Thank You, Lynda and Cooper

Look! A wrapped wedding gift.

So, my sister got married a little over a month ago to Cooper. I have the thrill in my soul. There were a couple really grand parts to this, but I benefited a bit in this way: I was gifted all the gift bags/tissue paper from their gifts.

I know, I know, this seems like a small deal, but listen here: now I can attend all the weddings and have bags for days! Wedding days, that is.

So, anyways, I was packing a wedding gift tonight because I have a wedding coming in a couple weekends and I want to feel prepared for some part of life. Some part, maybe not all. I'm apparently not organized and that's more than okay. Not sure on that? Check out this post. I wrote it a couple days ago.

Bags and tissue paper for daaaaaaays.

So, I packed a wedding gift. I used tissue paper and a bag from my sister's wedding. A lot of time, we don't reuse as much as we could. Look around! What can you reuse instead of buy? It'll help you sustain the world (and, maybe, your bank account).

Remember - the less things we buy, the less things that need to be made, then less materials that need to be used in the world, therefore causing us to be able to help out the world more and more.

Peace.

A Desk

I've been wanting to put this somewhere for a long time, but I haven't figured out where. However, I need to clean off my desktop, otherwise my brain will be shot.

I guess what I want to say is I've been learning a lot about myself this year. This past year, that is. And I am still learning what works well for me and what is harmful. I don't really have a post to say about what works and what doesn't, but I do want to say that what I have learned is okay.

I am okay.

And the way that my brain works? Yeah, that's okay, too.

I guess that's why this picture makes my heart happy. Because if Einstein had a brain and was a genius and did some of the same things as me, then I can do the same. 

I can be me.

Because being me is more than enough.

Praise Jesus.

Socks

Hi.

There's a place in town, called the FIT (Families in Transition) Closet. They help out families that are in transition (usually from homelessness). They are in serious need of socks and underwear. I want to help out, but (maybe you don't know this) socks and underwear are expensive.

So, today, my friend, Jamison, and I went to Hastings because it's going out of business. That's sad, I know. I talked to the guy at the register and he said he's sad about it closing, as he's been working there for six years. My heart hurt for him, but as he said, "It's another page of the story..."

I now realize that's even more poetic because it is a book/movie store.

Anyways, I found lots of socks. I'm thankful. Long socks - two pairs per pack. Thick socks. Durable socks. Original price of $9.94. They were all 80% off, so I got each of them (pairs) for around $2.00. 

My heart is content that Jesus gives me reasonable ways to serve in my community. I'm thankful. I'm thankful that people will have warm feet during this fall and winter. It always makes me sad when my feet are cold, so there will be less sad people now.

Peace.

I'm Jamming

I'm. So. Excited.

I made jam tonight. I also avoided work tonight. I also made zucchini chips tonight. And salmon. And brownies.

And avoided work.

My heart is really content. I find so much joy in using the things that I have. I made an earlier post, found here, about going berry picking. I went with Grace and got about three cups of berries.

They've been sitting in my freezer and I have had no idea what to do with them.

UNTIL TONIGHT, that is. 

Featured: jam. Background: The Office and a
crazy kitchen counter.

I was looking through Pinterest because I didn't want to grade (I had been grading for at least an hour...) and stumbled across this recipe (Blueberry Chia Seed Jam). I made substitutions (mulberries for blueberries, less stevia than asked, I added some raspberry/blackberry/strawberry blend, added a bit of lemon juice) and created. Experimented. Used what I had and made a lovely creation! 

It's. So. Good.

SO GOOD.

I realized afterwards that I don't eat bread, so this'll be interesting of what to put it on. Tugce suggested crackers.

Anyways, look at me being sustainable by using what I have an cooking the things I have.

Praise God for berries.

Peace. 

Ice Cream Containers

Y'all. I have an issue.

Kind of.

I really, really, really like ice cream. A lot. Since I started just buying things I can recognize all the ingredients to, this has severely cut down on the types of ice cream I can eat. We can probably be thankful for that. Anyways, I've started buying Talenti Gelato because I can recognize all the ingredients (so I can be intentional about what is put in my body). Shoot, this stuff is the freaking bomb.

The only issue with this gelato? It comes in pints made of plastic. Good size for portions (no, I don't eat the whole thing at once), but a lot of plastic. So, I made a decision...

All the happy thoughts come from this color smoothie,
a blue and white dress, and a happy gal.

I reuse it! Now, I reuse these containers for many different purposes. Not to say I have a lot of these containers. 

I do.

I like ice cream.

Anyways, I'm using them right now to store my crystalized ginger, almonds, pumpkin seeds, and other things that I've found in the bulk section. I'll made a post on the bulk section from the store sometime. That's my jam.

But, all that to say, I reuse them. Today, after months of knowing I could do this, I made a smoothie that was the portion I needed so I didn't waste any of it. I have a tendency to make a smoothie twice as big as I need, therefore I'm not hungry for the rest of the day.

ANYWAYS. Sid, calm down your thoughts. Okay, calm.

Today I made a smoothie. And, would you believe it, it fit in the gelato container! I am so cool. I was so excited to be able to have somewhere to put my smoothie that had a LID (I spill all the things) and I could take it with me.

I'm so cool. I like reusing. It helps the earth and is practical. And, plus, I have no need to buy any more containers to hold things because the store is doing that. 

Praise God.

Peace.

Local Business Love

I'm a big fan of local stores. Big fan. I think I've wrote about this before.

I don't know.

This is in my classroom. It talks about the benefit of
helping our world. Under this, we put different
environmental ideas that we talk about. We will all
make a difference together!

Anyways, I'm a big fan. I've been working on trying to sell my clothes online for quite a bit of time now. I keep looking through my closet and finding articles of clothing to get rid of weekly...

...and I think that's okay.

Anyways, I decided to take the clothes that I've been selling online to a local store today (Rockstar and Rogers/Home Fusion). Y'all. They bought my stuff! Not all of it, but most of it. If you want to know what I have left, look to the right on this site. There's my listings online. Hit that up (that's my ploy...muhahahahaha).

Anyways, I got rid of so many things AND I got store credit/a bit of cash.

I know, I know, I know. This isn't about money. But y'all - that's grocery and gas money. Not only that - locally, I get to help keep a business going. We both benefit and it's a win-win situation. Praise God.

Not only that. I got two new pairs of jeans with the store credit I got. And now? Now I can upcycle the pairs of jeans that I have that have holes in them.

It's a cycle. I like this cycle. It's a weird, healthy cycle.

Praise God.

Peace.