Monthly Archives: March 2019

What Else Can You Use Your Cardboard For?

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Cardboard gets a lot of use when it comes to moving things, shipping items, and putting items away in storage. And to be honest, this all makes complete sense considering that corrugated cardboard is actually made for shipping things. So when it comes to the other tasks, cardboard boxes get the job done handily.

But have you ever had cardboard laying around the house that was once used for those things and you no longer thing you have a use for? While recycling it is your best bet (instead of throwing it in the trash), there are still other uses yet for the cardboard you think you don’t need. All it requires is a little bit of creativity and you’ll be reusing it like a master.

Part of the problem is we look at everyday materials like cardboard as expendable and worth next to nothing. While both of these viewpoints aren’t far off base, we don’t do nearly enough to reuse these materials, recycle them when we’re sure that we have gotten the most out of it, and reduce our overall consumption of more of those materials. The three Rs of recycling really do go a long way when trying to erase our carbon footprints. It’s just that most people don’t try and consider it too much effort (in which it really isn’t).

Shims.

Cardboard that’s been broken down makes for great shims when something is unlevel. All you’ve gotta do is cut it down to size to fit under whatever table leg, piece of furniture, or other thing it is that you need balanced out. Beats the heck out of fixing the dang thing sometimes, doesn’t it? It’s quicker, free, and makes use of your leftover cardboard boxes.

Recycling containers.

Seems fitting to use cardboard boxes for containers in which you recycle items, doesn’t it? I would advise not putting bottles or cans in cardboard though, simply because the liquids within may eventually seep out into the cardboard, soaking it and making it all soggy. Instead, put those in containers that you can reuse and won’t break down from the liquids. However, any plastic that you can recycle that has lids and all paper can go in your cardboard boxes set out for recycling!

Dividers.

When you need to compartmentalize items in your garage but don’t want to buy some brand new cabinet or storage box, look to cardboard for a quick fix. You can break the box down, tear off a piece of cardboard, and slide it in between items to separate them.

The Film Industry’s Money-Making Model

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Going to the theater has been an American pastime for over a century now, and the film industry is still going strong. In fact, I’d wager that it’s here to stay solely because that’s where a lot of films make their most revenue, thus actors and producers and directors get paid. If it were simply up to releasing DVDs and content on streaming devices, they wouldn’t make nearly as much. The whole idea that new films are “exclusive” to theaters is what drives such large turnout and keeps the film industry going.

It’s funny for me to think about, though. I can’t say I go to the movies but one time a year. So, from my own perspective it seems as if the film industry isn’t nearly what it was when I was a child. But there’s really no truth to that thought whatsoever simply because I’m merely going off of my own experiences with the theaters.

I think part of the problem with me not visiting anymore has to do with my waning interest in newer films. The more I watch Netflix, the less I take interest in shows that are live on TV and films new to theaters. It’s a natural occurrence to me, especially because so much of the cost to going to a theater is calculated in the gas, the tickets, and the snacks there alone. I could save far more money by sitting on my couch, cooking up something for myself, and watching something on my streaming service. The “newness” of something doesn’t excite me like it used to, as I find I greatly enjoy older movies just as much as I would anything newer.

But cost really is a big reason why I just don’t go any longer. I know there are film junkies out there who love seeing a premiere release of something and are the first in line to get there. I’m sure it’s an experience they love and wouldn’t give up, a sort of hobby of theirs. But when I see the prices of candy boxes and popcorn at the theater, it makes me realize how much money those businesses are making on people who are seeing a 2 hour long film that I can see for practically free in just a few months. If I want my own candy boxes, I’ll go to the local grocery store and pay 10 bucks for 10 different candies.

The Film Industry’s Money-Making Model

Going to the theater has been an American pastime for over a century now, and the film industry is still going strong. In fact, I’d wager that it’s here to stay solely because that’s where a lot of films make their most revenue, thus actors and producers and directors get paid. If it were simply up to releasing DVDs and content on streaming devices, they wouldn’t make nearly as much. The whole idea that new films are “exclusive” to theaters is what drives such large turnout and keeps the film industry going.

It’s funny for me to think about, though. I can’t say I go to the movies but one time a year. So, from my own perspective it seems as if the film industry isn’t nearly what it was when I was a child. But there’s really no truth to that thought whatsoever simply because I’m merely going off of my own experiences with the theaters.

I think part of the problem with me not visiting anymore has to do with my waning interest in newer films. The more I watch Netflix, the less I take interest in shows that are live on TV and films new to theaters. It’s a natural occurrence to me, especially because so much of the cost to going to a theater is calculated in the gas, the tickets, and the snacks there alone. I could save far more money by sitting on my couch, cooking up something for myself, and watching something on my streaming service. The “newness” of something doesn’t excite me like it used to, as I find I greatly enjoy older movies just as much as I would anything newer.

But cost really is a big reason why I just don’t go any longer. I know there are film junkies out there who love seeing a premiere release of something and are the first in line to get there. I’m sure it’s an experience they love and wouldn’t give up, a sort of hobby of theirs. But when I see the prices of candy boxes and popcorn at the theater, it makes me realize how much money those businesses are making on people who are seeing a 2 hour long film that I can see for practically free in just a few months. If I want my own candy boxes, I’ll go to the local grocery store and pay 10 bucks for 10 different candies.

Finding Your Home’s Style

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I never really knew what it took to reinvigorate a home until I finally moved in with my girlfriend this past year. Before, I was aware that my parents’ house was nicely decorated and “put together”, but I probably couldn’t have told you why.

Now that I’m on my own and we buy our own furniture and decorations, though, I’m starting to realize what it takes to do it all and really put a place together thematically. And let me tell you, it’s really not as easy as it would seem at first. Even deciding on a theme can take awhile to do, and other times, the theme doesn’t really present itself until you’ve already got mostly everything together. It’s a lot tougher than imagining in your mind that you want a rustic living room and that’s that. What makes it rustic? What would be too much rustic and what’s too little? Obviously, putting something like cardboard boxes in a specific room as art (it happens!) may  not fit a rustic theme, but if you’re going for a more industrial look to a room, having cardboard boxes stacked strategically really could work.

Overall, it’s trial and error. I’ll share a few of my style tips below.

Succulents.

I’m a huge fan of live plants in the house. It makes the air more refreshing, oxygenated, and a little more humid to help combat that dry skin during the winter. Succulents, in my opinion, are the most gorgeous indoor plants you could take care of while also being some of the hardiest around. While one species to the next will differ in how you take care of it, succulents are pretty self-reliant for the most part.

Open space and minimal decor.

One problem people run into when they’re trying to bring a theme together in a room is cramming too many things into a small area. If the room is big, it may require bigger pieces of furniture and decor. If it’s smaller, it’ll require smaller things. No matter the size of the room, though, you don’t ever need to cram too many things in at once. While I will admit that part of our place is still open or barren compared to others and could use some decor, I’d rather have that for the time being than too much stuff.

Liquor bottle display.

This one is dependent on your home, the type of liquor you drink, and where you place it, so be careful about putting too much on display in an ill-fitting spot. I just recently got into finer tequilas and mezcals in the past month or two, and I wanted a way to show them off as decoration rather than having a liquor cabinet specifically to dive into for drinks. Our home entertainment system has a lot of shelves and other similar decor, so I figured putting the tequila bottles next to one another on top of the home entertainment system’s bridge would show off my collection well. I wasn’t disappointed in my choice to move them there and they really don’t seem out of place whatsoever.

All I’ll suggest is shying away from cheaper liquors, as no one really cares to see your bottle of Captain Morgan or Jose Cuervo on display above your TV.

Easter’s On Its Way

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Easter is one of those U.S. holidays that sneaks up on you without much warning. Perhaps it’s because the spring season does the same thing, coming out of nowhere after it’s been winter for seemingly half a year. Perhaps it’s because Easter’s date fluctuates anywhere from late March to mid April. No matter which is the case, I think it can be agreed on that the bunny-filled holiday is quite sneaky.

Easter is a peculiar holiday at the very least. While it’s one grounded in religion, it’s almost received a lot of the same treatment Christmas has in that gifts, bright colors, decorations, and family seem to surround it. And more than any of those things, businesses capitalize on the potential it holds to make a lot of money.

More than any other time of year, Easter is when you’ll see loads of pastels. It doesn’t matter what item or merchandise or decoration it’s on, pastels reign supreme around Easter season. It sort of makes sense, though, in that many of Easter’s themes revolve around new growth and life. The holiday is supposed to go hand in hand with the new spring season, so baby blues (the color of robin eggs), bright greens (new shoots and buds), and soft pinks (reminiscent of flowers) abound.

Like I said, though, Easter can be a cash grab for a lot of businesses. Gift card companies make a killing off of it, just like any other major holiday for them. Candy makers roll out their latest candy boxes to entice parents wanting to stuff their kids’ baskets full of unique treats. And department stores go wild with the stuffed animals, egg-painting kits, and more. It’s almost easy to forget where the holiday actually originated considering how businesses make sales off of the bunnies, candy boxes, chicks, eggs, and baskets more than they do off the figure of Jesus.

Just like any other holiday that’s big in the U.S., Easter isn’t spared by its ability to sell. While most of our holidays have religious, political, historical, or national backgrounds, we find a way to produce and consume it in ways that strip the holiday from its actual origin.

In a way, I find how these holidays are treated by the masses quite harmless. However, if I had more ties to the figures, religions, or nations associated with certain holidays, I could find myself wondering how it’s come to this. The short answer, for anyone wanting to know, is pretty much capitalism. The longer answer probably spans across the realms of culture, business, economy, and history, but it’s better left to the imagination.