bookmark_borderMy Tips & Tricks for an Armpit Detox 💪

Hey earth muffins; Happy Monday! To start this week off right, I want to share my tips and tricks for dealing with an armpit detox… Now some of you might be asking, “What the heck is an armpit detox?”, so you definitely came to the right Earth Muffin! Let’s jump right into the post!

What is an armpit detox?
An armpit detox is a detox for your armpits (duh! 🙄) that often occurs after switching from an aluminum based deodorant to a more natural deodorant (such as the natural deodorants from Pretty Frank). When using products that contain aluminum your body is prevented from perspiring, which is why they are often labeled as “antiperspirants”. After switching to a deodorant that lets you sweat, your body isn’t used to it… This results in the armpit detox where you might notice excess sweat and smell coming from your pits as you sweat out the gunk/toxins that have been sitting in your armpit for months and even years! 😷

My Experience with an Armpit Detox
When I switched and started using Pretty Frank’s Wild Wood deodorant, I (surprisingly) didn’t experience much of a detox. I maybe had more sweat than usual for a few days, but nothing too crazy. I did however notice my body actually sweating in the pits for the first time in my LIFE, which was such an interesting thing to think about.

natural deodorant for armpit detox

Tips for Surviving Your Armpit Detox
If you make the switch to natural deodorant, you might experience a much longer detox than I did, so I thought I would share my tips to help you mitigate the sweat and the smell!

1. Pick a time that works the best for you – Don’t try to make the switch when you have a lot of presentations in class or know you will be wearing a lot of tank tops. I think winter is probably the best time of the year for a detox, as you can wear a shirt under a sweater to catch any excess sweat or smell!

man sweating

2. Dab away the sweat often – You will find yourself sweating more than usual, so feel free to use some toilet paper or tissues to dab away the sweat often. I would do this whenever I went to the bathroom, as it is an easy thing to do while sitting on the toilet (sorry for the TMI haha).

3. Reapply when necessary – Feel free to reapply deodorant if you feel like the smell is getting particularly bad… Just make sure you don’t over do it so that your armpits turn white or it rubs into your clothes. You wouldn’t want a stain!

4. Let your pits have space – This process is completely normal, so let your armpits detox all the gunk! I would avoid wearing any tight-in-the-pit clothes to prevent from even more irritation. #freethepits!

5. Have a back-up smell blocker – If you are super concerned with the idea of slightly smelly pits, double up your odor blocker by using body spray, perfume, essential oils, etc. Please don’t use too much though, nobody wants to smell you from a mile away!

6. Make sure the scent of your natural deodorant works for you – Some body odors don’t mix well with certain scents, or your body odor might smell similar to a scent. If you aren’t liking the smell of the first product you try out, don’t give up and try again! It is really a trial and error process until you find the deodorant that works for you. 😊

pinterest graphic about armpit detox
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Have you had an armpit detox before? What are your tips for making it easier?

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderHow to Zero Waste Your Airplane Flight ✈️

Hey earth muffins! After branching out from my “How to Zero Waste Your [insert room here]” series into topics like periods, I thought it would be fun to explore traveling. As I recently took a trip to Washington D.C., it seemed like the perfect time to share my tips for being low waste on an airplane. 😊

Note: flying on a airplane is not good for the environment. It is actually one of the worst things to do… So, there really isn’t a “zero waste” way to fly; however, if you must fly these are tips that you can use to mitigate other waste at the airport and on board.

1. Book an airline that uses online boarding passes – You won’t have to worry about printing your ticket or losing it along the way! Just make sure your phone is charged up to be scanned through security and the gate. Delta has a great app I use, but I am sure many other airlines offer this lovely feature.
 
 
2. Bring your own water bottle – People I talk to are often unaware that you can bring your own water bottle through security (just make sure it is empty when you go through!). Airports have water fountains near the bathrooms, which reduces the need to buy plastic water bottles in the airport or to get a beverage during the in-flight food service.

3. Be prepared with some snacks! – Again, you can bring snacks through security! For my trip to Washington D.C., I brought along some pretzel sticks in a reusable sandwich bag. 🥨 I was able to refuse the snack mid-flight and even have some leftovers for my layover. While I didn’t have enough space in my bag to bring as much food as I could have, at least a few snack packages were saved!

 

4. Bring your own ear buds/headphones (noise cancelling is recommended!) – You can usually purchase cheap, throwaway-able ear buds on flights, but save your money (and the planet) by bringing your own!

5. Don’t check a bag; bring a carry-on! – Even if you have your own luggage tag, your checked bag will still get adorned with some extra stickers and tags that are unnecessary. Save that waste by packing light and bringing only a carry-on. 🧳

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What do you do to reduce waste when flying?

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderThe Weekender’s Guide to Washington, D.C.

Hey earth muffins! As you could tell from @lifeofanearthmuffin, you will know that I recently spent a few days in Washington, D.C.! While I wasn’t there to be a tourist (I was attending an accounting conference for my graduate program), I did have some extra time in the evenings to do a bit of exploring… So I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to write another Weekender’s Guide post 😊 Let’s jump right into it!

What To Do:
1. Walk around to visit all of the monuments – I’m talking Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, etc. There are SO many cool monuments to visit! There is quite a bit of walking involved to get to all of them, so you might consider taking the Metro. If you are going to ride the subway, you will need to purchase a Smartrip card for $2 and then add money onto the card depending on the price of the fare to each stop. The Metro machines can be quite complicated but there are always nice workers ready to help! 👍

2. Hit up museums – Many of the museums are FREE, so I would definitely recommend checking out as many as possible. You can see some amazing things all the way from Dorothy’s ruby red slippers to space ships. There’s a lot of history to learn!

3. Take a double decker tour bus – If you don’t have a lot of time, consider taking a bus tour. The one I went on was during sunset, and we hit a ton of monuments in only three hours. Such a great way to see the city!

4. Take a picture in front of the White House – It is surprisingly smaller than you think it would be…. 📸

5. Hit up The Player’s Club (1400 14th St NW) – If you are looking for a cool night life scene, I suggest this club. There is a sky deck, pool tables, games (pin ball, etc.), and even a whole shelf of board games. As someone who doesn’t drink, there were plenty of other fun things to do.

What To Eat:
1. Buredo – This place has sushi burritos!! Literally two of my favorite foods morphed into one – how could I not eat there? 🍣

2. Georgetown Cupcakes – I used to bake cupcakes all the time, so it was a blast from the past to go into a cupcakery. While I now think cupcakes are overly sweet (I’d definitely prefer a cookie), this was one of the more tasty cupcakes I have tried!

3. Picnic on the Washington Mall – The Washington Mall is absolutely gorgeous if the weather is nice, so I recommend buying your favorite dishes/snacks at the grocery store for a fun little picnic! Plus, this can be much cheaper than eating out. 🙂

Where to Stay:
1. Homewood Suites by Hilton (1475 Massachusetts Ave NW) – I stayed here and it was really nice… And it wasn’t as expensive as some of the other hotels around. It was a 15 minute walk from the White House, so you definitely can’t beat the location!

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What are your favorite things to do in Washington, D.C.?

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderMy Tips for Scoring on Facebook Marketplace!

Hey earth muffins! As many of you already know, I recently moved into an apartment for grad school… While I wrote an exhaustive list of everything to pack in a recent post, I surprisingly did not have everything on that list when I moved in. 🤔 Moving to campus this early is awesome because many students are just about to move out, which means Facebook Marketplace gets a lot more listings! My roommate and I were able to find some great deals on Marketplace (including a super nice dining room table for only $45!), so I wanted to share my top tips for scoring big with you all today! 🎉

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1. Only start looking when you are able to pick up/purchase – When I knew we were looking for certain pieces of furniture, I started looking on Facebook a week or so before we were set to move in. People will definitely not wait for you to pick things up and will just sell to someone else, so don’t even bother looking until you are able to get in the car and go get the goods.

2. Keep watching the “Recently Added” feed – People post things all throughout the day, so make sure you never miss a listing that you will be interested in!

3. Jump fast with offers– If you are even remotely interested in the listing, contact the seller as soon as possible! Getting some clarifying information will allow you to make a decision before the item is either sold or you buy it. If you know that you would like to buy it, immediately message the seller and ask them when they would like you to pick it up so that they don’t sell it to someone else!

4. Be wary of making counter offers – Items that are extremely popular, low-priced, or recently listed will sell quickly, so don’t even bother trying to get a discount… The seller will just give it to someone who is willing to pay full price! However, if the item has been on Facebook Marketplace for awhile feel free to do some negotiating!

5. If you message a seller and decide not to purchase, let them know! – This makes the selling process so much easier, so don’t be a ghost 👻

6. Don’t buy everything – There are definitely some amazing deals on Facebook Marketplace (I saw some lady selling a 50 piece Tupperware set for $5!!), but that doesn’t mean you should purchase it all. Especially if you are trying to live a more sustainable lifestyle, take care to think if a) you really need the item and if b) the item is built to last.

7. Make sure to clean everything – Just like I mentioned in my tips for thrift shopping post, wash/clean the items you purchase right away. These items are still secondhand and can be from someone’s basement, so make sure there is no dirt or dust before you bring it into your home. 😊

What have you bought off Facebook Marketplace?

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderHow to Zero Waste Your Period ❣️

Hey earth muffins! While my “How to Zero Waste Your [insert room here]” series was originally supposed to only focus on certain rooms of the home, I really wanted to write about periods today (don’t ask me why 😆). I have tackled everything from the laundry room to the kitchen in my “How to Zero Waste Your —” series, but periods happen every single month for 50% of the population… That is a lot of waste that can be avoided! Here are some great ways for you to mitigate your own waste during that time of the month:

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1. Menstrual cups – After going through the pros and cons of a menstrual cup here on Life of an Earth Muffin, I decided to purchase a Lena cup for Plastic Free July. If you read my Waste Audit at the end of the challenge, you will know that I struggled to get the cup to work for me… But menstrual cups are definitely one of the best options for a zero waste period! I am continuing to try out this cup, and I am extremely hopeful that I will be able to make the switch eventually. 😊

2. Reusable pads – Just like reusable diapers for babies, these cloth pads can be washed and washed again and again. 👍 Disposable pads are often filled with chemicals, which can make your period smell unpleasant (it isn’t actually supposed to smell ladies!). You can purchase these reusable pads on many websites, but Amazon and Etsy both have a bunch of options for cheap prices.

3. Herbal remedies – Medicines like Midol and Tylenol can be helpful during your period, but these lead to plastic waste. Try to incorporate more natural ways to reduce menstrual cramps – like these herbal remedies from Our Blue Ridge House. A DIY heating pad made from an old sock filled with rice is another great way to reduce period pain.  

4. Period panties – While these are more expensive than the other options (as you will need to purchase a few pairs to last for your period), you might want to make the investment. 🤔 I don’t know if I would personally like to “free bleed”, but it definitely would give you the freedom to not have to worry about your period during that time of the month!

5. Reusable tampon applicators – This is obviously not completely zero waste as you would need to still use tampons, but reducing the plastic of an applicator per each tampon is definitely a win! 🎉 This is similar to a menstrual cup as you would need to wash/sanitize it after each use to keep it bacteria free.

How do you try to reduce your waste on your period? 

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_border10 Things I Don’t Buy Anymore ft. Low Waste Living

Hey earth muffins! Ever since starting my journey towards living low/zero waste I have been making a lot of changes in my life. 😃 This has been an amazing experience for me, and it has definitely changed my life for the better. Today I wanted to share with you all some things that I have stopped buying “cold-turkey” because of this journey. Here are the things I don’t buy anymore!  🎉

A picture of a plant with the words Things I Don't Buy Anymore over it

1. Paper towels – As I’ve mentioned in both my How to Zero Waste Your Cleaning Supplies and How to Zero Waste Your Kitchen posts, I have replaced paper towels with rags and washcloths. This change was one of the first ones I made, as my mom gave me a ton of old washcloths that she was going to get rid of. 👌

2. Ziploc bags – The news is full of horror stories about plastic grocery bags, but Ziploc bags are used almost as much. Why do you need to use three bags for one packed lunch? To get around this I use Tupperware, reusable sandwich bags, and mason jars!

3. Plastic wrap – Instead of this disposable wrap try using Tupperware instead! I haven’t even thought about using plastic wrap since I stopped using it, which shows just how unnecessary it is. Pyrex makes some great containers (both glass and plastic), and you can also buy (or make!) some beeswax wrap. 😊

4. Q-tips – I used to use two Q-tips every night after I showered… And you aren’t really even supposed to use those to clean your ears! I briefly mentioned ear picks in my very first Living a Lower Waste Lifestyle 101, and I definitely recommend checking them out. Such a great alternative!

5. Clothes that aren’t second hand – I shouldn’t say I NEVER buy new clothes, but it is a very very rare occurrence. Thrift shopping is a new hobby of mine, and it is actually much easier than people think. Check out my top tips if you are new to the thrifting game!

6. Laundry detergent – I don’t buy laundry detergent after getting myself an EcoEgg instead. This little device lasts for over 200 washes(!!) before the pellets need to be replaced. Saves on plastic, is all-natural, and makes my clothes so clean!

Buy on Amazon for only $20!

7. Dryer sheets – I found myself some dryer balls at TJMaxx as I was starting my journey to sustainable living, and I love the fact that I don’t find the dryer sheets in random arm/leg holes because of all the static. 😝

8. Disposable toothbrushes – I guess I never really used disposable toothbrushes unless I was traveling due to the fact that I love my electric toothbrush… But now I just bring my electric one when I travel too!

9. Plastic water bottles – I have mentioned this is multiple Plastic Free July posts, but you should NEVER use plastic water bottles unless the water is unsafe to drink. End of story.

10. Snack foods – After falling in love with shopping in the bulk bins, there is really no reason to buy individually packaged snack foods. This has probably been the hardest switch for me as I love the junk foods that I have been eating for years, but I am slowly replacing all of them!

I may or may not still buy Sour Patch Kids from time to time 😬

What have you been giving up to be more sustainable?

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderPlastic Free July Wrap Up – My Waste Audit

Today is the last day of July, which means the Plastic Free July challenge officially ends tomorrow. 🎉 While the month long endeavor might be coming to a close, I will (obviously) continue to avoid plastic as part of my journey towards living a sustainable low-waste lifestyle. As a wrap up for this month, I wanted to share with you all today the plastic waste that I created. 😊 Let’s dive right into it!

All of the plastic used in July:

 

Along with these plastic items, there were a few other things that I was unable to collect:

-Hot dog container from work event
-Approx. 12 pads and their wrappers from my period
-Two trash bags

Overall, I think that I did a nice job… But there are definitely areas I need to improve on! First, I really want to strive towards making my period zero waste. As I knew it was going to start the second week of July, I wanted to try out a menstrual cup. I bought the Lena cup off of Amazon and instead of a cardboard box they shipped it in a bubble mailer. 😑 That was a fail and then I also just could not get the menstrual cup to work for me (hence why there are 12ish pads in my total plastic haul). As I mentioned in my Should I Get a Menstrual Cup? post, cups are “easy to use” in theory… But it was just a huge struggle for me. While I haven’t given up on the Lena cup yet, it just didn’t pan out for Plastic Free July.

I think the second area of improvement would be making my work office more sustainable. Not only did I attend a baseball game event where it was expected of us to eat the food that was provided by the firm (resulting in the hot dog container and Gatorade bottle), but they also only have individually packaged snacks and candy in the office building (which resulted in me indulging in some Hershey Nuggets without thinking about the challenge). 🤷‍♀️ As an intern, I felt uncomfortable going against the norm especially at the baseball event… But when I start full-time with the company next year, I will definitely be having a sustainability chat with my supervisors!

What can be recycled or reused:

Not all of the plastic that I collected will be going to the landfill however. 🥳 My local recycling pick up will be able to recycle all of these things, and I will be re-using the Amazon bubble mailer when I move out of this apartment and into my school apartment in August.

What is going to landfill

Even though I grocery shop locally and use my own bags, it seems like a majority of the waste I created was related to food. For the whole month of July I collected 17 stickers from various fruits and vegetables as well as a rubber band holding broccoli stems together at the farmer’s market. I was able to find a local health food store that sells milk in glass bottles, but the lid was still plastic. However, I am proud to say that I avoided a lot of plastic packaging by not purchasing any meat, getting bread from a local bakery (and having them put the bread in my own bag), and shopping from the bulk bins. 😃

Overall, I definitely learned a lot of the same lessons as last summer from participating in Plastic Free July. However, I avoided a lot more plastic this year because I held myself accountable to the goals I created at the end of June. 💚 I look forward to this challenge again next summer!!!

How did your Plastic Free July go??

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderHow to Zero Waste Your Kitchen 🍽️

Hey earth muffins! It has been a long time since I wrote a “How to Zero Waste Your [insert room here]” post… 🤔 Previously in this series, I have written about how you can zero waste your laundry room, your bathroom, and even your cleaning supplies. Today I would like to focus on one of my favorite rooms – the kitchen! As I love to cook and bake (plus eat haha), I spend a lot of time in this space. When I started my journey towards living zero waste, I made some of my first habit changes in the kitchen. Hopefully this post inspires you all to make these changes as well! 😊

Dishes, Silverware, Pots, Pans, and Other Kitchen Utensils
Use what you already have! You don’t need to go out and buy “sustainable” kitchen gadgets if you already have perfectly fine kitchenware.
Shop secondhand. If you are looking to buy a new potato masher, ladle, etc., why not check your local thrift store, yard sales, or Facebook Marketplace? I was looking to buy a silverware holder the other day and found one for only $1 at a garage sale 🎉 Not only did I save a bunch of money, but I also prevented this product from going into the landfill.

Acquire unused kitchen accessories from family and friends. A lot of people own too many dishes, mugs, utensils, etc. There is a high chance that if you ask around someone in your network will be more than willing to give you something that is just taking up space in their cupboard!
Buy new products that are made of sustainable materials. If all of these other suggestions fail, then feel free to buy something new. Try to make sure it is stainless steel or glass (not plastic!) so that it will last a long time and can be recycled at the end of its use.

Storage Containers
Mason jars! I own about 40 different mason jars in various brands and sizes, and I absolutely love using them to store food in my pantry, fridge, freezer, and for packed lunches. If you all are interested in me writing a post about my mason jar collection, just let me know! 👍

Goals for my mason jar collection 😍

Use the plastic tupperware you already have. Just because your tupperware is plastic doesn’t mean you have to give them away after becoming zero waste. The whole point of this lifestyle is to reuse as much as possible, so definitely continue to use those plastic tupperware containers!
Buy stainless steel and glass containers. I find that the stainless steel ones are lighter to carry around with me, so I use them if I want to take out food somewhere or am taking lunch with me. Again, check around your secondhand options before buying new! 😊

Dish Towels
Ask around for old towels. There is really no reason to buy dish towels new as no one really sees them… I have a gigantic collection of old dish towels and washcloths that I use for both cleaning and in the kitchen that were given to me by my parents and other close relatives.

Washing the Dishes
Get a dishwasher if you can. It is actually better for the planet to use a dishwasher instead of washing your dishes by hand, as you save water using the machine. 💧 However, make sure you only run the dishwasher when you have a full load or that is wasteful!
Do NOT use a sponge; try rags or a bamboo/wood dish brush instead. 

Kitchen Electronics (coffee makers, KitchenAids, etc.)
Look on Facebook Marketplace. While you can find a lot of kitchen electronics at the thrift store, Facebook Marketplace is more reliable when it comes to the machines actually working. But, many thrift stores do have return policies in place, so I would still check secondhand stores before buying new.

How do you cut back on waste in your kitchen?

Love,
Jenna ♥

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