Category: Zero Waste

bookmark_border5 Eco-Friendly Dollar Tree Products To Buy This Month

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Hey earth muffins! Today I’m coming at you with another post about eco-friendly products that can be purchased at not-so-eco-friendly stores! 😊 I’ve featured sustainable Target products and eco finds at Walmart, but I thought it would be fun to challenge myself to find eco-friendly Dollar Tree swaps. Yes, that’s right – the dollar store. Target has a nice selection of low waste products and even Walmart has some options… But can a store that survives off producing and selling cheaply made items have “sustainable” options? Let’s jump right in and find out!

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bookmark_borderThe Benefits of Wool Dryer Balls – Do They Actually Work??

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Hey earth muffins! I can’t believe April is almost here 🌷 The weather has been getting warmer and my busy season at work is slowly coming to a close… I am definitey excited to have some free time again! In today’s post, I want to talk about laundry. While not glamorous or exciting, it is a necessary chore that I seem to be doing constantly. To make your laundry routine more eco-friendly, I suggest using wool dryer balls. Do they actually work? 🤔 Keep reading to find out!

What is Great About Wool Dryer Balls

There are plenty of ways to zero waste laundry in your house. This is one of the easiest! Instead of using single-use dryer sheets, buy yourself a set of wool dryer balls instead. They are reusable over multiple years, which beats tossing dryer sheets in the trash after every load of laundry. What a win for the planet!

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bookmark_borderHow to Avoid Damaged Pieces When Thrifting: What to Look For Before You Buy!

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Hey earth muffins! Shopping secondhand is one of my favorite ways to save the planet. Instead of buying new, it is fun to search for treasures among all the used options. From thrift stores to Facebook Marketplace, there are endless possibilities! While I’ve shared my top thrifting tips in the past, I thought it would be helpful to share how I avoid damaged pieces when shopping secondhand. Nothing is worse than finding a broken piece or hole once you get the item home. Avoid the damaged items by following these tips:

Give the item a complete inspection before purchase.

It is obviously important to inspect all the pieces in your cart/basket before checkout. I typically save this for the very end, but you could also inspect each item before it makes the cut into your “to buy” pile. Depending on how thorough your inspection is, you can either do it right there in the aisle or find a quiet corner of the store instead. Make sure you check all angles and sides!

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bookmark_borderHow to Throw a Zero Waste Party – Birthday Edition!

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Hey earth muffins! My boyfriend’s 25th birthday is just around the corner, so I thought it would be fun to write a themed birthday post today. 😍 I wrote a whole post about how to celebrate a zero waste birthday last year; but, I wanted to focus on a zero waste party today. Parties are super fun and a great way to celebrate your loved one – and they can definitely be eco-friendly too! Here are my top tips for throwing the coolest zero waste party this year!

1. Use e-invitations

As a kid, I remember getting invitations in the mail for birthday parties. While I personally love getting something special in the mail, you don’t have to use paper invitations anymore. Instead, try electronic alternatives! There are tons of great websites that allow you to send invites. If you don’t want to be limited by their designs, use sites like Canva to create your own and email it out to friends. You could also start a group on Facebook that invites everyone. This is a great way to mass send all the details for the party! Paper invites are usually thrown in the trash, so definitely choose electronic instead.

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bookmark_borderMy Tips to Reduce Food Waste in the Kitchen!

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Hey earth muffins! One of the easiest ways to reduce your impact on the planet is to be mindful of the waste you create in the kitchen. Yes, that’s right – I’m talking about food waste today! Why is this a great place to start?? Because it can lead to HUGE results. Like I mentioned in my how to reduce food waste post, one third of the food produced in the world is wasted… Which is such a waste! I absolutely love to cook, so I’ve gotten into some great habits since starting my eco journey. Hopefully these help you all reduce food waste in the kitchen as well!

~Cook the right portion sizes.

If you want to save time, money, AND the planet, start being more mindful about portion size. I used to prepare way too much food when I cooked. I’m sure you all are guilty of just “making the whole box of pasta” at times too. Doing this is often easier in the moment because you think you will eat it later… But a ton of leftovers isn’t the best idea. To be more eco-friendly, I recommend only preparing what you know you (and your family) will eat. I’m not saying serve smaller portion sizes by any means – cook as much as you want to eat!

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bookmark_borderWhat Exactly is “Zero Waste”? & Other Common Terms Defined!

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Hey earth muffins! If you have been following Life of an Earth Muffin for awhile (which you should be if you aren’t!), you will know I use terms like “zero waste” and “sustainability” often. But, you may be wondering: what is “zero waste”?? Common sustainability terms can have multiple meanings depending on who you talk to… I thought it would be fun to define the terms I use most for you all. That way, we are on the same page and don’t have to question terminology anymore. 😊 Let’s jump right into it!

Zero Waste

If you search on Dictionary.com or other online dictionaries, the term “zero waste” comes up with no results. However, there are plenty of definitions out there. Here is one:

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bookmark_borderHow to Increase Your Sustainable Living this Lent

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Hey earth muffins, happy Fat Tuesday! 😃 Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of the Lenten season. I’ve always loved Lent, as it gives me time to reflect on my life and strengthen the areas that I value most. Plus, it means Easter and spring are just around the corner – definitely helps me power through the last few weeks of winter and busy season at work. In today’s post I will be sharing my tips on how you can have a sustainable Lent this year. Let’s jump right into it!

1. Give up something that is not-so-eco-friendly.

It is custom for people to give up something if you celebrate Lent. In the past I have given up things like YouTube, desserts, social media, etc. The season is a time to improve your relationship with God – but also to improve your life as well! It is one thing to give something up for 40 days because your religion tells you to; it is another to choose an unhealthy habit that you want to continue to avoid once Lent is over. I always try to pick something that I know has been hurting my life or my relationship with God – it is easier to force myself to go cold turkey when I have a legit reason to stop doing it altogether! This year, I challenge you to find a not-so-eco-friendly habit of yours and give it up for Lent (and maybe for good). It doesn’t have to be something big; remember, every small change helps!

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bookmark_borderReview: Lush “New” Shampoo Bar!

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Hey earth muffins! When I was writing my latest review of the American Cream pressed conditioner bar, I realized that I haven’t written a post about the latest shampoo I’ve been trying. So, I figured now was the time to share my thoughts on Lush’s “New” shampoo! The bar is almost gone, and I am thinking about trying some new brands next. I’ve tried out a bunch of Lush shampoo bars over the past few years. I have enjoyed all of them, but I don’t have a Lush near me anymore. There is a store nearby that sells a bunch of sustainable products, so I think I will be shopping there next. 😊 Fingers crossed I can find other brands I like while shopping local! Without further ado, let’s jump into the Lush “New” shampoo bar review.

Lush New shampoo bar

What I Love About This Shampoo Bar

Now that I’ve swapped from plastic shampoo bottles to shampoo bars, I will NEVER go back. Bar products are awesome because they are eco-friendly and reduce the need for any packaging. Check out my other reasons for choosing bar bathroom products! This Lush shampoo bar is just like the other bars I’ve tried from them – sustainable and awesomely packaged in absolutely nothing. 😍 I like that the bars are round and easy to travel with too!

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