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Category: Decluttering Tips

How old are your spices?

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The flavor experts at McCormick recommend the following tips for checking your spices freshness: Check to see that the color of your spices and herbs is vibrant. If the color has faded, chances are so has the flavor. Rub or crush the spice or herb in your hand. If the aroma is weak and flavor is not apparent, it’s time to replace it. Store herbs and spices in tightly capped containers, and keep away from heat, moisture and direct sunlight. Replace bottle lids tightly immediately after use. If you have McCormick spice in rectangular tins, except for black pepper, the… read more »

Category: Decluttering Tips

Want to bless someone else?

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Are you ready to let go of some of your stuff to be a blessing to someone else? Here’s a list of one of our favorite charites, OASIS Ministries most recent needs list: MISCELLANEOUS Pillows, blankets & sheets Towels (bath & kitchen) Heaters Dinner Plates Salad Plates Glasses Cups & saucers Knives, forks & spoons Steak knives Serving bowls Cooking utensils Coffee Pot Toaster Measuring cups Measuring spoons Pots & pans Mixing bowls FURNITURE Kitchen tables Kitchen chairs End tables Dressers TV tables Coffee tables

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Recycle Christmas light strands

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I’m learning that alot of what we throw away has value and can be recycled rather than ending up in a landfill. Christmas light strands can be recycled 100%. In this article from the KTVI-FOX 2 website, they say that “there is so much copper in a strand of lights, the plastic and the glass all gets recycled. It just gets shredded and they can re-use the whole thing. Since it’s 100% recyclable, it just doesn’t make sense to throw them in the trash.” At most area Walmart stores, big boxes sit in the garden center begging for bundles of… read more »

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How well do you know recycling?

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Test your recycling savvy by answering true or false to the following questions: #6 plastics and Styrofoam can’t be recycled because they can’t be made into new products. – FALSE: #6 plastics can be made into new products, but in the St Louis region, the costs to recover them exceed their market value. This means it doesn’t make economic sense to include #6 plastics in curbside programs Plastic bags should not be recycled curbside because they gum up the sorting equipment. – TRUE: Plastic bags and film end up wrapping around the automated sorting equipment causing shutdowns. Please do not… read more »

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You can help?

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St. Louis HELP has a program that receives donations of new and used medical equipment, refurbishes and cleans the equipment and then loans the equipment, at no cost, to community members both young and old from all walks of life enabling them to live as independently as possible and remain contributing members of the community. Do you have medical equipment that is not being used? Would you be willing to make a tax deductible donation? St Louis HELP has set up a collection date of October 9, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at various collection sites. Click here… read more »

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Unwanted crutches find new home

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So many times when I am working with clients, I will do whatever I can to find a new home for their unwanted stuff, rather than having it go into a landfill and be wasted. I’ve been doing some research on where I could donate 3 pairs of crutches that a client no longer needed. They are still in excellent condition. What I found was several places that will take your used wheelchairs, crutches, walkers and canes, and get them into the hands of people that really need those items. If you have medical type items that you would like… read more »

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Your clutter means joy to others

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Is your home so filled with clutter that you don’t know where to start? You can begin by looking for things that you know you no longer want or need that you can give to someone else that desperately needs it. Why not start looking for the items that are needed by the following groups? The Shoeman – George “The Shoeman” Hutchings has collected approximately 500,000 pairs of shoes and has turned them into clean water for the people of Kenya. George and team are now working on bringing clean water to the people of Haiti. CURRENT NEEDS: Unwanted shoes.… read more »

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Cell phones for soldiers

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Cell Phones for Soldiers is seeking donations of used cell phones to be recycled and used to buy prepaid calling cards for military personnel serving overseas. The phones may be dropped off at local Domino’s Pizza restaurants. Those who drop off donations may receive a discount at the restaurant. Cell Phones for Soldiers has raised almost $1 million in donations and distributed more than 500,000 prepaid calling cards to soldiers.

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Wishing you green holidays!

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Did you know that each year between Thanksgiving and New Year’s one million tons of extra household trash is generated every week? Here are some great green suggestions for wrapping and packaging to cut down on the excess trash. Plan for recycling! All non-foil wrapping paper and gift boxes can be recycled in your curbside bin or at recycling drop-off locations. Save large pieces of wrapping paper, bows, ribbons, and tissues for reuse or craft projects. Think beyond rolls of gift-wrapping and bags of bows. Be creative while reducing waste! Use scarves, handkerchiefs, or bandanas as wrappers, and wrap two… read more »

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Used cell phones benefit domestic abuse victims

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How many old unused cell phones do you have just laying around? How many have you already just thrown away? Now you can put those unwanted phones to good use by donating them to ALIVE. Phones that can be refurbished are distributed to domestic violence victims so they have a safe way to call for help. Your unwanted stuff is really valuable to others!

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