This Valentine’s Day steer clear of the traditional chocolate and flowers, and give your Valentine what they really want – cash! The Jarware Piggy Bank is a great way to get little ones started on savings and to give older kids a few extra spending dollars.
Pick a regular mouth Mason jar and fill with a few bills. While $10 in $1 bills should do the trick, you can decide just how much you want to fill the piggy!
As you probably already know...Jarware's mission is to repurpose your Mason jars in a variety of innovative ways. We love finding good ideas for repurposing our favorite jars.
So, we found this awesome article via Fix.com and wanted to share their illustrated how-to on DIY Mason jar projects:
Source: Fix.com
Jenny, of ADomesticWildFlower.com, recently fell in love with Jarware! Here is a great sidecar recipe from her:
"This recipe for a sidecar is one that uses freshly squeezed Meyer lemon juice and was shared with me on the front porch of a friend and fellow wildflower, Mary of FiveMarysFarms.com. In addition to being an outstanding business woman turned rancher and friend, she makes a solid cocktail."
A note about lemons: You are likely familiar with one or two varieties of lemons: Eureka lemons and potentially Meyer lemons. Eureka lemons are the standard lemon most of us think of. Meyer lemons have smoother skin, can be closer to an orange hint in color, and have more juice. They are the lemons you want for this beverage. I live a long, long way from any citrus groves but the wintertime is when I see the Meyers in my grocery store. If you can't find Meyers, use Eurekas.
5M Hot Sidecar Recipe
1 shot fresh squeezed Meyer lemons (use the Citrus Juicer)
1 shot of your favorite bourbon
1/2 to 1/4 shot Cointreau
1 tablespoon of golden honey
Mix in a mug or mason jar with hot water and a tea bag of chamomile tea to your liking.
Enjoy!
This holiday season, gift a gift that can be reused and re-purposed over and over. The Drink Lid is a sure bet. This one fits straws and snaps closed for sealed transport.
Here are some fun ideas for last minute gifts:
Coffee fan? Gather some travel size Baileys, or Kahlua, or both! Then grab a bag of coffee beans or grounds, a Mason jar, and a Drink Lid.
Or, you can gift a new martini glass, travel gin or vodka, perhaps some olives, and a Mason jar with a Cocktail Shaker lid*!
*The stainless-steel shaker top also doubles as a 1 ounce shot pour.
Another option is the Fruit Infuser.
For a healthy gift, you can give a Mason jar, a Jarware Juicer, and some wholesome snacks like fresh fruit, granola, protein bars, and trail mix.
Here's a different way to use the Jarware Flower Frog: as a toothbrush holder! #upcycling
How about the cute Mason jar Piggy Bank with chocolate coins?
Or, something for the bakers. The Spice Lid can be use for more than just spices.
You could also give a reusable Tealight Holder that holds both tealights AND taper candles!
According to the EPA, Americans produce an average of 4.4 pounds of waste per day. To put that in perspective, hold a 2-liter bottle of soda in one hand. It’s not light, and that’s 4.5 pounds. Each American citizen produces that much weight in waste (on average), every single day!
Last December, nymag.com published an article about a young woman who “produced so little trash [for two years] that it all fits in a single, 16-ounce Mason jar.” Lauren Singer leads the way in environmentally friendly living. Fueled by her passion as an Environmental Studies major and inspired by the “Zero Waste Home” lifestyle, she founded The Simply Co. (an organic laundry detergent company) and authors the Trash is for Tossers blog where she details her eco-friendly adventures.
She says the first step is to ask yourself the following questions:
- How much garbage am I currently producing and what types? Ex: food packaging- this can help you determine the places you can start reducing and looking for alternatives.
- Why am I even interested in decreasing my impact? Is it for the environment, is it to decrease toxins in my life, is it to decrease clutter, is it because i’m totally broke and want to save money? Really understand your motivators and use them as a place to start decreasing what you use.
- What do I actually use on a daily basis (what is in my daily routine) and what do I not use/need? This can help you determine the things that you can donate and reduce.
- What products do I use that I can get more sustainable alternatives to? Ex: exchanging plastic tupperware for glass or Mason jars.
-The most important one straight from Yoda's lips: How much and what do I really need to be happy? Really assess why you own and hold on to certain things, and determine if you really need that giant foam finger in the back of your closet to be happy.
Here are 7 tips for a greener lifestyle:
1. Carry a reusable bag and drink container. Yay Mason jars!
2. Ditch the excess plastic. Take-out bags, to-go utensils, straws, etc. Donate and recycle as much as you can.
3. Replace your products with sustainable, long-lasting alternatives. Get a good tote bag to use instead of plastic bags, upgrade to stainless steel kitchenware and straws, and utilize our favorite item - Mason jars! (food storage/transport, drinkware, item organization, portable trash container)!
4. Get creative. What you can use in different ways? You’d be surprised how many items can be re-purposed. Mason jars offer a ridiculous amount of creative possibilities. From coffee, takeout, leftovers, toothbrush holders, lotion dispensers, cocktail shakers, juicers, piggy banks, honey dippers, herb savers, drink-to-go containers, tea infusers, unique decor, lights… the list is nearly endless.
5. Make your home your sanctuary. For Lauren that means having a few things that are really important to her personally. Most were either handed down or obtained on craigslist.
6. Clear your clutter. Ask yourself, what do I not need? What do I wear every day? What did I buy last year that still has tags on it? Clothes, movies, novelty items… the first step to going waste-free is placing an appreciation on REAL value. Remove the clutter from your life.
7. Buy in bulk. Save money, use less packaging.
Teaching kids to save their loose change is a great way to instill a sense of frugality. A great way to do this is to make a game out of it!
Get two Mason jars, one for you and one for each kiddo. Then, on your marks, get set, and go - hunting for spare change around the house, in pants pockets, etc.
Once you’ve found all the change, compare jars. Count the change in each, and whoever has the highest dollar value wins! To add more fun to the lesson, use the Mason jar(s) with the Jarware Piggy Bank. It makes saving extra cute, but also demonstrates the value of re-purposing.
Have fun saving! And enjoy #RaisingTheJar.
