Greetings!

I have slowly been eliminating plastic containers from my kitchen.  With all the information flying around about PCBs and toxicity in plastics, I decided to recycle my glass spaghetti sauce jars, peanut butter and almond jars, and any other jars or bottles that could be repurposed as storage containers for various food items.

Truth be told, I love the look of glass jars full of nuts, grains, and seeds lined up in my pantry.  I also use them for leftovers in the fridge, and as flower vases on my windowsill.  I store and display loose change and safety pins in vintage ball jars.  

Whenever I hit a tag sale, I am on the lookout for gray-lidded Mason/Ball jars, and have incorporated them in my pantry as well.  I had accumulated enough Ball Jars to serve as centerpieces for my eldest daughter's June wedding.  Beautifully simple! 

I have a gluten free kitchen and have invested in lidded jars from Wal-Mart and Target to put my Bob's Red Mill flours, starches and dry mixes.  As you will see in the photo below, I labeled the jars with my Dymo Labelmaker to avoid confusion!

So instead of dumping my glass bottles and jars in the recycling bin...I am doing my part to repurpose and beautify my home with new and vintage jars.  While I continue to buy plastic bags for lunchbox items...I feel very green when I gaze upon my efforts to reduce my carbon footprint!

Green Out!

When my children started to fly the coop (i.e. head to college), I gave each of them a tackle box full of tools as part of their "Survival Kit for College".  The tools came in handy on move-in and move-out days, for both my girls as well as their roommates and friends who came tool-less!  The tool box idea was such a success, that I now give Tackle Box Tool Kits to college-bound, or first-apartment family members and friends.

Now my daughters have moved to the next level, with actual tool boxes.  And I can still fondly recall the day I bought my one daughter an electric drill.  She was "over the moon", and I was pretty proud of myself for even considering the gift!  Tools are gender-neutral, and on the list of essentials for dorm life, apartment life, or home ownership!  With that said, I have compiled a list of Tool Box basics for your perusal.  Just one more "tool" to living a life well organized!

TOOL BOX ESSENTIALS
16 oz Claw Hammer
Flathead Screwdrivers (slotted)
Phillips Head Screwdrivers (x shaped head)
Needle Nose pliers
Vise Grips
Adjustable Wrench
Utility Knife
Heavy duty pair of Scissors
Metal Tape Measure:  12 ft, 16 ft, 20 ft, 25 ft, 30 ft lengths:  choose at least a 20 ft
Safety Goggles/Glasses
Electric Drill
Duct Tape, Electrical Tape, Masking Tape
Varying sizes of nails and screws, anchors and picture hangers

I am a resident of Newtown, CT, the site of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that broke the collective hearts of the town, state and country.  This senseless tragedy is still difficult to grasp, three weeks after the fact.  And as a recent resident of the town, although I did not know anyone directly involved, it is a benchmark, not unlike 911, that will resonate within me, and I along with the nation am forever changed.   

While going through some "Laurie's Memories" files, I uncovered a letter I wrote in a difficult period of my own life to my three daughters, and I would like to share those thoughts with you...

Love means having to say you are sorry...often

We are all flawed...We are all unique...

Meaningful relationships require blood, sweat and tears - coupled with love, acceptance and forgiveness...and the occasional phone call...

Love in its purest form is unconditional - but not stupid...

We can love each other, but not always appreciate or endorse others' attitudes, actions or choices...

Respect must flow both ways - even when we agree to disagree...

We must first learn to acknowledge and value ourselves, in order to truly value others...

Judging others can destroy love and respect...sometimes permanently if unstopped...

Forgiving others sometimes requires that we forgive ourself first...

A simple "Thank You" enlarges the heart of both the giver and receiver...

True forgiveness erases past mistakes, harsh words and thoughtless actions...

None of us have the right to impose our opinions, attitudes or judgments on others, just because we have them...

But, if we are invited to share them...

...They should always and only be delivered with a heart of Kindness, Tenderness and Compassion...

And when others share their unsolicited opinions...do not react with anger and frustration, instead recognize the love and concern behind the words...because...

...Sometimes, quietly walking away from a fight takes more strength than duking it out...

Just as pencils have erasers...it is sometimes necessary to change our minds and plot new paths to live a life of meaning and worth

We do not always understand ourselves...so why do we think we can always understand others?

Strive to have the heart and memory of a dog or cat...

Not only recognize, but acknowledge the kindness in others...often

Today is all we have...Love is what we need