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bookmark_borderWild Woods Natural Deodorant ft. Primal Pit Paste!

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Hey earth muffins! Back in March I reviewed Primal Pit Paste’s Tough Teeth Charcoal Whitening Tooth Powder for you all. In that post, I mentioned that I was also excited to try out the company’s natural deodorant (especially since I LOVED the tooth powder). As Primal Pit Paste (now Pretty Frank) products come in glass jars, they fit perfectly with my journey to live low waste! 🎉 My old deodorant finally ran out, so I have been using the Wild Woods deodorant for about three weeks now – the perfect amount of time for an in-depth review 😁 Let’s jump right into it!

The Pros
*Easy to apply – While you can’t just roll it on like a typical deodorant, it is still so easy to apply! Using the small wooden stick that comes with the jar, you take out a pea sized amount and roll it between your fingers a couple of times to make it soft. Then, just rub into your armpit! I have found it easiest to apply my deodorant before I put on my shirt for the day as I can see where I am applying it 😊
*Smells amazing (and keeps ME smelling amazing!) – I don’t usually smell unless I am seriously sweating, but this deodorant has never let me down! 🎉 The Wild Woods scent is earthy and smells like a forest, and I love it!
*Dries fast and doesn’t become sticky during the day – Before switching to this product, I was using Tom’s of Maine deodorant. This would often become sticky during the day, so I am so thankful that this natural deodorant stays dry all day. You can’t even tell that it is there!
*Doesn’t stain clothes or leave residue – I was worried that it would leave white stains on my dark clothes… But it does nothing of the sort!
*Comes in a glass jar – In my Zero Waste Successes and Failures post, I mentioned that I was having a hard time finding a zero waste deodorant. While Tom’s of Maine was natural, it still came in a plastic container and there were no TerraCycle places near me to recycle it properly. Therefore, I LOVE that Primal Pit Paste products come in glass jars. I will be able to use the jar for something else after I finish up the product or recycle the glass.

The Cons
*Difficult to get the same amount each time – As you need a wooden stick to get the product out of the jar, it is hard to get the same amount each time. This isn’t a huge deal at all, but it was the only con I could think of! 😝

Overall, I would recommend checking out the Wild Woods deodorant from Primal Pit Paste (or any scent of their deodorants really!). As mentioned in my last review, I also still have a tooth powder that I haven’t been able to start yet (as I still have some of my toothpaste tube). Keep a lookout for a review of the tooth powder when I start using the product!

Have you tried anything from Primal Pit Paste? Will you give their products a try??

*The Primal Pit Paste products were sent to me for free, but all opinions are my own!*

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderThe Weekender’s Guide to Madison, Wisconsin 🧀

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Hey earth muffins! Wow, this feels so weird – I haven’t posted on a Monday in quite some time… But I am super excited to share this travel guide with you all today! 😁 I recently spent some time in Madison, WI and would recommend visiting this city to everyone! There was so much to do; I definitely did not get to see as much of it as I wanted… But here are the things that I would recommend!

What To Do
1. Walk around the University of Wisconsin campus: As a Michigan grad I shouldn’t be supporting a rival school, but their campus was absolutely gorgeous! There were so many unique buildings to look at including Bascom Hall (which sits on top of a super pretty hill!).

2. Listen to music at the Terrace of the Memorial Union: The city of Madison is located between two different lakes, making this terrace the perfect place to eat, listen to local musicians, swim, watch the sunset, and have a great time!
3. Climb to the observation decks of the Capitol Building: The Capitol is free and open to the public, and you are able to climb all the way up to the interior AND exterior observation decks. These are some great views of the city!

The view from the interior viewing platform
A view of the city (and solar panels!!) from the exterior deck

4. Hit up the farmer’s market: While it is extremely crowded, there are a ton of awesome stalls selling everything from succulents to jewelry! Hot tip: Make sure you walk counterclockwise around the Capitol 👍
5. Go to a cheese barn: While not in the city, it is basically mandatory that you find some Wisconsin cheese curds! I went to two cheese stores that were about 20-25 minutes from downtown: Mousehouse Cheesehaus and Ehlenbach’s Cheese Chalet.

What to Eat
1. The Nitty Gritty: This bar is the place to go – especially if it is your birthday! They give you a free balloon and beer mug with unlimited drinks (alcholic or non-alcholic)… Plus, they sing to you! 🎉 The burgers are super tasty, and it is located right downtown.
2. Essen Haus Restaurant: AMAZING German food! If you want a fun time with friends, you can split a 2 liter beer boot while listening to live music…

The Strawberry Salad with a side of spinach spätzle 

3. Barriques: I stayed outside of the city in a hotel in Middleton, so I ate lunch at this adorable cafe.☕ The food was super delicious and affordable – definitely a good brunch stop!

My delicious cranberry almond scone! 

Where to Stay
1. Airbnbs: There are so many cute apartments on Airbnb to choose from! This allows you to stay close to downtown/campus, which ensures that you don’t miss any of the sites 😀
2. Downtown Madison hotels: While there aren’t many choices (I think there are around 4 hotels downtown), the rates for the hotels are pretty comparable to any Airbnb.
3. Middleton hotels: As I mentioned before, I stayed in Middleton instead of downtown. The Staybridge Suites was a nice hotel, and I thoroughly enjoyed the free breakfast. Middleton is an adorable little town that even has a free trolley that takes you around the city!

Pin to read later! 

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

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderHow to Zero Waste Your Cleaning Supplies 💧

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Hey earth muffins! For the next post in my “How to Zero Waste Your [insert room/thing here]” series, I will be sharing how you can easily make your cleaning supplies more sustainable. 😊 Just like I mentioned in my How to Zero Waste Your Bathroom 🚽 post, there are many ways you can avoid the smelly and chemically-filled cleaners that you can find in the store. Let’s jump right into it!

Cleaning Containers
~Recycled buckets/baskets/etc.: Utilize what you have around the house (or your friend’s house)! Many people have buckets either in their basement or garage, so see if you can put them to good use instead of buying something new.
~Metal/wire bucket: If you can’t seem to find any container (which I think is extremely unlikely), purchase a metal or wire bucket that can be recycled after you are finished with it. 👍

Paper Towel/Disinfectant Wipe Alternatives
~Rags and washcloths: One of the first things I did when I started my journey to zero waste was to stop using paper towels. Instead of throwing away something every time you need to clean the counter or wash a mirror, try recycling old clothes into rags or putting those old washcloths to use. Throw them in with your laundry and you are good to go!

~Natural Sponges: Instead of using normal sponges, try natural ones. Make sure to use up the sponges you already have in your cupboards before switching, as you wouldn’t want to waste anything!
~Wooden brushes with natural bristles: Instead of any sort of sponge, I have switched to wooden brushes to clean my dishes, etc. These can easily be sterilized by dunking in some boiling water, so I have found that they last much longer!

DIY Cleaners
~Natural alternatives to cleaners: Instead of using cleaners that are both bad for you and the environment, use ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, borax, castile soap, etc. to make your own cleaners! These ingredients can be purchased in bulk, which saves on plastic packaging as well. 😃 I have been amazed by the number of recipes you can find online and on Pinterest.

~Brands known for being sustainable: Feeling like you don’t have time to make your own cleaners? Check out Seventh Generation or Mrs. Meyer’s brands! While they aren’t as sustainable as making your own, they are still better than some of the other alternatives.
~Laundry soap nuts: As I mentioned in my How to Zero Waste Your Laundry Room post, you can use soap nuts instead of laundry detergent! 😍 There are many other DIY laundry cleaners out there as well, so I would definitely recommend checking out Pinterest!

Pin to read later!

What sustainable cleaning tips do you use?

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderBirth Control: What is the Cervical Mucus Method?

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Hey earth muffins! If you have been following my Natural Birth Control series, you will know that I use the Basal Body Temperature method to track my menstrual cycle. To use the BBT method, I use the Femometer. 🌡 I have loved everything about my experience with this device, and I recently also started using the Cervical Mucus method alongside BBT. This method can also be tracked using the Femometer, so I wanted to write a post all about this other form of natural birth control. Let’s jump right into it! 🙃

 

What is the Cervical Mucus Method?

The Cervical Mucus Method (also called the Billings Ovulation Method) is a natural form of birth control that focuses on the mucus patterns during the menstrual cycle. Now you might be thinking, ew gross mucus?! 🤢 But don’t worry, every woman produces this mucus and it isn’t gross at all (you probably have already seen it in your underwear at some point)! By looking at the mucus produced during your cycle, you can predict when ovulation is occuring. This is helpful if you are trying to get pregnant and also if you are trying to avoid a pregnancy.

What is the typical Cervical Mucus pattern?

When making your observations, you will usually see this pattern:

1. Period days – don’t bother looking at any mucus haha
2. No cervical mucus/”dry days” 
3. Cloudy and sticky mucus 
4. Clear and wet mucus – When this mucus resembles egg whites and can be stretched between your fingers, ovulation is occuring!
5. No cervical mucus/”dry days”


How do you do the Cervical Mucus Method?

This part is so simple a cavewoman could do it! 👍 When you are about to use the bathroom each day, wipe with some toilet paper before doing your business. Then, observe what is on the paper! It is extremely helpful to also touch/stretch the mucus, looking for characteristics mentioned in the last section. Some people prefer to actually insert a finger to monitor their mucus, but I have found that the toilet paper method is easier. 😃

How can I track my CM with the Femometer?

On the home screen, there is a “CM” button:

That opens up a screen to add a mucus reading:

On your BBT chart, letters denoting the mucus will then show up! The Femometer platform takes these readings into consideration, making your predictions even more accurate.

What are the risks of using this method? 

1. User error – I will be honest with you all, sometimes Cervical Mucus all looks the same. But I think after I continue to practice this method, identification will get easier.

2. Unwanted pregnancy 👶 – I would suggest using some other form of birth control (condoms, etc.) with this method at first. I think it is an easy natural birth control method, but you need to get practice with it before trusting it 100%!

Would you ever consider using the Cervical Mucus Method?

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderThe Ultimate Non-Meat Protein Guide!

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Hey earth muffins! As I continue on my zero waste journey, I have often thought about trying to stop eating meat. 🥩 It is obviously much more sustainable to not support the meat industry, but whenever I try to avoid them I never get enough protein and end up feeling really sick. To fix this, I thought you all would appreciate a post dedicated to some meat alternatives – by writing this, I hope to inspire myself (and others) to stop eating as much meat. 😃 Let’s jump right into it!

1. Chickpeas – I am a sucker for some tasty garbanzo beans. If necessary, I would be able to eat a whole can of these by myself… 😝 You can also buy them dried in the bulk bins, and they are super easy to rehydrate and cook with. You can use the beans as a substitute for meat or as a side dish. My favorite way to eat them is with a bit of balsamic vinegar on top!

2. Tofu – I used to love tofu when I was younger, but then I just stopped eating it for some reason. Now, I absolutely love it again! Tofu has a lot of protein in it, and it can definitely be cooked in a way that doesn’t make it soft or tasteless (which are the two major complaints I hear about it). If you are lucky, some international grocery stores actually sell fresh tofu without plastic, so you can bring your own container to be totally zero waste! 🎉

3. Lentils – These are a great meat substitute because they are extremely cheap to buy in bulk bins and aren’t super tricky to cook. There are a lot of international recipes that already use lentils instead of meat, so check out Pinterest for some inspiration! 🍲

4. Seitan – This food was a total mystery to me until I tried some this year, and it is actually pretty good! It is made of wheat gluten and can take the place of chicken, beef, or pork in a lot of recipes. While the texture is a little off from the texture of meat, if you season it well it is a really nice substitute! You can also make your own seitan to challenge yourself in the kitchen.

5. Other Beans – Even though chickpeas are my favorite, there are many other beans that can be used to substitute meats. The best burger I have ever eaten was made of smashed kidney beans (and some other vegetables), so I would definitely recommend stocking up on beans in the bulk bins as well. Cheap and delicious!

6. Nuts – While you can’t really use almonds in place of chicken in a stir fry (or maybe you could I don’t know!), nuts are a great source of protein. I used to absolutely hate the texture of nuts, but I have been pushing myself to eat more of them… And I am starting to really like them! 🥜


What other ingredients do you use as a source of protein?? 

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderReview: Ethique Heali Kiwi Shampoo Bar

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Hey earth muffins! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday if you celebrated Easter this weekend 🐰 I got to spend some marvelous time with family, which was super great to relieve some stress during finals. 😀 At the end of January, I reviewed the Jumping Juniper shampoo bar from LUSH… After finishing that bar, I wanted to explore some other package free shampoos as part of my journey towards living a zero waste life. Ethique has some great zero waste products, so I decided to try out their Heali Kiwi bar. 😁 Here are my thoughts so far:

Pros:
~Fits nicely in my shower container: I mentioned in my How to Zero Waste Your Bathroom post that I have an Ethique container that keeps my shampoo bars/soaps dry in the shower. I love that the bars from Ethique fit perfectly in this!
~Sustainable: This bar is package free, which is amazing for the planet. I also love that the box it comes in is compostable 💚
~Smells nice: Compared to the Jumping Juniper bar, it smells a bit more earthy – but it still smells really good!
~Larger than LUSH bars and more cost effective: The bar at LUSH was $10.95 for 1.9 oz, which is about $5.76 per ounce of product. Compared to that, the Heali Kiwi bar can be bought on Amazon for $16 for 110 grams (which is about 3.88 oz). This means that you are only paying $4.12 per ounce!

Heali Kiwi (left) compared to Jumping Juniper 



Cons:
~Doesn’t lather as well: I have found that this is a common problem with many organic and natural soaps so this isn’t a big deal for me… Just make sure to wash your hair well if you want to avoid grease! 👍
~Seems like it won’t last as long: Even though the product is larger than the bars at LUSH, it seems like it won’t last as long. The soap is softer than the hard bars of LUSH, which makes it more susceptible to water. Just make sure to keep it out of water to make it last as long as possible!

What shampoo are you currently using? Would you switch to a shampoo bar?

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderHow to Zero Waste Your Bathroom 🚽

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Hey earth muffins! For the second installment of my “How to Zero Waste Your [insert room here]” series, I thought that I would tackle the bathroom. 😁 On my journey towards zero waste, I have found that this room has some pretty easy switches to reduce your impact, which makes it a great place to start when trying to make your home more sustainable. Let’s jump right into it!

Beauty & Bath Products
–Purchase bar products!: Instead of buying soaps, lotions, shampoos, conditioners, etc. in plastic bottles (in hideous bright colors I might add), try buying them in bar form! These can be purchased at LUSH, Ethique, and many local places… I have found that they work extremely well 👍

Check out my review of LUSH’s Jumping Juniper shampoo bar! 

–Buy yourself a safety razor: This is super easy and will let you never use another disposable razor again! I was a bit scared at first, but shaving with a safety razor is incredibly easy.

–Basically, purchase things in glass or metal containers: Try to avoid plastics as much as possible when buying bath, body, and beauty products. If you feel comfortable, you can even DIY your own!

Shower Curtains and Other Bath Accessories
–Get an apartment with a shower door instead of a curtain: Most curtains are made of plastic and have to be replaced every once in awhile, so do the planet a favor and use shower doors! If that isn’t an option, there are some other options: organic cotton, hemp, and biodegradable curtains (but, these tend to be a bit pricey!
–Purchase a bar soap/product saver: Letting water eat away at your bar products is just wasteful, as you are losing valuable product. I personally have a soap container from Ethique that I absolutely love! It has openings in the bottom to let water out and air in (to dry the bars), and after a few years of use it is compostable 😍 I suggest purchasing a similar container, avoiding anything that is plastic.

You can purchase this soap saver for only $15! 

–Replace those loofahs: Loofahs are plastic (so avoid please), but you can find many sustainable alternatives! Try getting a natural loofah or a bamboo brush (or refrain from using a loofah in general, which is what I do).

Cleaners
–Avoid plastic toilet wands: Just like with loofahs, there are many bamboo alternatives that can be composted after use. 🎉

–Make your own cleaners or use natural brands: The chemicals that are used to clean bathroom are both smelly and bad for you (and the environment), so try something a bit more natural! There are so many DIY cleaner recipes out there, as well as brands that strive for low impact (like Seventh Generation and Mrs. Meyer’s).

Toilet Paper
–Use natural and unbleached toilet paper: Toilet paper is bleached to be white, which makes you poor butt exposed to some pretty harsh chemicals. Look for unbleached toilet papers (like Who Gives a Crap) and try to use a decent amount instead of ten squares each trip to the restroom.
–Try a bidet: If you are super ambitious, try getting a bidet attachment to replace toilet paper completely! 😉 I know this might not be for everyone, but it is super sustainable!

Towels and Bathmats 
–Use towels from relatives: Many people buy way too many towels in their lifetime, so see if any friends and/or family are about to replace theirs. This is cheap and extremely low waste!
–Buy natural fabrics: Organic cotton, hemp, and any other sustainable fabrics are what you should look for. Also, don’t buy more towels than you actually need!

General Water Usage
–Take short showers: I have mastered a full shower in about 6 minutes, which leaves me more time to do other things when I am getting ready for the day or getting ready for bed!
–Don’t run the faucet when brushing your teeth, etc: I feel like this is pretty self explanatory…

–Use the saying, “If it’s yellow let it mellow” in regards to flushing: This might not be everyone’s style, but for someone who lives alone this would totally save water!


What are your tips to reducing waste in the bathroom?

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderShopping in Bulk: My Favorite Stores!

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Hey earth muffins! Since starting my sustainable journey in May, I have been dabbling in bulk shopping in an effort to reduce the plastic packaging of certain foods. As I am still in college (in a dorm with a dining hall), I haven’t been doing much bulk shopping recently… But I will be doing a lot of it after graduation and when I have my own apartment! 🎉 I found quite a few quality bulk stores during my internship last summer, so I wanted to create a post dedicated to the best bulk stores (those I have visited and those that I can only dream about haha). 💚

If you are interested in learning how to shop in the bulk section (it is super easy!) make sure to check out that post (Shopping in the Bulk Bin Section 101) also!

1. Fresh Thyme Farmers Market – This was the only store that had a lot of bulk options in the city I was in for my internship, so I shopped here often! 😀 I also loved this store because they sold mainly organic foods, so I knew that the food that I was buying was better for the planet. While this store has a large bulk section (including a lot of candy, spices, and liquids like honey and oil), I found that it was missing pastas and snack foods. Certain bulk options would also be on sale often, which allowed me to save money on the already good prices!

2. Whole Foods – While Whole Foods has a reputation for being a bit pricey, they have a HUGE bulk section. As you save by purchasing only the food that you need when you buy in bulk, I can justify spending a bit more for the options that they have. They also have things like tea which is super awesome ☕

3. Local Co-op and Organic/Natural stores – Most local organic/natural stores have a bulk section. While there may not be as many options, it helps support the local businesses of your town! Plus, they will be more likely to allow you to bring your own containers, jars, and bags to fill (as some chain stores are not as accommodating).

4. Bulk Barn – This is a Canadian company, and I am honestly so jealous that I don’t have access to one! This store is ONLY bulk bins, and it carries absolutely everything and anything you could ever need. It even has soap berries that I mentioned in my How to Zero Waste Your Laundry Room post 😊

5. Winco – This store has both a bulk foods and a bulk liquid center, which is awesome! It is mainly in the West Coast, so definitely check it out if you live in that region of the US!

6. State and Local stores – If you want to see if there are any other bulk stores specific to your region, I suggest checking out this lovely zero waste “Where to Shop” guide on litterless.com. You can click on your state and each city has a list of the bulk food stores with links to their websites – so nifty!

Where do you like to shop?

Love,
Jenna ♥

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