bookmark_borderCollective Thrift Haul ft. Second Hand September

Hey earth muffins! If you weren’t aware, this month was Second Hand September! ๐Ÿ˜ƒ I have talked about thrifting a lot here on Life of an Earth Muffin, so in honor of this month coming to an end I wanted to share my most recent thrifted purchases. Let’s jump right into the haul!

collage of four items bought from a thrift store, the words thrift haul are located in the center
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*Dining Room Table & Chairs: Facebook Marketplace, $45

picture of a wooden table with two wooden chairs, bought off facebook marketplace

I recently shared my tips and tricks for successfully shopping on Facebook Marketplace… And this is one of the best things I have scored! This table and chairs set was super cheap, and it is still in great condition – perfect for a grad school apartment!

*Binder: Local thrift store, $1

I will be writing a whole post this week on “how to zero waste your school supplies”, and one of my suggestions is to check out your local thrift stores! I am about to start studying for my CPA exams and wanted a binder to store all of my notes as I work through the Becker materials.ย ๐Ÿค“ This binder was brand new, and it is absolutely perfect for what I was looking for!

*Set of 19 pans: Facebook Marketplace, $5

picture of a stack of various baking pans used to cook or bake in the kitchen, bought off facebook marketplace
A small sample of the pans… The rest are stored under the oven!ย 

That’s right – 19 PANS! I have been on the hunt for a muffin tin, cake pan, and bread pan so when I saw someone selling all of them (plus 16 other assorted pans!) I just had to make the purchase. While I found some other good pans in the bunch (like a pizza pan and a brownie pan), I will be donating the others that I don’t want to my local thrift shop so that they can get used in another kitchen.ย ๐Ÿง

*Ann Taylor Black flared skirt: Salvation Army, $1.50

This is for my Halloween costume… And it is perfect! It fits like a pencil skirt but flares out a bit more at the knees, so I will definitely be able to wear it to work after I use it as a costume.

*Red fabric: Local thrift shop, $0.75

picture of a red fabric bow made with thrifted fabric

I turned some of this fabric into a bow… Any guesses on what I am going to be for Halloween??ย ๐Ÿ˜‰

*New York and Company White Button Up: Salvation Army, $4.99

Again, this is for my Halloween costume, but I will get a ton of use out of it when I start working full time.ย ๐Ÿ˜€

*2 Pumpkin Napkins: Local thrift store, $0.50 each

picture of a red burgundy napkin with a pumpkin design on it, bought from a local thrift store to avoid single use napkins

One of the easiest things to do on a journey towards zero waste is refuse single use napkins. I have slowly been building a collection of napkins from ones my parents no longer want, but I thought it was time to throw in some fall cheer to the mix.ย ๐ŸŽƒ

*Debbie Mumm Halloween Pillow: Local thrift store, $4.50

picture of a pillow designed by Debbie Mumm, an image of Frankenstein, pumpkins, and candy corn are sewn on it

My apartment has no Halloween decor right now, so I figured this would be an easy way to add some Halloween spirit to the living room. Frank looks SO cute on the futon.ย ๐Ÿ˜

What have you thrifted recently?ย 

Love,
Jenna โ™ฅ

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bookmark_borderReview: LUSH Herbalism Face Cleanser

Hey earth muffins! As I mentioned in my Plastics I Refuse to Give Up post, I started using the Lush Herbalism face wash over the summer. I have been using it for a few months now, so I thought I would share a review of the Lush Herbalism cleanser with you all today! ๐Ÿ˜€

An image of a jar of Lush
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Pros:
~This face wash makes my skin feel SO healthy and moisturized! I had been using Proactiv for a year or so before making this switch, and that always made my skin feel super dry. I love that my skin feels nourished and clean after using this face wash!

~Helps prevent new breakouts. The reason I started using this product was because over the summer my skin freaked out with Proactiv. It has been a few months now, and I am still dealing with some of the scarring left over from the incident. This product definitely helps my sensitive skin in preventing any new zits from forming, which is a huge bonus!

~There are fewer ingredients/chemicals, making it better for my skin. I plan on writing a whole long rant about how Proactiv ruined my skin, but the major reason I stopped using it (spoilers, I know) is that it bleached one of my dark shirts. If it can literally bleach a dyed fabric, what is it doing to my skin?! I feel much happier that Lush makes products with fewer ingredients and additives!

~The packaging is made of recycled plastic and can be brought back to the store! While I try to avoid as many plastic containers as I can (check out my Why I Use Bars Over Bottles post!), many Lush products still do not have a “naked” form… But hopefully they will one day! I love that you can bring back 5 of the black tubs to any Lush store and receive a free face mask in return – definitely a great incentive to get people to recycle their containers!

~A little goes a long way! This cleanser is used a bit differently that others, as you have to take a dollop, get it wet, and then apply. Because of this, the product will last much longer than a typical bottle (which I love!). Plus, you aren’t paying for water in your face wash.ย ๐Ÿ˜Š

A image of a hand with some of Lush

~Saves water in the shower. Because it is a more hands on process, I don’t actually wash my face in the shower anymore, choosing to wash it after getting out. This saves water and makes my shower time even shorter.

~Smells very fresh! This product has over 1,000 reviews on Lushusa.com, and many people seem to think it smells bad. I think it smells nice, but maybe I am in the minority…

Cons:
~Takes more time than other “normal” cleansers. Like I mentioned above, this cleanser is more hands on, but I don’t think that is a bad thing! However, if you can’t add a couple more minutes into your beauty routine then this cleanser is not for you.

~I am not a fan of the ground almonds. I understand that they act as a natural exfoliate (thank goodness there are no plastic microbeads!), but I sometimes think they irritate my skin as they can be very sharp!

A dancing almond, showing that Lush

Thanks for reading my Lush Herbalism review! What is your favorite Lush product?

Love,
Jenna โ™ฅ

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bookmark_borderRecipe: Overnight Oats + 4 Topping Ideas!

Hey earth muffins! Living in an apartment off campus has been great, as I don’t have to deal with the hub-bub that comes with being on campus. ๐ŸŽ‰ I also get to cook all of my meals for myself, which I love because I can eat healthy and take time to ensure I am getting the nutrients I need. While my breakfast is usually Cheerios, I will sometimes make some overnight oats instead. ๐Ÿฅฃ These are great when I know I am going to be in a rush, so I wanted to share the simple recipe with you all!

What You Need
-1/2 cup rolled oats (I either buy from the bulk bins or the largest cylinder container they have!)
-1/2 cup almond milk
-Mason jar (or other glass container)

What To Do
1. Pour the oats into the mason jar.
2. Add the almond milk on top and seal the jar.
3. Pop in the fridge to set overnight.
4. In the morning, mix with a spoon and add in the toppings (see below!). If you don’t want to eat from the jar, feel free to pour into a bowl.
5. Enjoy!

TOPPINGS
~Add in some frozen fruit slices! I typically choose banana, as I like to freeze slices of them whenever they are getting too brown for my liking. As overnight oats are already cold, the frozen fruit fits right in!

~A small scoop of natural jelly or homemade jam. I shared my fast and easy strawberry sauce recipe over the summer, which is perfect to add some sweetness to the oats. As I am trying to avoid added sugars right now, the smaller the scoop the better.ย ๐Ÿ˜Š

~Dash of maple syrup! This is a classic combo, so I would definitely recommend giving it a try!

~Sprinkle of brown sugar or honey. If you love your oatmeal sweet, then try adding in some type of sugar. I am a huge fan of brown sugar, but honey works too!

a cartoon mason jar with overnight oats and blueberries in it
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What do you put in your overnight oats?ย 

Love,
Jenna โ™ฅ

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bookmark_borderWhy I Use Bars Over Bottles ๐Ÿงผ

Hey earth muffins! I think one of the easiest switches I made on my journey towards living zero waste was replacing my plastic products with bars. This isn’t difficult to do, especially now that companies like Lush have a lot more “naked” options. This post outlines the best reasons why you should also replace your plastic bottles, so let’s jump right into it! ๐Ÿ˜€

picture of plastic shampoo bottles next to a stack of shampoo bars, suggesting that you should choose the bars over the bottle
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1.ย 
There is less plastic packaging. If you want to be more sustainable, it is a much better alternative! Many stores like Lush and Whole Foods sell these products in absolutely no packaging, which means you can avoid all waste by bring your own container/bag to the store. Plus, you don’t have to worry about recycling the plastic bottle at the end, which as I mentioned in my Ultimate Plastic Recycling Guide, isn’t actually good for the planet.

2.ย 
You get more product, which is better for your wallet! How many times have you been unable to get all of the product out of a plastic bottle? There are many hard to reach places, which often forces you to toss before it is actually all gone. Many “naked” products use concentrated ingredients so that they will last a longer time; my Jumping Juniper shampoo bar lasted me 98 washes!!

3.
These products are often more natural. I am all for avoiding any unnecessary chemicals/additives, so I love that I am able to reduce them by buying bar products. This is especially true if you buy locally or off of Etsy, as I have found that even Lush items have more ingredients than I would like.

4.
They look so much better in the tub!ย ๐Ÿ˜ Just peep my side of the shower versus my roommate’s. Plastic bottles are usually obnoxious colors with a million words, so I am a huge fan of having products that don’t visually clutter the room. I love my Ethique soap container that keeps my shampoo bar and soap dry so that they last even longer; I would definitely recommend checking it out, as it is only $15 and is biodegradable after a few years of use.

a picture of the inside of the shower in my apartment, showing the comparison between a side with no plastic bottles and one with plastic bottles

5.
They work just as well! I think many people are concerned that these products aren’t as effective as the brands they know and trust… And that is just untrue! Sure, you might not love everything you try out, but you will definitely find products that you LOVE!

What “naked” products do you use currently?

Love,
Jenna โ™ฅ

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bookmark_borderAm I Still Loving the Femometer?! – 1 Year Update

Hey earth muffins! I cannot believe it has been a full year since I started using the Femometer as part of the Basal Body Temperature natural birth control method. I unboxed my Femometer a little over a year ago, so I thought I would share what I am still loving (and not loving) about this product. Spoilers – I still LOVE it!ย ๐Ÿ˜„

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femometer app screen

What I Love – The Pros:
~For someone with a longer cycle than the average woman, this app is much more accurate when it comes to making cycle predictions. Before I starting using the Femometer, I was using an app called Flo that just did not understand that my cycle lasts for about 35-38 days. It would predict based on the “average length of a cycle,” which often made it very very wrong (so much so that I would often track on my own too which basically defeated the purpose of using the app). I LOVE that the Femometer adjusts its prediction after each cycle – it can accurately detect the start of both my period and ovulation 95% of the time (the rest are off by 1-3 days), which is just incredible!

~Getting into the habit of taking my temperature was super easy, as I was basically in the habit by my month 3 update. After the habit is formed, you will definitely not forget to take your temperature each morning, and I love the addition to my morning routine.

~Going off of that last point, I formed my habit so well that I actually took my temperature in my sleep onceย ๐Ÿ˜… This didn’t throw off my chart though, because you are able to delete any “abnormal” readings or pick the accurate one if you take it twice by accident. While I haven’t experienced any abnormal instances other than this one, it would be super helpful for keeping your charts consistent when you have a fever.

~NO PERIOD SURPRISES!ย ๐Ÿฉธ See the first bullet point.

~The visual data in the app is amazing – there are so many different charts that are tracked for you in the Analysis tab in your profile. From analyzing every single data point that has ever been taken to just visualizing each cycle for consistency, the real magic of this device is the data you get. It definitely helps you take charge of your cycle, which is so empowering to me!

visual data and graph in femometer app
Overlaying your cycles can help you see how similar they are!

What I Don’t Love – The Cons:
~Unfortunately, the app doesn’t re-adjust your ovulation date until after your period starts when it analyzes the cycle. While my ovulation date is usually accurate, it might vary by 1-3 days. This doesn’t bother me too much, as I also do the Cervical Mucus method that makes it super easy to tell when I am the most fertile; however, it is something to think about if you aren’t using any other birth control methods.

~As I’ve mentioned in prior updates, I don’t like that I need to sync my thermometer to the app each day… But it is a small time commitment that isn’t a huge deal.

~I also don’t like that the comparison charts use the “average” woman’s cycle… It is especially not as helpful for someone who has a longer cycle, but I understand that I am an outlier in this regard.ย ๐Ÿคทโ€โ™€๏ธ

analysis of cycle on femometer app

Overall verdict, please do yourself a favor and purchase a Femometer! The $30 you pay is SO worth it! What are your thoughts on using the Basal Body Temperature method?

Love,
Jenna โ™ฅ

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bookmark_borderMy Tips & Tricks for an Armpit Detox ๐Ÿ’ช

Hey earth muffins; Happy Monday! To start this week off right, I want to share my tips and tricks for dealing with an armpit detox… Now some of you might be asking, “What the heck is an armpit detox?”, so you definitely came to the right Earth Muffin! Let’s jump right into the post!

What is an armpit detox?
An armpit detox is a detox for your armpits (duh! ๐Ÿ™„) that often occurs after switching from an aluminum based deodorant to a more natural deodorant (such as the natural deodorants from Pretty Frank). When using products that contain aluminum your body is prevented from perspiring, which is why they are often labeled as “antiperspirants”. After switching to a deodorant that lets you sweat, your body isn’t used to it… This results in the armpit detox where you might notice excess sweat and smell coming from your pits as you sweat out the gunk/toxins that have been sitting in your armpit for months and even years!ย ๐Ÿ˜ท

My Experience with an Armpit Detox
When I switched and started using Pretty Frank’s Wild Wood deodorant, I (surprisingly) didn’t experience much of a detox. I maybe had more sweat than usual for a few days, but nothing too crazy. I did however notice my body actually sweating in the pits for the first time in my LIFE, which was such an interesting thing to think about.

natural deodorant for armpit detox

Tips for Surviving Your Armpit Detox
If you make the switch to natural deodorant, you might experience a much longer detox than I did, so I thought I would share my tips to help you mitigate the sweat and the smell!

1. Pick a time that works the best for you – Don’t try to make the switch when you have a lot of presentations in class or know you will be wearing a lot of tank tops. I think winter is probably the best time of the year for a detox, as you can wear a shirt under a sweater to catch any excess sweat or smell!

man sweating

2. Dab away the sweat often – You will find yourself sweating more than usual, so feel free to use some toilet paper or tissues to dab away the sweat often. I would do this whenever I went to the bathroom, as it is an easy thing to do while sitting on the toilet (sorry for the TMI haha).

3. Reapply when necessary – Feel free to reapply deodorant if you feel like the smell is getting particularly bad… Just make sure you don’t over do it so that your armpits turn white or it rubs into your clothes. You wouldn’t want a stain!

4. Let your pits have space โ€“ This process is completely normal, so let your armpits detox all the gunk! I would avoid wearing any tight-in-the-pit clothes to prevent from even more irritation. #freethepits!

5. Have a back-up smell blockerย โ€“ If you are super concerned with the idea of slightly smelly pits, double up your odor blocker by using body spray, perfume, essential oils, etc. Please don’t use too much though, nobody wants to smell you from a mile away!

6. Make sure the scent of your natural deodorant works for you โ€“ Some body odors donโ€™t mix well with certain scents, or your body odor might smell similar to a scent. If you aren’t liking the smell of the first product you try out, don’t give up and try again! It is really a trial and error process until you find the deodorant that works for you.ย ๐Ÿ˜Š

pinterest graphic about armpit detox
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Have you had an armpit detox before? What are your tips for making it easier?

Love,
Jenna โ™ฅ

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bookmark_borderCan Thrifted Clothes Really Be “Trendy”?

Hey earth muffins! I have talked a lot about thrifting here on Life of an Earth Muffin ever since I started my journey towards living sustainably;ย in my opinion, it is honestly such a great way to de-stress. I have heard a lot of reasons why people donโ€™t thrift:

โ€œEw, you donโ€™t know where those clothes have beenโ€
โ€œSave those clothes for people who are less fortunateโ€
โ€œThrift clothes are out of styleโ€ย 
โ€œSecondhand clothes remind me of my grandma”ย 

The โ€œthrift clothes canโ€™t be trendyโ€ logic is not logical at all; in fact, secondhand clothes can be quite fashion forward if you know what you are looking for! Just look at what is โ€œon trendโ€ right now โ€“ a lot of styles have been inspired by looks from the 90โ€™s, the 80โ€™s, and beyond. While not everything you find at the thrift shop will be fashionable, many pieces have so much potential! โœŒ๏ธ

How Can I Style Thrifted Pieces in a “Trendy” Way?ย 

One of the easiest ways to figure out how to style a thrifted piece is to do your research beforehand. If you know that you love the styles of Forever21 or Urban, take a look at their website to find a piece you are looking for.ย 
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Say you are searching for a plaid blazer. I looked on Forever21’s website this morning and found a huge selection of these in the fall fashion category – so plaid blazers are obviously on trend right now.ย 
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After picking out the staple you are searching for, figure out how you would style it if it was in your closet. This can mean doing some more research online or even raiding your closet for pieces that can be paired with it!ย 
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When you head to the thrift store, all you have to do is look for that specific piece (in this example, the plaid blazer). If you canโ€™t find the exact thing, be a bit creative and try multiple sections and/or stores. When you successfully use some of my thrifting tips โ€“ ta-da, you have found what you are looking for! AND you already know exactly how to style it โ€“ and what do you know, thrifted clothes can actually be trendy! ๐Ÿ˜ƒ

How do you style your thrifted clothes?

Love,
Jenna โ™ฅ

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bookmark_borderHow to Zero Waste Your Airplane Flight โœˆ๏ธ

Hey earth muffins! After branching out from my “How to Zero Waste Your [insert room here]” series into topics like periods, I thought it would be fun to explore traveling. As I recently took a trip to Washington D.C., it seemed like the perfect time to share my tips for being low waste on an airplane. ๐Ÿ˜Š

Note: flying on a airplane is not good for the environment. It is actually one of the worst things to do… So, there really isn’t a “zero waste” way to fly; however, if you must fly these are tips that you can use to mitigate other waste at the airport and on board.

1.ย Book an airline that uses online boarding passesย โ€“ You wonโ€™t have to worry about printing your ticket or losing it along the way! Just make sure your phone is charged up to be scanned through security and the gate. Delta has a great app I use, but I am sure many other airlines offer this lovely feature.
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2.ย Bring your own water bottleย โ€“ People I talk to are often unaware that you can bring your own water bottle through security (just make sure it is empty when you go through!). Airports have water fountains near the bathrooms, which reduces the need to buy plastic water bottles in the airport or to get a beverage during the in-flight food service.

3.ย Be prepared with some snacks!ย โ€“ Again, you can bring snacks through security! For my trip to Washington D.C., I brought along some pretzel sticks in a reusable sandwich bag.ย ๐Ÿฅจ I was able to refuse the snack mid-flight and even have some leftovers for my layover. While I didnโ€™t have enough space in my bag to bring as much food as I could have, at least a few snack packages were saved!

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4. Bring your own ear buds/headphones (noise cancelling is recommended!) โ€“ You can usually purchase cheap, throwaway-able ear buds on flights, but save your money (and the planet) by bringing your own!

5. Don’t check a bag; bring a carry-on! – Even if you have your own luggage tag, your checked bag will still get adorned with some extra stickers and tags that are unnecessary. Save that waste by packing light and bringing only a carry-on.ย ๐Ÿงณ

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What do you do to reduce waste when flying?

Love,
Jenna โ™ฅ

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