My Glass Jar

Toothpaste. We all use it, but very few of us know what is in it. A big part of living a natural and sustainable life is research and learning about the products which we put in our bodies, on our bodies, and around our homes. While there are some great store bought natural options, many of them still have questionable ingredients, so I decided see if I could make my own. I read articles, listened to podcasts, watched videos where dentists explain what is necessary to care for your teeth. Like with anything else, there where a million different opinions as to what is necessary and what is harmful. After a discussion with my dentist and weeks of thorough research I began testing different toothpaste recipes. After about three months, I finally came up with a recipe that is simple and extremely effective. Ingredients: Coconut oil : natural anti bacterial and anti fungal properties Baking Soda : for cleaning and whitening Calcium Carbonate : provides minerals Xylitol : for sw...

Moving towards a sustainable lifestyle is not something that happens overnight. However, there are some simple swaps you can make right now that will make a big difference. Simple Swap #1 Swap plastic shopping bags for reusable bags. Eliminate the devastating effects of plastic bags by using reusable bags. Simple Swap #2 Swap plastic drink bottles for a reusable bottle.  Save money and save the planet by investing in a reusable bottle. Simple Swap #3 Choose unpackaged produce instead of plastic wrapped produce.  Reduce your risk of salmonella by choosing fresh package free greens.* Simple Swap #4 Swap plastic straws for a stainless steel reusable straw or skip the straw all together. 500 million single use plastic straws are used and disposed daily in the United States. Whether you are at a restaurant, at work, or on the go, say no to single use plastic straws.  Visit http ://thelastplasticstraw. org/ to learn m...

When I first made the decision to transition to a sustainable lifestyle, I had no idea where to start. I was excited and motivated to make the world a better place by reducing my trash and learning to live sustainably. But when I took a look around, I realized my world was completely engulfed by trash. All the items in my fridge and pantry where packaged, my bathroom cabinets were filled to the brim with products and my laundry room was packed with every cleaning product known to man. I was overwhelmed. That's when I decided that my first step, and possibly the most important step, would be to change nothing at all. I would continue living my life the way I always have. I know that sounds counter intuitive, but hear me out. Living in a society with a consumerist culture, the lines between wants and needs are extremely blurred. We tend to buy things based on the impulsive feeling that we need   it and our life will significantly improve once we have it. So, step number one was fig...