Life of an Earth Muffin

My Thoughts on Natural Birth Control Methods – 2 Year Update

Posted on October 26, 2020August 16, 2023

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!

A picture of a Femometer basal body thermometer — Get your own Femometer here (affiliate link)!

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:

A picture of a typical basal body temperature curve on the Femometer app

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.

Natural birth control pinterest pin — Pin now to read later!

Love,
Jenna ♥

My Favorite (Amazon) Bamboo Products!

Posted on October 22, 2020July 9, 2024

Hey earth muffins! A few posts ago I shared what was on my current sustainable product wishlist. Now that I’ve moved into an apartment with my boyfriend, I tend to find myself on Pinterest scrolling through home decor….. 😬 Our apartment is full of secondhand finds with lots of different woods and metals; we definitely have some bamboo too! Bamboo is a great sustainable wood, so I love finding items made from it. Today I thought I would share some of my recent Amazon bamboo finds; while I might not be buying them right now, I’m definitely thinking about it! 🎍

Bamboo Coasters, $12

Just as a disclaimer, all of the Amazon links in this post are affiliate links. I’m trying to get the number of qualifying purchases to meet the requirements for the program, so I’d definitely appreciate using my links if you can! 😊 These bamboo coasters look awesome! A few years back my mom got me a set of wood coasters from TJ Maxx. I absolutely love them! The set was only 4 coasters though, so once we get a bigger space some new coasters would be great.

Bamboo Toothbrushes, $10 for 10 pack

A picture of three bamboo toothbrushes in a cup

Getting a bamboo toothbrush is a simple bathroom switch (almost as easy as getting a safety razor!). I use an electric toothbrush that I have had for over a decade, but I’m on my last “free” toothbrush from my dentist for when I travel. When I travel post-Covid I’ll need some sort of bamboo brush instead of buying a nasty plastic one. This pack has 10 brushes for only $10, so it is a great deal!

Cutting Board Set, $15 for 3 boards

A picture of a set of bamboo cutting boards

When I started my eco journey in 2018, I bought some bamboo cutting boards right away. I love how they smell like fresh wood! 😍 I also had a couple of glass ones, which is another great sustainable alternative to plastic cutting boards. My bamboo boards are on the smaller size, so I will definitely want to buy a larger set at some point. I love to cook and bake, so having plenty of cutting boards on hand is a must for me! If any of you are interested in some tips for taking care of bamboo cutting boards, let me know and I can write an Instagram post!

iPad Stand, $15

I have ALWAYS wanted a cute stand for an iPad/cookbook in the kitchen! My boyfriend has an old iPad that I can finally use for my recipes; it is a gamechanger from trying to read off my phone’s screen. 😂 I love that this stand can be adjusted, as many I’ve seen in stores that aren’t. This has definitely been added to my wishlist for our next apartment, as we have limited counter space currently.

Bamboo Bowls, $30 for a set of 4

I actually see bamboo/wooden bowls at my local thrift stores quite often, but they aren’t usually in the best shape. I love the look of them and can just imagine how tasty a salad would look inside! Before I buy a set new, I am going to keep seeing if I can find a decent enough set at a thrift store… But I eventually need to get some one way or another! 🙂

I don’t know why, but I just love the look of natural woods in my home! Maybe it’s because our apartment has its original wood floors, which adds to this vibe…. Whatever the reason, bamboo products are often quite sustainable (beware of greenwashing though!), so I suggest checking some out! 😁

My Favorite Bamboo products pinterest pin — Pin now to read later!

Love,
Jenna ♥

Composting in an Apartment 101

Posted on October 19, 2020November 15, 2021

Hey earth muffins! Today I wanted to talk about something that I recently got into: composting in an apartment! 😊 When I started this eco-journey back in 2018, I knew that I definitely wanted to compost when I got my own place. In the United States, the average person throws away 219 pounds of food waste each year – that’s 40 million tons of food total! Why is this bad? Food can’t actually break down correctly when it goes to a landfill. Instead of turning into carbon dioxide, it releases methane due to the lack of oxygen; this is absolutely terrible for the environment! What can you do about this? Try to compost! Even if you don’t live in a house with a backyard space for a compost bin, don’t give up hope yet! Here are my top tips for composting in an apartment. 🌎❤️

How I Compost in my Apartment

First off, I would like to point out that I am definitely not a composting expert. This is all fairly new to me as well, but I figured that this shows that composting is actually easy to get into! So, I hope it can still inspire you all. 😍 If you are look for articles about all the different types of composting, I suggest this guide or checking out this website that is totally devoted to it.

If you are wanting to get into composting, I suggest checking to see if there are any pick-up or drop-off services in your city. This is what I ultimately chose, as I live in an apartment downtown with no outdoor space. These services can vary: some will give you a bin to put out with the trash and recycling, a bucket (like mine!) and collect the bucket on a specific day, or you collect your own compost and bring it to a designated spot to drop off.

A picture of a compost bin in an apartment — My compost bin stored under the kitchen sink!

Even though you will pay a small fee each month for this service, I think it is worth it. You get to support local groups that care about the environment! The organization that I support turns all the compost collected into soil. This soil is then returned back to you each month or donated to local community gardens. As I don’t have an outdoor space, I obviously donate my soil; it feels great knowing that my food waste is helping community spaces in my own city! 😊

Other Ways of Composting in an Apartment

Vermicompost

If you want a few new worm friends in your home, I suggest trying out vermicompost! The worms will break down your food waste right inside your apartment; however, note that the worms can’t turn everything into compost (ex. meat, seafood). So, if you aren’t a vegetarian this will not reduce all of your food waste. I’ve heard that vermicompost is most people’s go to choice in apartments; you don’t have to turn/mix the compost and can just leave the box of worms to do its thing. You can buy whole vermicompost sets on Amazon for $75-200 (affiliate link)!

Use an Effective Microogranism System

Worms may not be your thing, and I totally get that! Never fear, there are worm-free systems that are about half the price of vermicompost sets. For about $50 you can get a Bokashi system that uses microorganisms to break down your food waste (affiliate link). But, these systems are supposed to be transfered to a larger composting system (like vermicompost or outside compost bins); it might be smart to locate a friend who will take your compost once the bin gets full!

Tumbler Composting

If you are lucky enough to have a balcony or outdoor space, then I suggest getting a bigger composting bin that can be stored out there! You can get a bunch of different bins, but make sure you will be able to easily turn or mix the compost inside to keep it full of oxygen.

Overall, composting in an apartment isn’t that difficult to do. It might require some research and learning when you first start out, but the end result is amazing. I feel much happier when I toss my vegetable scraps into a compost bin than if I were to throw it into the trash. 🌎❤️ Do you compost??

How to compost in an apartment pinterest pin — Pin now to read later!

Love,
Jenna ♥

Ideas for a Sustainable Halloween Costume!

Posted on October 15, 2020October 24, 2023

Hey earth muffins! Halloween is almost here 🎃 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. 😀

–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. 👻

–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 — Pin now to read later!

Love,
Jenna ♥

My Favorite Books About Sustainability

Posted on October 12, 2020June 9, 2024

Hey earth muffins! It is no secret that I absolutely love to read. 🤓 I’ve written many Recent Reads & Movie Review posts in the past; now, I share my thoughts on the latest books I’ve read on my Instagram! If you are looking for some new book suggestions, I am here to save the day… This post is a list of my favorite books about sustainability. I’ll link each of them to used copies on Amazon, but you could also see if they are in your local library! Let’s jump right into it.

My Top 3 Sustainable Books

1. No Impact Man by Colin Beavan (affiliate link)

A picture of the cover of No Impact Man by Colin Beavan

This was the book that started it all for me. After reading it in May of 2018, I decided to start on my sustainable journey. 🌎 Rebranding my blog to Life of an Earth Muffin soon followed, and here we are today! This book follows Colin and his family on their journey to live with zero impact for a full year. Instead of easing themselves in (which I would highly recommend to any newbie earth muffins!), they decided to just take the plunge and see how they would do. The book is an honest “diary” explaining their successes and failures on this adventure. I think it is an awesome book to show the ups and downs of living eco-friendly; it is definitely full of great tips and information as well!

2. Plastic Free by Beth Terry (affiliate link)

A picture of the book Plastic Free by Beth Terry

This is another book I read in the beginning of my journey, but it is still a favorite to this day! 😊 If you have never taken an earth science class and/or are new to the whole environmentalist thing, Beth has you covered! She explains the ins and outs of plastic, including helpful tips and guides for recycling, identifying the correct plastic type, etc. On top of that, she provides personal stories about her own journey to give up plastics, which are relatable and make the book worth reading. I’d highly recommend it!

3. Zero Waste: Simple Life Hacks to Drastically Reduce Your Trash by Shia Su (affiliate link)

A picture of the book Zero Waste by Shia Su

If you are a visual learner, this one is for you! Shia does such a great job explaining the zero waste lifestyle. Instead of sticking to one thing, she covers simple tips for every area of your home. It is definitely an essential guide if you are trying to be low waste! The book is absolutely stunning in terms of visuals as well. There are many pictures, diagrams, and bright pops of color that makes the read exciting yet informational. 😍 I randomly stumbled upon this one in my local library last year, and I’m so happy I checked it out!

2 More Great Books About Sustainability

4. Garbology by Edward Humes (affiliate link)

This book focuses on one thing: what we throw away. But, it isn’t all just facts about our garbage (even though there are definitely plenty of facts to go round!). For each topic that he discusses, Edward highlights people who are solving this problem in a unique way. Instead of leaving the reader scared about the future (like many environmental books do), he offers solutions and suggestions for turning our trash into a better future for the planet. Trash is something that each individual can personally impact; the book left me inspired to do my part! I definitely enjoyed reading it, so I suggest you give it a read as well!

5. Overdressed by Elizabeth Cline (affiliate link)

A picture of Overdressed by Elizabeth Cline

While this book is definitely more niche, I thought I would include it anyway. Elizabeth investigates the true costs of fast fashion companies in this read; it is definitely very eye opening! There is no doubt about the fact that fast fashion is absolutely terrible for the planet; but, it is another to read first hand accounts of just how (and who) is impacted by these companies. While I was already buying my clothes secondhand before reading this book, it solidified my decision to thrift instead of shop new. And I have absolutely no regrets! 😊

In sum, there are plenty of books about sustainability out there. These are my personal faves, but I’ve loved many more that are not mentioned in this post! Some books about the planet can leave you feeling overwhelmed about the future; these ones leave you will action items and the inspiration to make a difference in the world! 🌎❤️ What books have you been reading lately?

A Pinterest pin about the top 5 books about sustainability — Pin now to read later!

Love,
Jenna ♥

What is “Greenwashing”? ft. Examples

Posted on October 8, 2020July 9, 2024

Hey earth muffins! In the past I have written posts titled “What is Fast Fashion & How to Avoid It” and “What is Planned Obsolescence & How to Avoid It“. You all seem to love when I share eco-friendly information that you might not know; so, I thought I would keep this series alive and talk about something that I have been seeing a lot more of recently: greenwashing. As “sustainability” and “being green” become hotter topics (which they should!), it seems like more companies are using this technique. To protect your purchases and keep you in the know, here is the 411 on greenwashing as well as some greenwashing examples.

A picture of a rack of sustainable fashion pieces

Greenwashing Defined

Business News Daily does an excellent job of defining this term as:

“Greenwashing is when a company or organization spends more time and money on marketing themselves as environmentally friendly than on minimizing their environmental impact. It is a deceitful advertising gimmick intended to mislead consumers who prefer to buy goods and services from environmentally conscious brands.
–Business news daily

While I have been seeing this practice rise up more now, this term was actually first defined in the 1980s! Pretty sad that we have been fighting for better environmental practices even then.

Why is greenwashing bad?

For starters, I find it more difficult to support companies that actually care about the planet. While I will go the extra mile to ensure that the company is actually sustainable, many consumers shop with convenience, price, and time in mind. If they see a product that is supposedly “greener” than one at a similar price, they will purchase it… But this could be supporting a company that is actually just as bad!

Greenwashing is also bad because it makes people think they are supporting eco-friendly companies – when they actually aren’t! This is devastating for an earth muffin but also unfair to those just trying to make small changes in the goods that they purchase.

Lastly, this practice can get people to spend more money on a product that actually isn’t “green”. There is data to support that consumers are willing to pay a premium for sustainable products; I know I fall into this category! If you think a product is better for the environment, you might splurge on it… And the company that doesn’t actually care about the environment gets extra profit in its pocket. Yikes. 🙄

What are some greenwashing examples?

The most prominent example that comes to mind for me is H&M; I’ve been seeing this commercial on TV a lot recently.

It starts with the statement “What we do today will define our tomorrow” – something that rings true with anyone who cares about the environment. The commerical is filled with statements that make you think H&M is doing amazing things for the planet:

“We will keep changing how we design, how we choose materials, and how we make our products”
“We are turning using into reusing and recycling”
“More than half of our materials are recycled, organic, or sustainably sourced” and “by 2030, it will be 100%“

At the time of writing this post, H&M has 6,018 items in the women’s department, 1,722 in men’s, 3,778 in kid’s, and 701 in home decor. If you aren’t into adding (like me, the accountant), that’s a total of 12,219 products.

In their “Conscious” line, there are 445 items in the women’s department, 31 in the men’s, 885 in kid’s, and 88 in home decor. For a total of 1,449, that is only 11.9% of their total product offering. So it makes me question if more than half of their materials are actually recycled, organic, or sustainably sourced….. 🤔

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to bash H&M. I think it is great that they are trying to be better than other fast fashion companies. But, they still change out their products each season; they still offer way too many items which result in excess inventory; they are still a FAST FASHION company. So stop the greenwashing please!

How can I avoid greenwashing?

1. Take all “green” and “sustainable” lingo in advertisements, packaging, and marketing with a grain of salt. This is especially true if the company makes broad, non-specific statements with no evidence or support to back them up. If a product has a ton of verbiage or “green” imagery on it, this might be an indication that they are trying to greenwash.

A picture of a Seventh Generation laundry detergent, which has been criticized for greenwashing

2. DO YOUR RESEARCH! If you aren’t sure about a company or their product, then pass on it at the store. Go home, do your research into their company practices, and then (maybe) buy it next time. I like to look at the corporate social responsibility reports of companies; it is a great way to see if they actually care about the planet!

3. Don’t always trust those labels. There are many types of non-GMO, organic, Fair Trade, etc. labels out there. But, make sure you look into which are actually difficult to acquire. Some are easier to get than others, so a company might make a small investment to get certified when they don’t have the best practices in real life.

4. Don’t buy new products. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – there are SO many great secondhand options from thrifting to trading to using your friend’s to DIYing. You will never need to read about another greenwashing example if you don’t buy new things! 😀

What is greenwashing Pinterest pin — Pin now to read later!

Love,
Jenna ♥

Review: Photowall Space Canvas Print

Posted on October 5, 2020March 24, 2023

Hey earth muffins! Today I will be reviewing a gifted item from Photowall for you all! 😊 When they reached out to me I was excited for two reasons: 1) our second bedroom/office has absolutely no decor on the walls and 2) the company actively strives to reduce their impact on the planet (will discuss more on that later!). After searching through their wallpaper, canvas, and poster selections, my boyfriend and I agreed on a delightful outer space canvas print. Here are my thoughts on Photowall!

A picture of a Photowall canvas outer space print hanging on the wall above a gray futon — This specific design can be found HERE!

What I Love About the Company

To start off, I’d like to applaud the company for its sustainability efforts. They make absolutely no inventory; when you order a product, they custom make it just for you. This is awesome because it prevents any waste from being created if no one purchases a certain item. The ink they use is biodegradable and any waste created in the production process is recycled by Hans Andersson Recycling AB. I also love that they work with a Swedish coop to plant thousands of trees each year!

There are also SO many designs to choose from! This is another huge bonus of them not holding any stock, as the consumer gets exactly the image you are looking for. You can search for anything from nature to city landscapes, and they will have it in wallpaper, poster, or as a canvas print. So awesome! 😍 Because our second bedroom holds all of my boyfriend’s gaming/computer equipment, we wanted to go for a “man-cave” vibe. Space seemed pretty fitting for that; there were a lot of options to look through in this category too.

If for some reason you aren’t finding exactly what you are looking for, you can also customize an image they already have OR send in your own images! I was pretty tempted to get a huge photo of my boyfriend and I, but he didn’t seem that interested in the idea. 😂

Lastly, you can size the photo into whatever fits your wall the best. Because we wanted ours to run almost the full length of the futon, we chose the biggest size (which totaled $132). When you are figuring out the perfect measurement, you can also move the image around so that it is cropped to your liking. I loved that you could make it your own; another plus of the company not holding pre-made inventory!

What I Love About Our Photowall Canvas Print

In terms of sustainable packaging, the company does a good job with this as well. The canvas requires assembly, so the box it is shipped in is quite small. The frame came wrapped in paper packing, the hardware in a recyclable bubble package, and the canvas came in brown paper. I will 100% be using this as wrapping paper during the holidays! ♻️

A picture of a Photowall canvas print packaging

While you might think having to assemble the canvas is a con, I actually really enjoyed it! I love a nice craft project; it made me feel like I was part of the production process. The instructions were simple and easy to follow.

A picture of instructions to build a Photowall canvas print

There were basically two steps: putting the wood panels on the canvas and then screwing the wood panels together. It only took about 20-30 minutes for our large canvas, so I bet smaller ones take less than 10 minutes! I also loved that the frame smells like raw wood; it adds to the feeling that you are supporting a company that actually cares about the planet.

Lastly, it was super easy to hang on the wall and looks amazing! A screw and hook is included, but we had to use Command strips for ours (because our walls are brick covered with drywall). I personally think it looks awesome in the second bedroom – super excited and grateful to have been gifted it! ❤️

Overall, I would highly recommend checking out Photowall! To save money, feel free to use the discount code “lifeofanearthmuffin25” to get 25% off your purchase! 😮 I’d love to see what designs you all pick – DM me on Instagram with photos!

Review Photowall canvas print pinterest pin — Pin now to read later!

Love,
Jenna ♥

How to Celebrate a Zero Waste Halloween!

Posted on October 1, 2020October 22, 2024

Hey earth muffins, happy October! 🎃 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. 🍂 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! 🥇

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! 🎃

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

Love,
Jenna ♥