Building Homes and Bringing Families Back to the Table in KC

Two weeks ago I told you I was headed into Kansas City to participate in Libby’s Habitat for Humanity build in downtown KC,MO….. I thought I would share with you how it turned out!

Get Back to the Table is an ongoing campaign sponsored by Libby’s that is focused on bringing families back to the table to eat together.  The idea is that not only will you eat a more healthy, balanced meal if you sit together, but that it is good for the family to spend that time together talking and connecting.  You can read more about it HERE.

The Friday morning that we had scheduled as our work day was stormy….like thunder and lightning stormy.  ALL of the builds in Kansas City were cancelled…except ours.  I’m going to be honest…I was less than enthused to be heading out to build on a house in that weather…but as it was for a good cause and I would get to see some of my favorite Kansas City blogging buddies… I headed out the door with a smile.

We got shifted around and ended up heading to the two homes that were scheduled to be “blessed” on Saturday morning.  This means the keys are handed over to the families and a blessing is said.  There is still lots of work to be done after this point…but the reality of a new home sets in.

Our houses were side by side in a neighborhood that currently houses three other completed Habitat homes.  They aren’t just building homes for families over there…they are re-creating neighborhoods!

 

There was a lot of work to be done, truth be told by the end of the day I really wished we were working for TWO days… it seemed like we really got in the swing of things after lunch and I felt like we could have been REALLY effective on a second day there.  We worked on “finishing touches” in these houses, getting them ready to be shown on Saturday.  We installed door stops (easy enough), we hung doors (not at all easy), cut/stained and nailed down floor trim, cleaned cabinets, floors and tubs ridden with construction goo…. and the day simply flew by.

You can see lots of pictures of our work day AND of the House Blessing on Saturday if you visit Libby’s Table on Flickr.

If you aren’t already aware: Habitat for Humanity builds homes for families that might not otherwise have the opportunity to purchase a new home.  They get a lower priced home and help securing their financing, and they put in “Sweat Equity” on their home.  They help to build it.  There is a basic layout but the families are given options…a chance to have input…on their homes: the color of the tile, there are different options for the layout.

The family moving into House #1 above is a single mom raising her TRIPLETS!

The family moving into House #2 above is a single dad raising his five children (six, but one is 18 and not living with him any longer).

Both families currently live in rental housing/apartments.  They don’t have yards or their own rooms.  One of the things that Libby’s did as part of this project was to provide each home (and 10 others in Kansas City) with a fully stocked pantry full of Libby’s products and a dining room table/chairs and a set of dishes so that they would be prepared to sit down together to eat as a family in their new homes.

The day was exciting.  I got to work side by side with my friends…and see with my own eyes the difference that Habitat for Humanity is making in the Kansas City Community.

 

MomItForward and Libby’s Fruits and Vegetables sponsored my participation in this campaign.  I was paid for my time and my writing…but everything I’ve written is my own opinion.  It has to be.  I’m way to opinionated to let someone else tell me what to say.

Plymouth Church Plant and Bake Sale THIS Saturday (5/7)

Tomorrow is one of my favorite events of the year … the Plymouth Church Annual Plant and Bake Sale!! If you are planning to purchase plants for your yard or garden this year come by and browse the selection.

You can also purchase some super fantastic farm dirt to add to your garden or flower beds…the first year we added it to our garden we were amazed at the difference it made! (If you come early enough you can even have your dirt served up by the amazing SuperDad himeself!!)

Not interested in plants?? Check out the fantastic spread of baked goods for sale…. you know that is where my donation is going Look around and you are likely to find a yummy Cinnamon/Sugar Orange Coffee Cake, Homemade Gooey Twix Bars, Rice Krispies Treats Scotchies and Chewy Cinnamon Raisin Granola Bars all courtesy of… moi.

Kids can be entertained in the Kids’ Station while you browse the goods and while you can certainly bring your own to ensure you have one, little red wagons will be provided for the lugging about of your purchases.

Check it out!!

Bras Across the Kaw

More than 1,000 bras will be strung across the North Lawrence river bridge over the Kansas River Friday, October 15 starting at 2:00 p.m.  92.9 The Bull and 1320 KLWN Radio host Chris Merrill’s Bras Across the Kaw awareness campaign, now in its third year, hopes to honor those who have lost the battle with breast cancer, give hope to those still fighting, and encourage early detection for those who may not know they have the disease.  Many bras have personal messages written on them honoring or remembering a loved one.

Staff from KLWN 1320 AM, Lazer 105.9, 92.9 The Bull and Health Care Access Clinic will be on the bridge assembling the bras all afternoon.  The completion time is estimated to be 5:30 p.m. and the bras will remain on display until October 25.  Additional sponsors of the event include Plato’s Closet and Mango Tan.

Last year- an entire strand on one side of the river- about 500 bras- were stolen a few days before the display was to come down.  The culprits were never found.

Join the “Bras Across the Kaw” Facebook Event for more information!

*Press release prepared by Great Plains Media – Lawrence

When a Deal is NOT a Deal: Recycling

So the big news in Lawrence is that Deffenbaugh Recycling is coming to town.  Everyone seems overjoyed that they can finally get curbside recycling…and for only $5 a month…what a deal!

Oh wait.  We could already get curbside recycling in Lawrence….it is slightly more expensive.  I pay $18/mo for weekly pick up and *GASP* I have to sort it myself.  I use Sunflower Curbside Recycling and I am more than happy with the service I receive from these LOCAL folks.

When Deffenbaugh decided to come to town Chris Scafe, owner of Sunflower Curbside Recycling, sent out an email to all of his patrons.  He had some great points…and I feel like sharing.  Lucky me…its my blog and I can do that!

Chris says that Deffenbaugh offered to buy his business from him when they came to town.  He also admits that he has toyed with the idea of service that offers “no sorting”.  This is what he discovered:

“At first, I thought about buying my own trash truck to pick up single-stream recycling, then I visited the materials recovery facility to see for myself how the recyclables are sorted.  I came away with concerns about the quality of their output because all the bales I witnessed were contaminated, for example, bales of newspaper also had aluminum, chipboard, and cardboard mixed in. ”

Chris says that contaminated bales are rejected by the buyers…and doubts that they are re-sorted once they are baled.   I assume that bales of recycling that are not sellable will become trash…despite the good intentions of the patrons.

What does this mean?  $5 a month seems like a great deal for curbside recycling.  I’m the FIRST ONE to jump on a good deal.  But in my opinion, this is NOT a good deal.  If the recycling that you set out becomes trash anyway…you are paying a second business to pick up your trash.

It also seems a bit of a double edged sword:  If you are not already recycling…I guess that any bit that gets through rather than sent to a landfill is progress.  However…if you already recycle and you switch to a service like the one offered by Deffenbaugh, you will be moving backwards.  Your previously recycled materials are now landfill fodder.

While their prices are not competitive at this stage of the game, here are some other ways that Sunflower Curbside Recycling is a better deal:

• Sunflower Curbside Recycling is a local company.  Deffenbaugh was bought  by a Credit Swisse a few years ago.
  
• SCR will pick up glass (Deffenbaugh will not).
• SCR picks up plastic bags.
• SCR does not require you to cut up your corrugated cardboard.
• SCR accepts ALL kinds of metals, not just cans.
• SCR picks up at commercial sites and at apartment complexes (Deffenbaugh will only serve single family residential sites).

I sincerely hope that everyone will recycle.  I am also sincerely hoping that each person or family will put a little extra consideration into HOW they chose to recycle.  Our family stands by Sunflower Curbside Recycling.  The price may be higher but the assurance that my intended purpose is being fulfilled is greater to me than the price tag.

As for sorting your own materials.  Really?  It is NOT that difficult.  The kids and I do it in about 5 minutes each week.  I simply toss them different types into separate plastic bags.  This also turns recycling into a teachable moment for my kids.  They learn to sort and organize.  They learn the value of recycling as we talk about WHY we are doing it every week (I have a toddler and a preschooler so yes, I answer this question EVERY week!).  This makes it one heck of a good deal.

Lawrence Twestival on Whrrl

5 Plus 10 Lawrence Food Pantry Challenge: Update

A couple of weeks ago I posted about Lawrence Food Pantries running low on food and needing help.  I issued a challenge for people to find 5 items from their own cupboards to donate…then to take $10 to their store of chosing and buy food to help fill those shelves.

My own contribution was that I would donate $10 of the registration fee from each participant of  my August coupon class. I have $80 to spend to fill those shelves…do you KNOW what I can do with $80?!?!

I’ve heard from several people that they did, indeed, take the challenge…this makes me exstatic!  The most exciting to me so far was hearing from my neighbor that his recent quest to stop smoking is not only a success…but he took the money he would have spent in August on cigarettes…and spent it at Checkers to help out the Food Pantry!  Thanks, Kent!!

Being a full 9 months pregnant at this point I’m not as quick about shopping out these deals as I normally am…so I’m slowly but surely adding to the reserves and I thought I would post my progress for all to see:

This is simply a picture of what I am donating from my own shelves….minus three boxes of cereal that are tucked away in my napping daughter’s closet

- 4 Light Kraft Mayo

- 5 Kraft BBQ Sauce

- 2 Kraft Salad Dressing

- 2 Family Size Tuna pouches

- 3 boxes of Kellogg’s cereal

Now…as I mentioned I have $80 to spend on groceries.  Here is what I have started with:

Here I have:

- 7 Boxes Hamburger/Tuna/Chicken Helper

- 10 Boxes Betty Crocker Instant Potatoes (a variety)

- 9 Boxes of Quaker Oatmeal

- 1 Betty Crocker Microwave Brownie

I used the recent mega event at Dillon’s to purchase these items and spent a whopping $9.72 (before tax).  I still have $71.28 to spend!  Yeah!!

You can still take the challenge!  Be sure to Email or Tweet Me and let me know you are up for it!  As I continue to add to the pile I will post pictures of what I’m buying and the total amount spent.  Want to donate but don’t want to shop?  I will do your shopping for you!  Email me and I will send you a PayPal request …and add your donation to my total.

Walking for the Cure

Jessica Boehle has a big challenge ahead of her…she is walking the Walk forthe  Cure 3-Day in Seattle September 11-13 benefitting the Susan G. Komen Foundation!  She will be walking 60 miles in 3 days to raise funds for breast cancer research.  Will you  help her out?  She is roughly $700 from her $2300 goal and would love your support! You can visit her personal page on the official site to donate HERE.

Jessica is one of our own, Lawrence … and Wii Mommies… she will be #ptwalking the whole way…lets support her and help her reach that goal!!

You can follow Jessica on Twitter and watch for her walking story on Whrrl!  You can follow along her journey and see where she is walking.

Even better?  The Wii Mommies will be checking in with Jessica during the first “leg” of her walk (Yes, yes I DO think I’m funny) on Friday morning during Blog Talk Radio.  You can listen at NOON CST by clicking HERE or you can call in and listen on your cell phone.

The following Friday, September 18th we will be interviewing Jessica about the whole experience.  We figure she’ll be walking again by then.

“5 Plus 10″ Challenge

I discovered the other day that the Food Pantries in Lawrence are in desperate need of replenishment.  In my mind…this is simply not acceptable! So I’m issuing a challenge:

I want for you to consider picking FIVE items that are currently in your pantry and setting them aside for donation….PLUS… take $10 and spend it on food for the shelters.  What can I get with $10 you ask?  A LOT!!  If you shop wisely and use coupons you can stretch your dollar to its fullest extent.

Here are a couple of deals at Dillon’s this week that make great deals:

Hamburger/Tuna Helper $1/ea  : While a great sale price in itself…if you print this $0.75/3 coupon you can use it at Dillon’s and it will double to $1/3.  You can also load E Coupons to your Dillon’s account via Cellfire..and there is a $0.75/3 there.  If you buy 3 you will be paying $0.42/box.

Knorr Rice or Pasta Sides $1/ea : Again, a great sale price gets even better when you apply your coupons.  Use a $0.75/2 from the August 2 RedPlum insert or $0.50/2 from the August All You Magazine and it will double to $1/2.  You can load an E Coupon at Unilever for $1/4.  If you buy 2 you will be paying $0.50/package if you buy 4 you will pay $0.25 each.

Hunt’s Manwich Sauce $1.25/ea: B2G1 (Buy 2 Get 1 Free) Coupon in the August All You Magazine.  This brings the price down to $0.83/each when you buy 3.

Ragu Pasta Sauce $1.59/ea : $0.60/2 from August 2 Red Plum Insert Will double to $1/2. You can also load a $0.50/1 E Coupon onto  your Dillon’s card from Unilever.  Your total will be $0.84/each when you buy 2.

If you ONLY buy the deals I listed here…you still haven’t even spent $7 on 12 items for the Food Panty!  You can add a package of 100% Juicy Juice Boxes… using a $1/1 printable.  You can also find most Kroger Brand canned fruits and vegetables between $0.88 – $1/each.

These are only examples of how you can make your dollar stretch to help out your neighbors in need.

So what am I going to do after all of this preaching??  I am going to donate $10 per registration fee from my August 18 Coupon Class to a dedicated shopping trip to help fill those shelves.  I have room for 10 people in the class…that is a possibility of $100 for me to spend!  Registration is $35 for a 2hr class… $25 if you follow me on Twitter and if you subscribe to my blog.

Not able to make the class….too tight on time to do any shopping?  Want me to do it for you?  Email me and let me know what type of monetary donation you would like to make and I will send you a pay pal request.  I’ll add your dollars to my trip and your name to the post!

I will take pictures and blog my shopping trip…you will be able to see exactly where and how the money is being spent.  Want to share your efforts as well?  Send me pictures of your trip and your household round up… I’ll post them here on my blog!

Wii Mommies and Subway = Fresh Fit Friday

Overstock Sale – Lawrence

What on earth is an overstock sale?!  Well…if you are in Lawrence your chance to find out is this Saturday from 7am-2pm.

An overstock sale is like a garage sale…only you are buying items that a fanatic couponer has purchased and has no room for.  I don’t normally post ads for people…for garage sales or any other sale…but this sale is that of a very good friend of mine.  I know, for a fact that all of her product is brand new and I know that she has fair prices.

If you like the idea of stocking up…you like the idea of saving money…but you haven’t had the time to use coupons on your own time…take advantage of someone elses efforts!  Buy name brand product at a deeply discounted price. She will also have a few garage sale items…some toddler boy and girl clothes, women’s clothes and an X-Box.

This sale is Saturday, August 15 from 7am – 2pm at 127 Pinecone Dr.  This is in the Pinetree Townhomes two blocks south of 19th & Haskell.

Great way to save  yourself some money…maybe have a few extra bucks for a margarita at The Sandbar

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