Flip and Tumble April 10, 2008

  Today as I stepped up to the checkout line for about the 4th time this week, I realized that once again I had forgotten the reusable grocery bags I had purchased to cut down on the number of bags my family uses.     I try to be prepared…….I keep them in my car but for some reason I almost never remember to bring them into the store.  Flip and Tumble has created the perfect solution for people like me- a lightweight bag that can be rolled into a ball and thrown in your purse or pocket.  What a great solution for absentminded people!  You might forget your reusable bag when you go into a store but you are not going to get very far if you don’t have you purse!!!

These bags are constructed of lightweight nylon ripstop and are designed to hold loads up to 25 pounds.   (It is big enough to hold 3 large soda bottles but when you roll it up, it is as small as a peach……ingenious!)  The 24-7 bag sells for just $12 online and it is estimated that in its lifetime, each bag can save the use of over 1,000 plastic bags.  Eva Bauer and Hetal Jariwala, the creators of the 24-7 bag,   have thought of everything……  Once your bag is ready to be retired, just send it back to them and they will recycle it.  I love these bags!!  I placing my order for some today.

Ecoflamingo April 9, 2008

 This funky magnet by the talented Maine artist behind Ecoflamingo reminds us what this blog is all about.  What a great way to express your inner “Greenie” to the world!

The crafty creator of the products in Ecoflamingo feels strongly about using the materials she has on hand to create her one of a kind works of art.  She turns old magazines into hand-rolled beaded bracelets, weaves together old beer labels  to make bracelets and uses scraps of wrapping paper and scrapbooking materials to make new creations.  In her own words, “If I can turn around things in my home and invent or refresh what I have, I am doing my part for it staying out of the landfills/dump. I feel that by doing this I am doing my part in saving the environment.”   What an inspiring philosophy!!!

Next time you are looking for the perfect small gift for one of your green friends, don’t forget to take a look at her colorful unisex woven bracelets.  At only $12.99, they make an easy gift for yourself or someone else interested in doing their part to save the environment. 

Kat’s Krafts April 8, 2008

 Spring has sprung in the great Northwest and I am loving seeing all the tulips and daffodils that are sprouting up around the neighborhood!!  Everything seems a little better with the bright colors of spring all around.  However, I realize that not everyone is so lucky.  If you are in a part of the world that is still cloaked in the snow of winter, these  little embellishments from Katskrafts are the perfect pick-me-up for you.  These delicate paper flowers are made from recycled Harlequin Romance novels and have cute button centers.  They feature  pinched, double petals and inked edges. They are the  perfect addition to any card, gift, or scrapbook!  What could be more romantic than a bouquet of flowers made from the ultimate in romance, Harlequin?

This talented artist also offers custom made wooden signs, magnets and adorable lunch box letters to let that special someone know how much you care.  Visit her etsy shop to see all she has to offer.

Clean Sheets April 7, 2008

 I just pulled my clean sheets out of the dryer.  The smell so yummy!!!! I fianlly got to use my new lavender scented Anti-static laundry spray from The Windsong company.  I love how fresh and clean they smell…….. is there anything better than the smell of clean sheets?  It was so easy to use.  I just put a few spritzes of spray on each side of the cute little frog patterned pillow that came with the spray and then threw it into the dryer with my sheets and clothes.  Hello fresh smelling sheets, goodbye fabric softeners loaded with chemicals!!!

30% Off Mom’s Day Sale at Ananya Studio April 4, 2008

 As a child, my mom taught me the joy of the hunt for a good bargain.  She is the ultimate bargain hunter- frequently traveling from store to store to find the best deal on each item on her shopping list.  One of our favorite family stories is about mom’s free chicken.  When I was in high school, my mom found a coupon in a pack of chicken she bought that allowed her to get her next pack of chicken free.  She took the coupon and got another pack of chicken.  Of course, this chicken had a “Next Pack Free” coupon in it also.  You can imagine where I am going with this.  Suffice it to say that we soon had a freezer full of chicken.  All this free chicken sounds great!  However, what my mom did not know when she was making all these trips to the store is that the chicken was like rubber.  You absolutely could not chew through it!!  We would be sitting at the table, trying to chew the chicken and then discretely spitting it out in our napkins.  My mom was not one to give up on all this free chicken so for months she would pull one of these packs of chicken out of the freezer and try to disguise it in some sauce, stew or bar-b-que.  My sisters and I would gamely sit down to dinner only to start the whole chewing and spitting process again.  Eventually, she gave up but unfortunately for her, this family story has never died!!

In honor of all those bargain hunting moms out there, Ananya Studio is offering 30% off all of their beautiful sterling silver and semi precious stone fair trade jewelry through Mother’s Day.  At checkout, just enter mom in the coupon code box to receive your discount.  All jewelry will be shipped in a gift bag.

Today’s Creative Blog

Today’s post is taking a little different tactic.  Instead of featuring one specific artist, I wanted to talk about a fun, imaginative blog that helps me drool over all the possible creative outlets I would like to explore if I had a creative bone in my body.  Today’s Creative Blog is a blog that features everything creative-  from housewares, decor, jewelry and yes, even green artists.  The author is “a crafty, over protective mom who teaches fitness.”  She has a good eye for all things creative and a witty voice for relaying her stories. 

One of my favorite features was entitled A Year of Crockpotting and shares the adventures of a mom trying to use her crockpot for 365 days.  I love my crockpot so I was very happy to see this feature.  (I  know, crockpotting is sooooo 1950’s mom but with our crazy sports schedule it makes having a hot meal for the family a lot easier!)

Recently, while perusing this sight, I found a feature on Alexa Lott, an amazing artist who creates one of a kind pieces of art from items she recycles from the trash heap.   Look at this beautiful piece of art (pictured below) fashioned from estate sale finds.

So if you are feeling like you want to get your creative groove on but just need a little inspiration,  Today’s Creative Blog is a great place to see what other inventive types are doing!

Skookum April 3, 2008

 Usually, I love to cook.  There is nothing I like more than finding a new recipe and trying it out on family and friends.  For the most part, these experiments have gone well but every once and awhile they go horribly wrong (orange liquor chicken and pasta anyone?).   Recently, however, with the need to keep the house in tip top shape for the showings, I have kept most of my cooking very simple, with a minimum of pots and pans required.   Trader Joe’s heat and serve meals  have seen a lot of action in our house in the last few weeks.

Yesterday, while surfing through all the green and organic creations  on etsy,  I found these beautiful cutting boards made of recycled wood.  They made me nostalgic for the days of a kitchen filled with bubbling (more…)

Stonz April 2, 2008

  After spending a week in the sunshine and warmth of Austin, it was VERY difficult to come back to the snow and hail of Oregon.  Luckily today, the sun is shining, I just got off almost two hours on my bike and I caught a waft of lilac from the tree next to my front porch.  All these signs of Spring have activated my longing for the heat and grit of the beach.    Time spent strolling along the waves, feeling the sun on my back and searching for the treasures the waves have dragged in is time well spent.  These memories gave me an instant connection to the beautiful jewelry from Stonz on etsy. 

Stonz is the brain child of  a creative mother of twins  from Cleveland.  After attending art school, she worked for years as an illustrator for a large greeting card company and eventually opened her own graphic design business from her home.  However, the pull of (more…)