Studies have revealed the negative impact of home improvements and renovations on the planet, and every homeowner now has a chance to reverse this damage by making home maintenance more sustainable. Every deliberate choice you make, whether it’s repurposing old items or recycling, conserving water, or choosing eco-friendly building materials, has a significant impact on the environment. The following DIY tips can help make your home maintenance tasks more sustainable.
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bookmark_borderWays to Utilize Technology to Make Your Home More Eco-Friendly
When you build a house, you can easily incorporate all aspects of sustainability. But what can you do to make your home more eco-friendly when you already own a home? The good news is, there are a variety of different things that you can do. In the 21st century, there is a wealth of technology available. While many think of technology in terms of phones and the internet, there are many other uses for it, one being sustainability. If you are careful and knowledgeable, then you can utilize technology to make your home more eco-friendly.
Read More ➥bookmark_borderI Tried Roller Skating for 30 Days! A Fun “End of Summer” Challenge
Hey earth muffins! If you read my latest collective haul post, you will know that I recently purchased myself some roller skates. I wanted to challenge myself at the end of the summer to try something new – so I attempted to roller skate for a month! In today’s post, I wanted to share the ups and downs of this roller skating challenge with you all. Let’s roll right into it!
Why Did I Want to Roller Skate? Getting the Challenge Started
I’ve never been a fan of working out, but I was feeling the need to move my body in some way at the end of the summer. While I typically opt for long walks (or trying out a Chloe Ting workout), I decided to try out something different. Roller skating sounded like a fun thing to try! I used to love hitting up the roller rink when I was in middle school. The fun music, good times with friends – what wasn’t to like? There is a park in my city that has an outdoor cemet rink, which I decided was the perfect place for the roller skating adventures to begin. As you saw in my latest haul, I picked out some skates (with outdoor wheels) and placed the order! 🛼 And no, I didn’t pick out roller skates that match the emoji… That was a total happy accident.
How Did It Go?
Once I got my skates, I incorporated roller skating into my morning routine. I didn’t go every single day but tried my best if the weather was nice. By going in the morning, the weather was cooler and I always got the rink all to myself. Outdoor skating is definitely different than indoor skating. Because the rink is made of cemet, there are hazards you don’t need to think about in a smooth indoor rink (such as cracks and loose stones). I have definitely fallen, but more on that in a bit.
Skating is super fun! Practice makes perfect, so the more I go skating the better I feel. Just like with ice skating, I felt wobbly and unstable when I started – but I definitely have my “roller skating” legs now! Another thing that makes this so much fun in the morning is my roller skating Spotify playlist. I have some total bops that I listen to, including “Proud Mary” by Tina Turner, “Skate” by Bruno Mars, and “Disco Inferno” by The Trammps. Great music makes roller skating even more fun! Once I continue skating and feel even more stable, I hope to move from the rink to the bike trails/roads in my town. 😊
How To Get Up After a Fall
Know in advance that everyone falls when trying to learn to skate! I was a pretty good skater before I started this challenge, but I’ve had my fair share of falls still. The biggest crash happened about two weeks into skating… I was doing my last lap and a flat slate rock made me slip like it was a banana peel. I fell on my butt SO hard; when I got home, I started seeing little prisms of light in my left eye. While those went away after about thirty minutes, I was messed up for the whole weekend with headaches, neckaches, and fatigue. I basically had given myself whiplash for falling so hard. 😬
Once you have a big fall like that, it is difficult to get back to roller skating. Even after taking a week off to fully recover, I was still hesitant to get back on the rink. It is more of a mental game now, with the fear of falling being more present than it was before. But, I got back out there! I watched a few YouTube videos to learn better techniques against rocks and outdoor hazards when skating… Falls are going to happen, it is getting back up that makes you stronger and more resilient!
Final Thoughts on My Roller Skating Challenge!
Overall, I would recommend you try out roller skating! It was a super fun challenge to do at the end of the summer, and I plan on continuing to skate throughout the fall. Once winter sets in, I’ll have to swap out my skates for some ice skates, as the outdoor rink gets turned into an ice rink when it gets snowy. Even in only 30 days I’ve seen a ton of improvement in my skating, and it is such a fun way to stay active! I am proud that I was able to get back out there after a huge scary fall as well. What have you been doing to stay fit recently? 🛼 Comment below and let me know if you have ever been roller skating before!
Love,
Jenna ♥
bookmark_borderA Collective Haul – My Recent Eco Friendly Bargain Finds
Hey earth muffins! Like I mentioned in my recent decluttering post, I have been deep cleaning my apartment and getting rid of a lot of things. With this, I decided to purchase some clothes for the spring; I was also given a $100 Amazon gift card from work a few months ago. I’ve slowly been purchasing items, so I thought I would share a large collective haul with you all today. I’m so excited to use all of these, so let’s jump right into the post!
ThredUp Spring Clothes ($44.03)
Surprisingly, this is the first order I’ve ever placed on ThredUp! It is one of the most popular online thrift stores; however, I was always worried that clothes wouldn’t look good on me without trying them on first. While ThredUp allows you to easily return items, this causes more shipping impact to the environment. But, I am trying to avoid in-person thrifting as much as possible until I get the vaccine; I figured now was the time to try ThredUp out! There are a bunch of great finds on ThredUp. I highly suggest knowing what brands you are looking for, as it is easier to filter that way when shopping. I would also recommend adding everything you might purchase to your cart. It will then be saved for 12 hours which can prevent others from purchasing it. In total, I purchased the following pieces:
-Tommy Hilfiger Yellow Sweater (XS, $7.99)
-Edme & Esyllte Maroon Top (4, $11.99)
-Chenault Halter Top (S, $8.99)
-Eddie Bauer Tank (S, $7.99)
-Lucky Brand Denim Button Down (S, $10.99)
-Universal Thread Button Down (XS, $4.99)
I am super happy with how everything fits me! My order included a LOFT shirt as well, but it came with a big black stain on it. I was able to send it back in the same package it came in with a full refund for site credit. I will definitely be shopping at ThredUp again and highly recommend you all give it a try as well! 😊
100 pack, Astra Razors (Amazon Affiliate Link, $9)
These razors were on my eco-wishlist post a few months ago. Since I had a gift card, I just had to buy them to stock up! Switching to a safety razor is still to this day one of the best sustainable swaps I have made. Shaving with one is easy, and it gives me a better shave. While the razor blades tend to last a long time, this refill pack will last me many years!
“Perfect Fit” Buttons (Amazon Affiliate Link, $6)
I saw a YouTuber talk about these and knew I had to get them. They are pins that allow you to modify where the button is on your pants. 😯 Especially when thrifting, jeans are usually a tiny bit too big on me. I personally don’t like wearing a belt; so, this is the perfect solution! I love that this pack comes with a bunch of different colored apatterned buttons. It allows you to match whatever pant you need to give it that perfect fit. For only $6, this is a must-buy in my opinion!
5 pack, Humble Co. Bamboo Toothbrush (Amazon Affiliate Link, $9)
In the past, I used an electric toothbrush that I had from before my eco journey. When I went to re-buy the recyclable heads, they were out of stock… So, I thought it would be a good time to try out a bamboo toothbrush for the first time! The handles are completely biodegradable, just rip out the bristles when done! I might do a review post or a post comparing the environmental impacts of an electric toothbrush to a bamboo one; look out for those in the future! I also want to mention that I bought a new Dental Lace Floss container (affiliate link). I was gifted a set of this floss and wrote a review post a couple of months ago. It is absolutely amazing! Sadly, I dropped the glass container at my parent’s house and it completely shattered. 😬 So, I bought a new one and will be much more careful with the glass container this time.
3 pack, Bamboo Dish Brushes (Amazon Affiliate Link, $13)
A few years ago I bought a bamboo dish brush, which is a great way to zero waste your kitchen! I bought a pack of three to replace that one. The handles are bamboo and the bristles are made of sustainable materials. Two of them have sisal bristles, and one has tampico. To ensure they last as long as possible, I suggest making sure they aren’t sitting in water and can dry!
Green Oversized Plaid Shirt (FemmeLuxe, Gifted)
While I don’t often work with fast fashion companies, I worked with FemmeLuxe at the start of quarantine. They gifted me this cute sage green plaid shirt that is thick enough to wear as a jacket on a cool spring or summer evening. I tend to get cold easily, so I will be wearing this a bunch in the upcoming months.
Baby Blue Lounge Pants (FemmeLuxe, Gifted)
The last time I worked with FemmeLuxe I only received loungewear pieces. I have been wearing leggings and sweats almost every day (thanks to working from home)… And these are such a cute addition to my collection! The pastel blue color is perfect for spring; plus, it reminds me of Cinderella for some reason. Maybe I just miss Disney World…
BeauVibe Reusable Cotton Pads (Amazon Affiliate Link, Gifted)
The lovely BeauVibe company reached out and sent me some reusable cotton pads to review on my Instagram. These are such a great swap in the bathroom! They can be used for taking off makeup, putting on toner, and even cleansing your face. I personally think it is a great idea to have one side white and one side black. This prevents your makeup from staining the reusable pads!
Overall, I’m happy with the purchases I have been making these past few months. I found some awesome eco products on Amazon, which allowed me to spend that gift card from work. ThredUp was a success as well. I can’t wait to buy from the online thrift store again! What have you been purchasing lately?
Love,
Jenna ♥
bookmark_borderWhere To Donate Your Stuff After Decluttering – An Update on my Less is More Challenge
Hey earth muffins! During Lent, one of the things I have been doing is participating in a “Less is More” challenge. If you haven’t seen the Netflix documentary, this challenge involves decluttering 1 item on day 1, 2 items on day 2, etc. Because I recently went through a huge decluttering, I decided to modify this challenge to 1 item per day. But I’ve noticed that I will often declutter multiple items on certain days! As the “decluttering box” in my living room gets full of more stuff, I thought I would share my tips for donating after a huge decluttering. Where to donate your stuff is a great question to ask, so I hope this post helps you make the most impact with the items you have decluttered from your life! 😊
Where is the Best Place to Donate my Items?
Firstly, it is important to not just take a huge load of items to one thrift store. Secondhand stores are always overwhelmed with people doing this; this results in slow processing of the items or things being thrown in the trash. Instead of just giving everything to one place, I strongly urge you to split up the items. This will allocate the resources to whoever needs them the most! It will also ensure the items actually get used, not buried on the back shelf of a Salvation Army or Goodwill.
Can you sell it?
If you have any items that you feel are valuable (and you have the time), try to sell them. I would suggest Facebook Marketplace to help out your local area, but you could also try other selling apps or even Ebay. I’ve written a whole post about how to score the best deals on Facebook Marketplace. On the selling side, make sure your prices are fair and that you are quick to respond to interested buyers. Nothing is worse than someone who doesn’t message back when you want to buy their item! 😬
Think of family and friends first!
After a decluttering, ask around and see if any family or friends are interested in anything. Especially for decorations and artwork, some people might be interested if they liked certain pieces in your home. You could also just set aside items for people without asking first. Have a friend expecting? Make a care package of some baby items you were looking to get rid of!
Post on a “Buy Nothing” Facebook group before throwing out.
I’ve noticed that I often find some questionable items when I declutter that might need to be tossed in the trash instead of donating. Before you do that though, I suggest posting it on the Buy Nothing Facebook group in your area. I’ve actually been quite surprised what people are interested in on these groups! Some people are in need and will take anything, and others will take “messed up” items for craft projects or hobbies. You could also post on Freecycle if you don’t have a Facebook account. If you find that no one wants your item, make sure you trash it so the place you donate to doesn’t have to!
For gender or age specific items, donate to shelters in your area.
There are many women shelters that are always looking for clothing, toiletries, etc. You might even have shelters specifically for children and/or teens that would love some of your decluttered items. Do a quick Google search to see if you have any shelters near you. If so, see what items they are looking for. There is usually a list on their website, but you could also call to confirm that your donations would be accepted/used.
See if your local Ronald McDonald house will accept old toys!
I suggest calling your local Ronald McDonald house or children’s hospital with their current rules about donations, as the pandemic could have affected them. It is awesome to donate toys, games, stuffed animals, etc. to places where they are needed instead of a random thrift store in your area.
Donate to a church drive or church-wide yard sale.
My church always has some sort of drive going on whether it be hats and gloves or toiletries for the homeless. See if any drives at your church align with some items you have decluttered! I’ve also seen churches do yard sale fundraisers where donated items are sold to raise money for the church or a mission. Save some of your items for this event if your church is hosting an event like this as well!
Other Places to Donate
Obviously, you can still donate to a thrift store if you have exhausted all of your other options. Clothes are usually good to donate, but make sure they are in good condition! If they aren’t, repurpose or throw them away yourself as we wouldn’t want to partake in any wishful donating! 😊 If you know a certain store has good turnover of home goods, donate those items there. The same goes for clothes. The goal is to get the items in the hands of another person who will use it! I hope this “where to donate your stuff” post was helpful… Where do you like to donate?
Love,
Jenna ♥
bookmark_borderEasy DIY Upcycled Project: A Planter from an Old Stool!
Hey earth muffins! I shared on my Instagram a couple of weeks ago that I recently worked on a DIY upcycled craft project. I haven’t done a craft project in SO long! During middle and high school, I used to craft all the time. I loved to sculpt charms out of polymer clay and make my own jewelry. But, I eventually stopped doing that and would occasionally do some painting projects. In college I was really into following along with Bob Ross videos! It has been quite a while since I’ve done some crafting, but I just couldn’t pass up this opportunity for a fun DIY upcycled project. Let’s jump right into it!
From Trash to DIY
As many of you know, I currently live in an apartment complex. There are two main staircases in this building – one near the elevator and another tucked away for access to the basement/laundry room. When I was going down to do laundry one day, I noticed that someone had placed a stool and some towels in the back staircase. I figured someone had moved out and left them there. While I wanted to take the stool for this upcycled project, I didn’t want to steal something from someone who still wanted it. But, a month later, they were still there. So, I brought the stool upstairs to start my project!
There is one corner of my living room that had nothing in it. Our apartment doesn’t have AC, so we had a floor AC unit there during the warmer months. As it is obviously winter now, the unit is in storage which left behind empty space. I have been thinking about what I should put there for quite some time… The corner is by an east facing window too, so I thought it would be perfect for a plant!
What You Need for This Upcycle DIY
-An old stool: this one was in pretty rough shape, but I won’t actually be sitting in it anytime soon
-Paint: I used black and white
-Paintbrush 🖌️: I realized that I didn’t actually have a large enough paint brush… I didn’t want to buy a new one, so I used an old piece of foam as a sponge brush! It worked surprisingly well!
-Newspaper/cardboard to protect the floor: I used some from my recycle bin!
-A cute design idea: I was aiming for space themed, but there are so many cute options to try!
How to Upcycle a Stool
- Lay out your newspaper to protect your floor. This step is important, especially if you tend to be a messy painter/DIYer
- Mix the paint and start painting! Like I said above, I didn’t actually have a paintbrush, so I had to use a “dab” method to cover the stool. This was totally fine for me because I was aiming for a space, imperfect look.
- For areas with old paint or cracks, let the first layer dry and then paint it again.
4. Once the base is on, let dry. Add any finishing details with other colors! I went in with white paint to create lots of stars, as well as two larger stars in the front of the stool.
The Finished DIY Upcyle
I absolutely love how this turned out! 😍 I think the subtle space theme is awesome, because it isn’t obvious until you really look at the planter. For Valentine’s Day, my boyfriend bought me a gorgeous Golden Pothos… I am excited to see how big it gets! Part of me wants to paint the terracotta pot too, but I am not sure if it will look good. Any thoughts if I should paint that as well? Overall, I am really happy with this DIY upcycled project. I love that I saved this stool from the landfill (and/or sitting in that dingy staircase), and I will definitely be keeping it for years to come!
Love,
Jenna ♥
bookmark_borderMy Thoughts on Natural Birth Control Methods – 2 Year Update
Hey earth muffins! I was looking through my Femometer data the other night and realized that I have now been using it for over 2 years! 😮 I wrote a 1 year update post about my experience with natural birth control; so, I thought it would be fitting to share my thoughts on natural birth control methods after the 2 year mark. I haven’t posted much about this topic, so I hope you all find this interesting to read about!
What Methods Do I Use?
If you have been following my blog for awhile, you will know that I use two natural methods: basal body temperature and cervical mucus. I have written in-depth posts about what these methods are in the past, so I highly suggest checking them out on my birth control page if you are interested! 😊 Starting off with the basal body temperature method, this is what I use my Femometer for. The Femometer is basically a normal thermometer; but, it connects to an app on my phone through bluetooth to automatically keep track of my temperature each morning. I saw a YouTuber the other day advertising a natural birth control thermometer that requires you to pay each month. I was laughing about that because the Femometer is FREE (after of course you purchase the actual device for $40 [affiliate link]). In terms of other birth controls, this is much cheaper!
Alongside basal body, I also monitor my cervical mucus. Growing up with the bare minimum knowledge about the menstruation cycle, I never knew why I had discharge on certain days. After embarking on this journey of figuring out my body and natural birth control, I’ve now learned that you can track this discharge to figure out the exact day of ovulation. The Femometer app allows you to track your cervical mucus observations as well, which is awesome because it uses this data to predict your future cycles! 😄
What Have I Learned from Using Natural Birth Control?
First, I learned that there is nothing wrong with my cycle. Again, I wasn’t taught much about menstruation. Health class taught me that you will have your period every month; so, when that didn’t happen for me, I always thought that something was wrong with me. It was extremely difficult to predict when my period would arrive. This definitely was added stress because there was always the possibility that I would be caught unprepared! After using the Femometer, I have learned that my cycle is completely normal – it just lasts longer than the “average woman”. A typical temperature arc looks like this:
For me personally, I have added days in the time frame after my period but before my fertile days. This happens every single cycle, so the app has adjusted to this and can now accurately predict my future cycles even though mine isn’t considered an “average” one. When I used period tracker apps in the past, it would never adjust for this… So I love that I can now accurately predict it!
Using natural birth control methods for 2 years has also taught me a lot about my body and my cycle. The visuals in the Femometer app are incredible; there are so many ways to look at your current and past cycles – even options to compare temperature charts across them! When my body is feeling off or my mood isn’t what it usually is, the Femometer app usually has all the answers I need. Plus, I know the minute I wake up if my period is going to start that day, which is a pretty incredible feat. I cannot tell you how amazing it feels to know my body inside and out! 😍
What Have Others Thought About Natural Birth Control?
People are judgmental for sure! Natural birth control isn’t taught in health class or suggested by doctors. I’ve found that there is a stigma around it because people don’t understand it and are quick to judge. There is evidence that natural methods are very accurate, but no one knows about this unless you research alternatives. I personally chose the natural route because 1) I didn’t want to put extra hormones or chemicals into my body and 2) I didn’t want any side effects (becauses news flash you won’t get any of those with natural methods!).
It’s safe to say that natural birth control does take time to understand and to learn about. If you want to pop a pill each morning and just forget about it, then great! Do that. But, if you don’t, there are still options for you! It takes time to collect the data and time to learn about your cycle; but, after two years I can say that I can accurately predict my cycle by myself without any outside hormones/IUDs/patches doing it for me. As a female, it is truly empowering.
Love,
Jenna ♥
bookmark_borderWhat is an “Earth Muffin”?
Hey muffins! When I rebranded my blog from The Chic Cupcake to Life of an Earth Muffin, I (kinda) explained why I decided to change the blog name. But, I’ve been getting a lot of new viewers recently; so, I thought it would be fun to write a full post explaining what an “earth muffin” is to those who don’t know! 😀 Let’s jump right into it!
Where does the term “Earth Muffin” come from?
As I mentioned in my recent Dental Lace floss review, I grew up in New England. While my family moved about four times during my childhood, this one particular town sparks a lot of great memories for me. The town itself was by the ocean and many of its inhabitants cared about the environment. There was a co-op grocery store, my close friend ate flowers straight from the garden, and “hippie” skirts were definitely on trend. My family affectionately labeled our fellow townspeople as “earth muffins”.
Looking back on that time, the nickname probably held some negative connotations to it. My family wasn’t actively trying to reduce waste or help the environment in any way when living there, so I think the term was describing those who were trying to be as sustainable as possible. Someone who was “different” and cared a lot about the planet – funny because that is totally me now! 😂
So, what is an “Earth Muffin” then?
When trying to think about what to rename my blog, this childhood term automatically came to my mind. I did a quick Google search to see if it was actually a thing (since it just came from my family). Urban Dictionary has a definition for it, so I guess it is an actual “term”:
“Environmentally conscience, socially aware, recycles when she can, prefers organic or natural products, and will drive out of the way to support mom and pop before large consumer corporations. She’s a modern hippy but also has a practical side. She’s cute, showers regularly, and encourages others to do the right thing without being judgmental or critical.”
Urban Dictionary
As I sum it up on the About Us page of this blog, an Earth Muffin is environmentally conscious, attempts to live as sustainably as possible, and prefers a simple lifestyle to one heavily influenced by the throw-away culture of our modern age.
Are you an “Earth Muffin”? 😍
I feel incredibly lucky that I was able to experience at a young age people who care so much about the environment. 🌎 ❤️ Alongside that, I was fortunate to be able to see the gorgeous New England nature and views right out my backdoor. This made me appreciate the planet and its beauty – the foundation of any environmentalist!
Even if you haven’t seen the ocean or huge mountains, I can bet that there is some sort of nature you can enjoy where you live. And if you want to protect that then I hate to break it to you, but you are an “earth muffin”! This blog aims to show that everyone can make small modifications to their daily routines so that they are living a more sustainable lifestyle. You probably don’t even realize how easy these steps are – but you found the right blog to follow! 😀 I hope that you join this happy muffin family and become a self-proclaimed Earth Muffin as well!
Love,
Jenna ♥