Life of an Earth Muffin

How to Have a Zero Waste Easter!

Posted on March 23, 2021July 30, 2024

Hey earth muffins! I can’t believe that Lent is almost over and Easter is around the corner… I am SO ready for some spring weather. Winter is tough for me in terms of work and seasonal depression; having some sunshine and warmer temperatures is going to make my life much better. 😊 With Easter just around the corner, many people are making plans on how they are going to celebrate. So, when you and your loved ones are deciding this, opt for an eco-friendly Easter this year! As I’ve done for many other holidays, here are my tips for having an amazing, zero waste Easter! 🐰

Stream the Easter Vigil or Mass online.

While many people are getting the vaccine, it is important to stay safe this holiday. Church services are central to many celebrations of Easter, so see if your church has a live stream service online. You can still dress up in your best spring fashion, but you can opt out of a mask (unless, of course, your family decides that masks should still be worn). The cathedral I attend has been live streaming their services for years even before the pandemic, so I will be tuning into their Mass with my family. ⛪

Thrift your Easter decor (including eggs!)

I’m always amazed at the cute holiday decor I can find at my local thrift stores. I’m not one to have a ton of holiday decor around the apartment, but I’ll definitely put up a bunny or two. Shopping secondhand is a great way to reduce your impact on the planet. Plus, you can find some unique treasures that no one else has! 🐇 One of my favorite local thrifts had bags of plastic Easter eggs too – perfect for any Easter egg hunt! If you can’t find secondhand eggs, opt for wooden ones instead of plastic.

Reuse your Easter basket every year – and thrift it!

Even when it isn’t springtime, baskets are everywhere in thrift, secondhand, and antique stores. Find a cute one and then reuse it every year for the Easter Bunny’s treats! If it isn’t too spring-colored, you can even use it around the house until it is needed for the holiday. I remember using the same basket every year growing up, and it was super fun to bring it out each year when we were decorating for the holiday. If you are gifted other baskets from family and friends, find a good use for them as well – don’t just toss or donate!

A picture of an Easter basket full of candy and toys

Choose bulk candy and/or avoid plastic packaging.

The bulk bins are my favorite – and you can find some delicious treats to fill up Easter baskets! Not only is bulk bin shopping easy, it reduces a ton of packaging if you bring your own bags to fill. If you don’t have a lot of candy options in bulk, you can fill Easter eggs with special notes, drawings, money, or little secondhand trinkets. Depending on your bulk bins, you might not have any candy options… If that is true, buy large bags of candy that aren’t individually packaged to save on waste. 🙌

Avoid plastic Easter grass!

Even as a kid, I hated Easter grass. It got in the way of my precious Easter candy and got EVERYWHERE. Now, I hate it because it is super wasteful and bad for the planet. Opt for paper grass or cloth stuffing materials, reuse the Easter grass you already have, or just use no grass. Your basket will be just as pretty if it is a zero waste Easter one!

Dye eggs with natural dyes.

There are a bunch of ways to dye your eggs in a natural way. If you don’t want to go through all of the trouble, see if your secondhand store has dye kits. I saw a bunch at my local thrift store – just make sure the expiration date is okay! You could also skip the dyes and use brown eggs and paint markers instead!

A picture of brown Easter eggs on a decorated table

Go meatless and skip the ham.

After being vegetarian for over a year, the meat I miss the most is my mom’s Easter ham… BUT, save the planet and go meatless for your Easter dinner! This year, my mom got me a “ham” from the brand Tofurky… So get creative and figure out how to have a delicious vegetarian feast as well! Be conscious of the amount of food too, and do your part to reduce food waste!

Stream your favorite Easter films.

My family seems to have movies to watch for each holiday. We always watch It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (affiliate link) and Here Comes Peter Cottontail (affiliate link) for Easter! If you also have a similar tradition, stream your Easter movies as you eat some of your bulk candy or make popcorn from bulk kernels!

Get your Easter dress secondhand!

I’ve always been a fan of cute spring dresses, so it was always fun to get super dressed up for Easter. Hit up your local thrift stores and find some super cute pieces to wear. Or, rent a dress online from sites like Rent the Runway. If your family is into Easter bonnets, try DIYing yours this year! 😍

Overall, it isn’t that difficult to have a zero waste Easter – you just have to be mindful of the waste your celebration is creating. I hope everyone is planning to celebrate in a safe, eco-friendly way, and I bet the Easter Bunny (and Easter Beagle) won’t forget to stop at your house! 😊 Happy Easter!

How to have a zero waste Easter pinterest pin — Pin now to read later!

Love,
Jenna ♥

How to Tell if a Company is Actually Sustainable – Greenwashing Research (Part 2)

Posted on March 16, 2021July 9, 2024

Hey earth muffins! A few weeks ago I shared a post about greenwashing: what is is, examples of it, and how to avoid it. Many of you found this post helpful, so I thought I would share more detailed tips on how to avoid companies that greenwash instead of follow sustainable practices. I will be sharing some of the things that I do personally, as I try to support sustainable companies as much as possible! 😊 Let’s jump right into the post!

Why is Greenwashing an Issue?

I talked about this more in my previous post, but I get annoyed because it makes eco-friendly people have to take the extra step to ensure the company is actually sustainable. We see companies using “eco” and “green” all the time these days in their packaging, advertising, etc. Being eco conscious is “trendy” right now, which makes some companies opt for tricky packaging instead of actually being green. For me personally, I would much rather support companies that do care and take care of the enviornment. If you are like me, use some of the following tips to find out if a company is actually green! 🌎 ❤️

Do your research!

Don’t take anything a company says at face value… Make sure you agree with what they are saying first! I’ve always been a support driven person, so I have found these research methods to work:

Look to see how transparent a company is on their website.

If they are truly sustainable, they will have a whole sustainability section on their website. This section will contain details about ethical labor practices, materials they use, where they make their products, if they test on animals, etc. When a company is using greenwashing, they often have no mention (or little mention) of how their business affects the environment. Use your judgement too – some brands will have a sustainability section that is just full of fluff. The more details, the more transparent and trustworthy the company is! A great example of a good sustainability section is on the Ethique website. They have 5 different sections under “Sustainability” that outlines their plastic use, fair trade, etc.

Use apps to see if products are actually sustainable.

I included two apps in my post about the best green apps for a sustainable lifestyle that are relevant to greenwashing research. Good on You and Think Dirty are awesome resources if you are trying to figure out if a company is greenwashing or not. Good on You ranks fashion companies on how sustainable they actually are; Think Dirty rates products on how good/natural products are for you. Just like a company’s website can tell you a lot, these apps also help pierce the veil of deceptive advertising/packaging.

Take labels with a grain of salt!

There are so many labels that brands can get on their products these days: fair trade, non-GMO, B-Corp, Rainforest Alliance, Fair Trade USA, etc. Some are, unfortunately, easier to get than others. If a company has a lot of money and time, they can easily afford to get labelled as a certain thing. Labels like Fair Trade USA have been watered down because of this, as more people have the label on their packaging (when maybe certain companies shouldn’t). Along with this, smaller companies might not be able to afford to get their product labelled in a certain way – it is super expensive to do so! Instead of relying on labels, make sure you take them with a grain of salt.

A picture of a Fair Trade Certified label

Don’t listen to all influencers about what is “sustainable”.

I shared my list of favorite sustainable influencers recently. If these people recommend a brand, then it is most likely actually sustainable. For other YouTubers/influencers, make sure to do your research on their “green” recommendations. I get so frustrated when a “trendy” YouTuber talks about a reusable straw and then posts a fast fashion haul the next day. Mixed messages for sure! Many influencers get paid a lot of money to share products. If they are sharing something, it is most likely from a large corporation with a huge influencer budget. Many small and sustainable companies don’t have this budget!

Overall, I think it is important to figure out what companies share your values when it comes to sustainable products. Greenwashing is out there, so it is important to see through the deception and make an opinion based on research. A brand I don’t want to support might be one that you are okay supporting – that is totally fine! Every person is different, so make sure your consumption aligns with your values. Just avoid greenwashing as best as you can! 😊

How to avoid greenwashing pinterest pin — Pin now to read later!

Love,
Jenna ♥

Soyabella Review & My Best Recipes for Delicous Non-Dairy Milk

Posted on March 11, 2021July 9, 2024

Hey earth muffins! For Christmas this year, my parents bought me a few sustainable gifts. I recently reviewed the Natissy reusable paper towels, so I thought I would share my thoughts on another gift: the Soyabella nut milk maker (affiliate link)! Milk is one of those things that creates a large environmental impact. Because of that, I have been trying to swap out dairy milk for other alternatives. Many nut and seed milks do not come in glass; so, making your own is the better option! This Soyabella allows me to make my own nut milk, which is so awesome! Let’s get into my Soyabella nut milk maker review!

A picture of the Soyabella nut milk maker on a kitchen counter

What I Love About My Soyabella Nut Milk Maker

When I originally moved this summer, I thought I would just buy my milk in glass because that is an option at my local health food store. However, they stopped allowing you to bring back the glass bottles because of Mister Corona. 😕 Plus, I felt like there were other options that didn’t involve cows polluting up the atmosphere. Like I mentioned above, nut milks usually come in a plastic/cardboard container. I love that this machine skips the packaging altogether! I can buy the ingredients I need in the bulk bins and pour the milk into glass jars I already have in my pantry. A win-win!

I love that you can make as much milk as you need in this machine. I find that making 0.8 Liters is enough to last me a week, depending on how much cereal I have for breakfast. If your particular nut/seed milk won’t last a full week, you can make less milk. Or, you can make even more milk if your whole family will be drinking it. I love the range of production!

The Soyabella (affiliate link) is also super easy to use. There is a detachable metal container on the inside where you put your almonds, oats, seeds, etc. Pour in some water, put on the top, and press a button a few times. Ta-da! Fresh milk. The machine is specifically made for making soy milk, so there is a whole separate button for heating up the soy beans to cook them and then turning that into milk. I just use the “Mill” button for my milks, but once I can find some bulk soy beans I definitely want to try making soy milk too!

Before my parents bought this for me, I had the Almond Cow on my eco wishlist, which I shared a few months ago. The Almond Cow retails at $200, while this machine is only $100. (As you all know, this Soyabella review wouldn’t be complete without talking about price!) I love that there is this range in nut milk makers so that it is accessible to all income levels. While I don’t know if the Almond Cow works better, I haven’t found any issues with my Soyabella!

What Could Be Improved in the Soyabella Nut Milk Maker

So far, I haven’t found anything that I don’t like about this gadget! The only thing I could think of when writing this Soyabella review is the way the inside container gets locked into place… Once you fill it up with your nuts/seeds, you have to twist left to lock it into place. For some reason, this is not natural to me, as I usually have to twist things right (“righty tighty” haha). This is an extremely minor detail, so I don’t think it should deter anyone from trying out this product!

My Favorite Soyabella Milk Recipes

Almond Milk

Before sharing this recipe, it is important to note that almond milk isn’t that great for the environment either. It is much better than dairy, but compared to other options (such as oat milk and seed milk) it still has a negative impact on the environment… But, then again, most products have some negative impact. However, I have found that most people can easily make the switch from dairy to almond milk. So, it is a good recipe to try in your Soyabella.

-1 cup almonds. Soak them in water for at least 4 hours or overnight.
-0.8 Liter of water. There is a 0.8 fill line in the Soyabella
-Dash of maple syrup to sweeten, optional

1. Place the almonds and maple syrup into the metal Soyabella container. Lock into place.
2. Press the “Mill” button which will run the blade for about 10 seconds. Repeat 3-5 times, depending on how thick you want the milk.
3. Pour into a mason jar and store in the fridge – it will last about 6-7 days! Before each use, make sure to shake the container!

Pumpkin Seed Milk

Just as a disclaimer, this milk should be a green/gray color. 😄 Perfect for celebrating a zero waste St. Patrick’s Day! Use the same directions as above, using pumpkin seeds in place of almonds:

-1 cup raw pumpkin seed. You can soak them overnight if you want!
-3 cups water
-Dash of maple syrup (or agave nectar) to sweeten, optional
-Dash of salt

There you have it, my Soyabella nut milk maker review (affiliate link)! I use this machine every weekend to make new milk for the upcoming week – I absolutely love it! If you drink almond milk or any dairy alternative, I highly suggest trying to make it yourself with this machine. Nothing is more better for you than what you make at home! 🌎 ❤️

Soyabella nut milk maker review Pinterest pin — Pin now to read later!

Love,
Jenna ♥

Easy DIY Upcycled Project: A Planter from an Old Stool!

Posted on March 9, 2021March 9, 2021

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!

A picture of a DIY upcycled stool planter with a plant on top

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!

A picture of a black stool with chips and cracks — Before the DIY

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!

DIY upcycled stool planter pinterest pin — Pin now to read later!

Love,
Jenna ♥

How to Celebrate a Zero Waste St. Patrick’s Day!

Posted on March 4, 2021July 10, 2024

Hey earth muffins! Believe it or not, St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner… And then Easter is not far behind! I have never really done much to celebrate St. Patty’s Day; but, as it is a major holiday, I just couldn’t skip over writing another sustainable holiday post. Today, I wanted to share my list of how you can celebrate a zero waste St Patrick’s Day this year! Holidays tend to create more waste than a typical day, so it is important to be mindful of how sustainable your celebrations are. Let’s jump right in!

Wear green!

Wearing some sort of green is a tradition for St. Patrick’s Day. This is the one thing I try to do every year! Looking through my current closet, I actually don’t have any green to wear… Instead of going out and buying something to wear for just one day, borrow from a friend or family member. My boyfriend has a couple green sweatshirts, so I can just steal one of those! If none of your friends have green, then you can check to see if there are any cute items at the thrift store. Make sure you will wear it on a “normal” day too – buying a St. Patty’s themed shirt is silly because it sits in your closet for 364 days of the year.

Play some tricks.

Similar to the Tooth Fairy or Santa Claus, my parents tricked my siblings and I into believing that the Leprechaun was real. He would cause chaos in our house each St. Patty’s by messing up our orderly toys and dyeing the milk green. While playing some tricks on your roomates is clearly zero waste, I would steer clear of the food dyes that come in plastic. I have been making my own seed/nut milks recently; pumpkin seed milk (from raw pumpkin seeds) is already a light shade of green. Maybe opt for this instead! ☘️

Do some zero waste cooking!

There are tons of amazing Irish meals you can cook for this holiday. Try to source all of your ingredients from bulk bins, glass containers, or loose items. 😊 If cooking a whole Irish meal seems like too much, try making one thing. I personally would recommend some delicous soda bread! For those who aren’t into cooking, support a local Irish pub or restaurant. Try to eat in if there aren’t COVID restrictions; takeout always creates more waste than necessary!

Learn to Irish jig or listen to some Irish music.

While learning the jig might sound stupid, it is always fun to try something new! 👯‍♂️ Plus, having a few random dance moves in your back pocket is always a good idea. I taught myself how to moonwalk in middle school, and there have been numerous times where I’ve shocked people because they didn’t believe I could actually do it. If dancing isn’t your thing, listen to some classic Irish music. Or, listen to Spotify’s top songs in Ireland – I love that you can listen to what is popular in other countries!

Skip those gold coin chocolates.

For one, they don’t even taste good haha. And they create a lot of extra waste. Instead of those candies, look for some other sweet treat in the bulk bins. If you can’t find any good options, you could always make your own chocolates or candy!

Attend a virtual St. Patrick’s Day parade!

Every holiday I am always amazed at the number of virtual events you can stream. I bet if you go on YouTube you will be able to stream a bunch of different celebrations from Ireland! If you can’t find any, there are sure to be ones from prior years that you can watch. 🍻 I personally will probably watch a St. Patrick themed movie, such as Luck of the Irish.

There you have it – some awesome ways to have a zero waste St Patrick’s Day! 🇮🇪 I hope your holiday is lucky and full of gold! 🍀

How to have a zero waste St. Patrick's Day pinterest pin — Pin now to read later!

Love,
Jenna ♥

A Weekender’s Travel Guide to Ann Arbor, Michigan – The Best Things to See & Do

Posted on March 2, 2021November 15, 2021

Hey earth muffins! As many of you might know, I spent my undergrad/grad years in Ann Arbor attending the University of Michigan. I would definitely not go back to school any time soon; but, those years were some of the best in my entire life. Sure, academics were tough, but college is such an exciting time in anyone’s life. 😊 I have really wanted to travel recently due to spending way too much time stuck in my apartment; I’m not sure when Mister Corona will allow us to travel again. So, I thought it would be fun to post a Weekender’s Travel Guide post. I haven’t posted one of these in a hot minute! Let’s jump right into the ultimate travel guide to Ann Arbor, MI!

A picture of a girl on the field of the Michigan Stadium

What You Should See on Campus:

If you haven’t ever been to Ann Arbor before, then you obviously need to check out some of the campus highlights. I personally would recommend these sites:

–The Diag: As you are walking through the Diag, you will be able to also check out a ton of the cool buildings on campus. This is the center of the school, so it is a great place to start when exploring Ann Arbor. The Union is an iconic building to visit, and it is right near the Diag.

–The Law Quad: If you want to feel like you are at Hogwarts then the Law Quad is for you. It is gorgeous year round and the perfect place to take grad photos. 😂 One of the prettiest libraries is also in the Law Quad, so feel free to go peep at some exhausted students.

–The Michigan Stadium: While the stadium itself is a ways from campus, you can jump on a Blue Bus (for free) and take a quick ride to it if you don’t have a vehicle with you. I am personally not a huge sports person, but if you are there during footbal season then definitely get tickets to watch the game!

–The Ross School of Business: If you want to see the ugliest colored building on campus, then this is for you. It is also where I spent 99% of my time, as I graduated with two business degrees in my 5 years in Ann Arbor. The building itself is pretty impressive to look at, and there is a Starbucks inside if you are getting thirsty on your tour.

Travel Guide to Ann Arbor – What to Do Off Campus:

Other than campus activities, Ann Arbor also has some awesome things to see. If you are in Ann Arbor during warmer months, you can check out the gorgeous nature at The Arb. You can walk the many trails or just lay in fields of flowers or sit at the side of the river.

The Michigan Theater and the State Theater both have great selections from new movies to old classics. Along with movies, they also do live shows from students orgs and even livestreams of Russian ballets. It is a great place to support the local community! My personal favorite is that they do these awesome sing-alongs where you can go and watch Disney movies with the words on the screen. It is actually a super fun activity to do with your friends!

A picture of the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor, Michigan

If you want to check out the local secondhand scene, I recommend checking out my favorite thrift stores in Ann Arbor! It is pretty expensive to live in this city, so you can find some pretty awesome brands at local thrifts. 😍 Along with those listed in that post, there are also a few small vintage stores close to campus as well.

Main Street also has a bunch of fun activities to choose from. There is The Ark where you can go listen to live music, many cute stores to shop in, and (of course) a TON of delicious places to eat!

Where to Eat in Ann Arbor:

Even during my college days I tried to eat out as little as possible to both save money and reduce my waste. But, I do have some favorite restaurants that I would recommend checking out.

Sadako – 1321 South University Ave

If you love sushi, this place is for you! The restaurant itself is tiny, so I would recommend going at a weird time (or getting it to go). They have great rolls at good prices; I loved going during lunch hours to get the bento boxes – SO much delicious food! They also have mochi ice cream that is really tasty as well. My friend once put the whole thing in her mouth and had a Princess Diaries moment if you know what I mean. 🤣

A picture of a bento box from Sadako restaurant in Ann Arbor, Michigan — An old photo at Sadako when I used to eat meat.

Salads UP – 611 E Liberty St.

While it might sound lame, their salads are so good! It is a Subway-style restaurant, where you can either get a custom made salad or order one from their menu. I personally always get a custom made one; it was such a great way to finish off a day of studying! I also love that this place was founded by two UoM alums. Feels like I am supporting the school when I eat there!

Cafe Zola – 112 W. Washington St.

This place is on the pricier side compared to the others above. But, it is still reasonable considering the high prices at many of Ann Arbor’s restaurants (again, it’s a wealthy town). The salmon burger and fries are to die for here! My friend’s family would always take us here when they were in town, and it was such a delicious treat. I have yet to try to make my own salmon burger because I know it will never compare!

So, if you ever find yourself in Michigan, Ann Arbor is a great choice to visit! While I could write a novel about all of the cool things to see, I tried to keep this travel guide to Ann Arbor relatively short. But, if you are making plans to go check it out, please let me know! Email or DM me on Instagram, and I would love to make more recommendations. Go Blue! 💛 💙

The weekender's travel guide to Ann Arbor, Michigan pinterest pin — Pin now to read later!

Love,
Jenna ♥

How to Use Nutritional Yeast in Your Plant Based Diet!

Posted on February 25, 2021July 30, 2024

Hey earth muffins! I’ve been a vegetarian for over a year now. With this diet shift, I had to learn about some new things to add to my grocery list. One of these things is nutritional yeast. This yellow powdery substance is an ingredient in a bunch of plant based recipes. Plus, it tastes super delicious! For those who have never heard of it or don’t use nutritional yeast often, I thought I would share a post today about it; let’s jump into this essential “how to use nutritional yeast” guide! 👩‍🍳

A picture of a hand holding a container of nutritional yeast

What is Nutritional Yeast?

Well, it is (obviously) a form of yeast. It is yellow and powdery and has a cheesy/nutty flavor when added into recipes. It is popular in plant based diets because it is rich with nutrients that might be lacking in vegetarian and vegan dishes. But, even if you aren’t on a fully plant based diet, using nutritional yeast can still benefit your diet!

According to WebMD, nutritional yeast is full of:
-Thiamine (B1)
-Riboflavin (B2)
-Pyridoxine (B6)
-Potassium
-Zinc
-All nine amino acids, making it a complete protein like those in animal products

Because nutritional yeast is also gluten and dairy free, it is great for people who have food sensitivities or allergies!

Where Can I Buy It?

At any grocery store! Bragg (known for their apple cider vinegar) sells it in containers that remind me of those green parmesan cheese ones… But other brands sell it as well. I personally buy it from the bulk bins at my local health food store. Shopping in bulk is a great way to reduce your waste at the grocery store, especially if you bring your own bags with you. The price per ounce (or pound or whatever measurement your store uses) might seem a bit high, but remember – it is super light so it is not expensive at all. I filled up a bag for $4 and it has lasted me a super long time! 😊

A picture of spoonful of nutritional yeast

How to Use Nutritional Yeast

There are so many ways you can use nutritional yeast in the kitchen. Obviously, you can use it in recipes that call for the ingredient. I have found that coating tofu in a mixture of nutritional yeast and corn starch before putting it in the air fryer is a great way to get the tofu extra crispy! I also recently made a delicous tofu scramble, where I used tofu, nutritional yeast, and turmeric to make “fake” scrambled eggs – so tasty! A lot of vegetarian or vegan reipes on Pinterest use this ingredient as a substitute for other things, so it is definitely a great staple to have on hand in your pantry. If you are interested in a post fully devoted to my favorite nutritional yeast recipes, let me know!

I also like to just sprinkled it in dishes, even if the recipe doesn’t call for it. This is perfect for things like mac n’ cheese, soup, or a sauce because you don’t even notice a change in taste! If I am having a rice bowl or roasted vegetables, I will add a sprinkle on top with my other spices just to get some extra nutrients in my meal. Because it has a cheesy flavor, you can think of using it like sprinkled cheese! 😍

How to Store Your Nutritional Yeast

If you buy it in a container, then just pop that into your pantry. When I buy it in bulk, I very carefully pour it from the reusable bag into a mason jar and then pop that into my pantry as well. I have heard of some people who store it in the fridge, but that isn’t necessary. When in the pantry, it should last for about two years! If you notice that it has started to turn a darker color or taste sour, then you should toss in the compost and buy more.

Overall, nutritional yeast is an awesome ingredient that I wish I knew more about before becoming a vegetarian. It has so many great nutrients in it AND the flavor is delicous. I definitely love cooking with it! Have you ever tried nutritional yeast?

How to use nutritional yeast pinterest pin — Pin now to read later!

Love,
Jenna ♥

Natissy Reusable Paper Towels Review! An Easy Sustainable Swap

Posted on February 23, 2021July 9, 2024

Hey earth muffins! I hope everyone is having a great start to the week. I am officially done with busy season at work, so I am happy to have much more time to blog again. 🎉 For today’s post, I wanted to write a review of the Natissy reusable paper towels (affiliate link). If you are following me on Instagram, you would have seen that my parents bought me a few sustainable products for Christmas… Including these! I had been wanting to try out reusable paper towels, so I was excited that they gifted them to me. 😊 Swapping out your paper towels for reusable ones is such a great sustainable swap; let’s jump right into the Natissy paper towels review!

A picture of a roll of Natissy reusable paper towels sitting on the kitchen counter

What I Love About Natissy Reusable Paper Towels

First of all, it is awesome that I am preventing waste. Paper towels are single use items that seem to be in everyone’s home – such a waste! Before I had Natissy, I would use a huge stack of rags/washcloths whenever I needed to clean or wipe up a mess. This is obviously an easy thing to do, as most people have old cloth lying around too. Instead of tossing the paper towel into the trash, just wash with your clothes and reuse. Amazing and eco-friendly! Plus, so easy to start doing!

I also love that they can be rolled onto the wooden stand for convenience. They look exactly like a roll of typical paper towels! When my boyfriend and I moved in together over the summer, he refused to stop using paper towels. (Just an example of living with someone who isn’t as eco-friendly as you!) I still haven’t gotten him to budge on that (yet), so I store the Natissy stand right next to his paper towels. I am hopeful that he will realize just how easy it is to grab a Natissy towel from the stand instead of reaching for the single use item!

A picture of Natissy reusable paper towels next to typical paper towel at the kitchen sink

The fabric is 100% cotton, which makes the towels super absorbent. I was worried that they would get messed up in the washing machine, but I haven’t had any trouble so far. After washing, I hang them on a drying rack so that I don’t need to put them through the dryer. This saves energy as well. 😊 The washing machines in my apartment complex are a bit rough during the cycles, so I have found that the towels can wrinkle… Nothing an iron can’t fix! But, let’s be honest, I usually just leave them a little wrinkled because they are just paper towels after all. 😁

What To Improve On

The first thing I don’t like about this product is that you can’t remove the wooden dowel from the stand. Instead of being able to roll the towels anywhere, this limits you to doing it on the edge of a surface (see video below). This isn’t a huge issue, but I’ve seen other versions of “unpaper” towels that have removable dowels. I personally think that would be the better option.

Just like any sustainable review I do on this blog, I also wanted to bring up the price. On Amazon, a set of the stand and towels costs $44 (affiliate link). I personally don’t think I would buy these if I wasn’t gifted them by my parents; my box of rags/washcloths did the trick and it cost me $0! Many products advertise themselves as “zero waste” and “sustainable”, but it is sometimes better to just use what you already have. Sure, the Natissy stand looks great in my kitchen. But, you might want to opt for the less pretty (and cheaper) version.

Lastly, if you are using these towels to pick up dark liquids, they can stain. I haven’t had too many issues with this, but one towel is slightly darker now… This is just from the fact that the towels are a light color. I personally don’t care if my rags/washcloths/paper towels are stained. It just shows that they are being put to good use around your home! However, if that does bother you, then I would pick a brand of reusables that comes in darker shades.

Overall, I think reusuable paper towels are awesome! You don’t need to buy specific “unpaper” towels, like Natissy, if you already have other options at home. But, making the swap away from paper towels is a great way to reduce the waste in your kitchen! 🌎 ❤️

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Love,
Jenna ♥