Piece of the Week # 5 – The Paper Towel Roll
Ok, I need ideas from my SMART MAMA readers!!! Besides a handy telescope or megaphone, how can this “green” family reuse the near half a dozen paper towel rolls that sit in our recycling can each month??? Please post a comment with your paper towel idea!
Recap for Week #4 – My Pumpkin!!!
Well, I didn’t receive any ideas electronically but I was kindly reminded by my husband to make some yummy pumpkin pie!!! That’s the plan for the weekend!!!
Piece of the Week #4 – The soon to be, rotten pumpkin!
We have 3 pumpkins at home. One has been carved, one is decorated with foam stickers and the last is just the way it was when we picked it from the pumpkin stand! Now, what can we do with the pumpkins after tonight!!??? I’m happy to say that none of them are rotten, so far, so options are open!
What’s a SMART MAMA way of reusing the pumpkins??? Post a comment sharing your idea!
Results for last week’s Piece of the Week, cookie cutters…
Most creative idea: TechSavvyMama, from TechSavvyMama.com, said, We use cookie cutters to cut out Play-doh or to trace around when coloring.
Great idea Tech Savvy Mama! Thanks for sharing!
Week #3 Piece of the Week!
Challenge: Cookie Cutters
I’ve recently bought some cookie cutters at the dollar store. They are simple, no frills, in the shape of a butterfly, heart, flower, star and 2 other items that I can’t figure out (that’s probably why they are only $1!) I’ve come up with one non-traditional way of using (reusing) the cutters…to cut out sandwiches! Here’s my daughter’s heart ham sandwich! My daughter has been quite stubborn to eat a “regular” sandwich but has no problem when it is shaped like a heart, flower…
So, SMART MAMAs, what other ways can we reuse cookie cutters??? Share your best ideas!
Week #2 Results
Challenge – Crystal Light Container
Best Idea: pencil/pen holder/ crayons art stuff etc…cut a slit in the top and make it a bank by the stilwells
Challenge #2 Recap – old newspapers
I received some GREAT ideas for reusing newspaper! My favorite idea is to use the paper as the cloth to clean windows and mirrors. It works! No more streaks and the newspaper has served another purpose!! I also liked, and often follow, using newspaper as packing material. I think most of my Christmas decorations are currently safe in old newspaper!
Now for the next challenge!!!
Challenge #3
Item: Crystal Light container
How can a SMART MAMA reuse the container??? Please share your ideas!!!
For as far back as I can remember, I have always organized newspapers to be recycled. While this is great (less trash in my trashcan & less trash in the landfill) there have got to be some great ways to REUSE the newspapers. I have some ideas, but I’m looking for more!
The Challenge #2
Item: newspaper
Post a comment or email your idea on how to REUSE newspaper!
I look forward to sharing your ideas with our fabulous SmartyPantsMama readers!
Piece of the Week Challenge 1 Results!!!Item: the soup can
when using a “Pampered Chef’” opener that allows you to safely reseal the can, you can cut a slit on the top and decorate to make a bank!
as a paint can!
use a hammer and nail to punch out a cool design (i.e. pumpkin, flower) and set a votive candle inside.
birthday party treat “bag” (can)! Using a pop top lid and a “Pampered Chef” opener, open the bottom of the can, empty contents and rinse, fill with goodies, reseal bottom lid with glue, and decorate can with paper!
As you know, I am a strong advocate of reusing, renewing and recycling. I am constantly finding ways to keep from trashing items that I can reuse at home!!! Not only does this help the environment but saves $$$$!
Piece of the Week Challenge #1: empty soup can
With autumn and winter quickly upon us, we will have soup cans gathering at home. Please email or comment suggestions on how to reuse an empty soup can.
I will select one idea and post it as my feature for next Thursday’s Piece of the Week!
The wipes box….what to do with it when it’s empty?
One recent way to reuse the box, is to use it as a container for the munchkin’s playing cards. My daughter has a few different packs of flash cards…Pooh Cards…as she calls them. After many failed attempts of showing her how to put the cards back in the flimsy holder, I realized that the sturdy wipes box would work perfectly.
How do you reuse a wipes box?
Piece of the Week provides SmartyPantsMama.com readers ideas on how to renew, reuse or recycle.
Paper or Plastic or Neither??
This week I finally remembered to bring my reusable grocery tote with me to Publix! I enjoyed my shopping trip, filling up with my Grocery Game items! I proceeded to the check out and handed the cashier my tote. This miracle cashier-lady was able to put ALL my groceries into my tote, minus the eggs! I walked out of there with just 2 bags, instead of the minimum of 6 plastic bags that I would have used instead. This is AWESOME for 2 reasons:
1. As a mom, with a 23 month old in tow, I need speed and agility! Carrying 2 bags to the car and then into the house was much, much, much, much easier and faster!
2. I have recently read that it takes 60 million tons of oil to make a year’s world supply of plastic bags (500 billion)!!! Who …
Piece of the Week – Mushroom Tray
Mushrooms, whole or sliced, typically come in a blue plastic tray. This rectangular bowl/tray doesn’t come with a lid, and isn’t necessarily the sturdiest of plastics, but it can surely be REUSED in a Smart Mama home!
Reuse Idea #1 – defrosting trayEach evening I take out the next night’s protein out of the freezer and put it in the fridge to defrost. I like the meat to sit in a plate or something, just in case something leaks. For smaller cuts of meat, the mushroom tray is perfect for this. I REUSE the mushroom trays for defrosting!Reuse #2 – fingerpaint trayI often get a little adventurous with my munchkin…choosing to do some messier than normal activities! Fingerpainting is a great activity for art expression and shes LOVES it. I REUSE the mushroom tray to hold her fingerpaints when she’s …
Yogurt Cups
Since the start of solids more than a year ago, my munchkin has loved yogurt. She enjoys all types – Yo Baby, Yoplait Kids and Danon. After trashing the empty containers at the end of each breakfast for months, I finally realized that these little “cups”, often with a picture of Dora or Diego, haven’t ended their “life”! I have started to reuse the cups. Actually, my munchkin has. She has a stack of the cups in her play area. She loves to puts stuff in them, from crayons to her Cheerios. She also uses as a seat for her Little People.
Do you reuse yogurt cups? How so? Please share!
Smiles,Caroline
Piece of the Week provides SmartyPantsMama.com readers ideas on how to renew, reuse or recycle.
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