Earlier this month my son turned 4 years old. This is the first year that I thought he would really remember what happened at a birthday/event, and since it was the first time in awhile both sides’ grandparents were going to be able to visit, I wanted to do something a little extra special. For…
My neighborhood collects plastic eggs to reuse each year. Each year we hold a neighborhood egg hunt. See if there is a neighborhood organization, church group or craft organization that would be interested near you. Submit eggs closed to help the volunteers. Recycle broken plastic eggs in your curbside recycling if your provider will allow,…
It snowed and iced a lot here in Texas last week. We were not prepared clothing-wise. Austin doesn’t get real snow, mostly ice when it does get cold enough, and our family does not participate in any winter sports. Because kids’ feet grow so fast and it also doesn’t rain that much here, we also…
Most people have lots of paper bags and other grocery bags right now. Many of us are doing curbside pickup and delivery for daily essentials. You may think you have run out of options to donate and reuse, and are trying not to recycle all of the rest. One of my neighbor’s recently shared about…
This is a repost of my January 2021 article in the Mueller neighborhood newsletter, The Front Porch Flyer. In the world of zero waste, one of the big books is Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale by Adam Minter. The book does a great job of balancing what’s going on in the world…
Cooking Oil and Grease can be cleaned and reused sometimes. You’ll need to check with your local utility or search for local businesses and options that may collect and recycle the oil. If you live in Austin, you can drop used cooking oil and grease off at the Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center at the…
Austin Wildlife Rescue can use your old jeans! Reuse before Recycle in the hierarchy of the Rs. Contact Austin Wildlife Rescue to coordinate dropping off your old jeans for hammocks and burrows for the wildlife they are rehabilitating. They tie the legs closed to make safe and fun spaces for racoons. 5401 E. MLK Jr.…
Update: This printer has been claimed. // Give: My 6 year old Epson Workforce 545 printer/scanner has recently started printing very blurry copies. The scanner still works perfectly. Before I turn this machine in for recycling, I am checking to see if anyone has any interest in having it – maybe someone out there knows…
As it was 106 today in Austin, Texas, I pulled out the ice cube tray! Not for my drinks mind you, but for my son to play with! I got this idea from Thinkery, the children’s museum here in Austin, Texas. The Thinkery, as part of their toddler program Bloomers, froze small plastic animals in…
I purchased this product myself and my review is my own experience. Reusable cotton swabs. For years I lamented the fact there was not a reusable cotton swab. I went through so many! Not enough to design and patent one obviously but there was woe. One of the hot green items of the spring was…