it started as: 

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/post-banana-raisin-wheat-muffins

I modified it with mini chocolate chips (no raisins in the pantry at present). They turned out great and I got the kids to eat bananas too! 

Would you have another use for the remainder of the shredded wheat remnants?  If you do, please share it!

Donate your old eyeglasses

I found out that several locations near me collect used eye glasses for www.onesight.org. Target optical, Sears optical, Pearle Vision and Lens Crafters all participate!  I had several pairs here that went to this donation and I'm happy to know they will be distributed to patients around the world who desperately need them.

Do you have any old prescription glasses who could help someone? Let me hear about your donation if you make one!

Garden pest solution

I went to the garden center for a snail and slug deterrent. These pests are doing a number on my garden. 

I found two choices safe for organic gardening, children and pets.

Which one did I buy? I examined the packaging.  Plastic jug vs. foil-lined bag. I instantly assumed the plastic was recyclable while the other was not.  However, when examining the package it stated: offer for recycling if available! Plus it was half the price! Awesome!  

Time to look into the recyclability of foil-lined packaging!

Do you have a packaging hierarchy when you shop?

Farmers Market Fridays

Fridays are my farmer's market day. I skipped this week because I loaded up last week. I saw the egg guy and he pleasantly placed a dozen of his local free range eggs into my empty paper carton. I still have yet to store his name to my memory, but I'm sure he and I will become familiar over time. He's my only source for local eggs without packaging. Perhaps next time i'll buy one of his cartons and be able to exchange the container instead of transfer the eggs? In a pinch, I'd get eggs at a store in a paper carton rather than styrofoam, because I can easily compost it!  

When I go to the farmers market, I come with my tote, my containers for blue berries or raspberries, and produce bags for loose fruits, vegetables.  It's been taking a while to figure out how to eliminate plastic, particularly when buying berries.  Rarely are they packaged in paper cartons.  In which case, I would place in a reusable produce bag.  So far, vendors have been happy to refill my containers.  

My trip is very efficient and productive because I don't get derailed at booths with pre-packaged goods at high prices. Before I go, I know whether I need eggs, berries, fruits for juicing or fresh vegetables.  

Do you regularly visit your local farmer's market?

Medical waste

No, it's not what you're thinking... 

I went to my usual pharmacy today to pick up two prescriptions, one old, one new. My goal today was to bring in my old prescription bottle to be refilled and figure out how to eliminate packaging for new prescriptions for next time. I had spoken with the pharmacy staff in advance about stopping automatic refills so I could do this and they were willing to accommodate my request.  

I wasn't surprised to find the new prescription packaged in a bag which had papers (detailing information about the medicine) stapled to it. The total packaging then included a plastic bottle, a cardboard box, a plastic container, a paper bag and papers stapled to it.  

Unfortunately, my old prescription had been prepared in the exact same way.  That defeated the purpose of bringing my old container in for a refill while I wait.  

I was pleasantly surprised, however, after kindly explaining my desire to reduce packaging and waste, that the clerk offered to take the paper bags back and REUSE them!  There is hope that others will take the opportunity to meet us half way.  It was a great opportunity to get someone thinking of solutions to our waste problem!

Would you consider reusing your medication bottles for routine medications? 

Garden harvest

Not bad for a first try, but its home grown and I'm all for that!

Thrift store finds (keep it out of the landfill)

Deep sea adventure toy, crayola coloring book, a banana republic purse, leather shoes, a recycling bin, and a package of cloth handkerchiefs.  Grand total: $15.01

 

Why not stop into the store next time you have a donation?

Chasing arrows

I am trying to avoid using disposables, especially plastics. They're just not good for the environment, often end up in landfills for years on end rather than being recycled, and have potential health consequences. 

Yet plastics can be hard to avoid. im becoming conscious of the plastics I buy and am learning more about what can and can't be recycled.  Ever notice the chasing arrows triangle on plastics? Our local waste management company accepts all with symbols 1-7.  At the very least, if I cant avoid buying these, I can make sure these go in the recycle bin, not the trash.

Do you examine your plastic containers for recyclable chasing arrows?

Haste makes waste

So this is the one thing that takes a little planning to get used to.  We live in a society where everyone is rushed, has so much to do and so little time to do it in. I'm having to structure myself in some ways to reduce waste. For example, I need to give myself enough time to gather the basics I'll need for my day. I got a purse that can hold everything but the kitchen sink, including many of my purchases. If I go out for the day, I bring my reusable glass water bottle and microwaveable reusable coffee cup. I always keep my bamboo silverware/chopsticks set in my purse (which came in handy at the Korean BBQ last night).  This way, I no longer use styrofoam cups, plastic ware, or even disposable chopsticks.  We have reusable snack bags for packed lunches instead of disposable zip-top bags.  One of these days I will add a metal straw to my set to eliminate my use of plastic straws.  When I go to get ice cream I get it in a cone (no cup or spoon to waste or recycle, just sometimes a paper wrapper that I take home to my composter).  Finally, if I need a snack, I grab the loose fruit from the cafeteria, it's about the only thing without packaging and its healthy!  Plan ahead, don't let haste make waste!

It's catching on!

I have to say, I'm pretty proud of my husband for what he did the other day. A gesture in the right direction! He had just picked up a few things from the hardware store that had price tags attached with plastic zip ties. Just as I was contemplating whether they were recyclable (looking for the triangle of arrows) or trash, he asked me to grab a zip tie from our garage. He wanted it to hold the outlet covers closed outside so our toddler would stop opening them. I excitedly retrieved the ties from the trash and handed them to him! He didn't even question it! Success!

Gifting from what already exists

So it's teacher appreciation week and we decided to bring flower arrangements from our garden to the teachers. And I found a cardboard box and packing paper from a recent delivery to transport them! My gracious neighbor gave me some unwanted shoe boxes for a school project! Went through the play room for toys to donate to the school. Decided to donate perfume samples, hand sanitizer and airline travel hygiene kits to the homeless.  And I benefit from reduced clutter. A win, win!

The beginning

So, why did I start this lifestyle, you ask?  I found myelf with the same daily challenges: clutter, time constraints, and cost-consciousness.  I wondered what to do with the disposable batteries we had accumulated and vowed to find out the right way to dispose of them.  I ended up at www.earth911.org and found a drop off site.  Between the accumulation of dead batteries and the hassle of disposal, I eventually I decided to go "rechargeable!" 
Continuing on my search to find out how to dispose of old unused and unwanted medications in my home, I decided to systematically unclutter my home and get rid of everything unneccesary.  Frankly, I decided, "I have too much stuff."  And this is where my Back to Basics lifestyle in OC began. 
Gone are my days of excess.  I want to spend less time rearranging the overabundance of things I own.  I don't want an organizer for my plastic bags, I want to eliminate them from my home.  I want to spend more time doing the things that I love to do.  I want healthy habits.  I want to my food to be natural, not packaged, whenever possible.  I want to touch the produce I buy, not the plastic it is packaged in.  I want my family to eat healthy.  I want to do what's good for the earth.  I want to garden.  I want to live a sustainable lifestyle and reduce how much waste I create.