Quick Tip: Make Leftovers on Purpose.
My husband tells me that he could eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich everyday for lunch. As much as I admire his dedication to being easy and frugal, I just can’t do that. So, I started making two extra servings at dinner time so that both he and I would have lunch for the next day. It saves time in the morning and gives you a variety for lunch so you are less likely to buy out!
So, always make leftovers so you have an automatic lunch for the next day!
Make your own Salad Dressing
Spring has arrived! Time to sit outside and soak in the sun while you can. This is my favorite time of year to pack a picnic and walk the neighborhood to find a new spot to eat and enjoy the scenery and smell of spring. I wanted to share a few of my favorite homemade super easy and quick salad dressing recipes.
Spring Salad Dressings:
Lemon Oil Dressing
Juice from one lemon
salt and pepper
1/2 cup of olive oil
*Stir and serve!
Ranch Dressing
I am guilty of putting Ranch dressing on just about everything I eat. I love the tangy creaminess. I found a great homemade recipe so I could avoid the added extras of store bought dressings by making my own. Thanks to The Pioneer Woman for this tasty recipe!
Ingredients:
1 clove (to 2 Cloves) Garlic
Salt To Taste
¼ cups Italian Flat-leaf Parsley
2 Tablespoons Fresh Chives
1 cup (real) Mayonnaise
½ cups Sour Cream
Buttermilk (as Needed To Desired Consistency)
White Vinegar (optional, To Taste)
Worcestershire Sauce (optional, To Taste)
Fresh Dill (optional, To Taste)
Cayenne Pepper (optional, To Taste)
Paprika (optional, To Taste)
Fresh Oregano (optional, To Taste)
Tabasco (optional, To Taste)
Directions:
Mince the garlic with a knife and then sprinkle about an 1/8 to ¼ teaspoons of salt on it and mash it into a paste with a fork. Chop the parsley, chives and any of the optional herbs very finely and add to the garlic.
In a bowl combine all ingredients, adding other optional ingredients as you wish, tasting frequently and adjusting seasonings as needed. Chill for a couple of hours before serving, thin with milk or buttermilk if desired.
Balsamic and Olive Oil Dressing
When I am really in a rush to eat and don’t have extra time to make a extensive dressing I fall back on my trusty balsamic vinegar and olive oil dressing. I LOVE balsamic vinegar, so my ratio is almost 1:1 Just drizzle some olive oil over your salad, then balsamic vinegar, then salt and pepper. Mix and eat!
Applesauce Salad Dressing
I found this really great post on The Cooks Next Door about how to make your own Spring Salad and Salad Dressing. The Applesauce Salad Dressing has quickly become one of my favorites. (recipe link here )
Ingredients:
1/2 cup applesauce
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3 green onions, sliced (include a little bit of green)
1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. salt
Mix it up and toss it with all of your salad ingredients!
Chinese Salad Dressing
I love this recipe because it is so tangy and delicious. I feel like you can add it to just about any combination of salads. If you want a salad recipe to go with it, check out Chaos in the Kitchen, where I found the dressing recipe.
Asian Dressing
3 tbsp rice wine vinegar
1 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp sugar
3 tbsp lite soy sauce
1/2 tsp dry mustard
2 tbsp sesame oil
1/4 cup peanut oil (or other mild salad oil)
Send me your Spring Salad Dressing Recipes! It is always fun to experiment with recipes and make your very own custom salad dressing. Happy Spring and Happy Eating!
Spotlight: Planet Green
If you are looking for a one stop shop for being “green” Planet Green (http://planetgreen.discovery.com/) is the site for you. It seems too focus on the many ways an individual can become more green. There are “How to go Green” guides for being green with your computer, coffee and tea, at work, and a great deal more. I find it inspiring.
They do a wonderful job compiling link sharing posts on their site. One of the sections has bundles and bundles of links to Do it Yourself Green Projects! Of course this is the section I find myself hanging out in most often. Examples of the awesomeness they have found and shared include: A flower brooch from an old t-shirt, Plastic Bag Purses, Sunglasses case, and Lamps from Wine Bottles!
There are so many posts to read and so much to learn on Planet Green.
Have fun visiting and finding new ways to be green and new DIY green projects!
How To Reuse Jeans to Make a Purse.
I love a good pair of jeans. Sometimes it is time to say good-bye and move on. I got this pair of jeans at my local Goodwill Store for $1 so I could show you how to reuse a pair of jeans to make a purse. This is one of my favorite things to make. It is pretty straightforward and you know your purse is being made with sturdy fabric.
How to Reuse Jeans to Make a Purse:
1. Cut the legs away from the top of the jeans about two inches down from the back pockets.
2. Flip the jeans inside out and sew the bottom seam.
3. Make your handles for your purse. I chose to use silk ties for this one. I want one side to show and the other to be hidden. So, I have to sew the hidden side to the bag before I sew the lining.
4. Create your lining. You will want your lining to be the same size and shape as your outside purse. First, fold and sew the top edge of your lining so you have a nice crease at the top (this will show at the top of your purse) Sew the sides and bottom of your purse. Leave the lining with the wrong side out. This is how you will place it into your purse.
5. Attach the lining.
6. Sew the other side of your handle.
And there you go! I love turning an old pair of jeans into a brand new purse. You have automatic pockets and denim is one of the sturdiest materials to reuse for a purse, so it will last you a while. Have fun!
Quick Tip: Use Tupperware instead of plastic bags.
I am a wannabe neat freak and love containers and labeling. I was getting tired of using a plastic sandwich bag each time to hold something I would use up in two days (like an onion). So, I went and bought myself a box full of Tupperware of various sizes and designated-with a sharpie-certain containers with the names of food that I use a great deal of like cheese, onions, and lemons. That way you can use one Tupperware container over and over again instead of hundreds of plastic bags!
Yay for reusing!
How to Build Your Own Compost Bin.
Well, daylight savings has come and gone once again and spring is just around the corner. In my mind, that means fresh herbs and flowers in our backyard garden! My husband does about 95% of the gardening and I do the watching and cooking with what comes from the garden. He spent this last weekend using the compost we’ve made to start our spring garden! The grass needs an extra boost too, so we are working on that as well.
We are lucky enough to have our very own compost bin in our complex. We didn’t have to build or buy one! For those of you out there interested in making your own compost so you no longer have to buy any, I have found a few helpful sites that give great tips and tutorials on building your own compost bin.
Check them out!
First, there’s StopWaste.org
I love this site because they have practical tips on building your own compost bin. You don’t have to be a professional carpenter to build these bins. They provide SIX different models for a compost bin so you should be able to find one that suits your needs.
University of Missouri Lawn and Garden
If you are feeling ambitious and need a large and in charge composting bin, this site will give you a couple of options.
If you would rather watch a video tutorial check out Wikihow.com. The compost bin made in the video provided is really simple and should only be used for plant materials. But, hey, it’s a start!
Ehow.com: Make a compost bin from an old plastic garbage bin!
Planetsave.com: I love this one! Reuse shipping palettes to make a bin. (You have to have a good amount of space to make this one).
Good luck! Send me photos of your compost bins, I would love to see them! And if you have any other ideas on how to make a compost bin ESPECIALLY with recycled/reused material send it my way!
Happy Gardening!
Spotlight: Nancy Judd, Recycle Runway
Wow! THIS IS AWESOME! Nancy Judd makes couture clothing with recycled materials!
My favorites are the “Recycled Cowgirl” that is made from phone books,
“Fan Mail Dress” made from junk mail,
and the “Pop Can Couture,” made from, you guessed it, pop cans!
photos from http://www.recyclerunway.com/index.htm
Thank you Nancy. For your craft, your creativity and your commitment. It is overwhelmingly inspiring.
Nancy’s work is currently on display at the Phoenix International Airport until August 2010.
Check out Nancy Judd’s work on her website:
http://www.recyclerunway.com/index.htm
Ok, now I need to go practice some sewing.
How to Reuse Playing Cards to Make a Purse.
This tutorial has been a long and drawn out process, but it is finally here. After several miserable failures I have made my own version of a playing card purse! It is not that functional, but it sure is cute! I think it will go great by my front door as a mail bag (:
Ok, so here’s a tutorial so you can make your very own Playing Card Purse:
1. You will need 23 cards. Split them up into 2, 2, 3, 8 and 8. The 2′s will be the sides, the 3 the bottom and the 8′s the main faces.
2. Find a plastic that needs to be reused. My plastic came from my husband’s old transparencies. Those don’t get used for presentations anymore (: Using modge podge sandwich and glue your playing cards in between two plastic sheets.
Ok, now you have to let these puppies dry. For me, it took about 3 days.
3. When the glue dries cut the excess plastic away so you have sort of laminated and sturdy cards.
4. Cut out your desired handle hole.
5. Poke holes around your purse where ever it will need to be threaded. So, everywhere except the top of the purse. I chose which cards where going to be attached to which, stacked them correct side to correct side and poked holes through both of them at the same time (it makes threading easier.)
6. Thread the purse together! Make sure to ties knots at all the ends to add extra support.
7. Take your new digs out for a spin!!!
10 Ways to Reuse a Banana Peel.
Wow, I thought I was some cool reuser when I started adding my banana peels to the compost bin. Apparently there are way cooler folks out there doing some extraordinary things with their leftovers. I have compiled my favorite 10 re-uses for a banana peel below.
10 ReUses for a Banana Peel:
Make a Face Mask: This is not a use for a banana peel, but a banana. I wanted to include it anyway because I love making homemade face masks! So, next time you aren’t hungry and feel your skin needs a little pick me up mix one banana with 2 Tablespoons of honey and 1/4 cup of plain yogurt. Mash it all together and apply it to your lovely face and wait 10-20 minutes for it to set. Wash it with warm water and admire the results.
Stop the itch: I think there are two people out there, the one’s that walk away from a camping trip with 1 bug bite and the one’s that walk away with 35 bug bites. I am in the party of the latter. I do not enjoy getting bit by bugs, but I do enjoy camping, so I was happy to see that you can use the inside of a banana peel to ail any itching those pesky bites cause.
Polish: Banana peels are a cheap way to polish silverware and leather shoes.
Keep Aphids Away: If you are a rose gardener and you want to keep your roses safe, bury a couple of chopped up banana peels below your rose bushes. Those aphids will move out in a matter of minutes! Be warned, make sure you don’t use whole banana peels or you will find that your rose bush has new friends like raccoons and squirrels.
Add It To Your Compost Pile: Banana peels are loaded with potassium and phosphorus which your garden will find delicious and nutrient. So, add all the banana peels you want to your bin.
Use as a Fertilizer for your Spring Garden: Rather than tossing the banana peels straight into the compost bin, you can save them and dry them out on a screen during the winter months. When your garden is ready to be fertilized, grind up the dried banana peels in a blender and sprinkle them over your soil.
Cure a Cut: If you have a small scrap or cut, rub the inside of a banana peel on it to speed up the healing process.
Say Good-bye to Warts: Rub the inside of a banana peel on a wart for a couple of nights before bed and get rid of it!
Brighten Your Smile: Rub your pearly whites with a banana peel once a day and see results in two weeks.
Clean your Leaves: If you have houseplants that need a little pick me up, polish them with banana peels. Just wipe each leaf with the inside of the peel and watch them shine!
Let me note that there have been several back and forth conversations on using banana peels as a home remedy for cuts and bug bites. I suggest you do what everyone should do and research it and make sure you are comfortable with it before you try it!
Any other reuses for a banana peel you want to share? Please leave a comment.
Thanks to for modbee.com, renest.com and Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things for helping me compile this list!
Quick Tip: Wear clothes more than once!
A really easy way to save money on your laundry bill is to wear clothes more than once.
I wear my Pajamas, exercise clothes, jeans, and sweaters at least three times before I throw them into the hamper.
I may be more motivated than others because I hate doing laundry, but let’s just focus on the environmental friendliness part.
So, get yourself a nice spot in the closet or next to your bed to store your sort of worn clothes (: My husband and I each keep a basket next to our sides of the bed to fold and keep our pants and pajamas. I hang my exercise clothes up in the open air of my bathroom (because I’m a sweaty girl).
Have fun doing less laundry, using less water and helpin’ out old mother earth.
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