DIY Summer Water Sponge Bombs

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Hey all! I’ve been gone for a bit, but here are some updates:

1. After a long weekend of camping I realized just how wonderful baking soda cleans the grease and sweat out of your hair in a way vinegar can’t. I’m still using vinegar 6 days of the week, but when it’s really greasy and bad from exercise or what have you, baking soda literally makes my hair squeaky from lack of grease. 10/10.

2. I bought my normal box of Outshine Lemon bars from Target and not only noticed how absurdly expensive they are ($5 for a box of 6?!) but how much packaging I threw out with every one. Needless to say I bought some reusable popsicle moulds and will be experimenting with making my own lemon pops!

3. I have a good lead on a local business that wants my compostables, so if that’s the case I’m going to start collecting them more carefully and shuttling them over. Yay, waste reduction!

Reducing waste at home often sounds simpler than it feels. The problem is rarely a lack of ideas. Most people already know what they could change. What gets in the way is effort — the sense that every improvement adds another decision, another habit to track, another small thing to remember. An earthwise approach starts somewhere else. It looks not at what to replace, but at why some changes,…

I have seen so many pictures of pretty zero/low-waste collections, a jar full of straws, perfectly uniformed Mason jars full of grains and legumes gathered from a bulk bin of a nearby zero waste shop. Those things are aesthetically pleasing, yes, but completely unnecessary, you can reduce your waste without it looking Instagram worthy. The first thing to keep in mind is literally everything listed below are things that you can find at a thrift store or a consignment shop, none of these things need to be purchased new (unless you prefer that). Everything on this list are things I have seen in a consignment shop, I know there are things that are missing from this list such as containers, a French Press, and travel utensils. That is because there are so many options when it comes to containers, different shapes, sizes, and materials, and I find that each person has slightly different needs when it comes to food storage. For the most part if you have jars, you have food storage and I did not include a French press because they can be slightly pricey, for those I would suggest visiting a thrift store. And last but not least, a travel utensil kit can be put together with utensils you already own or secondhand items, you can simply find a pencil pouch and place them in there. Everyone's kit can a look a little different but mines includes, one pair of chopsticks, a knife (pretty much a sharp butter knife, steer clear of anything too sharp to avoid it cutting through the the pouch and causing injury), a spoon, and fork. I also keep another pouch with two bent straws, two straight straws, and two boba straws in my purse. But tailor your low waste kits to your needs as I have done,  If you would like to purchase any of these items new or just can’t seem to find them while thrifting, please refer to the links below. I have tried to find only the most affordable (and hopefully accessible) items possible, in addition, I have purchased some great items from TJ Maxx and Home Goods, such as glass containers, water bottles, and coffee makers. This is simply a starter guide to give you some ideas, this is by no means telling you that you need these items and please only purchase what you need when on your zero/low-waste journey. 

Travel Mugs and Wine Tumblers

I have included wine tumblers because they are versatile, as they can be used for coffee & tea as well as wine (or any other beverage).

19oz Double Wall Stainless Steel Vacuum Mug with Slide Lid and Handle Solid Matte Peach Blush - Room Essentials™

11oz Stainless Steel Vacuum Wine Tumbler with Slide Lid Extra - Room Essentials™

Built 20-ounce Double Wall Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Tumbler, Rose Gold

Zak! Designs 11.5oz Double Wall Stainless Steel Wine Tumbler

TAL Double Wall Insulated Stainless Steel Wine Tumbler 12oz, Pink

Water Bottles/Tumblers

Please remember, these tumblers and bottles don’t have to just serve one purpose, they can easily be used for other beverages as well.

20oz Double Wall Stainless Steel Vacuum Water Bottle - Room Essentials™

Zak! Designs 30oz Double Wall Stainless Steel Tumbler

Reduce 34oz Cold 1 Stainless Steel Hydration Bottle

TAL Water Bottle Double Wall Insulated Stainless Steel Ranger Pro Tumbler 40oz, Pink

TAL 64 Ounce Ranger Water Bottle Stainless Steel Double Wall Vacuum Insulated, Pink

Metal Straws

Ozark Trail Stainless Steel Straws with Cleanser Brush, 4 Count, Silver

9pc Stainless Steel & Silicone Straw Set (4 Bent/4 Straight 4 Color Assortment) - Room Essentials™

Stainless Steel Straw 12pc Set (10pc Straws, 1pc Brush, 1pc Canvas Pouch) - Room Essentials™

Coffee Makersgges

Imusa 3 Cup Aluminum Stovetop Coffeemaker

If you have any other suggestions please feel free to comment and if you have any questions please feel free to message me!

Good Health, Peace, & Love,

Everybody poops... but we can be a bit more green about it.

This is something that my brother has been pushing on me since he discovered the kind embrace of bidets about 2 years ago. I am certainly not opposed to the use of bidet - I recognize the benefits of bidet use - but I live with two other people, would like toilet paper for guests, and (as a woman) use toilet paper after peeing as well. 

So, while I put my bidet purchase on hold (for now), I decided to switch from out cozy Cottonelle - which I have to admit that I really love - to this brand I’ve seen recently on Instagram (thank you targeted ads), Who Gives a Crap. Beyond producing sustainable toilet paper, they donate 50% of their profits to building toilets! This is important because, as the WHO notes, poor sanitation threatens public health; a proper toilet improves sanitation by separating human waste from human contact, preventing the spread of waste-borne diseases. 2 BILLION people around the world don’t have access to toilets.

I went for the Premium Bamboo Toilet Paper, rather than their 100% Recycled Toilet Paper, mostly due to the description that it is “like wiping with clouds”. Although it is not as soft as my shitty (no pun intended) corporate Cottonelle, it is certainly high-quality, doesn’t dissolve immediately after contact with urine, and soft enough that it doesn’t irritate me. 

My roommates have yet to comment on the change, but one came home with a pack of Cottonelle following Thanksgiving with her parents, so I guess that says it all! Nonetheless, when it’s my turn to buy TP, I’ll only be investing in sustainable brands from now on. 

Other brands I’m interested can be found on this Ethical Consumer list. I’m also interested in trying Reel. 

Other pluses of Who Gives a Crap:

Profits donated to build toilets (as mentioned above)

B Corp Certified 

No inks, dyes or scents

They sell other products, such as paper towels and tissues

Vegan products

Using ships and local suppliers for delivery (rather than flight)

Negatives of Who Gives a Crap: