Everyone is wonderfully busy here this week and I’ve been given the opportunity to assist with an extra post or two. While I love writing about all things marketing, I’m taking a break from the usual and offering up some enlightening suggestions to help you do your part in reducing waste and reusing when possible.
I’m a huge fan of the periodical Real Simple and my most favorite part is the New Uses for Old Things feature monthly. I admit, some of the tips they offer up are downright silly, but others are nothing short of ingenious. I’ve pulled some of what I consider to be the most interesting, realistic and user friendly suggestions and present them to you here!
Coasters as gift tags: I rather enjoy wrapping gifts and love to present a very pretty present when possible. In addition to using vintage ribbon, coasters from, say, breweries can be beautiful to add a little punch to the package.
Real Simple Says: Pick up interesting cardboard coasters at restaurants and bars you visit along your travels. Punch a hole near the edge, thread some ribbon through, and voilà: homemade gift tag.
Empty Tissue Box: I constantly struggle with plastic grocery store bags (or Target, Walgreens, Dollar Tree….) getting way out of hand in my laundry closet. No more.
Real Simple Says: Forget unruly plastic bags that seemingly regenerate under your sink. An empty tissue box keeps them neatly corralled and ready for use.
Aluminum Foil: I don’t do a lot of painting, but part of the reason I don’t is because I’m not an especially neat painter. Maybe there’s a Zoomer that paints often who could let me know if this is a great idea or not so much…. (Robin)?
Real Simple Says: No more oops! moments when painting, if you cover doorknobs and hardware with aluminum foil.
Mouse Pad: I am a huge fan of cooking and I always seem to find myself looking for somewhere to put hot plates, hot dishes and hot pans once I’ve pulled them out of the oven. This seems like it would be a great idea, if the mouse pad was pretty, of course.
Real Simple Says: Save a countertop with an old mouse pad turned trivet. (Make sure it has a nonplastic coating.)
Paint Swatches: I adore this idea (if it fits with the look and feel of the evening). It’s simple, casual, and adds a creative twist to the next dinner party for young and old alike.
Real Simple Says: A paint chip strip makes a dandy place card: Cut off a length of two colors, then fold.
Additional Ideas:
• Emergency situations that call for an clothing iron can be quickly remedied with a hair straightener.
• If you detest changing the water in fresh flower bouquets because it disrupts the bouquet, use a turkey baster to
remove water from inside the vase and refill under the tap.
• Use a toothbrush (an old one, of course) to help remove silky strands leftover on the cob after shucking the corn,
prior to cooking.
Tags: no waste, real simple, recycle, reuse
