Our "Scrap" Backsplash

We got a "new" backsplash behind our oven.

And the best part is that I salvaged it!  

I feel like I need to explain a little because "salvaged" might not exactly be the best way to describe it.  It's more like the idea of something being recycled out of "post-industrial waste" rather than "post-consumer waste." 

My dad has a factory that uses this galvanized sheet metal.  The sheet we used for our backsplash is cut from the scraps left over after the machine is fully assembled.  I guess it's best described as "salvaged post-industrial waste" then, right?

Whatever you want to call it, I'm happy because I saved this piece from being recycled or sold on craigslist, which is where I convinced him the rest need to go. 

We had planned on having a local sheet metal shop create the same look out of stainless steel.  That would have been a perfect match.  I would have been supporting a local business.  And it wouldn't have had that little dent in it near the bottom.  I realize all that but it wouldn't have had the same story.  (You know the story about my dad and the salvaged post-industrial waste!)  It also would have cost a lot more and wouldn't have had that cute little dent. 

So how do you classify this?  Salvaged?  Reclaimed?  Repurposed?  I kind of like my new phrase.  Salvaged post-industrial waste has a nice ring to it.  Plus, I kept something out of the recycling bin for a while and I used another person's trash to make my new treasure.

Peace,

Stacey

Beauty Unpackaged (LUSH)

Why had no one told me about LUSH before last month?!?  Seriously, did you think I wouldn't love the idea of a store that uses minimal packaging?  Did you think I'd be scared off by bar shampoo?  Was it the smell?  Wait!  What?  You didn't know about LUSH either?  Well, you're going to love it! They are fresh handmade cosmetics that are made from organic, plant-based products that are never tested on animals.  Did I mention that most of them come without any packaging whatsoever?!?

Let me start at the beginning.  I've been contemplating the "No 'Poo" hair washing method for a few months now... okay, closer to a year but I'm "nervous."  Crazy, I know!  Especially since I'm not into hair in the first place.  And, really what do I have to lose?  If I don't like it, I could always just go back to my conventional method.  (Maybe I was just to lazy to hunt down a bottle for the shower... it couldn't be that simple.  Could it? But I digress...)  So when a friend suggested I check out this store because they sell shampoo bars with no packaging rather than liquid that comes in (dum, dum, dum) plastic, I was excited!  Super excited!

I was so excited that I even braved the busiest mall around to check it out.  I left with 2 purchases and 4 free samples!  I got so many samples because I was hesitant about the smells.  I quit using or wearing perfumed (or "stinky" as I now think of them) products about 6 years ago.  Now I can barely tolerate them.  According to the manager on duty, LUSH is all about the smell.  My friend who told me about it loves the Karma scent and I almost bought it. 

Anyway, I've been using the Seanik shampoo bar and Jungle solid conditioner ever since that trip last week. Neither of which are stinky at all! And so far, I'm loving it.  Seriously!  Give me a month or two and I'll do a better review.  I'm just happy to find plastic-free hair products so I wanted to share it with you.

The only regrettable thing (other than the fact that I'm not being compensated for this post) is that I couldn't find any package-free products that did not contain SLES.  Boo!  What is so hard to find something without SLES or SLS?

Let me know of any other stores that are package-free.

Peace,

Stacey

Reverse Your Ceiling Fan

It's Winter!  And it's gotten cold here in the Midwest so we reversed the direction of our ceiling fans.  

This is totally not my fan because I was being lazy.  Thank you clipart.

Making the fan spin clockwise, creates an updraft.  This updraft will send all the warm air near the ceiling back down to where all our warm-bodies are.  Remember that elementary science rule about how hot air rises while cold air sinks?  Well, this just helps bring all that hot air back down to where we are.

You can join in the fun of saving energy by bringing the warm air where you need it too.  It's simple.  Climb up on a ladder (which is much safer than a rocking chair!) and flip that little switch on the side of your ceiling fan.  Turn on your fan and watch it spin clockwise. It's that easy.

Happy Winter to all in the Northern Hemisphere!

Peace,

Stacey