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bookmark_borderThe Weekender’s Guide to Bar Harbor, ME 🦞

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Hey earth muffins! As I mentioned in my rebranding post last month, I grew up on the East Coast. My family spent a lot of time vacationing along the ocean, and one of our favorite destinations was Maine. This state is absolutely gorgeous, and I always tell people that they need to visit at least once in their life. 😊 You all seemed to enjoy my Weekender Guides to Madison, WI and Fort Wayne, IN, so I decided to branch out and share my personal travel guide to Bar Harbor, Maine! 🦞 This town is the epitome of what Maine has to offer, so it is definitely worth its tourist reputation.

What To Do
1. Park Loop Road @ Acadia National Park: Acadia is typically what people think of when they are planning a trip to Maine, and this 27 mile loop hits all of the highlights. There are a bunch of different pullovers with amazing views, and you will definitely see some wildlife!

2. Shopping downtown: I have so many great memories shopping in the cute stores of the downtown. Some of my favorites include the Christmas Spirit Shop, Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shop, and Cool as a Moose.

3. Picnic at Agamont Park: This park is right next to the downtown and overlooks the ocean, so after some fun shopping take a break and enjoy the sights! 😊

Throwback to me at this park as a child

4. Bike or take a horse around the Carriage Roads: The bike paths are all paved, so it is doable for anyone! I personally loved taking a horse drawn carriage around the trails, but if you want to get in the exercise a bike will do the trick.

5. Visit Thunder Hole: This is a classic Maine tourist stop if you want to see the ocean at its finest. Be careful to not get too close to the railing, as the water has been known to pull people in!

6. Hike around Jordan Pond: There are so many trails in Acadia, but this is one of the easier ones. You basically just hike around a pond, so it is perfect for people of all ages.

What To Eat
1. Popovers at Jordan Pond House!: After hiking around the pond, take a break to eat some of Maine’s finest popovers. These pancake/muffin/Dutch baby crossovers are absolutely delicious… Such a nostalgic treat for me now!

2. LOBSTER: Duh. You can get fresh lobster all over the place in Bar Harbor, but the most authentic restaurants with the freshest lobster will have huge steam pots out front.

3. CJ’s Big Dipper Ice Cream: While it might be a small store, their ice cream is amazing. I remember as a kid getting a chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream that was about 80% cookie dough… And I still crave it to this day! 😃

Where to Stay
There are so many great places that you can stay at! First, the coast is lined with a bunch of different hotels and resorts at varying price points. If you are willing to drive in from further away, I am sure you will be able to find even better deals. Acadia and the surrounding area is packed full of campgrounds too if you want to embrace nature to its fullest. Lastly, it looks like Airbnb has a ton of cute cottages that can be rented out, which would be super nice if you are traveling with your family.

Have you ever been to Bar Harbor, Maine?

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderTough Teeth Tooth Powder ft. Primal Pit Paste!

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Hey earth muffins! After struggling to find a low waste deodorant a few months ago, I stumbled upon Primal Pit Paste (now Pretty Frank) and their amazing selection of sustainable products. I have talked about both their Wild Woods Natural Deodorant and Charcoal Whitening Tooth Powder in the past, so I am excited to share my thoughts on P3’s Tough Teeth Tooth Powder with you all today! 😊

The first thing I obviously love about this product is that it comes in a glass jar. As I am on a journey towards being as sustainable as possible, this is a huge pro for me! The only negative I found about their packaging is that there is a band of plastic around the lid when it comes in the mail. 😕 While this makes it not fully “zero waste”, the jar can be reused or recycled after the product is used up, making it way more Earth-friendly than other fully plastic toothpaste tubes.

I also love that there are only 7 ingredients in this tooth powder: Kaolin Clay, Bentonite Clay, Non-Aluminum Baking Soda, Organic Peppermint Essential Oil, Sea Salt, Myrrh Powder, Organic Spearmint Essential Oil. When I started making more sustainable choices last summer, I realized just how many chemicals and un-natural substances I was putting in/on my body. This powder definitely makes me feel good about avoiding those nasty things 😍

The powder is super easy to use, and the small jar will last me quite a long time! Compared to using toothpaste from a tube, there is a small learning curve to figuring out how to use a powdered toothpaste. Here is what works best for me:

1. Wet your toothbrush
2. Dip the brush into the jar until there is a generous layer of powder covering it
3. Brush your teeth as normal (making sure to leave the faucet OFF as you brush 💧)

I was quite surprised how clean my teeth feel after using this product! I am curious to see if my dentist says anything to me after my visit next month… (*Will update this post if she does or not!*) The only downside I have found is that it does have a salty mint flavor that was a bit off-putting at first. However, I got used to this flavor after only a few brushes and it doesn’t bother me at all! 🙂

Overall, I have absolutely loved all the products I have used from Primal Pit Paste. This tooth powder is great, and I will definitely continue to use it. 🎉 What toothpaste are you currently using?

*The Primal Pit Paste products were sent to me for free, but all opinions are my own. The link to P3’s website is an affiliate link. 😊*

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderThe Ultimate Guide to Recycling Plastic ♻️

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Hey earth muffins! As it almost halfway through Plastic Free July, I thought I would write a post about something many people still don’t understand – recycling plastics. Even if something has that three arrowed recycle symbol on the bottom of it (♻️), that doesn’t mean that it can be recycled (or should be recycled). If you truly want to live a low waste lifestyle, try to avoid recycling completely – it actually isn’t as green as you’d think. BUT, I totally understand that there are lots of people who can only recycle instead of reduce their waste, so I wanted to share a quick guide on the plastics you should and should not be putting into the recycle bin. 😊 Let’s jump right into it!

Pin now to read later or share with your friends!

The first step in assessing if your plastic can be recycled is to find that recycle symbol on the bottom. In the middle of it, you should see a number between 1 and 7. This number tells the real story, as it tells you exactly what type of plastic it is, which can help you decide to throw it into the recycle bin or not. 😊

Can it be recycled curbside? YES! Most of the plastic containers you think of (water bottles, dressing bottles, etc.) are made from this type. It is widely accepted by most recycling programs, but make sure to look at your local town/city’s recycling guidelines!

Plastics #2 – Can it be recycled curbside? YES! Milk jugs, shampoo bottles, and plastic bags are all this type. I suggest recycling any plastic bags to special drop off places (I know Walmart has them!), as they can clog up the machines in recycling facilities.

Can it be recycled curbside? NO! While many recycling programs do not accept this plastic at the curb, check to see if there are any recycling centers that you can drop it off at… You’d be surprised how many “specialty” recycling places there are! 👍

 

Can it be recycled curbside? YES! Hooray – drop them in the recycling bin!

 

Can it be recycled curbside? YES! Straws are made of this type of plastic… But we don’t need straws anymore after reading 6 Easy Ways to Participate in Plastic Free July now do we? 😉

 

Can it be recycled curbside? NO! Again, check to see if there are any drop off places!

Can it be recycled curbside? Sometimes – as this is the “other” category it really depends on the product… If you are interested in more details on plastic recycling, check out this handy PDF guide from PBS! 😃


How often do you recycle? What plastics have you been avoiding this Plastic Free July?

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_border5 Zero Waste Sunscreens for the Summer 🌞

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Hey earth muffins! With the summer months comes lots of sun which leads to many sunburns (for me) if I’m not careful. 😬 I am about to use up the last of the aerosol sunscreens I had tucked away in my bathroom… That made me think – are there zero/low waste alternatives? And I found that there are a TON of products on the market that have a much smaller impact on the environment. As I assume you won’t want to research about this yourself, I compiled a list of 5 sunscreens you should give a try! 😃

1. Taylor’s Elevated – SUN! Natural Sunscreen ($11.99, 2 oz., SPF 30)

This product is not just all-natural, it comes in a glass container that is completely plastic-free (which is perfect since it is Plastic Free July!!). The sunscreen is also made in the US, which is perfect for any of my domestic followers. 😊

2. Butterbean Sunscreen ($12.50, 3 oz., SPF 30)

 

While this brand is targeted towards babies and kids, there is no reason why an adult can’t use a nice zero waste sunscreen too! For less than double the price, you can get a larger 7 oz. container as well!

3. All Good Water Resistant Zinc Sunscreen ($9.99, 1 oz., SPF 50)

This sunscreen only uses 6 ingredients, which is definitely WAY less than those found in aerosols. The container is fully made out of tin, so it could be reused or recycled once the product is used up. 😊

4. Rare Earth Skincare Sun Cream ($10, 1 oz., SPF 20)

Advertised as a “sun cream”, this sunscreen will not only protect your skin from the UV rays of the sun but will also give your skin the moisture it needs after a nice long day at the beach. This brand has a lot of other great zero waste products, so definitely check out their website!

5. Not the Norm Shade All-Natural Sunscreen ($4.72 USD, 0.5 oz, SPF 25)

Not the Norm’s sunscreen has four different size options and is only made with four ingredients. The product itself is in a tin and is unscented (if that is an important attribute for you!). 🎉

What is your favorite sunscreen in the summer?

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_border6 EASY Ways to Participate in Plastic Free July!

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Hey earth muffins! For those of you who don’t know, Plastic Free July is almost here!!! 😮 To raise awareness for the plastic pollution epidemic that our world is currently facing, this global movement aims to inspire people to reduce their plastic usage. I learned a lot by participating in the challenge last summer, so I am super excited to take part in it again! If you are interested in trying to reduce your use of plastic in July, here are my top suggestions. 🥳

An image that links to the Plastic Free July website will be on the sidebar of my blog throughout July! 😁

1. Avoid all fruits and vegetables wrapped in unnecessary plastic. Why do cucumbers (or any produce item) need to be shrink wrapped when they have a skin that protects them? Put loose fruit and veg into a reusable bag instead!

PC: link

2. Refuse all plastic water bottles. This can be difficult at first, but you will get the hang of carrying around a reusable water bottle wherever you go! It is one of my top ten ways to reduce plastic consumption, making it a perfect thing to focus on for Plastic Free July 😊

3. Find an alternative to plastic wrap. You can purchase or DIY beeswax wrap or use mason jars/other containers instead! 🐝 Such an easy switch!

Purchase this set on Amazon! 

4. Be conscious of what food is packaged in and make the switch! If you can find a similar item with less or no plastic, I’d say it’s a no-brainer.

5. NO STRAWS. “I’d like a water with no straw please.” -Me when ordering a drink at a restaurant

PC: link

6. Figure out the single-use plastic you use the most and try to avoid it! Plastic Free July has a great Pesky Plastics Quiz that will tell you exactly what items you use the most… So really try to cut back on them this month (or cut them out completely!). 🎉

PC: link

Will you be participating in Plastic Free July?

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderThe Weekender’s Guide to Fort Wayne, Indiana!

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Hey earth muffins! My boyfriend and I spent the weekend in Fort Wayne, Indiana a few weeks ago, as I am sure you saw on Instagram. I recently made a Weekender’s Guide to Madison, WI, so I thought it would be fun to do the same for this city. Fingers crossed that I will be able to continue to travel this summer… but let’s jump right into it!

Pin to read later! 

What To Do
1. Walk around the city – One of my absolute favorite things to do in a new city is to walk around aimlessly to see the sites. As there are plenty of public parking structures in the city, it is definitely a must to ditch the car and wander! Fort Wayne is a pretty small city overall, so it was easily walkable. Fun things to look at: Embassy Theater, Tincaps Stadium, Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, Allen County Public Library and Genealogy Center.

2. Hit up any/some/all of the museums – Fort Wayne has a bunch of museums all around the city including the Museum of Art, the Firefighters Museum, and an Air Museum! I was actually impressed by how reasonably priced everything was… Make sure to take advantage of student discounts! 🙂

3. Take pictures with some murals – There are murals all over the place, and it was super fun to take some cute pictures while sightseeing. If you are looking for some cute Insta pics, check out this interactive map that points out all of the murals!

Peep the new profile pic to see another cute mural! 

4. Go to the Botanical Conservatory – I am a huge plant lover, so I would suggest checking out all of the cool florals in this conservatory! Plus, it is right across the street from the Cathedral I mentioned above. 👍

5. Do some shopping – The Glenbrook Square mall is about a 5-10 minute drive from downtown, and it had a lot of great stores! I was also really excited that there is a two story carousel in the food court…

There was a dino, so I obviously loved it…

6. Attend the Fort Wayne Air Show – While this only happens once a year, it was definitely worth it! Parking and admissions is FREE, and it was so cool to see Air Force planes (both on the ground and in the air). What a cool event!

Got to go inside this one! 😮

What to Eat
1. Fort Wayne’s Famous Coney Island (131 W Main St) – This coney island has been open since 1914, and it still sells hot dogs for super cheap. My boyfriend loves coney dogs, so we just had to go – for $1.50 per dog it was definitely a win!

2. Yummi Bunni (123 W Main St) – This ice cream shop is right next door to the coney island, and it is soooo cute inside. 🍦 Plus, their classic “bun” is ice cream STUFFED INSIDE A GLAZED DONUT. Yes. Please.

 
I ordered the Bun of the Week: Moosetracks in a Glazed Donut with chunks of waffle cone… YUM! 

Where to Stay
1. Paul’s Apartment on Airbnb – My boyfriend and I chose to stay in an Airbnb, as we wanted to have access to a kitchen and laundry if needed. This apartment was 5 minutes from downtown, and it was such a great Airbnb! It was also quite cheap (only $108 for two nights!), so I would definitely recommend checking it out. 😊

2. Hotels – There are a bunch of hotels downtown, but they would definitely be more expensive than the place we stayed at. But, it is still an option!

 

Have you ever been to Fort Wayne? What did you do when you were there? 

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderReview: Ethique Boost Hair Mask 🌸

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Hey earth muffins! As the summer humidity starts to set in, my hair usually goes through a period of being extremely dry. This probably hasn’t been helped by the fact that I have been doing some traveling recently and hotel air doesn’t agree with the frizz of my hair either… To give my hair some pampering, I decided to try out a hair mask from Ethique. 😊 As their brand fits perfectly with my mission towards living low waste, I will be sharing my experience with this product today!

The hair mask that I decided to try was in the “flavor” Boost (you can find it on their website for $13.95!). I featured their other mask, Bloom, in my Sustainable Gift Guide for Mother’s Day, but I figured a little boosting would be perfect for my hair right now. This product comes with two masks in a compostable box – wow, such a great way to reduce your waste!

Overall, I thought the mask was extremely easy to use. Just plop the adorable heart shaped product into a mug, pour 150 ml of boiling water over top, stir until smooth, and let it thicken for about 15 minutes. Then, apply to dry hair for 20+ minutes and rinse out in the shower. 👍

For me, the process was extremely easy; however, I found that 150 ml seemed like too much water. After only 15 minutes the mask was still a bit watery, but after letting it sit for longer it was fine to apply into my hair. Maybe the water was too hot? Or maybe I just added too much? I’d say shoot for about 130 ml 🙂

I think this hair mask did boost the shine of my hair, as it felt extremely soft after my shower. My hair tends to be on the greasier side, so I was glad that it didn’t seem to make my hair appear like it had more oil in it. I am excited to use the second hair mask in this package, and I love that I am able to pamper myself while still reducing my waste! 😁 I would definitely recommend checking out Ethique’s hair masks!

What are your favorite hair products?

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_border7 Things I’ve Learned One Year Into Zero Waste

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Hey earth muffins! I find it hard to believe that I started my journey towards living low/zero waste a year ago! 😲 This blows my mind, but I have had a really great year changing my habits in order to live a more sustainable lifestyle. To reflect on the journey so far, I thought it would be fun to share the most important things I have learned one year zero waste. 😊

When looking back on this year, I think the most important thing I have learned is that people get really sick of you talking about your sustainability efforts. At the start of my journey, I wanted to share all of the cool things I was learning with my family and friends; however, I feel like I talked about it too much. This made people not want to hear what I had to say, no matter how helpful the information was. To combat this, I now try to lead by example instead of forcing my opinion on others… And it actually works wonders! My family and friends now ask me about the things I am doing with genuine interest, so I think this is the approach everyone should take!

Leading by example has proven to me that your small steps towards sustainability WILL affect those around you. When my parents and I were sitting on the porch a few days ago, they started talking about what they should do about the plastic problem. These conversations were never brought up before, so I am so happy that my new mindset has impacted theirs too! 🥰

The journey will be hard at first, but it does get easier. It is difficult to change habits because they are habits after all, so stay patient with yourself! Every person who is “zero waste” does it differently, so find what works for you! There are many misconceptions on what it means to live low waste, but I have found it the most effective to figure out the places where you can reduce your waste and where you cannot.

I have found that grocery shopping is an easy place to start!

Even if you know you won’t be able to cut out the waste in one area of your house, just know that every little thing counts! Just imagine if every single person on the planet reduced their waste in the kitchen or the bathroom; there would be monumental change! 🙂 Alongside this point, it is important to remember that it’s okay to have bad days. If you have to use plastic bags at the grocery store one day or need to purchase a plastic water bottle from the vending machine, don’t beat yourself up! Many people aren’t doing anything to be sustainable at all, so be proud that you have been trying your best 😚

Lastly, this past year has taught me that living a sustainable lifestyle will definitely make you feel so good inside! I am so happy with the way I now live my life, and I absolutely love my new mindset in putting the planet first. I look forward to another great year ahead!! 🎉

What have you been doing in the past year to be more sustainable? What are your own zero waste successes and failures?

Love,
Jenna ♥

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