Sticks and Stones
Instagram message: Tmrw is Earth Day. This guy saved 3000+ diapers from going into landfills. Earth is a little better thanks to u Beau. // direct link to Thoughtfulpinch.com in my bio.//
One more day till Earth Day 2015. Giddy. Last week I suggested buying products from a local source for your Mother's Day and/or End of the Year teacher gifts. Wouldn't it be fitting to get Earth Day gifts from them too? But if you're like me and just can't plan ahead, my Earth Day teacher gifts are coming from Trader Joe's instead. Hey, that rhymes (April is Poetry Month). TJ's is pretty "local" for most of us! Find their Lavender Dryer Bags - a set of 4 costs about $4. Besides leaving the laundry smelling like a day at the spa, it's a natural moth repellent. Plus, the "earthy" part about this thoughtful pinch is after you use it for 5-10 laundry cycles in your dryer, cut open the bag, sprinkle the florets on the carpet and then vacuum it up after the smell has settled. Ta-da! This dryer bag has given you a bang for your buck! All while being Earth-friendly. I'm just giving one bag per teacher/staff attaching a note with the ways to use the bag. A pinch. In hopes that the wheels start turning and maybe they'll go buy a pack for themselves. You're welcome Trader Joe's.
Since I'm only giving one bag per pinch, I was planning on using a muslin bag or the burlap sack to showcase the earthiness. But then I thought some might think to toss the entire thing into the dryer (gift bag and all) instead of just the pouch inside. So I'm using the plastic one hoping the recipients recycle it. All bags are from Yellow Pinwheels.
Now this is fun for the kids to do with you and they can pinch anyone that does not work or live in a NUT-FREE zone. Of course Family Fun Magazine came up with this recipe. But hey, I'm owning the gift tag phrase that we attach with the goods: "Sticks and Stones might break your bones, but the Earth will never hurt you. Thanks for being gentle with Earth on April 22 and every day." I know - good, right? Ms. Ruth, the piano teacher, helped me with that one. The kids and I put about 2 cups of this stuff in a brown paper lunch bag, stick the gift tag on it along with the recipe and the kids can not wait to hand them out.
Sticks and Stones - Ingredients: 4 tablespoons butter, 1/4 cup frozen orange or apple juice concentrate, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, 3 cups of oatmeal cereal squares (like Quaker Oatmeal Squares), 2 cups of pretzel sticks, 1.5 cups whole almonds and 1 cup raisins or dried cranberries.
Heat oven to 300 degrees. Place butter, juice concentrate and sugar in a microwave-safe bowl to melt butter. Stir in cinnamon. Spread the oatmeal squares, pretzels and almonds in a single layer on a baking sheet. Toss the pieces with melted butter mixture to coat. Bake the mixture, stirring the pieces every 10 minutes, until the mixture is dry to the touch and nuts are lightly toasted (about 30 min). Remove pan from oven and stir in the dried fruit. Let the mix cool completely before storing in airtight containers. Makes about 7 cups.
The Lavender Dryer bag is in the plastic with our note to Beau's K teacher attached w/washi tape. The bag of Sticks and Stones tied shut with twine from BROWN INK along with the recipe and gift tag that we made for our neighbors attached with washi tape.
Earth Day, however you celebrate it, is all about sticks and stones. Resources to use but not abuse.
Pinches,
Barb
P.S. The baby picture of my son was when he was 5 months old. I used a diaper service for his cloth diapers. Seemed like a costly investment at first but was so worth every penny. I didn’t have to use my energy (time & electricity) to wash the diapers. I saved over 3,000+ diapers from hitting the landfills and best of all, at 25 months he was fully potty trained - no Pull Ups at night. I saved a boat load because Pull Ups are not cheap! That’s a pinch to the Earth for sure.