While most of us rinse our toothbrushes in water after we use them, according to WebMD, they are still contaminated by the microbial organisms in our mouths. Even worse, if you have a virus or bacterial infection, these organisms can continue to cause illness since they can live on our toothbrushes for weeks. ... [Read More]
Sustainable Holiday Photo Cards
Ever since baby Ford joined us earlier this year, my husband and I have been thinking a lot about our favorite holiday traditions and which ones we’d like to continue within our own little family. Growing up, one of my favorites was sending and receiving holiday photo cards. ... [Read More]
Minimalist Nursery Reveal
When I started putting together Ford’s minimalist nursery, I knew that I wanted it to be a very clean, calm space. I also knew that I wanted to furnish it with as many second-hand and/or sustainably sourced items as possible. Ford has been sleeping in his own room since he was about 16 weeks old and this set-up has been working well for us so far. I’d say the only thing he is missing is his own laundry basket (his dirty clothes, blankets, and burp clothes aggressively overpower the clothes in our bin at the moment). Minimalist Nursery Essentials See below for my minimalist nursery decor list and shopping sources: (This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.) CRIB: Pottery Barn Hayden Crib Purchased second-hand for $150 via ... [Read More]
How to Clean a Self Cleaning Oven
When we talk about how to clean an oven, we first need to clarify if we are talking about how to clean a self cleaning oven or a non-self cleaning oven. How to Clean a Self Cleaning Oven Ovens that include a self-cleaner function (also called the pyrolytic cleaning method) include an enamel coating that can be worn down or damaged if scrubbed with an abrasive cleaner. How to Use an Oven Self Cleaner Instead of using abrasive cleaners on the enamel inside of a self-cleaning oven, it's better to actually utilize the self-cleaning mechanism. Remove all of the parts inside of your oven (metal shelves or drawer) Use a silicon scraper to remove any caked on food from the sides and the bottom of your oven and wipe it down with a damp cloth Open all of the kitchen windows to make ... [Read More]
Eco Friendly Halloween
For me, Halloween will always be synonymous with dressing up, decorating for parties with friends, and trick-or-treating. The tradition of meeting new neighbors and passing out treats to costumed kids is so much fun, but the overwhelming amount of waste associated with the holiday can also make me feel a little bit conflicted. According to this year's NRF Halloween consumer behavior survey, "...consumers plan to spend $3.2 billion on costumes (purchased by 68 percent of Halloween shoppers), $2.7 billion on decorations (74 percent), $2.6 billion on candy (95 percent) and $400 million on greeting cards (35 percent)." Unfortunately, those costumes are likely to be used only once before being discarded and Halloween decorations are commonly made from non-recyclable plastic ... [Read More]
Sustainably Sourced Thrift Store Halloween Costume Ideas
According to this year's NRF Halloween consumer behavior survey, consumers plan to spend $3.2 billion on costumes. What's unfortunate is that many of those costumes will be worn only once and/or were produced using plastic-based materials (polyester, anyone?). If you’re interested in eco-friendly Halloween costume alternatives then look no further. Below is a list of sustainable thrift store Halloween costume ideas that are cheap, easy, and a few that can easily be put together at the last minute! Before we talk about buying Halloween costumes, there are a few options to consider first. Shop your closet - If you have the basic elements of a great costume already in your closet, then there is no need to buy new! Borrow from a friend - Maybe you shopped your closet but you’re ... [Read More]