What I'm Into: Sustainable Swaps Edition (Erin Jean Warde)
For this episode of “What I’m Into,” I'll share some sustainable swaps I’m loving, alongside some other miscellany for good measure.
What I'm Into: Sustainable Swaps Edition
Friends,
I was trying to figure out what I would share in this week’s newsletter and I decided I’d do a “what I’m into” post. Then, I realized “what I’m into” is, for the most part, also what I wanted to share for this week’s Lenten minimalism newsletter… So this week, it’s one newsletter for everyone! Because, when there’s overlap, it just makes sense! And I figure we might all be okay with one less e-mail in our inboxes this week. :)
Throughout Lent I’ve been trying to cut back on how much I spend AND how much waste I create. There are days when everything feels very normal, like I haven’t done much of anything this Lent. However, I also have moments when I notice, thankfully, what this season has shifted in my life.
A good example of one of these moments happened just yesterday. I washed all my bedding and, as I stretched the fitted sheet across my mattress, I noticed a hole. My first thought was negative: Ugh, these sheets are ripped. My second thought was fueled by my prayers this Lent: Wait, I bet this could be mended. It is such a nice feeling to notice how I pivoted from thinking about donating a pair of sheets to dreaming about how they might be repaired. It’s a small shift, but it’s indicative of how I hope to become a person who moves toward repair versus throwing away.
The other shifts are, oddly enough, related to purchases! While I have been spending significantly less (I don’t think I have stepped foot inside a Target since Ash Wednesday and I might need to extend this throughout the Easter season, lol) naturally I’ve needed to replace items that have run out, and I’ve been doing the work to try to make sustainable swaps when the need arises.
So, for this episode of “What I’m Into,” here are some sustainable swaps I’m loving, alongside some other miscellany for good measure.
What I’m Into: Sustainable Swaps & Miscellany
The Good Fill — This is a zero waste Nashville shop (with 2 locations!) that I finally visited for the first time on Saturday. The really cool thing about Good Fill is that you can show up with your own containers and just buy the product you need, from bulk. For instance, I have glass spray bottles I use for my all purpose spray. When it runs out, I can just refill my glass bottle and be good to go! And, if you’re feeling bummed because you don’t live in Nashville, you can also grab some low to no waste staples online!
The Earthling Co. — Okay first, for anyone who hasn’t met me, or for anyone who hasn’t seen me in a minute — I need you to understand that I have very, very long wavy voluminous mermaid hair. I have gotten my hair stuck in the band of my pants, lol. Many years ago, I heard about the shampoo & conditioner bar trend and I tried them. Y’all it was awful for my hair. My hair looked greasy to the point that it was unprofessional and I had to just use them as very expensive bars of regular soap. So, when I started this Lenten practice, I knew I wanted to try this again, but I was understandably quite nervous. That said, I heard shampoo bars had gotten better… and y’all, I LOVE my Earthling Co. Shampoo Bar, Conditioner Bar, and Hair/Body Oil! I also got their dry shampoo as part of a package deal, but I haven’t tried it yet. I’m SHOCKED by how my hair looks just like it does when I wash it with more expensive shampoo & conditioner. I’m officially converted to Earthling Co. and I’m grateful, because that’s a LOT of plastic use for me, given how much hair I have. I’m thrilled!
Shaving Bar Soap — I grabbed this shaving bar soap while I was at The Good Fill, but I can also vouch for Badger’s Saving Soap Bar. I have extremely sensitive skin and these both work beautifully for me. Another plastic bottle from my shower gone!
Little Seed Farm Deodorant — I’ve been in a battle to find natural deodorant that works for many, many years. While I loved using Necessaire’s roll on, I decided to try Little Seed Farm’s deodorant, because I read good reviews and while Necessaire uses a glass container, it can’t be refilled so I’m still recycling it after every use. The great thing about LSF’s deodorant is that I can actually refill it at The Good Fill! And, the greatest thing is that it is working for me! I couldn’t be happier.
Unpaste Toothpaste Tabs — I was also quite nervous about trying toothpaste tabs, because I’ve heard some really rough reviews. I almost went all in on Bite, because they look amazing, but that felt a little pricey, especially because I feared I might hate the concept. I decided a lower risk option would be to grab these toothpaste tabs from The Good Fill. I went in expecting the worst, but I dig them! It doesn’t have the mouth-feel of toothpaste, but I definitely always feel like I have a clean mouth! (What a weird thing to talk about? Lol.) Oh, and just FYI, these have fluoride!
An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith by Barbara Brown Taylor — I’m reading this book right now and appreciating it so much. This hits home, especially as someone very focused on embodiment and spirituality, as well as experiencing holiness in the seemingly mundane experiences of life.
Survivor — This is my one big item of miscellany because… I’m obsessed with the reality show Survivor? I watched an old season with a friend of mine and got hooked? It’s super fun to watch and I dove straight into the current season!
Let me know… What are you into right now? I’d love to hear about it in the comments! <3
Love y’all,
EJW
EJW COMING TO SEATTLE! (May 4 & 5)
I’m very excited to share that I will be headed to SEATTLE in May for a variety of events at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral! I will be offering a workshop on Saturday, May 4th and preaching + offering a 20’s & 30’s event on Sunday, May 5th! I’ll be preaching at the 9:00AM & 11:00AM Sunday services. If you’re in the Seattle area, I hope I see y’all very soon!
I LOVE the little seed farm deodorant! I bought mine in Rochester with my fellow Rays! rose + patchouli all the way!
Xoox