(via Elle Decoration SA)  There are so many things I love about this photo.  First, I love the simplicity of it as a product shot.  It’s hard to make clear glass look beautiful, but this shot does it wonderfully.  But mostly I love that designer Thomas Kral manages to create something stunning out of something from the recycling bin.  I wish I knew how to etch glass.  I’d reinvent all those old salsa jars.

So as I mentioned several days ago, I’ve started taking longs walks with the dogs in the neighborhood.  I do it for exercise (both me and them), but also because I want to feel like I’m exploring the ‘hood a little too.  There’s nothing like getting out of the house and being part of the world around you.  It didn’t take long for my walks to take on a dual-purpose however.  (Let it never be said of me that I don’t find ways of taking multi-tasking to a new level.)

Anyways, anyone who has visited Philadelphia is aware of our teensy-widdle problem with litter.  They don’t call it Filthadelphia for nothing, after all.  Thankfully our new mayor has made it a top priority to tackle the issue.  Now Philly has solar powered trash cans, dedicated cleanup days, and at the VERY least publicly acknowledged the issue.  Ever since I’ve moved here, it’s been a trait of Philly’s that I’ve found particularly irritating.  And because of that I realized I should do something about it…no matter how small.  Therefore now when I am going on my long nightly walk, I take along a couple plastic grocery bags and gather litter along the way.  Then once they’re full, I’ll toss them in the public garbage can.  Even though I realize I’m not making a huge dent in the problem, it feels great to know that I’m at least doing something.  (And hey, I’m finding a new purpose for those pesky plastic bags.  Even though I take a cloth bag with me to the store, somehow I always manage to come back with at least one.)  I want my block to stay clean…and also the blocks around me.  It just feels better when you take pride in where you live by trying to keep it beautiful.  Who knows?  Maybe someone else will be inspired to pick up trash as well.

Lately I’ve been thinking alot about the state of our world…and wishing it were a better/safer/cleaner/nicer place to live.  I realize one individual can’t change the world, but each of us has to start somewhere.  So…start by saying hi to your neighbors.  Read to your kids.   Choose to support locally-owned shops.  And maybe if you see some litter on the ground, stop and pick it up.

Photo credit: It’s Only the Trash via flickr by Ian W.

More and more [and even more] I’m discovering that I love a good BARGAIN.  And nothing feels better than a bargain that also includes something that’s been recycled.   Not only am I saving money, but I’m saving the earth, right?!  (I know…it makes me feel giddy knowing that I just saved the planet.  I’m like Superman.)

But seriously, earlier this week my co-worker told me about something called a “Pre-Demolition Sale.”  This is something I’ve never heard of before, but apparently there are people who buy extremely expensive homes and then tear the whole thing down to rebuild something new.  And well, their loss is our gain, right?  Today’s sale involved a large stone home on the Main Line.  Nick and I went out there with tools in hand and managed to get two truckloads of slate flagstone, which included the walkway [shown below] and about 20′ of two-inch thick large slate capstones.  All for $250.  This will come in quite handy when we want to do our backyard project next summer.  (We’ve also decided to do a retaining wall in the front with all those capstones.)

Anyways…we’re both really tired from digging out flagstone and carrying it all day.  I’m thrilled about the new discovery of these sales though.  If you live in Philly and are planning on some home makeover projects you should check out their website for the next one.   I think there’s another one next week.

And p.s., yes, they are going to tear down this house.  All that stone will be gone for good.