Dumpster Diving

Do you dumpster dive? This morning I witnessed some people "trashbag treasuring". We don't have dumpsters or even garbage cans in our city; we just set the trashbags by the side of the road. I know, high class.

I don't have a problem with people looking for treasures on the side of the road. I have been known to eye an item or two. It just got me to thinking about what we're throwing away. If our trash had been out yet they would have been in for a treat! Baby girl has been eating well lately!

Really, though, what do you throw away? Do you throw away items that are still usable? Do you throw away items that can be recycled? I believe that God wants us to be good stewards of what He has given us. We're a very affluent people, by the world's standards. Many things we toss would be precious to some abroad.

So I'm going to make a very conscious effort to be a better steward of what God has given us.

1. We will recycle all that we can. We already do a good bit of this, but considering we don't have recyling pickup in our area, (did ya' read the part about not even a trash can?) this takes a little more effort. We do have two recycling drop-offs. I'm going to look for other places I can take things they don't accept. For instance, you can trade in old cell phones with Swagbucks. You can print off a postage-paid mailing label, send it in, and receive swagbucks in return. If you aren't a member, please use my link on the bottom of the page, if you would be so kind!

2. Use something up until it's gone. Also already do this pretty well, but we can do better.

3. Buy second-hand, but only if the item is really needed. Love me some garage sales, but don't want to clutter my house with unnecessary items. Some items you probably don't want to buy second hand include toothbrushes, retainers and deodorant. I'm going to hope you already knew that.

4. Take care of what we have. Regular maintenance on many things will extend their life. For instance, cars run better with regular "checkups", and my husband swears that a vehicle runs better when it's clean.

5. Teach our children how to better take care of their stuff. Make sure that the next generation is aware that God gives us what we have and wants us to be good stewards.

So those are a few steps I'm going to make sure I'm following. Let me know if you ahve any other ideas!

The House That Cleans Itself

Housework. Ugh. I'm not a naturally organized person. Don't get me wrong, I like organization, even like to organize. But taking on the clutter of four people is a little overwhelming to me. That's where "The House That Cleans Itself" comes in handy.

Mindy Starns Clark and I are like souls when it comes to housekeeping. If you think that your clutter is unmanageable, get this book! It's an easy read, and the steps she outlines in her book will transform your home into a workable, livable space. She challenges you to really open your eyes to look at your house and it's problem areas. You divide your house into "zones" and tackle one at a time. And not just the clutter, but the little things that make a difference, like cleaning doors and repairing switch plates.

I'll share before and after photos after I work through my spaces. I've only just started, and I already feel better about my home!

For more Works for Me Wednesday, head over to We Are That Family!

A Little Fun

Please Excuse the Mess

I'm working on changing up the look of the blog. Without too many interruptions, I should be finished soon! Sorry if you find a weird looking page when you visit!

Works for Me Wednesday - Magic Nuudles

We have discovered a great creative activity that is not messy at all. My sister gave Gabby some "Magic Nuudles" for her birthday, and we are in love! These things are basically colored styrofoam peanuts, but they sure bring out the creativity! All you need is a wet sponge and the nuudles. They are very inexpensive (about $5). Look for them at Hobby Lobby or a like craft store.

Here's a sample of the flowers she figured out how to make:



I've bought all of our preschool VBS classes a box. Great activity for little hands!

Head over to We Are That Family for more Works for Me Wednesday!

Sprinkler Fun

Dora can be a lot of fun. Especially when she spins around and shoots water.

Being the mean parents we are, we played a little trick on the baby.



This is what we got:





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