Dumpster Delirium

I pray... even when there isn't much to say.

2013-10-19T20:49:00.001-07:00

Yes. Sometimes I don't even know what to say to God. So I just sit there in his love and absorb it. I just talked to him for a bit. I said I am so sorry for all the horrid things I have done. I've acted like a piece of garbage. When I am a precious daughter of the most awesome lover of all time. I was like "God... just hold me. I don't even have words to say. .. I don't even have rational coherent thoughts at this point.... I'm just... here. And I love you... or I'm trying to learn how to. But u are so majestic, and your love and grace are unfathomable. I am only a sinful fleshly human. And I cannot comprehend. Please just scoop me up in your arms and envelope me in your love. Please god just..... BE With me. I'm sorry for my failures, and I am sorry that in some unimaginable way.... your absolute total complete magnificentness is just... there. And my small mind can't understand or see it all. And I just... fail to be as motivated and inspired as I should be in my circumstances in life. Lord I beg you for enlightenment. We beg you for clarity and motivation. And wisdom father because YOU KNOW how desperately we seriously need that from you. Abba, father, .... please just hold my hand and stroke my hair and forgivingly, .. mercifully... please I beg you to just cover me in love and wrap me in yourself while I sleep and prepare to try again tomorrow.

THANK YOU TO CAMEROON SUPPORTERS!

2013-01-18T13:30:00.000-08:00

Just arrived at the Cincinnati/Kentucky airport, of course as soon as I finished the following post earlier before my first flight, I went to click "post", screen went black, computer died, couldn't find an outlet and they made me get on the plane! So here it is : ) , next flight leaves for Paris France in 45 minutes!

AT THE AIRPORT!!!!
Flight boards in 20 minutes!!!! Drinking this cool lime refresher from Starbucks and praising God for all the support I raised! Every person who donated or prayed or supported me in any way is such an angel and a vessel for the Lord.

still fundraising, here is the link! http://www.gofundme.com/1toctc

THANK YOU,
Robby Florence- You were my first supporter this trip and you have always supported me since we met! I think we should plan a Mexico trip in the Fall, I miss doing missions with you!

Elizabeth Hardin-I'm so glad I met you, I haven't seen you in ages yet you continue to bless me from afar and I appreciate you and your compassionate words SO MUCH.

Mr. Creighton-The way you supported my artwork and my cause brought tears! You are such a beautiful soul and have been a major blessing to my life in ways you do not even know!

Sharron Goodin and family- Your support has been so crucial to this journey, I hope you enjoy my artwork and I really appreciate you being willing to so readily support me when we have NEVER EVEN MET! I am so happy to know someone who is so on fire for Christ and I am thrilled that you chose to so generously be a part of this adventure with me and Jake!

NANA!Hallie White- beautiful lady, thank you for helping me out, I crave your company and your laughter and I cannot wait to see you when we get back, your kindness and support has been SUCH A BLESSING LOVE YOU!!

Alex and Katie Wolpert- you guys have inspired me since I first met you in Bolivia and it has truly been a blessing partnering with you on trips! I am so glad to have met you and am thrilled to have your support yet again! Love you guys and I appreciate your love, donations, and prayers!

Mr. Jefferey Hanks-You have been such a blessing and SO GENEROUS! Thank you for thinking of me and for your beautiful compassionate heart! I love that you are so willing to help us and we have to get you on one of these trips with your awesome skills!

Mom and Dad- I LOVE YOU!!!!! You guys are the best most amazing supportive admirable loving parents in the ENTIRE UNIVERSE!!!!!!! I cant wait to see you when we get back, thank you for loving us, supporting us, donating, feeding us, taking care of us, giving us crucial reminders, and for taking us to the airport!! Thank you for babysitting Nugget I cant wait to see you when we get back!!!!

Lamar and Kaye Thomas-Thank you for your endless gifts and love and generosity! You guys are true servants and we have learned so much from you, you are always a joyful presence in our lives! THANK YOU!

Stephanie Snyder and Matt Dobler- aka #2 and Dobler- Thank you for supporting me! You guys are an inspirational duo for me and I need to have more of you in my life! I love you guys and am so SO very appreciative of you supporting my trip! LOVE YOU and see you when I get back!!! Hope Luke is doing good!!

Mercedes!-Thank you for your love and compassion, you will be missed on this trip (my african roomie!) but there will be other trips and opportunities to reunite! Thanks for the nice wishes and thoughts, hope to see you soon!

Kristen Herndon-Thank you for offering to help out and for thinking of us, we love you and hope you have a great 3weeks!

Dana Frady- your kind words and support and willingness to promote me and spread the word were crucial to this fundraising and trip, thank you for always being an inspiration and support!

Kaitlyn Tokay-THANK YOU for always encouraging me to follow my dreams, dealing with my shenanigans, inspiring me with your positive attitude and motivation, and for being my friend. Thanks for promoting my cause! You are sweet and I am happy to return the favor if need be. See you for a diving date when I get back!

Anonymous-Thank you for your one hundred dollar donation. I love that you are so willing to support this cause and I thank God for your generosity and selflessness!

David and Libba Hicks- Thank you for supporting me!!!! you are so selfless and generous and kind and I appreciate your support so greatly!

****I haven't received/been notified of all donations sent to the organization, so if I haven't thanked you or mentioned your gifts, please forgive me!!! I appreciate those gifts I do not know of yet and THANK YOUUU!!

AND BIGGEST THANKS TO THE MOST HIGH FOR INSPIRING ME AND FORCING ME TO PERSEVERE ON THIS OH SO WORTH IT ADVENTURE! YOU HAVE BLESSED ME IN SO MANY WAYS AND I WILL CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO BE MORE GRATEFUL AND APPRECIATIVE OF ALL THE WAYS YOU WOO AND ROMANCE ME, TAKE ME ON ADVENTURES, AND HOLD ME, EVERY SINGLE DAY WITHOUT LETTING GO. : ) I LOVE YOU. <3

CameroonTrip GOFUNDME page!

2013-01-10T23:18:00.001-08:00

http://www.gofundme.com/1toctc

Freedom, Gift Wrapping, Art, Cameroon!!

2013-01-10T10:31:00.003-08:00

So.. below is essentially a life update and a support letter, that I sent out in all my Christmas cards and wanted to post on the web as well. December flew by, the Wilderness Camp Life faded quickly, and I was rushed into a whirlwind of volunteering for 02A! I gift-wrapped with a fury almost every day in December, sometimes I was the ONLY VOLUNTEER! It was hectic but I got a weird rush off of speed wrapping interesting shaped packages (tennis raquet, spatula, basketball, football, bbgun, giant helicopters, frying pan) with a 30minute wait, presents everywhere, and the line getting longer. I work well under pressure, that is precisely why I enjoyed serving for like 7years in restaurants, I was overworked and underpaid but the constant speed multitasking gave me a rush and sense of accomplishment! Anyway, I wrapped so many presents, Orphans to Ambassadors fundraised some good money for projects this year, I got to work with my soul mate every day, and daydreamed about Cameroon constantly. All the while starting my business, preparing for Africa, moving, preparing gifts, Christmas cards and support letters! Oh yeah, and there was that one week in December where Jacob and I went to Seattle to do the Orphans To Ambassadors GALA Fundraiser. That was fun!

Had a wonderful Christmas and New Years with loved ones and am PUMPED about 2013!!

The fundraising is going slow, that's part of why I'm posting this, I still need a lot of help on that! However, I've managed to get my art business going on Etsy, and have fundraised a good bit through that, and will be posting more about that soon!

Leaving for CAMEROON in EIGHT DAYS!!!!!!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

I WISH YOU PEACE AND COMFORT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!

Hi! I wanted to write you and update you on what God is calling me to do in my life! After several months of prayer, I left my job at the wilderness treatment center to pursue more ministry. I am planning to return to Africa on another Orphans To Ambassadors trip, January 18^th through February 8^th, to Fundong, Cameroon. We will be implementing 3sustainable solutions to the Harvest Children’s Home, an orphanage of 56 boys and girls.

Our team consists of Jacob Hanks, my soul mate, Orphans to Ambassadors project leader and first part-time employee, Michael Lowe, Engineers without borders rocket stove expert, and myself. All three of us did identical projects in Rwanda in May so although with different variables I think we will make an excellent team and the projects will go smoothly and efficiently!

My last trip with Orphans to Ambassadors was supremely rewarding in so many ways! We did the same three projects in Rwanda as we will be doing in Cameroon: chicken coops, rainwater harvesting systems and rocket stoves, at a boarding school of over 400 girls. We got to teach the girls about sustainability and our projects, show them how to do construction work, dance, play, and talk with them, and worship with them at their church service! I really bonded with the girls as well as the staff, and some masonry workers in the local community that helped out. I felt God’s presence every day there and I felt that the work we were doing was meaningful to the girls and community!

For now I am volunteering, gift-wrapping at the mall every day fundraising for Orphans to Ambassadors 2013 project budget, and in my tiny bit of spare time I will be working on starting my online shop at: beautiful pursuit.etsy.com where I will be selling different types of art God has inspired me to create! I am thrilled to be going back to Africa with such a wonderful organization, and I am excited to see what other ministry opportunities will arise for me this upcoming year!

I strongly believe that there are two kinds of missionaries, those that go and those that send them, the trip wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of others. Even small gifts multiplied by many will get me there to fulfill the calling. I took a risk in leaving a job with a steady income to follow Jesus, and now I am responsible for raising $1700 to cover the cost of the flight and visa. I am more than confident he will provide!

I ask that you prayerfully consider partnering with me in this ministry opportunity. First, I ask for your prayer support. Second, I ask that you consider giving a financial gift of any size. If you decide to give financially (your gift is tax-deductible), checks can be written out to: Orphans to Ambassadors International; 126 SW 148^th Street Suite C100-26 Seattle, WA 98166. (Please write Stephanie Braun in the memo line.) Or go to www.Orphanstoambassadors.org to make an on-line donation with a credit or debit card through PayPal.

I trust that God will work through this team, and that we will greatly impact as well as be impacted by, the individuals we serve. I appreciate your support!

There are no orphans of God! Blessings and Peace!

Stephanie Mauvlyn Braun

stephaniemauvlynbraun@gmail.com

828-291-6467

ps-How cool is this guy right here? We were working on the high efficiency rocket stoves using clay and he took a lump of clay smushed onto a broom stick and I turned around and he had a clay flute. Cool guy.

Reflections on a Year of Nature.

2012-12-13T11:07:00.001-08:00

Hi! Long time no write! Ive been living in the woods for the past year working at a wilderness treatment center for teenage boys. Reflections: The frugality and the greenness of it all was great! Working in four day shifts with two days off and showering and eating 90% of meals there was great for my budget! I love how the high intensity and deepness of the job made me focus on so many things I would miss outside of camp.
Nature.
The close contact with nature was beautiful. I saw beautiful little lizards everywhere in the spring. The skies were always heavenly morning and night, and I saw tons of spiders and insects I had never seen before and I could just really connect, and feel that God was a beautiful artist creator who had intricately planned every living thing. In the crazy aggressiveness and stress of the job I didn't have time to be concerned about normal things, technology, my appearance, what the rest of the world was doing, but I did find that nature was a great escape for me! If I had just been cursed out or threatened, there was always a lizard or butterfly, beautiful clouds, or playful squirrels to observe and grin at. I found that the wilderness was therapeutic for the boys as well. I had many bonding moments with kids, asking questions about animals or plants or just observing. God walked with me and romanced me through the battlefields of camp! Hiking up to the shower house at nights(not many of them!) was spooky at first, seeing golden eyes in the woods and hearing rustling of leaves, but those hikes became my time to walk with God. I imagined him holding my hand, protecting, reassuring and stargazing with me. There were rarely times where there wasn't a magnificent moon and a spectacular glittering sky that took my breath away. There are certain moments that stand out in my mind. Being on the canoe trip and observing thousands of red and yellow spiders that literally made me shake because they were so pretty and so scary to me! (Didn't help they were falling on us and crawling in our boats constantly!) The canoe trip down the Edistoe was remarkable, even at night and even in the swamp areas, they were beautiful! When I laid down after a hard day in my cot and put the front tent flaps up, it started to sprinkle and the rain was misting into my tent onto my toes! It felt like God was putting little kisses on them. When I saw squirrels relentlessly playing games everyday with each other! It was amazing. I saw a lot of beautiful nature out there and I grew closer connected to God and my soul, I felt more myself breathing so much outside air and soaking in the woods!

I just recently quit this job to do ministry and as I sipped this coffee I wanted to reflect on how good it felt to live outside! I miss the sun beating down on my skin, the cool breezes, but being as its winter now I am not missing the frozen ears, toes, nose, and fingers, wearing so many layers you can barely move, and washing my hands at a frigid water spigot! However, I do miss the deep winter sleep I got there in the cold! unmatchable! I realized through this experience this year that sometimes living simpler and greener is better done... outside. : )

More Gallery Crawling. : )

2011-06-28T11:24:00.000-07:00

GALLERY CRAWLING :)

2011-06-21T20:22:00.000-07:00

Gettin muh dumpster on.

2011-06-21T19:54:00.000-07:00

check this!

dumpster diving extroardinaire.

http://www.dumpsterdivingsecrets.com/

100 things by next summer

2011-05-26T17:50:00.000-07:00

As a recent graduate who was just relieved of numerous huge responsibilities, I decided that I need to get on the things I have been wanting to do in AGES but didnt have time, because I didnt even have time to sleep, while in school, running numerous organizations, volunteering, internship, various jobs, and so much more going on. I have new responsibilities of course: hello student loans! but I plan on sprinkling the things I long for in life and things I have been meaning to do throughout the year amidst my required duties. I am in the process of making a list of 100 things I would like to do by the end of next summer. The list will evolve of course, some things are simple and wont require much time, but others will require a lot of time and investment, and if I do not complete everything, I will mark my progress and add them to the next list! : ) I know everyone makes lists like this when its new years or they are dying, but I am of course inspired by GRADUATING AFTER 6 INTENSE YEARS of UNC Charlotte and my recent graduation, as well as all this sunshine I am drinking in. : ) Thanks God for sunshine and inspiration.

Another part of adding this list is so that my friends and networks of awesome people can help me achieve them or join me in this journey! this list will be edited relentlessly and I will track my progress. : ) Im just trying to add spice to my life and stop putting a lot of my personal goals on a backburner for the mundane responsible life. I dont want to live like you are "supposed to". what does that mean anyway?

Here is my list so far.

1)Read the whole bible (or as much as I can!)
2)Get back into playing piano
3)Memorize an awesome song on piano
4)Have the honor of having something I have written published. somewhere. anywhere.
5)Plan my own mission Trip to Mexico at least once (this summer!!!!)
6)Learn to play guitar (who wants to help?)
7)Become more fluent in spanish
8)Contra Dance on a regular basis
9)Return to Cochabamba Bolivia at least once with Childrens Impact Network(this summer!)
http://micorazonestaenbolivia.chipin.com/bolivia
10)Become better at Salsa!!
11)Become an expert Bachata dancer!
12)Run at least 500 Miles
13)Get my merengue on occasionally.we will just make this one to make dance a regular part of my life. I learned this week that I truly enjoy waltz, contra, and merengue, and did them all for the first time this week!!
14)Learn how to tie a tie without watching a youtube video or asking help from friends. (seriously Ive tied a hundred ties a hundred times and still need assistance)
15)Bike at least 500 miles. (step 1=get bike)
16)write 100 poems.
17)get my CNA license renewed (its been expired since 2007)
18)Learn how to tell military time effortlessly. (Ive been taught 50 times. I just set my phone to military time as an aid in this )
20)100+ blog entries amongst my various blogs : )

Dumpster Delicacies.

2011-05-02T20:14:00.000-07:00

Hello. Im Stephanie. I have been dumpster diving for 11 months.
This entry is a compilation of random photos of dumpster finds, adventures, and activities and what dumpster diving is according to wikipedia. : ) ENJOY!

dumpster pie

dumpster pepper plants

found this warm melting cookie in a recycling bin..

dumpster cakes!! mm mmm!

I never had a full fridge until I started diving.

fridge packing is like tetris.

Dumpster diving (known as skipping in the UK)^[1]^[2] is the practice of sifting through commercial or residential trash to find items that have been discarded by their owners, but which may be useful to the dumpster diver.

Copper thieves stole the stores refrigeration unit. it was a great dive night!!!!!

The dumpster diving term originates from the best-known manufacturer of commercial trash bins, Dempsey, who use the trade name "Dumpster" for their bins,^[3] and the fanciful image of someone leaping head first into a dumpster as if it were a swimming pool. In practice, the size and design of most dumpsters makes it possible to retrieve many items from the outside of dumpsters without having to "dive" into them.
The practice of dumpster diving is also known variously as bin-diving,^[4] containering,^[5] D-mart,^[6] dumpstering,^[7] tatting, or "recycled" food.
A similar term is binner and is often used to describe people that collect recyclable materials for their deposit value.

Kaitlyn Tokays Pet. aint he cute?

dumpster newspaper coaster.

Traditionally, most people who resort to dumpster-diving are forced to do so out of economic necessity, but this is not the case today.^{[citation needed]} In Vancouver, Binners or bottle collectors search garbage cans and dumpsters for recyclable materials that can be redeemed for their deposit value. These binners earn on average $40 Canadian per day for several garbage bags full of discarded containers.^[8]
The karung guni, Zabbaleen, the rag and bone man, waste picker, junk man or bin hoker are people who make their living by sorting and trading trash. A similar process known as gleaning was practiced in rural areas and some ancient agricultural societies, where the residue from farmers' fields was collected.
Some dumpster divers self-identified as freegans aim to avoid their ecological impact by living exclusively from dumpster dived goods.

Artists use discarded materials to create works of found art or assemblage.^[9] Students may use salvaged high tech items in technical projects. Still others may dumpster dive just to indulge in their curiosity for unusual items.^[10]
Dumpster diving, used in support of academic research, is a tool for garbologists, who study the sociology and archeology of trash in modern life. There is a major outpost of academic garbology at the University of Arizona, directed for some decades by William Rathje. Others, because of their profession, may use dumpster diving as a method of procedure for private investigators, police, and others seeking information and material for official purposes.

we left this dumpster wagon in a friends yard as a gift. it was appreciated. we think....

By reusing resources destined for the landfill, dumpster diving becomes an environmentalist endeavor (and is thus practiced by many pro-green communities). The wastefulness of consumer society and throw-away culture drives some individuals to rescue usable items (for example, computers) from destruction and divert them to the less fortunate. Some see it as their only way of making any money or getting some needed goods in bad economic times.
Irregular, blemished, or damaged items that are still otherwise functional are regularly thrown away. Discarded food that might have slight imperfections, that is near its expiration date, or that is simply being replaced by newer stock is often thrown away despite being still edible. Many retailers are reluctant to sell this stock at reduced prices due to the belief that people will buy it instead of the higher priced newer stock, that extra handling time is required, and that there are liability risks.

Arguments against dumpster diving often focus on the health and cleanliness implications of people rummaging in trash.^[11] This exposes the dumpster divers to potential health risks, and, especially if the dumpster diver does not return the non-usable items to their previous location, may leave trash scattered around. Divers can also be seriously injured or killed by garbage collection vehicles. Further, there are also concerns around the legality of taking items which may still technically belong to the person who threw them away (or to the waste management operator), and whether the taking of some items like discarded documents is a violation of privacy.

Dumpster diving is practiced differently in developed countries than in developing countries. In many economically developing countries, food is rarely thrown away unless it is rotten. In countries like the United States where 40-50% of food is wasted, the trash contains a lot of food.^[12] In many countries, charities collect excess food from supermarkets and restaurants and distribute it to the needy. Dumpster divers, Karung guni, Zabaleen, and rag and bone men in these countries may concentrate on looking for usable items or scrap materials to sell.^{[citation needed]}
In the United States, Canada, and Europe, some bakeries, grocery stores, or restaurants will routinely donate food according to a Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, but more often, because of health laws or company policy, they are required to discard food items by the expiration date, because of overstock, being overly ripened, spoiled, cosmetically imperfect, or blemished.

As proof to publishing houses of unsold merchandise , Booksellers will routinely remove the front covers of printed materials to render them destroyed and the remains thrown in the dumpster. Though readable, many damaged publications have disclaimers and legal notices against their existence or sale.
Residential buildings can be a good source of clothing, furniture, appliances, and other housewares
Some consumer electronics are dumped because of their rapid depreciation, obsolescence, cost to repair, or expense to upgrade. Owners of functional computers may find it easier to dump them rather than donate because many non-profits and schools are unable or unwilling to work with used equipment.^[13] Some organizations like Geeks Into The Streets, reBOOT, Free Geek and Computerbank try to refurbish old computers for charity or educational use.
Sometimes dumpsters may contain recyclable metals and materials that can be reused or sold to recycling plants and scrap yards. The most common recyclable metals found are steel and then aluminum.^{[citation needed]}
Often, dumpsters can be an unintended source of information. Unwanted files, letters, memos, photographs, IDs, and other discarded paperwork (or their digital equivalents) may potentially be found in dumpsters.

dehydrated dumpster orange necklace. I taught a green art class for kids and also do crafts with kids i tutor. they LOVE making necklaces out of recycled materials. Thats because kids are still creative and true artists. The world tries to take that away from them every day though.......

dumpster food can spice up the cubicle life around lunch time.....

I LOVE giving people dumpster flowers.

MMMMM!!!!!

Thanksgiving.

The last Supper.

Because dumpsters are usually located on private premises people may occasionally get in trouble for trespassing while dumpster diving, though the law is enforced with varying degrees of rigor. Dumpster diving per se is often legal when not specifically prohibited by law. Abandonment of property is another principle of law which applies to recovering materials via dumpster diving.
Police (and possibly other) searches of dumpsters and like discards are also generally not violations; evidence seized in this way has been permitted in many criminal trials. The doctrine is less well established in regard to civil litigation.
Companies run by private investigators specializing in dumpster diving have sprung up as a result of the need for discreet, undetected retrieval of documents and evidence for civil and criminal trials. Private investigators have also written books on "P.I. technique" in which dumpster diving or its equivalent "wastebasket recovery" figures prominently.

In the United States, The California v. Greenwood case in the U.S. Supreme Court held that there is no common law expectation of privacy for discarded materials. There are however limits to what can legally be taken from a company's refuse. In a 1983 Minnesota case involving the theft of customer lists from a garbage can, Tennant Company v. Advance Machine Company,^[14] the owner of the discarded information was awarded $500,000 in damages.
Dumpster diving in England and Wales may qualify as theft within the Theft Act 1968 or as common-law theft in Scotland, though there is very little enforcement in practice.
In Italy, a law issued in 2000 declared dumpster diving to be legal.
In Germany, the contents of a dumpster is the property of the owner of the dumpster so taking items from a dumpster is technically theft. However the police will routinely disregard dumpster divers due to the zero value of the items - there is only one case known of an actual prosecution: the thieves were arrested on assumed burglary as they had surmounted a fence and the supermarket owner made a complaint on theft later.^[15]
In Canada, The Trespass to Property Act - legislation dating back to the British North America Act of 1867 - grants property owners and security guards the power to ban anyone from their premises, for any reason, permanently. This is done by issuing a notice to the intruder, who will only be breaking the law on return. A recent case involved a police officer who retrieved a discarded weapon from trash as evidence; the Judge ruled it as legal without a warrant, so some have speculated this is enough backing for anyone to raid garbage.^[16]
A Belgian dumpster diver and eco-activist nicknamed Ollie was detained for a month for dumpster diving accused of theft and burglary. He was arrested on 25 February 2009, for taking food out of a dumpster of AD Delhaize in Bruges. His trial evoked protests in Belgium against restrictions of taking discarded food.^[17]^[18]^[19]

What is the difference in gray and grey?

2011-04-28T13:33:00.000-07:00

What is the difference in gray and grey?

Pants are too long and sweaters too short

Puddles inside my shoes

Frozen toes

Supervision disapproval

Hot disappointment tears

Pathetic redemption favors

Darkened cubicle

Abuse and neglect case files

Sunflower seed butter and pretzels

Dumpster cures

Desperate inspiration

Do I deserve this judgement? Judgment.

How can this mess be organized? Organised.

How different are gray and grey?

Gray is a color.

And Grey is a colour.

Dumpster Diving Introduces you to New people.

2011-04-18T20:34:00.000-07:00

     Ive met so many new people through dumpster diving! Whether its people from Fox or the Observer, people who have dove, people who want to dive or other people who are out at night when we are. Once we met some streetsweepers who were from Mexico, places I had actually been in Mexico and they were pretty cool. Kaitlyn was in the dumpster and she said there was a man behind me so I ran and hid behind the dumpster, not knowing he was 2feet behind me watching me hide behind the dumpster. A truck started backing up beeping and Kaitlyn was terrified she was about to be tossed in a garbage truck. So she offered him bananas, naturally. It was great. We have street sweeping friends. The other night was particularly devaststing.
     We were driving behind the store, when we saw a man wandering around. We did another drive around to see where he was or what he was doing. A car also passed us behind the store, which we thought was odd, considering theres nothing back there but dumpsters. We didnt see the man again but instead saw a woman wobbling from behind the store towards Tryon. I was thinking maybe she was a McDonalds employee headed home but when our car got closer we saw that she was a nicely dressed Hispanic woman who was also very pregnant. We rolled the window down and asked if she need a ride but she said no several times even when we asked if she was sure. We turned the car to leave and saw in the rearview mirror the same car from earlier slowed beside her. We panicked. What if someone tried to pick her up? What if something happens what would we do? The car drove away and she continued to slowly walk towards Tryon. We circled the car around and saw that she had crossed the street. We couldnt let her keep walking. After a few confusing uturns and finding a place to park we got out and met her on the sidewalk. As we approached her and throughout the conversation she kept looking towards the road in fear like something was about to happen. We asked her about 50times if she needed a ride or would please ride with us, we told her how dangerous an area she was in and that we could not let her walk alone with her baby at that time. She was crying. She was really pretty.
     She told us her name was Gabriella and we convinced her to call someone. With my limited Spanglish I barely understood but it sounded like she didnt say much. She kept telling us no and kept walking away from us. We sadly and devastatedly got back in the car and watched her walk away. The same car pulled up beside her and a man got out and guided her forcibly into the vehicle. They drove away. We didnt know what to do so we followed them. Should we call the police? Were they illegal? Should we try to get the license plate number? He was too far ahead. And we kept thinking we didnt want to make things worse for her if she was in a domestic violence situation and we may have already made things worse for her. We didnt know what the right thing to do was. We continued to follow from a pretty far distance. The car randomly and rapidly pulled into a closed gas station parking lot. We uturned. We wanted to be there for her if she was left on the side of the road again and we need to see what was happening. They pulled back out and continued the direction they were going. We hurried to catch up but couldnt find them and assumed they had pulled into one of the nearby apartment complexes. We were devastated. We went home hungry and cried.

Dear Gabriella the Hispanic woman who is 7months pregnant and was dropped off behind dollar tree and walking home at midnight,
I am devastated by you and your life. I love you so much. I am so sorry. I am so dissapointed in him as a person and in the world we live in. Im terrifed for you and your fetus. What kind of a life is this? You are worth so much more. I really hope we did not make things worse for you. Im sad that you are so isolated in life. I really am. I wish I could show you that you are so special and loved and do not deserve to be waddling down Tryon alone in the dark as vulnerable as you are. I am so sorry and pained that I dont know how to help you. How can I hurt this much from such small events in one night when you live that life everyday? You are beautiful. and I know your baby will be too.
Love,
Stephanie Mauvlyn Braun

73 days until God is calling me to be in Bolivia sharing the love of Christ with the orphans of Cochabamba. Help me get there. http://micorazonestaenbolivia.chipin.com/bolivia

UNCC Earth Club

2011-03-20T13:03:00.000-07:00

For some years now I have read through the Bible twice every year. If you picture the Bible to be a mighty tree and every word a little branch, I have shaken every one of these branches because I wanted to know what it was and what it meant. --Martin Luther

This year I have had the awesome experience of being the president of the UNCCharlotte Earth Club.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/group.php?gid=2204725905
I just wanted to share some of the awesome events we have going on.

First off, Terracycle. [outsmart waste]
EARTH Club is collecting writing instruments, yogurt containers, energy/granola bar wrappers and juice puches for TERRACYCLE’s upcycling program.
http://www.terracycle.net/

We are participating in /collecting:

Energy Bar Brigade

Kashi Brigade

Candy Bar Brigade

Mars Wrigley and Cadbury Wrappers

Yogurt Brigade

Drink Pouch Brigade

Spreads Brigade

Writing Utensils Brigade

We just sent another 500 energy bar wrappers to TERRACYCLE and 300 yogurt containers.
Keep bringing these collections to our meetings or give them to me!!!!

Stop throwing money in the trash and throw it at Earth Club instead.

recycled juice pouches made into a fence. : http://www.terracycle.net/products/200?locale=en-US

Earth Club meets in the UNCC greenhouse every Monday @5pm.

Except for this Monday because we are doing a Creek Cleanup at Toby Creek which is our adopted spot on campus. We are meeting at Toby Creek @5pm!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=182603551784490

3/28/11 Watching the LORAX!!!

4/4/11 Earth Club Meeting @ Greenhouse
4/6/11 CAMPUS CLEANUP 10-2
4/11/11 Meeting @ Greenhouse
4/18/11 Screening for "Deep Green" @6pm
4/19/11 Deep Green and maybe Wall E... Time TBD
4/20/11 Screenings for "Deep Green"
4/20/11 Earth Day Festival
4/25/11 Last Meeting! Collect Boxes, potential Potluck, maybe Elections... : )

Why I Love Geese.

2011-03-03T09:24:00.000-08:00

People have a lot to learn from Geese. They are wonderful creatures. I personally enjoy crossing paths with them everyday on my walks to where Im going. One of my alltime favorite teachers, Terri Matthews, shared with us some lessons people can learn from geese in our practice methods course. I will never forget such a wonderful lesson! The author is unknown.

Fact 1:	As each goose flaps its wings it creates an "uplift" for the birds that follow. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.
Lesson:	People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.
Fact 2:	When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.
Lesson:	If we have as much sense as a goose we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.
Fact 3:	When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position.
Lesson:	It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each other's skills, capabilities and unique arrangements of gifts, talents or resources.
Fact 4:	The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
Lesson:	We need to make sure honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement the production is much greater. The power of encouragement (to stand by one's heart or core values and encourage the heart and core of others) is the quality of honking we seek.
Fact 5:	When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.
Lesson:	If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.

DUMPSTER BOOKAGE

2011-02-27T19:10:00.000-08:00

A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it, or explore an explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face. It is one of the few havens remaining where a man's mind can get both provocation and privacy. ~Edward P. Morgan

My apartment complex unfortunately does not have recycling, and I usually make a trip to the park with Nugget and have a running and recycling doggy date. Theres nothing like human to animal bonding in the outdoors. A few weeks ago during the snow days my favorite park was closed. I drove over to a fellow divers apartment complex to drop off some recycling and as I opened the lid of a recycle bin, I was pleasantly surprised. BOOKS! tons of books. If you know me at all, you know I adore books. A bit too much at times. I am currently hoarding all my favorite childhood books in my room, reading in at least 8 separate books currently, have piles of books all around my bedroom, and I even save books from my classes to reread. I love to read.

The book selection in this particular recycling receptacle was pretty impressive I must say. The Encyclopedic Dictionary of Yoga. Charlie Wilson's War. Walking Softly in the Wilderness(The Sierra Club Guide To Backpacking) Active Meditation. Simple Abundance, a Daybook of Comfort and Joy. Gods Little Devotional Book For Couples. The Complete Walker III. Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism. The Essence of Self Realization(The Wisdom of Paramhansa Yogananda). Catch Me If You Can. A Guide to Healing through the human energy field. Diana. Life Surrendered to God. Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil. Movin On(Equipment and Techniques for Winter Hikers). Movin Out(Equipment and Techniques for Hikers). Jack & Jackie (Portait of an American Marriage). Jackson Pollock. and lots of other Interior Design Books and randoms. What a great snag. Hiking, Yoga, Spiritualism, and other fun reads all in one find. Dear person who recycled your books, Thanks!! Ive added 20more free books2 my bookcase/reading list, and the ones I wasnt interested made their way to Julias Coffee at Habitat Restore.

Let books be your dining table,
And you shall be full of delights
Let them be your mattress
And you shall sleep restful nights.
~Author Unknown

I know every book of mine by its smell, and I have but to put my nose between the pages to be reminded of all sorts of things. ~George Robert Gissing

A book is like a garden carried in the pocket. ~Chinese Proverb

The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it. ~James Bryce

Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~Author Unknown

A good book should leave you... slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading it. ~William Styron, interview, Writers at Work, 1958

Many people, other than the authors, contribute to the making of a book, from the first person who had the bright idea of alphabetic writing through the inventor of movable type to the lumberjacks who felled the trees that were pulped for its printing. It is not customary to acknowledge the trees themselves, though their commitment is total. ~Forsyth and Rada, Machine Learning

I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. ~Anna Quindlen, "Enough Bookshelves," New York Times, 7 August 1991

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers. ~Charles W. Eliot

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. ~Groucho Marx

I find television to be very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go in the other room and read a book. ~Groucho Marx

The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them. ~Mark Twain, attributed

2011-02-25T14:01:00.001-08:00

thats what I love about Sundays...

2011-02-13T12:12:00.000-08:00

I love waking up to my best friend
   who is always stoked to be alive,
and chronically thrilled to wake beside me.
                                                              I relish when the sun shines in through the cracks
                                                          in my blinds as if it was trying to tell me good
                                                       morning and hint at the potential the day ahead holds.
Its my favorite when your human bff calls
to make sure you are awake, because they knew
how excited you were about the morning
                                                        activities and dont want you to miss it,
                                               even though you know they didnt have to wake up
                                                        that early for any reason except to call you.
I enjoy washing my hair with baking soda and vinegar,
putting on my favorite, soft, corduroys,
with the pockets just right, that I discovered in the trash from a former roomate.
                                                I adore slipping into my awesomely broken in,
                                            five year old camo flats, heading into the kitchen to
munch some slices of double chocolate dumpster cake,
sipping some coffee and adding some freegan
cream and sugar that I borrowed from the Flying Biscuit.
                                                   Its my other favorite driving to Sunday school
                                              to tell some of my favorite tiny people to love God
                                              above all else, and love your neighbor as yourself,
while expressing ourselves through fingerprint art.
I am so fond of children and their beauty
like arrows in the hand of a warrior.
                                              I am enchanted by a child response that Valentines Day
                                              is about loving your mom and dad. and Jesus. and that
                                              we should love everybody and everything all the time.
I appreciate childrens books about all of creation,
rocks, streams, and trees, the earth, praying,
reminding us to be silent and listen,
                                          and the brilliant thought that we shouldnt pray to
                                             change the world, but to change ourselves,
                                               which will then change the world.

I cherish childrens sermons about valentines
and sharing Gods love with those who need
it most, and adult sermons that teach us even
                                             Martin Luther was paralyzed at one point,
                                          and thinking of you, that we can overcome this
                                        paralysis together, and having hope that we will
throw our agendas out the window for
Gods agenda. I am glad to have friends
in Gods house, together keeping pews,
                                                  minds and hearts warm for Him.
                                                  I love leaving church to step out into
                                                  glorious weather to go BE the church.
I smile when I recieve boxes of dumpster delicacies
from a beautiful soul, but really from God himself.
I adore that song that comes on the radio at
                                                      just the perfect second and inspires you
                                                         so strongly that you want to scream! I
                                                       love knowing the power of our love, that we
are blessed with solely because of His Love.
I cherish shelterless neighbors named Ken and
friendships formed at traffic lights, through cardboard signs,
                                                        dumpster rotissery chickens, watermelons,
                                                        apples, smiles, handshakes, and God.
I love gratitude and appreciation and loving a
stranger because you can and it feels right.
I adore when hope for humanity seeps into every
                                                           atom of me through rays of sun and planning
                                                           recycled art classes for kids. I cherish apple cider
                                                           abandoned in a dumpster to slurp in the afternoon.

Raymond's in his Sunday best,
He's usually up to his chest in oil an' grease.
There's the Martin's walkin' in,
With that mean little freckle-faced kid,
Who broke a window last week.
Sweet Miss Betty likes to sing off key in the pew behind me.

That's what I love about Sunday:
Sing along as the choir sways;
Every verse of Amazin' Grace,
An' then we shake the Preacher's hand.
Go home, into your blue jeans;
Have some chicken an' some baked beans.
Pick a back yard football team,
Not do much of anything:
That's what I love about Sunday.

I stroll to the end of the drive,
Pick up the Sunday Times, grab my coffee cup.
It looks like Sally an' Ron, finally tied the knot,
Well, it's about time.
It's 35 cents off a ground round,
Baby. cut that coupon out!

That's what I love about Sunday:
Cat-napping on the porch swing;
You curled up next to me,
The smell of jasmine wakes us up.
Take a walk down a back road,
Tackle box and a cane pole;
Carve our names in that white oak,
An' steal a kiss as the sun fades,
That's what I love about Sunday,
Oh, yeah.

Ooh, new believers gettin' baptized,
Momma's hands raised up high,
Havin' a Hallelujah good time
A smile on everybody's face.
That's what I love about Sunday,
Oh, yeah.

That's what I love about Sunday,
Oh, yeah.<3

Activism is our rent for living on this planet.

2011-02-04T09:59:00.000-08:00

The ENOUGH Project

WHY A CERTIFICATION PROCESS FOR CONFLICT MINERALS IS URGENT: A VIEW FROM NORTH KIVU

http://www.enoughproject.org/publications/view-north-kivu?link=1

42. That’s how many Mexican gray wolves are left in wild… in the entire world.

Campaign to Save

Americas

Wolves

https://secure.defenders.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=2021&autologin=true&JServSessionIdr004=4lude06om1.app217a

New USDA Guidelines Praise Vegetarian Diets

The federal government has issued new dietary guidelines that highlight the health benefits of a plant-based diet. "Vegetarian-style eating patterns have been associated with improved health outcomes -- lower levels of obesity, a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, and lower total mortality. Several clinical trials have documented that vegetarian eating patterns lower blood pressure."

http://www.care2.com/causes/real-food/blog/new-usda-guidelines-praise-vegetarian-diets/

Thanks Kate Murphy Hanes for passing this along to me right when I needed it.

2011-02-02T12:44:00.001-08:00

A Faithful--or a Fevered--Life

Thomas Kelly

I wish I might emphasize how a life becomes simplified when dominated by faithfulness to a few concerns. Too many of us have too many irons in the fire. We get distracted by the intellectual claim to our interest in a thousand and one good things, and before we know it we are pulled and hauled breathlessly along by an over-burdened program of good committees and good undertakings.

I am persuaded that this fevered life of church workers is not wholesome. Undertakings get plastered on from the outside because we can't turn down a friend. Acceptance of service on a weighty committee should really depend upon an answering imperative within us, not merely upon a rational calculation of the factors involved. The concern-oriented life is ordered and organized from within. And we learn to say No as well as Yes by attending to the guidance of inner responsibility.

Source: c. 1941

Add your thoughts at inward/outward

A Little Taste of Dehydrated Paradise.

2011-01-30T20:28:00.000-08:00

Last weekend was an incredible dive! I received an amazing dehydrator for Christmas and have been dehydrating lots of dumpster goods for snacks, or to preserve for later. Even with all the food I give away, donate, and share, I can never eat all of my food and my compost is always overflowing. This past weekend we dove tons of dehydratable, delish, fruits to snack on, and I have been drying fruits right and left! We dove:

mangos
watermelon
pineapple
apples
bananas
strawberries
cucumbers
cantalope

and theres most likely others that I forgot. All of them are awesome snacks dehydrated and Ive started creating a sort of dumpster trail mix out of dried fruits. I cannot believe that all of these delicious, exotic edibles are tossed in the trash and that we actually go fetch them out and do creative things to them to put them to use. It blows my mind that the weekend before last we found a bag of perfectly scrumptious kiwis in January in the dumpster. I cant even start to imagine when the last time I ate a kiwi was predumpster lifestyle. I cant remember ever purchasing a kiwi, strawberry, mango or watermelon, ever. The wallet wasnt heavy enough for all of that. It wasnt in my college budget. And I cant remember a time diving where we didnt find apples or oranges. Probably every single time.

If I didnt dumpster dive? I would never have anything to dehydrate, the device would be useless to me, and I would probably be attempting to sell it somewhere. But thanks to a lot of waste, I am able to preserve and create nourishment for myself and others, from garbage. The words trash and garbage have completely different definitions to me now, and my dehydrator is one of my most used appliances, coming in behind the coffeemaker, and microwave. If you count the amount of hours that I use it, or how much work it does for me, its definately number one no question. I am munching on dehydrated watermelon as we speak, and who would have thought it would be better than jolly rancherS? WAY BETTER. Dont even get me started on how I feel about pineapple chips.

First Summer of Diving.

2011-01-22T18:36:00.000-08:00

I got back from the annual UCF [ http://campus-ministry.org/ ]mission trip to Mexico last spring break and was bogged down with the typical post-mission trip blues. You know what I mean, going from the beautiful miraculous week and being merged back into regular society.

There, it seemed like everything was Godly and everyone was a beautiful contribution to your life, and then when you get back everything seems dark, dreary, and everyone around you seems to think God is irrelevant. You sink back into your old habits, resolutions you made on the trip fade away quickly, and life resumes as normal. This usually puts me in a depressive funk, feeling as if Im searching for something in life that is not there, and as others on the team and myself would say, lets try to bring the Mexico to Charlotte. Or lets try to inject God into everything here as it was there.

The shiny missionary mindset began to fade and my friend Kristen Covington, whom I had bonded with on spring break, and myself began to pray for new opportunities to serve God, and for Dios himself to grant us a new mission to embark on. The same week I started praying these prayers we went to CharlotteOne, [http://www.charlotteone.org/] to jump into some hard worship with the Big guy. Sure enough, our prayers were answered, at Charlotte one, Childrens Impact Network [http://www.cinonline.org/] was there, trying to fill some spots on an open team going to serve at an orphanage in Bolivia. I felt the Holy Spirit seep into my heart and demand I go. Kristen and I looked at eachother and knew we HAD to go. My heart thumped with joy, but financial doubts creeped into my brain. "It's impossible", I thought, "How can I do this?" But just then Andy Cherry and the others in the band, who are phenomenal by the way, started to sing,
"Nothing is Impossible with Him"
And I knew I had to do it. We squeezed eachother ecstatically. There would be no more doubting from that point forward. For the rest of the school year we planned and plotted how to afford this trip. "If God wants us to go, he will make it happen" was our mindset. We sold energy drinks and silly bands and went door to door throughout the highrises collecting spare change. We carried around empty oj and soymilk containers to fill with change.

We scoured parking lots for nickels, we applied for a hundred jobs, we started a facebook group to create a network of donors and supporters. We sent letters and emails and our strategies to get money were endless. We had billions of ideas. We collected a few hundred in spare change. It was a great start. Kristen moved into my tiny UCLUB bedroom and slept in my twin bed with me and Nugget or in my floor. Every day we prayed, read scripture, encouraged and inspired eachother, and strategized how to get money from the morning when we woke up until we passed out on top of our books.

We worked as much as possible, had car washes and yard sales, and our food situation wasnt the best. We lived off of apples, bananas, peanut butter, taco bell, and cookout all summer. Seriously, thats all we ate, that and any free food we could locate. I wonder now, if I had dumpster dived all summer how different it would have been. I stole food at my restaurant job right and left, a fry here, a chunk of lettuce there. I had to do whatever was necessary to get to Bolivia and meet these kids who would forever change my life.

I first heard of diving from one of my good friends Jake. I went to the pentagon for a typical get together and really needed to know why there was endless amounts of bread covering their wrap around kitchen counters. He told me they had dumpster dived the delish carbs and that they had dived all kinds of amazing goods and got together for dumpster dinners. I was intrigued. This cute, clean, fun guy ate out of trash cans? No freakin way. And all the friends we have in common do as well? and they admit it? wow. I next heard of dumpster diving from facebook pictures of a friend and UCF acquaintance who had also went to Mexico, Dalen,[http://wdalenrice.blogspot.com/] who would put up pictures of various normal looking food items he had found in the grocery store dumpster as he passed by on walks.

I also heard of diving from a girl Kaitlyn, who I had seen at UCF many times, she seemed strange and always had a huge ridiculous, contageous, smile on her face for no apparent reason. The girl reeked of Jesus. We always said hello at events and on campus, we assumed we both loved God, and that was really our only commonality. One night after Guardian Ad Litem training, I drove around the university area picking up cans off the side of the road and out of garbage cans and recycling bins, to recycle for money. I was bent over with the top half of my body in a smelly trash can, fishing out cans, in a lace top and red stilletos. I got a text from my friend Robby, who is the man, informing me that he had a large television I could use in my yardsale the upcoming weekend. I drove over to his place to grab the set, and there was Kaitlyn on the hood of her car in the driveway , looking exuberant and smelling of chlorine from her job at the Y. We got the set loaded into my trunk, and I started talking about how excited I was to visit a country that was basically a mystery to me, and found out that Kaitlyn had been there! She told me all about her travels, and somehow the conversation got around to dumpster diving, I expressed interest in going with her, and saved her number as "Kaitlyn is Amazing!" in my contacts, stoked at the idea of diving and at the fact that she had been to Bolivia. My whole life I cant remember ever meeting anyone who had been to Bolivia, and Kaitlyn had been. : )

Kristen and I scrounged our pennies together and did fundraiser after fundraiser for the rest of the summer and miraculously came up with enough money for the trip. It was one of the best adventures of my life. I am forever changed, and that week will drastically effect my future, what I do with it, and who I become.

When I got back from such an epic week, reality set in. I was ABAP. As. Broke. As. Possible. My bank accounts were still empty, Kristen had moved out and gotten back to her life, rent was due, my job still sucked, and I was starving. I got a facebook link from Kaitlyn with a link to her blog, The Frugal Dumpster. http://thefrugaldumpsterdiver.wordpress.com/ It was awesome. She also sent me a link to watch the documentary " I Love Trash", http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6392356216626641658# about two guys who move into an empty apartment and live off only dumpster supplies for several months. I watched the film and was SHOCKED. Is it really possible to live off of other peoples waste? And could it really be that pleasant? and... fun?! no way. Definately not in Charlotte. I immediately texted Kaitlyn to ask if we could dive that night. If I was gonna end up homeless and broke, with my super-fast-eat-every-hour-metabolism, I definately wasnt gonna be hungry. I couldnt afford to lose any more weight.

We went that night and I was beyond shocked. We did a few drivebys to scope out the scene, and then pulled our car up to the dumpsters, and Kaitlyn jumped in.

She was a ninja in the dark handing me amazing edibles. We didnt use gloves or flashlights, we didnt use hushed voices, and I was so hungry I even took a few samples during the dive.

The dumpster didnt smell or look as I expected it to, and the massive quantities we dove still surprise me.

We made dumpster diving our work the rest of the summer. I ate a lot, and I ate well. I ate more fruits and vegetables than I probably ever have.

I had always eaten poorly in college, and had lost a lot of muscle mass. That was all about to change.

My fridge stayed full, and my belly did too.

Oh man, I remember eating peaches with the dishwashers at my job for weeks. Those were good times. Sometimes all it takes to bring people together are some free delicious dumpster peaches.

We found so much food we started taking it downtown to homeless feedings. We fed salad to probably a hundred people one day. That was a great day.

It seemed like there wasnt anything we didnt find.

Energy drinks, soy bologna, you name it.
We found tons of flowers one night, took them downtown the next day and handed them out to people. People with homes and people with out homes. It was awesome to watch the reactions. Some people looked at us like we had lost it, others took the flowers and gave them to some other stranger passing through, and some seemed as if nobody had ever given them a flower in their life. It was such a fun experience.

I took hundreds of pictures because it was all so exciting!

I will definately continue to post evidence of our fun and random diving experiences, and I will NEVER forget my first dive, and the spontaneous summer of ninjaing into trash receptacles and stuffing my face with delicious nutrients. THANK YOU KAITLYN! & everyone else who nudged me into this direction purposefuly or unawaredly. (word?!) loves it. & Especially Gracias to Dios for always providing everything I need and more. Always.

* What to do inside on a frugal snow day! *

2011-01-10T21:47:00.000-08:00

Everyone knows what to do OUTSIDE on snow days... But in between the rolling in the snow, snowmen, snowball fights, and snowforts, when you come inside to warm up, here are some festivities to keep you busy. Or, in my situation I happen to be snowed in alone and my puppy doesnt like to be cold! He needs a dog snow jacket. Maybe Ill make him one. On a frugal snow day you should...

Wear toe socks!

Text people you love as soon as you find out its snowing and as soon as you find out its a snow day, no matter what time it is! Spread the excitement.

Call a cute boy and wish him a happy snow day at 6am!!

Catch up on your reading. Right now Im reading:

Fields of the Fatherless by Tom Davis
Gorgeously Green-8steps to an EcoFriendly Life by Sophie Uliano
God's Blog's by lanny donoho
3 Chicken Soups: for the Sports Fans Soul, Mothers Soul, and Sisters Soul
Revolution in World Misisons by K.P. Yohannan
My Fathers Secret War by Lucinda Franks
and Im rereading Real Sex:The naked truth about Chastity by Lauren F. Winner.

Drink something hot! I suggest coffee and hot cocoa mixed, or chai! Or green tea, or raspberry tea. Any coffee or tea will do the trick as long as its hot! : ) mmmm... coozeeeeee

I <3 snow. I never really
considered how its free...
and edible. me gusta! : )

Make dumpster snow cream!

8 cups fresh Snow
2 tbsp Vanilla
1 cup dumpster Sugar
1 cup dumpster Milk (soymilk works too!)

apparently there are multiple recipes & you can add different ingredients to it and get creative!

I think snowcream with bananas would be good. Or if you added nuts. I would also love to find a way to make coffee snow cream. But I havent mastered it yet.

I just put a bowl on the backporch and let it fill up with fresh snow. : ) If it snowed, but is not snowing, you can always scrape snow off the tops of everything.

Scrump. & Frugal.

Get all of your holiday pictures off of your phone and onto your facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2361211&id=36605222

Make Firestarters!

http://dumpsterdelirium.blogspot.com/2011/01/fire-starters.html

Accidentally discover that your laptop has a webcam youve never seen before. Create a Youtube channel and send snowday videos to your friends.

http://www.youtube.com/user/LifeIsDank?feature=mhum#p/a/u/0/KXCMCVHoq30

Listen to Cage The Elephant.

I know that youre tired of this cus youre a robot they designed your life

true souls said they know whats right
you can join us
on the other side

Fire Starters!

2011-01-10T21:41:00.000-08:00

You need old cardboard egg cartons or anything that resembles them, or Ive used some of those awesome things that come in boxes in the dumpster, fill each hole with dryer lint, then drip candle wax allover the top to hold the lint in place. I always save old candles that will no longer burn, and take a lighter to their old wax for this, or light a few candles, wait a while, and then use the pools of wax to drizzle on the cartons of lint. I heard a rumor that you can also use sawdust with or instead of the lint. I like to keep a bag in my laundry room to collect dryer lint, I feel like I have more lint than anyone because me and Nugget shed quite a bit! I also like to throw other compostables into the bag, matchbooks, random shreds of cardboard, hair from haircuts, etc. Its a great way to recycle!

who you callin a cootie queen you lint licker?!

Fire courtesy of Dalen & Robbie : )

I learned how to make these probably in the fourth grade (Thanks mom! Best Girl Scout leader of all time!), they are extremely flammable, and can help a lot when starting a fire in different situations. I think this is such a great way to get rid of things you wouldnt use otherwise, to help you in your camping endeavors. The cardboard egg cartons work excellently because you can tear the squares apart really easily. These were really helpful at camp when we would have big logs for firewood stored away somewhere, but then it rained and everything else was soaked. Or if your kindling is damp and you need to burn your tender long enough to dry out the kindling, these firestarters will be dry in your bookbag ready to whip out! I like to burn less naturey stuff, I like to leave it as it is, and instead burn more stuff I need to get rid of anyway, that I would be recycling or composting instead. Now Im stocked up! I usually never make such a large quantity, but I was feeling extra stoked about it, and hopefully they will inspire me to get outside more often! Whos going camping, or starting campfires with me?

For the campfire starting beginnners:

An overview of fire architecture.
http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Fire

For the more advanced pyros:

Building a fire in a hubcap
http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Fire-in-a-Hubcap

How to start a fire with a dead lighter
"You're cold and wet and in the wilderness. You want a fire, but you only have tissues, a dead lighter and deodorant. What do you do?" might come in handy one day.
http://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-Fire-With-a-Dead-Lighter

How to Create Charcloth
Never done this but heard about it
http://www.wikihow.com/Create-Charcloth

This is interesting and Im posting it especially for all the newspaper lovers out there.(ahem kaitlyn)
How to make newspaper logs.
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Newspaper-Logs

How to make an outdoor fireplace from a clothes washer tub
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-an-Outdoor-Fireplace-from-a-Clothes-Washer-Tub

Dumpster Resolutions.

2011-01-06T16:11:00.000-08:00

I absolutely cannot believe how fast 2011 snuck up on us! The worst part is, I remember being shocked when 2000 was quickly approaching. As I do every year, I have made lists and lists of resolutions for every area and region of my life. I am a bit of an overachiever, I admit it. I am going to try to narrow down a few into a "Dumpster Resolutions" List, I have big plans involving dumpsters this year!

Diving

Dumpster dive more often, dive more food, introduce more people to diving, donate wayy more food to friends, families in need, shelters, etc.
Have more dumpster get togethers, dumpster feasts, dumpster goods trades, dumpster goods yard sales, freesales, lots of bartering and trading, continue to be as generous as possible with the dumpster goods!
be less controlling about what I eat. I think this is a huge part of diving, we are so controlling about what we eat, but God will provide everything we need, we just have to go get it!
dont pay for any food ever, regardless of the circumstances, unless it is an absolute emergency and that is pretty much never. This is America.
introduce more people to diving whether it be through talking about diving, telling people about it, publicity and media, this blog, or actually taking them! More importantly, create awareness for WHY we dive. Awareness of waste, awareness of unnacceptable policies, awareness of hunger and other related issues.
Create a bigger more intricate network of dumpster divers, people interested in the concept, people who support, people who can benefit, people I can feed, and people to dive with.
Continue to get more creative with my dumpster goods: Santa was generous enough to bring me a blender and dehydrator for Christmas. Lets start the insanity. Get better at preserving, composting, sharing, donating, making art, finding household uses, and other creative uses for my amazing and epic finds.

Randoms

Get better with my gardening. Kind of a tough time of year, but hey, Im determined.
Stop playing around with and permanently go through with the "No Poo" regimine. No more Shampoo and no more conditioner. Ive been waiting to use up my Shampoo, but I might just use it for bubble bath and officially quit. But more about No Poo in another post.
Catch up on all my Green Reading that Im behind on!
Complete the Gorgeously Green 8step program. More on this later.
Become More Green. You can never be too green.
Take less Baths. Ive become addicted to baths for years now due to muscle soreness, etc. It wastes too much water and Ive spoiled myself!
Step up my game on dumpster recycling, meaning rescue more recyclables from the dumpster rather than leaving it behind and letting it take the sad journey to the landfill.

ART
never purchase any art materials, use art materials I have, or can find, or borrow, continue to dive for materials at places that have been fruitful, find new places to dive art materials, continue making art out of trash, and dont throw anything away that can be used for art. which is pretty much anything and everything, which is why Ive been called a hoarder. but im supremely creative and innovative, so give me a break!
continue building a network of other artists and freegans who make art, who will make art with me, trade supplies with me, display and love my work, and support me in my artistic efforts. An artist commune if you will. (Valerie : D )
Find ways to make money off of my art. Find ways to donate my art.

Nows a good time to introduce you to a wonderful friend and artist I met recently through urban ministry, his name is William Pomphrey, he makes beautiful works of art from trash and random discarded items he finds, he makes intricate models of WWII warships. He has great character, and I think God wanted me to meet him. I was blessed to be able to go to the event on campus of urban ministrys choir. It was one of the most beautiful nights my ears ever experieced. Voices blessed by God. and this mans hands are blessed by God as well. I definately admire him as an artist! He had an engineering, artistic, innovative mind, and he was able to sell one of his ships for $5000! He told me that last time we spoke that the ship he sold was about 4 feet and that he was working on and 8footer that would take him around a year. I am so proud of him. Unfortunately, I was unable to locate his article and pictures on the Charlotte Observer site, I think its been moved, but If I find them, I will definately post them!

This is a lot of goals, but they are all things I plan to work on in the future. I never plan to stop the dumpster indulgence, unless one day there is nothing usable in dumpsters. But honestly? I dont think that day will ever come. I plan to make gradual progress on this diving journey, and I will keep you updated along the way!! : )

I cant believe how fast everything spread.
Heres the link for if you google my name, charlotte, and dumpster diving. Tons of Hits. : ) Jus spreadin the love around.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=stephanie+braun+charlotte+dumpster+diving&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

The Hoover Maneuver

2010-12-29T14:58:00.000-08:00

I came across the amazing opportunity to go on a mission trip to Mexico during the Spring Break of 2009 with United Christian Fellowship, and I seized it. I felt called by God to go, my first flight, my first out of country experience(besides Canada and when I went you didnt even need a passport), my first mission trip, an introduction to a new world. It was a life-changing trip and I will never be the same. This trip redirected my life in hundreds of ways. On this trip, we stayed in villagers houses in the small Mexican towns. These people offered their homes to us, their beds, and fed us. We did construction, building a camp for kids in the towns to come learn about Jesus. We taught bible school to the children in Spanish and we visited poor, sick, and struggling community members and families. We taught the children in a small school. We did free dental work to people who could not afford dentistry. In exchange for our work, we were housed and fed. And boy, were we fed. As poor college kids, most of us were not used to having large quantities of free food all around us.

We were not used to hot meals. We were not accustomed to baskets of fruit available to us 24 hours a day filled with the sweetest fruit we had ever tasted. I had exchanged about 50 American dollars for Pesos at the airport, but ended up hardly spending any money the entire week. The only time I spent money was to purchase a few tiny inexpensive souvenirs at the market and two trips to restaurants for group outings. Besides these, the entire week was free aside from money spent on the flight. "What a way to live", I thought. Exchanging our labor, talents, strengths, and compassion for our basic needs being completely fulfilled. Living a life style in close relationship with God, and being taken care of completely while doing so. I wondered what it would be like when I got back to the states and I didnt have this lifestyle.

Where everyone around me wasnt living for God, where my basic needs were barely met, where my strengths and talents were mostly overlooked, where I had to live my life hustling just to have a roof and a somewhat full and satisfied belly. I met a close friend of mine on this trip. I met a lot of close friends actually. One of which was Brenden Hoover. This kid was fun, and spontaneous, focused on God and the mission, hardworking, and very relaxed with a great sense of humor. The perfect friend to meet on a mission trip. We realized we had many friends in common and very similar lives back home, we were shocked we hadnt already met before the trip. One of the things we immediately bonded on was the food. Everything we tasted was phenomenal. And free. We ate as much as we could, as often as we could. Absorbing the Mexican culture and tasting the free rewards of our labors. It was heavenly and we were so spoiled. Hoover proudly confessed that he hadnt paid for food in 70 days. And he had decided to stop paying for food so he could pay for the Mexico trip. But how? I wondered. Apparently he lived a Kramer kind of life.

He ate free food at events on campus, mooched off friends and their leftovers, and went anywhere where anything was free. I did this as well, but Brenden had this expertise about it, he had honed the skill. NOT paying for food, to afford more missions. Brilliant. I decided after struggling to afford the flight, and after eating so well all week, I just couldnt go back to my old lifestyle. I wouldnt work my life away to pay for horrible, cheap, non-nutritious food all the time. I was already one of the cheapest people I know, but food seemed like one of those things you just HAVE to pay for. So I made the conscious decision to strategize better and quit paying for food.

When we got back to Charlotte we constantly texted eachother and let eachother know about any activities or events happening on campus that supplied free food and we traded and mooched off eachother. We incorporated and encouraged our mission-mates and friends to join in on the shenanigans. We quickly and easily developed a network of innovative, cheap, hungry and poor friends. Soccer games with free tshirts, specials at chikfila, events with free snacks, handouts on campus, care packages, friends dinner parties, Brenden even came to a feminist union film about water births for some free cake and fruit. It was great. It had a positive impact on my budget, and honestly? I loved the adventure. I was scavenging. It was a blast. Just a few steps closer in my quest for total food freedom. <3