Or something like that.
Pretty much I just like being a suburban mom gangsta. In skinny jeans.
Clearly I have a thing for oxymoron’s.
And being ridiculous.
And saving the Earth by finding new uses for old crap.
And hoarding.
I lie.
I actually hate hoarding, but as someone who lives with a borderline hoarder (Dumb Dad) and a certified pack rat (#3), I do find myself being a bit of a pack-ratty-hoard sympathizer and attempt to make every effort to find a way to reuse our items before giving in to my first inclination to throw things away.
Because if it were up to me, we’d have about half of the items we currently have in our possession.
Not only do we not truly need a lot of what we own, but it all just piles up and lays around and expects me to clean it up.
And I’m not trying to hear all that noise.
So less is more. And more is annoying.
Accept for when it comes to my shoes. In which case, more is awesome.
Nothing we can do to save the Earth when it comes to my shoes, but I am going to tell you how to reuse some other less important household stuff to make things you probably could live without but sorta like to have.
Like dog toys.
As the oft-shame-faced owner of a unappreciative pooch, I’m a firm believer that dog toys are a rip off.
Sure I know you need them because otherwise your dog may be so inclined to chew up things you own and love.
But, I also know that, when it comes to my particular pet, she doesn’t deserve them.
Because they set me back a good $10 and she tears them up before sunset on the same day.
Don’t bother recommending some she can’t destroy. We’ve bought all those too. And she eats them like they’re beggin strips.
So, in order to combat this money suck and also appease her desire to chew her face off, I’ve taken to making her dog toys.
That’s right people, home made dog toys.
We use old, ugly shirts and jeans (oooh, she loves the denim made toys best), and even old boxer shorts and socks that aren’t even good enough for the Goodwill. We tie them in knots and make those knots into balls, and then we throw them at her head.
She loves them because they last longer than the store bought toys and don’t make Mommy yell.
I love them because they last longer than the store bought toys, and I don’t yell because they are free so who even cares when she tears them up or looses them under the couch?!
And, the Earth loves them because it means one less thing laying around in a landfill somewhere collecting dust for the couple of eons.
Repurposing items is so cool.
Especially when you can wear it and look fresh.
I wish I was more creative about it, but fortunately we have Pinterest for that!
Repurposed Items You Can Wear With Style
Source: cfabbridesigns.com via Jennifer on Pinterest
Source: thepinkpeonyoflejardin.blogspot.com via Amanda on Pinterest
Source: craftbuds.com via Amanda on Pinterest
Source: sewlikemymom.com via Julie on Pinterest
5. And some thing stylish and eco lovely for The Dudes too: drawstring backpacks!
Source: noodle-head.com via Amanda on Pinterest
Homemade dog toys are so awesome!
And cheap. And easy!
Does she eat the un-stuffed dog toys too? We have had good luck with those.
Our new pup is pretty good about not destroying his toys. He actually likes them. He did pull the stuffing out of one, but now it’s just an un-stuffed toy and he loves it just as much. We also use tennis balls as toys. Our previous dog used to chew them HARD until they actually broke in half, but Murphy is pretty good so far.
I love your homemade toys though!!
She eats EVERYTHING. The plastic ones, the stuffed ones, the indestructible ones. The best thing we ever gave her was a kid stuffed animal with a music box inside. Well, we didn’t give it to her, she stole it and we never took it back because it was ruined. But, she ate everything out of that one and now it’s just a flat dog shell but she LOVES it. Sleeps with it and everything. These homemade ones take her longer to destroy and usually she just winds up untying them and then I tie them back and they live to see another day. Mostly she loses them. But since we have an endless number of stained, old white shirts and holey socks I just make more!
I love the photo of the skirts hanging on the clothesline- it screams ‘summer’!
Cute ideas for recycling old things for your dog! Clever!
Love those shirt turned totes! And the DIY doggie toys are So smart!
Yeah my dogs tear through those toys which is why I don’t buy them anymore. I never thought of MAKING them something out of crap I already have. Maybe they’ll stop jumping up on the counter, sleeping on the dining room table and eating the trash? No, probably not but it will occupy them a little!
Home Made Dog Toys . . . AWESOME! We used to give our dog old laundry soap bottles to play with. He loved them. Oh and by the way you are so right . . . you can NEVER have too many shoes. If only my husband would/could understand this.
Great ideas! Especially appreciated the dog toy ideas–nylabones are the only thing our treasure of a chocolate lab does decimate within 2 seconds and I get grouchy spending money on toys for him…and yes, you are most definitely a suburban gangsta mom ;)
I laughed about your dog. We have purchased the “un-destructable” ones for our dog … yeah, right, about 2 minutes. Love the re-purposed ones. I’m thinking too (maybe I’m thinking too much) that your pup would love them because they smell like you guys. Not that you guys smell, but you know what I mean…… Allie
All those things you found are awesome… that is if you dare to sew, which I’ve done before , but I’m no pro, so for me they are lovely to look at, but there’s no way in hell I’ll be making any of it!
Super smart.