Tiny Living Home Goods

Happy Earth Day! I thought it was timely on this day to discuss how we can be a little more conscious of the Earth by switching over to more natural and organic products. Besides, most of these companies are offering sales and discounts on their websites to celebrate this day.

You should be able to find the items below at your local organic or natural market. Examining the list of ingredients is always helpful in understanding what might be harmful or beneficial for your body.

Kitchen

  • Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap
    • Oh oh, it's magic! We put this soap on our dishes, heat up hot water in our electric kettle and then let them soak in our sink for a few minutes. Choose from flavors like tea tree, lavender or peppermint, to name a few.
      • Try making your own version using vinegar + tea tree oil.
  • Seventh Generation - Disinfecting Wipes & Chlorine Free Baby Wipes  
    • These rock! Use the disinfecting wipes for your counters and floors. Purchase the baby wipes for your hands and face if you know you'll be camping and won't have access to running water.
      • Try making your own using vinegar + pine oil or tea tree oil.

Bathroom

  • Nature's Gate Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash, Lotion & Toothpaste
    • These are great, but don't expect the same effect on your hair right away after switching from more common shampoos or conditioners.
      Tip: Try using less shampoo and sub in conditioner between washes. And if you're feeling brave, try going a few days between hair rinses.
  • Honeybee Gardens Cosmetics
    • All their products are fantastic, but I particularly love their mascara, which is vegan and made with palmetto fruit and avocado butter.
  • EcoTools Bamboo Brushes
    • Recycled aluminum ferrules and 100% cruelty free. Yes please!
      • Use code EARTH15 to get 15% off their website.
  • Burt's Bees Hand Salve
    • Do you love lavender and rosemary? If so, you'll love using this to keep your hands from drying out.
  • Soapwalla Deodorant Cream
    • This is a great option for those of you looking to steer away from aluminum deodorants. Friends recommend applying a little bit of apple cider vinegar before using the cream.
  • Coconut Oil + Oregano Oil
    • I ran into an "oil guru" at Natural Grocers that advised me to add oregano oil to my Oil Pulling routine. Apparently the Wellness Mama agrees and has her own recipe for using these two things.

Bonus Item

  • Reusable Gallon Jugs
    • Please don't buy a pack of cheap plastic water bottles. This is a good alternative if you're going camping and won't have access to running water.
    • Most grocery stores have stations where you can refill them with their reverse-osmosis filter system. Usually they cost me around $.15-.25 a gallon.

Spring Cleaning

“Never make your home in a place. Make a home for yourself inside your own head. You’ll find what you need to furnish it — memory, friends you can trust, love of learning, and other such things. That way it will go with you wherever you journey.”
— Fantasy & sci-fi author Tad Williams

April has always been my favorite because it is my birthday month. Who doesn't like a little celebration in their lives? But with a positive, you can always find a negative or two. For instance, April equals taxes, rain and oftentimes snow, mud season and wait for it ... spring cleaning.

I am a big procrastinator when it comes to cleaning. Don't get me wrong, I am a pro when it comes to organization. It was also wishful thinking to think that a camper trailer doesn't need to go through spring cleaning. How hard can it be to go through 140-square-feet of space?

Last weekend, Greg and I headed to his mom's house to revisit the items we didn't take with us seven months ago when we moved into the camper trailer. Then we headed to our own abode to assess all our items.

Downsizing Tips

Having a tough time getting started? Yeah ... I feel your pain. But remember, "pain is gain!"

  • Sections are easier to manage at a time than rooms or large spaces. For example, start with your closet, the area around your bed or the kitchen.

  • Make two piles:

    • "Things You Use"

    • "Things You Lose" (otherwise known as "things you aren't using")

  • Organize the first pile ("Things You Use") into a hierarchy. The things you use the most often should be near the top or near the front.
  • Take a good, hard look at the second pile ("Things You Lose"). You haven't been using it so far. Look at each item and ask, 'Why haven't I used you yet?' If the answer is due to the weather or the seasons, then you may want to move it over to the other pile. If you know deep down, you don't use it fairly often, then it is so much better to part ways. Chances are you won't remember getting rid of it.
  • Repeat after me, 'Every item is replaceable!' Okay good! Now get rid of it!

Still need help? Read my longer post about downsizing. We tend to hold onto things we don't use for their sentimental value. But you might be able to give something you do use that same love if you were to let go of your old stuff.

If you still need a kick in the right direction, you can hear from Molly of Simplify Your Stuff at Tiny House Jamboree August 7-9 in Colorado Springs. The event is free, but you have to RSVP.

In my next post, I'm going to get after some of the products I use to make cleaning a little more natural and fun.