I’m going to get straight to the point because most people skip this part anyway. (Don’t worry, I don’t take offense. I do the same thing)

I’m about to launch my youngest baby bird out of the nest and into the wild world of college dorm life. I want her dorm room to be a cozy, healthy haven that screams “responsible eco-warrior” instead of “science experiment of cheap plastics and weird smells.” Let’s be real, moving into a dorm can be expensive, but you don’t have to sell a kidney to make it greener. I’ve spent years obsessively researching non-toxic, eco-friendly alternatives (some might call it a hobby, my kids call it a personality trait).

And because I love saving the planet and a good deal, here are three money-saving tips to keep in mind:

1. Shop from within your house:

You’ll be amazed by what you already have lying around, no need to buy new when home shopping saves you time and money.

2. Embrace pre-loved items:

Check Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or local Buy Nothing groups. Many dorm essentials are barely used and begging for a second life.

3. Hunt for student discounts:

Stores love students. Think Target, Apple, North Face, Nike, Levi’s and don’t forget to stalk Amazon for price drops.

In my efforts to make mindful purchases:

• I look for products Made in the USA if possible
• I chose products with thousands of really great reviews
• I try to find products that are plastic-less (or plastic-free)
• At times, I choose a more expensive item because it’s likely to be better constructed, ensuring its longevity. ***Bonus – I can easily sell or donate it when I no longer need it.

Below is my hand-picked list of eco-friendly dorm items to help your college kid (and mine) stay healthy, save money, and maybe even make Mother Earth just a little less cranky. Let’s do this!

Bedding & Towels

When it comes to bedding, options like Oeko-Tex certified, organic, or bamboo materials can be excellent choices. I really try to make sure my kids’ bedding is free of toxins since they spend so much time sleeping and hanging out in their beds.

• These sheets at Target or these sheets at Amazon because they were super soft and fit perfectly over the mattress topper. Definitely get 2 sets (just in case they spill something and can’t do laundry right away).
• Pillowcases – 2 sets
• Blanket/Comforter/Duvet Cover: This is all preference. My daughter wanted a blanket but some love a duvet cover so you can easily wash it. This one has really lasted.
• Mattress Topper: I did a three-day deep dive on this one. Super important to me since college kids spend so much time in their beds. I chose this one because my younger child would also would use it, and it has great resale value. My kid had some back issues and this was perfect. Plus, her friends loved hanging out in her bed because it was so comfortable. ***Because I got this topper, I didn’t bother buying a separate mattress cover since it already had one. This was the only thing my college kid used before putting on the sheet which saved me money only buying one thing.
• Cheaper Mattress Topper: BUT if that topper is too pricey, I did a ton of research, and everyone loved this option too, it was my second choice.
• Coop Pillows: These are a bit pricey, but I keep pillows for YEARS, so I’d rather invest in good ones. I have these all over my house, I love them so much. You can adjust the fill to make them as big or as flat as you like.
• Towels: I like this set because you get 2 washcloths, 2 hand towels (my daughter uses those at the gym) and 2 towels. She has 2 sets which is more than enough.

Dorm Room

• Woozoo Fan: This is a MUST for those of you whose kids have absolutely no air conditioning and it’s 95 degrees.
• Surge Protector and Extra Surge Protector: You probably only need one, but my husband insisted she take 2. ***A flat plug is great for behind a desk or bed and definitely want to have some USB ports.
• French Press Coffee Maker: My kid is a bit of a coffee snob and wanted the French Press. It’s the best French Press that’s not glass. I loved it so much I bought a large one for myself
• Stainless Steel refillable K-Cups: If you kid absolutely insists on a single serve coffee maker, at least use these stainless steel refillable K-cups.
• Electric Tea Kettle
• Jewelry Organizer
• Apple Air Tags for Backpack and Keys
• Desk Lamp with Bonuses: When a lamp that is just a light isn’t “cool” enough
• Boot Tray (best thing we ever got). We got a large one so everyone in the room could share it and they only needed one by the door. Keeps them from dragging rain, snow and mud into the room.
• Tool Kit (the whole floor loved my daughter – she was the only one with tools). Again, you can create your own tool bag if you have extras.
• ** (Option 2) Thor’s Hammer Tool Kit if you need to make a statement while literally saving the planet. This is not just for boys, my husband carries this around in his truck and my daughters are both “borrowing” it.
• We bought the Zero Water 10-cup and it’s been working great, also here’s a great guide for choosing a water pitcher.
• Air Purifier
• Lightweight Vacuum (another item that was popular with the kids on my daughter’s floor)
• Easy to use, but still cool Alarm Clock
• Reusable Cloths to clean spills/wipe surfaces (these are the ones I use at home too)
• Ice Maker

First Aid Kit

Here is a great complete kit, but if you want to make your own kit, here’s some ideas

• Adhesive Bandages
• Antibiotic Ointment (like Neosporin)
• Ice Pack
• Acetaminophen/Ibuprofen
• Cold Medicine
• Bandages and Scissor
• Essential Oils if that’s your thing
• Heating Pad
• Feminine Care Products

Laundry

• Earth Breeze and Clearalif laundry Sheets: Just check with your college first because some don’t allow laundry sheets. But if they do, I highly recommend them. They’re easier to carry and better for the environment and your health. I’ve used both of these and they work great.
• Wool Dryer Balls: Skip dryer sheets and use these instead
• Bag/Basket/Hamper: this depends upon where the laundry room is located. Some like backpacks if they have stairs but we had an elevator so my daughter wanted this one on wheels
• Collapsible Dryer Rack
• Non-slip Hangers: We love these and just ordered more
• Shower Shoes
• Hanging Shower Caddy/Toiletry Bag
• Shower Caddy (if you don’t want a hanging version)
• Blow Dryer: BUY 2 – one for your daughter and one for YOU

Miscellaneous

• Wearable blanket: This one seemed silly, but she uses it like every day
• Emergency car tire inflator: For students with cars
• Bike tire pump: For students with bicycles
• Sewing Kit
• Reusable coffee/tea mug
• Reusable Water Bottle
• Lock Box for Valuables and Medications
• Overnight Travel Bag for Trips HOME
• Backpack
• Headphones
• Noise Reduction Earplugs: my daughter absolutely loves these

Remember, don’t stress.

I know you’re striving to create a comfortable and inspiring space for your kids, one that also mirrors their individuality, but they may not actually “need” as much as you think. If you’re not sure your kid is going to “need” something, you can always wait and get it to them later. Here’s to an enriching, unforgettable, and eco-conscious college adventure!

Affiliate Disclosure:

I have affiliate marketing relationships which may result in my earning a small commission from purchases resulting from links posted. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases when using my link. These commissions help cover my expenses including my website www.livingcleananddirty.com which is another helpful resource to living your “greenest” healthiest life.

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1. Make a List and Check It Twice:

Before you get caught up in the holiday shopping tornado, plan your attack. Make a list of killer gifts that are not just thoughtful but also Eco-conscious. Have you ever gone food shopping without a list? You know you end up buying tons of stuff you don’t need, but if you keep to a list you’re going to save money and buy only what you use.

2. Support Local Hustles:

Forget the big-box madness. Hit up the local markets, craft fairs, and boutiques. Supporting local businesses helps your community, fellow local humans and shrinks your carbon footprint. Double win! If there’s nothing that interests you locally, check out sellers on Etsy or online small businesses – you still may be shipping items to you but at least you’re supporting small businesses and getting really unique gifts.

3. Choose Products That Are the Real MVPs:

Opt for gifts made from sustainable materials. Think organic, think reusable, think stuff that won’t end up haunting landfills for centuries. Your gifts should be as long-lasting as your Aunt Karen’s fruitcake (but way more desirable). This is where you may spend more money but it will save you money in the long run. Buy quality items that will last.

4. Get Crafty with DIY Magic:

Unleash your inner crafting wizard. DIY gifts are not just about saving cash; they’re about creating something unique and lowering the environmental impact. Plus, it’s a legit excuse to get glitter everywhere. This year I had leftover material from a project that I had no use for so I created throw pillows for my kids. They loved them, and since I’m not a pro and there were seams – my kids said the “imperfections made it more perfect”. My oldest daughter took a knitting class in college (I know, I know, it sounds like the new underwater basket-weaving but she loved it) and now made everyone’s scarves and hats for the holidays. Check out my red penis scarf – it’s my favorite gift!

5. Experiences Over Things:

Gift memories, not just things. Concert tickets, museums, spa days, or a virtual escape room – experiences beat material possessions any day of the week. My daughter cannot tell you what doll or game I bought her for the holidays 5 years ago, but she remembers the ice skating lessons we got for her. We even got the whole family involved that year when her grandma bought her a new pair of ice skates. We celebrated our other daughter’s birthday with a Broadway show and a day in NYC. Less stuff, more memories. It’s the way to go.

6. Wrap It Up, Green Style:

Ditch the boring wrapping paper and get imaginative. Use recycled paper, fabric scraps, or repurpose old newspapers or maps. And hey, reusable gift wraps like scarves or tote bags? Double the gift, zero the waste.

7. Eco-Friendly Holiday Cards:

Send e-cards or pick cards made from recycled materials. Or, how about going digital and sending a video message? Because why waste paper when you can be a video star? My favorite holidays gifts from my kids were when they wrote me letters – years later when I need a little pick-me-up I still read them.

Those are my Lucky 7 Eco-friendly suggestions. Stay tuned because I don’t live on Mars and know that you’re going to buy some stuff for the holidays so watch out for my holiday shopping guide coming to a computer screen near you. Together, we CAN celebrate the season without trashing the planet. Cheers to a dirty, clean holiday season! 🌍🎁 #DirtyCleanHolidays #SustainableCelebrations #LivingCleanAndDirty

The post Dirty Santa, Clean Earth: Navigating Eco-Friendly Holidays Like a Pro appeared first on Living Clean and Dirty.

Fast forward almost 3 decades later and all of my friends started having kids.  The next handful of years were a blur of gift cards and things bought off of registries, but I was still never able to top that original personalized gift. Sure I could do another photo album or a snow globe or something else that will just end up in a drawer but I needed a fresh idea.

Let me introduce you to my new go-to gift source. PlantPoweredWoodWorks. Specializing in personalized wooden signs, plaques, dog leash holders and so much more, I’ll never look elsewhere for a unique gift again. Now…full disclosure he also happens to be great in the sack. I know this because “he” is my husband. He had always been a creative guy and works in a creative field, but during the pandemic he turned his hobby into a side hustle and the orders have been steadily coming in and so have the positive reviews.

His contact info is below, and if you mention that you heard about him from Living Clean and Dirty he’s offering 10% off. He’ll also add an additional discount if you refer someone to him and they make a purchase. Did I also mention that with every purchase of a personalized dog leash holder he’ll donate a portion of the cost to a local animal rescue (we’re rescue dog parents so that’s a no-brainer for us). And did I mention that you’d be supporting an Air Force veteran? Yup, that’s my fella.

He’s so creative and has a wonderful eye for details. I can honestly tell you, and would tell him, I’m his biggest fan but also an honest critic. If his creations looked like they were done by a drunk toddler then I would tell him to just keep the woodworking as a hobby, but honestly his work is amazing, judge for yourself.

Feel free to reach out to him (or even me) and get something special for someone special today.

The post The Gift of Wood…it’s not just for beavers appeared first on Living Clean and Dirty.

It may be hard to believe but on that day in 1990 I couldn’t have cared less about Earth Day or the environment. I was 20 years old and a student at GWU. I cared about the important things in life like getting tickets to the Richard Marx concert, going to see Pretty Woman in the theater and getting home in time to watch that new show called Twin Peaks. My friends and I happened to find ourselves people watching at the Mall (National, not shopping) on a lovely Sunday afternoon in April. We decided to walk around and ended up joining what turned out to be an Earth Day demonstration because…we were 20 and it was a nice way to kill a few hours before going out drinking.

Fast forward to Earth Day 2022, still no Burt Reynolds (because that would be creepy) but I strut around the house like it’s Ellen Day, although let’s be honest, most days are Ellen Days and I really should strut more. I get dressed up, I prance around my house like I won an award and try to do one really big thing to celebrate . About 11 years ago I got solar panels on my roof, 7 years ago I got a hybrid car, 6 years ago I started a food garden, and last year was my favorite…I brought home Tess (my fully electric Tesla). My whole family’s favorite holiday is Halloween, but Earth Day definitely has a special place in my heart. This is the one day every year that I can do my Snoopy dance and scream at the top of my lungs “if loving the Earth is wrong then I don’t want to be right!”, unfortunately my family believes this is one day too many, but you get the idea.

So while it’s not as sexy as a new car, solar panels or even 1990 Burt Reynolds this past year I’ve been embracing minimalism in all of its forms. I’ve been getting rid of toxic people (if you’re reading this then congratulations, you made the cut), simplifying my life and getting rid of stuff I don’t use or love.

However, this Eco-mama does love a good sale, especially an eco-friendly one.  This year Earth Day falls on a Friday so while Green Friday (yes, it’s a thing, look it up) doesn’t come until November, I think there is room enough on the calendar for another Green Friday. If there are already holidays called Count Your Buttons Day and National Crouton Day then the criteria for adding holidays sounds pretty lax.

While I’m not the shopper I once was (think shopping mall and not National Mall) you can get some amazing Earth Day deals and support Earth loving companies.

Your power is in your wallet (my hubby thinks his power is in his pants, that’s where his wallet is so he’s technically right). The math is simple, If we support more eco-friendly companies and stop buying single use plastic, throw away items and boxed products with more packaging than product then we are sending a message. If you demand more eco-friendly shopping then the market will move in that direction. Never in my life would I have imagined a fully electric pickup truck yet almost every automotive company is in a race to be the first. Ford alone has 200,000 pre-orders for an electric pickup truck so the people have spoken.

My goal here is to show you how to go green while saving some green. And if you’d like to give back then send this article to your friends, families, enemies and neighbors and have them subscribe to my newsletter. Whether you’re a fan of Burt Reynolds, Debbie Reynolds or Ryan Reynolds we all like to save some money and we should all be interested in saving the Earth too.

Enjoy your Earth Day and be especially kind to mother Earth today.  And while you’re at it, it wouldn’t kill you to call your mother, you know how she worries. If for no other reason she will probably get a kick out of a Golden Girls and Burt Reynolds reference and she’ll explain who Debbie Reynolds is.

I listed just some of my favorite companies that are celebrating Mama Earth with some specials and wanted to pass the info onto you. Click on the images and it’ll take you right to their site.

Some of the links in the post are affiliate links. For more information see my disclosure policy.

The post Happy Earth Day 2022 appeared first on Living Clean and Dirty.

• The average person has 148 pieces of clothing.
• Clothes can take up to 40 years to decompose
• The amount of money people spend on clothes, footwear and jewelry each year is quivalent to the combined GDP of the 126 poorest countries in the world.
• Aristotle coined the phrase “does a bear shit in the woods” which centuries later led to Disney artists never drawing Winnie the Pooh with pants
• It takes 700 gallons of water to make a cotton shirt.

My point being, we spend a lot of time, energy and money on clothing. I have to admit I’m a bit of a clothes hoarder myself. I have a monstrous bedroom closet in my home that my husband built for me. It’s like having a studio apartment attached to my bedroom and I fill it to the gills. I’d always treated my clothes well, so my Benetton sweaters, my Merry-Go-round tops and the Z. Cavariccis I picked up from Contempo Casuals still look good enough to be worn today (or if I ever travel backwards in time).

This is a very roundabout way of saying I have a boatload of clothes and it was time to clean house…or closet in this case. Think of a colonoscopy, but for your closet…a closet-oscopy.

I have what one might call a sprinkling of OCD, especially when it comes to home organization.  The cans in my pantry all face the correct way and are of course organized by food group. My spices are all sorted first by height and then alphabetically. My jackets are organized by temperature needed to wear and my socks are organized by thickness. You know…the usual organizational stuff. This is a sharp contrast to my husband who organizes his clothes in what I would classify as “a pile”.

So when I decided to tackle my overstuffed closet, I had to take a deep breath, pull up my big girl panties (which if you keep reading I have a great way to recycle them) and move past the obsession to have everything looking perfect.

Intrigued yet? Still wondering which “truth” was a lie? Do you know what the Pareto Principle is? Keep reading and all shall be revealed.

We all know what the Pareto Principle is, we just know it by another name.  No, it’s not that Janet Jackson song…that’s the Pleasure Principle from her studio album Control that ironically I bought from Sam Goody at the mall while I was waiting for my boyfriend at the time to come out of Chess King (yes, Chess King). The Pareto Principle is the 80/20 theory that you can apply to almost anything. “80% of the time I wear 20% of my clothes”. That equates to a lot of clothes that I didn’t like, didn’t want to be seen out with and just wanted to get rid of (much like my Chess King boyfriend at the end of that relationship back in the 80s).

Yeah, I’m looking at you shoulder-padded power suit. You may have looked good on the Golden Girls but I think it’s time to put you out on the Lanai for good. I’m also looking at you, denim overalls with the built in fanny pack. Sure you made me look like a hot Canadian Kangaroo at the time, but I don’t think the look is coming back. I also think it’s time to finally retire my collection of velour tracksuits that were some cross-breed of the Six Million Dollar Man and Grandma’s couch cushions.

Here’s my rule…I’m only going to keep clothes that I can fit into, outfits that that I love, and anything that makes me feel like the queen that I am.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m keeping my sweats, my PJ pants with superheroes on it and my favorite ratty old college hoodie. I want to be comfy at home and on the occasional quick grocery run, but the rest needs to go.

So I want to declutter, keep my OCD in check, and unload my unwanteds without them ending up in the landfill. No problem…I got this (with the help of some calming deep breaths)!

First, I’m turning all my hangers so they are facing out. The thought of doing this made my eye twitch because with my touch of OCD all my hangers face in and all my clothes are hung in the “proper” direction. Deep breath in for 5, hold for 7, breathe out for 8.

The next step almost put me in full-blown panic mode. When you wear something and put it back you turn the hanger facing in (the opposite of all the other hangers). You do this for months. Months of walking into your closet and all the hangers are facing different directions. I actually vomit a little in my mouth at the thought of this. Take another deep breath in for 5, hold it for 7, and breathe out for 8.

After the season changes you can see everything you didn’t wear (all the backward hangers). There are some things you didn’t wear that you should keep. I have fancy dresses for Black Tie affairs, sun dresses for parties and an interview suit I might need someday (I love blogging but you never know). Everything else you can sell or donate. Remember your ugly brown jacket might be someone else’s treasure.

I know change is scary (so are hangers facing in all directions) but much like getting into a latex gimp suit you need to take your time. Every day you put on a different pair of pants and a different shirt. If it doesn’t fit and you haven’t worn it, it’s time to go. Those jeans you haven’t worn in 10 years because you might suddenly become a size 2 again, get rid of them. That interview suit from the 1990s that’s a “classic” but has bigger shoulder pads than a NFL linebacker has to go.

When I say “has to go” I don’t mean throw out. Give your clothes another life. Need some ideas…you know I got you covered.

thredUp:

This is an “online consignment and thrift store for your closet, your wallet, and the planet.” I always save money buying from thredUp (and even score some brand new items with the tags still on). Now that you’re decluttering your closet, you can check their website for items they accept, load up a box (recycle one that you have) and print out a free shipping label. Once it sells, you can use the credit to buy clothing from them OR cash out. They also have donation kits if you don’t want the cash or credit but want to clean out your closet sustainably.

Knickey:

When you ditch your dainties they end up in a landfill. That’s not ideal, but it’s still a bit skeevie to donate your skiddy skivvies and not many organizations would accept these items (ewww gross factor). Knickey has a Recycling Program and turns them into new materials like insulation, carpet padding and furniture batting. They take underwear, bras, socks and tights (even men’s and kids) and even reward you. They’ll add a free pair of their undies to your next order.

Local Donation Bins:

Many organizations take gently used clothing to give away or sell in their thrift stores which sponsors their programs. Search “local donation centers” and you’ll find places near you. Also, check out grocery store parking lots, fire houses, or big national chain stores. Often times there are collection bins where you can drop your items.

Give to a Friend:

For years I didn’t buy clothes for my kids because my best friend’s girls were slightly older than mine and always one or two sizes ahead. Sharing clothes with other families is a great way to get more use out of them especially when kids are little and they wear something once and seem to outgrow it the very next day.

Old Shoes:

Soles4Souls:

This organization takes new or gently worn clothing and shoes. If you don’t have a local drop off location they’ve teamed up with Zappos for Good and you can box up your shoes and send them with prepaid shipping labels.

Local Consignment Shop/Thrift Store:

We have a local consignment shop that carries many designer and high end brands.

• Always wanted a Gucci belt but couldn’t pay retail?
• Have you drooled over a Prada bag?
• Ever dreamed of owning a Chanel?

Now you can. Many luxury consignment shops carry pre-owned, authenticated designer items at a fraction of its retail cost. You’re getting a great price for a classic item and if you have designer goods that you no longer wear you can sell them and at least get some money back.

I also have a local thrift store that donates all the proceeds to a local animal shelter. Talk about a win-win. I get rid of my stuff which gets used by someone else and I help homeless animals. BAM!

And speaking of homeless animals, I don’t know why Winnie the Pooh never wore pants and I don’t think Aristotle did either. What I can tell you truthfully is that one of my favorite quotes of his applies to my life every day and is especially poignant for my closet cleaning adventure.

“Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.”

The post It’s time for your Closet-oscopy appeared first on Living Clean and Dirty.

Let me introduce you to AirThreds, while you say goodbye to those cardboard disposable filters wrapped in plastic which end up folded up in your garbage can after a few months.

The video really explains it all but here’s the deal…imagine a washable mesh pillowcase wrapped around a solid frame that replaces your existing air filter. BOOM! Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.

If you’re like me and have pets, a husband who likes running the air conditioning year round, or just want to save some money and breathe cleaner air then I can’t recommend this enough.  They come in all shapes and sizes, their customer service is outstanding and they can be cleaned with either a vacuum or dropped into the laundry. When properly maintained one AirThreds filter will last as long as 36 of the cardboard kind.

Yes, these are obviously cool (pun intended). It’s been a few weeks but I’m already a fan (pun intended). Saving money and the environment is HOT! (ok, that was a reach).

Follow me for updates on this and many other Earth-saving products and projects. And as a BONUS, use the coupon code ECO20 and get 20% off your purchase from AirThreds. Be one of the cool kids (ugh, you already used that one) and check out AirThreds. Do it for your family, your planet, and your wallet.

AirThreds provided me with their product to facilitate this review; however, all opinions expressed are my own. 

The post Don’t be an airhead…check out AirThreds appeared first on Living Clean and Dirty.

“It’s the thought that counts.”

“Say thank you.”

“Look surprised” (even though you know what you’re getting).

“Smile” (even if you hate it) and “gush about how you always wanted one”.

Gifting 101. My mom drilled this into my head so by the time I was 5 I had the “gift smile” down pat. I’m not a robot, I was just taught to make other people comfortable and feel good about their gifting choices even if they suck. And my mom was a stickler for proper etiquette.

Have I done any psychological harm? To others, no. To me? If you come at me with a wrapped box don’t be shocked if I start to shake and weirdly smile at you. I’m just wondering which of the above scenarios my mom taught me I’m gonna need to do next.

I’ve smiled through ugly brown plaid clothes when I was dying for Simon and 2XL.

I’ve thanked my ass off when I got a Pet Rock but was dying for the Easy Bake Oven.

The look of shock on my face when I got a Rubik’s Cube (I never could get it) when all I wanted was a Walkman.

I’m grateful and appreciative for the time it took my special someone to pick out the crappy gift. I always wrote a personalized thank you note (on stationary – another crappy, practical gift) BUT I’m still stuck every year cleaning out a closet shelf full of useless gifts. Some I donate and I’ll admit…sometimes I do the most horrible, grossest, most inconsiderate thing that would make my mother so ashamed of me that I think she’d disown me. I re-gift.

I know, GASP, the horror. Re-gifting. You can’t do that. The spiritual Ellen who is big on intention thinks re-gifting is the devil’s work but the eco-warrior in me LOVES it. But let’s be realistic here, some of those gifts are just downright horrible. I couldn’t re-gift them if I tried. The only way around this is to stop these horrible gifts right from the start. Stop thinking crap on sale and start giving gifts that are:

🦄 Unique

💝 Personal

🙏 Inspirational

👍 Useful

💰 Support small business

Mazie Rose is my go-to for gifts this year. They sell organic-based essential oils and crystal therapy products and they have plenty of beautiful and unique gifts that check all the boxes. All of their products are cruelty free and vegan (except the honey based lip scrub and goat milk based body wash) and they use recycled packaging. Hello, eco-friendly too!

Now for the best part…we’ve partnered up with Mazie Rose for this awesome Valentine’s giveaway. Enter now to win this trifecta of awesome and check out the Mazie Rose website for cool gifts that you won’t have to pretend to like.

• Lavender Sugar Body Scrub: Sugar scrub for your skin (or your special someone) that’s as sweet as it sounds.
• Black Tourmalinated Quartz Bracelet: This powerhouse of two amazing crystals together will keep you (or your special someone) in harmony. This stone soothingly brings negative emotions away and puts the positive emotions in their places. Hello…after 2020 we all need that!
• The F*CK Bracelet: The F*ck Bracelet is perfect for that special someone who loves to use naughty words (ummmmm I wonder who would love that gift and not have to pretend shock when opening the box).

Check out their Website, Facebook and Instagram.

The post ANOTHER GIVEAWAY: Let Mazie Rose save your V-Day appeared first on Living Clean and Dirty.

Heated Blanket: I’m sick and tired of my entire family complaining how I turn down the heat at night. I’m trying to conserve energy, save a boat load of money and I’m menopausal so I have my own internal heating system and it’s all over the map. My hubby likes it warm so he raises the heat when I’m sleeping and I wake up dripping in sweat like I ran a marathon in my sleep. Everyone in my house is getting their own heated blanket except me of course. Thanks hormones!

Vegan, Zero Waste Non-Toxic Bath Bombs and Scrubs: Sure, I could try to make these myself but I’d rather find another eco-freak who makes them better like the ones I bought from Life Around 2 Angles. I love giving luxurious bath stuff as gifts because no one ever splurges on this for themselves and it’s the perfect gift because no matter how old you are, when you drop one of the those bad boys into the water and it’s starts fuzzing up and turning green you squeal like a kid taking her (or his) first bubble bath.

Books: Before you groan, I’m not buying them War & Peace or The Iliad. My oldest is now into witchcraft, pagan religions and all things Wicca. So instead of rolling my eyes, I’m embracing it and buying her books and tarot cards. Now let’s hope she doesn’t do a bunch of spells on me where I vomit bugs. UGH I hate bugs.

Crystals: Another thing my “Wicked Daughter of the West” loves is crystals. She cleans them, says prayers over them, wears them and even slips them into my purse “to protect me”. Hey in the world of Covid I could use some extra good juju. I just did a bunch of shopping on this site and even found something more to my own tastes. So raise your hand if you just bought yourself “The F*ck Candle” (I’m raising my hand).

Tea Gift Set: After a long afternoon of paganism, who doesn’t love to sit down to a relaxing cup of tea? It seems more authentic for her to use loose tea so I found this heavenly celestial tea strainer that she’s gonna love (she always telling me about constellations and Uranus – insert laugh) and a bunch of different teas to try. And now I don’t’ have to uncomfortably giggle to myself when she asks me to get her a “Tea Bag”.

MakeUp: Both girls have different skin tones from me yet they keep using my stuff. Or we go to the drugstore and all they want is that toxic crap that’s tested on animals and is filled with chemicals I can’t pronounce. Not only do I care about their lovely faces, but I care about mine too. I’ve switched to using Seint which is color matched perfectly to your own skin tone and made from clean ingredients. Made in the USA, cruelty-free, reasonably priced and free shipping…always.

Mascara: What Seint doesn’t sell is mascara. I’ve tried all the clean ones (check out my Top 5) but I’ve found a new one I LOVE. Again, both my girls use my mascara (ewwww) so I got them each their own from Thrive Causemetics.

Shower Speaker: My girls love music and although I like silence while showering and my hubby likes to shower in the dark (no idea why), my girls want to sing. This wireless shower speaker means I no longer have to worry about their phones getting wet and I can stop keeping uncooked rice in trays to dry them out.

Light Décor: (a teenage version of a night light): No matter how old you get you like to sleep with some sort of night light. But when you’re a teenager it’s called neon décor (it’s still a nightlight).

The Comfy: This is one of those times I rolled my eyes at my daughter who HAD TO HAVE THIS. I got it and then I never gave it to her. OMG this is just about the best sweatshirt/blanket thing I’ve ever worn and perfect for this winter of staying home and never getting out of PJs.

Games: I never played Dungeons & Dragons but I’ve got a kid who is obsessed and gets on Facetime and plays with her friends. If this keeps her connected to her friends and they’re doing something other than talking about Sex, Drugs or (God help us) Country Music, then I’m all for it.

Head Phones: We hate all the wireless stuff. Maybe it gives you cancer, maybe it doesn’t. So we try to be cautious and wire up when we can. I also don’t let my kids wear ear buds. That’s right! “Worst Mom EVER!” alert. OH THE HORROR. Now I’m not an otolaryngologist (I’m not that kind of doctor), but again, I’m gonna be overly cautious. My husband constantly complains about ringing in his ears. I tell him that’s called an alarm and it’s time to get up but he’s convinced it’s from a misspent youth of absurdly loud rock music and concerts (He says Def Leppard, but I’ve seen pictures of his childhood room with Debbie Gibson posters). We didn’t have ear buds back then but I’m guessing it would be much easier to do some serious damage if we had them. Oh what a blessing technology is. Sadly, my kids taste in music tends to be “eclectic” so headphones in my house are still a necessity.

Ring Light: If your kid TikToks like mine this is gonna be the most awesome, most practical, and definitely most used gift of all time!

Pillow: If socks and underwear are the “plain vanilla ice cream” of gifts, then the last gift on my list is “Nicholas Cage eating a bowl of plain vanilla ice cream” meaning it’s the lamest of the lame with extra lame sauce on the side. This one is my favorite and that’s why I saved the best for last. “They” say you should replace your pillow every 1 to 2 years but I think I’m sleeping on a pillow that I’ve had since Knight Rider was on Thursday nights at 8pm. There’s a local cat shelter that scatters pillows everywhere because the cats love to hang out on them so it’s time I donate my favorite smooshy pillow to a good cause and buy us all new pillows. I tried this one out by accident when I hopped into my friend’s bed and leaned back against this cloud of awesomeness and the best part – you can remove and add stuffing to get it exactly the way YOU want it. Pillows for everyone, the gift that will hopefully give you a good night’s sleep.  See…Best Gift Ever!

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The post The Only Holiday Gift Guide You’ll Ever Need appeared first on Living Clean and Dirty.

Here’s a plastic source I had never really thought of – my daily vitamins. That’s right gang, even the mayor of Awesome-town takes her vitamins and so should you. A strong immune system has never been more important so I make sure to get my daily dose of vitamin C, D and a probiotic (when my hubby refers to me getting my vitamin D he means something completely different, and it’s certainly not daily).

Much like this weird guy Steve I used to work with, most vitamins come in plastic containers (please don’t ask how I know that). Fortunately, I found a win-win with Truvani. Not only is Truvani a company that I trust but their vitamins come in glass jars (sorry Steve).

Oh, it doesn’t stop there my friends. If you order before April 21st make sure you use this link and get 50% OFF the first month of a new subscription order.

*Quality Product

*Comes in an “anti-Steve” glass container

*30-day money back guarantee

*Cancel your subscription anytime

So join me in saying NO to plastic, HELL NO to Steve and YES to Mother Earth.

💰Save Money. 🌎Save the Earth. 😀Save Yourself.

This blog post contains affiliate links.  By clicking on one to shop at Truvani I earn a small commission.  I have to say that I became a partner with them because I think they kick ass and their products rock.

The post Plastic ain’t Fantastic appeared first on Living Clean and Dirty.

My daughter’s new obsession…mascara. The good news is now the worst she can look like is Tammy Faye where before she put on all my mom’s makeup and looked like Madam the puppet. To make matters worse, both my daughters have been blessed by the eye lash fairy and have long, luxurious lashes that extend naturally. True story, when both my girls were infants, one day they went to sleep and the next day they woke up and BAM they had the longest, most beautiful lashes I have ever seen. I was shocked that they acquired them overnight. My hubby has them (TOTALLY wasted on a guy) and he constantly complains about water on them and blah blah blah, it’s so uncomfortable, blah blah blah. I don’t have these problems so I need to wear mascara and one that really works. I used to buy the uber expensive mascara at a fancy department store that worked amazing but was filled with chemicals and tested on animals. Also, I hate when they try to spray you with that crap that makes you smell like an old lady, or as we call them in my house, female village elders. You know that smell.

Problem…I still want great mascara coverage – long defined lashes but not one that’s tested on animals, filled with chemicals and one that won’t flake, clump, or smudge a lot so I look like a raccoon or a bad listener (black eye). This is not so easy. If you’re like me, here’s some help. These are my top 5 mascaras I like and let my 10 year old daughter “borrow”:

♥ 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented: This was the first natural mascara I tried and loved it. Been using it for years and what I love is that it comes in many flavors…I mean colors. You can use the standard black (which is what I use) or try blackberry, blueberry, or chocolate. The company makes products completely free of all harmful toxins and their staff is amazing. I called their store in California for help to choose the right color makeup and the woman was so nice.

♥Lush Eyes Right: This is my new love. My daughter really loves it because it’s a small bottle with a short brush so it’s easy for her to use. Great for my 10 year old but bad for me because the wand is too short and hard to use. This was a complaint many people have when they review this mascara but I love Lush products so much that I’ve learned to deal with the wand. Seriously, I went into that store with my daughters and finally after 2 hours my hubby had to beg us to leave. They make all their own products in small batches, no preservatives, 100% vegetarian and they not only never test on animals, but they’re fighting for other cosmetic companies to stop testing too.

♥Jane Iredale: They make a few different kinds of mascaras but the one I used was PurLash mascara in black. I like this one because it leaves my lashes looking natural but at the same time they’re thicker and longer. Jane Iredale’s products are all paraben, talc and phthalate free.

♥Rejuva Minerals Pur Lash: This is another great mascara and since I live by the Environmental Working Group cosmetic list I love that this one is EWG verified which meets their strict criteria for transparency, good manufacturing practices and avoids chemicals. This mascara is free of parabens, titanium dioxide, mica, soy, gluten and GMO’s. It’s vegan too.

♥Josie Maran Argan Black Oil: In consumer studies a large percentage of people saw an increase in lash length and their lashes appeared conditioned and healthier after continued use. I’ve read a ton of reviews where people wrote of these results. I didn’t see it with me but I do know that my lashes looked great. It’s free of parabens, sulfates and phthalates.

Ok, so I know I told you my Top 5 but since I began writing this article and finishing it I found another mascara I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. ♥Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Ultra-Natural Mascara. I have to agree with Gwyneth Paltrow you put it on, let it dry, put another coat and I get the same results as my old conventional mascara. The wand is perfect, it’s formulated without parabens, petroleum, propylene or butylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfates, pesticides, phthalates, artificial dyes or synthetic fragrances AND it’s never tested on animals.

My review of these products is based solely on my opinion. Others may have a different opinion or experience. I did not receive any compensation – I bought all these mascaras with my own cold, hard cash.

The post The Top 5…How’s my mascara? – Unsponsored Review appeared first on Living Clean and Dirty.