Recycling, Giving Back, and Making Money for your Schools...

I've heard a very good message over and over again this week, its this video. Everyone who wants an inspirational message should listen to the video. In the video it talks about life lessons and meandering thoughts. The message talks about doing one thing every day that scares you. Think about that for a minute...Sometimes your ahead, sometimes your behind, the race is long. But if you could do that one thing every day, what would it be? How would it change your day? How would it change another persons day?

I thought about this early on in the week...I've been hearing for the past month that our daughters school has a Paper Drive. If you are not familiar with this, parents bring in newspapers, magazines, phone books, and office paper to the Paper Drive and at the end of the paper drive the school gets money for the amount of paper they turn in. If your school doesn't have a Paper Drive program, it's a great idea. Research it, talk to someone, and act on it!

Okay so I'm going to do one thing a day that scares me...Wow, that could be a lot of things, but finding something that scares me in a positive way to change the world. First thought, okay keep collecting papers and take it to the school drive. Nope nope that just wont do...Why wont it do? Because yes if every parent brings in newspapers that's a lot of newspapers right? But what if you could double that and how would you do that?

Our office has a huge recycling bin full of office papers, the box is taller than I am and certainly 3 times the size of an average person. If there's 20 people in the office and each person recycles their paper once a month that's nearly about 200 people recycling their paper. Asking around the office proved to be a great way to give back to the school and recycle at the same time. If more people did this for one paper drive could you imagine the impact it would make? So think about it...What is one positive impact change to make that would scare you to step outside your box.

Remember to wear sunscreen,
Your Friends at Vanny Bean

Reusable Trays for Kids

My challenges at the grocery store include three things that are asked for inevitably, why is it that kids go crazy in a grocery store...so much to see, feel, look at and food companies do a great job of advertising! I struggle with the frozen food isle, bakery section, and the check out line due to all the candy that little hands are able to grab.

There is one particular item every time that is asked for...Anyone? Anyone? Yes, maybe you also have a child that asks for this same meal, chicken nugget convenient meals that come in the blue trays...Company remaned nameless but wow, I must say you have marketed this fully packagable high in fat and calories, terrible tasting meal to kids and have done a pretty good job of it...A definite A+ for my child asking for this meal every time. I usually give into this request out of time desperation at some time in the week, it's easy quick and usually includes some vegetable and let's not forget the hook line and sinker for all kids the gummies or the pudding with sprinkles.

When the meal is done, I don't want to throw away the tray and it seems that I could use it for something...The past few times, I have been tossing away this calorie packed preservative kids meal and cooking a chicken strip in the oven, adding some grapes, and corn to go along and Viola...a kids meal that looks and tastes better than a frozen one any day, time, money, and a plastic tray all saved in a day...

From our kitchen to yours,
Vanny Bean