Did you know the ancient Roman's recycled glass? According to Discovery News large quantities of glass were recycled in Britain during the 3rd and 4th centuries A.D. Archeologist have found that the majority of the glass that came to Britain during that time period was made from recycled glass.
Of course, they did it because they didn't have the raw materials and not in an effort to go green.
It's an interesting article, I recommend reading it for more information.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
If you had brought over paper plates, I wouldn't have used them anyway
I used the above line several weeks ago when Husband's Brother and his wife and kid were in town. They came over one night after we got off work for dinner. My mother-in-law come over as well. We ordered pizza and when it arrived I got out my dishes. My mother-in-law, in trying to be helpful, said something like "oh, I'm sorry. I meant to bring some paper plates but forgot them." My response was "If you had brought over paper plates, I wouldn't have used them. But thanks for thinking of us." In fact, she says something along those lines whenever we have people over at our house for a meal or a celebration. I usually have the same response.
In fact, even if I wanted to use disposable plates she wouldn't have had to bring any, I have a cabinet with tons of unopened packages. I just refuse to use them if I don't need to. So why do I have them? I've bought them when they have been on sale, where I could get a good brand (ie..not the cheap stuff that will bend and drop your food on the floor within 10 seconds of you putting your food on the plate) for around $1. This is something that I always feel I need to have on hand in case we run out of regular dishes. We don't have a lot of dishes, it's just the two of us. However a couple times a year we have my family over for pool parties and since my sisters keep having babies, I'm quickly running out of dishes. I suppose I keep these as backup, just in case they are needed. I've stopped buying them though, once I realized that chances are I'll never use them and it's rather embarrassing to open up the cabinet and see how much I own.
Every time I'm tempted to use them, I don't. I just can't imagine using one and then throwing it away when there are perfectly good dishes in my cabinet that I could wash and use again.
In fact, we are having Christmas this year. I'm not sure I'll have enough dishes. I think I'll stop at a store and look for some cute, but inexpensive, plastic dishes that the kids could use. Then we aren't worried they will drop them or push them off the table, and I know I won't have to use disposable dishes.
In fact, even if I wanted to use disposable plates she wouldn't have had to bring any, I have a cabinet with tons of unopened packages. I just refuse to use them if I don't need to. So why do I have them? I've bought them when they have been on sale, where I could get a good brand (ie..not the cheap stuff that will bend and drop your food on the floor within 10 seconds of you putting your food on the plate) for around $1. This is something that I always feel I need to have on hand in case we run out of regular dishes. We don't have a lot of dishes, it's just the two of us. However a couple times a year we have my family over for pool parties and since my sisters keep having babies, I'm quickly running out of dishes. I suppose I keep these as backup, just in case they are needed. I've stopped buying them though, once I realized that chances are I'll never use them and it's rather embarrassing to open up the cabinet and see how much I own.
Every time I'm tempted to use them, I don't. I just can't imagine using one and then throwing it away when there are perfectly good dishes in my cabinet that I could wash and use again.
In fact, we are having Christmas this year. I'm not sure I'll have enough dishes. I think I'll stop at a store and look for some cute, but inexpensive, plastic dishes that the kids could use. Then we aren't worried they will drop them or push them off the table, and I know I won't have to use disposable dishes.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Change the World Wednesday - composting
Little ol' me actually suggested the topic for this week, which is on composting. I've been wanting to compost for awhile but just haven't (for various reasons, #1 being that I procrastinate). I've gone as far as to look online for compost bins, only to find that the ones that seem to work the best or that I seem to like the most are well over $100.
So then I went on a search to find out how to make my own. I don't really want to build one out of wood. I don't know why. Seriously I don't, I just know I don't want to. I'm also not sure where the best spot is to put it in our yard since there aren't any fences. That means it's either going to be out in the open calling attention to itself or near the house (and I read that's not the best option because of the bugs it attracts).
I found one post on a blog, and now I can't find it again. I hate when that happens. However I meant to save it because it show show to start one out of a rubber maid storage bin. Those are rather in-expensive, less than $10. I immediately wanted to do this, but what held me back was spending the money on a perfectly good bin only to drill holes in it and use it for compost. However I haven't been able to find any used ones since.
Today in an effort to finally come up with a game plan, I found this video on how to make a compost bin out of a garbage can. I love this idea because it's so much easier to roll a garbage can around instead of trying to mix stuff in a square rubber maid container. Again, the issue is that a new trash can costs more than a rubber maid container would. Now, several of our trash cans have huge holes in the bottom and I would like to replace them, and I wondered if one of these would work. However they have wheels on them and would not be sturdy. Dilemma's Dilemma's! Oh..I just looked on Craig's List and there was one trash can listed for $5. This would be the much better option since I would be re-using something that somebody is trying to get rid of. It would save me money and would save something from the landfill.
Upon doing even more checking on the internet, I found that some sites say you can start small, even with a plastic pail that is at least 24 inches tall. It makes me mad that last year I had the perfect pail, but I recycled it. We have an in-ground pool and had a big pail full of chlorine tablets. At the end of last summer last year we converted to a salt water pool and have no need for those chlorine tabs any longer so I have no hopes of getting another pail like t hat. grrrrrr I do know we have some pails around the house that we have used, but I don't think any have lids. I'm going to go on a search though. If I can find one and find a lid, then I'm all set! I think this would be perfect for me too because I can easily move it around the yard if needed. I can easily put it on it's side and roll it around to mix up the waste. It won't be a huge unsightly mess. If I mess up..the clean up won't be too bad. Plus, as I fill one pail and wait for it to be used as compost, I could easily start the process over again with another. Eureka! I could eventually have one that is currently being added to and compost is being made and one that has already turned to compost and is ready to use.
So there you have it! This post was going to be about how to start composting, with the idea of using a rubber maid container but quickly became a post regarding a couple different ways to make a compost bin, with my pluses and minuses about each one, until I finally find the one that works best for me. Now that I've decided on the pail option, I'm super excited to get started!
Duh..just thought of another one. Paint sometimes comes in big pails, gallon drums I believe,..and I think I recycled the ones the previous owners left us last year. Why oh why didn't I see the potential of it before I did that? I do think I'll be checking the garage and basement for possible items to use this weekend, or possibly tonight now that I'm excited about it.
I also think I'll email some relatives to see if they have a pail that would work, if I don't find one around my house. Another option would be to wait till spring and talk to my neighborhood home owners association. There is a subdivision pool and I bet it hasn't been converted to salt water yet. When it's time to renew the pool tabs I could ask to see if they have any of the pails and if I could have one or two.
I'm so excited! Who knew that composting would get me this excited? Don't tell my husband.
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Monday, December 6, 2010
Coupon Savings for November
I just realized I never created a post regarding my coupon savings and budget spending for November.
The good thing about November is that retailers are more likely to have coupons which helps with my holiday spending, er, savings.
My goal is to keep all the grocery (including dog food) and health/beauty spending under $350/month. This year I was able to keep that goal by only spending $271.57.
I ended up saving $214.58 by using coupons and an additional $93.03 in advertised savings (when known). This makes it a total of $307.61 saved for the month. I just love when the amount saved is more than the amount spent!
Only one more month for the year and it will be difficult to stay within the budget. Husband and I are hosting my family for Christmas this year, so I'll have a lot of food to buy.
Do any of you keep track of your spending? How did you do this past month?
The good thing about November is that retailers are more likely to have coupons which helps with my holiday spending, er, savings.
My goal is to keep all the grocery (including dog food) and health/beauty spending under $350/month. This year I was able to keep that goal by only spending $271.57.
I ended up saving $214.58 by using coupons and an additional $93.03 in advertised savings (when known). This makes it a total of $307.61 saved for the month. I just love when the amount saved is more than the amount spent!
Only one more month for the year and it will be difficult to stay within the budget. Husband and I are hosting my family for Christmas this year, so I'll have a lot of food to buy.
Do any of you keep track of your spending? How did you do this past month?
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Great River Road Run
This past weekend was the Great River Road Run. This is a 10 mile race held in Alton, Il every year. The last time I ran this race was in 1996. Yup..over 10 years ago. This is the first year I was able to work back up to running 10 miles.
Husband chose not to go with me. In his mind it was an hour drive, then over an hour of waiting in the cold, then an hour drive home. He's not a runner and doesn't like cold weather. I don't like cold weather either, if that makes a difference. So I drove myself. It didn't take me an hour, I drive faster than google maps estimates.
I did meet a co-worker at the race. While she normally does longer miles and has run 1/2 marathons and full marathons before, we didn't run the race together because we have different paces.
A couple of things. First...I thought for sure the elite athletes would be passing me when I was only at the 2 mile marker. haha! This race was 5 miles out and then 5 miles back. I'm happy to report that the first guy passed me well after the 2 mile marker, it was around 3.5. That's right, while I was only at 3.5 miles into the race, the first runners were at 6.5. Wow! The first girl passed me at the 4 mile marker. Impressive.
Second..these were real runners. It felt good to be running with them. When I run the shorter races, you do have a lot of runners but then you have a lot of people who are doing it for charity. Sometimes it feels a bit weird because I'm in my running clothes and they are in normal workout clothes. By running clothes, I mean tights. I either were short tights, capri tights, or long tights depending on the weather. While I feel comfortable in these clothes, when I'm surrounded by a lot of others and nobody else is wearing tights, well, it can be a bit uncomfortable. This race, everyone was either in tights or shorts (crazy!). I felt like I was around like individuals. I felt like I belonged. I felt like one of them. It felt really good.
I had high hopes going in to this race and was disappointed when I immediately had pain in my heel. I was so disappointed. It eased up a bit, but for the most part it hurt the majority of the race. I hit the wall at around mile 7. I think I was just so upset that my heel hurt and I had trained and looked forward tot his race. I didn't stop though. I kept at it and even surged at the end, not much because I was tired, but a bit.
I ran the 10 miles in 1hr and 26 min. According to the official race results I had an 8:37/mile pace. That's incredible! My co-worker was exactly 10 minutes behind me. Later that day when Husband and I were looking up the results online, we found that I came in 488 out of a tad over 1100 runners. I felt really happy about that. I finished in the top half! The Husband had me do a search for his co-worker (I didn't realize his co-worker was running it) and, well, his co-worker came in 50th! That's amazing!
What's up next? Well I did run on Tuesday and my heel is still hurting. I'm going to try another low mileage run this weekend to see how it feels. Oh, and tonight I have soccer, so I suppose the run this weekend will really depend on how it feels after tonight. Next week I have an apt with a sports medicine doctor to see why my knee has been hurting for a couple of months.
As far as my next race. I have signed up for the Castlewood Cup. This is a 15k (9.3 mile) trail run at the park by my house. This race is February 26th. The race is described like this:
The race will be a true test of trail running with a 15k course that includes uphills, downhills, switchbacks and even a creek crossing.
This race will truly be a test for me. While Husband says I should be able to do it no problems, I did just run 10 miles, I know it's not as easy as that. The race I did was mostly flat, I trained on flat trails. This upcoming race is a lot of hills. I run those hills, I can do short runs on those hills but no way I could go out this weekend and do 9 miles on them. I also hate cold weather. So to get me to actually go outside in the cold temperatures and run and do hills, that's going to be hard. I was telling Husband about this race and showing him pictures from the race this year, including the creek crossing which had high water. He said there was no way I would cross the creek or run in the cold weather. So I signed up to prove to him that I could do it. In fact, since I live only about 2 miles from the park, I'll start training on the trails within the next couple of weeks. Only 400 people are allowed to enter this race, I don't want to be the last person to finish.
Husband chose not to go with me. In his mind it was an hour drive, then over an hour of waiting in the cold, then an hour drive home. He's not a runner and doesn't like cold weather. I don't like cold weather either, if that makes a difference. So I drove myself. It didn't take me an hour, I drive faster than google maps estimates.
I did meet a co-worker at the race. While she normally does longer miles and has run 1/2 marathons and full marathons before, we didn't run the race together because we have different paces.
A couple of things. First...I thought for sure the elite athletes would be passing me when I was only at the 2 mile marker. haha! This race was 5 miles out and then 5 miles back. I'm happy to report that the first guy passed me well after the 2 mile marker, it was around 3.5. That's right, while I was only at 3.5 miles into the race, the first runners were at 6.5. Wow! The first girl passed me at the 4 mile marker. Impressive.
Second..these were real runners. It felt good to be running with them. When I run the shorter races, you do have a lot of runners but then you have a lot of people who are doing it for charity. Sometimes it feels a bit weird because I'm in my running clothes and they are in normal workout clothes. By running clothes, I mean tights. I either were short tights, capri tights, or long tights depending on the weather. While I feel comfortable in these clothes, when I'm surrounded by a lot of others and nobody else is wearing tights, well, it can be a bit uncomfortable. This race, everyone was either in tights or shorts (crazy!). I felt like I was around like individuals. I felt like I belonged. I felt like one of them. It felt really good.
I had high hopes going in to this race and was disappointed when I immediately had pain in my heel. I was so disappointed. It eased up a bit, but for the most part it hurt the majority of the race. I hit the wall at around mile 7. I think I was just so upset that my heel hurt and I had trained and looked forward tot his race. I didn't stop though. I kept at it and even surged at the end, not much because I was tired, but a bit.
I ran the 10 miles in 1hr and 26 min. According to the official race results I had an 8:37/mile pace. That's incredible! My co-worker was exactly 10 minutes behind me. Later that day when Husband and I were looking up the results online, we found that I came in 488 out of a tad over 1100 runners. I felt really happy about that. I finished in the top half! The Husband had me do a search for his co-worker (I didn't realize his co-worker was running it) and, well, his co-worker came in 50th! That's amazing!
What's up next? Well I did run on Tuesday and my heel is still hurting. I'm going to try another low mileage run this weekend to see how it feels. Oh, and tonight I have soccer, so I suppose the run this weekend will really depend on how it feels after tonight. Next week I have an apt with a sports medicine doctor to see why my knee has been hurting for a couple of months.
As far as my next race. I have signed up for the Castlewood Cup. This is a 15k (9.3 mile) trail run at the park by my house. This race is February 26th. The race is described like this:
The race will be a true test of trail running with a 15k course that includes uphills, downhills, switchbacks and even a creek crossing.
This race will truly be a test for me. While Husband says I should be able to do it no problems, I did just run 10 miles, I know it's not as easy as that. The race I did was mostly flat, I trained on flat trails. This upcoming race is a lot of hills. I run those hills, I can do short runs on those hills but no way I could go out this weekend and do 9 miles on them. I also hate cold weather. So to get me to actually go outside in the cold temperatures and run and do hills, that's going to be hard. I was telling Husband about this race and showing him pictures from the race this year, including the creek crossing which had high water. He said there was no way I would cross the creek or run in the cold weather. So I signed up to prove to him that I could do it. In fact, since I live only about 2 miles from the park, I'll start training on the trails within the next couple of weeks. Only 400 people are allowed to enter this race, I don't want to be the last person to finish.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Change the World Wednesday
Are you impressed? I'm actually going to post about this challenge on the actual Wednesday that it is posted on the host blog. I think I'll give myself a pat on the back.
Ok, this week's challenge is:
This week, rather than shop in stores for new holiday gifts, shop in your "closets". Open up boxes of stored items, check jewelry boxes and dresser drawers ... venture into the basement and up into the attic. Look for special items to give this year. This can be something fun and silly ... or something meaningful, like an heirloom.
Or ...
If this is something you regularly do, we'd love to hear about some of the special gifts you've given.
I have to admit, I'm actually pretty much done with my Christmas shopping already. The few things left to get are specific items Husband wants that I have to order online. So I can't really participate in this one this year. Unless I find something that would be something extra. However, part of the problem, is that when I'm finished with something I tend to donate it, so I don't have a lot of stuff stored away in boxes.
Now, recently, I did loan a bunch of pants and jeans to my sister. I've gone down several pant sizes within this past year and my oldest sister is headed back to work after the latest pregnancy and needed bigger work pants. My pants were all stored for when I would need them in the future so I loaned them all to her to use as long as she needs. I didn't want to get rid of the pants because they are in excellent shape and if I'm ever pregnant they are pants I can wear as I grow out of my current ones and before I need maternity pants. Plus, if I gain weight I could wear them again. (I learned this the hard way. When I gained weight a couple of years ago I got rid of all the pants that no longer fit, now I could fit into them but no longer have them.). So while this isn't actually re-gifting since she'll give them back, it is a way to help somebody so they didn't have to buy new clothes for a limited amount of time.
Ok...more towards the re-gifting though. While I don't have anything to gift, I will mention that I have a ton of Christmas bags and decorative boxes that will be re-used this year. I can't tell you when I last bought a Christmas gift bag. It's been years. Each Christmas when I receive one, I save it so I can re-use it in years to come. My guess is that I'm re-using ones that I've given away too since my sisters do the same thing. I also save the white clothes boxes and decorative Christmas boxes. I re-use these to gift wrap too. This not only helps us save money, but it's better for the environment too because we aren't throwing it away or recycling it.
If you plan to re-gift something, I would love to hear what it is. Heck, maybe it will remind me of something similar that I have and could give away.
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