bookmark_borderYay or Nay: Solar Phone Charger Review

Hey cupcakes! As you all know, I am trying to live a lower waste lifestyle. When I started this journey back in May, I made a bunch of switches to more sustainable products. One of the things I was interested in trying was a solar phone charger, in order to cut back on the electricity needed to charge my iPhone. After purchasing this one from Ebay for only about $15, I thought I would share my thoughts on it with you all today!

Let’s start with the pros of this product:

1. It is super easy to use – All you have to do is place in sunlight and the lights will illuminate as the device charges. Then, plug your phone in!

2. It does charge my phone – To charge your phone you can either place it in sun and plug in your phone to charge it real-time, or you can leave it in the sun to charge (and store the power) and then plug in your phone later on. It does work, which is always a plus!!! I have found that the fastest method is to place it in the sun and charge real-time. 🙂

Now the cons of this charger:

1. It is pretty bulky – The device itself is larger than my iPhone, so it is definitely a hassle to carry around.

2. It takes awhile to charge – I have found that direct sunlight outside is the fastest way to charge this device. BUT, it will still take like 4-6 hours in direct sun….

3. It drains quickly – While the sun takes many hours to fill up the power, my phone will drain it in only one charge…

Final Verdict

While the idea of this charger is awesome, I don’t think it is feasible to use every day. However, it would be perfect for outdoor activities (hiking, camping, etc.) where you would not be using your phone much in the first place. As for me, I will just be using it as an add-on to electric charging (which isn’t all bad as I will still be saving on some electricity).

Would you ever get a solar phone charger?

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_border7 Things I Learned from Plastic Free July

Hey earth muffins! Happy August – wow, July sure flew by! Early last month I posted about 10 Easy Ways to Reduce Your Plastic Consumption as a way for me to share that I would be participating in Plastic Free July (read more about the challenge on their website!). As that post got a lot of page views, I figured you all would enjoy a debrief on what I learned through this challenge since we have entered into a new month. 🙂

~Plastic is in more places than you think. Before starting the challenge, I had already been avoiding a lot of plastics due to my journey towards living a lower waste lifestyle. However, being conscious that I was participating in the challenge, I seemed to notice more plastic around me. It is honestly pretty scary about how “throw-awayable” our culture is.

~It definitely takes time to find alternatives to plastic and to switch your habits. I don’t think I really expected otherwise in the beginning of July, but it is something to be aware of. Habit change does take time!

~You’ll feel better for sure when you don’t eat things in plastic. I have completely avoided snack foods in plastic bags by shopping the bulk bins, and I find better quality in local produce at the farmers market than the stuff at a grocery store wrapped in unnecessary plastic. My journey to lower waste living and being plastic free in July definitely forced me to change my eating habits, and I have felt so much healthier!!!

~You will actually save a bunch of money. Think about all of the unnecessary products you buy that are plastic, like the bags of chips or the Starbucks coffees each morning. I have definitely noticed more money in my wallet, which allows me to spend it on better things 🙂

~You will screw up. I definitely used plastic last month; no one is perfect! Sometimes you just can’t avoid it or you are feeling lazy. But don’t give yourself crap for it, just use it as leverage to do better next time.

~A challenge like this will raise awareness with those around you. For example, I have gotten so many compliments for bringing my own bags to clothing stores! This leads to conversation about what you are doing, which will hopefully inspire others to do the same. I know I impacted my family and friends for sure… My mom now only uses reusable bags and always tells me when she thought of me saying “It’s Plastic Free July!” when faced with plastic.

~It will change your life because you will feel better about your choices and your impact on the planet. At least it did for me haha. Plus, the habits I formed during July will definitely be sticking around, so I would recommend for you all to also try something like this!

 

Would you ever try Plastic Free July?

Love,
Jenna ♥

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