Hey earth muffins! When I was a kid, I LOVED any sort of DIY kit. Whether it was a do-it-yourself science experiment or cupcake set, I was all over it. Did you know there are all-natural craft kits on the market?? Earthy Good was kind enough to send me their lip balm kit a few months ago. I’ve given it a try and am ready to share my thoughts with you all; keep reading for a full review of the Earthy Good lip balm kit!
What I Love About This DIY Kit
The first thing I love about this lip balm kit is that it is 100% natural. Ever since I started my eco journey, I’ve been opting for beauty products that are clean and made without any parabens or other yucky stuff. This kit is made with clean ingredients that are labeled clearly. Almost all of them are organic too!
Hey earth muffins! When the weather gets cold, it is often inevitable for someone in your house to get sick. Whether this be the flu or just a cold, it is helpful to have some remedies ready! Did you know it is super easy to make a homemade Vicks Vapor Rub? All you need are two ingredients. 😊 This was a lifesaver when I was sick with Covid a few months ago… Keep reading for the recipe!
Hey earth muffins! I recently decided to try Oui yogurts for the first time… These are made by Yoplait and are “french-style”, which means the yogurt is prepared in the container it is sold in. The reason I wanted to give them a try is because they come in glass jars! 😊 This is a great alternative to buying individually packaged yogurts in plastic, and they are quite tasty too! Once you eat the yogurt, there are endless possibilities on how to upcycle Oui yogurt containers… Let’s jump into my favorite options!
~Use them as containers for a packed lunch.
The first way to reuse these yogurt jars is to add them to your reusable container collection. These are perfect for packing a zero waste lunch! While they don’t have lids, I use a small piece of beeswax wrap to keep it airtight. If you make your own yogurt or buy a bulk yogurt tub, these are perfect for packing individual portions. 😍
Hey earth muffins! I love spring for multiple reasons: the end of winter, flowers blooming, and (yes) even spring cleaning. There is something about decluttering and sorting the house that clears my mind and makes me feel more at ease at home. Does anyone agree with me?? While cleaning isn’t the most enjoyable activity, the reward after is always worth it. Plus, you can stay sustainable and zero waste as you clean too! Today I will be sharing my favorite DIY all purpose cleaner with you all – let’s jump right into it!
Why Should You Make Your Own All Purpose Cleaner?
Let’s face it – there is an endless array of cleaners at the store. It is honestly so overwhelming (and smelly) in the cleaning supplies aisle! Along with stressing your brain out with too many options, most cleaners are full of nasty chemicals that aren’t great for you. While they are supposed to keep your house clean, do you really want to breathe in all those toxins when there are other more natural options?? On top of this, many come in plastic bottles too which means they are bad for the environment and typically end up in the landfill. So instead of buying cleaners this spring, I suggest making your own! This is a great way to zero waste your cleaning supplies and keep your household chemical-free.
Hey earth muffins! The Christmas tree is up, holiday decorations are everywhere – and of course, I have been playing Christmas music nonstop. 🎄 The holiday season is one of my favorite times of year, and it seems like many agree. My house doesn’t feel as spirited without cute decorations and ornaments on the tree. Many of these are secondhand, but upcycling your own decor is a great way to add a personal touch to the holidays in your home. For today’s post, I wanted to share my top three eco-friendly Christmas decorations – perfect for a sustainable holiday!
If you are like me, you probably have a craft drawer or cupboard in your house. I used to be a hardcore crafter… And now that I try to live sustainably, I utilize leftover craft supplies often. It is important to use what you already have before making new craft supply purchases. Don’t underestimate the items you can find at secondhand stores too! For this upcycled holiday decoration, you will need a bunch of felt and a ribbon. I recommend creating a stencil to draw out each individual “light”. This will keep them all a similar size! Either use a black/gray marker or black/gray felt to add in the bulb details. Cut each one out and attach to the string with glue (or sew onto the ribbon if you prefer). If you have some sort of stuffing in your craft bin, you could even create three dimension “bulbs” too!
The next on this eco-friendly Christmas decorations lists is a classic – a tree stump coaster and/or ornament! For those of you who cut down real trees for the holidays, this is the perfect upcycled project for you. All you have to do is saw off a bit of the stump at the end. I suggest trying to cut it on the thinner side, but feel free to cut it as thick as you want. To personalize it, you can write “Christmas 2021” or a fun holiday quote. Or just leave it blank for a cozy log cabin vibe. 🙃 My parents made a coaster of their very first Christmas tree together – so cute and romantic (and we still take it out every year)! If you decide to turn it into an ornament instead, just drill a hole through it and use some ribbon to hang onto the tree.
Dried Orange Garland and/or Ornament
Many great sustainable decorations for the holidays use dried oranges (or other citrus fruits). If you have some leftover oranges that are going bad, this is an awesome way to divert food waste from going to the landfill. And I think they look really festive too! To dry citrus, cut into slices and cook for 4-6 hours in a 175-degree oven. Rotate every couple of hours; they are done when dry to the touch! The most important part of drying the fruits is to make sure all of the slices are uniform, as this ensures they cook evenly. Once cooked, string the orange slices into a garland, hang onto the tree as an ornament, or use in a vase/mason jar for a holiday centerpiece. Get creative!
Finals Thoughts on Eco-Friendly Christmas Decorations
There you have it, three eco-friendly Christmas decorations for the holiday season. For those who call themselves crafters, making a leftover felt “light bulb” garland is such a fun project to tackle this winter. Now your lights don’t have to just go on the Christmas tree! 😍 If you are less confident in your crafting skills, make a tree stump coaster or try your hand at drying citrus fruits. These are all excellent ways to decorate your house sustainably by upcycling what you already have in your home. What holiday decorations have you made this year? Comment below and share some other Pinterest ideas too!
Hey earth muffins! Halloween is just around the corner, which means it is time to think about what costume you will be wearing this year. 🎃 To keep your Halloween sustainable, I recommend using items you already have around the house to create your costume! You’d be surprised on what you can create without even having to hit up a thrift store. It is obviously wasteful to purchase a new costume for every single Halloween – it is such a fun challenge to get creative and make the most of what is in your closet! Here are my top 5 suggestions for easy Halloween costumes using pieces that you already have.
Dressing up as your favorite movie character is an easy thing to do. Think about Sandy from Grease, Baby from Dirty Dancing, etc. They all wear iconic looks with basic clothing items that you probably already have! 😊 Even if you have some items that would match a movie character that isn’t your absolute favorite, you can still rock the look for Halloween. Get creative!
Recreate your Favorite Painting
Again, many people in paintings wear basic clothing pieces that you might have in your closet. So, this makes for another easy Halloween costume! American Gothic, the Girl with a Pearl Earring, the Mona Lisa – the possibilities are endless! If you really want other people to get the costume reference, you could also carry around an empty frame from a piece of art you have in your house (just pop out the artwork for the night!).
A Disney Cosplay
Cosplay is a great option for Halloween because you don’t have to look exactly like the character. People cosplay for Disney characters all the time, so there are plenty of ideas online. A couple of years ago I recreated a Mary Poppins look for Halloween. I used a white shirt, black skirt, booties, and an umbrella – it was super cute (and easy)! If you have a favorite Disney character, see if you can cosplay them this Halloween!
Rosie the Riveter
If you have denim and some sort of red scarf, you can be Rosie for Halloween. This costume is super simple but easily recognizable by others. I bet you have all the pieces for it already, which means you won’t have to buy anything… What an easy, eco-friendly costume!
Someone from the Bachelor/Bachelorette
I enjoy watching the Bachelor and Bachelorette from time to time… And you can easily dress as a contestant for Halloween. Just rock a fancy gown and heels! Bonus points if you have some sort of rose in your house that can be carried around… But if you don’t, just make sure you let people know it is before the rose ceremony. 😉
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Final Thoughts on Easy Halloween Costumes
Don’t buy yourself a new costume each Halloween! Get in the habit of creating cute costumes from whatever you already have around the house – this is the most eco-friendly option, and the planet will thank you for it. If you need an accessory or something to tie the whole look together, buy it secondhand at a thrift store. Make sure it is something you can wear after Halloween is over too! Whether you want to cosplay as a Disney character or dress like the Bachelorette, there are plenty of easy Halloween costume options. What will you be dressing up as this year? Comment below and let me know what pieces you got from your closet!
Hey earth muffins! Food waste is a huge issue in the modern age. While people all over the world are starving, many first world countries throw away a crazy amount of food… You might think this is a problem for other people, but I can guarantee you are guilty of it as well – we all are! Even if you care enough to read about how to reduce your food waste, you might still find youself with wasted food in the kitchen. In today’s post, I wanted to share a great food waste management tool that I have been using for quite some time now – an “Eat Me First” box. Let’s jump right into the DIY!
What is an “Eat Me First” Box?
In the simplest of terms, this box is a daily visual reminder to reduce your food waste. It doesn’t even need to be a box – it can be a bowl, a shelf in your fridge or pantry, or a bag. Many people aren’t aware of the foods in their kitchen that are almost expired/going bad. This is because they are often spread out throughout the fridge and pantry. Unfortunately, this leads to wasted food. I know I definitely have had to throw away food because I forgot it was there! Once all of this food is in one location, you can get in the habit of choosing it first. This is an amazing food waste management tool because you will reduce the amount of food that gets thrown away to the landfill. Plus, it is super easy to make!
What You Need:
-Some sort of box. Like I mentioned above, this doesn’t actually need to be a box and can be anything from a mason jar to a basket to a shelf in your fridge.
-Food that is almost going bad. Examples include bananas that are almost brown, bulk food nearing its expiration date, etc.
What to Do:
First, figure out what to use for your box. Get creative! Find something from around the house or hit up some local secondhand stores to find something that will work. I personally found a huge vintage spaghetti bowl to use for this DIY food waste management project.
If you want, decorate the box! This is helpful for anyone with kids, as some fun decorations get them excited to eat whatever is inside. It might be useful to create an “Eat Me First” sign to attach to the box as well. Use art supplies you already have in the house for decorating. I suggest avoiding things like glitter that are not sustainable (and get everywhere!).
Once the box is finished, find a place to put it. I suggest a shelf in the fridge that is accessible to all members of your family. Or you can place it on a similar shelf in the pantry. Or even both if you make two boxes!
Fill the box with food that is almost going bad. This can be anything from leftovers to fruit that is almost too ripe or rotten. Anything goes! Make it a practice to choose food from this box first before selecting something else from the kitchen. This ensures your food waste will be less, which is awesome!
If you still end up with some food waste, no worries. You have at least made some effort to reduce it! If you compost, place the food waste in the compost bin to naturally break down. Last resort, throw the food into the trash.
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Final Thoughts on this DIY
I highly recommend making an “Eat Me First” box for your kitchen, as it is an effective food waste management tool! It is easy to get into the habit of eating from the box first before eating other foods. Plus, it is much easier than composting if you have been trying to think of a way to divert your food waste from heading to the landfill. Don’t be disappointed if you still find yourself creating waste even with this box – keep up the great work and you will see small improvements over time! Do you have an “Eat Me First” box in your kitchen? Comment below your thoughts and what you think of this DIY!
Hey earth muffins! I shared on my Instagram a couple of weeks ago that I recently worked on a DIY upcycled craft project. I haven’t done a craft project in SO long! During middle and high school, I used to craft all the time. I loved to sculpt charms out of polymer clay and make my own jewelry. But, I eventually stopped doing that and would occasionally do some painting projects. In college I was really into following along with Bob Ross videos! It has been quite a while since I’ve done some crafting, but I just couldn’t pass up this opportunity for a fun DIY upcycled project. Let’s jump right into it!
From Trash to DIY
As many of you know, I currently live in an apartment complex. There are two main staircases in this building – one near the elevator and another tucked away for access to the basement/laundry room. When I was going down to do laundry one day, I noticed that someone had placed a stool and some towels in the back staircase. I figured someone had moved out and left them there. While I wanted to take the stool for this upcycled project, I didn’t want to steal something from someone who still wanted it. But, a month later, they were still there. So, I brought the stool upstairs to start my project!
Before the DIY
There is one corner of my living room that had nothing in it. Our apartment doesn’t have AC, so we had a floor AC unit there during the warmer months. As it is obviously winter now, the unit is in storage which left behind empty space. I have been thinking about what I should put there for quite some time… The corner is by an east facing window too, so I thought it would be perfect for a plant!
What You Need for This Upcycle DIY
-An old stool: this one was in pretty rough shape, but I won’t actually be sitting in it anytime soon -Paint: I used black and white -Paintbrush 🖌️: I realized that I didn’t actually have a large enough paint brush… I didn’t want to buy a new one, so I used an old piece of foam as a sponge brush! It worked surprisingly well! -Newspaper/cardboard to protect the floor: I used some from my recycle bin! -A cute design idea: I was aiming for space themed, but there are so many cute options to try!
How to Upcycle a Stool
Lay out your newspaper to protect your floor. This step is important, especially if you tend to be a messy painter/DIYer
Mix the paint and start painting! Like I said above, I didn’t actually have a paintbrush, so I had to use a “dab” method to cover the stool. This was totally fine for me because I was aiming for a space, imperfect look.
For areas with old paint or cracks, let the first layer dry and then paint it again.
4. Once the base is on, let dry. Add any finishing details with other colors! I went in with white paint to create lots of stars, as well as two larger stars in the front of the stool.
The Finished DIY Upcyle
I absolutely love how this turned out! 😍 I think the subtle space theme is awesome, because it isn’t obvious until you really look at the planter. For Valentine’s Day, my boyfriend bought me a gorgeous Golden Pothos… I am excited to see how big it gets! Part of me wants to paint the terracotta pot too, but I am not sure if it will look good. Any thoughts if I should paint that as well? Overall, I am really happy with this DIY upcycled project. I love that I saved this stool from the landfill (and/or sitting in that dingy staircase), and I will definitely be keeping it for years to come!
