I’m cheap. There, I said it. I. Am. Cheap. My home is filled with furnishings from thrift stores, my children only wear “gently used” clothes off Craigslist and I’d rather stab myself in the eye than pay full boat for a Loft frock. But, you wouldn’t know it by hanging out with me, I’m never without my laptop, iPad or iPhone and a new flat screen TV sits in my living room. But, seriously, I am cheap and my electronics fetish makes me feel a little dirty inside.
I try to find balance in my cheap, yet indulgent, life by being acutely aware of my options. I am also a mom and it’s important to me to make responsible purchasing decisions (not to mention, who has time to replace a coffee table every 6 months because the 2 & 5 year olds are trying to make it bounce like a trampoline?) The bottom line is I want quality products, I want unique products, I want to minimize my footprint and, I want to support small business owners. So, when I recently learned about upcycling I knew I didn’t have to feel dirty anymore!
Now that I’m tapped into a new upcycling world, I’m obsessed. It makes perfect sense to me: keep trash from landfills and also get a unique product. There are crafty creations, recycled creations, trash-to-treasure creations and artistic creations. I love the beauty of this growing community of artisans and entrepreneurs and am thrilled to be a part of it by way of Hipcycle. I’m inspired every day to live better and to choose more wisely.
In the meantime, I am looking for that perfect table… perhaps it will be made out of basketball court flooring. If you find one, please pass it my way.