The Bag Lady

In California, you no longer hear “paper or plastic” at the grocery store. Actually, I don’t know what they say now because I’ve been bringing in my own bags for years and have them already on the conveyor belt like a good little tree hugger. I know that not everyone is a fan of having to remember to lug in their reusable bags, but I just can’t think of a good reason to not do this.

When I first met Mr. Beaverelli, he kept talking about ChicoBags this and ChicoBags that. So what? It’s a bag that tucks into itself, woopty-do. Well, he was so into them, that he bought his mother and me one for Christmas and threw it in our stockings. I started to keep it in my purse and one of my biggest obsessions was born. I now have about 12-15 that I keep in my purse, my desk at work, my gym locker, a couple in the house and several in my car. If I don’t have one on me, I actually go into a small panic. Mamarelli can’t leave home without hers and always asks for more as one of her presents. I’m also extremely protective of them and I brought some food to my former boss once and she asked if she could take my bag home. She still razzes me for my reaction…I looked at her and said, “you have to bring this back to me!” I’ve since gifted her a couple of her own and I got a text the other day telling me she understands now why I am so attached to my “Chicos“.

Why ChicoBag brand is so great:

They are compact and can fit in your purse or attach to it with the carabiner that is included.
You can (and SHOULD) wash them in the washing machine. (I hang dry them)
They offer many different styles. Original, Vita (my favorite), sling, travel (small backpack), duffel, tote, and more!
The rePETE line is made from recycled plastic bottles! (also includes reusable utensils and other goodies)
Bring them everywhere! Grocery store, department store, farmer’s market, use as an overnight bag…endless possibilities.

Your Favorite Charity Wins When You Shop!

Do you make most of your online purchases on Amazon.com? Even if it’s just periodically, how would you feel if buying yourself something or sending someone a gift, could also help your favorite charity?

Each time you want to make an Amazon purchase, instead, type smile.amazon.com first.

Here’s what that will get you:

Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organization of your choice.
AmazonSmile is no different than your regular Amazon. You still have all of the same selections.
You’re required to do nothing but go to smile.amazon.com and shop!

Now you can SMILE when you make a purchase knowing you’re helping your favorite cause!

No More Wasting Food…Brilliant!

I got inspired. Inspired to get involved and inspired to dig up the ol’ Achiever Beaver.

Mr. Beaverelli forwarded me an article talking about a new app called OLIO that will reduce the waste of food. As you all know, I HATE waste and do everything I can to prevent it.

The company was started by by a woman in England (notice the spelling of some words) and an American woman from Iowa with the following idea in mind:

“OLIO is a free app connecting people with their neighbours and with local shops so surplus food and other items can be shared, not thrown away.

If you love food, hate waste, care about the environment or want to connect with your community, OLIO is for you.”

I immediately signed up to not only be an ambassador, but to also be a Food Waste Hero (FWH). I’m volunteering to spread the word about the app…after all, the more participants, the better…and to be matched up with local food vendors, bakeries, food grocers, restaurants, etc. A FWH then brings these items home and posts them to OLIO to distribute to those in need/want.

ADDED BONUS: It isn’t all about food. You can give away non-food items for free…or even better yet, ask for donations to then give to your favorite charity. I love this idea! How often are you trying to collect donations for that 5k and are struggling to meet your goal? How about those items you haven’t taken to the thrift store yet? Why not post them requesting a donation and meeting your American Cancer Society goal at the same time?

So take a moment to join the revolution…OLIO

Don’t Have A Really, Really Free Market Where You Live? Start One!

You don’t have a Really Really Free Market in your city or town? Then it’s time you took matters into your own hands. You ask, “what the heck is that?” Well, you can read all about the San Diego Really Really Free Market here.

What a great concept! My biggest regret is when I have items I don’t want or need anymore, but I cannot donate them. Here are some ideas for items that you can take to the Really Really Free Market

New or partially used bottles of cleaners
New or partially used toiletries
New or partially burned candles
Cords and cables
Trinkets/knick knacks
Full or partially used paint cans
Wood pieces
Canned or boxed food
Leftover supplies after home repairs
Offer goods and services from your business (baked goods from a bakery, haircuts, put on a little concert)
The possibilities are endless!

Why not pick a day, go to a park (check to see if you need a permit) and advertise to all of your friends? Start with social media, put an ad on Craigslist, start a blog…endless possibilities! Sure, it will be small at first, but make it a goal to do it quarterly. If you build it, they WILL come!

Citrus Garlic Vinaigrette

I won’t even buy dressing in a bottle anymore. For one, they put a lot of preservatives and crap in it…2, I don’t really like the taste anyway. Making your own is the way to go, and it’s not that difficult! I prefer vinaigrette anyway, so they are often pretty easy to throw together. This one is great for a nice summer salad to take to a BBQ.

Total Time: 10 mins

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 0 mins

Ingredients

Servings 6-8

Units US

2 medium oranges
1 medium lemon
3 cloves of garlic
1/4 cup olive oil
Sea salt to taste

1. Click the photo below to learn how to cut that lemon the right way (yes, I said RIGHT way) and squeeze the juice into a small bowl or ramekin.

2. Cut the oranges in half and use a citrus juicer over the bowl/ramekin. My hand held one works just fine.

3. One of my favorite kitchen tools is the grater plate. It turns garlic into a paste. More details about it here and where you can buy it: Kitchen Must-Have: Grater Plate. Add it into the juice mixture.

4. Add olive oil.

5. Add salt to taste.

It’s Time To Purge, Do It NOW

by Spring cleaning. We’ve all heard it, but have you ever put it into action? In my case, it’s not necessarily to clean up and get rid of things I don’t need. Sure, that happens, but I mainly do it so I can justify acquiring more! You should do this with everything, but I’m going to focus on clothing, shoes and accessories.

There are so many ways to keep your wardrobe fresh and make room for more:

Take it to/have a clothing swap! If you happen to have Trendy Trade Clothing Swap show up near you, this is a great one. Read how you can get Free Fashionable Clothing AND Help Women In Need.
Donate your old stuff to a local thrift store.
Post it on Craigslist – give it away free or make a little cash.
Do an online “yard sale” on Facebook to see if your friends and family want it.
Take it to a Really Really Free Market (if you don’t have one near you, start one!).
Download the OLIO app. You can give these items away free, or even better, collect a dollar amount you can donate to your favorite charity!
Get out a box, bin or suitcase just sitting in the garage rafters and put up your fall/winter clothing and take out your spring/summer dresses and skirts.

I have a giant suitcase that sits unused for the majority of the year. Let’s be real, you don’t need your sweater dresses and furry boots hanging around in the closet in the sweltering summer months. They are just taking up valuable closet real estate. The best part? It’s like getting new clothing all over again! I just rediscovered sundresses that I haven’t laid eyes on in 6 months and completely forgot that I had. I don’t even have to go shopping to get my new-to-me fix. Instant money saver. Bam!

Bye bye winter…

Yes, You Can Buy Used Shoes…

by You just have to clean them up…and I suggest you do. Once upon a time, I wouldn’t even consider buying previously owned shoes, because I feared the dreaded athlete’s foot. I needed a pair of sandals for a Halloween costume and went into a thrift store that happened to have the perfect pair in my size! I wear a 5.5, so this is NOT an easy feat. I wore them all night at the country western bar party, and sure enough, I got athlete’s foot. It’s gross to have it anyway, but to think I got it from some grimy idiot that had peeling feet and still thought it was a good idea to donate her old shoes. *shudder* Many, many more years went by (at least 10) before I got smart enough to buy them anyway and then disinfect. Duh.

I do it one of two ways: with rubbing alcohol or Lysol. I prefer rubbing alcohol, because even though I like the smell of Lysol, I don’t really care to walk around with my shoes smelling like it.

I picked these gold wedges up from AmVets for 50% off the ticketed price, so these were $6.50. It looks like they’ve been worn 0-1 times. Not too shabby for next to brand new shoes. I chose rubbing alcohol for this simple job.

If a shoe has a slick insole area, then I douse a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and rub it over all areas that will be touching my hind paws.

I use the Lysol for shoes that do not have a slick inside. Sneakers, for example, will work much better with a spray on disinfectant.

That’s all there is to it…so what’s stopping you now?by

My Sister’s Closet

by Actually, I don’t have a sister, thank goodness. If I did, I probably would have had to share my precious clothes with her.

I do, however, have a close relationship with My Sister’s Closet (MSC) Recycled Designer Apparel. MSC is so much better than having to fight to be daddy’s #1 little girl.

Unfortunately, (for you, not for me) there are only store locations in the Phoenix area and San Diego. The prices are between 70-90% off the retail price on a regular day.

And that’s not all.

Need to get rid of some of your old clothes to make room for the new and exciting? They consign! What that means is that you bring in your tired clothing (tired to you, not tired to the world). It needs to be current, laundered/dry cleaned, and in good shape. Once they sell it, if they sell it, then you get paid or store credit. I don’t even know what they pay out in cash because I always need to buy more.

Their clothing consignment requirements are:

No more than 4-5 years old
A retail value of at least $40
In like-new and clean condition

DSC06871-001 — From the additional 70% off sale.

Probably 2 of the most exciting days of the year, that send me into a euphoric state, are the season changes at MSC. They occur around mid-Febuary and mid-August. I am on their mailing list, so I get a heads up when the change is about to roll around.

They conduct a progressive sale that starts at 20% off and ends at 70% off a couple of weeks later. That is in ADDITION to the already low prices. I actually take a half day off of work for each of these on the first day of the 70% off portion. I try on any dang thing that might possibly fit me. I usually end up with 2 giant bags of clothing. Here are some of my awesome finds on the last day of the sale:

DSC06870-001

This pale yellow dress helped me create one of my favorite photos of myself.

DSC07600-001 — Enjoying some Spanish wine from Palma de Mallorca on our transatlantic cruise.

DSC06868-001 — 2 Michael Kors handbags – one was $8.00, the other was $5.00.

DSC06866-001 — This is a Versace dress that I got for $15.00!

So if you’re my size, forget that I told you about a progressive seasonal sale, please.

Good ‘Til the Last Drop

by No, I’m not talking about coffee here. I don’t need drugs to get me through the day. I’ve got a natural high (or I just tough it out). I’m talking about buckypaste, or better known as toothpaste.

This is a photo of my and Mr Beaverelli’s toothpaste. Our vanity consists of 2 sinks, so each side is stocked with our own personals. I’ll give you one guess on which tube belongs to whom.

You guessed it, the neat one on the left is the Mister’s. Not what you expected?! Yeah, I wouldn’t have guessed it either.

It is now time for me to take a tip from him on the waste front…not to mention the tidy front. I think it’s pretty self explanatory: grab a bobby pin (that is probably already laying at the bottom of a drawer in the bathroom somewhere) and nicely roll up your tube, moving it down as you go.

This is a good representation of just how lazy I am. It really doesn’t take that much effort to make sure the tip is cleaned off. In fact, I probably ultimately work harder because I have to twist and turn the tube to get the paste out.

I will try to be more non-wasting next time.by

Trash or Not? Save ALL Those Plastic Bags You Bring Home

Okay, so yeah, plastic bread bags actually ARE trash when the bread is gone…but they don’t need to be thrown away just yet.

Do you ever have that awful, spoiled food smell in your garbage can in the kitchen? You don’t notice it at first. You go off to work, then you come home to the lodge smelling like a dumpster? There aren’t a whole lot worse smells that I can think of.

I also take the produce bags and save them separately to use for discards when I’m cooking. We normally try to keep bread from entering our front door because Mr. Beaverelli will go through an entire loaf in a sitting if he isn’t monitored. His folks were visiting, so we bought some for them and this is what was left in the end. I filled it up with the Beaverelli’s Healthy Breakfast Cheeseburger Casserole discards, tied it up and threw it away. No more rotten food sitting in the garbage to make us gag!

Achiever Beaver

The Buck$ $aved Here

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