Many years ago, my sister, Sandy, presented me with my very, first Victorian-style, surprise ball. As I unwound the long crepe paper strips, little trinkets fell around me. I loved it!
When we learned about the Giant Saran Wrap Ball, we knew we wanted to share it with our extended family. Our first ball contained simple prizes such as balloons, buttons, and stickers. Today it has been zhuzhed up into something way fancier. You might even see cash flying! Gone were the days of slowly opening a softball-sized, surprise ball. Now, unwrapping is fast, frenzied, and loud.
Here’s how to make your own Saran Wrap Ball:
Sort your prizes by size.
Wrap the grand prize first. It will be at the center and the most anticipated.
Two people begin wrapping with small, pliable trinkets. When the ball gets bigger, larger prizes can be added.
Depending on the yardage of cling wrap used, your ball can be any size. We used six rolls of Dollar General plastic wrap. Hint: Instead of using one continuous piece of plastic wrap, cut it occasionally then wrap in a different direction. This keeps players *cough* Bryce, Jessica and Meris *cough* from hurling the entire ball like a bowling ball.
Creating the ball is simple enough but choosing the right gifts can make a huge difference in how successful the game is.
Typical stuffers like balloons, candy, gum, hair accessories and coins are fun, but here’s some clever swag I purchased for this upcoming Christmas. (Links in the list can be clicked to visit a site).
You can make two balls, one for children and one for adults. We make one. If Uncle Ray doesn’t like that shade of nail polish or the five-year-old hates beef jerky, we have a swap meet when all is done.
If you want to know what’s “In”, what’s current, what’s “cool”, just talk to Irene. When it comes to everything new, Irene knows.
Eons ago, Irene got us freezer bags that came with a pump that sucked the air out. You put food in the bag, sucked the air out, and Voila! – packages of food took up less room AND didn’t get freezer burnt. They were awesome! … and costly. We couldn’t afford additional bags, so it ended up being a one-time-use for us. As a result, I never gave them another thought.
Fast forward to the 21stcentury. I was having a conversation with Irene about normal stuff: plans for the day, upcoming gatherings, kids and husbands and health (or more specifically, declining health) and she casually mentioned having to remove ALL of Bryce’s clothes, blankets, pillows, etc. from the guestroom bed. (Yes, Bryce. Unlike me, your Mom does not think you are totallyperfect!) She commented that it shouldn’t be too difficult considering he had them all in bags with the air sucked out so they were flat as pancakes and then went on to praise her dog, Sally, give me updates on mutual friends, complain about aches and pains (and our brother), etc. The conversation ended.
Two days later, I realized something was niggling at my brain. I stopped and focused. I replayed our conversation in my head and heard her say “…flat as a pancake”. Wait! What? Sweaters and blankets and pillows? Oh My!
For years I have been struggling with storage space. We left a house with 14 walk-in closets and moved to a small house with only 3 ½ teeny, tiny closets. There is no floor space for cabinets, or trunks. There is NO WHERE to store clothing, let alone linens, blankets, spare pillows.
Our finances have improved since the kids moved out and the cost of the bags have dropped over the last 4 decades. I decided to take the plunge! I ordered the Hibag Vacuum Storage Bag kit on Amazon. Total cost including tax: $38 (There is free shipping for Prime members.)
The small box that was deliverd contained:
5 Jumbo bags (a whopping 27.5” x 39.35”)
5 Large bags (a super large 21.65” x 33.5”)
6 Medium bags (a still big 19.5” x 27.5”)
2 Small bags (15.7” x 23.5” and can hold 2 sweaters)
2 Rollup Travel Bags (15” x 21” and doesn’t HAVE to be used for travel)
Self Stick Labels
Travel Hand Pump
I began with my biggest nemesis: Mom’s Hand Crocheted Afghans. I have piles of them! They are stacked with the blankets, and washed and rewashed several times a year just to remove the dust. When stacked, the pile was cumbersome and almost 24” high.
Using the Jumbo bags, I laid the bag flat and placed TWO afghans side by side. Then I zipped it up and removed the white cap.
Place the vacuum nozzle over the hole and turn it on!
That’s it! You’re done. Screw the cap back on and put it away. My original 2 foot stack of afghans was reduced by almost 10”.
Even without a size reduction, it would be worth it. They are so much easier to handle! You can throw it like a Frisbee. Since they’re protected from dust, I won’t have to launder and re-launder, so there’s a savings, too!
Imagine blankets, PILLOWS (Yes! You can squish pillows!), summer clothes during winter and winter clothes during summer. If you do use them for travel, you can reduce your suitcase by over half. It’s endless!
So, I absolutely love them. In fact, I ordered another set. I’m going to my daughter’s next!
This post has been percolating in my head since Christmas for a while. Sandy asked what she could do with the hundreds of used Christmas cards she had. Well, I didn’t know, but the challenge was accepted!
During the pandemic, many of us were sheltered in place and decided tode-stress and get all that bad juju out of our living quarters. And, I cannot believe I’m about to say this, but I tried my hand at reducing stuff, too. I made it quick. Keep? Donate? Or trash it?
Here’s where the conundrum lies. What if you can’t use it but it’s too good to throw away? Donate? Yes! But you’ll be surprised (or maybe you won’t) that not everything can be donated easily. And if an item is too difficult to donate, green is the new black, so take a peek on Pinterest and repurpose some of those things.
All of the links are listed at the bottom of this post for easy access.
Eye glasses:
Your old glasses can benefit others in your community or around the world.
Lions Clubs International has a partnership with Walmart and Sam’s Club. The blue and white Lions Club collection boxes are at most Walmart or Sam’s Club Vision Centers.
Or, if you’d like to help people in need across the globe, consider donating to VSP Global so someone in need can see.
Musical Instruments
Perhaps you had foot the bill for your child’s music class. Or that child was interested in, let’s say, a guitar, then a mandolin, then a ukulele and then bag pipes, and then…..?
In the Cincinnati area, a remarkable program called Lonely Instruments for Needy Kids (LINKS), will accept musical instruments in any shape. The donated instruments are refurbished at no charge to the program by repair technicians at Buddy Roger’s Music. They are evaluated, repaired, sanitized, and put in good playing condition — ready to be placed in the hands of an eager student.
An unused piano takes up a lot of floor real estate. If it’s a piano you’d like to donate, this organization will pick yours up in all 50 states.
Here’s an exemplary example of a repurposed instrument. My friend, Bob Richardson, creates these lovely, yet whimsical, art pieces that will make you smile. The photo below depicts one of my favorites. He has created a curvaceous Bluetooth speaker from an Original 1915 Silver Euphonium. The sound, which will play continuously for 6-8 hours, is said to be exquisite. You can see more of Bob’s signature pieces on his website or Facebook page.
Yarn
Sewn, crocheted or knitted items can find a donation home, rather quickly. But what about those “raw” materials that’s been accumulating?
Binky Patrol will happily accept batting, yarn, soft fabric and notions to make blankets for children that are ill, abused or in shelters.
Purposefully using up your stash of yarn, fabric, and other materials, is a great way to promote sustainability in your own home. It’s the waste-not, want-not mentality. Try one of projects pictured below. Either one is sure to use up quite a bit of yarn.
Gently used bras can be donated to Bra Recycling or Free The Girls. Both organizations have sent millions of bras all over the world to empower girls and women.
Makeup
We’ve all been there. We buy a beauty product online and it’s the wrong color; shampoo recommended by the hair gods makes you smell like a dude; or something we don’t really need-need, like those magnetic false eyelashes (I only bought 2 sets). So, what to do with all the barely-touched beauty products you just don’t have a need for?
This link provides 5 five places to donate new or gently used beauty products.
Paint
Sandy’s brain will break if she can’t find someone who can benefit from the used latex paint she has collected. In my local area of Cincinnati, Matthew 25: Ministries’ will accept paint as well as Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Lexington, KY. Check locally before you start lugging paint around town, though. ReStore will mix the paint to sell and raise cash for Habitat for Humanity and Matthew 25: Ministries will re-blend the paint and provide the new colors to nonprofits, schools, public facilities and low income individuals.
Christmas Cards
And, finally, what to do with those used Christmas cards!
Start with organizations that make creative projects. Schools, churches, assisted living facilities, even correctional institutions. There are hundreds of ideas on Pinterest if you’d like to give your cards a second life. If you prefer donating them, St. Jude’s Ranch for Children has a recycled card program which provide teens with life and work skills.
As promised, here’s a list of all the links:
Your prescription glasses can be donated to VSP Global
If near Cincinnati, Ohio donate musical instruments in any shape to LINKS
Greeting (Christmas) cards can be sent to St. Jude’s Ranch for Children; or if you’d like to repurpose cards yourself, visit Pinterest for hundreds of tutorials
Most items can be donated or used for another purpose. No matter the method, every donation and repurpose has an impact.
Spring is here and summer is just around the corner! There’s nothing better then refreshing lemon on hot days. I have been making these Lemon Bars for over 40 years and they’ve never disappointed! I can’t give credit to whom it belongs, but my whole family thanks them! You will, too. In under an hour, you can be serving these super easy and so delicious treats!
Lemon Bars
2 ¼ c all-purpose flour
1 c butter (room temperature)
½ c powdered sugar (plus a little more for sprinkling)
4 eggs (room temperature)
2 c sugar
¼ tsp salt
5 Tbls lemon juice (fresh is best)
1 tsp baking powder
9 x 13 glass dish (rectangular)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In bowl, add 2 c flour, butter and powdered sugar.
Cut with fork or pastry cutter until it’s crumbly.
Press into an ungreased 9 x 13 pan. Bake for 20 minutes.
While the crust is baking, whip eggs lightly with a fork. Add sugar, salt and lemon juice. Mix well. Stir in remaining ¼ flour and baking powder.
Pour onto the hot crust. Bake 25 minutes.
When cool, sprinkle with powder sugar and cut into squares. Serve. They’re best when cold.
You can refrigerate or even freeze any leftovers, but I seriously doubt there will be any!
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