Some of our compost bin rescues! Composted squash and watermelon seeds ended up thriving in the compost bin and they've taken off since planting them.

I'd love to see and hear about some of your compost bin rescues!

I know I've been inactive and I want to apologize for that! Being eco friendly has taken a backseat more than I would have liked since living and convenience have had to come first. I was working 2 jobs on top of online college with limited shopping and limited options while shopping. Even getting food from local farmers is difficult right now.

Honestly, I feel like I dived in to low waste and made so many changes but didn't think about if they were sustainable for ME. It's also hard not to get into the mindset of "well I use a metal razor and compost so one plastic drink bottle won't hurt." But that minset over and over IS a problem. Living with people who don't follow this lifestyle and having one person designated as the main shopper (because quarentine life) makes it hard not to make concessions. Especially when I have less control over what groceries I'm being given (countless conversations of what I would prefer have gone unheard because "well I thought you'd like it").

I'm going to step back to re-evaluate what choices I DO have control over and make some changes.

I think the hardest part of using bar shaving cream is that it's harder to tell where I haven't shaved. I can't follow the super fluffy tracks of shaving cream anymore and I keep finding small slivers of hair the day after. But I love everything else, especially the no plastic, so it's worth it

My Thriftbooks order came in and I was not expecting this good of quality. Just a torn book jacket easily fixed with tape! I support local used book stores when I can, but right now that's not possible. So if you're looking for something new (to you) to read, I highly recommend Thriftbooks

I'm looking for a reusable panty liner (or thin cloth pad) to use as backup for my cup on heavy days. There are so many brands and etsy sellers that I'm having a hard time committing to one. I'd love to hear people's experiences and recommendations to finally give me the kick in the pants to buy some! (PS I'm in the US so I need something that ships here)

Pretty proud of how my bread came out! My first attempt at this recipe (Joshua Weissman's Supermarket Bread on YouTube) ended in a slimy tough mess that couldn't be salvaged, but I tried again and it came out so yummy!

Happy Earth Day 🌎

Well I finally canceled my ipsy subscription. I have more bags than I need (don't worry, I have ideas on how to donate them) and those mini packages are so much waste! As much as I loved a little something for myself every month, I recognize that it's an unnecessary amount of waste. I'd also rather support my local small businesses for things like skincare if I do decide to treat myself.

Is there a subscription service or something you frequently purchase you could try going without?

I have no idea what to expect out of this month or if I'll be going back to work (each state has different rules surrounding childcare right now). But having goals to strive towards and working on new habits is more important than ever for my mental health. I need some reason to not lay around like a potato every day! I'd love for you guys to share your goals with me, too!

Some other goals that aren't in the "eco friendly" umbrella but I thought I'd share anyway:

We're spreading the compost from last year on the flower beds and my dad discovered celery, onions, garlic, and potatoes growing in the compost bin! Free food without even trying! They've been replanted in the garden in the hopes they'll keep growing 🎉

March Goals

I'd love to hear some of your low waste/eco friendly goals! Leave a comment, reblog with your own, or send me a message. Maybe you'll have some ideas I haven't thought of before or that someone else might want to try out!

My mom was in the market for a new plastic razor (the connector for the heads broke on hers) and I was able to give her my old one and the couple replacement heads I had. Which meant I could finally get myself a safety razor! And oh my gosh I wish I'd done it sooner. I can't remember a time my legs have felt this good. My only problem is my hand and wrist were tired by the time I finished. I'm sure as I get used to it that won't happen as much, though.

Pictured with my current favorite shaving bar: Ethique's Tip to Toe. Works great with plastic razors and my new safety razor!

Today I learned that construction companies in my area buy mini fridges for every job site and then throw them away when they leave the site. Like perfectly good mini fridges. That could be donated to shelters or volunteer organizations for events. All because they don't want to lug it around and they can easily get a new one delivered to the next site on company money. I have no words for this privileged display of waste.

I love GMM but damn we need to stop normalizing this kind of behavior. Just because you're a Youtuber (or any sort of social media influencer) does not make it okay to waste pounds of food. Especially in such a lighthearted manner. This is NOT OKAY. Why not make a giant pizza in collaboration with a food pantry instead? Entertaining, helpful, and no pointless waste.

And just because they donate to charities doesn't give them a pass on being this disgusting level of wasteful

There are places around me both selling and giving away "reindeer food," or rolled oats mixed with glitter, and telling people to spread it on their lawns on Christmas Eve. This is one of the few things where I just want to repeatedly bang my head on a desk. I cannot fathom how people think this is okay. And on top of the environmental concerns, do you really want your children and pets to be tracking that in the house for the next 10 years??

I've been making my family save random packing materials, odd bits of tissue paper that come in things, sturdy shopping bags, and more random things to pack gifts in. Most of the gifts I'm giving are consumables (food, locally made bath products, etc.) or hobby items from small businesses. So while I can't control what other people gift me, I can at least uphold a low waste mindset in my own gift giving this year!