Zero Waste Living – Page 5 – The LadyPrefers2Save

These Green Tips Will Make Your Garden More Than Just a Spring Fling

When spring finally starts to approach after a long winter, it’s one of the best things in the world. When you’re not busy enjoying your Easter chocolate, you can start thinking about how to prepare your garden to set it up for the spring and summer.

Now that the weather is warming up, you can start bringing your garden back to life after its more dormant period. If you’re going to get ready for spring, it’s a good idea to think about the greenways you can prepare your garden so that you don’t have too much of an impact on the environment. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to prepare using green methods.

Clear Up and Make Compost

Winter can leave your garden looking a little worse for wear. The debris from old plants, fallen leaves and anything that hasn’t survived the cold weather can make everything look a bit of a mess. You might want to begin your new spring garden by cleaning up any mess so that you have a blank canvas to work with.

It might be a little cool yet to start composting, but that doesn’t mean you need to throw everything away. You can still start putting together a compost heap or bin, even if it won’t be warm enough to start truly composting for a few more weeks.

Start Collecting Rainwater

With the spring rain, you have the perfect opportunity to start collecting water for use later in the year. If you know there will be dry periods when there won’t be enough rain, and you’ll have to water your garden more, it’s much greener if you have reserves of rainwater that you can make use of.

You can set up water butts to collect rainfall so you’ll have plenty to use when you need it most. Put your containers below a downpipe so that you can easily collect what you need. You can even set up a new system for funneling and collecting water so that you can maximize what you get. Go to https://www.diy.com/ideas-advice/ to find out how to set up a water butt.

Choose Some Native Plants

When you’re thinking about what to plant this year, you should consider choosing plants that will require as little care as possible. The fewer products you need to use and the less you need to water them, the better they are for the environment.

The best thing for this is plants that are native to the area or those that come from similar climates. These plants should be able to survive largely on their own in your area, so you won’t have to do as much to take care of them. It also prevents non-native plants from becoming invasive or spreading around the area, where they could have an effect on other plants or animals.

Find Green Ways to Deal with Pests

Pests of some kind are almost always a problem in gardens, and it’s worth getting on top of the problem as soon as possible. While you’re preparing your garden for spring, it’s a good time to go looking for any pests and knock any potential problems on the head now.

Over the winter, pests might have been hibernating, and now they’re getting ready to come out and enjoy the rain and the slightly warmer weather. If you deal with them now, they should be less of a problem later.

There are plenty of natural ways to deal with pests if you’re trying to stay green, but first, you need to know what pests to defend against. Take a look around your garden or find out what you tend to get in your area so you can pick the right pest deterrents.

Maintain Your Lawn

You can let your lawn go over the winter, so you might find yourself performing a rescue job when spring arrives. You might need to remove weeds and moss, and seeding your lawn to refresh it is a good idea too.

Depending on the size of your lawn, it can take a lot of work to get it up to scratch. If you visit Allenoutdoorstl.com today, you can find out about the difference a professional lawn care service could make to your lawn.

A professional service can use a variety of methods to get your lawn back to full health, helping to aerate the soil, overseed and fertilize. If you want to take a greener approach to your lawn, you might consider keeping it a little less well-maintained and groomed. Let it grow a little more naturally, instead of mowing and weeding it all the time.

Prepare Your Soil

It might not be time for planting just yet, but you can get your soil ready for planting if you want to get ahead. Winter can leave your soil solid and be lacking in nutrients, but you can refresh it in time for the spring and summer. You’ll need to wait until it’s warm enough to be able to dig. If it’s too cold, the ground could just be frozen solid, and you’ll have trouble getting your shovel in.

Don’t worry too much if your soil is compacted, as this happens naturally over time. Your goal should be to loosen it up so that it’s ready for planting. You can use a shovel or fork to turn it over, although you should do it when it’s dry, and not when it’s wet and lumpy. You can also prepare your soil by adding compost or fertilizer, which will help to provide it with the nutrients it needs.

Give Your Tools a Green Clean

You’ll need all your tools to maintain your garden for the rest of the year, so make sure they’re all ready to go. Giving them a thorough clean will keep them in good condition and prevent any problems, such as rust or just dirt building up.

Just some soapy water and a stiff brush are all you need to start cleaning and get off some of the mud. If there are any rusty patches, use a wire brush or wire wool to remove it, but be careful not to scrub too hard. You can also sharpen your tools and oil the metal to help prevent rust. Keep cleaning your tools as you use them too so that you can maintain them.

Start Growing Indoors

If you’re planning on planting seeds or bulbs, you don’t have to start them off in your garden. You can give them a better fighting chance if you start them off indoors, and it gives you something to do while you’re waiting for temperatures to rise.

You can easily grow things indoors, with the right pots, soil, and food. If you want to try to do this in a green way, you might want to steer away from plastic pots. While they’re cheap, they can break easily too, and then you can’t reuse them. Other materials are more solid and more eco-friendly.

You can also reuse materials, like egg boxes. Try saving water too, by using gray water from your home instead of taking it straight from the faucet. Once your plants have grown a little, and the weather is suitable, you can transplant them into your garden.

Draw Up a Planting Calendar

It might not be time to start planting just yet, but you can make sure you get it right by creating a calendar to follow. If you have packets of seeds or bulbs, the packets should tell you when it’s the best time to plant so that you can get it right.

By getting the timing right, you won’t have to rely so much on fertilizers, pesticides and other products, or on watering your garden too much. Don’t just plan for the spring, but start thinking about the summer and fall too. Good planning will help you maintain your garden more easily.

Plan Your Garden Layout

As well as deciding on the best times to plant, you should think about where you’re going to plant things. A good layout will help things grow more easily, and you can plan so that complimentary plants can grow together.

For example, you can set up a vegetable garden so that you have beans growing up the stalks of corn. There are ways to maximize your use of space and plant smartly so that you can keep things natural and avoid having to rely on chemicals to keep things in check. You might also want to consider some new hardscaping elements, like a patio or path, and these are best to start thinking about as soon as possible.

Consider How to Automate Your Gardening

Another thing to consider planning ahead is the automation of your garden. This has the potential not to be very environmentally-friendly if you do it wrong, like having sprinklers constantly running, but it’s easy to make it greener too.

Consider which is the best method to use to keep your garden watered, whether it’s a sprinkler system that you’ve perfectly timed and calibrated or a drip irrigation system that minimizes water use. If you’re planning on garden lights, consider using some that have motion or light sensors.

Start getting your garden ready for spring and keep things green for an environmentally responsible approach. Good preparation will set you up for a fruitful spring and summer.

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5 Ways To Make The Most Of Your Gardening Budget

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When you’re following a frugal lifestyle, it’s highly likely that you put together a budget that covers most of the things that you need for your household. As part of that, or as its own separate budget, you may also cover off gardening.

When you love to be out in your garden, it’s important to you that it can look its best at all times. For that to happen, you often have to spend. But gardening on a budget is much easier than you think.

You don’t have to allocate tons of funds to your upkeep or the pieces that you bring into the garden. Instead, you can look to maximize the budget you do have so that you can get the most out of it. Let’s take a look at five ways that you can do exactly that.

1. Find The Best Retailers

As you start to shop for bits and pieces that you want to bring into your garden or the items you need to be able to do your gardening, it’s important that you shop around. It may be convenient to head to the nursery down the street or shop at a major retailer, but you may be spending more this way.

Instead, you’re able to shop around and do your research on the best retailers that sell whatever it is you need, from soil to garden shears, you will be able to make sure that your budget stretches further.

2. Wait For The Sales

At the same time, you should also bide your time when it comes to making bigger purchases. When you want to invest in new pieces of garden furniture or outside living equipment like a grill, you know that you’ll be spending quite a bit in one go. But you can still make the most of your budget here by buying at the right time.

Throughout the year, companies will have sales on their stock. By waiting to buy your new pieces in the sale, you could save up to 50 or 75 percent.

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3. Buy In Bulk

Buying a new plant here and there could be one way to blow your budget. Sometimes, you think it’s best to spend in small doses so that you’re not really making much of a dent in your budget. However, this could mean that you’re not actually maximizing your budget at all.

Take a look at plant companies that give you a discount when you buy a set amount. Then, you’ll be getting everything you need and getting it at a better price, just for buying in bulk.

4. Hire Experts

If you love to spend time out in your garden, but you aren’t having much luck with certain areas, like topiary shaping or lawn care, then bringing in a company to help will be a smart move. Experts that offer comprehensive lawn care or skilled landscapers that can maintain your topiary for you are always worth the investment.

They will get it right and you know that you’re not causing yourself more work or money by doing it wrong.

5. Reuse What You Can

Finally, you’re going to want to make sure that you cut back on the areas of your gardening budget that you can cover off yourself, to make more available for the bigger purchases we’ve talked over. By making your own compost or planting seeds that you already have, you’ll be making sure you get the most out of your gardening budget.

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The Grass Is Always Greener – And Your Home Can Be, Too

The modern enlightened individual is keen on keeping their home as environmentally-friendly as possible – but that can be much harder than you might think. The truth is that you need to approach the topic from as many angles as you can if you really want to make it work as well as possible.

Most people are doing something or other to try and keep their home green – but all of us could do a little more. As it happens, some of the best practices you can take on board for this purpose are actually quite surprising, with some particularly good results to be seen – and fast.

In this article, we are going to look at some of these in detail, so that you can work on making your home as green as you have always hoped it would be.

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Installing Solar

If you have a little spare cash upfront, you might want to think about installing solar panels in your home somewhere. Long gone are the days when people thought you had to live in a sunny region for solar panels to be worthwhile. It goes without saying that they are more effective if you do, but you can still make good use of them and get plenty of energy out of them no matter where you live.

What’s more, although they might be a little costly up front, you will be able to make your money back usually within two years. And after that point, you will be able to start selling electricity back to the grid – even better! This is one of those fantastic examples where you are both helping yourself and helping the planet in one go. It’s definitely worth considering this option if you want to make your home greener.

Changing The Curtains

You might not think that something as seemingly simple as changing your curtains can be that effective in helping the environment – but you would be mistaken. As it happens, you can make a huge difference to how green your home is just by making sure to choose curtains which are a little more energy-efficient.

A good example of this lies in thermal curtains. Thermal curtains help you save power in your home, keep you warm when you need to be, and ensure that you are using much less energy on the whole. All of these help in the long run, and you will absolutely notice a difference to your energy bills as well.

Just something as simple as changing your curtains can have a profound effect on how green your home is – so it is definitely worth making these changes if you can.

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Living Mindfully

One of the biggest changes you can make is to change how you actually approach the way you live from a mindset point of view. This means that you can then gradually alter every other aspect of your life in the home, in such a way that you end up making some pretty big changes on the whole.

But working to change your mindset can be one of the most difficult things of all, and it is hardly surprising that most people don’t really know where to begin. If you find it hard to stick to an ecological way of looking at things, it can help to keep reminders around the home of why you are making those efforts.

You could print out data on the damage that humans are inflicting upon the environment, such as the amount of plastic produced per ear, and keep it in your fridge.

Whatever you can do to keep your mind straight will make a difference to how you behave, and over time these things will add up to make a huge difference to how much of an ecological impact you are making in your home. All in all, changing your mindset is the prerequisite for changing the world.

Limiting Water Consumption

It is a sad indictment of our times that we might be running out of a resource which you would think is practically limitless, but that’s exactly what is happening.

As a species, we are running out of viable freshwater sources making everything that we can do to help this is a good step forwards. As it happens, there is plenty we can do in the home to limit water consumption, and all of these efforts are bound to add up to make a considerable difference over time.

If you want to reduce your water consumption, you can do so by using water butts – these tanks, located in your garden, will collect water over time, and you will be able to use that water once purified in order to save water from the tap.

You might also be able to simply restrict the amount you use by, for example, being careful not to take long showers, or washing up manually instead of using a dishwasher. All of these things help, so make sure that you are doing as many of them as possible.

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Insulating The Home

One of the most vital things you should do is make sure that your home is properly insulated. If it is not, it might mean that you are using a lot more energy than is necessary and that in turn is not the best thing for when you are trying to reduce your ecological impact in the home.

There are many kinds of insulation you should look into, but the most important is on the roof and the walls. You can also make sure that you have double-glazed windows, and that any areas such as basements or cellars are also being looked at. Insulate your home right, and it can help you to save money at the same time as helping the planet – a win, win, win situation.

Take the above on board, and you will find that it helps you to massively reduce the amount that you are hurting the planet. This will feel good for you and your family, and it will mean that your home is more enjoyable to live in too.

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DIY Crochet Coffee Cup Cozy

Nothing says winter to me like warm sweaters, comforting throws, and hot cups of tea and cocoa. With this in mind, I want to share with you one way I help to make my own fall experience that much more special and that is by adding a DIY Crochet Coffee Cup Cozy to my favorite fall mug.

I originally got the idea for this post after seeing several staffers at my public library sporting their cozy clad cups on their desks and I knew that those cup covers would make a fun and frugal crochet project this fall.

These cozies are not only simple to make but they can also be customized. For my own cozies at home, I added a loop at the top and bottom of my cozies that helps to secure the cozies in place and to feel more secure in hand.

These cozies also make for great inexpensive, zero-waste holiday gifts. And the best part? As these cozies require around a half hour to crochet and require only a fifth of any given skein to create, chances are you’ll have several unused balls of yarn in your stash you could utilize to make several of these cozies this weekend at home.

After making yourself one, you’ll definitely want to make one for everyone on your gift giving list this year!

While making these cozies please keep the following terms in mind:

HDC: Half Double Crochet
Ch: Chain
ST: Stitch
SC: Single Crochet

Here’s how you can make your very own crochet cup cozy this season:

So, that’s it, folks. How easy was that? As always, be sure to pin the graphic above for quick reference when making your cozies at home, and remember, have fun!

Now I want to ask, do you have a go-to crochet pattern each winter season?I’d love to hear about your cold weather projects below!

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5 Reasons To Buy Second-Hand in 2018

Please note: I was given a gift card to facilitate this post from Swap.com. All opinions are my own. Thank you!

It was around this time last year that I decided to start exclusively buying second-hand clothing. This was done for two reasons. To begin setting aside funds for several long-term family savings and to start a cash envelope for purchasing future frocks that were made in ethical and environmentally friendly ways.

While I have never been a stranger to thrifting, ending my fashion romance and officially breaking up with Urban Outfitters, American Apparel, and starting the process of buying exclusively send-hand was a harder process than I imaged it would be.

And that is because I love labels. Being the girl who exclusively wore clothes made in America or was recommended by Vogue and Redbook as the accessory of the season was an ingrained aspect of my adult identity.

Unfortunately, I am no longer in the season of life where I can justify spending $250.00 on a cashmere sweater. While my husband would never say no to lavishing me with any clothing purchase I wanted to make, my debt-free, zero-waste, minimalist sensibilities would disagree.

Don’t get me wrong, I still believe that the cheap can run expensive. And I still invest in key pieces such as sunglasses, handbags, totes, and foundation garments. But for most other pieces, thrifting is the way to go!

Besides, deep down I have always loved thrifting. Scouring second-hand stores looking for vintage rock concert tees that no one else in my small hometown owns!

To me, the beauty of thrifting is that you’re buying generosity. Whether purchasing charitable donations or online finds and saving, you’re saving something from going to landfill. Instead of fueling the 10.5 million tons of fast-fashion that end up in landfills each year here in the United States.

Thrifting also makes me feel successful. By saving money on the perfect LBD, I am buying items that help me feel like a million bucks while simultaneously ending excessive consumption in my little corner of the world. And that makes me feel awesome.

So, if you’re on the fence about sustainably-sourced clothing or just looking for new ways to save around your home in 2018, here are 5 reasons for you to buy second-hand in 2018:

1. You’ll be an eco-warrior: Essentially, buying secondhand clothing means you are wearing a pre-owned piece of clothing. Clothing that you helped keep out of landfills. Besides, many pieces of clothing can survive decades if they treated well and laundered correctly. Unfortunately, many of us tend to throw away clothes after a year or two of wearing them because they have become unfashionable or don’t fit us anymore. Thrifting clothing helps you end conspicuous consumerism while lessening the negative effects on the environment caused by fashion industry dyes, solvents, and fabric sourcing. Products that pose a threat to the water, air, and the earth. Not to mention the long-term health effects for those working with and in proximity to those chemicals. Buying used clothing is all-around good for the planet!

2. Promote worker’s rights: When we buy second-hand we can take a peaceful and intentional stand against worker exploitation in the developing world. Many brands of commercially manufactured clothes come from second-world nations, created by worker’s under paradoxical conditions, without government oversight, for piece-mill wages. That is nothing short of inhumanity. While buying second-hand clothing will not immediately better their stop their working conditions it will, however, gear fashion houses to rethink their business design. Regardless of what marketing agencies tell us, consumers dictate market trends. When consumers change their spending habits, industry and Wall Street follow. Buying secondhand starts that change today.

3. Save Money: Buying second-hand can help you have substantial amounts of money each season. You can find tons of designer label looks at bargain basement prices, simply because they were worn a couple of times. And for those still trying to find your fashion style, buying thrift allows you to experiment with design without burning a hole in your wallet!

4. Be Unique: Shopping secondhand can help you find clothing that’s uniquely you. Fashion repeats itself. According to experts, every two decades that cycle repeats itself. Look for items that aren’t currently on-trend but feel and look great on you! It’s only a matter of time before your uniqueness will have you looking runway ready! So before buying the same pair of ballet pumps as all your girlfriends covet, check out a secondhand shop and find a one-of-a-kind pair of kicks that are decades in the making.

5. Avoid Crowds: If you’re anything like me, you have crowds of people at big box stores and malls. Instead, heading out to your local second-hand shop allows you to browse and shop to your heart’s content without dealing with angry shoppers, long lines, or darkening the return desk counter at a store near you!

For those who would rather get their thrift on in the comfort of their own homes, there are a lot of online second shops that shouldn’t be missed! One of my favorite ways to shop second-hand online is Swap.com.

Swap.com is the fastest growing online consignment store in the United States. With over 600,000 unique items available in their ever-changing digital inventory, they offer the largest selection of pre-owned baby, kid’s, maternity, and women’s apparel and accessories online with prices often 60-90% off retail.

On Swap.com, you can sell your unneeded items for fair-market value or swap items with other site users. But if you’re like me and just into digital thrifting, they have you covered too.

Currently, they sell women’s, maternity, and children’s clothes, along with toys and household items. With so many great deals, Swap.com is just one of the many tools I’ll use to help me find unique, ethically-sourced, eco-friendly second-hand finds in the coming year.

I was recently given the opportunity to try out the site and was impressed. for under $20.00 I was able to purchase three pairs of athletic pants. Perfect for walks this winter season! On these three items, I saved over $76.00! A bargain if I do say s myself! You’ve got to love a zero-waste shopping experience!

Ready to shop yourself? Currently, swap.com is having a huge clearance sale! Use CPC40 for up to 40% off most merchandise on Swap.com on your first order! Let me know what great deals you snag. I can’t wait to find out what second-hand finds that come your way!

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7 Ways to Make Your Period More Zero-Waste at Home

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PeriodConfidence #TryTheDivaCup #CollectiveBias

No one really likes getting their period. Let’s face it, they can be a real pain. Especially when you seek to live a zero-waste lifestyle at home.

Since the summer of my sixth-grade year, when it came to using tampons, I’ve always been a box a month kind of girl. Because for me, tampons were a means to an end when it came to my feminine health each month. In fact, my grandmother initially discussed the use of tampons with me as if they were a wearable badge of honor. Those small, gleaming white spirit sticks became the official mascot of my high school years.

But how do tampons and pads get that fresh and clean look? Chlorine bleach. A dioxin that may be linked to abnormal endometrial tissue growth and immune system suppression. That many tampons are derived from genetically-modified cotton and contain a smorgasbord of chemicals including cotton crop pesticides, odor neutralizers, artificial fragrances, synthetic dyes, polyester, adhesives, polyethylene, polypropylene, and propylene glycol, contaminants linked to hormone disruption, cancer, birth defects, and infertility.

A particularly scary set of fact for someone who lives with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS, and knows first-hand how out of whack hormone levels can affect all aspects of your life!

With this knowledge in mind, in my early 20’s, I moved onto using organic tampon products. While organic products are a better idea than non-organic tampons, they are still not a perfect solution. Even reusable period pads require the added cost of water, detergent, and laundering with each use. Not to mention they could not be recycled after they are no longer usable at home.

Reusable products that will eventually become part of what the Environmental Protection Agency lists as the nearly 30,000 articles, the 300 pounds of period-related garbage headed to landfills in the average American woman’s lifetime. Making their overall environmental footprint smaller but still impactful all the same.

So what’s a girl to do when she wants an affordable, less-wasteful period product that doesn’t leave my hoo-ha souped-up on pesticides while not depleting the eco-friendly values of my zero-waste home? She opts for a menstrual cup, a medical-grade silicone cup that you insert into your va-jay-jay, where it collects blood throughout the day. And my menstrual cup of choice? The DivaCup®.

The DivaCup is a reusable, bell-shaped, medical grade silicone menstrual cup, suitable for girls and women of all ages. The DivaCup® offers women 12 hours of clean, leak-free protection. An all-around better, more zero-waste femcare option than tampons and pads!

The DivaCup® comes available in two sizes, Model 1 and Model 2. The DivaCup Model 1 is recommended for women under the age of 30 who have never delivered vaginally or by cesarean section and DivaCup Model 2, recommended for women age 30 and over/or for women who have delivered vaginally or by cesarean section. Making this product perfect for every woman, no matter her current season of reproductive life.

What makes the DivaCup® unique is that it features 100% healthcare grade silicone, which provides users comfort and durability with each use, from playing sports to going to sleep each night! The DivaCup® is also free of chemicals, including plastic, BPA, latex, and artificial dyes. I also love that the DivaCup® provides women a zero-waste, eco-friendly tampon alternative.

The best part about the DivaCup®? It’s uber comfortable to use. The DivaCup® sits low at the base of the vaginal canal for easy insertion and removal. It collects, instead of absorbs menstrual flow, which will not dry out or disrupt delicate vaginal pH. When positioned correctly, the DivaCup® is so comfortable you can’t feel the cup at all!

It’s also simple to know when you need to empty your DivaCup®. Each cup hosts easy-to-follow measurement lines that help you track your flow. Twice a day, every 10-12 hours, you can easily empty your DivaCup®, wash DivaCup® with DivaWash and warm water, and then reinsert for continued femcare protection. Further instructions on how to clean the DivaCup can be found here!

I love that the DivaCup® provides women a zero-waste, eco-friendly tampon alternative that’s available in many local markets. I was able to purchase both my DivaCup® and DivaWash right at my local neighborhood Rite Aid, right in the femcare aisle. I think it’s awesome that healthy, zero-waste, affordable, non-ick alternatives to traditional feminine hygiene products are affordably available to women in your local pharmacy!

The DivaCup® can also help you save money! The DivaCup costs only $39.99 at retailers. As the average woman can spend in excess to $150.00 on femcare, that’s a saving of over $110.01 the first year alone. With the DivaCup® paying for itself after just one season of use!

For me, the DivaCup® has been a life-saver. Mind you, the first month of use there was a learning curve. But once I became comfortable with the DivaCup®, it was a breeze!

Each morning on my period I start my day my cleaning DivaCup® with DivaWash and reinserting before starting my day. Then after dinner each night, and again before bed, I rinse and repeat the process. Unlike tampons, I don’t have to remove my DivaCup® each time I go to the bathroom, it just stays put! When I am ready to remove my DivaCup®, I just tug on the little silicone pull at the end of my cup and it comes right out. The first time, every time.

In full disclosure, I didn’t go at using this product alone. I first used the DivaCup® User Guide before trying the cup for the first time and consulted my healthcare provider. It gave me a piece of mind on what I could expect on DivaCup®in regards to my overall vaginal and gynecological health. You can also reach DivaCup®directly.

Their Consumer Care Team is available to answer all your questions and concerns. They can be reached at support@divacup.com, phoned at 1-866-44-3482, or reach out to them via their social media networks listed below. This team is super helpful to customers and zero-wasters, like me. Everything from insertion to removal, they’re there to help! To find out more about how to properly use your DivaCup®, click here!

I say all that to say this: The DivaCup® changed the way I view my adult life as a menstruating woman. I am a better steward of my home, my body, and my environment for being a DivaCup® user! So now that I’ve shared my favorite zero-waste product at home, I also want to share with you a few other tips I’ve found to radically revolutionize my period at home.

Here are 7 zero-waste tips for rocking your next zero-waste period at home too!

Carve out time to rest: The first day of my period brings with it an overwhelming desire for peace and rest. I listen to my body. I don’t pressure myself to carry on as usual. To keep up with my usual tasks, to plaster on a smile on my face and pretend my body isn’t cramping beyond belief. I use the week of my cycle as a sacred pause. Rather than fighting my period, I allow myself a few hours each afternoon of my period for nothing but a nap. I consider it my body’s way of resetting its clock each month.

Stock-up for Success: As I mentioned above, knowing the facts about eco-friendly femcare products is key to having a zero-waste period at home each month. As was switching from pads and tampons to a reusable menstrual cup! It goes without saying that I make sure in the days leading up to the start of my cycle each month that my DivaCup® is accessible in my bathroom, I am stocked-up on DivaWash, and I have a stack of fresh, clean, organic towels and bath products ready to use each month. This is a natural, easy, and environmentally-friendly way to take care of yourself during your period.

Keep it oily: I like to diffuse clary sage and frankincense essential oils in the days leading up to my cycle to help clear my mind and support my reproductive hormones. When period cramps start, I also rub peppermint oil on my lower abdomen for cramps, on my lower back for pain, and on the back of my neck and temples to relieve headaches at home.

Focus on self-care: During my period each month I amp up my personal meditation, I make a point of keeping up with my gratitude journaling, and it’s also my time to check in on my personal self-care. All which can be made zero-waste by simply digitizing your notes! Remember, your period is the perfect time for a self-awareness check-in.

Turn on the waterworks: During your period, water is your friend. You’ll want lots of baths and showering. Not because you’re dirty, but because you need time to relax and unwind. Think salt baths, warm showers, and shower steams. Looking for a lower-water solution? Try a reusable water bottle! It’s all about self-care and mindful experiences.

Embrace fashion challenges: Your period is the perfect time to embrace your inner need for warm cozy, comfy clothes. Opt for period-friendly dark colors and flowy dresses. Pieces that are easy to clean and allow for the bloating. Think drapey and feminine. Don’t try to force yourself to wear skinny jeans or your favorite white jeans. Opt for organic cotton clothing. Try the slow-fashion route and go thrift shopping for fun, funky, and frugal period-ready clothes. Work with mother nature. Not against her!

Nourish your body: While it may be tempting to indulge in your carnal craving for all things fatty, salty, and sour, your best bet is to actually use your period as a time to nourish and enrich your body instead! Stock your kitchen with already prepped foods, such as mason jar salads, DIY yogurt, and granola, or simple make-ahead freezable soups that can help fuel your body and stave off food cravings during your most trying time of the month. My favorite period food? DIY Apple Pie Walnut Overnight Chia Seed Pudding.

A recipe that’s quick, easy and delish- perfect for your period cravings at home! This chia seed pudding can be made portable in a mason jar rather than a bowl and can be conveniently made before bed. Then just give it a stir in the morning and you’re good to go, sister!

I love chia puddings because they keep me feeling full, satisfied, and nourished. I’m sure you know by now that chia seeds are magical little nutrient-packed powerhouses of goodness packed with fiber, protein, and minerals. This recipe also features a fall-ready apple jam that’s out of this world yummy. Perfect for that time of the month!

Did I also mention that chia seeds are packed with anti-aging antioxidants? Yup, this pudding can help you look and feel good too!

It’s also fall, which means we are entering the full swings of apple season in my neck of the woods. So, of course, this chia seed pudding is packed full of apple pie flavor. I for one can’t seem to get enough apples lately. They’re my favorite period-friendly snack of all time!

In this recipe, you’ll be infusing all that chia goodness with almond milk, cinnamon, and vanilla. Topped off with a delicious apple jam and the crunchy goodness of pecans and walnuts! It’s apple pie, just reimaged in a fun, frugal, and super satisfying too! You’ll want to make this super simple apple pie yumminess, sweetened with 100% pure apple juice and stevia the next time Aunt Flow comes to town this fall!

I start this recipe by washing, peeling, and coring my apples. The scraps from the apples can be used to make DIY Apple Cider Vinegar, dehydrated to make pet treats, or composted!

Much like other chia seed jam recipes, you’ll cook down the fruit along with chia seeds and any desired spices. I sweetened this recipe with 100% apple juice and stevia to give it a little extra fall apple kick. It tasted amazing. I opted to use my pressure cooker, on a 10-minute setting, but feel free to use your stove top instead. I made a fairly small batch the first time I made it, but it disappeared quickly! And by disappeared quickly I mean that I ate the whole batch in less than 12 hours. Can you blame me? I was on my period, after all!

After cooking the apples down the apples and cooling them for about 20 minutes, they will be nice and soft and the jam base will have thickened up nicely thanks to those awesome little chia seeds. to finish the jam, I took a silicone spatula and mashed half of the apple mixture to get a nice, thick consistency. You can mash all of it if you want, but I liked leaving lots of apple chunks for texture. That’s my jam!

Make the chia seed overnight oats was just as easy! Just whisk together to combine the oats, chia seeds, almond milk, vanilla, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Place in the fridge overnight to thicken. The oats are ready when all the liquid has been absorbed and the oats are soft. You can adjust your overnight oats as well. You can thin it out with more milk or thicken it with more chia seeds, as needed.

To assemble my DIY Apple Pie Pecan Overnight Chia Seed Pudding, simply layer the vegan overnight oats with the apple pie jam, a few spoonfuls to each per layer. Add your chopped pecans and walnuts on top of each layer, if desired. Garnish with a cinnamon stick, and you’re ready! This recipe will be your new period-ready go-to! Give it a try, it’s pretty awesome!

So, friends, those are my 7 tips for rocking your next zero-waste period at home. I encourage you all to reexamine how you can not just exist, but thrive, during your next cycle. All while lowering your period’s overall carbon footprint at home this coming season with DivaCup® and DivaWash products. To find a locator in your area, click here!

So, now I have to ask, are you considering using DivaCup® products at home or have you already made the zero-waste switch at home? I’d love to hear about it at below!

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Apple Pie Walnut Chia Seed Pudding

2017-09-17 20:31:09

Serves 2

This yummy chia seed pudding is a fun and frugal vegan, gluten-free, oil-free, soy-free recipe you'll want to try this coming apple season! Enjoy it on toast, layered in parfaits, or warmed for a fun breakfast treat!

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Prep Time

6 hr

Cook Time

20 min

Total Time

6 hr 30 min

Prep Time

6 hr

Cook Time

20 min

Total Time

6 hr 30 min

Ingredients

3 large apples, peeled and diced
3/4 cup 100% organic apple juice
4 tablespoons chia seeds
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 cinnamon stick, for garnish
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Pinch of sea salt
1/2 cup gluten-free organic rolled oats
1 1/4 cups almond milk
1/4 teaspoon stevia
1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions

To make the jam: Add all jam ingredients into a medium pot or pressure cooker. Stir to combine.
Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes. Stirring every 5 minutes.
When the apples are fork tender, remove from heat and mash 50% of the mixture to thicken the blend.
Set aside to cool.
To make the overnight oats: Combine the oats, chia seeds, almond milk, vanilla, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Whisk to combine.
Add to a mason jar and chill overnight.
Place in the fridge overnight.
To make the parfait: Layer the overnight oats with the apple pie jam, in a mason jar.
Each layer should be a few spoonfuls.
Add your chopped walnuts on top of each layer, if desired.
Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
Serve chilled.

Notes

You can store your leftover jam in an air-tight container jar in the fridge. The jam will last for 2 weeks. The chia oats blend will last 1 week. Enjoy!

By Nicole Roberts

The LadyPrefers2Save https://theladyprefers2save.com/

7 Ways to Make Your Period More Zero-Waste at Home

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5 Tips For Zero-Waste Cleaning at Home

Disclosure: This post contains my personal affiliate links. All opinions are mine alone.

I’ve learned so much on my journey to becoming a zero-waste household this past year. Especially when it comes to cleaning. While there has been tons of trial and error along the way, one thing has remained true throughout my process, my understanding that a house is not truly clean if the process of maintaining my home results in all kinds of unnecessary waste.

While traditional cleaning methods rely on various chemical products, plastic bottles, paper towels, plastic bags, sponges, disposable wipes, and a ton of unrecyclable stuff, it just doesn’t have to be that way. You can alter the way you clean at home to be less wasteful, more frugal, and less time consuming too! Here are my five tips for getting started with zero-waste cleaning at home!

1) Rethink your cleaning tools: Start your zero-waste cleaning by first minimizing the number of ingredients and the tools required to keep your house clean. This will also help to limit the waste generated by the cleaning process as a whole. Things you’ll need include:

Bagless electric vacuum. Makes it easy to compost dirt and debris when emptied.
Wooden-handled straw broom and whisk brush. Long-lasting and biodegradable!
Galvanized steel dustpan.
Glass spray bottles for DIY cleaners.
Glass and stainless steel shaker. Readily found at Dollar Tree stores.
Mop with a wooden handle and washable head. For dust mopping wood floors.
Steam mop with washable pads for mopping all non-wooden surfaces.
Washable cleaning cloths.
Pumice stone. Naturally, scours toilets bowls without scratching.
Galvanized bucket. Purchased at feed stores for half as much as plastic buckets.
Collapsible basket. Used to pick-up items while cleaning and tidying.
Tapioca scrub brushes. One for cleaning dishes and another for cleaning grout.
Squeegee. Used to clean glass, shower doors, and tile. Also found at Dollar Tree stores

2) Create a cleaning routine: Cleaning routines are by no means new business. But creating cleaning routines based on how you clean and not what you clean it. A zero-waste cleaning routine relies on durable, lasting, renewable tools that can be washed and reused.

Once you have your tools, place your cleaning gear in the rooms they will be used, as opposed to one central cleaning space. This will keep you from wasting valuable time while cleaning having to go from room to room finding your cleaning tools. Next, you’ll want to create a routine based on your habits. For example, start your daily cleaning not in the morning but after dinner. This way you’ll start your days off with a clean home which will motivate you to keep your homes clean throughout the day. I start by cleaning my kitchen, followed by bathrooms, and high-traffic areas such as dens, living rooms, library, office, playrooms, and entrance ways. Bedrooms, on the other hand, can be tidied in under a few minutes each morning before you start your day.

Keep in mind, cleaning routines work best in organized spaces. If your home is super cluttered, start there. Once you’ve maintained your cleaning routine for a full season, it will become easier and over time you can even start to eliminate seasonal purges and tedious weekly cleaning sessions. When I started zero-waste cleaning a year ago it took numerous hours to clean my 3,000 square foot home. Now, I can clean my entire home in under an hour and tidy my house in half that time. Remember, cleaning is habitual and will take to master. Aim for consistency, not perfection.

3) Minimize the number of cleaners you use: When I first started my zero-waste journey I found my home to be in full possession of no fewer than a dozen cleaners. Each purchased because corporations and advertisers reassured me that I needed a specific solvent for each and every cleaning need in my home. With an average cost of nearly forty plus dollars each month! I soon realized that this was as far from the truth as could be. My favorite zero-waste cleaners are:

Baking soda. A true a workhorse. It can do almost anything – cleaning, scrubbing, absorbing odors, clearing drains, shining silver, killing mold and unclogging drains (when used together with white vinegar), in DIY dishwasher tabs, and many more uses. Buy it in bulk in reusable containers or in bulk bins to get the most bang for your bulk and less impact on the planet! I add it to topping shakers and keep it in my bathroom and kitchen for scrubbing and scouring.
Castile soap: Castile soap, such as Dr. Bronner’s, can be purchased at many bulk food stores in reusable containers or online. A few drops go a long way toward disinfecting surfaces and leaving your house smelling amazing, especially if you use peppermint- or lavender-scented soap. I use castile soap to wash my dishes, to mop wooden floors, to creating dusting spray, to wash my pets, and to clean our cars.
Coconut oil: Coconut oil, purchased in bulk, is good for removing stains from upholstery and carpets, polishing patent leather, removing chewing gum, cleaning shower scum, and for polishing stainless steel and stone countertops. Coconut oil is also naturally antimicrobial and so it’s great for rubbing into bamboo cutting boards after washing for extra disinfecting!
Vodka: Vodka, when mixed with cedar and lavender essential oils, creates the best fabric refresher!
White vinegar. This agent disinfects surfaces, softens fabric in the wash, cleans toilets, removes wax from vegetables, cleans floors, removed calcium buildup, and clears drains. You can also make your own vinegar cleaner. Three go-to varieties include:

All Purpose Vinegar Cleaner:

1 Cup Warm Water
1 Cup White Vinegar
Mix together in a spray bottle for use.

Scented All Purpose Cleaner:

1 Cup of Warm Water
1 Cup White Vinegar
10 drops essential oil of choice.
Mix together in a spray bottle for use.

Citrus-Infused Vinegar Cleaner:

Combine the peels of four lemons or limes in a quart sized mason jar.
Fill mason jar to neck with white vinegar.
Seal and store for one month.
When ready to clean, strain and add to glass spray bottle.
Use full-strength to clean shower stalls or diluted for windows and countertops.

4) Utilize the power of the sun and wind: Fresh air and sunshine should not be overlooked! The sun is the ultimate zero-waste cleaning tool! Laying cloth items in the sun to dry, known as sun bleaching, is a natural way of disinfecting fabrics and killing most surface contaminants. Opening your windows and airing your home out on non-windy days (to avoid dust contaminants coming into your home), is another way to help you live a healthier life while simultaneously reducing your need for toxic aerosol air fresheners.

5) Invest in good zero-waste cleaning cloths: I’m a firm believer in using the right tool for the right job. This is especially true for cleaning. You should always invest in good cleaning cloths to clean, polish, and sanitize your home. You will also need a few to get started.

Bar towels: Great for drying dishes without lint.
Drying mats: Used to air dry non-dishwashable items.
Shammy towels: Used to clean electronics without scratching.
Microfiber towels: Used to clean heavy spills, counter tops, general cleaning, and more.

My favorite microfiber towels? e-cloth. Because with e-cloth you can clean many surfaces in your home with just good old tap water! My favorite thing about e-cloths? They are also reasonably priced. My 8-piece home cleaning kit cost under $40.00. This is nearly a 1/4 of my annual cost for paper towels just a few short years ago! This is such a small cost for what you get, making e-cloth my go-to zero-waste cleaning cloth brand at home. If you’d like to learn more about the e-cloth 8-Piece Home Cleaning Set, click here.

So, friends, those are my 5 favorite tips for zero-waste cleaning at home. I hope they will challenge you to rethink the way you clean your home. Now I have to ask, do you already use any of these tips at home or do you have zero-waste cleaning tips you’d like to share as well? I’d love to hear about them below!

5 Tips For Zero-Waste Cleaning at Home

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