Hey earth muffins! One of my favorite parts of the fall season are the changing colors. After they are done showing off their bright reds, oranges, and yellows, they cover your yard once they fall off the trees. Leaf piles are a common site to see this season… After you have jumped in them, what is the most sustainable way to get rid of your leaves? Here are my top recommendations on what to do with leaves once they fall off the trees! 🍂
1. Add them into your compost bin!
If you have any sort of backyard compost bin, you might be able to add them into the mix. Fallen leaves are a great “brown material”. Most backyard compost bins require you to have a mix of green and brown materials, which makes it a great option for turning all the leaves in your yard into great soil for planting in the spring. If you have any other type of compost bin (vermicompost, etc.), you might not be able to put every leaf in there… Do some research and make sure to have the correct balance of organic materials for your composting.
According to a report released by the US Green Building Council (USGBC), green, LEED-certified homes have grown by 19% on America’s housing market since 2017. This spike in preference for eco-friendly homes is undoubtedly due to increasing sustainability concerns. However, there are numerous things you should know before ditching your current house for a green alternative. If you want to learn more about what to consider before purchasing a green home, keep reading!
1. Cost
Cost is, without doubt, the first thing to think about when considering purchasing a green home. These houses are more expensive than their standard new construction counterparts. Also, there are very few penny-pinching opportunities you can exploit when buying a green home. Therefore, it is best to be financially stable enough to invest in one. However, the higher upfront costs of getting a green home should not discourage you from making this investment since you will ultimately save money in the long run. Therefore, it is best to consider taking a mortgage to help you afford your new green home. For this, you can obtain a free online mortgage quote after inputting a few pieces of information to receive an accurate breakdown of the costs and interest rates available to you.
2. Features with the most impact
There are many innovative technologies and features you will come across when searching for green homes. However, many experts recommend selecting houses with the most impact to enjoy the maximum benefits of an eco-friendly home. For example, heating and cooling are responsible for more than half of the energy use in the average US home. Consequently, a house with a highly efficient cooling and heating system is worth considering over one with eco-friendly features that have little impact on overall energy efficiency and utility costs.
3. Tax incentives
Green tax credits may be available to you if you are building an energy-friendly home. These tax credits are applied when you install certain energy-efficient products like appliances. Consequently, it is prudent to learn more about the various rebates, credits, and savings you can enjoy based on where you reside. For example, you may qualify for the Solar Investment Tax Credit if your home has solar panels or uses solar energy storage systems (like the Tesla Powerwall). This tax credit equals up to 26% of your equipment and installation costs throughout 2022, with no limit on credit size.
4. Multifunctional layout
If your home is large with numerous eco-friendly features, this sort of defeats your efforts at going green. This reality is because you will need more energy to light and heat your home if it has a lot of square footage. There are numerous homes with many unused rooms; so, it is best to ask yourself if you need the extra space before purchasing. Also, you can opt for houses with a well-designed layout and multifunctional rooms so you can get away with smaller square footage without feeling confined. A smart and efficient floor plan combined with green home technology is more effective at saving the planet than offsetting the energy use of a large house, so keep this in mind.
Hey earth muffins! Today I wanted to talk a little bit about eco-anxiety. If you have been following my blog for awhile, you will know that I have struggled with anxiety throughout my life. Especially in college, it was crucial for me to take care of myself to ensure my anxiety didn’t hinder my busy life. After starting my journey towards living a sustainable, low waste lifestyle, I was introduced to a new form of anxiety: eco-anxiety. After doing some research, I found that this is more common than I thought. Hopefully this post can help my fellow earth muffins; let’s jump right into a discussion on eco-anxiety and what you can do to cope with it! 🌎
What is Eco-Anxiety?
According to Healthline, eco-anxiety “refers to persistent worries about the future of Earth and the life it shelters.” Anxiety happens when the body experiences a fight or flight response to some perceived threat. For someone who has anxiety, often these “threats” I perceive aren’t really threats at all… Just worries or big life changes. However, climate change is a real threat to everyone, so it makes sense that eco-anxiety is a normal response.
“Eco-anxiety refers to a fear of environmental damage or ecological disaster. This sense of anxiety is largely based on the current and predicted future state of the environment and human-induced climate change.”
Just like with any anxiety, there are many possible symptoms. The list includes anger or frustration towards those who don’t believe in climate change, guilt around your imperfect eco lifestyle, feelings of depression or panic, and even existential dread. This type of anxiety is not listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) (yet); but, it seems like it is becoming referenced and diagnosed more.
How to Cope with Eco-Anxiety
If you find yourself struggling with any type of eco-anxiety, there are multiple ways for you to cope with it. Here are some of my top recommendations:
1. Get involved with eco causes!
There are plenty of other earth muffins out there… So it helps to join with others to make a difference. Every small change you make in your daily life matters, but these small changes grow exponentially when you do them with others. When you start making greener choices with people, you won’t be so inclined to worry about the future of the planet.
2. Help spread the green movement.
It is easy – try these tips on getting others involved in your green journey. Educate yourself about the state of the planet and share the news with those around you. Who knows, you might even get your friends and family to make more eco-friendly choices too!
3. Stay positive!
The news is always full of the bad stuff – oil spills, statistics on carbon emissions, etc. BUT, the news often doesn’t show the good stuff people do for the planet. Sustainable companies are creating new products with lower impacts, people (just like you!) are spreading the movement – the future isn’t totally bleak. If you do your best to be positive and optimistic, you will be less likely to struggle with your eco-anxiety.
4. Get out there and enjoy nature.
Spending time with the planet’s best resources (especially during the fall when the weather is nice and cool) is a great way to combat your eco-anxiety. It works as almost a grounding technique to keep yourself connected to the nature you are so worried about. Take a walk, plant a garden, or just sit outside and think. These are all great ways to cope with your anxiety.
5. Don’t be afraid to get help!
Anxiety can be difficult to deal with. I’ve read a lot of books about coping with anxiety and have found certain techniques that work for me… But, if you are really struggling, don’t be afraid to go to a therapist or doctor! If that isn’t in your budget, try talking to trusted friends. Or use more affordable therapy options like BetterHelp. It is important to address your anxiety now before it gets unmanageable.
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Final Thoughts on Eco-Anxiety
Eco-anxiety is definitely a real thing. Environmental events are constantly bombarding us in the news, so it can be difficult to have an optimist view of our planet’s future. If you find yourself struggling with eco-anxiety, know that it is totally normal to have these feelings. There are plently of ways to cope with it as well: spending time with nature, reading books about anxiety, and doing your best to live a sustainable lifestyle. You can overcome your anxiety, I promise! 🌎 ❤️ Have you ever had feelings of eco-anxiety? Comment below your thoughts and what you do to cope with feelings of anxiety.
Hey earth muffins! At the beginning of this year, I reviewed David’s Natural toothpaste. This toothpaste comes in a recyclable aluminum tube, which is pretty awesome in terms of sustainability. However, at a price of $10 this product can seem a bit outrageous for the typical customer… When I saw Hey Humans carrying a toothpaste (in a metal tube as well!) for only $4, I had to give it a try and share my thoughts with you all. Let’s jump right into the Hey Humans toothpaste review! 🦷
What I LOVE About Hey Humans Toothpaste
It is obviously amazing that this toothpaste is in an aluminum tube. Once you are finished with the product, you just have to make sure to rinse out all the remaining residue before tossing it in the recycle bin. Check out this full guide on how to recycle aluminum tube toothpastes! I am so excited that more brands are opting for a metal tube compared to sticking with plastic. Even the cap of Hey Humans toothpaste is made of 100% plastic waste! This product also comes in a recyclable cardboard box, which makes for a great eco-friendly packaged toothpaste overall.
This toothpaste does an amazing job keeping my teeth clean and healthy. The paste itself is a clear gel with a consistency similar to most other toothpastes on the market. It is also made without harmful ingredients which is always good in my book. There are things like coconut oil and tea tree leaf oil to keep your teeth healthy without exposing your body to any extra chemicals.
A Hey Humans toothpaste review isn’t complete without a taste review: I have personally tried out both the Clean Mint and Wintermint “flavors”. They aren’t an overwhelming minty taste (which I absolutely HATE in plastic-packaged toothpastes), but it still keeps your breath fresh after you brush. I am a huge fan of subtle flavored products, so this is a bonus for me!
Another great thing about this product is the price! I often have to include this in the “cons” section of my reviews, so it is awesome to be able to include it in the “pros” for this Hey Humans toothpaste review. For only $4, this product is basically the same price as most other toothpastes on the market. This makes it more accessible to the everyday consumer – I hope it gets more people to choose the eco-friendly option!
What I’m Struggling With
Like I mentioned in my David’s toothpaste review, there are more zero waste options compared to this product. With products like toothpaste tabs on the market, I can’t say that a toothpaste in an aluminum tube is the best sustainable option you have. BUT, I still think it is a great choice! Some zero waste products aren’t for everyone (like toothpaste tabs can be hard to adjust to); anyone can opt for an aluminum tube instead of plastic!! I think this is an excellent accessible product that anyone can try out.
Another downside to this product is that you have to clean the tube before you can recycle it. This makes sense, as you MUST clean everything before it can be recycled… However, I think this will deter people from actually recycling the tube. I’m sure many will toss it in uncleaned or just toss it in the trash because they are too lazy to take the time to clean it. Please don’t be one of those people and recycle the tube properly!
Lastly, I want to mention that this product is only sold at Target. I think Target has a lot of great eco-friendly products these days… But, it sucks that you can only get this toothpaste in one store. Hopefully this will change in the future, but you might have to make the conscious effort to grab this toothpaste on your Target runs!
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Final Thoughts on Hey Humans Toothpaste
Overall, I think this toothpaste is amazing! 😊 In terms of being eco-friendly, the aluminum tub and recyclable packaging are awesome. The price point is much better than David’s Natural toothpaste, which makes this a more affordable option for anyone shopping at Target. It works great at cleaning your teeth but doesn’t have an overwhelming mint flavor. While there are more “zero waste” options out there, I think this is a great option for any low waster – including myself! Have you tried any Hey Humans products before? Comment below and don’t forget to add this to your Target shopping list!
Hey earth muffins! Halloween is just around the corner, which means it is time to think about what costume you will be wearing this year. 🎃 To keep your Halloween sustainable, I recommend using items you already have around the house to create your costume! You’d be surprised on what you can create without even having to hit up a thrift store. It is obviously wasteful to purchase a new costume for every single Halloween – it is such a fun challenge to get creative and make the most of what is in your closet! Here are my top 5 suggestions for easy Halloween costumes using pieces that you already have.
Dressing up as your favorite movie character is an easy thing to do. Think about Sandy from Grease, Baby from Dirty Dancing, etc. They all wear iconic looks with basic clothing items that you probably already have! 😊 Even if you have some items that would match a movie character that isn’t your absolute favorite, you can still rock the look for Halloween. Get creative!
Recreate your Favorite Painting
Again, many people in paintings wear basic clothing pieces that you might have in your closet. So, this makes for another easy Halloween costume! American Gothic, the Girl with a Pearl Earring, the Mona Lisa – the possibilities are endless! If you really want other people to get the costume reference, you could also carry around an empty frame from a piece of art you have in your house (just pop out the artwork for the night!).
A Disney Cosplay
Cosplay is a great option for Halloween because you don’t have to look exactly like the character. People cosplay for Disney characters all the time, so there are plenty of ideas online. A couple of years ago I recreated a Mary Poppins look for Halloween. I used a white shirt, black skirt, booties, and an umbrella – it was super cute (and easy)! If you have a favorite Disney character, see if you can cosplay them this Halloween!
Rosie the Riveter
If you have denim and some sort of red scarf, you can be Rosie for Halloween. This costume is super simple but easily recognizable by others. I bet you have all the pieces for it already, which means you won’t have to buy anything… What an easy, eco-friendly costume!
Someone from the Bachelor/Bachelorette
I enjoy watching the Bachelor and Bachelorette from time to time… And you can easily dress as a contestant for Halloween. Just rock a fancy gown and heels! Bonus points if you have some sort of rose in your house that can be carried around… But if you don’t, just make sure you let people know it is before the rose ceremony. 😉
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Final Thoughts on Easy Halloween Costumes
Don’t buy yourself a new costume each Halloween! Get in the habit of creating cute costumes from whatever you already have around the house – this is the most eco-friendly option, and the planet will thank you for it. If you need an accessory or something to tie the whole look together, buy it secondhand at a thrift store. Make sure it is something you can wear after Halloween is over too! Whether you want to cosplay as a Disney character or dress like the Bachelorette, there are plenty of easy Halloween costume options. What will you be dressing up as this year? Comment below and let me know what pieces you got from your closet!
Hey earth muffins! When I started my journey towards being more sustainable, I vowed to refuse all fast fashion and opt for secondhand options instead. So far, this has been super successful – I don’t even miss fast fashion at all! 😊 Today I wanted to talk about some fast fashion “faux pas” that our society needs to change. In order to embrace more sustainable fashion, we need to shift our mindsets into new ideas about what we wear and how we take care of our clothes. Let’s jump right into the post!
Once something rips, it is done for. ➡️ Let’s get into the habit of mending our clothes!
The first fast fashion faux pas I want to discuss is the idea that your clothes are “unworthy” once they show some wear. This is stupid for multiple reasons. The quality of most clothing has decreased over the past decade or so. Therefore, they aren’t going to look exactly how they were when you purchased it for long… But that doesn’t mean you need to toss them into the donation bin. Take care of your clothes and mend everything that is easy to fix: sew up small holes, replace buttons, hem pant legs, etc. Why throw away your favorite pieces of clothing just because they aren’t “perfect” anymore?
Once you wear an outfit somewhere, you can’t wear it again. ➡️ Let’s join Lizzie McGuire as outfit repeaters!
Obviously, it isn’t a fast fashion faux pas to wear the same shirts and pants occasionally; however, it seems like once you wear certain things (such as a formal dress to a dressy event) you aren’t “supposed” to wear it again. I hear people talking about how they must go shopping for a new outfit for each event. If you want to do this, then I suggest getting secondhand clothing instead. Or, just use what you already have in your closet! It is so much more sustainable and eco-friendly to not over consume and continue to wear the same outfits again and again. Be a proud outfit repeater!
Secondhand fashion can’t be “cool”. ➡️ Secondhand fashion is the coolest!
I think there has been a big shift in this faux pas over the past few years with the rise of thrifting platforms such as Depop and ThredUp. However, many people still believe that secondhand shopping is “gross” and “uncool”. You can obviously argue that fast fashion is the most uncool form of fashion out there for the planet – the statistics don’t lie! I also think that you can make thrifted pieces totally in style – check out this guide on how to make secondhand fashion trendy!
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Final Thoughts on Fast Fashion Faux Pas
Overall, I think there are many fast fashion faux pas that must be changed in our society to ensure a more eco-friendly future for the clothing industry. Take the time to mend your clothes when they become a little worn. Become a proud outfit repeater! And learn how to make your secondhand fashion finds as “cool” and “trendy” as the crappy fast fashion pieces on the market. Slow fashion is a remarkable thing, and I highly recommend everyone do their best to reduce their impact on Mother Earth by shifting their mindsets around these faux pas. What do you do to take care of your clothes? Comment below!
Hey earth muffins! At the beginning of this year, I introduced you all to the brand Natissy when I reviewed their reusable “paper” towels (which I still absolutely love!). When Natissy reached out to me to try their panty liners, I was so excited to try out another one of their products. I recently entered the world of reusable period pads after experimenting with menstrual cups with little success. If you haven’t checked out my most recent pads review, I highly suggest giving it a read! 😊 Today, I want to share my thoughts on Natissy’s reusable panty liners (affiliate link). As an extra bonus for giving this post a read, please feel free to use the code “JENNAAMZ20” on Amazon to get 20% off Natissy products!
What I Love About Natissy’s Reusable Panty Liners
First off, it should be noted that these are panty liners and NOT menstrual pads, which means they are not meant to be worn during your period. I personally like to wear liners on days when I have a lot of cervical mucus or know my period will start soon. Once my period actually starts, I switch to reusable menstrual pads. (Don’t worry, I will be doing a full review of Natissy’s reusable menstrual pads next month!) As panty liners, these work great! The material is thin but effective on keeping everything dry. Plus, they move with the body which makes them comfortable to use.
This Natissy reusable panty liners review would not be complete without mentioning how much I love the sustainability of this product! There are a few ways to zero waste your period… So, I love that this company is expanding on their already sustainable product line to include items that 50% of the population uses every single month. While the panty liners are shipped through Amazon, you can follow these instructions to get your Amazon packages plastic-free. AND, the liners are packed by Natissy in a biodegradable bag – it looks plastic but it actually isn’t (which is awesome)!
Other Things I Like About These Liners
I also love that the material is super soft! Natissy uses bamboo and organic cotton in their panty liners and pads, which makes them super soft to the touch. There are plenty of patterns to choose from as well – I personally went with the pack of 7 liners in the color “Black Grapes & Peacocks”. The pattern side faces up when you snap them into place, so I often choose darker patterns as they are less likely to stain or discolor after multiple uses.
The pack of liners I got were in a size small (affiliate link). They are the perfect size for me! Similar to pads, some people prefer longer sizes… So I love that Natissy also has a medium size option as well. While, again, these should not be used during your period, having more sizes is a great way to be inclusive for everyone’s body type.
Unlike the Leeklos pads I reviewed a few weeks ago, these only have one snap closure. I’m a big fan of the snaps, as it helps the liner stay in place and not shift around during the day. Even with one snap, these panty liners did not move around. (Even if they did though, it wouldn’t be that big of an issue since you aren’t bleeding into these liners as you would with a pad).
What Could Be Improved with Natissy’s Panty Liners
Just like with any review on Life of an Earth Muffin, I have to mention price in this Natissy reusable panty liner review. For a pack of 7 small panty liners, it will cost you around $40 (about $6 per liner). Compared to disposable liners, this might seem high… BUT, I feel like this is actually on the lower end to other reusable panty liners on the market. You can also use the code “JENNAAMZ20” on Amazon to get 20% off any Natissy products; this makes it an even more affordable price at less than $5 per liner. Remember, you are buying this product to last many years – you need to take into account the fact that it is handmade with high quality fabrics. 😍
Like I mentioned above, these panty liners only have one snap on them. This might be a “con” to some people if you want to be able to adjust the panty liner to your underwear style. However, this personally doesn’t bother me as I found the snap to work just fine and keeps the liner in place during use. Still thought I would mention it for those who have differing opinions!
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Final Thoughts on the Natissy Reusable Panty Liners
I personally love the Natissy reusable panty liners (affiliate link)! They are perfect for keeping me dry before my period; and, I love that the material is soft and comfortable to wear. The small size works great for me, but it is also awesome that they offer a medium/longer liner as well. While the price might seem high at first, these liners are comparable to other reusable liners on the market. Plus, don’t forget to use the code “JENNAAMZ20” on Amazon to get 20% off any Natissy products! Have you ever tried out reusable panty liners before? Comment below what you thought of them!
Hey earth muffins! A few years ago, I wrote a post about how to live zero waste at college. Students are now back on campus after the pandemic (yay!); so, I thought it would be fun to share some more great ways to be eco-friendly while at school. Going off to college is arguably one of the best times of your life – you get to meet amazing people, learn a lot, and have a bit of fun before entering the real world. But, that doesn’t mean you need to compromise on your sustainability values… Whether you are living in a dorm, an apartment, or commuting from your parents’ home, here are some tips on staying eco-friendly at college!
Utilize the recycling and compost bins as much as possible!
Many schools offer both recycling and compost bins near the trash. In my dorm, we had a trash room in the basement; the recycling and compost bins were right next to the trash, which made it super easy to properly recycle/compost. If you live in an apartment, you might not have a building wide compost bin… But then maybe consider having your own apartment compost system! 😊 You could even call/email your building managers to let them know that a compost bin is something residents want; they might make this eco-friendly change!
Make sure your school supplies are eco-friendly at college.
There are plenty of ways to make sure you have low waste school supplies. From shopping second hand to reducing your paper usage, this school year does not need to have a damaging impact on the planet. Check out my full guide on how to zero waste your school supplies!
Be selective about the freebies on campus.
One thing I wasn’t prepared for when I went off to college were all the freebies. It seems like every event I went to there were free t-shirts, stickers, water bottles, etc. branded with whatever companies (or campus offices) were sponsoring the event. While it might be difficult to say no, do you really need all of that junk? Be selective on what you bring home with you. Not only will you need to move it out at the end of the year, but you don’t want to overconsume things you don’t actually have any use for.
Continue using your reusables to stay eco-friendly at college!
A great way to be eco-friendly at college is to (obviously) keep up the good work you have already made on your sustainability journey! Continue using all of the sustainable swaps you have made, and keep opting for reusables instead of single-use. Even though you are in a new place, it doesn’t mean you should revert back to how you were living before. Who knows, you might even meet some people who also use similar reusables! 😍
Reduce the amount of meat you eat on campus.
Plant-based diets are much better for the environment, regardless of which one you do. If you live in a dorm, try eating some of the vegetarian options a few times a week at the dining hall! You might get introduced to some delicious veggie meals that 1) you didn’t have to cook yourself and 2) you haven’t tried before. For those with their own kitchens, save yourself some money and opt for non-meat proteins once in awhile!
Resist the urge to eat out and pack your lunch eat day!
Eating out creates a lot of waste! While there are ways to reduce your fast food waste, it is much better for the environment to pack your own lunch. In grad school (when I no longer had access to a dining hall), I packed my lunch box every day. I had so many people complement me on “being prepared” and “eating healthy”! If you need some tips on what to pack, read my guide on how to pack a low waste lunch.
Find others on a sustainable journey and join them to create change on campus!
Being on a sustainable journey is all good and well, but it is important to get out there and create change too. Most colleges have plenty of green themed clubs, so join one (or a few)! Attend events, spread the message, and meet a lot of amazing friends too. While every small change makes a different, joining together helps make larger changes in your city!
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Final Thoughts on Being Eco-Friendly at College
College is a time to learn, have fun, and grow into the person you are meant to be. So keep your sustainable values even when you are off to school! There are so many easy ways to stay eco-friendly at college. Opt for meatless options in the dining hall. Reduce your paper usage. Compost and recycle. The list goes on! You will meet plenty of people will similar values on campus, so join them to create real change on your campus. How are you staying eco-friendly at college this year? Comment below what I missed on this list!
