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  • The Space
  • Scraps Notecards
  • Zero Waste
    • 2018: A Year of Zero Waste
  • Litter Patrol
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  • Contact
HAPPY YELLOW STUDIO

2018: A Year of
​zero waste

January 30 • Hair Mask

1/30/2018

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PictureI keep a jar in the kitchen for cooking and one upstairs for my skin and hair.
Once every week or two, on the night before it's time to wash my hair with the shampoo bar, I will put coconut oil in my hair and leave it in overnight. That's it! In case you haven't noticed my love of zero waste goes perfectly with my love of minimalism. Yes, if you google "overnight coconut oil hair mask" all sorts of good stuff will pop up ranging from straight oil to oil with herbs, oil with lemon, oil with avocado, oil with honey, oil with you name it. I am into finding the easiest, simplest way to get a task done. I'd rather spend the extra time in bed with Stretch, reading, or sleeping! Once the oil is thoroughly massaged into my scalp and into all of my hair, I put it up in a bun. I put a towel over my pillow so the oil doesn't stain my pillowcase and call it a night. Wash it out in the following day. 

When I first went searching for photographs to accompany yesterday's post I remembered a meme from a few years back. At the time I remember it being half funny/half eye roll worthy. It didn't take me long to find it again. It's down below. I know this is a zero waste/minimalist blog, but really it's my blog, and no one thing lives in a vacuum. For the last two years I've been actively working on my blindspots in regards to issues such as systemic racism, white supremacy, cultural appropriation, gender, and white feminism vs. intersectional feminism. To name a few! As a white woman there is A LOT I need to learn and unlearn.

When I re-discovered this meme yesterday, I found it to be even more cringeworthy and less funny, but I couldn't put my finger on why exactly. I just knew that I didn't want to use it as the main photo yesterday or today. Hence the photo of my giant container of olive oil on yesterday's post. This meme felt and feels icky. Why?I started Googling and didn't find anything about this meme specifically, but I did find a couple of thought provoking articles about coconut oil, hair, and cultural appropriation. I thought this would be a great place to point out that using coconut oil for hair care is not some hot, new trend invented by young, thin, white, cis women, although that is how it looks if you do a simple internet search. I had to scroll down to the eighth row to find the first photo of a POC. 

Here are three links I found yesterday that I wanted to share. This is not to say that white women can not use coconut oil in our hair. It's taking a moment to acknowledge the people and cultures that have been doing this for centuries. It's enjoying these hair care tips without completely erasing the people who got ridiculed for the very same thing we are now hailing as the solution to all of our problems, or at least 86 of them.
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If You Don't Get the Problem with Cultural Appropriation, Listen to This
Why Cultural Appropriation is Real and Hurtful
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My Indian Parents are Huge Fans of Cultural Appropriation, Even While My Generation Finds it Appalling

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January 29 • Moisturizer

1/29/2018

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Well, I’m seeing a pattern here and I may need to re-evaluate this year long project of mine. The pattern is I think every post will be simple, but then they quickly become lengthier and more involved than I originally anticipated. Which is not a bad thing, it’s just a time thing. I’ll need to think about how much time and energy I want to dedicate to this passion project. For now it’s ok, but in February I may need to adjust and then again in May once hiking season kicks in.

Short version: I use straight up oil as a moisturizer. I don’t have time or desire anymore to fuck around with shitty lotions and mainstream garbage that is mostly water and may even contain alcohol which dries my skin out. I’ve been using olive oil or coconut oil for years, neither of which is completely zero waste. The coconut oil is packaged in glass, which can be recycled and this is the best I’ve been able to do thus far for olive oil. Nowhere near me sells it in bulk that I know of (anyone local have a hook up, let me know!). I buy this large container and then refill a glass bottle that I keep near my stove and a smaller container that I keep upstairs for my skin. I’ll use olive oil after a shower like I did today and before bed every night. Face, body, hands, you name it. Even hair. More on that tomorrow.

There may be a longer version one of these days...no promises! 

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January 28 • Cotton Swabs

1/28/2018

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I love this mug, but found I was not using it to drink out of so now I use it to hold my cotton swabs and can enjoy looking at it everyday in the bathroom.
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These are the last of the cotton swabs in my possession. When they're gone, I'm going to ditch this habit.
Cotton swabs or cotton buds, although most people call them Q-tips, which is just a brand name, of course, albeit the most popular brand on the market. Whatever you call them, if you use them, buy the ones made of paper and avoid the plastic ones. And no matter paper or plastic, don't flush them down the toilet! They are becoming a real issue for marine life and those that live near the ocean. 

I know there are many ways to use cotton swabs, but the most popular still remains cleaning ear wax out of ear canals. Medical professionals recommend not using them in the ear canals and say that cleaning the ear canals has no medical benefits. In fact, using cotton swabs in the ear canals is the main cause of perforated eardrums. So not only are there no medical benefits, but there are clear medical risks. Ear wax, or cerumen, is naturally occurring and protects the skin of the inner ear while also keeping out bacteria, fungi, insects, and water.   

I used to clean my ears and ear canals with cotton swabs after every single shower, even though I've been well aware of the above information for a long time. Now that I'm only showering once or twice a week, I have inadvertently cut way back. I do still find the habit very satisfying, but when my current stash runs out I'm not going to run out and buy another box of 500. It's going to take me a while to use up what I've got. Will report back later this year on how my ears feel not being poked and obsessively cleaned out on the regular. 

If you will continue to use cotton swabs in your ear holes or in other ares of your life, have at it, but can you commit to buying the paper ones? And disposing of them properly? I dump mine in my lazy man compost pile out back. 

​I know for some this would be a great place to also discuss ear candling, but I'm only sharing things I actually do, have done, or would consider doing and ear candling is not on any of those lists. No judging from me if you do it, but nothing about the process has ever seemed appealing to me. In fact, I think it looks and sounds downright terrifying. I have used hydrogen peroxide a handful of times when I've been sick and the wax build up seemed excessive. It created an odd sensation, but it worked to soften the ear wax. If you're interested, Google it or message me for more details. Of course, I am not a doctor. If you have specific questions or issues, consult your doctor. 
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January 27 • Peeing in the Shower

1/27/2018

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While searching Google the last couple of days for all the best shower memes, I found some great ones about peeing in the shower. I can't believe I almost forgot to mention this as a zero waste bathroom tip. For all the inquiring minds, yes, I pee in the shower and I'm guessing you probably do, too, even if you don't want to admit it out loud. 

Peeing in the shower is another fine way to save time, money, and water. A new toilet uses about two gallons of water per flush, toilets from the 80's use about 3.5 gallons and older models anywhere between 5 – 7 gallons. Even if we assume everyone has a newer model toilet (which they don't) and showers once a day (because most Americans do), peeing in the shower could save upwards of 730 gallons of water a year per person. With over 300 million people in the U.S., that's a whole lot of water being saved! Plus the toilet paper not being used for those of us that wipe after we pee.  

I read some other articles about how peeing in the shower is fun, helps you prepare to pee in the woods and helps you improve your aim. These made me laugh at first, but as a hiking guide that has to deal with lots of folks unskilled in this area, having them practice in the shower might not be such a far fetched idea after all. Better to practice squatting and aiming in the shower before you're out there peeing on your hiking boots. 
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January 26 • Colder Showers

1/26/2018

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I would've never thought I'd spend more than two minutes talking about showers, and yet here I am on a third post. I've covered shorter showers and fewer showers, but what about colder showers?! I love a hot shower. I've already mentioned this, but it bears repeating. I am perfectly fine with my one or two showers a week, but when I do get in there I like to linger and be nice and toasty. And by toasty I mean I like it hot enough to boil the skin off my bones. You can imagine how pleased I was to find this cartoon that speaks to my soul, but I've been contemplating taking cooler showers this winter as I try to keep my skin from completely drying out and falling off. I don't know why it never really clicked all the way that the hot water from a shower was not helping my dry skin situation. I think I didn't want to admit that turning the hot water down would be beneficial. Plus I hate being cold. I know hate is a strong word, but necessary here. It makes sense though. Hot water softens the natural oil on the skin and the hotter the water and longer the shower, the more of that oil will be washed away leading to dry and itchy skin. And of course, all of this is worse when stepping out of the shower into dry, winter air. 

So while I have yet to take a cold shower, I am working on keeping the water warm instead of scalding hot. This of course will save money on my gas bill and I'm assuming the cooler the water, the less I will linger, helping me with my other goal of shorter showers. I spent a few hours this evening reading up on the benefits of cold showers and hydrotherapy (hot/cold shower circuits). The list of benefits is impressive and convincing me to give it a try. Cold showers increase blood and lymph circulation, boost the immune system, reduce blood pressure, and help to detox organs and muscles. 

Hydrotherapy consists of alternating between hot and cold water during the same shower. I've read a few different variations on how to complete a hydrotherapy session, but the basics are to the same. Start with warm water, then go as hot as you can stand it for about 2 minutes, before switching to cold, as cold as you can stand it for about 20-30 seconds. Continue to alternate between hot and cold for 3-5 rounds. Some articles I read recommended always finishing on cold, but I did read another that said finish on cold if you want to feel invigorated and energized, hot if you want to finish feeling relaxed and calm. I'll have to experiment to see if I notice any differences and if I have a preference for ending with hot or cold water. Just the thought of standing under cold water is making me cringe, but I've tried whackier things before. I will report back after I give it a shot. 

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January 25 • Fewer Showers

1/25/2018

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Photo by George Marks/Retrofile/Getty Images
Yesterday I posted about taking shorter showers, like five minutes or less. I'm going to time my next shower to see how long I'm in there. I'd like to think it's under five minutes, but I honestly don't know and now I'm curious. Part of the reason I haven't timed myself or enforced a strict time limit on my showers is because I take way fewer showers than most Americans.

I was never really a fan of the daily shower. I thought it was excessive and unnecessary, but since I stopped washing my hair with traditional shampoo and conditioner I'm down to only one or two showers a week. The cleaner I eat and the more hydrated I stay, the less odor I emit and any odor that does occur is not terribly offensive. If something is way out of hand, there is always the option of a PTA wash up in the sink. At this point I'm guessing you are either rolling your eyes in disgust, or nodding your head in agreement. If you're nodding your head in agreement then you probably already know that there is research and science to back up the idea of a weekly shower. If you are disgusted, read on!

Similar to taking shorter showers, fewer showers can also save time, water, and money. But there are other reasons one may not want to shower daily. Dr. Elaine Larson, an infectious disease expert and associate dean for research at Columbia University School of Nursing, has done research that shows daily showering and scrubbing does not make us cleaner, bacteriologically speaking. Her research has also shown that all those antibacterial soaps and cleaners are no more effective than regular soap and warm water. Our skin hosts good bacteria and oils. Daily washing disrupts the good bacteria and washes away the oil that keeps our skin soft and moisturized. The good bacteria on the skin creates antibiotics to fight off bad bacteria. Washing all the good bacteria off the skin eliminates one of our first line's of defense against germs. Dr. C. Brandon Mitchell, assistant professor of dermatology at George Washington University also recommends ditching antibacterial soaps and says most people over bathe. He believes the body is a well oiled machine and doesn't need a daily shower. He recommends only showering once or twice a week. 

Another reason to take fewer showers is to give your skin a chance to create and absorb Vitamin D. Vitamin D is created in the oily layer of the skin and then slowly absorbed over the course of a couple of days. Daily washing away of this oil may prevent the skin from creating and absorbing enough Vitamin D. 

I know for some people the idea of fewer showers will cause a knee jerk reaction of disgust. All I can say is it works for me and I agree with the doctors referenced above. Feel free to take this information and experiment, or leave it. 
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January 24 • Shorter Showers

1/24/2018

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This is a zero waste tip that I feel is painfully obvious and could even seem like something not worth mentioning, but a shorter shower is a great way to conserve water, time, and money. Taking shorter showers falls under my "needs improvement" category, along with flossing and catching the shower water while the water warms up. Reminder that I'm in no way perfect...there is always room for improvement and some things may be easy for me, challenging for you, and vice versa. Once I'm in a warm shower, I could stay there all day. I don't of course, but I don't know for certain how long I am in there. I thought about timing it today, but that thought occurred to me while I was already in the shower. I will time the next one to see, although I have a feeling that knowing I am timing myself will cause me to take a shorter shower. If I am over five minutes, then my goal will be to reduce shower time to five minutes

I had fun googling "shorter shower". Below are some of my favorite images. I noticed that many of the shorter shower memes were from cities in California or universities. Both urging residents to take shorter showers to save water, and I'm guessing the universities would like to save money. Use whatever motivating factor works for you, although I see time, money, and resources as inextricably linked.

Do you take a five minute shower?  
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January 23 • Safety Razor

1/23/2018

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Long Handled Double Edge Safety Razor.
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​Look at this thing of beauty! It's the ultimate and perfect combination of form and function. It is gorgeous, well made, feels amazing in my hand, and will last me the rest of my life. Switching to a safety razor lingered on my to-do list for almost a year for a few reasons. Even though the word safety is part of its description, it looked intimidating. It's a pricier item so I wanted to make sure I really wanted it before buying it. I wanted to make sure I would use it and I wanted to be certain I was buying exactly what I wanted. I had plenty of time to think, because I had a few disposable razors and replacement blades for my Mach 3 that I wanted to use up before making the switch. Once all the single use plastic razors were gone, I placed my order through Tiny Yellow Bungalow. I had been following Jessie on Instagram for a while and knew I wanted to support her shop. When it was time to buy it was an easy decision for me. I ordered the razor and a 10 pack of replacement blades. I'm still using the first blade.

I knew I had made an excellent purchase as soon as I opened the package and held the razor in my hand. It was so shiny and bright and it had some weight to it which I have found adds a level of control while shaving. It's simple to open and insert the blade and it didn't take long to figure out the right amount of pressure needed for a close shave. This was by far my favorite purchase and switch of 2017.

PS. I'm in full on winter no shave mode so I feel badly that my razor is being ignored, but I'm enjoying winter no shave mode immensely. 
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January 22 • No Poo/Shampoo Bar

1/22/2018

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When I saw the no poo hashtag on Instagram two years ago, I instantly knew I had found my people. No poo is short for no shampoo. It was interesting for me to see it being celebrated as this hot, new trend in haircare. I spent my childhood summers in Greece with my Dad's family where showering everyday was just not a thing. Swimming in the ocean everyday was a thing. Hosing off outside after swimming in the ocean was a thing. But showering inside everyday with the luxury of hot water was not a thing.

From those summers in Greece I have always held the belief that my hair does not need to be washed everyday and will actually be healthier if I don't wash it everyday. But besides that I didn't know there could be a way to take care of my hair that did not involve traditional shampoo and conditioner. Up until two years ago I was washing and conditioning with either Nature's Gate or Avalon Organics. That is until the no poo posts caught my attention. It didn't take me long at all to happily ditch shampoo and conditioner and make the switch.

First up was a no poo period so the oils in my scalp and hair could rebalance themselves. I can't remember how long I went, but I do remember it was a definite transition period. During this time, I either stayed home, wore my hair up, or wore a hat. I took this photo during that time. I could literally put my hair where I wanted it and it would stay. No products necessary...haha. 
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Transitioning from traditional shampoo and conditioner to a no poo/shampoo bar routine.
 
​After this initial transition period, I experimented with a combination of no poo and then washing with baking soda and rinsing with apple cider vinegar (ACV) about once every two to three weeks. That routine worked well for quite a while and then I won a box of goodies from Just Grab Bits for picking up litter and one of the gifts was a shampoo bar from Dulse & Rugosa. It was their Ramblin' Man shampoo bar, but in case you haven't noticed, I DGAF about things like that. I used it and it worked well. I continued to use it on the days I washed my hair, which was about every three weeks or so. When that bar ran out, I ordered another and I'm still using that bar! I don't recall which one I ordered, but I love it and while it may seem expensive at $15 a bar, it lasts forever, especially since I only use it about once a month. Well worth the money. Dulse & Rugosa is a mother daughter team and all their products are handmade in Maine featuring seaweed harvested off the coast of Gotts Island. 

Shampoo bars are a great way to avoid single use plastic shampoo and conditioner bottles and a nice alternative if you think the baking soda and ACV will not work for you. If both of these options seem too extreme, I've recently noticed a new brand on Instagram, Plaine Products. It's shampoo and conditioner that you purchase and when you need to buy the next round, you ship back the empty bottles for them to be reused. I haven't looked into much further, because I don't plan on buying in, but if it sounds good to you, click the link and check it out! Any step away from single use plastics is a step in the right direction. 
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Current shampoo bar from Dulse & Rugosa. Yum!
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January 19 • Sugar Scrub

1/19/2018

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Easy as 1, 2, 3, 4...for real and ya'll recall how lazy I can be. I would not share this with you if it wasn't simple, easy, and amazing. You may already have everything you need in the kitchen. I first made this scrub three years ago, because I have the driest skin in the world. I was hooked after my first use. I probably could use it more often, especially now in these cold, dry, winter months. When I do use it, it is after dry brushing and before I turn on the water in the shower. 
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 fresh lemon
1/2 cup of granulated sugar
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. organic honey
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MAKE IT:
In a small ceramic or glass jar, squeeze the juice from half of a fresh lemon, add the olive oil and stir well. Add in the honey and mix again. Finally, add in the sugar and mix until all ingredients are combined. At this point, you may want to add more sugar until you reach the consistency you like. I prefer a wetter sugar scrub. Play around, there's really no messing it up.
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Olive oil and lemon juice.
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Adding honey into the mix.
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Finally adding in the sugar!
WHY:
Lemon: Natural source of vitamin C and will help your skin look brighter.
Olive Oil: Contains vitamin E and is a natural moisturizer.
Honey: Opens up the pores making them easier to clean. Antibacterial and works well to clear up and prevent acne. Contains antioxidants and is moisturizing and soothing for the skin. 
Sugar: Acts an an exfoliator, cleaning pores and removing dead skin cells.

HOW:
This sugar scrub can be used on the body and the face. On the body, apply it all over using circular motions, feel free to take extra time on areas that made need more TLC (feet, elbows, cuticles, etc.). Rinse off in the shower. If using on your face, the technique is the same, but be gentle. Of course, avoid the eye area and any open wounds as the lemon may sting. Leave on for about 10 minutes then rinse with cool water.
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January 18 • Dry Brushing

1/18/2018

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Shower time! I am convinced I have the world's driest skin. Whatever Mediterranean olive skin I was supposed to inherit missed me completely. During my teens and  20's I must have tried every lotion and cream on the market, anything and everything I could get my hands on, but my skin would just soak it up and be dry again. Thankfully, somewhere along the way I learned about dry brushing. Couldn't tell you when or where I heard about it, but it's been a solid part of what is now my very simple shower routine for over ten years. And I've been using the same brush. If you buy good products, they last!

Before every shower, I dry brush my skin. Dry brushing is exactly what it sounds like. Brushing the skin with a dry brush in circular strokes working from the extremities towards the heart. The direction is important as that is the way the lymph flows through the body. I start at my feet and work my way up my legs to my hips. Then I move to my hands and work my way to my shoulders. Then I brush my abdomen (counterclockwise), chest, finishing up with my back. On my back I start at the top and work my way down. That's it. Doesn't take long at all and has multiple benefits. I do not use this brush on my face. After I'm done dry brushing, I hop in the shower.

Benefits of dry brushing:
• improves circulation of both blood and lymph
• removes dead skin cells for smoother, brighter skin
• stimulates the nerve endings in the skin
• could help with ingrown hairs
• helps skin absorb nutrients by unclogging pores
• some say the improved circulation could help reduce the appearance of cellulite  
• also feels good, like a mini spa treatment every morning
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My brush! I think I bought it way back when at Bath & Body when I was determined to find the perfect solution to my dry skin. Hint: Fragrant lotions with water as the main ingredient aren't the answer!
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The long handle can be removed. Just a personal preference. I like that this brush has both options.
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January 17 • Deodorant

1/17/2018

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I spent the morning shoveling. Like, the entire morning. Which would make a great zero waste post in and of itself, but I'm kind of enjoying reviewing one room at a time. I wasn't sure what I was going to share about the bathroom next, but as I was eating dinner I was checking Instagram and noticed a post by @zero.waste.collective asking what fellow zero wasters do regarding deodorant. And I thought, aaaaaah, that's what I'll talk about tonight, because, I'm exhausted and still have work I want to get done for one of my paid gigs. Talking about my zero waste solution for deodorant will be quick and easy. Are you ready?

I just don't. And haven't for a really long time...10 years? Maybe longer? I honestly can not remember...that's how long it's been. I have never made or wanted to make a homemade version. If you'd like to try, there are tons of recipes you can find on-line. Many of which contain some variation of baking soda, coconut oil, and essential oils. If you haven't picked up on it yet, baking soda is a vital ingredient in the zero waste lifestyle. So is coconut oil. Oh, and vinegar. We haven't gotten there yet, but we will very soon. Haha. 

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January 16 • Bar Soap

1/16/2018

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Talking about soap is the next natural step for me, because it is literally on the other side of my sink. To the right is my zero waste teeth brushing station and on the left is a simple ceramic dish with a bar of soap. Can't get simpler than that, unless you want to skip hand washing all together. I choose bar soap instead of liquid soap, because I can find bar soap wrapped in paper or package free pretty much anywhere. Traditional grocery stores, health food stores, mom & pop soap shops, or farmer's markets. For a while my mom was even making soap at home and I was getting it straight from the source. I have never had the urge to make my own, but maybe that'll change this year. Who knows? Anything can happen. I just made my own mouthwash, from an aloe plant! 

Switching to bar soap is a simple switch that does not require much effort or sacrifice. If you live near a store that has liquid soap in bulk, that would be a great option, too. There are plenty of soap pumps out there that are glass or ceramic. I do not have that bulk option locally. 

Another reason it's a good switch is because I believe we've gone a little overboard with the antibacterial liquid soaps. Overuse of antibacterial soaps can kill the good bacteria naturally found on our skin. This can then make antibiotics less effective against newer, stronger bacteria. 

When choosing a bar soap, the one ingredient I now avoid is palm oil. Take an extra minute to read the ingredients list. If the soap is not packaged, ask the shop owner or soap maker.

When my bar soap is getting down to its last bits I simply smush them into my new bar of soap so those don't get tossed or slip down the drain. 
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January 14 • mouthwash

1/14/2018

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OK, I think this can be the last post about the insides of our mouths...for now, anyway. Since I already told ya'll I don't floss everyday, I don't think it'll be a huge deal to admit that I don't use mouthwash. During my last visit to the dentist, he gave me a coupon for purple Listerine and was so convincing that I needed it that I almost went out and bought some. But of course, it's packaged in plastic and full of chemicals. Hello? It was purple. I kept the coupon in my wallet for a long while before finally tossing it in the compost bin and continued on with my no mouthwash ways. UNTIL TODAY! I started off this challenge with the idea that I was going to share only what I was personally doing. And with that simple rule in mind, I was going to just skip talking about mouthwash since I don't use mouthwash. But after signing off last night, brushing and flossing my teeth, I settled into bed with my laptop and Stretch (my cat). I started searching the interwebs for a DIY, zero waste mouthwash. Plenty of options popped up and it didn't take long at all to see that it would be super easy (I like easy) and just a different combination of things I already had on hand.

I woke up this morning excited to make it. 
I decided to try the recipe from Going Zero Waste, because it contains aloe vera and I happened to have three aloe vera leaves in my fridge that needed to be used up before they completely went to waste. It took all of about 10 minutes. And then I used it and that was after brushing, tongue scraping, and flossing! And it was lovely. ​
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Zerowaste Mouthwash • Ready In 10 Minutes
Adapted from Going Zero Waste
3 Aloe Leaves, harvest the inside gooey bits
(or use 1/4 cup Aloe Vera juice)
1 Cup Distilled Water 
2 Tsp. Baking Soda
2 Tsp. Xylitol (I skipped this ingredient for now until I can find it plastic free or in bulk)
Food Grade Peppermint Oil, optional

Place the aloe vera gooey bits in a blender with the distilled water. To make distilled water, simply boil tap water and then let it cool off. Blend the aloe and water on high until mixed, about a minute. Strain it through a fine mesh. Stir in the baking soda and xylitol. Add a drop or two of food grade peppermint oil if you want the flavor. I was going to skip the mint, but decided to add some at the last minute. I only added a drop, because that is enough for me. Transfer to a glass bottle. Shake well before each use, swish, and spit. ​
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Harvest the gooey insides from the aloe leaves.
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Blend it with water then strain it through a fine mesh.
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Add baking soda and xylitol then transfer to glass jar or bottle.
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January 13 • dental Floss

1/13/2018

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I have been thinking about this post on dental floss since last night and I think it’s time to revive my website. Yes, I have a website and it’s been badly neglected. 😢 Why now? I don’t even care this much about flossing, honestly. I’d by lying if I said I flossed everyday. I only floss as often as I do, because my dentist says “you only need to floss the teeth you want to keep”…I do appreciate his sense of humor and his honesty. 😂😬

But seriously, a longer post may be needed, because there is no easy zero waste and cruelty free answer and I think it’s too much to get into here on Instagram. So, the short answer is…there is no perfect solution yet. Dental floss seems to fall into two main categories. It’s either plastic free which means it’s made out of silk (not good for vegans or those who don’t want to think about silkworms boiling to death for clean teeth) or it’s vegan, but that just means it’s nylon and often the vegan brands are still packaged in plastic. I guess these companies haven’t picked up on the idea that single use plastic, while not an animal product, is definitely not good for the planet or anything living on it. I have tried most of the ones on the market, bouncing back and forth between trying to avoid plastic and trying to avoid silk. Dental Lace (third photo) seems to be the most recent product to hit the market. It’s plastic free, packaged in a cute, glass container. They sell re-fills! But it’s not vegan, so there are the silkworms to think about. After I finish the floss I have (first photo) I may give Dental Lace a try. I like that it’s glass and I like that it’s refillable. Or maybe a water pick? I know there are a lot of people here who are zero waste and vegan. What do ya’ll do? I’m almost thinking of getting actual dental tools (second photo) to use in-between visits! What could go wrong?! My next cleaning is scheduled for March and I have so many questions!
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January 12 • tongue scraper

1/12/2018

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Yes, we’re still in the bathroom, and still in our mouths. Haha! We’ll be in the bathroom for a little while longer, get comfy. So many baby steps you can take, you’re really going to see them add up if you stick with it this year.

This is my beloved tongue scraper. Yes, it is plastic, but I bought it forever ago, think I was 23?? It’s even broken on one side, but I can’t see sending it to the landfill just to replace it with a new metal one…as much as I want to! Maybe you brush your tongue with your toothbrush and that works for you. But maybe you want to add tongue scraping to your daily routine. I highly recommend it. And if you don’t have one and are going to buy one, buy a metal one. This photo is from Brush with Bamboo, but Package Free sells them as well.

Why scrape? Benefits include:
👅Good for oral and digestive health
👅Helps keep breath fresh
👅Eliminates undigested food from the tongue
👅Removes toxins and bacteria from the tongue
👅Enhances sense of taste

Happy Scraping! If this is new for you, let me know if you try it and what you think? I brush, scrape, floss, rinse. So you can guess what the next two days are....
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January 11 • Toothpaste

1/11/2018

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Are you ready to say goodbye to plastic tubes of toothpaste? Seems an obvious next step after the bamboo toothbrush. This is also a nice throwback photo from summer 2015. When I decided to make the switch to #zerowastetoothpaste, I asked Momma Mud to make me a container for it. I described what I wanted and she made exactly what I envisioned. Look how cute it is!! This is still what I use, but this photo is much nicer than what I could take today inside on this overcast, winter day.

When I first made the switch, I used this pretty standard recipe for #diy#toothpaste, but didn’t care for it. At all. I didn’t care for or need the peppermint essential oil. And I didn’t like that the coconut oil could fluctuate between liquid and solid depending on the temperature. I tend to be a pretty simple, bordering on lazy, zerowaster which makes me a great minimalist. 😂😂 I now use plain baking soda. No complaints from my dentist so far. 😬

If you’d like to give the coconut oil version a try, I posted the recipe. I did enjoy making it and you might love it. If you try it, let me know how it goes! Or maybe you already make your own? I’ve seen some other recipes floating around with activates charcoal, but have not experimented with it. I’m quite happy with the plain baking soda and my cute ass ceramic pot to hold it. 💃🏻❤️ There are also tooth powders that can be purchased in sustainable packaging if making your own does not sound appealing. And I recently saw a post with Toothpaste in a metal tube that could be recycled. Lots of options besides plastic! 

Also I feel the need to state I’m just sharing what I do and what is currently working for me. I’m no doctor or dentist. If you have questions or concerns, ask your dentist. 
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January 10 • Toothbrush

1/10/2018

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Ok gang, we’re heading into the bathroom. It was a tie between bathroom and kitchen so I chose bathroom for a few reasons. 1. It’s where most of us go first thing in the morning and Americans tend to spend a lot of time in there. Forget the actual statistics, but you can look it up if you like. 2. It’s where I started when I kicked it into high gear two years ago. 3. It’s where I feel more comfortable. I’m still working on solidifying my kitchen habits. 4. I desperately needed to change out my current toothbrush for a new one. No, that is not my toothbrush on the left. 😂🙈😝 5. Every plastic toothbrush that was ever made still exists. When I first heard that and wrapped my head around it, I immediately switched to a Brush with Bamboo toothbrush and have never looked back. That was two years ago. The toothbrush on the left is just one of many I’ve picked up over the years on various trash walks. My trash picking friends that live by the beach pick up way more. It’s overwhelming. This little switch will keep plastic toothbrushes out of the waste stream, the landfills, and our oceans.
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