Sustainable Gift Ideas

Sustainably Sadie

Sustainable Gift Ideas

I had a really amazing experience this last week:  as my yearly planner has started to fill up with baby showers, birthdays, and weddings, my wallet conversely empty, struggling with a tight family budget, I reached out through Facebook and asked for crafted gift ideas that I could affordably create for all these upcoming jubilations.  I received a huge response from friends with many helpful, fun, and creative suggestions.  I was introduced to new websites, got insight into childhood friends’ adult lives, and one of those reconnections opportunistically lead to a real-life, face time sharing experience at a mutual friend’s baby shower.  There is real life beyond the interconnectedness of Facebook, email and the internet and for me, it is refreshing to be reminded so.  Those real life moments are irreplaceable and like wise a hand-crafted, from the heart gift trumps a gift that strains the family budget. 

Pinterest.com and craftgawker.com were suggested for craft sharing websites.  Homemade bath salts (salt and baking soda infused with essential oils), unique picnic baskets complete with bottle of wine and opener, and a movie night gift were also shared.  I have had success making baby books from blank board books I purchased in bulk from orientaltrading.com.  Using one of my favorite craft supplies, Mod Podge, and my #1 tool, hot glue gun, I create “Baby’s First Love Story.”  Gluing and embellishing photos and memorable objects, I tell Mom and Dad’s love story in fairy tale fashion with bright colors and tactile shapes.  The Mod Podge seals the photos to the blank pages; I plan on the books being sentimental keepsakes that Mom and Dad will cherish and that can withstand some infant and toddler destructiveness.

When I find inexpensive baskets, buckets and bags, I purchase them for future gifts.  I save ribbon, beads, buttons, etc for decorating cards and presents; there is so much out there to be inspired by and I think it is awesome how many people are out there creating unique one of kind, sustainable gifts.  Share your ideas at sustainablysadie.blogspot.com or email sustainablysadie@hotmail.com.  I am also tickled by all the people who are canning and putting up food in sustainable ways.  As we approach gardening season, farmer’s markets and harvest, we’ll talk more about canning and putting up our bounty.  I’m always on the look out for new ways to work with and save food. 

Twin Bits

Tom Agnetti, published artist, is teaching at The River’s Edge Gallery on Mondays and Tuesdays starting Jan, 9th.  Classes start after school and go until approx. 6 pm. Monday classes are for 4-8th graders and Tuesday is geared towards High School and adult students. The class is $5. All you need to get started is pencils and a pad or paper. Show up and leave when you want, pick Tom's brain to get your art on paper!!!  Check out The River’s Edge Gallery on Facebook.

Tom Agnetti is also the January artist for Deborah’s Art Wall at the Twin Bridges Public Library.  His reception will be Friday evening, January 27^th, 4:30 to 6 pm.

The Twin Bridges Book Club meets at The Weaver’s Studio third Thursday of the month.  February’s book selection is The Faraway Horses by Buck Branaman. 

The Twin Bridges Community Association is hosting its Annual Wine Tasting Fundraiser Sunday February 26^th, 1 to 4 pm at The Shack .  Ticket prices are $25 per person or $40 per couple.  More details to come regarding entertainment, door prizes and silent auction items.  The next TBCA meeting is Friday February 3^rd, 8:30 am at The Old Hotel. 

The GRVCCA Annual membership meeting is scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 pm at The Philanthropy Building in Sheridan, Thursday February 16.  This is business networking opportunity that will involve sharing local business successes and struggles and a Buy Local presentation. 

From TBS Calendar:

Thurs. Jan. 26:  BB w/ West Yellowstone @ Home, GBGB 1:30 pm; Wrestling @ Butte High, 6 pm

Friday & Saturday Jan 27 – 28:  State Speech & Drama MSUB

Fri. Jan 27:  JrHi BBB w/ Shields & Townsend @ Home; Wrestling Mixer @ Corvallis, 5 pm

Sat. Jan 28:  2^nd – 5^th Grade BB practice 9 am; BB w/ White Sulphur Springs @ Home, GBGB, 2:30 pm; 2^nd – 5^th Grade Boys play ½ time 7 pm varsity game;

Mon. Jan. 30:  JrHi BBB @ Sheridan, 4 pm; B & GBB w/ Butte High  Frosh, JV only

Tues. Jan 31:  Science Fair, MP Gym all day, open to public 4:30 – 6:30 pm; JrHi BBB & Boys C squad @ Ennis 4 pm;  College/ Financial Aid Night, MP gym & MT Room, 7 pm.

Feb. 1:  February is I LOVE TO READ MONTH; Booster Club mtg @ 6 pm. 

Thurs Feb 2:  Happy Groundhog’s Day!!  JrHi BBB @ Three Forks Tourney; BB @ Ennis, 2:30 pm BGBG

Fri Feb 3:  7^th Grade Fundraiser Chili Feed tba; BB w/ Manhattan Christian @ Home, 3 pm BGBGB

Sat Feb 4:  JrHi BBB @ Three Forks Tourney; SW “A” Divisional Wrestling @ Anaconda

Let me know what I’m missing: email or call with your event information. 

Sarah Miller (406) 531-1422, sustainablysadie@hotmail.com. 

Sustainable Cleaning and Cooking Tips

Sustainably Sadie

Sustainable Cleaning and Cooking Tips

I don’t know about you, but this lack of winter weather has me thinking spring.  I see flies coming out of winter hibernation, hear birds chirping, and it makes me think of spring cleaning.  Some people love to clean, for most it’s a chore.  It was my first job out of college, cleaning at Merry Maids in Missoula.  If you’re one of those who like to clean, consider starting a small business venture…there is a growing need in our aging community and the pay is lucrative…I heard professional crews in Bozeman make $45 an hour! 

I have some environmental and pocket book friendly cleaning tips.  The three main cleaning products I keep around are bleach, white distilled vinegar and baking soda.  I dilute the bleach in a spray bottle for sanitization purposes; I mix the vinegar in a spray bottle with water, approx 1:1.  The vinegar is great for cleaning counter tops, bathrooms, mirrors and windows, anything really.  For scrubbing action, I sprinkle baking soda in basins, toilet and tub then spray the vinegar over the top.  That same bubbling action that our kids make happen with their volcano science projects occurs and the result is a fresh scent and clean surfaces.  For extra scrubbing action, sprinkle baking soda on sponge then rub on surfaces. 

A gallon of white vinegar is usually just a couple of bucks (watch out, it is more expensive during canning season when everyone is making pickles), and the same with baking soda.  There are many natural cleaning products on the market, but for my money that spray bottle of vinegar is just as effective.  Some tough cleaning jobs require chemicals, but considering the damaging effects to the environment and your family’s health, think about a healthier, cheaper alternative. 

An email was passed along to me touting the many beneficial uses of coffee filters; the email began with “1000 count coffee filters can be bought at the dollar store.”  Use filters instead of paper towel for cleaning surfaces and glass.  The filters could also be used as aromatic sachets for closet and clothes drawers or as herb sachet for flavoring soups, stews, broths, cooking.   Fill with dried flowers, herbs, or spices then tie closed with string (for your cooking use food quality, dye-free string). 

I’m sure you have awesome sustainable tips for cleaning and cooking.  Share tips, make suggestions,  or ask questions at www.sustainablysadie.blogspot.com.  Email sustainablysadie@hotmail.com, call 531-1422. 

Twin Bits

Tom Agnetti, published artist, is teaching at The River’s Edge Gallery on Mondays and Tuesdays starting Jan, 9th.  Classes start after school and go until approx. 6 pm. Monday classes are for 4-8th graders and Tuesday is geared towards High School and adult students. The class is $5. All you need to get started is pencils and a pad or paper. Show up and leave when you want, pick Tom's brain to get your art on paper!!!  Check out The River’s Edge Gallery on Facebook.

Tom Agnetti is also the January artist for Deborah’s Art Wall at the Twin Bridges Public Library.  His reception will be Friday evening, January 27^th, 4:30 to 6 pm.

The Twin Bridges Public Library has new hours for Saturdays.  Beginning early January,

 the TBPL will be open 10 am to 3 pm Saturdays, 10 am to 6 pm Monday thru Friday. 

 Mark your calendars:  the TBPL is hosting a Memoir Writing Workshop, Sunday

 June 10, 1 to 5 pm taught by Michael Czarnecki.

Also on Facebook, the Twin Bridges Community Association.  Next regular meeting is schedule for 8:30 am, Friday, January 20 at The Old Hotel.    

The GRVCCA Annual membership meeting, 5:30 to 7:30 pm at The Philanthropy Building in Sheridan, Thursday February 16.

TBS Calendar:

Jan 18 - 20:  TBS semester tests

Friday Jan. 20:  Early out, 12:30 pm.  BB @ Harrison GBGB

Saturday Jan. 21:  Speech & Drama Divisionals @ Gardiner; BB w/ Gardiner @ Home, 2:30 pm GBGB; 2^nd – 5^th Grades, BB Practice in MP Gym, 9 am to 11 am, 2^nd – 5^th Girls play @ ½ time @ 7 pm Varsity Game.

No school Monday January 23. 

Tuesday Jan. 24:  2^nd – 5^th grade BB practice @ Lunch recess; JrHi BBB w/ Whitehall @ Home

Thurs. Jan. 26:  BB w/ West Yellowstone @ Home, GBGB 1:30 pm

Friday & Saturday Jan 27 – 28:  State Speech & Drama MSUB

Fri. Jan 27:  JrHi BBB w/ Shields & Townsend @ Home

Sat. Jan 28:  2^nd – 5^th Grade BB practice 9 am; BB w/ White Sulphur Springs @ Home, GBGB, 2:30 pm; 2^nd – 5^th Grade Boys play ½ time 7 pm varsity game

Mon. Jan. 30:  JrHi BBB @ Sheridan, 4 pm

Tues. Jan 31:  Science Fair; JrHi BBB & Boys C squad @ Ennis 4 pm;  College/ Financial Aid Night, MP gym & MT Room, 7 pm.

Let me know what I’m missing: email or call with your event information. 

Four Rs of Sustainability

Sustainably Sadie

4 Rs of Sustainability

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.  In my Buy Local research I have come across programs that add the word Rethink as the fourth “R”, referring to rethinking your connection to your community.  There are environmental benefits to shifting part of your family budget to the local economy.  Buying close to home Reduces your carbon footprint (think driving to Bozeman versus driving 9 miles up the road).  Money spent in your local community stays in your community.    Sustaining our beautiful, natural environment (it’s what we love about living here, right?) requires that we Reduce our usage, Reduce our consumption, Reduce the amount of packaging we bring into our homes and eventually our landfills. 

Reuse glass containers; Reuse your plastic containers in reasonable ways (plastic eventually begins to break down and leach toxins); Reuse in creative and safe ways.  Plastic peanut butter jars can easily become storage containers, craft projects or works of art!  I prefer to store food in glass but non-consumable goods (buttons, twist ties, rubber bands, plastic grocery sacks, anything) can be stored in matching repurposed containers.  With Valentine’s Day, Easter and Mother’s Day approaching consider letting the kids decorate those jars with markers, paint, stickers, and glitter for a unique flower vase.  Are there other products you could reuse/ repurpose for unique flowers?  Before the holidays, our daughter had made in school beautiful Christmas ornaments from old Christmas cards.  Clear salad container can be used to start seeds in soil—they easily become mini greenhouses.  Spent toilet paper rolls can also be used to start seeds indoors and then planted directly in your garden when it is warm enough—the cardboard is biodegradable and will break down.  Cut one end of the roll with four slits and then fold together to create a cup with flat bottom.   

Every Madison County dump site is supposed to have recycling bins.  The Waterloo dump is one exception that leaps to mind.  In Twin Bridges, also the site of the Madison County landfill, we have glass, aluminum/ tin, newspaper, cardboard recycling.  Plastic recycling can be found in Ennis, Bozeman and Butte for #1 and #2 plastics.  A quick Google search found www.recyclemontana.org and www.recyclebutte.com.  Recycling, Repurposing, and Reusing in creative ways, for some, has become successful small business ventures.  Barn wood, horse drawn machinery, and antiques are resold; Reusing products reduces the devastating affects of how over-consumption is negatively changing our global environment.  Rethinking how you shop and buy for your family can result in extremely beneficial changes not only for the local economy but also the planet.  Do you need to buy individual serving packs because they are convenient or could you separate large bags of chips, popcorn, cookies at home into small reusable containers?  Share your successes, find people to co-op recycling trips, and ask questions at www.sustainablysadie.blogspot.com.  Email sustainablysadie@hotmail.com, call 531-1422. 

Twin Bits

Kerstin Clark is offering Winter Reading and Activity Hour for kids 2 -5 years old at the Twin Bridges Public Library every Monday 10 – 11 am until March 26.  Programs will not be held on non-school days; the TB Public Library is contact for this event, 684-5416. 

The River’s Edge Gallery is going to be offering weekly art classes for kids 4^th – 8^th grade and 9^th to adult.  More info to come.  Look for the River’s Edge Gallery on Facebook. 

Also on Facebook, the Twin Bridges Community Association.  A busy group of worker bees who care about their community:  work party 10 am to Noon @ The Old Hotel to spruce up the wreaths that adorn Main Street, Saturday January, 14; TBCA board annual budget meeting @ The Shack Noon, Friday January 13; regular mtg @ The Old Hotel, 8:30 am, Friday, January 20. 

The GRVCCA Annual membership meeting, 5:30 to 7:30 pm at The Philanthropy Building in Sheridan, Thursday February 16.

Thurs Jan 12:  BB @ Shields Valley & Wilsall, 4 pm; JrHi BBB @ Lima, 4:30 pm

Friday Jan 13: BB w/ Lima @ Home, 5:30 pm BG

Saturday Jan 14:  Speech & Drama @ Three Forks; JrHi BBB TB Tourney @ Home; BB @ Sheridan, 2:30 pm BGBG

Monday Jan 16:  Trailblazers 4-H mtg 7 pm in TBS Lunchroom.

Tues. Jan 17:  School Board mtg, 7 pm MT Room

Jan 18 - 20:  TBS semester tests

Friday Jan. 20:  Early out, 12:30 pm.  BB @ Harrison GBGB

Saturday Jan. 21:  Speech & Drama Divisionals @ Gardiner; BB w/ Gardiner @ Home, 2:30 pm GBGB; 2^nd – 5^th Grades, BB Practice in MP Gym, 9 am to 11 am, 2^nd – 5^th Girls play @ ½ time @ 7 pm Varsity Game.

No school Monday January 23. 

Let me know what I’m missing: email or call with your event information. 

Sustainable in the New Year

Sustainably Sadie

Create Sustainable Resolutions

Here comes 2012, ominous Mayan calendar apocalypse looming, elections, full of possibility.  Take the sensationalism with a grain of salt.  Plan for life as usual for twenty-twelve…remember Y2K? 

Is it too late to make a resolution for 2012?  I don’t think so; it probably shouldn’t be limited to once a year to resolve to make positive changes in one’s life.  Whenever we need a tune-up; resolve to be happy. 

You can always make a resolution to lead a more sustainable life.  Perhaps looking at the family budget and evaluating what you can cut out in order to save.  Perhaps start setting aside money for Christmas 2012.  Plan ahead to stay out of debt.  Set aside extra cash for a monthly massage, special dinner out, or weekend get-away.  You could resolve to make all your own cards for 2012 instead of buying birthday, Valentine’s, Christmas cards, etc.  You may save more than you could imagine. 

The easiest way to stick to our New Year’s Resolution is to be realistic when setting one.  If you are a 3-pack a day smoker, don’t resolve to go cold turkey starting Day One, but do enlist the help of the Quit Line:  866 485-QUIT.  If you are resolving to be healthier in 2012, perhaps lose weight, look for a program that suits your personal needs.  If you’re not a morning person, don’t sign up for an early work-out class.  If chocolate is your weakness, allow yourself a special treat of small amount once in a while.  It is better to allow yourself a small portion of what you are craving then to deny yourself to the point of breaking. 

In yoga, we set “intentions.”  We are not attached to the outcome, but we intend to be more forgiving, to be brave, to be strong, be gentle (for example).  If you want to make a change that will last the whole year or a lifetime, be forgiving to yourself, stick to a routine that will lead to happy results, and set realistic goals.  If you’re back on the chocolate before Valentine’s Day, forgive yourself.

Sustainable Gift Giving

By Sustainable Gift Giving, what I really want to talk about is Re-Gifting.  Re-giving a gift is a delicate matter.  For us, it is a big part of running a sustainable household.  I have a box (or two) of items that we have been given that can be saved for a last minute gift idea.  The largest contribution of gifts to save for another deserving receiver comes from our daughter, Eva.  Eva is my step-daughter and in addition to her birth parents, almost every one else in the family is divorced, resulting in twice as many people to give gifts.  And her relatives want to show their love so they send clothes that may be too big or not her style; she ends up with three brand new jump ropes at her birthday; and she’s lost the keys to the six diaries she has.  So without much fuss, and quietly, I put brand new items away.  And I save the pretty gift bags to re-use as well.  With the kids, there is always that chance that a friend is going to have a birthday party coming up or gift exchanges at school and it is family-budget friendly to reach into that box, pull out a brand new gift and re-wrap it so it can be passed along.  I think with good intentions in mind and trying to avoid hurt feelings, you can be quite successful with re-gifting.  Just avoid re-gifting to the person who originally gave you the gift. 

I know that you’re already doing it, Montanans are notoriously self-reliant.  You’re already making sustainable choices for your family.  I would love to hear from you.  Email sustainbablysadie@hotmail.com, check out the blog www.sustainablysadie.blogspot.com.

Twin Bits

The GRVCCA Buy Local group is looking for local businesses to host Business After Hours in 2012.  Host an event at your business to advertise new products or services, inform the public and network with other Ruby Valley Business people.  Email me, Sarah Miller, at above email or call my cell, 531-1422

The TBCA will meet at The Old Hotel 8:30 am Friday January 6. 

Friday January 6:  TB Basketball w/ Whitehall at Home, 2:30 BGBG

Saturday January 7:  Speech & Drama at Loyola; BB at Lone Peak, 4 pm

Monday Jan. 9:  2^nd thru 5^th grades BB practice @ Lunch recess

Tues. Jan 10:  JV BB @ Three Forks, 4 pm GB

Thurs Jan 12:  BB @ Shields Valley & Wilsall, 4 pm; JrHi BBB @ Lima, 4:30 pm

Friday Jan 13: BB w/ Lima @ Home, 5:30 pm BG

Saturday Jan 14:  Speech & Drama @ Three Forks; JrHi BBB TB Tourney @ Home; BB @ Sheridan, 2:30 pm BGBG

Monday Jan 16:  Trailblazers 4-H mtg 7 pm in TBS Lunchroom.