We are lucky to live in an area that provides recycling cans for paper and plastics. However, for everything else we have to find a place that can take it or just store it until we can figure out the best way to deal with getting it recycled. For the most part, we have been able to find places to recycle all types of glass as well as electronics. However, there are some other types of things we have had some issues with like paint and rechargeable batteries and the Earth911.com website has been a help in us finding what we need to do.

Another tough item we had to look far and wide to recycle was glue. We finally found the Elmers Glue recycling program that lets visitors know how to recycle old glue bottles and sticks. You can also find out how to win school supplies like backpacks and binders. This is a great way to help the environment and get your kids together for next year’s school year. It does take some time and effort to not only recycle but to find out how you can recycle some everyday items and keep this stiff out of the landfills.

Recently my sister-in-law decided to redo a spare bedroom and turn it into a playroom for her two small children. To the dismay of their mother, one of the things these two like to do is draw on the walls so I suggested we paint at least one wall with chalkboard paint and let them have that wall to express their creativity. She was delighted at the suggestion and I even had some chalkboard paint left over from another project in our kitchen this past spring to donate to the cause.

My wife convinced me to help them pain since I was “so experienced”. I was actually pleased to do it because I wanted to see how my idea turned out. After we got the paint on I decided to make it into a giant chalkboard and lined the borders of the wall with some stained wood trim and fastened a wider piece on the bottom for the tray. I surprised the kids with those big fat pieces of chalk and the largest eraser I could find and they went to town on that wall. The excitement and joy was thanks enough but I sure did enjoy those lemon bars my sister-in-law made just for me!

One of the hardest things to do sometimes is to like, not love, where you live.  Though there are some things you can’t control, i.e. your neighbors, there are other things that can help you like and even love your space.

The first is the clutter.  If you are living in clutter, you need to break out from under those piles and free yourself from the ties that clutter brings.  You don’t realize it but that mess is a reflection of your life, your world and where you are going.  Get up and get rid of it as soon as possible.

Sort though your things.  Here is another tell tale into your soul.  If you can’t sort through your stuff you will never be able to sort through your life.  You may be laughing at these words but you know it’s true!  Until you can determine what to keep and what to throw away in your living space, you will never do it in your life.  If you can’t do it in your life, you won’t get very far.

Look at the colors around you.  They reflect your mood.  I recently went from a dark green (I hated my job when I painted it) in my home office to a bright jalapeno orange and light yellow.  It totally changes the way I feel when I walk into the room. Oh yeah, I am really liking what I do these days.

Your surroundings tell others a whole lot about you.  Look around and ask yourself if you like what others are seeing?