Living in a container

If you like the idea of living simple.  Consider getting yourself a container home.

 

I would like to be an owner of one and hope that we can create a community where we can swap containers home to live in for a break.

Container resort home, anyone?

Could you guess just by looking at this photo that this home is made up of six shipping containers?

It is located at Berjaya Hill, Bukit Tinggi in Pahang and took 4 months to complete.  Don't believe me?  Then watch how it is done by Anand Bungalows Sdn Bhd.



Like that?  Here are 15 more container home ideas to drool over.

Plastic Bag? Why keep them?

If you have read my posting about how you can store your grocery plastic bags and wondering why you should do that, it is obvious that you have not read my past postings :(

Anyway, if you are one of the Malaysians who have been annoyed by pet owners who do not pick up after their pets during their walks in public areas, you can give them your thoughts and a reason for them to keep their plastic bags and their 1.5L soda bottles.

Why?  Because you can share with them how they can make their own Eco-friendly poo scoop and this is how it looks and works.

So, the next question is...

Will you share this with your friends and start the ball rolling for poo free parks? 

Gift boxes? Handmade and eco-friendly.

If your children are sociable, they are bound to be invited to lots of parties.  If they are still schooling, think of the number of students each one of them have as classmates.  Add them up and you know that you will have to spend quite a bit on gifts for them to bring to parties they are invited to.

Other than storing up on gifts when sales are on, here is another way to save cost.  Make your own gift boxes.  You can start by keeping the empty plastic bottles.



The small gift boxes mean smaller and less costly gifts to look out for, right?

Rotten potatoes? Great for rust!

If your potatoes are already sprouting on you or going bad, don't throw them away.  Nick Engler has a way with potatoes to help get rid of rust on metal surfaces.  Be prepared though.  Anything left to rot in water is bound to stink!



OK, if that is not your cup of tea, try using your potatoes to propagate wood stem cuttings.

Learn how to do it right from Back Yard Diva.  You can't fail growing something with this method.  If the cuttings failed to take root, most likely the potatoes will.

Pots? Broken to perfection!

I have been doing some spring cleaning and have decided that some of the odd bits and pieces of toys that got separated from the main sets, most of which have been given away, have to go.  Dumping them is no easy task though.  Just think about the years of attachment my children have hanging on to  (hiding) them.

Maybe we should start a project together so that we can incorporate these toys into our "work".  My son shared an idea with me this morning when he showed me some photos of miniature gardens grown in broken pots.

I did a search and found the same photos posted at Ella and it was one of the ideas they found on Different Solutions. 

Will it be easy to recreate?  There are some free tutorials to check out at The Garden Diaries, About Miniatures, BuckEye Gardening and some videos to watch at Miniature Garden Shoppe to decide on what to grow.

OK, children, you can keep the toys but before you start breaking any of my pots, lets go find some broken ones from the parks nearby.

Let'us get to the park before anyone start burning the cuttings thrown at the park.

A kitchen island for free? Pallet possible.

Looking to get yourself an island for your kitchen?  Before you head off to the shops to find one, check this eco and rustic looking island out and see if you can try making it yourself.



Yes, you saw it right.  Spanish designers, Alessandra Samson and Paco Serinelli from Anatomica Design, had figured out how to built their very own Paletina out of wooden pallets.

So, how many pieces of reclaimed wooden pallet would you need to give that a go?  Here are the numbers:

6 pallets 120 x 80cm (47 x 31.5 inch)
3 pallets American type 100 x 120cm (39.5 x 47 inch)
1 pallet 60 x 80cm (23.6 x 31.5 inch)
1 pallet American type from 130 x 110 cm (51 x 43 inch)
1 pallet 100 x 80 cm (39.5 x 31.5 inch)

To complete the look and make it functional, you will also need:

1 laminated glass sheet
1 stove top
1 oven
1 kitchen sink

While it is cool and environmental friendly to use reclaimed wooden pallet, remember to pop by GreenUpgrader for some hints on how to tell if your collection of pallet is safe for upcycling.

I picked all this up from Gizmag.

Help! Cut less trees.

What have wheat straws got to do with paper?  Saving them is a step forward solution to using 80% less trees in the production of paper.  So, ask for "Step Forward" paper if you can get them.

I picked this up from Woody Harrelson, the guy I watched playing bartender on "Cheers".



Cheers, Woody.

Beyond your budget? It's time for change!

Yes, it is time for change if the house of your dream is beyond your budget.  How?  Dan Phillips, an American designer and builder from Texas can give you some ideas.  See what he can build on a low budget through his construction company Phoenix Commotion.