recycle — Page 4

Earth Day – I Want to be Recycled Campaign

April 22, 2015 By Anne

Earth Day is Today, April 22. 2015. We are a family that recycles. But I know we can do more. One area we lack in recycling is the bathroom. You know how many toilet paper rolls we go through? Now I will take a shampoo bottle out to the kitchen but I’d love to add a separate recycling bin in our bathroom.

Check out the information below to see how you can make a bigger impact!

According to a recent study conducted for the Ad Council, 52% of Americans don’t know which items can be recycled in the bathroom. And only 10% of Americans have a recycling bin in their bathroom, compared to the 45% who have them in the kitchen.

Personal care products like shampoo and lotion bottles, toilet paper rolls, and toothpaste and soap boxes are significantly less likely to be recycled than kitchen products. New research commissioned by the Ad Council found that 47% of people are not recycling materials in the bathroom.
That’s why the “I Want To Be Recycled” campaign has partnered with Vevo’s Do It YourSelfie with Tess & Eva, who recreate the looks from today’s hottest music videos. These two glam experts, known for their DIY hair, makeup and design tips, created a new PSA this Earth Day reminding Americans that those bathroom products deserve to be recycled too!

Whether it’s hairspray, leave-in conditioner or dry shampoo, many of your favorite beauty products and packaging can take on another life through recycling. For example, your shampoo bottle could be recycled into a hairbrush, or you might find a great new dress made from the recycled plastic of your favorite bottle of lotion. Click here to learn more about what your personal care products can become when properly recycled.

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

Reusing Your Trash

September 12, 2014 By Anne

Here are some ideas on how to reuse your trash:

Turn old cards into postcards or gift tags. I bought a stencil kit years ago from Currant and I trace shapes onto the cards, then cut them out. I then punch holes into them and string them into the packages. I mostly use them at Christmas.

I just starting doing this this weekend. I took an old baby wipe container and put my plastic shopping bags in it. Make sure to fold them neatly so they pop out like wipes normally would when you remove them. ( I try not to have the plastic, but sometimes I forget my totes.)

Yogurt and cream cheese containers are excellent for making sandcastles or playing in the water. Savannah loves to pour water from one container to the next.

Aluminum cans can be used as noise makers for kids bikes. My son takes a can and runs over it with his bike. The can stays on the wheel and makes a motorcycle noise. He loves doing this!

Glass jars can be used to organize screws, nails, picture hangers. We have several baby food jars in the garage holding nails and screws. My mom used to to give us baby food jars to catch lightening bugs up north.

Use carpet remnants as doormats. A year ago, we had new carpet put in on our porch. We used a piece under the grill to catch spills. When we got new carpet in the house I put an extra piece under the shoe basket to keep the tile a little more clean.

These are just a few I could think of. Does anyone have other ideas? I love reducing our trash!

Anne

How to save 67 lbs of trash a year?

August 4, 2014 By Anne

Q: How to save 67 lbs of trash a year?

A: Send you child to school with a reusable lunch kit!

•A child generates about 67 lbs of lunchtime trash/school year
•By using a reusable lunch sack and other storage items, a parent can save over $200/year not only in disposable bags but also by purchasing larger quantities of food and only packing what your child will eat
•Packaging accounts for nearly 1/3 of all household waste

Unfortunately my 13 year old son will no longer take a lunch box to school. I guess it’s not cool? He will only take a brown bag, I don’t want to him to uncool, but those bags and baggies add up!

Does your son or daughter refuse to take a lunch box to school? At what age did that start?

Anne

Oh BaBee! Originals – Personalized Decor

July 7, 2014 By Anne

I would like to introduce my dear friend Libby Blumberg. Libby is the proud owner and designer over at Oh BaBee! Originals where she creates “baby shower and nursery decor for your little honey” She specializes in personalized and customized baby shower banners and nursery and décor.

Libby has created some adorable items for friends and family and also sells items online through her Etsy Shop. Also see her amazing work on her Facebook page or her online website.

Libby has also been know to make other non baby décor such as: wreaths, embellished frames and journals and greeting cards. I happen to be the recipient of journal that is beautiful and I purchased a Valentine’s Day card for my daughter this past year. Everything is personalized and customized. Most materials are recycled.

One Mommy Has to Work reader will win an 8×10 personalized and customized wall hanging, similar to pictured below. Valued at $30.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Anne

DIY Crayon Hearts and Valentine’s Day Cards Craft for Kids

February 6, 2014 By Anne

I was talking to my physical therapist two weeks ago and we were talking about crafts and kids. She told me o a craft she has done twice with her daughter for Valentine’s Day. I decided to try it out and am so happy I did!

Basically you will need:

Crayons – Sharpie – Cardstock – Heart shaped silicone mold ( I found mine at Joanne’s) – Glue Dots ( I got Elmer’s medium thickness.)

Everyone has broken crayons laying around. Okay maybe not everyone. But if you have kids you most likely do. This is a great way to recycle and reuse those crayons. Just peel the paper and break into small pieces. After I did mine I read that if you soak the crayons in water the paper comes off easier. My nails wish I would have know that before…At least my daughter helped me!

I did end up cutting some of the crayons with a knife. We tried to get a red and pink crayon in each heart. Then make sure to read the directions on your silicon mold. I put my mold on a cookie sheet and baked 15-20 minutes at 250. Let cool on rack or place in the freezer to cool. Then the hearts just pop out of the mold.

Then take the cardstock and cut into squares. Write whatever saying you like. We choose “You make my world colorful” But you can also use, “You color my world” or “Happy Valentine’s Day”. Then place a glue dot in the center and place the heart on top!

It’s that easy! I will use this again and again. It was fun and my daughter is so excited to give these to her classmates. I’m thinking I might make some for a craft fair…

What Valentine’s Day Craft are you working on?