bookmark_borderTips for Getting the BEST Secondhand Holiday Decor

Hey earth muffins! With the holiday season just around the corner, there are decorations everywhere! I think decorating my apartment is one of my favorite things to do in December. From the tree to cookie plates for Santa, what’s not to love? πŸŽ… Believe it or not, you don’t have to purchase all of your holiday decor from big-box stores. If you are on an eco journey, that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on Christmas decorations either. There are plenty of ways to acquire used decor; here are my top tips for getting the best secondhand holiday decor pieces!

A picture of the lights of a Christmas tree

Where to Get the Best Secondhand Pieces

The first place to look is the basements, attics, and storage units of friends and family! It seems like everyone has a small collection of holiday decor hidden somewhere. If they aren’t using it, they might gladly give it to you! The tree I have in my apartment was in my boyfriend’s mom’s storage unit, along with two others that she wasn’t putting up. She already had her favorite tree in the living room, so it was a no-brainer to let us borrow one! πŸŽ„

If they are open where you live, try checking out thrift stores too. Again, people usually have way too much holiday decor; so, it often ends up at the thrift. Most of my local shops have sections dedicated to the next holiday, and I’ve been able to find some really great pieces! I haven’t been able to look for any Christmas decor this year due to Mister Corona, but I’d highly suggest it in a more “normal” year. 😊

A picture of an antique ornament

I’d also recommend combing through some antique stores. While the decorations may be priced a bit higher than a thrift store, you can probably find some very unique pieces! I personally really like finding old ornaments at antique stores. It is so cool to think about where it came from, and if there are any others like it out there. ❄️

Another great way to get secondhand decor is on Facebook Marketplace. Because it is already the holiday season, the choices might be limited… But, if you look in October (or even earlier) you should be able to find some cool things! I’ve written a whole post about how you can get the best deals on Marketplace, so I recommend checking that post out as well! You could also check out many other resale sites/apps: Ebay, Freecycle, OfferUp, etc.

A picture of the Christmas listings in Grand Rapids

Other Tips for Secondhand Holiday Decor

Secondhand decor is great because it reuses what has already been taken from the planet (in terms of resources). It also prevents things from heading to the landfill! While it is awesome, you could still buy new if the decor piece is sustainable. I personally recommend checking out Etsy to find handmade pieces. That way you can ensure the product is made with eco-friendly materials while supporting a small business. Plus, Etsy offsets the carbon from every order! 😍 I have been sifting through stocking listings recently, as I think hand knitted ones would look amazing in my apartment.

A picture of a knitted Christmas stocking

Lastly, don’t be afraid to make your own holiday decor! Try your hand in salt dough ornaments, make a gingerbread house from scratch, or make paper snowflakes from newspaper/used paper. The ideas are endless! Make sure you are following me on Pinterest, as I often pin my favorite holiday DIY projects. I hope these tips help you get the best secondhand holiday decor pieces – your home is going to look awesome for the holiday season! πŸŽ„

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Love,
Jenna β™₯

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bookmark_borderWays to Celebrate an Eco Friendly Thanksgiving!

Hey earth muffins! 2020 had its ups and downs, but I hope that you all are still thankful for something… Whether it be a family in good health or lockdown increasing your free time. 😊 Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays; you basically just eat food all day! While many Thanksgiving celebrations will look a little different this year, I hope everyone still feasts in some way. To ensure your holiday is “green”, here are my recommendations for an eco-friendly Thanksgiving!

A picture of an autumn forest with the words give thanks

Tips for a Zero Waste Turkey Dinner

I think the trend for this year (with Mister Corona) is smaller gatherings for Thanksgiving dinner. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it could lead to some excess food waste if the recipes aren’t modified for the new guest list. Food waste is a huge problem worldwide, so I suggest reading some of my tips to reduce food waste as much as possible! 😍

Some grocery stores are still struggling to stock everything, which might mean you weren’t able to get all of your usual ingredients. Don’t be afraid to stray from tradition – try something new this year! Especially if less people are there to judge the food, you might as well see if a new dish could be added to the turkey feast.

On a similar note, try to add more eco-friendly ingredients to your meal. Shop local at the farmer’s market or deli, use more plant-based foods, and try to avoid plastic packaging as much as possible. Holidays centered around food lead to a lot of waste in general, so do your part to avoid that as much as possible!

Set your table with reusables! I have been designated as the napkin folder in my family. My mom has nice cloth napkins for every holiday, and I find a creative way to fold them. While the Christmas tree fold is my personal favorite, there are a bunch of different ways to fold them for Thanksgiving! Having a fancy table set with a tablecloth, napkins, and nice dishes really makes your dinner feel like a feast. Plus, it saves on waste!

A picture of a thanksgiving table set with cloth napkins

Try Skyping in family members that are usually there. 😊 I mentioned in my ways to celebrate Halloween post that a virtual party is a great way to adapt to this year. I actually know people who do this yearly on Thanksgiving due to family in different countries, so why not give it a try? This will definitely make the holiday feel more “normal” as well. A great eco friendly way to celebrate Thanksgiving! πŸ¦ƒ

Other Eco Friendly Thanksgiving Ideas!

Thanksgiving in my family has always been more than just dinner. It is a day to be with your loved ones and reflect on the “goods” of the past year. Take some time and write down all of the things you are grateful for. 2020 had a lot of bad in it, but I bet you will still be able to come up with a list of the goods. My family likes to write down the five biggest things we are thankful for and then share them at dinner; it is such a great way to reflect together and see what each family member is thankful for!

A picture of a letterboard with the words Grateful on it

Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! My family watches it every single year, and I’m happy it wasn’t totally cancelled this year. While it will be different, I bet they will try to make it as “normal” as possible. I personally love to watch the snippets from Broadway shows at the very beginning; but, it is also fun to see all of the people celebrating in New York! 😊 Santa’s float is always the last one. It marks the start of the holiday season, but I may have already started listening to Christmas music… 🀫

If you are able to, watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. My family watches the Peanuts on many of the major holidays. I know that for Halloween at least they stopped putting it on TV this year, but I suggest trying to find it another way! The movies are really short and bring back a lot of nostalgia. Plus, I don’t think there are many other films centered around Thanksgiving. πŸ˜‚

Regardless of who you are celebrating with this Thanksgiving, I hope you find ways to make your holiday “green”. And, take some time to truly reflect on what you are thankful for. It will make you feel great, I promise! I am thankful that I have such amazing readers here on Life of an Earth Muffin! 🌎❀️ I wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving Day this week!

How to have an eco friendly thanksgiving pinterest pin
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Love,
Jenna β™₯

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bookmark_borderWhat to do with Leftover Halloween Candy!

Hey earth muffins! I am getting pretty excited now that Halloween is just around the corner! There are plenty of (safe and sustainable) ways to celebrate this year, what are your plans? Even though I recently shared tips for creating an eco-friendly costume, I don’t have any Halloween committments… Maybe I’ll relax with my boyfriend and watch some movies! πŸŽƒ For today’s post I wanted to talk about an important topic: leftover Halloween candy.

Even if you use sustainable alternatives to traditional candy for the trick-or-treaters, you might still end up with excess candy in your house. If you bought that variety pack, we all have that one candy bar we don’t like… I recently bought my one bag of candy corn for the season and ate about 3/4 of it before I got sick of them. So, what can we do to prevent this candy from going to waste? It is safe to say that you should never throw away candy that you don’t want; this food waste can easily be solved with my suggestions below! 😍

What to do With Loose Candy

For things like my candy corn, I suggest incorporating them into your baked goods! The fall season is when I find myself baking the most, as I love the flavors of pumpkin, cinnamon, and apple. There are definitely opportunities in these recipes to add some leftover candy inside! I recently made a batch of pumpkin chocolate swirl brownies; it would have been perfect to sprinkle some chopped up chocolate pieces or candy corn on top! If you don’t want to add the candy as a topping or incorporate into the batter, I suggest searching “leftover -insert candy’s name here-” on Pinterest.

A picture of three Halloween cupcakes, made with leftover Halloween candy

On a similar note, use the candy in recipes for family, friends, or coworkers! I know many people are back to work, so surprise your office with a batch of cookies, brownies, etc. Make sure you are following the correct Mister Corona protocol though, as every workplace is dealing with the pandemic differently! While large gatherings are still frowned upon, I’ve seen many people hang out with friends in their Covid-free bubble. This is the perfect opportunity to bring along some snacks or dessert as well!

What to do With Leftover Packaged Candy

Because packaged candy hasn’t been germed up yet, there are a few more options compared to leftover loose candy. First, you can obviously use the packaged candy in baking as well. There are a bunch of candy bar desserts at many restaurants, so try making that Kit Kat Blizzard or Heath milkshake! 😊

Ask your family and friends what their favorite candy is. I bet your least favorite might be one they actually love! It seems like I often forget that just because I don’t like something I assume others don’t like it as well… But, we all have unique tastes. I remember in my trick-or-treating days I would trade candy with my family members so that everyone was happy with what they got!

Another great option is to donate your excess candy to Operation Gratitude! This program has been running since 2007 and allows you to gift your candy to military members or first responders. While you probably won’t be able to fill a whole care package yourself, I bet you could with the leftover candy from family and friends as well! The registration deadline to sign up for donating is 10/31, so make sure you decide early if this is what you want to do. ❀️ If you want your candy to stay local, I suggest looking up candy drives from nonprofits/churches in your area.

A picture of the Operation Gratitude logo, a program to give extra candy to those in the military

On a similar note, use extra candy to fill a care package for someone who is far away. Mister Corona has truly kept families apart this year, so an extra special gift in the mail is always a pleasant surprise. My mom sent my boyfriend and I a care package this week, and it definitely made our day! πŸ’

You can also freeze the candy for later! I had never thought to do this until I was visiting my grandparent’s house a few years back. My grandpa was looking for something sweet and got a full jar of candy from his freezer! The expiration date for candy is many years because of how processed it is; so, keeping it in the freezer is a great way to save all of the excess from Halloween for a time when candy isn’t as common in the house. This is my personal favorite when avoiding the food waste of excess candy!

Lastly, if you must get rid of the candy try composting it instead of throwing it in the trash! Make sure you know what type of composting you are using, as some bins might not break down candy. I personally use a composting service, which would take the candy if needed (but come on, I’m definitely freezing it for later haha). What will you be doing with your leftover Halloween candy this year??

What to do with leftover halloween candy pinterest pin

Love,
Jenna β™₯

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bookmark_borderIdeas for a Sustainable Halloween Costume!

Hey earth muffins! Halloween is almost here πŸŽƒ While you might not be able to celebrate the way you usually do, there are still alternative options! One of my favorite ideas from my recent post is to host a virtual costume party. But, with any costume party you need one thing – a great costume!! Never fear, there are many great tips for having a sustainable costume; in this post, I will be sharing my favorite tricks for keeping your Halloween costume ideas green! 🌎 ❀️

A picture of a person in a ghost Halloween costume

Where to Sustainably Source Your Costume

Try to piece together your own costume from things in your closet. You don’t need to buy an actual “Halloween costume”…. Just get creative and put together a look that is awesome! Last year I did this for my Mary Poppins look – and it turned out amazing. You’d be surprised at what you can find in your closet. πŸ˜€

If you want a full costume, look at your local thrift stores! One of my favorite secondhand shops has a whole section of used (and even new) Halloween costumes for sale. Goodwill will often carry new products that are leftover inventory from other companies; check to see if your local Goodwill has some options!

Ask your friends and family what costumes they have. You might be surprised at what people have in the back of their closets or in the basement. I know my dad has a bunch of random costumes from themed days at work; so I bet you might be able to find a full look to borrow for the night! This is also helpful if you are looking for Halloween costume ideas for your kids. Kids grow out of clothes fast, so it even might be a relief for your friend to get rid of something taking up space in their home.

If you have the skills, trying sewing your costume! Most secondhand stores sell fabric, which would be perfect in constructing a new ensemble. I suggest going to a local thrift store for fabric (instead of a chain like Goodwill or Salvation Army), as I’ve found they have a better selection to choose from! This could definitely make a difference depending on what costume you are creating.

A picture of two hands guiding the needle of a sewing machine through white fabric

Other Ways to Keep Your Halloween Costume Ideas Eco-Friendly!

Try to buy items for your costume that can be worn again! If you don’t have all the pieces in your own wardrobe, thrift the rest. I did this for my Mary Poppins costume; the top and skirt that I bought are perfect to wear to work after Halloween.

If you are DIYing, avoid things like glitter or puffy paint. You want to make sure that you can either reuse the costume again or wear it on a day-to-day basis. Puffy paints usually get brittle and break off in the wash; glitter is just horrible in general haha. Pick fabric paints or paint pens instead!

A picture of a jar of gold glitter, with the glitter spilling out

In terms of DIYs, also try to source your supplies secondhand! See what you already have in your craft bin(s), borrow from friends, find on Facebook Marketplace, or hit up a local thrift store that has lots of art supplies. There is no need to buy anything new for a costume you are going to wear for a few hours max. πŸ‘»

Don’t forget to think about what you are going to do with the costume after the party! DO NOT THROW IT AWAY. If the pieces can be put back into your closet, then make sure you wear them. If it is a full costume, maybe keep it for next year, donate it, or save it to pass on to a friend. Keep the reuse cycle alive!!

There are so many ways to keep your Halloween costume ideas sustainable this October 31st. I hope these tips were helpful as you brainstorm what costume you want to create. What are you going to be for Halloween this year??

Sustainable Halloween Costume Ideas pinterest pin
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Love,
Jenna β™₯

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bookmark_borderHow to Celebrate a Zero Waste Halloween!

Hey earth muffins, happy October! πŸŽƒ I’m not sure how it is already a new month… I feel like September went by too fast. But, October is my favorite month of the year because FALL and HALLOWEEN. 😍 While I’m sure the Halloween celebrations are going to be quite different this year, that doesn’t mean the holiday can’t be green and good for the planet! I’ve been adding a bunch of things to my autumn bucket list; so, I thought I’d share some fun zero waste halloween activities with you all today!

Eco-Friendly Fall Activities

Support a local farmer by heading to their pumpkin patch and picking out a pumpkin. Set up a night where you carve pumpkins with whomever you are living with! I personally like to put on an autumn themed “fireplace” on the TV and crank up the Halloween tunes (especially the Charlie Brown soundtrack) as I carve! After the carving is finished, I suggest watching a classic movie like Ichabod Crane or Hocus Pocus (affiliate link).

A picture of a girl wearing a sweater and jean jacket, holding an orange pumpkin over her face

Explore a local park and take a walk to soak up the fall colors! Don’t listen to music or a podcast; instead, take in the cool weather and the beauty around you. πŸ‚ If you are looking for some new Insta content, try utilizing the self timer on your phone for some fun fall pics.

Do some fall baking with pumpkin puree. I’ve made my own puree from pumpkins before, and it is actually super simple and fun to do! Pumpkin recipes are always my absolute favorite in the fall, from cookies to pie – I love it all! Check out my recipe board on Pinterest for inspiration, as I’ve been pinning a lot of fall things recently.

Hit up a local apple orchard and pick your favorite apples! Most places are pay by weight, so bring your own basket/bag (if allowed of course). There is a local orchard near me that also has a corn maze, so take advantage of any other fall activities you find when you get there!

A picture of an apple being picked from a tree at an orchard

Zero Waste Halloween Fun!

For starters, look into what your town is doing regarding trick-or-treating this year. If there is some option for you to participate, then pass out some sustainable alternatives to individually wrapped candy! Trick-or-treating might not be happening everywhere due to Mister Corona, so take the advice of your city/township.

To spread some Halloween cheer, make some boo-grams or Halloween cards for family and friends. I’ve found some pretty great secondhand cards at thrift stores, but homemade ones are even better! Make sure you have crafted the cards early, as you will want to send them out before the holiday. Wouldn’t want them to show up late! 😊

A picture of a homemade Halloween card being crafted

If you want to celebrate with friends on Halloween, try hosting a virtual costume contest through Zoom or Skype. Have everyone sign on wearing an outfit they think will win; take turns individually showing off the looks! Either have people set aside as judges or have each person vote for their favorite look (don’t let them vote for themselves!). Make sure there is a fun prize for the winner – I suggest a gift card or eco-friendly gift basket! πŸ₯‡

Overall, there are so many fun things to do this fall! While the Halloween parties might be at a minimum this year, there are still plenty of ways to celebrate at home. What are your plans for a zero waste Halloween this year? Get creative – I’d love to hear what you have to say in the comments! πŸŽƒ

How to have a zero waste halloween pinterest pin
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Love,
Jenna β™₯

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bookmark_borderWhat’s on my Sustainable (Christmas) Wishlist!

Hey earth muffins! I know I know, it just started to be fall… But, Thanksgiving and Black Friday are right around the corner, which means I’ve already started to brainstorm Christmas gifts for family and friends! 😍Giving thoughtful presents is one of my favorite parts of the fall/winter seasons. While I buy most of my things secondhand, I still like to splurge and buy sustainable products every once in awhile. So, for today’s post I thought I would share what is currently on my (Christmas) wishlist!

Apartment Wishlist Items

Pela Phone Case
I have been wanting a Pela case for SO long! I got my very first smartphone back in high school and have been using it (and the same case) ever since. While the iPhone 6 might be “old”, it still works just fine. Take that Apple and your planned obsolescence! Now that I’ve started my new job, my company will be taking over my phone plan… Which includes upgrading my phone to the iPhone 11! I’m excited to say I will be purchasing a compostable Pela case soon πŸŽ‰

A picture of a hand holding a Pela iPhone 11 phone case

Almond Cow Plant-Based Milk Maker
My parents started making their own almond milk with a blender a year or so ago. Currently, I either get my milk in glass or a recyclable carton. I know there has been a lot of talk about how some almond milks aren’t actually good for the planet; so, I really want to start making my own “milks”! The Almond Cow has been on my wishlist for a long time… Looks so awesome and does all the hard parts (especially the straining) for you! 😍

Soap Nuts (affiliate link)
I’ve written about how to make your laundry room zero waste in the past; a great alternative to detergents is to use soap nuts! My boyfriend has sensitive skin so we have been using up the rest of his detergent; but, I’m hoping to try out soap nuts in the near future. We have shared laundry in the our apartment building, so I’m not sure if we will be able to this year… But hopefully when we have our own in unit!

IKEA Tanum Rug
If you have been following my Instagram (which you totally should!), I posted a few times about the virtual Zero Waste Fest I attended recently. During one of these sessions, they had a lady from IKEA’s sustainability department talk about what the company is doing to be green. She briefly mentioned these rugs, and I totally want one! 😊 They are made from all the scrap fabrics/threads of their other products – this makes every single one unique. Definitely will have to check them out whenever I find myself in an IKEA next.

A picture of a Tanum rug from IKEA

Bidet Toilet Attachment (affiliate link)
I traveled to Italy a few years ago and was introduced to the bidet… It is an uncommon thing here in the States, but they are such a great way to reduce toilet paper usage. I talked about them in my How to Zero Waste Your Bathroom post; it’s totally on my Christmas wishlist! This specific one has almost 16k reviews on Amazon, so it must be pretty good!

Sustainable Body Care Products

Yay for Earth Lotion
I’ve been following the lovely earth muffin who runs this company (@stevieyaaaay on Insta) for quite some time now… Her lotion has so many great reviews and a cult following; so, I definitely want to try it out soon! I was going to get it awhile ago but my skin started to break out a lot for some reason. I thought I would wait until my skin was clear to give it a try – so I need to buy it soon!

Reusable Makeup Remover Pads (affiliate link)
As I just mentioned, my skin is finally going back to normal after freaking out for a bit. I don’t currently use a toner, but I want to start using one at some point (as I hope it will help with my dry skin). These pads are amazing for toners and taking off makeup, so I think it is such a great sustainable product.

Razor Blades (affiliate link)
Switching to a safety razor is still to this day my favorite sustainable swap. Shaving with a safety razor is easy and uber effective – I’ve only gone through about 4 blades in the two years I’ve had the razor. Because I have my last blade on, I need to get some new razor blades soon. This pack has 100 for only $7 – what a bargain!

Dental Lace Toothpaste Tabs
I recently reviewed Dental Lace’s refillable silk floss, and I’m 1000% a convert! The company was so much fun to work with! 😁 They recently came out with toothpaste tablets to replace toothpaste in plastic tubes… I haven’t tried out any tooth tabs before (I did try a tooth powder from Pretty Frank once), so I definitely want to give these a try! What is currently on your Christmas wishlist?

What's on my sustainable product wishlist pinterest pin
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Love,
Jenna β™₯

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bookmark_borderA Not-so-Successful Recap of Plastic Free July!

Hey earth muffins! As I mentioned in my August newsletter, my participation in Plastic Free July wasn’t that successful this year… (Which, sidenote, if you aren’t subscribed to my monthly newsletter, you should!)

My success during the challenge last year (as seen by my waste audit) was pretty incredible, so I think part of my feeling that this year wasn’t the best stems from that. BUT, it is important regardless of the success to challenge yourself to live a more sustainable lifestyle. This blog is dedicated to sharing my passion with you all, so I thought I would share my failures and successes of this Plastic Free July. As Hannah Montana famously said, “Nobody’s perfect, you live and you learn it”. πŸ˜‰ So, let’s jump right into it!

A picture of the 2020 Plastic Free July Challenge logo

The “Failings” of My Plastic Free July

As I have mentioned previously, my boyfriend and I just moved across the state into a new apartment. With moving comes a lot of plastic, paper, and other waste that I would not normally encounter in my daily life. While there are tips and tricks for avoiding some of this waste when moving, there were still unforeseen instances where I came across plastic this July. This doesn’t just include tape and packing boxes/materials; it also includes having to eat out during the move more than I thought I would have to.

A picture of moving plastic, boxes, and tape

When you are getting settled into a new home you also have to buy things that might result in extra plastic. While I was able to keep my plastic low in the grocery category by buying from the farmer’s market and bulk bins, I ran into some plastic in other places. A big one came from having to buy a Shark Steam Mop; all of our floors are original hardwood and there was a disgusting layer of dirt that we needed to get rid of. While the mop is amazing (and the pad is reusable/can be washed in the laundry), it came with a lot of plastic in tow. We also needed to buy a few things from Home Depot, which resulted in some plastic as well.

Successes and Looking Forward

Even though the move brought a lot of unwanted plastic into my life, it also allowed me to tackle some sustainability goals. Back in June I laid out 6 different things I wanted to achieve for this new apartment to help continue my sustainable journey. I am proud to say we made large strides on all of these during July!! In terms of decluttering, both my boyfriend and myself sold a lot of unwanted things on Facebook Marketplace. We have one box in our coat closet of items we still want to sell/donate; it is SO nice to have only the essentials in our apartment. πŸŽ‰

For goal 2, we signed up for a composting service, which I shared on my Instagram a few days ago! The local grocery store I shop at has a great bulk section to stock up our pantry; and for goal number 4, this store actually sells milk in glass. It never did the past two summers I lived here for my internship, so I am excited! With this goal I also wanted to find a local to buy eggs from; but, we might be making our apartment egg free now. My boyfriend is actually allergic to eggs, so I don’t really see the need to have them in our home… Especially since I’m not a super fan of them myself. πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ

In terms of buying secondhand, I have been slowing buying the finishing pieces for our apartment from local thrift stores. Just look at this adorable soap dish I found for our bathroom! 😍

A picture of a white glass soap dish with floral details and gold around the edges
The gold details match the marbled bathroom counter – I’m in love!

Lastly, I have been working on my boyfriend to keep his own plastic at a minimum. He loves to drink plastic water bottles and soda; but, he actually had an old Brita in his apartment. Now he is trying to switch to that instead. Baby steps are still steps in the right direction! πŸ‘

Overall, while I wasn’t extremely successful in avoiding plastic this July, I do think I made a lot of great sustainable steps for my journey towards living low waste. πŸ˜€ How did your Plastic Free July go?

A picture of a zero waste bag with the words Recap of 2020 Plastic Free July above it

Love,
Jenna β™₯

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bookmark_borderHow to Have a “Zero Waste” Thanksgiving πŸ¦ƒ

Hey earth muffins! I am officially home to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family – and I am so excited! πŸŽ‰ Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays as I get to do two of my fave things: hang with my family and eat all day.Β πŸ˜‚ Ever since starting my journey towards living zero waste, I have been writing posts about how to reduce waste on holidays (check out my Halloween, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day posts!)… In honor of this Thursday, I thought I would share some tips on how you can reduce waste this Thanksgiving!

~Avoid unnecessary packaging at the grocery store when you do your holiday shopping. I suggest checking out the bulk bins for some great savings or buying loose produce for your meal! You could even challenge yourself to make everything from scratch like the pumpkin puree for your pumpkin pie! If you have to buy something in packaging, choose glass or metal containers that can be easily recycled.Β πŸ‘

~Have a vegetarian dinner. Turkey is such a classic for Thanksgiving, but you could always try having a meatless holiday feast! The meat industry is pretty terrible in terms of both sustainability and ethical practices, so avoiding turkey is a great way to share these beliefs. This is obviously not for everyone as I know my own family would never not have a bird, but maybe your family would be okay with it!

~Know how many people you are cooking for! While having some leftovers is a good thing, you don’t want to have so many leftovers that you end up throwing a lot away after a few days.Β πŸ‘Ž Keeping serving sizes in mind is a great way to reduce food waste this Thanksgiving.

~Set up a designated compost bin and keep it nearby when cooking. When you are cooking this holiday, make sure to put all of the food scraps into a compost bin! This is especially great if you are preparing food for a good amount of people, as you will be shocked to see how much compost you have been throwing away all these years. After dinner you can put the compost into your own compost bin or have someone take it to theirs (or to drop off at a local composting company).

~Use “fancy” table settings. I’m talking the whole nine yards: fancy dishes, cloth tablecloths and napkins, nice silverware, etc. If you are hosting and don’t have enough supplies, ask you family and friends to bring some along! While you will then have to wash everything at the end of the night, you will be saving a ton of waste from heading to the landfill. Worth it!

~Plan what to do with the leftovers! After a couple of days after Thanksgiving my family definitely gets tired of the same leftovers… So make a plan on what you are going to do with the leftovers! You could freeze some turkey to put in soups, turn vegetable dishes into a casserole, etc. etc. By having a plan you will be less likely to just throw away the food after a few days.Β πŸ™‚

How do you reduce waste on Thanksgiving?

Love,
Jenna β™₯

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