When I moved into my apartment one year ago with my husband, it was my first time having access to a washer-dryer setup in my home. I was so excited to create a low-waste laundry routine for us. To me, a sustainable laundry routine consists of avoiding plastic jugs of detergent, washing clothes on cold to conserve energy, air drying when possible, and using wool dryer balls in place of single-use dryer sheets. But choosing the right detergent was at the top of my priority list. After all, approximately 1 billion laundry jugs are discarded in the United States each year. Only 30% percent of the ..read more

I don’t have a dishwasher in my apartment, but my mom does! So if I ever get gifted any zero waste dishwasher detergent, she’s the one who tests it out! We’ve used Dropps in the past and loved them (more on that later), as well as DIY dishwasher detergent! We liked that as well, though it’s definitely not for everyone. Beyond plastic packaging, the reason it’s important to use a sustainable dishwasher detergent is because cleaning companies in the USA aren’t required to disclose the ingredients in their products. If you’re short on time, not into DIYs, or worried a DIY may not work for you, he ..read more

I joined Nuuly in October of 2023: Want to know the reason? I needed a Halloween costume, but didn’t want to buy something I’d never wear again! Halloween costumes are incredibly wasteful and typically made from polyester (aka plastic). And I didn’t want to thrift something because of the type of costume I planned on wearing. I was going as a cute alien, and I wanted something shiny/metallic, which is NOT what my personal wardrobe typically consists of. So even if I bought it secondhand, it would likely gather dust in my closet after that. But, Nuuly to the rescue! I found the perfect costume ..read more

When spring rolls around, I start getting a familiar itch to open the windows, let the sunlight in, and dust-bust my way through the apartment. While I do have a fairly good cleaning schedule throughout the rest of the year, I like to do some deep cleans in spring. Mainly, decluttering and reorganizing. There are sustainable ways to do this without creating waste or using harsh chemicals. I do my very best to find good homes for the items I no longer plan to keep, usually offering them to loved ones first. And, I always choose sustainable, non-toxic cleaning supplies when I’m buffing the grime ..read more

One of my favorite things about summer is the berries at the farmers market. When I tell you they are unlike anything you can get out of season at the grocery store…I mean it. I’ve been spoiled by them, and frankly, there’s no going back. I will not go out of my way to buy berries out of season, unless it’s a special occasion and I need them to complete a recipe. I loved the ones from the market so much that I actually froze some to bake with in the colder months when summer seems so far away. Blueberries in particular are up there in the top three for me (strawberry is my all-time fav tho), a ..read more

When I first started composting, I was still living at home with my parents. I saved my food scraps in an upcycled Chinese food takeout container, then brought them to the farmers market every weekend. They’d take it from there and transform it into beautiful compost. Thing was, my mom started adding her food scraps to my little container – and that’s when I knew I’d need a bigger one. Enter, the search for countertop compost pails. I wanted one that would fit on our countertop, avoid getting smelly, and have a handle for easy transport. And I eventually found the perfect one for me! Now, I li ..read more

I’ve always wanted to make homemade pasta by hand. There’s something so wonderful and rustic about making it completely from scratch. And I love the idea of it being something I can whip up no matter what equipment I have on hand. Then, last summer I decided to just go for it and make homemade pasta without a machine. Was it as aesthetically pleasing as the recipes I had seen online? No. But did it taste amazing and have its own rustic charm? Heck yes. I enjoyed my meal immensely that day. As an Italian American, Sunday pasta was a big deal in my family. Still is. My mom always makes her own t ..read more

Interested in going zero waste on a budget? I get it. With the cost of living being what it is, we’re all looking for ways to save. The good news is you don’t have to have limitless amounts of money to go zero waste. But, you do have to be a little budget savvy, thrifty, and creative. Ever since moving into my own apartment, my living expenses have certainly gone up! I’ve been creating a budget to help make sure I’m living within my means (and my values!). Here are my top five tips you need to know when it comes to going zero waste on a budget. Zero Waste on a Budget: 5 Helpful Tips You Need t ..read more

As many of you know, last year Steve and I got married and moved into our new apartment together! It was certainly a big year for us, and one of the things I was most looking forward to about the apartment was that we’d have a designated office space! I’ve never had that before: When I lived with my folks, I basically worked out of my room. It was so nice to expand. I’ve always wanted to have a cork board! I feel like it helps me organize my thoughts/tasks so much. And, of course, I’ve always wanted to have some kind of cabinet space. That’s when I came across ChopValue’s rolling cabinet: I kn ..read more

One of my favorite kinds of gifts to receive (and give!) are handmade items. It could be from a small business, or something you make yourself! Either way, those gifts always felt so much more special to me. Consumable gifts are basically gifts that get used up (not necessarily just eaten). Examples of consumable gifts include candles, body scrub, cookies, etc. This year, I’m hosting my first ever holiday party and I’m excited to play a few games with my friends. For the prizes, I wanted to stick to zero waste, but holiday-appropriate gifts. So these are the consumable gift ideas I concocted ..read more