This article originally appears in the Mueller Front Porch Flyer April 2021 edition. Bulk Buying Buying in bulk can help you save money and resources. Buying in bulk can mean two different things: 1) buying loose items from bulk bins in stores and 2) buying larger quantity packages. With COVID, some stores have either closed…
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Grove Collaborative: Subscription Review
I purchased the items in these pictures myself and these opinions are my own. Grove Co. is a company that ships healthier home and beauty options to your door. It sells a lot of the “green” names you recognize or hear about in zero waste articles and blogs. The company seems defaulted to the subscription…
Repair/Rethink: Yard Sign Holders
I feel like I’m the only one with this issue but I’m going to share it anyway. My yard signs move all the time. They get blown down, knocked sideways in the wind, or even blown down the street. Something about how the wind moves in my front yard does not allow these to stay…
DIY Dry Shampoo
I want to share what I do for dry shampoo. We were on a boil water notice here in Austin last week until yesterday so I was relying heavily on my dry shampoo with all the winter head gear. I get major oily hat hair with anything I put on my head which is why…
Make Your Own Waterproof Waders
It snowed and iced a lot here in Texas last week. We were not prepared clothing-wise. Austin doesn’t get real snow, mostly ice when it does get cold enough, and our family does not participate in any winter sports. Because kids’ feet grow so fast and it also doesn’t rain that much here, we also…
Product Review: Blueland
I purchased this product myself and all views are my own. Blueland products are tablets and powders for cleaning. These include dish powder, dishwasher tablets, laundry tablets and cleaning tablets: glass, bathroom, and multi-surface. Blueland’s goal is to reduce single-use plastic. Many household products come in plastic bottles that are used once and then only…
RETHINK: Jewelry
I wanted to share a few jewelry-themed ideas with you all. I was in an anklet mood this summer. Instead of buying a new anklet, I used a 18″ chain that I wrapped twice around my ankle and threaded both strands through a charm. It works great! This way I can reuse both pieces for…
Repair/Refresh: Fabric Shaver
I love repair/refresh/fix so we’ve got another one for you! It’s especially relevant for cold weather and sweaters! When I was little, my mom had a funny little machine in her sewing box. I thought it was a vacuum. It was actually a fabric shaver. A fabric shaver removes those little balls of fabric that…
Cotton vs. Cotton-Poly Blend
Friday was Black Friday and Buy Nothing Day. Saturday was Small Business Saturday. Both days are part of our country’s big start to the holiday shopping season. I would like to encourage you to think about the material of the items you purchase (or find used) in addition to what type of business you are…
Jeans for Wildlife
Austin Wildlife Rescue can use your old jeans! Reuse before Recycle in the hierarchy of the Rs. Contact Austin Wildlife Rescue to coordinate dropping off your old jeans for hammocks and burrows for the wildlife they are rehabilitating. They tie the legs closed to make safe and fun spaces for racoons. 5401 E. MLK Jr.…