Bottles

I love re-using bottles. I was raised by a Mom who was a painter and had a room filled with glass jars. Jars she’d saved to re-purpose for painting. Boxes of them on the floor. Some had lids, some didn’t. Some were in boxes and some had paint brushes sticking out of them, dried paint in the bottom. Most of them never got used and I wondered why on earth she insisted on saving them.

Fast forward to my adult life and I find myself in the same position, sans paint brushes.

I try to keep it organized and limit myself. Only really good jars. Only ones with lids. Only ones I really think have a purpose. The joke around my house is that you never know what’s in a given jar as I’m so apt to re-purpose bottles and fill them with various things. I’m getting better about labelling….

They really do come in handy. When I’ve mixed something up I can go to my collection and find the perfect vessel to fill to give to a friend. I went to a new level today re-purposing a cardboard deodorant tube for a lotion stick I mixed up. The tube was still good - why not just use it?! I tried to imagine a business based on this concept. I love the ‘bring your own container’ store concept (I create a bulk line for WBYO that I love!) but what about a product line that used all vessels available - instead of buying new ones constantly? I haven’t figured out a way for this to work - but let me know if you have thoughts about it. The best I’ve been able to do is offer refills - and I just love the customers that leave bottles in my mailbox for me to fill!

So the next time you’re about to throw out a bottle - pause and think about it a moment. Can it be used for something else??? I mean, I’m not encouraging hoarding…. lord knows that gets messy…. but maybe you can find an even better use for it…. or find a friend that could!