Category Archives: green living tips organization

Thursday, September 8, 2011

I heart Carebags

Our produce bag evolution went something like this:

plastic bags —> biodegradable plastic bags —> paper bags —> CAREBAGS!

I became fed up with the high price of those fabric produce bags at my local Coop and refused to buy them (and I needed like 20+). I most certainly could have made my own, but I’ll be honest, I didn’t want to. So hooray when I found CareBags. I have like a hundred of these little bags (or it seems like I do) and I use them every week for my produce and other things such as my bulk shopping (perfect for beans, rice, tea, seeds, pasta, oats, etc). They hold a TON, extremely durable and such a groovy alternative to using plastic bags or paper bags for that matter. I estimate that since I’ve been using Carebags I have passed up using about 10,000 plastic bags. And that’s something.

Posted by Amber at 1:58 am

Labels: green living tips organization.

2 Comments

Kali May 25, 2014 at 7:03 am
We love Carebags too. I use them for making nut milk instead of cheesecloth. I also take them on all my travels.
Reply
- Amber May 27, 2014 at 6:38 am
  Yay! Someone else who loves Carebags! They are awesome!
  Reply

For the love of jars

I find that as an alternative cook I have an enormous amount of ingredients. What’s a girl to do? Dig out the ole’ label maker of course! I have a love affair with my label maker. I go on label making tangents in my house and label everything I can from the kid’s toys to items in my closet. Regretfully, it’s not the most environmentally friendly system, but oh how I love those neat pretty little labels!

To organize my kitchen, and more specificity, flours and baking ingredients, I find glass jars anywhere I can. Our local Coop has a fantastic bulk section…I’m talking bulk gf pasta, gf cereal, gf flours, teas, binders, thickeners, honey, almond butter…you name it and they probably have it – so great! So I don’t use plastic for many reasons and feel really good about storing food in glass. I have had great success at finding glass jars and storage at discount stores such as Ross and Marshall’s, and Ikea has by far my favorite glass containers. For smaller food quantities like those few little left over hemp seeds, I reuse jelly and applesauce jars.

An organized kitchen is indeed a happy place to create tasty eats!

Flours and and like in cupboard

Jelly and applesauce jars for powders, seeds, beans, etc.

Glass jars for everyday staples like gluten free oats, cereal and rice

Don’t throw away those plastic bins!
Use them to store your baking and cooking essentials

Glass jars and containers are perfect for storing nuts in the fridge!

Posted by Amber at 6:50 pm

Labels: green living tips organization.

6 Comments

Alissa @ Not Just Apples October 5, 2011 at 9:46 am
i love my glass jars for storage too – they are the best
Reply
Amber October 6, 2011 at 6:23 pm
Hi There Alissa. I agree, where would we be without them…when plastic just isn’t an option. Stay tuned for more organizational tips to come…
Be Well,–Amber
Reply
KellyBelly November 5, 2011 at 6:13 pm
I can drool over an organized pantry the same way most women drool over shoes. Weird?
I think I may need a label maker. Pieces of tape written on just don’t look as cute.
thanks
Reply
Amber November 6, 2011 at 12:04 am
KellyBelly~

You’re a girl after my own heart. You must get yourself a label maker ASAP! I found mine at Costco…for like $30. Worth its weight in gold!

Stay tuned for more fun organization posts (eye candy for us right)!

Be Well,
–Amber
Reply
Anonymous April 26, 2012 at 9:33 pm
old glass PB jars good to0
Reply
- Amber April 27, 2012 at 6:52 pm
  Ha ha! Yes, but for me it would be almond butter jars…as I’m severely allergic to peanut butter!:-)
  
  Have a great day.
  
  Be Well,
  –Amber
  Reply