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bookmark_borderHow to Pass the CPA Exam!

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Hey earth muffins! If you have been following this blog for awhile (or are subscribed to my newsletter), you will know that I am currently trying to pass the CPA exams. I am proud to say that I have passed 3 sections and took the last section yesterday; please pray that I passed that one as well! 😊 I started studying for these exams back in DECEMBER… My test schedule was shifted around due to Mister Corona, but it feels amazing to finally have taken all 4. Because these tests are extremely daunting and difficult to pass, I thought I would share my test prep tips on how to pass the CPA exam; let’s jump right into it!

A picture of a tax return and calculator

Prepping to Study

First off, it is important to sit down and lay out your study schedule/test dates. I started studying halfway through my graduate program, so I gave myself more time for the first two tests because I knew I would have other school committments.

Next, it is time to gather your study supplies! As I will be working for one of the Big Four accounting firms, I was given a free Becker subscription to help with my studying. I suggest looking into some sort of study guide as well! While the test is “accounting”, it is pretty challenging to pass without utilizing a filtered study guide. The rest of my study materials included: my laptop, ear buds, the Becker textbooks, blank paper for notes, a binder to store the notes, highlighters, and nice pens.

A picture of study materials, including post it notes and pencils

How to Study for the CPA Exam – Chapters

After studying for four sections of this test, I can definitely say I have my study routine down. For context, the Becker study material is divided up into 6-10 modules that are further broken down into chapters. When I started a module, here is what I did for each chapter:

  1. Go through the Becker lectures on my laptop and highlight/take notes in the physical textbook with the instructor. (Note: I never want to hear Peter Olinto’s voice again!!)
  2. Go back through the chapter and take detailed notes on blank paper. These are what I used to study after I finished the textbook, so I made them really detailed and organized… Plus, you can draw diagrams and charts when there are no lines, so I would definitely suggest using (recycled) blank paper!
  3. Go through the Skills Check and practice multiple choice questions. If there is a question you had trouble with, write it down for reference in your chapter notes.
  4. Continue on to the next chapter! πŸŽ‰
A picture of the Becker CPA platform

How to Study – Modules & More!

While this might sound like a simple routine, there are some extra things I did after each module:

  1. Go back through my notes and create a Quizlet for any formulas/terms I need to memorize. While you do get flashcards with a Becker subscription, Quizlets are basically how I passed undergrad. I can memorize anything with that platform – even the 280+ card decks I created for the CPA exam!

And then there were more steps after I completed all the modules:

  1. Practice your mastery by going back through every chapter and completing the practice simulations. While the multiple choice is difficult during the actual test, the simulations are a million times worse. So, practice is good! While the Becker program separates simulations into chapters, I found it difficult to complete them as I was studying because a lot of the information crosses over. This can be frustrating and make you feel like you haven’t learned what you are supposed to, so I suggest waiting to the end to do the simulations. πŸ‘Œ
  2. Take the practice tests!! These are a great way to help pass the CPA exam. They are set up exactly like the real deal, so it is an excellent tool for time management/prepping your brain for test day.

My Overall Tips to Pass the CPA Exam!

For starters, it should be noted that there is SO much information to study for these exams – you will be EXTREMELY overwhelmed at first. It is important to not give up! This study routine worked for me, but adjust it to fit your personal strengths. Every person studies in a different way, so utilize the best practices you found in school. 😊

If you are comfortable, take the exams “hardest” to “easiest”. While some people find different tests more challenging than others, many will agree that this order is: FAR, REG, BEC, and AUD. Taking them in this order will help get the tests with the most material done first.

After you take the test, try not to worry about it too much. They are hard – you will feel really bad after coming out of the test center. But, that doesn’t mean you didn’t pass! The test I felt the worst about I did the best in, and the one I felt the best about I did the worst in… This goes to show that you really don’t know what your score will be until it comes out. While you need a 75 to pass, this is NOT a 75%… Don’t beat yourself up on test day – treat yourself (and your brain) for surviving a difficult exam!

DON’T WORRY IF YOU DON’T PASS THE FIRST TIME. There is a 50% pass rate, so don’t feel bad!! I’ve always been a great student and test taker, but these exams are difficult. They challenge you for a reason, so go out there and do your best! I believe in you. What are you tips for taking standardized tests?

How to pass the cpa exam

Love,
Jenna β™₯

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bookmark_borderThe Best Thrift Stores in Ann Arbor, MI

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Hey muffins! After spending the last five years in Ann Arbor during both my undergrad and grad school experiences, I have definitely checked out many of the city’s thrift stores. Secondhand shopping is an excellent way to reduce your waste and avoid fast fashion. It is also super fun to look for treasures! Now that I no longer live in the area, I thought it would be fun to share some of my faves with you all. These Ann Arbor thrift stores are the ones I would shop at the most; each one has different reasons on why I like it, so here are my thoughts!

1. The ShareHouse

A picture of the clothing section in the ShareHouse in Ann Arbor

Address: 5161 Jackson Rd

This store was my absolute favorite place to shop – I will definitely miss it! The building is large and contains a mix of literally everything and anything you could be searching for. The clothing department is relatively small, but they have a nice chunk of vintage pieces. There are even wedding dresses if you are looking to have a sustainable ceremony. πŸ’’ Even though they don’t have a large amount of clothes, the prices are excellent ranging from $0.25 to $3.

In terms of home items, they have bins of EVERYTHING (ex. utensils, bathroom storage, craft supplies, etc.). While everything is well labeled, you will have to dig through bins if they are full. But you are bound to find some treasures! They have a huge wall of cheap cookbooks and a whole room for games and puzzles. Most things are assigned prices at checkout (except for clothes), but the owners always give extremely reasonable prices. You could probably bargain with them if you wanted, but I’ve never seen the need. A great thrift store to check out – give yourself at least two hours to look at everything! πŸ˜€

Best finds: Three 1000 piece puzzles ($4), a huge stack of vintage greeting cards ($4.50), Mickey Mouse shirt for Disney trip ($0.25)

2. Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop

A picture of the Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop

Address: 2280 S Industrial Hwy

This thrift store has a moderate amount of clothes, but each week a certain color tag makes those pieces only $0.50! Because the section isn’t massive the clothing turns over pretty quick, so there are always new things to look at. I’d recommend shopping for those 50 cents pieces at the beginning of the week; they are perfect for any thrift flip projects!

If you are looking for crafting/DIY supplies, this is also the place to go. They have everything from single buttons to stickers to scrapbooking paper to fabric to vintage patterns. It is truly incredible and the labeling is on point. The kitchen section is relatively small, but I have found some nice things there. They also have a good game section and check each one to ensure all the pieces are in the box! Unlike the ShareHouse, everything is individually priced. All the proceeds go to support local schools of the area, so I loved supporting this place these past five years!

Best finds: “Technicolor dreamcoat” sweater ($4), Halloween pillow ($4.50), fabric for my DIY Mary Poppins costume

3. Salvation Army

A picture of the Salvation Army in Ann Arbor

Address: 1621 S State St

My favorite “chain” thrift store has always been Salvation Army, and the one in Ann Arbor doesn’t disappoint. This store is basically 90% clothing – it has everything you could ever look for! Because Ann Arbor is a wealthier area, this location is stocked full of amazing brands. This also means the prices are slightly higher, but even as a broke college student the prices were never too high. The store is quite busy, and a lot of people shop here (including college students as it is walking distance to campus). But, this means the inventory turns over often… There are a ton of new items each week!

Best finds: Gnocci “Gucci” shirt ($3)

4. Recycle Ann Arbor’s Reuse Center

A picture of the Recycle Reclaim Center in Ann Arbor

Address: 2420 S Industrial Hwy

This recycling center is close to the PTO thrift store, so I would always stop in when I was in the area. Their “barn” has bits of everything from kitchenware to boxes of books to lots of furniture. Nothing is individually labeled, and I have found that the prices end up being higher than the ShareHouse. But, this center also has a huge selection of reclaimed wood and other materials. If you are a handy person or is about to start some home projects or rebuilds this would be the place to check out!

Best find: Nice golf club for my boyfriend ($8)

Overall, I think there are a lot of awesome secondhand options in Ann Arbor. On top of the ones I mentioned, there are also many vintage and antique stores in the area. The city can be quite expensive overall, so thrifting is an excellent way to save that coin AND save the planet! 🌎 What are your favorite thrift stores in Ann Arbor?

The best thrift stores in Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Love,
Jenna β™₯

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

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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 Stock a (New) Pantry ft. Bulk Food

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Hey muffins! One of the first things you do when you move into a new place is stock your pantry and fridge… Or at least that’s what I did when my boyfriend and I moved in. πŸ˜† Food is important to me because, well, I love to eat. While it is crucial to make your new space feel like home, it is also important to take care of your body so that it is well energized as you get settled. For today’s post I want to share my recommendations for what to stock your pantry with featuring my favorite: the bulk bins! Bulk shopping is a great way to reduce your waste at the grocery store, so I would totally recommend y’all giving it a try. πŸ₯°

A picture of a mason jar pantry

Stock Your Pantry: Baking Supplies

When switching to a more sustainable lifestyle, I have started to cook more things from scratch. I try to avoid most packaged/canned products, so having a lot of baking supplies on hand is uber important! I had a bunch of these things already in my grad school apartment pantry, but I figured I would still include them. πŸ˜€

  1. Flour – I have always loved King Arthur flour, as the grocery store where I shop doesn’t have flour in bulk. But, this bag can at least be recycled!
  2. Sugar – Again, my local grocery store doesn’t have sugar in bulk so I choose to buy it in a paper bag that can be recycled.
  3. Baking soda and baking powder – You can usually find both of these in cardboard box packaging.
  4. Oats – I had a mason jar full of oats already, but these are so cheap in the bulk bins (and SO useful for baking).
  5. Jiffy corn muffin mix – I know, I know… I said I try to avoid all packaged foods but I think Jiffy is good to have on hand. Their company is local to Michigan and I love that both the box and the paper (not plastic!) lining on the inside can be recycled.
  6. Various spices – My boyfriend and I already had everything from salt and pepper to mixed seasonings, but check out the bulk spices available in your bulk bins!
A picture of bulk spices in mason jars

Bulk Grains and Protein

There are SO many grain and protein options at my local grocery store, but I always stock up on what I eat a lot of:

  1. Rice – My boyfriend isn’t a huge fan of brown rice, so I stocked up on white rice for now…
  2. Quinoa – Quinoa is a great alternative to rice if you feel like you are eating rices too much. Plus, it can cook in less than 20 minutes!
  3. Barley – I LOVE barley. While it does take longer to cook, it is so filling and tasty. It is great for a lot of fall/winter dishes.
  4. Pasta – My boyfriend absolutely loves spaghetti, so he brought multiple boxes of noodles with him from his last apartment. Sadly, the bulk bins here don’t have any pastas (yet) but I’ve heard that a few brands will be taking out that annoying plastic liner in their boxes – yay for a fully recyclable container!
  5. Beans – I had two mason jars full of Great Northern Beans in my grad school pantry, but there are a bunch of options for dried beans. I utilize a lot of beans in my cooking after becoming vegetarian last year; my favorites are chickpeas, pinto, and black beans! After I eat up some of these beans, I plan on trying out some lentil options as well.
A picture of a bag of dry chickpeas from the bulk bins

Lost in the Sauce(s)

Unfortunately my local grocery store has the bulk sauces/liquids closed off due to Mister Corona. Oh well! I bought the biggest sizes I could and opted for glass containers to avoid plastics.

A picture of a jar of peanut butter
  1. Olive oil – A MUST for roasting all my fresh veggies!
  2. Vinegar/Apple Cider Vinegar – I actually forgot to buy this when I first went shopping, but it is on the list for the next time I’m at the store.
  3. Soy sauce – Because the bulk bins were closed, I went to a local Asian market to support local business. While the soy sauce was a tiny bit more expensive, it is important to help out family run shops!
  4. Honey – Honey is a great sweetner for everything from teas to homemade granola to greek yogurt bowls.
  5. Peanut butter – I eat a peanut butter sandwich almost every day for lunch, so I bought a massive 5 pound jar of JIF. This comes in a can instead of a plastic container, so it was a win win for me!
  6. Nutritional Yeast – Such a good staple for any vegetarian; I love to throw it into any dish.

Other Things to Stock Your Pantry With!

  1. SNACKS – Some of my favorite bulk snacks include unsweetened banana chips and toasted corn. Unsweetened banana chips tastes very much like any potato chip, but the texture is a bit different. Toasted corn tastes EXACTLY like a Frito, and I love that it just corn that is cooked and salted.
  2. Tea (or coffee) – Even though it is summer, a good cup of tea is still nice in the morning. I’m not a coffee drinker, but many bins allow you to buy coffee beans in bulk. I had a bunch of loose leaf tea containers from my old apartment; but, I will definitely be stocking up when I run low.

After shopping at a local farmer’s market too, our fridge is now stocked full. It is nice to be getting all settled into the new place! πŸ™‚ When you move, what do you stock your pantry with??

how to stock a pantry from the bulk bins
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Love,
Jenna β™₯

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bookmark_borderReview: JR Liggett Original Shampoo Bar

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Hey earth muffins! If you have been following my blog for awhile, you will know that I switched from bottled to bar products. One of these first switches was my shampoo where I traded the bottle for a Lush shampoo bar. When quarantine first started I ran into a problem: my shampoo bar was almost gone and the Lush near me was closed…. And the website was behind on orders! YIKES 😬 As my family was already placing an Amazon order, I decided this would be the perfect time to try out a new shampoo bar from JR Liggett.

A picture of the JR Liggett's original shampoo bar

After doing some quick searching on Amazon, I came across JR Liggett. Not only are they highly reviewed but they also make their products in New England, which is where I grew up. I was already sold! This brand makes 6 different scents that have various oils in them. To keep it simple, I decided to try out their original formula shampoo bar. Here are my thoughts! 😊

What I Liked

–The bars are sulfate/detergent free and full of great oils! Switching to bar products is not only good for the environment, but it is also good for your body. I’m quite shocked by the nasty chemicals/additives that find their way into bath products; I love that this brand focuses on simple ingredients. They are also vegan! The original formula includes three types of oils: olive, coconut, and castor. Some of their other bars include more oils and various essential oils as well, which gives a nice variety for all hair types.

–There is not an overwhelming scent. For some reason, many bar products can be heavily scented… Probably the essential oils! But, this shampoo bar has a nice fresh scent to it. I was worried that my hair wouldn’t smell nice after my shower since it was “original formula”, but that was not the case at all.

A picture of bars of soap and shampoo in various colors

–The bars are an affordable price, a bit cheaper than Lush bars. On Amazon they are $10 each; if you buy them on their actual website, they are only $7.50. I don’t really think this couple of dollar difference truly matters because once you switch to bar products you will be saving money regardless. The bars last much longer than a typical bottle = less money spent for you! πŸ’°

–The bar doesn’t have any dyes in it. After using the Lush Jumping Juniper shampoo for awhile now, I have noticed that the purple color leaves a residue in the shower (and on my Ethique soap container) that is difficult to get off… I love that this bar is an off white color, as it doesn’t leave a mess behind! πŸ™Œ

What I Disliked about the JR Liggett Shampoo Bar

-The shampoo left residue in my hair. ☹️ I’ve always had an oily scalp, but this shampoo bar left my head feeling almost sticky to the touch. While this could have been due to the low water pressure in my apartment or changing water after traveling home to quaratine with my family, this was a huge negative for me. When switching to natural shampoo there is a period of time where your hair will have to adjust (similar to an armpit detox when switching to natural deodorant)… But my head STILL has residue leftover even after weeks of using the product and taking extra care to rinse it all out. Not to mention the fact that I have been using bar products for over two years now!

–The bar doesn’t lather as well as Lush bars. I don’t like to have to rub the actual bar on my hair, as I find that wastes some of the product. But, it was extremely difficult to lather the bar in my hands, so I had to use the bar this way. Definitely a downside for me, but that might just be a personal preference!

–It made my hair look greasy (probably due to the residue). After finding shampoo bars that were able to not make my hair look greasy, I was disappointed that this product isn’t one of them. Now maybe I should have tried a different “flavor” or something, but the bar just did not work for my hair type. Oh well!

Overall, I don’t think I will be trying out any JR Liggett shampoo bars any time soon. Now that Lush stores have opened again, I decided to try out their Honey I Washed my Hair bar. The white color of this bar will help with the whole staining my tub situation I mentioned above; I hope my hair likes it just as much as Jumping Juniper. I will definitely write a review of this new shampoo in the future! What shampoo bar are you currently trying out? 😁

A picture of JR Liggett's original shampoo bar
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Love,
Jenna β™₯

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bookmark_borderSimple Ways to Make a (New) Space Feel Like Home!

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Hey muffins! As I mentioned in my last post, my boyfriend and I are officially moved into our new place. πŸ˜ƒ While it was difficult to stay sustainable throughout this process, there were a few things we were able to do during Plastic Free July to reduce our waste. Now that we are a few days into the unpacking process, I wanted to share some of my favorite tips for making a new apartment/space feel like “home”. Moving can be a chaotic process, so I find it absolutely essential to do these things to keep my mind at ease. Let’s jump right into it!

Ways to Make You Feel at Home

*Burn a candle while you unpack. Scents have always helped me cope with stress and anxiety, so keeping a candle burning is a must. Plus, it can get your new apartment smelling delightful! When choosing candles, make sure you buy soy wax from local sellers. Many candles from brands like Bath & Body Works are quite bad for the air/environment… So keep yourself healthy by choosing soy! πŸ•―οΈ

Also make sure you buy an eco-friendly lighter, like The USB Lighter Company’s! I wrote a whole review of this product, and I still LOVE their lighter. It is rechargable, has a sleek design, and is one of the first things I unpacked – definitely a must have for making your apartment feel like a home! 😊

A picture of a USB candle lighter and an almond candle
I highly recommend trying out one of these lighters!

*Keep the window shades open and get some natural light! Nothing is more depressing than unpacking boxes in dim lighting; make sure you get plenty of sunlight for your Vitamin D! Plus, this will keep you in a nice and happy mood in your new home.

*Add some nature to the space. My plants were some of the first things carried into the new apartment; my boyfriend’s family also gave us some flowers to celebrate us moving in together. πŸ’ While a simple touch, having a bit of nature and bright colors/greens truly help make your new space feel homey.

A picture of a blue wall with a window, with succulents on the windowsill

Ways to Make You Feel at Home When Unpacking

*Get rid of the boxes as you go! I have been unpacking one room at a time; as soon as I am done with a box (or a couple of boxes), I take them outside to the recycling bin. This helps both to declutter the space and to declutter my mind… And it gives a more accurate depiction of what else needs to be unpacked! While it might sound like a small thing, it definitely helps a new space feel more like your own. πŸ₯°

*Get rid of any clutter than somehow made the move. While one of the things in my eco-friendly moving post is how I declutter as I pack up, there were still a few things that slipped through the cracks. It is important for everything to have a meaning in your space, so donate items that you don’t want! This will ultimately make you feel at home and at peace with the material goods in your new space.

A picture of a cartoon rack of clothes

*Save the decorating for the final step of unpacking! Decorating the walls is my absolute favorite step whenever I move, so I often set aside a corner of the apartment and pile up all my wall decor there. After everything is cleaned and unpacked, reward youself with the decorations. πŸŽ‰ I think this step is the cherry on top for making a new space feel like a home! What are some of the first things you do when unpacking?

How to make a new space a home
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Love,
Jenna β™₯

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bookmark_borderI Followed a Bob Ross Painting Tutorial 🎨

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Hey muffins, I hope everyone had a marvelous weekend! My boyfriend and I officially moved into our new place, so it was a bit stressful/chaotic for us… But, everything is all settled now! I don’t start my job until September, so I have a lot of time to make the apartment look exactly how we want. πŸ™ƒ In the spirit of decorating and creativity, for today’s post I wanted to write about my experience following a Bob Ross tutorial.

When I was finishing up packing the stuff remaining in my parent’s house during quarantine, I came across a few containers of acrylic paint and a couple paintbrushes:

A picture of eight bottles of different colored acrylic paint

Now I’ve dabbled in arts and crafts throughout my life, but painting has never been something I have gotten into. I have tried it out in art classes, but never liked the end result. However, quarantine had me super bored so I decided that I was going to give it a try! 😝

What Bob Ross Tutorial to Follow

Because I was limited in colors I decided that I wanted to try to paint a winter scene first. The Bob Ross YouTube channel has a TON of videos to follow, which are all about 25-30 minutes long. There are many different types of paintings to follow along to: seascapes, sunsets, mountains, trees, etc. I chose a simple mountain scene with some trees and hit the play button….

My Thoughts on the Tutorial

Bob Ross does such an excellent job of teaching you how to paint something that looks complicated! 😍 He takes a snow covered mountain and helps you paint it in layers, thus creating shadows/shading that makes for an extremely realistic art piece. He also reinforces that nothing is a mistake, just a “happy accident” as you paint. This was such a good reminder for me, as I often want things to look absolutely perfect… But some mistakes can turn out even better!

This tutorial was a bit harder for me overall as I didn’t have the same brushes and colors as Bob Ross. But, that just allowed for more creativity to make the work my own! I would say it took me about one hour to follow this 25 minute tutorial, as I would often pause it to finish up certain steps. It is also important to note that I excluded the cabin at the end of the tutorial. All in all, I think it turned it out amazing; everyone should try out a Bob Ross tutorial at some point!! Regardless of skill (because seriously I was a beginner beginner painter), you WILL be able to create an awesome painting by following one of these tutorials.

If you don’t believe me just look at all the other paintings I have created since then! For some I followed along to other Bob Ross tutorials, but for others I just followed me heart. 😁 What art will you create in the near future?

A picture of a Bob Ross painting
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Love,
Jenna β™₯

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bookmark_borderHow to Have an Eco-Friendly, “Green” Move

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Hey earth muffins! As many of you know, I am currently in the process of moving across the state. My boyfriend and I are (finally) moving in together! 😍 I will officially be moving out of my Ann Arbor apartment this weekend, so this week has been full of packing. All of this moving excitement has inspired me, so I wanted to write a post today all about how you can have an eco-friendly move. This fits perfectly with the spirit of Plastic Free July!

A picture of an apartment with moving boxes in the living room

Tips for Staying Green When Packing

The number one thing I would recommend is to use boxes you already have. I was lucky enough to have a lot of extra closet space in my current apartment (as well as a storage bin in the basement of the complex); when I moved in last summer, I just kept all of the boxes! If you end up collecting more things throughout the year, I suggest saving the boxes from anything you get in the mail. You can also ask family and friends to save some boxes for you!

If you have to buy extra boxes or other packing materials, try to buy those that can be recycled. Many cardboard boxes can easily be recyled, but plastic tapes and bubble wrap are difficult to recycle. I suggest avoiding all plastic altogether – utilize clothing and linens you need to pack anyway to cushion fragile items! Not only is it more eco-friendly but it also saves space in your packing. πŸ™‚ In terms of tape, there are actually paper tapes you can buy instead of the plastic ones. I personally don’t even use tape to close my boxes, but I would definitely check out the paper options!

A stack of moving boxes

As you pack, declutter!! When will you be going through everything you own again in the near future? It is the perfect opportunity to minimalize and downsize your possessions. But, make sure the items you don’t want anymore are reused in some way: sell them on Facebook Marketplace, donate to your local thrift store, or give to those who need them in your community.

How to Stay Eco-Friendly During the Actual Move

Make sure you take EVERYTHING with you from your old place! It is a common practice in a college town like Ann Arbor for students to just leave everything (even furniture) and buy new at the next place. This is, obviously, terrible for the planet. 🌎 Even if something is a hassle to move, still take it with you! Because you own it, you are responsible for its lifecycle. This also goes for little things: clean your shower rings, save your wall decals, keep the nails you remove from the walls, etc. These will have a use in your new place! πŸ˜€

Lastly, try to reduce your trips going back and forth to the new place. Because I am literally moving across the whole state, I hired movers to ensure I would only have to move once. Not only do I drive a tiny Kia Soul, but I will be lugging a queen mattress too – so movers were a must! Taking trips back and forth might seem more budget friendly, but I encourage you to borrow a friend’s van or something to reduce the trips you take!

A picture out of the front window of a moving van, showing the highway in front of the driver

Wish me luck on the move this weekend, I can’t wait to update you all on my new place. πŸŽ‰ What do you do to reduce waste when you are moving?

A picture of a stack of moving boxes with the words "how to be green when moving" over top
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Love,
Jenna β™₯

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