In a magazine my mom gave me, Family Circle, there was an article about places to recycle just about everything if you can't find where to properly dispose of things from around the house. Of course there are always local organizations that will take certain things, but if not, here you go:
>For Formal Wear: you can log onto http://donatemydress.org/ to find a dress drive in the area.
>For Winter Jackets: http://onewarmcoat.org/ Most of these drives start in October, and you can search on this website for local coat drives. They also accept sweaters, sweatshirts, hates, and gloves.
>For Most Old Tech Supplies (Computer and Parts): They matche used tech equipment with local organizations like school or non-profits http://www.cristina.org/donate.html. The site also will take a lot of things http://www.gazelle.com/ ALONG WITH this one http://nextworth.com/
***For those of you in the Oak Park area, I know the last Saturday of every month (excluding the winter months) they collect old electronics at the OAK PARK PUBLIC WORKS 201 S. Blvd. from 9 am til 1 pm
>For VHSs and Old Floppy Disks: You can send it to this organization http://actrecycling.org/donations/ which is a non-profit based out of Columbia, Missouri that trains and employs disabled people.
>For Cell Phones: http://wirelessfoundation.org/ProgramsAndInitiatives/GreenWireless.aspx gives charities the proceeds from selling cell phones.
-Donate cell phones for calling cards for overseas soldiers at http://cellphonesforsoldiers.com/
-http://digitaltips.org/green/default.asp
-Retailers like Target and Best Buy also have drop boxes for used cell phone equipment.
>CDs and Other Media: You can sell or swap them at sites like http://www.gamestop.com/gs/specialty/tradeins/ OR http://www.secondspin.com/. Best Buy also has a program where you can recycle them for free.
>TVS, DVD Players, iPods, Camcorders, Remotes, Speakers, or Video Game Equipment: All these things can be brought to Best Buy for free. TV's larger then 30" cannot be hauled away, but can be in exchange for purchasing a new set. If you trade in an old iPod for a new one, you will recieve 10% off. Certain items can be traded in for gift cards or cash. You can visit http://www.bestbuytradein.com/bb/ for more details. More recycling questions on these types of items can be found on http://earth911.com/
>Batteries: RadioShack, Lowe's and Home Depot recycle RECHARGEABLE batteries for free, as well as Ikea. For other drop off centers near you, check http://www.call2recycle.org/home.php?c=1&w=1&r=Y
***A FUN FACT: Single use batteries no longer contain toxic metals, so it is ok to trash them. Although, the acid can leak through the casings so before you do trash them please do seal them in a plastic bag.
>CFL (compact florescent) Lightbulbs: These light bulbs do have mercury in them, so please seal them in a plastic bag and toss them in a designated bin at Lowe's, Home Depot, or Ikea. For more places you can check http://earth911.com/
Of course always support your local non-profit organizations, but hope this list helped with items that you just didn't know what to do with.
--Sarah
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Once you pop, you just can't stop
Do you ever have a problem remembering what meal you requested for the wedding you RSVP'ed for a couple months ago? Now the big day is here and you don't know what delicious meal is heading your way. I started to write on the back of the invitations what I requested this way if you want to save the invite it is not on the front, and you will be able to remember what delectable meal is in store for you. Incredibly easy and simple.
One of my absolute new favorite things that I just learned for around the
house, but for this case more around a bonfire IS.....LINT.
>The Story of my Lint: I went to my friends lake house and her mom saves the egg cartons and shoves the lint inside the egg carton for a great fire starter. I am a fire starter!! In our long camping trip this weekend to Sleeping Bear Dunes, we tested our new 'science project', and by golly it worked! It really is a great idea, and now all the egg cartons are going in a special place all year long until the summer camping trips. THEN I started thinking, why not just save toilet/paper towel rolls and shove lint into there for another great fire starter. It is a great replacement for those harsh, chemical filled starter logs, and you are re-using things from around the house. Also, a small side note, is it doesn't seem to produce the ash that newspaper or cardboard does, which is plus because no one wants to eat that.
>Another good little tid bit that is for around the house is saving the plastic bread closers when you get a loaf of bread because it is a great way to label that mess of cords you have. This way you can distinguish which one is which, and never again play the unplugging guessing game. I have not personally done this one yet, but my amazing boss has started her cord management with this method and it has been a great success. Hope I can spread the same success onto you!
Good night, and good luck.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Let's go back to the Olden times
The window is open for the first time in a while, and the crisp air is feeling pretty good right about now while under my blanket. It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.....I love the cooler weather, and I loved today (slightly sarcastic) how people were coming into the office saying how chilly it was outside and complaining they had to wear a jacket all day. What are we going to do? FALL IS COMING!!!!
I think I would like to chat about elders driving. Your thoughts and/or concerns?.....
For a while now I have been a big proponent of aging, elderly people NOT getting behind the wheel and driving themselves to where ever their little hearts want to go. My grandma was notorious for that, and she was the WORST driver you could possibly imagine, and now these 85+ year old people are driving themselves when they can barely walk or have to use some sort of other assistance to get themselves around. A 92 year old woman came today with a walker who just passed her drivers license because once you pass the age of 87 you HAVE to take a test every year to renew your license, and they felt she was up to Illinois standards. She then proceeded to scramble for her keys and when she couldn't find them realized they must be in the car! Come to find out they were still in the ignition with the car on because she is 92 and just a little forgetful. I, in all seriousness, want to be able to drive these people to their destinations so it is not another place that they have to worry about getting too. Of course, some would probably say my driving is not any better, and there are no references for this statement, but I have to think that I am a little better then most 87 year olds out there.
I watched my grandma's independence be taken away from her when she was told she couldn't drive anymore, and it was very hard. It is not easy to be told that you are getting old and you can't do the things you want or used to be able to do, regardless of how simple the task may be. Everything slows down, their reflexes, sight, and I just wish it was easier for them to accept the outside help that could be given to them. This costs money, which nobody is a fan of. I actually bought my current car from an 82 year old lady who barely drove it at all. A 1996 Saturn, with 17,000 miles on it, how's that for steal or what? But, I was the one that took her car and self reliance and she was about ready to cry when handing me the car key. I still go visit her to let her know the car is doing well, and to assure her that it misses her old owner, dearly. The new owner had a new stereo put in and plays that terrible music way too loud!
Tomorrow is my first assignment (outside of my family) where I get to go pick someone up, who is in his 80s, drive them to a DRS. appt., maybe stop for a few other errands along the way, and take him home right after. I am keeping him off the road, helping his family feel better about the way he is getting to and from the doctor, and I love talking to people who have had so many more experiencing that I have. The list of topics is already formulating in my head. Hopefully this is the start for many, and helping get some of the old folks off the road and into my sweet saturn where the music is blaring.
Until next time.
I think I would like to chat about elders driving. Your thoughts and/or concerns?.....
For a while now I have been a big proponent of aging, elderly people NOT getting behind the wheel and driving themselves to where ever their little hearts want to go. My grandma was notorious for that, and she was the WORST driver you could possibly imagine, and now these 85+ year old people are driving themselves when they can barely walk or have to use some sort of other assistance to get themselves around. A 92 year old woman came today with a walker who just passed her drivers license because once you pass the age of 87 you HAVE to take a test every year to renew your license, and they felt she was up to Illinois standards. She then proceeded to scramble for her keys and when she couldn't find them realized they must be in the car! Come to find out they were still in the ignition with the car on because she is 92 and just a little forgetful. I, in all seriousness, want to be able to drive these people to their destinations so it is not another place that they have to worry about getting too. Of course, some would probably say my driving is not any better, and there are no references for this statement, but I have to think that I am a little better then most 87 year olds out there. I watched my grandma's independence be taken away from her when she was told she couldn't drive anymore, and it was very hard. It is not easy to be told that you are getting old and you can't do the things you want or used to be able to do, regardless of how simple the task may be. Everything slows down, their reflexes, sight, and I just wish it was easier for them to accept the outside help that could be given to them. This costs money, which nobody is a fan of. I actually bought my current car from an 82 year old lady who barely drove it at all. A 1996 Saturn, with 17,000 miles on it, how's that for steal or what? But, I was the one that took her car and self reliance and she was about ready to cry when handing me the car key. I still go visit her to let her know the car is doing well, and to assure her that it misses her old owner, dearly. The new owner had a new stereo put in and plays that terrible music way too loud!
Tomorrow is my first assignment (outside of my family) where I get to go pick someone up, who is in his 80s, drive them to a DRS. appt., maybe stop for a few other errands along the way, and take him home right after. I am keeping him off the road, helping his family feel better about the way he is getting to and from the doctor, and I love talking to people who have had so many more experiencing that I have. The list of topics is already formulating in my head. Hopefully this is the start for many, and helping get some of the old folks off the road and into my sweet saturn where the music is blaring.
Until next time.
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