Green Penny Pincher

I’m going to try to do a post every day this week in honor of Earth Day.  I’ll be out of town on Sunday (Earth Day) but I will be celebrating with good friends and family and honoring the Earth.  Does anyone have any plans for Earth Day or the weekend in general?  There are SO many things going on, from environmental cleanup programs to wellness festivals to free workshops at places like Home Depot.  Whatever you have planned – even if you have to work – try to take a minute or two to get outside, grab a few rays of sunshine, and give yourself a moment of peace and gratitude for this beautiful planet.  

Korean artist Ji Yong Ho creates amazing works of art from recycled tires.  I don’t know what I can say to top the statements these sculptures make on their own.  I am absolutely astounded.  His works range in size from less than 1 foot long to 10 feet!

Lion from Yong Ho Ji

Horse by Yong Ho Ji

Check out all his amazing sculptures at his website.

Do you know (of) any other artists who work with recycled rubber, or with any other recycled products?  Please let me know in the comments!

I’m a big fan of Reuseit.com – they have a great selection of products and great customer service.  Obviously as a penny-pincher I try to DIY and  ”make it do or do without” whenever I can, but even I, crafty goddess, can not DIY everything needed for a greener life.

In honor of Earth Day on April 22, Reuseit.com is offering a great sale all week long: load $50 of great products in your cart their and they’ll knock off $10 with code SAFE10APR!

Here are a few great product suggestions from Reuseit.com that I have yet to figure out how to really DIY…

BioBag™ – Dog Waste Bags (50 ct.) Price: 5.95 100% compostable / 100% biodegradable (ASTM D6400-99 certifi…Read More	BioBag™ – 3 Gallon Food Waste / Compost Bag (25 ct.) Price: 4.95 100% compostable / 100% biodegradable (ASTM D6400-99 certifi…Read More	Guyot Designs TapGuard Water Filter Price: 14.95 Replaces hundreds of disposable water bottles a year- saving money…Read More
Nalgene 12 oz Kids MiniGrip Bottle with ATB Cap, Blue Price: 7.45 Virtually indestructible – ideal for kids Fits in most kids lunc…Read More	Kids Konserve Stainless Steel Food Container, Nesting Set of 3, Sky Price: 24.95 Food-grade stainless steel container & BPA-free LDPE lid Perfect…Read More	eneloop Battery Charger and Rechargeable Batteries, 4-slot with 4 AA Price: 22.95 One eneloop can be charged up to 1,500 times (about 15 years of use…Read More
humangear GoToob Reusable Container, Medium, Clear Price: 7.95 Made of soft-yet-rugged silicone No-drip valve keeps cap cl…Read More	Multi-purpose Reusable Rubber Zip Tie, Pack of 25, by Q-Knot Price: 7.45 Replaces disposable zip and twist ties Durable, long-lasting des…Read More	Nalgene 32 oz Narrow Mouth Reusable Bottle, Tritan, Blue Price: 8.95 Durable, safe, non-leaching Read More	reuseit Biodegradable Garbage Bags made from 100% recycled plastic, 13 gallon Price: 6.95 100% biodegradable garbage bags Made of 100% recycled plasticRead More
Vacu Vin Wine Saver Set, Pump and 2 Stoppers Price: 11.25 Eliminates waste – keeps opened wine fresh for 7 to 10 days Ea…Read More	Vapur 0.5L Foldable Water Bottle, Blue Price: 9.95 Flattens and rolls up when empty for maximum, compact portabilityRead More	Orka by Mastrad Popsicle Molds, Set of 4 Price: 9.25 Set of 4 molds – designed to make homemade ice pops Small servin…Read More

Don’t forget to use code SAFE10APR for $10 off your $50 purchase!

Today is America Recycles Day – do you recycle?  Take the pledge!

Place an order at reuseit.com between now and August 31 and receive a FREE NALGENE BOTTLE with your order!*

• recyclable
• dent-proof
• durable, safe, non-leaching HDPE plastic
• BPA-free
• leak-proof cap
• dishwasher-safe
• made in the USA

While you’re there, pick up some other lunch re-usables and ditch the disposable plastic bags!

Mimi the Sardine Organic Cotton Lunch Bag / Backpack, Large, Flora Pink – $38.95 from: reuseit.com	Dabbawalla Lunch Bag, Free Range – $29.95 from: reuseit.com
LunchBots Stainless Steel Food Container, Duo – $16.15 from: reuseit.com	To-Go Ware RePEaT Bamboo Utensil Set with Recycled PET Carrycase, Merlot Cover – $12.95 from: reuseit.com
reuseit Workhorse, Ultra-Compact Silicone Shopping Set of 4, Assorted Colors with Melon pouch from: reuseit.com	snackTAXI Sandwich Bag, Disco Dots – $8.95 from: reuseit.com

Learn More About the ReUseIt.com line of products

* Details:

• Enter FREEH2O at check out
• Free bottle will be added to cart & the price deducted from your total automatically
• Cannot be combined with other coupon codes
• While supplies last, reuseit reserves the right to substitute with a comparable item of equal value.

You know what really bothers me?  When a company tries to “improve” their packaging by switching TO plastic.  Remember how graham crackers used to come in the waxed paper packaging inside the box?  Well, now they come in plastic packaging inside the box.  And it’s not like this plastic sleeve is resealable, oh no, it’s just like the waxed paper, only it will last forever and ever.  Saw this recently with my box of cereal as well.

I’ve already voiced my opinion here on the utterly, ridiculously irresponsible egg cartons (and it’s not just styrofoam vs. cardboard – some of the most expensive, healthy eggs at the market come in a 3-part plastic container!)

Every time I buy a can of coffee, the packaging is more plastic-y and more excessive.  Remember when you used to be able to pull the outer sleeve with the label off the metal can?  Now they are melded on… if there is any metal to the can at all; many times it is made completely of plastic now.  I have to search sometimes to find cat litter that does NOT come in a convenient plastic bucket, because we go through a lot of litter and I have plenty of buckets, thanks.

Even things like produce show up in the market on styrofoam trays, wrapped in plastic shrink wrap.  They grow IN THE DIRT.  We are going to wash them before we eat them.  What are we so afraid of?

I’m going to start publicly calling out companies who “improve” their packaging like this, as well as write to them (because inside of me, there is an old lady who wants to do nothing but write angry letters.)  Have you come across this?