Second-Hand Advice

Too Many Tomatoes?

2011-09-22T21:39:00.000-07:00

Its that glorious time of year when the tomatoes are red and juicy...and getting all crushed... and making your counter gross. Well - no fear - egg cartons are here! Use them to keep the tomatoes off of each other so they can stay fresh and ready for a salsa or sauce.
This is also great when the weather starts to turn colder - pick the green tomatoes and keep them inside to ripen.

iPhone Amplification - Guest Appearance

2011-06-30T20:49:00.000-07:00

Need I say more? Courtesy of Winnie Nie and Harry Paddock on a short break at work - goes to show you a break here and there leads to good stuff!

FOR the garden FROM the garden

2011-06-05T13:39:00.000-07:00

Summer is finally here! GOSH... that took foooorrrreeeeverrrr. But, now the garden must be planted. Why give all your money to Lowes when you can use stuff you already have?

We have a pear tree in our backyard that we prune every year. The pruned branches are these perfectly straight and strong sticks. They have been so useful as supports for everything from dahlias to tomatoes.

Pear branches supporting peas:The branches also make great plant markers. Take a knife and slice off part of the branch - wa-la!
Then take a permanent marker and write the name of your veggie - you are done! Plus, since the materials were already in your yard, they fit in with the decor.

Super easy... free... and reused. Um, does it get any better than that?

Next blog post will be about reusing items you already have for friendly (to everyone but the pests) pest control.

Excuse the photo quality - better lens coming soon.)

Guest Appearance - Wire and its many uses.

2011-04-14T20:18:00.000-07:00

Wire could be considered one of the most boring thing in the world. But, alas! (That's right, I said it) there are so many possibilities. Wire fixes, wire repairs, wire holds, wire attaches, wire hangs... did you know wire can also decorate? My good friend Bobbi is a genius and made this recycled lovely:

She wanted to be sure to remember what to do when she is in the kitchen. Who knew wire also had the power to remind us what to do. So many options!

Natural (AND easier) Silver Polish

2011-03-14T15:25:00.000-07:00

About 30 minutes after using smelling, sticky silver polish to clean some necklaces when I found this article by Martha (that's Martha Stewart, we are on a first name basis) for a natural silver polish. I am sure this recipe has been around forever - because it works better than the polish. Here is the deal:
Fill an aluminum pan (or alumnim lined pan) with hot water, salt and baking soda. Stir. THAT IS IT!

Put your silver items in and waaaaa laaaaa - beautiful. Thank you science.
Here is a pre and post picture. The photo quality isn't great, but let me promise you that there is a big difference and it couldn't have been easier.

You may be wondering, dude, where is the re-use part of this blog? Well just think of what you are saving not buying that yucky silver polish (which you probably loose somewhere in your house and then buy another bottle if you clean your silver as much as I do.) This is better than reusing - we are reducing here!

Second hand for $2500

2011-01-17T17:50:00.000-08:00

Check out Michelle Obama wearing something second hand! Super beautiful, also super expensive: http://goodwillnynj.wordpress.com/2010/12/29/a-new-years-resolution/

Beautiful!

Red Wine Vinegar - SO easy!

2011-01-09T16:39:00.000-08:00

Hold on folks. This could quite possibly be the easiest re-usable idea ever!

Don't know about you, but we cook with red wine vinegar a lot, in salad dressings, when cooking spinach and other greens, in soups. My fellow happy-cooking-friend and I got to thinking... how do they make vinegar? We googled "DIY vinegar" and BAM! Our minds were blown.

To make red wine vinegar: leave out your left over red wine. Wait a couple of months. Done.

This guy explains it a bit better: http://www.chow.com/food-news/54317/how-to-make-homemade-vinegar/

Here is my version, I put it in a pretty bottle I found at, you guessed it, Goodwill.

I will let you know how it goes. Next, what to do with wine bottles...

I'm Back! Time for indoor fun - storage!

2010-12-07T18:33:00.000-08:00

Hello! Long time no post. Sorry for the extra long intermission, but no fear, the creative juices are flowing. Nothing like enough sleep and lots of good food to get the brain working again.

In honor of the resolution season I wanted to share this storage project that was SO worth every minute. We completed the project this summer, but it could be fun and easy to do inside (in Oregon you need to get creative when the rain starts.)

The Project: We had a mess of baskets holding our shoes, hats, gloves, etc. Inspired by Pottery Barn-ish most-beautiful-mud-rooms-ever (see examples here) we wanted to go creative with our space.

With help from my parents and a lot of work on the hubster's part, our shoes are now super organized, visible and not smashing each other. (Trying video for the first time, hope it works...)

What we used:
Lumber - new (shhh... don't tell.)
Hooks - found at garage sale, one bag of 20 quality brass hooks for $1! We removed old paint and tape and re-painted.
Chair - from Goodwill Super Store, chopped in half and painted.
Paint: Left over from other parts of our house: white, blue, orange. The most fun was painting a faux carpet. To do it yourself you will need to paint one layer at a time, taping off each layer as you go. You will hear from me soon! As always, thanks for reading!

Huffington Post: 9 Ways to Turn Trash To Crafts

2010-03-28T11:50:00.001-07:00

9 Ways to Turn Trash to Crafts

Check out this great article by the Huffington Post for TONS of ways to reuse "trash." My favorite is the homemade art from toilet roles on the Homemade Mamas blog - super creative. Who would ever think cardboard could look so good.

I have to thank Tori for sending me this link!

Kitchen Towels

2010-03-12T20:44:00.000-08:00

Okay, so this post is sort-of-cheating. I reused one part of this project (the canvasses) and the rest I bought new. BUT, I am SO proud of this project, I think it turned out super cute. Maybe it will inspire some re-using...

First the supplies...

Glue....
Paint...
Done!

Spoon Herb Markers - guest appearance

2010-02-26T13:52:00.000-08:00

To keep on the garden theme I thought I would share these ADORABLE garden markers I bought from Allison D. Cecil - creator of Monkey's Always Look.

Then, I put together this 'garden happy' present for my super crafty friend Bobbi. To complete the present I pre planted basil seeds - it is a WAY better gift to pre plant seeds then give someone seeds to plant on their own. Wouldn't you agree?

plastic now - food later

2010-02-20T15:56:00.000-08:00

I never really believed that seeds grew into true plants until I moved to Oregon. Sure, we did the bean-that-sprouts-into-a-plant thing in school. But, growing up in Colorado (with a short growing season) seeds were a LOT of work. Now that I live in the land-of-plenty, when February rolls around and things start popping out of the ground I get real hopeful about seeds. I started some tomato, basil and pepper seeds a few weeks ago (they sit in the window above the heat register) and the tomatoes are already getting pretty big. In order to encourage their growth I re-planted them today in used sour cream and yogurt containers. Like any re-user, I cannot fathom sending any plastic container to the recycle because I figure there have got to be SO many ways to re-use them. Well, my storage drawer would beg to differ since it is overflowing with the things.

To re-plant my tomatoes I poked a hole in the bottom of the containers for water flow (the hole doesn't have to be pretty) and use the container top as a saucer-like-thingy (see below).
You can do this to plant almost anything. Grow baby, grow!

Flower decorations from bottles - guest appearance

2010-02-04T21:09:00.000-08:00

Check out this great idea from Anthropologie about making decorative flowers from left over plastic bottles. Check it out by clicking on this link (scroll down).

Bread Machine...that. is. right.

2010-01-25T21:23:00.000-08:00

In one of the best second-hand store finds of all time I present: THE BREAD MACHINE. For $9.99, that's right $9.99 I got a fully functional Oster brand bread machine with instructions. I tried it out last night and YES, it works! This just proves, yet again, you should always look at second-hand stores first... you never know.

By the way, bread machines are GREAT. I don't know why I didn't figure this out before, but all you have to do to make the bread is put it in the ingredients in the machine! Do you know that? That's all you have to do. Copying my friend Bobbi's always great idea - I pulled the dough out of the machine before the last 'rise' setting and baked the bread in the oven... looks like I spent hours putting it together.
Um, P.S. cheapest Oster bread machine I could find online was $69.

Christmas Cookies

2010-01-01T17:56:00.000-08:00

You might be saying: Whaaaat??? Re-use cookies? That's right - if you haven't cleaned up all your holiday cookies I recommend freezing 'em. (Plus putting them away helps with the whole eat-less-crap resolution. Cookies tend to keep really well in the freezer (for 3-4 months, I would argue.) But, instead of just throwing them in the freezer, bag your cookies in tasty combinations which you can simply pull out and serve to friends after dinner. Yum.

Clever Storage

2009-12-20T20:22:00.000-08:00

Any old box will do - shoe/boot boxes, paper boxes, anything with a lid works best. Add a little fabric and some hot glue and you have a very presentable storage box! It's so easy - just wrap the lid and the box like you would a present and... voila.
For this box I used the fabric from an old curtain and a paper box.

The top box in this picture stores our wedding memories (CDs, dried flowers, left over invitations etc.)
So easy, so useful and so re-used!

Never Buy New - Christmas STUFF

2009-11-30T21:07:00.001-08:00

Oh, my, gosh! There is SOOO much Christmas stuff at the Goodwill and other second-hand stores. Decorations, plates, lights, more decorations, artificial trees, mugs, new cards, cookie tins...everything. The quality of the holiday goodies is especially good - I found tons of items that looked new or very slightly used.
If you don't let yourself get distracted by the masive amounts of stuff you can really find some nice finds to decorate or gift. I found these cookie tins for .99 cents each - they still had the tags on them - super cute.

Painting a Tree

2009-11-08T10:08:00.000-08:00

Feeling creative one day, the hubster and I decided to use some paint the previous owners left us (we think it is the accent color in our bathroom) and put a little nature in our bedroom. What was a boring wall became decorative and functional tree-hook thingy. Okay, I am working on a better name. We were pretty excited about how it turned out. We just took the paint and went crazy. The best part about this project is it doesn't take up any space, but really adds a lot to the room.

Curtain Headboard

2009-10-28T20:33:00.000-07:00

This week I want to share one of my favorite re-use-it projects ever. I am calling it the "curtain headboard"...ta da!When we moved into our house (after 3 rented places in 3 years) we had lots of left over obscure-sized curtains and decorations that didn't seem to fit anywhere in our new home. So, I took this 10ft long curtain rod, two single pained curtains and a wall hanging and made it into a decorative head-board. This solution doesn't replace everything a headboard is good for, but it sure is beautiful and adds a lot of height and texture to our bedroom.

Pretty and Practicle Glasswear

2009-10-03T10:38:00.000-07:00

Hello! Do accept my apologies for the lack of posts - I had a wedding - it took over life. But, I am back, married and full of ideas.

I think part of the reason people avoid second hand stores is that they think it is impossible to find clean and shiny newish items. But alas, it is not true! Your second hand store has lovely items just waiting for you to pick them up, take them home and make them feel like new. After a nice bath in dishwasher (I use the 'sanitize' setting) your friends will think you just spent your paycheck at Pottery Barn. (Then, you can tell them you didn't spend that much money and they can be like: what! and you can be like, I know!)

The first and second pics are of decorative glass bottles with home made raspberry and basil infused vodka (the infused part is homemade, not the vodka.) These bottles were also .99 cents each - they look Pottery Barn-esk...huh. Great gifts!

The third picture is of quart size glass canning jars which were purchased for .99 cents each. You can find plastic screw on lids at any grocery store in the canning aisle. There are almost always many sizes of canning jars at my second hand store.

Toilet Paper Rolls

2009-07-01T20:34:00.002-07:00

I can guarantee you that everyone has left over toilet paper rolls (if don't, you will soon) - and who doesn't have a few pens and pencils to organize? Well, here is your solution.

The rolls will stack nicely as long as they have something to lean on; a small shelf, bookends, a deep drawer. If you are too classy for the naked, brown cardboard look you can easily cover each roll in fabric.

Check out other creative uses for toilet paper rolls on these blogs:
http://frugal.families.com/blog/creative-uses-for-toilet-paper-rolls
http://www.squidoo.com/reusepaperroll

Never Buy New - Print Cartridges

2009-06-19T14:40:00.000-07:00

I realize reusable print cartridges aren't the most exciting thing. But, ever since I discovered these handy little guys I have been asking myself why anyone would never buy new cartridges. Here is what I mean: the cartridges are cheaper than new ones (only $16) , reusable (i.e. not contaminating the earth when thrown away), and more convenient than going to a store (the company I use, Rapid Refill, has a drop/pick up site at my work.) Umm.... hello?

Flower Pots (guest appearance)

2009-06-05T16:17:00.000-07:00

While I catch up on posting please enjoy this guest appearance by fellow second-hand shopper Heather Daniels. Heather's husband Steve made this lovely flower stand which Heather adorned with used flower pots. I have experienced this flower stand first hand, and let me tell you - those flower pots look stylish and brand new. Good work team!

Summer! Lawn Chairs

2009-04-24T21:42:00.000-07:00

I am ready for summer! These lovely lawn chairs are comfy, easy to store and look great. Together they were a total of $5.98 at my local second-hand store. They retail anywhere from $8.00 to $25.00 each. The small table you see in the forground has been part of our outdoor living for as long as I can remember; and it obviously needs a makeover. So, I am taking suggestions - what color would spruce it up?

Picture Frames

2009-03-29T19:30:00.000-07:00

Black spray paint can make all the difference - I am into it lately. These previously mismatched frames make a beautiful group. Clockwise from the top - a previously silver frame (recent present), an old wood frame from my parents, an overstocked Target frame that ended up at my nearby second hand store - it was neon green ($1.49) , and a originally black frame, reused again.

Magazine Rack

2009-03-29T18:13:00.000-07:00

As a re-user I love white elephant gifts - what a great way to reuse a horribly ugly, useless or lifeless item. This re-user also thinks there is nothing quite like turning a white elephant gift into something usable - especially when there is very little work involved. The magazine rack wasn't the highlight of the gift - but rather the circa 1990 Seventeen magazines stored inside. The magazines will be dropped off at my local gym tomorrow (which should be entertaining) and the rack got a new coat of paint and is now revitalized (and not ugly.)

Before
And After!

Never Buy New - Paper Towel Holders

2009-03-15T20:34:00.000-07:00

At any second hand store you will find the most amazing collection of paper towel holders. Made of metal, plastic, wood, in every shape, color and decorative theme possible. I have been trying to imagine why there are so many used paper towel holders - I guess you only find one in your typical kitchen, and they don't really wear out. So, when they end up at stores they stay. The selection at my local second hand store includes the metal-stand-up kind, the attached-to-the-wall-wood kind and the shouldn't-be-owned-by-anyone-but-a-eighty-year-old-woman kind. So, if you are in need of a paper towel holder you will can get your fill.

I, myself am not a huge fan of paper towels (note the whole reduce, reuse, recycle theme) but I decided that I shouldn't critic items such as paper towels until I have children - I can imagine they may take on a saint-like status when food starts flying through the air.

Gift Bag

2009-03-01T21:24:00.000-08:00

This adorable and fun triangular gift bag looks brand new and was only $.99 (the $3.75 price tag from original purchase still attached.) One of the things I love most about shopping second hand is that I would never go looking for a triangular gift bag - but once it was found I knew it was uniquely perfect. Note the reused tissue paper as well!

Spice Bottles

2009-03-01T21:12:00.000-08:00

I have been searching for spice bottles everywhere since I started buying bulk spices at my grocery store. I could never find anything but plastic bottles until these simple and functional glass spice containers popped up at Goodwill. They are crisp, clean, and just the right size. They were $4.99 for eleven bottles and a spice rack (compared to $22.50 to $45.00 at retail stores). I don't need the wrack so I will take it back to Goodwill and maybe it will be perfect for someone else.

Candles

2009-02-22T18:53:00.000-08:00

Candles can really change my mood - especially on a cloudy day in Oregon. Didn't know you could find second hand candles? Me either, at first. I don't usually find very pretty candles second hand - but we can fix that.

The tallest candle and the star shaped candle where found at my local Goodwill Store, $2.99 each. The short round candle was found in our garage when we moved into our new house and the green candle holders are from a garage sale.

I put the candles in my fireplace, they create a wonderful soft light and add a bright spot to the room. Because they are grouped together in the fireplace the mismatched colors and patterns aren't noticeable.

Never Buy New - storage racks/orginzers

2009-02-22T14:06:00.000-08:00

Never Buy New will be a reoccurring segment of this blog where I feature items I see almost every time I visit second-hand stores. Then, if you need something you can check and see if it is likely found at your second-hand stores before you buy it new!

A second hand store I visit often, Goodwill, always has many types and sizes of the white plastic covered metal racks which can be used in a variety of practical ways in kitchens, closets and other areas to organize and create space. They are sturdy, but also flexible.

My favorites are the cabinet shelves used to create more shelving for dishes or food in kitchen cabinets or pantries. When I bought these racks they where still in the original packaging. Price at second-hand store: $.99 - $1.99. Price new: $3.99 - 5.99.

Hooks and baskets. Price at second-hand store: $1.99. Price new: $7.99 - $8.99

And finally, a iron and ironing board rack. I squeezed this one into a small place by bending the flexible metal. The metal bends without breaking - this way if I ever find a different or place for my ironing board I will be able to reuse the rack again. Price at second-hand store: $1.99. Price new: $7.99.