Smashfest

FREE Teens take the Met!

They have this every year. I've heard good things about this event.

The joys of baking soda or more awesome repurposing and cheapo uses of pantry staples

Empty spice containers are awesome as repurposed holders of so many things. One of my favorite cleaning products is baking soda. I use it on my sinks (look how shiny it is), shower floor, shower doors, pots and pans, and so much more. 

It's cheap, non toxic, and you probably already have it in your home. But, most importantly, it does a great job!!

To extend the life of baking soda (for baking), I store it in the freezer, sealed up. If I wanted to deoderize the freezer the top would be completely opened. However, typically I clean and bake with it and I'm less concerned with the smell of the freezer.

Check out my super taped up baking soda in the freezer, right next to my bagged up my compost I have to drop off. (Why can't manufacturers label the sides of boxes so you know what's in them when stored on shelves?) I just consolidated some spices so the box will get emptied into the newly vacated containers!!!!!

Yay me!

It doesn't happen too often but I found a great solution for keeping bugs out of my flours. A read online somewhere that a woman had stored her bulk rice purchases in repurposed liter screw top soda bottles. I don't have a problem with bugs in my rice but far too many times I found bugs in my flours.

I like to make my own challahs (for the mitzvah as well as the money saving measure). I also make the occasional cake and dessert as well. In turn, I have a nice collection of flours including bread, whole wheat, all purpose, and cake flour plus, I stock up when there are sales. That said my pantry is full of baking products including flours.

The lightbulb shone super bright above my head when I connected the dots to reuse the screw top plastic containers from my Costco mixed nuts and Mott's apple sauce purchases. Woo hoo!!  We don't drink much soda and the wide mouth containers are better for scooping.  Not only will this storage measure prevent bugs, it's now much easier to pour and, no more ripped bags and waste (and mess). 

Waste is a dirty word to me so I was pleased as punch to find an awesome use for these great containers which I already owned and lessened the loss of my flour by spillage or infestation!!!

In the past I bought containers (see above) for my sugar and flour bags but they came up short since they weren't air tight even if I first put the bags in Ziploc.

I have a long history of repurposing containers which I will document in the next post.

Future of Storytelling Festival

Looks interesting. FREE community day October 9th.