I’m a sucker for popcorn, and these tins always call my name—I like to take the insert out and mix it up Chicago-style. Once the popcorn has been devoured, I’m always left wondering what to do with the empty tin.

Here are a few awesome ideas:

1. Ice Bucket: Fill the tin with ice & your beverage of choice for a roomy ice bucket.
2. Toddler Seats: With the lid on, these tins are the perfect size for young children.
3. Party Tin: Fill with napkins, paper plates & cups for a great party-to-go kit.
4. Floral Center-piece: Pickup a colorful bouquet (much less expensive now that Valentine’s Day is behind us!) and place in water-filled tin.
5. Party Favor: Makes a fun party favor or door prize for guests at your next party.
6. Wastebasket: Use a rubberband to secure a grocery sack to the tin for a fun trash container in your home office or bedroom.

If you feel like you’re missing out now, use coupon code WINNER for $10 off $50 at the Popcorn FactoryThe Popcorn Factory. Coupon code expires March 31, 2011—and, I can personally recommend anything that includes their fabulously delicious popcorn balls.

I received a Packers Commemorative tin from the company (which we’re gifting to my cheesehead mother-in-law). Plus, I ate my weight in popcorn balls at BlogHer. All opinions are, as always, 100% real & honest.

1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
2. 30 Ways to an Inexpensive But Romantic Date
3. Why You Should Use a Coupon Binder (And How to Get Started)

Ford is releaseing a whole line of green vehicles—eco-boost, hybrids, plug-in electric hybrids…A green, fuel efficient car for every budget & style. There’s another thing I love—you aren’t locked into just one option. Ford is introducing their new electrified technology in several existing vehicles. They’re also working to insure there’s an infrastructure available to support a new electric lifestyle, with recharging stations across the country.

The goal is to make electric cars easier & more affordable to families. Keeping in line with that mission, they’ve partnered with electric companies to schedule charging for the least expensive time of day. How cool is that?! But, hey, what do I know about cars? Everybody’s favorite greenie—Ed Begley Jr.—has a little more information. And, no, I didn’t get to meet him in person.

I was invited to participate in this program by Clever Girls Collective, Inc. in partnership with Ford and Ogilvy PR. Ford Motor Company paid for my travel and accommodations at the 2-day Driving Green Technology event, I was not compensated in any other manner for my time. My opinions posted here are my own.

]]> http://inexpensively.com/articles/going-green/the-future-of-fuel-efficiency/feed/ 0 http://inexpensively.com/articles/going-green/pampering-yourself-at-home/ http://inexpensively.com/articles/going-green/pampering-yourself-at-home/#comments Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:51:34 +0000 November Sunflower http://inexpensively.com/?p=12577 Related posts:

1. Beat the Heat: Grilling with Rubs
2. Beat the Heat: Grilled Desserts
3. Beat the Heat: Grilling with Sauces

Photo by beccapie on Flickr

Anyone ever tell you to take care of yourself and “pamper” yourself, or you’ll burn out? After almost 4 years of being a Mom, I’m thinking “everyone” is right about this pampering thing! My patience is shot, my temper is fired up and when I stop to try and figure out why I have been yelling so much I remember what “everyone” has been telling me: “TAKE ME TIME for yourself, Staci. Or you’re going to lose your mind and be no good to your kids or husband. Be selfish, take time and treat yourself well.”

As much as I have finally figured out this is true, figuring out how to pay for some much needed pampering was still a mystery. However, not for long, because like every good woman out there, I took to the internet and just like always, my friend’s blog had the perfect post at the perfect time.

Sofia’s Ideas put together a blog post about making your own organic beauty recipes that have just 5 ingredients or less. My favorite one is blisstree’s Sugar Body Scrub. It’s the easiest one for me at my house, because we always have sugar in the house. My husband is a sugar monger. One day I will have to get him to buy some coarse natural brown sugar to really do it crazy! But for now, the white sugar is what we have so white is what I use.

For me, we have baby oil all over the place, so that’s what I use for the oil portion of the recipe and I skip the vanilla beans, because I don’t really have those around. I drop a little vanilla extract in for the scent, but honestly, it can be totally left out in my opinion! And then I have essential oils in my home that I use. We have a few different scents, really, whatever you find calming and what you want to smell like after you’re done!

Then I kept searching for more fun ideas for me to be able to incorporate into my daily routine and found this amazing recipe, so simple, at Spa Index. It’s for a beach sand foot scrub. Just take 2 tablespoons of Canola Oil and 3-5 drops of rosemary oil (mixed together) to the beach with you, in a container large enough to also fit 2 tablespoons full of beach sand. When you get there, mix the oils with 2 tablespoons of beach sand, scrub on your feet and elbows and rinse off in the water. How cool is that? I love it. There are a ton of recipes on Spa Index. It’s an amazing place to find recipes for homemade insect repellent, hair treatments, facials and great body washes and scrubs.

If you want to pamper yourself, but are like me and just can’t spend a lot of money at a spa, go in search of homemade spa treatments you can do while at the beach, or at home. It’s definitely worth it to clear your mind, get yourself centered and relax so the rest of the family doesn’t have to walk on eggshells around Mommy! Hmmm, I wonder if there is anything out there on using egg shells for something? You know where I’m headed – to the internet and beyond!

Related posts:

1. Beat the Heat: Grilling with Rubs
2. Beat the Heat: Grilled Desserts
3. Beat the Heat: Grilling with Sauces

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On the Earth911 website there is a “Recyclo-pedia” and it gives a list of all the items that can be recycled. Click on one and you are taken to a page with a little bit more about the item and given some articles that relate to recycling whatever item it is that you have chosen. At the top of each page is a box where you can enter in the item you would like to recycle and your zip code to find the closest places that accept that type of item.

For example, I looked up information about recycling paint. Within 25 miles of me there are 7 places that I can bring my leftover paint to recycle it. Have old CD’s? I have thrown some out before without even thinking about it but did you know that some electronics stores have kiosks for recycling old compact disks? What about magazines that you have read? Instead of throwing them away see if there is any place near you that takes them and reuses them. A local library near me accepts magazines so that others can have a chance to read them, too.

Next time you go to throw something away, ask yourself “Can this be recycled or reused in any way?’ and take the steps to help reduce the amount of waste in our landfills.

That is truly giving inexpensively to future generations.

1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
2. Going Green – Following in My Daughters Footsteps
3. 5 Everyday Ways to Celebrate Earth Day

Follow these tried, true. and green ways to stretch your household budget.

1. Use Smart Products. Use multi-tasking products that save time and money.

• For Body:  Look for foundations and moisturizers that contain sunscreen (at least 15 SPF), and shampoos with built-in conditioners.
• For Home: Make your own, or use versatile cleaning products that work on windows, countertops, appliances, and mirrors.  Make your dollars work smarter by choosing products that are safe to use on the interiors of cars.

2. Turn On the Tap.  Put the kibosh on soda and other expensive drinks.  Next to air, water is the most important (and cheapest) element our bodies need.

3. Hug a Tree. Eliminate or cut back on paper towel purchases. Use washcloths and other reusable towels to soak up spills and clean messes in bathrooms and kitchens.

4. Turn Up the Kitchen Heat.  Eating at home is convenient and cost effective. Plan menus around weekly circulars and clip coupons before grocery shopping.  Don’t forget to search online and in favorite magazines like, ALL YOU.

5. The More You Buy the More You Spend. Don’t be fooled by all that glitters.  Stores have sales because they want you to spend. Why buy three boxes of cereal that you don’t need, just because they are on sale?  Stretch your budget by sticking to the items on your list.

Follow these simple tips to save more and spend less, while making a positive impact on our world. 

How does your family Live Well For Less? 

1. Waste Free Lunch
2. Household Supplies Worth Spending Money On
3. Money Saving Monday: Cleaning

The smallest were $9.58 and the largest were over $20! These baskets are way out of my price range for something that will die at the end of the summer. I kept browsing and found 6-packs of petunias for $1.63. I bought two of them and reused an old hanging basket I had in the garage.

I planted the 12 plants in the basket, watered it, and here is the result! I saved at least $7, and I still have some pretty color to hang on my carport.

Another trick is to make a pretty planter to highlight everyday plants. My teacher assistant made this planter for me 5 years ago. This year, I decided to plant Gerber daisies, because they sometimes come back with our mild weather.

I love the end result!

What about you? What are your tricks for Inexpensively Gardening?

1. Spring Basket Savings
2. 4 Money Saving Tips for Gardeners
3. Inexpensive Ways to Reduce Allergens

Image Courtesy of Peter Hostermann

Do you have items in your basement or attic gathering dust?  Or marketable skills others would die for?  Chances are your dust laden trinkets are things someone else wants and is willing to trade for, and that special skill you possess, is worth gold or at least an invitation to Sunday dinner, to many cash strapped folks.

Millions have found creative ways to go green while still acquiring stuff, and all without having to shell out their hard-to-come-by cash.  Their secret   – old fashion bartering, but with an electronic twist!  Truthfully, both on and offline swap and shop sites are seeing tremendous increases in activity as many folks are turning to bartering to help survive this economic crunch. 

The world of bartering is huge; new sites and shops are opening routinely; and while navigation at some sites takes a bit of finesse, you’ll find a lot of great bargains once you get there.  Before venturing out on your own, get your sea legs in shape here, by taking a look at a few of these popular sites. 

U Exchange – One of the larger sites that specializes in all types of trades.  Their motto is “Trade Everything, Pay Nothing”.  Special features include international listings.

Trade Attic  – A social networking site that allows you to post your unwanted treasures for free.   Also a wonderful site to list the items you need.

Swap At Home – Receive Swap Coupons for posting items you no longer want; then use your coupons to purchase the things you need.

Labor Trader – This is the place to make a local connection if you have a service to offer or are in need on one.

Favor Pals – Get anything you want from child care to health care simply buy giving something in exchange.  Check out their “Favor Hints” if you’re not sure what favor to give in exchange for something you need.

Trashbank – This site allows you to sell, as well as barter, trade and swap.

Swap-It Now – Billed as the” Internet’s Flea Market”, this lesser known site allows you to trade items ranging from DVDs to automobiles.

Trading the skills you possess or the items you own for things you want or need, is a great way to watch your savings grow.  Haven’t you heard?  Bartering is the new black and green!

1. Declutter by Hosting a Swap
2. Get Cash for Gadgets
3. Hosting a Halloween Costume Swap