Zero Waste Product Review | Who Gives a Crap Toilet Paper

I had heard about Who Gives A Crap Toilet Paper and it’s zero waste mission many times before. But I hate the name.

Why would I use a product, even a good one, if it’s very name is offensive to me? I would never have bought this product myself, but was luckily gifted it by my mother in law.

You know your family understands your zero waste aspirations when they buy you TP out of the blue.

Firstly, yes, at this point in my zero waste journey, I still use toilet paper. Secondly, we usually buy a very large supply of TP, that is made from recycled materials, comes wrapped in paper packaged in a cardboard box. We recycle the paper wrapping, the inner tubes, and the box. The box lasts us over a year.

What can one say about toilet paper? The WGAC paper is fancier, softer, has more ply then than the one we use. It also come wrapped in paper, has a tube and, when you buy in bulk, comes packaged in a cardboard box. I would guess the actual practices of manufacture are better than the one we use, with more of an eye to sustainability then thrift. The wrapping and distinctive narrative is much more trendy and “attractive”.

Besides the pretty wrapping, the major draw for WGAC TP is that 50% if the profits go to building toilets around the world. The website is a little vague about where and how these toilets are built, but the idea that toilets and a safe and sanitary place to do your business are a basic right seems great. Not only do they provide that, the also reduce waste in waterways and other forms of pollution.

WGAC is a little more than 2 times more expensive (when you buy the best deal supply) then the one we currently use, which over all is a small price to pay for the sustainability and activism that comes with it.

Even though I don’t really care about fancy TP generally, I would definitely recommend Who Gives A Crap in everything other than name.

Have you used this or any other sustainable TP you could recommend?

Something New: Writing Letters to Companies

A few years ago, I wrote a letter to my favorite pasta company, Bionaturae. They make the best commercial pasta, in my opinion. It’s tasty, easy to cook, and gets perfectly al dente if you cook it correctly. Since I was just starting my zero waste and plastic free journey, I really wanted to find alternatives to using products with so much plastic packaging, but this pasta is something I didn’t want to go without. I wrote and asked if there was any way I could get their products plastic free? Perhaps they sold in bulk? Perhaps I could buy directly from them? The answer I got back was a not-overly-polite “no”. It wasn’t impolite, but it wasn’t enthusiastically polite, either. I had intended to write more companies but this flat no made me a little discouraged. I wrote a few more letters here and there, but largely gave up on the idea.

A few weeks ago, I was buying my favorite pasta again and was so pleased to find out that the are changing the packaging to use less plastic!! I had resigned myself to recycling the bags this pasta came in, but the new packaging is far less plastic and mostly cardboard! Now it will be easier to recycle or even compost parts of my pasta packs.

I don’t really think my letter had anything to do with the change, but maybe it did! Maybe lots of people asked the same thing and that facilitated the change?

Either way, writing letters to your favorite companies asking them a few simple questions couldn’t hurt!

So now, I’m back to writing letters. I recently wrote to one of our favorite bread makers, Martin’s Potato Bread, to ask what ethical practices they use for their workers and in their factories. They are a family run business that is made in the USA, they only use non GMO ingredients, so in my mind they are already showing that they care. I asked if they had any plans to make a vegan version of their products. I would feel way better about buying vegan potato rolls!!

The same day, I wrote to a flip flop company I had purchased from a few years ago. I need a new pair of flops, but I’m just not sure what to get. This company is among several companies often listed for making sustainable flops. They do use sustainable practices for harvesting their rubber, but do they use ethical practices for the people harvesting? They make an interesting point, that recycled flops, often made from spent tires, are only delaying the inevitability of them ending up in landfills and not biodegrading. The rubber they use biodegrades. But since nothing biodegrades naturally in a landfill, I wanted to know if they had other suggestions for disposing of the flops?

I haven’t heard back from either company yet. But hopefully I will! What questions do you have about some of your favorite products? What do you want to know before you buy something new? I encourage you to ask those questions!

Zero Waste Product Review: Safety Razor

I bought a safety razor a few years ago. I don’t shave much.

It took me a while to switch over to a safty razor, even though they make way more sense than disposable razors. I reused all my disposable razors until they could not be reused any more, disposed of them, bought a safty razor, then found more disposables hidden away in a closet or something.

That’s one of the problems with all sorts of disposables that people don’t really talk about. Thier insidious and ubicutious nature. Not only do we not think anything of throwing them out, we think nothing of buying more. How much money have people wasted on buying more razors, when they already had some, more hand cream bc the new one smells nice, and more q tips or hair ties bc do we have enough? I can’t remember, and more shampoo bc why not? Many argue that a sustainable lifestyle is more expensive, but if one takes a longer view we see that that is clearly not the case.

When I did finally start using this razor, back May of 2019, I was really nervous. For some reason, using a razor with a removable blade seemed way more dangerous then a razor where the whole thing is disposable. The first few times I used it, it felt really weird. I went really slow. I gave myself razor burn from going over the same spot slowly several times. I feared shaving my underarms.

A little over a year later, I wonder why anyone would ever use a disposable razor? It’s so easy to use a safty razor! I do all the things I did with a disposable (shave all the spots, dry shave, etc…), but it’ doesn’t create waste! After the adjustment period, I would say a safety razor is just as easy to use as any other I have tried. I haven’t had to change the blade yet, and I expect, as long as I keep it dry, and with my infrequency of shaving, I won’t have to for a while. I use the QShave razor, which was only about $14 at the time. Considering with a little care, this and it’s extra razor blades will last me many years, it’s a steal. I’m sure I will have to buy additional blades at some point, but no time soon. I’m not sure QShave is the best, so I would check out a few and see which you like. I am confident that anyone can make this swap tho.

In conclusion safety razors are great! Very easy to use, affordable, and sustainable. If you don’t have one, make sure to get one!

Banza Chickpea Pasta Review

Now is the time to go thru everything in your pantry and eat it up! While looking thru mine, I found half of a box of Banza Chickpea Pasta and remembered how much I hated it!!

I had seen a lot of people eating this pasta and decided to try it. Pasta made from chickpeas, it sounded interesting. I like the bold orange box, and I like that it only has a small plastic window. It has much less plastic then my normal pasta of choice. I made it according to instructions and tasted it.

This is, by far, the worst pasta I have ever eaten in my entire life. Gritty, grainy, not tasty, not quick to cook, really really bad, are just some of the ways I would describe this pasta.

One can’t like everything one tries. And just bc we are trying to reduce our waste doesn’t mean that we should stop experimenting or enjoying trying new things (even if they might, in fact, generate waste). We can only do our best and not beat ourselves up about it.

Luckily, the other day a friend mentioned that she likes this pasta (how?!), so the remainder of the box will go to her. If she doesn’t want it, I could make it to feed it to the birds, or simply put it in the compost. I can rest easy knowing the left overs will not go to waste and knowing that I never have to eat this pasta ever again.

MightyFix From Mighty Nest Subscription Review

Disclaimer: My product reviews are completely unsponsored and unsolicited. The opinions are my own from my own experiences. 

I found out about MightyNest and thier MightyFix through Reading My Tea Leaves When we first moved to Asbury Park. I don’t usually go in for subscriptions but this one caught my attention as it was based totally on sustainable items, fairly inexpensive, could be cancelled at any time. I also liked that you could choose exactly when and how often your package arrives. I signed up for the subscription box right away, but I really enjoyed that you could add anything from the site on to your delivery for free.

The first box arrived and had Bees Wrap! Bees Wrap, although not vegan, is a great alternative to plastic wrap! This was a perfect introdcutory items to send, I thought! Small, easy to use, but with big impact. The subscription also came with a recipe card. I ordered some walnut sponges with my order. The whole parcel was sustainably packed and plastic free.

I kept MightyFix for a little over a year and received so many useful items. Some of them I use consistently in everyday life. Here are some of the items that came in my mighty nest.

Bees Wrap
Cleaning towels
Felt dryer balls
Grocery produce bags
Fillable scrub brush
Compact cross shoulder bag
Silicon can toppers
Glass and silicon portion containers
Swedish "paper" towels
Bug Spray
Coconut lotion
Citrus deodorant cream 

Almost everything that I received was of a greater value than I paid each month. Almost all the items contained no plastic. The only exceptions were the beauty and body products. Each order came with a recipe and info card, and I often used my monthly subscription to add on sustainable orders from the main site.
After about about a year, I decided that I was getting too many items and using too few of them. I could have slowed the deliveries, chosen what I wanted to get in each delivery, or taken a break, but I chose to stop getting MightyFix.

I really enjoyed MightyFix and I think it was a great service for me at a time when I was learning about more sustainable and low waste items. I was able to get a package each month that I could use and learn from. After the year, I was getting items that were becoming redundant. I had also come to the point in my zero waste journey when I need far less things, not any more things even if they were inspiring.

I would highly recommend this subscription service. MightyFix would be good for those starting out on their sustainable journey, or a great transition to a more responsible version for those that love subscription boxes. One of the nicest features is that the subscriber can choose what they want to get, if they have a goal in mind. MightyFix would make a great gift, especially those new to a low impact lifestyle.

I would also highly recommend Might Nest as a place to shop for a wide variety of sustainable items for house, home, body, baby and pet. I get my compostable sponges, zero waste power laundry detergent and many other useful items here.

Have you tried MightyFix or Mighty Nest? What do you think? Do you know of any other sustainable subscription services?

Misfits Market: A Review

Since first learning about “ugly fruit” boxes and subscriptions boxes for food that would otherwise end up in the landfill, I’ve been wanting to try one out. Supposedly, these subscriptions are helpful for food waste bc they take “ugly” or other types of fruit and veg that cannot or will not be used in supermarkets, and keep them from being thrown in the trash.

It’s definitely a neat idea. I’m sure that some of these subscription boxes do cut down on food that ends up in landfill to some extent but am not convinced that they are a sustainable option due to shipping, facility storage, and packaging required to take them from farmer to home.

There are many such subscription boxes available in many areas. It’s pretty easy to find them now, only a few years after they were invented. Misfits Market was suggested to me by a few friends and was the first such company I saw available in my area. I also liked the idea of Misfits Market bc they supply only organic foods.

It was easy to set up an account, choose a delivery schedule, and pay a reasonable price depending on the commitment level you choose. I chose to get a small box every two weeks. My first box arrived only a few days after I ordered. The first thing I noticed, while unboxing, was paper packaging for cushion, the next was plastic ice packs for cooling. I understand taht some fruit and veg might need to be kept cool during transport and these ice packs can be reused, or I hoped sent back to the company, perhaps?

But as I unpacked the produce, I found more and more plastic. Loose veggies were sealed in compostable and knotted plastic bags, a head of lettuce was in a plastic sheath, and some other lettuce was in a plastic clam shell. Almost all the fruit had stickers on them.

I wasn’t super pleased with packaging. The produce it’s self seemed in good condition, fresh and looked appetizing. I was was happy with the size box and delivery schedule I had chosen, as it look to be not too much to eat in 2 weeks. There was some fruit, some veg, and enough variety to use in many dishes or eat on their own.

I quickly wrote to Misfits Market to ask them to omit the plastic packaging from my next order, and got a completely impersonal, stock answer back. I replied letting them know I had hoped for an answer that actually answered my specific request. The follow up was vague, but at least more directed to my questions.

Although I had my trepidations, I continued my subscription. The second box had just about the amount of plastic as the first. Except that now the paper cushion now had plastic wrapped around it. It might take an order or two to complete my request, so I waited to pass judgement. The third box was slightly better: paper clam shells, no extra plastic beside the plastic wrapped cushion. But it still had plastic ice packs, stickers on fruit, etc…

After a fourth box, I cancelled my subscription. I couldn’t justify the amounts of plastic, and after one of the ice packs burst and leaked onto the contents I had had enough. I also found that I was not able to eat everything in the box. Although I had chosen the smallest box and at reasonable intervals, I ended up wasting a lot of food. Overall, Misfits Market was not for me.

Have your tried a “ugly” veggie box? What were your thoughts?

Meow Meow Tweet Deodorant Review

Disclaimer: My product reviews are completely unsponsored and unsolicited. The opinions are my own from my own experiences.

I’ve long been a fan of Meow Meow Tweet which I first heard about ages ago in Brooklyn. I really enjoy that they have always had minimal and recyclable, plastic free packaging. And with the coolest drawings!

When using up my old products, deodorant is one of the last of them I had to replace to be more zero waste. I love that MMT uses all natural, vegan ingredients, and has a lot of citrus fragrances.

We tried their Grapefruit Baking Soda Free cream deodorant, which is packaged in a glass bottle with a metal top. and comes in a paper box in the store. Despite still being all hand crafted, poured and packaged, you can find MMT in several big store, including Target. I really like that this deodorant is dry and creamy, goes on easily and doesn’t leave my hands feeling gross. I think this creamy works well and you only need a little pea sized amount to stay dry.

My husband can’t get used to the cream and doesn’t like it quite as much as I do. We both agree that the scent is nice, citrusy but not overpowering or too sweet.

I would definitely recommend this deodorant for those looking to switch over to a more sustainable, low waste, hand made, chemical free option.

Chagrin Valley Soap And Salve Company Review

Disclaimer: My product reviews are completely unsponsored and unsolicited. The opinions are my own from my own experiences.

Last year, while spending time in Cleveland, I came across the Chagrin Valley Soap shop. I brought home one of their shampoo bars and very much enjoyed it! Since then, I’ve tried several different shampoo bars but none were as nice. Last month, I ordered a few more bars from them.

From start to finish, I had a great experience!
I chose the Citrus Chamomile Shampoo Bar, the Citrus Soapnuts Shampoo Bar, and the Cocoa Butter Hair Balm. Ordering from the site is very easy, and shipping was shockingly fast.

I was so pleased to see that all the packaging was plastic free! One never knows what to expect with packaging, and it made me thankful to that I didn’t have to worry. The first bar that we opened was the citrus chamomile and so far we love it. We’ve used the hair balm a few times, and it’s also quite nice. The soap bars are large and judging from the one I got over the Summer, it will last a long time.

I look forward to using these products more. The plastic free packaging pretty much guarantees I’ll be purchasing from Chagrin Valley Soap again. I can definitely recommend these soaps if you’re looking for a reliable shampoo bar!

Why I Hate My Bamboo Toothbrush

How many toothbrushes have you used in your lifetime?

Think about this: Every plastic toothbrush you’ve ever used still exists on the planet.

You may have thrown them out, but they didn’t actually go anywhere. They’re still hanging out in some huge trash pile somewhere.

One solution, or partial solution, is to use a bamboo toothbrush. Bamboo is a sustainable crop, biodegradable, compostable, etc… so it’s definitely a better option than plastic. It’s an easy choice when trying to be more sustainable and mindful.

Over the years, I’ve tried a few bamboo toothbrushes and one thing I can say about all of them is that I hate them. I know they should be the right choice for someone on a plastic free, low impact lifestyle and I do highly suggest trying them out for anyone who is interested in these things. But for me, they just don’t function the way that I would like. Here’s why:

All the bamboo toothbrushes I have tried are very “soft”.
I’m sure you can get a “medium” or “hard” version, but they were all too soft for me.

They don’t last very long.
I use my toothbrushes far longer than the suggested time period, so this is partly my fault. I find that all the bamboo toothbrushes I have had have only lasted about two months and that’s just not practical for me.

THE BRISTLES FALL OUT!
The reason they don’t last is bc the bamboo degrades and the bristles fall out. Let me tell you, if you’ve ever been brushing your teeth and suddenly you have a mouthful of spiky plastic threads choking you, it’s NOT FUN.

The bristles are mostly plastic.
In order to compost these toothbrushes you have to pull out the plastic bristles. But what do you do with them??

Since starting this journey towards a more sustainable, slow lifestyle, each choice I make is more weighed and more weighty. The option that is most used isn’t always the right right one for everyone. In this case, I have to look for an alternative. This gives me opportunity to research and explore new companies and methods. Doing so isn’t always easy, but not everything has to be easy. Even if it’s just brushing your teeth.

Everlane Undies Review

Disclaimer: My product reviews are completely unsponsored and unsolicited. The opinions are my own from my own experiences.

I've been waiting to make another Everlane purchase for quite a while. I look thru the website every month or so, put things in the cart, take them out, leave, come back and do it all again. I've only ever bought from Everlane once before. 

There’s been a lot of debate on the internet and in the world of the low impact movement about Everlane. Once touted as the greatest and most assessable sustainable fashion makers around, Everlane has come under a lot of distain lately. Many people believe that it has out grown it’s title as Slow Fashion.

I’m on the fence. Everlane still says it upholds it’s sustainable standards, but it has been producing at a faster and faster rate. Is it possible that the level of care is being taken for each and every piece? Ultimately, I decided that at least they must be a better choice than regular fast fashion brands. Although I mostly buy everything second hand, there are some items that have to be bought new.

Which brings me to underwear!! From the first moment that Everlane announced their underwear and bras, I knew I wanted to try them. Undies are really hard to buy sustainably without breaking the bank. But I have a lot of undies so it was almost a year before I actually made a purchase. I waited until some of my old panties literally fell apart and I had to get rid of them before I decided it was ok to buy some new items.

I bought three matching pieces; the Tank Bra, the Hipster, and the High Rise Hipster all in grey. Having matching undies still give me a thrill. I waited until Everlane offered free two day shipping so these items came really fast. The last Everlane purchase I made, I was disappointed that the pants and top I bought came wrapped in plastic and in a plastic mailer bag. I was happy when all the underwear came in recyclable cardboard boxes with paper info cards. They came in a plastic mailer which I recycled at a local drop off location.

I like how simple, soft and easy these panties and bra are. The bra has a wide, tight lower band and straps that are about an inch wide. The straps sit far out on the shoulders which I wasn’t expecting, but I really like bc I do have quite a few tops that have wide or boat necks. The high rise panties are my favorite and sit right at or just below my belly button. The seat is a bit cheeky, which again, I wasn’t expecting. I’d love to get a full coverage bottom set of these, which they don’t make yet, but fingers crossed. I will definitely get more pairs of these undies when more of my current pairs wear out.

Overall, I’m still skeptical about how Everlane works and it’s impact. But as a middle ground of affordable, well made, and better than fast fashion, I’ll continue to use them for purchasing some items.

Have you tried buying the Everlane underwear line? What are your thoughts?

Everlane 1st Purchase Review

For the last few years, I've been trying hard to 1) not purchase too many clothes, and 2) not to purchase new clothes. I buy second hand bc it's better for the environment, bc I enjoy the mindfulness that goes into it, bc it keeps me from shopping in fast fashion, and because it helps save money. 

I love that second hand clothing is already broken in, easy to wear, a fun challenge to find, and I feel good about wearing it out, rather than worrying about saving it. But I generally buy second hand fast fashion (think Gap, Uniqlo, Urban Outfitters) clothing and it does wear out faster than buying new (if your buying well made new clothes) and I have found myself really burning through the jeans I have thrifted lately. I knew that if I wanted to buy a better quality, ethically and eco friendly made pair of jeans, I wanted to try Everlane. 

I first heard of Everlane through Erin at Reading My Tea Leaves but so many blogs I read rave about them. I liked that they fit into a new way of thinking about the fashion industry, conscientiously and transparently. 

I chose the High Rise Skinny Jean. On the models they are sleek, but sturdy looking. In person, they are mom jeans. Don't get me wrong! I like them! A lot! But they remind me of the older style of jeans with less spandex, less give, and more stiffness. On the models and on blogs I've seen, they look like they hug your curves and wear like more modern skinny jeans. They may be true for the skinny and the tall, but for my 150lb, 5'2", nearly 40 year old frame, they wear like a mom jean. I'm not complaining! But I thought an honest review would be best. I like the way these jeans make my butt look, they are soft and comfortable (and seem like they will get way more soft and comfortable!), I like the wash I chose. I would, and mostly likely will, buy more jeans from Everlane. But I feel a bit old in them, if stylishly old. 

I've worn these jeans about a dozen times now, and I can see them being a staple in many of my capsule wardrobes going forward. I'll continue to check in as they wear to see how they hold up. I also purchased a shirt along with the jeans but have only had the chance to wear it once. When I feel I have more data, I may make a review of that as well. 

Overall, I waas happy to support a company working to change the way we think about fashion and happy with what I got and how it fits. Have any of you tried this brand? What sustainable, ethical, eco friendly clothing companies do you buy?

Something New: Bullet Journaling

I'm a list maker. I make a list everyday. I like to cross things off, to add things in, sometimes to add things in just to then cross them off.

But lists get lost, they get full, new lists need to be made. I'm also a note taker. But where to keep these notes? How to find them?

Even with my notes and lists, I'm not so great at self motivating for well, myself. Give me a job, at work, I'm all over it. But me telling myself I need to do some laundry, or complete a project, or any number of tasks I'm doing for myself, just isn't the same.  
When I realized that I would be working less, and being home more, I knew I needed a real system. 

That's when I discovered Bullet Journaling. I first found it through a link on Rowdy Kittens, and thought it was intriguing.

Bullet Journalling is an analog way to keep your to-dos, appointments, lists, events, personal notes, calendars, habit tracking, reminders, etc.... in one place and away from the internet/phone. It really appealed to me bc it's physical, simple, and easy. 
The idea behind BuJo is simple, keep every thing you need in one place, a single notebook. But the possibilities and variations are endless.

You can find everything you need for the basic set up in the Bullet Journal video. I really love that you don't need any special supplies, you only need a note book and a pen (of course, there is a special BuJo notebook you can buy if you want to). 
Bullet Journal suggests you set up 4 basic things in the journal: An index (where you keep track of everything in the journal), a six month over view or Future Log (where you keep track of large events, holidays, birthdays, etc...), a monthly calendar with checklist (which you make at the beginning of every month and where you keep an overview of that moths events and tasks), and a daily log (which you make day of or a day or two in advance and contains tasks, notes, etc... that pertain to each day). There is a set of symbols to use for each item on any list: a dot for task (to be crossed out when finished), a circle for events, and a dash for notes. It suggests covering these with a forward arrow to move to the next day or month, and a backward arrow to go far in advance (onto the six month overview). 
In addition to the basics, you can take notes (classes, meetings, etc...), make lists (movies to watch, books to read, shopping, and so on), track your habits (water intake, exercise, whatever!), set goals, track social media, log expenses, make charts, graphs, note the weather, draw, practice your calligraphy, and pretty up your journal however you want, to name a few. 
Many people fancy up their journals, making them sketchbook, inspiration book, note book, calendar, appointment book, scrap book, and diary all in one. They use washi tape, markers, fancy headers, stickers, mantras, and anything thing else one can think of. There are tons of site and videos to watch for inspiration and ideas. Some creators have reached near guru status.  

Most people seem to use either a Moleskien or the Leuchtturm 1917 journal but I just rummaged around until I found a blank book with graph paper that I already had. I use a black pen (either a uni-ball, or paper-mate). I don't make any attempt to make it pretty, I really use my Bullet Journal in a utilitarian way.

Here's what I have in my Journal so far:
The Index - My index is a mess! I wasn't really sure how I wanted to set this up so the first page is ugly. That's OK! One of the great things about BuJo is when you "mess up" you can just move on, keep going, and not worry about it. I changed the way I made my index from the first to second page, and I will most likely change the whole thing when I start a new journal
The Future Log - Since I started this journal in April, I made mine until the end of the year. I keep birthdays, holidays, and major events here. It's nice to reference back to when I'm like "when is Calvin's christening?" or "what month are we seeing the Violent Femmes?"
Monthly Calendars - I started this book in mid April and used that month as a test for how I would set up my monthly calendars. So far, I'm making them just the way BuJo suggests; I list the dates of the month, what days the dates fall on, and fill them in with events, appointments, and birthdays. I reference back to this when I need to see only one month, not my entire Future Log. 
Monthly Tasks - Next to each month, I put a list of larger tasks that I want or need to accomplish that month. These are mostly items that do not have a specific date to get done. I refer back to this list to see what I've finished without realizing it (cleaning the microwave) or to add to a daily list if I think I can. 
Daily Log - I use one page for each day of the week (except Sat/Sun, they share a page) to list the tasks I need to or want to get done each day. These can be as mundane as doing the dishes or laundry, cleaning the cat boxes, etc... I use this space for my work schedule, events for the day, and keeping track of getting work at home done. I use the bottom of each page for making notes about that day. I like to keep track of when I took a nap, when interesting things happen, or anything I think I might want to reference back to like "won at cards with Al and Sienna" or "opened all the windows today" etc... My Daily Log is by far my most used and most helpful pages. When the day is over, I make sure to move things forward and cross things off.
Habit Tracker - This is where I keep track of things that I want to get done or things that I do on a very regular basis, or that I want to keep track of how often I actually do them. I list things like exercise, quilting, drawing, juicing, watering the plants, and other things for each day of the week there. When I have completed it, I fill in the little box for the appropriate day and item. I have been doing a weekly habit tracker this month, but for May I'm moving to a monthly one. A nice thing about BuJo is that it's very easy to try new methods of keeping track. You can find what works for you. I think a monthly tracker will give me a better overview of which of these tasks I get done and when I do. If I see I'm not doing something on the regular, I can add it to my Daily Logs. 
Expenses/Earnings - I keep a weekly record of everything that I spend and everything that I earn. I divide one page in three parts, at the top I put my expenses and the date they were purchased, and in the middle I put my earnings for the week (from work, web sales, etc...). At the bottom of this page, I make any note I want to look back on. I'm working on a monthly overview for this as well, to see what I made, spent, and saved, what went to bills, eating out, etc... I haven't worked out how to best log this yet. Any ideas?
Lists and Notes - I keep a few running lists (my yard wish list, things I need my husband to help me with, long term goals...) and a few reoccurring lists (groceries, food that needs to be eaten, dinners for the week...). I keep some notes on budgeting (expenses and time), future projects, and other things.  I add to these whenever necessary. 

These are the symbols I use:
Dot ( • ) - I use the dot for an and all tasks.
Circle - I use this for events such as "work (10am - 3pm)", "drinks with Mike", "rummage sale". 
Dash - I use this for notes in my daily logs, expenses, lists, etc...
X - I X out all finished tasks and events. If I do a task twice, I add an additional X next to it (say washing the dishes twice in one day).
Forward Arrow - I use this when I'm "migrating" a task, when I move a task from one day to the next, or one month to the next if it's a monthly task. I use a double forward arrow when I'm moving something far in the future (more than a day or two). 
Box - I use boxes for habits. I also use them on daily tasks when the task was halfway completed. I fill in boxes as I go. 
Eyeball - I use the eyeball for a research task. Bc I might not need to get this done in a specific time frame, or bc it's easier than writing " • research how to make a bullet point with the keyboard". 

I've only been Bullet Journalling for about three weeks now, but I'm pretty sold. I'm excited to have a small, simple space for all my planning, and to add to it in the future. I can see it being becoming an essential tool in my lifestyle journey. And I can see improving on how I use it to an almost infinite degree. I like it as a day to day tool, but I also like seeing my progress, process and evolution in work and home life I can't wait to see that on a larger scale as weeks and months go by. 

Who out there uses a bullet journal? Share your experiences and links to pics in the comments!

Artifacts Uprising Review

Disclaimer: My product reviews are completely unsponsored and unsolicited. The opinions are my own from my own experiences. 

Just the week before xmas, I decided I really wanted to send out new address cards for the xmas/new year season. I've always wanted to try Artifacts Uprising so I thought this would be the perfect time. 

I decided to use two photos I had taken of the wreath on our door. I logged on easily and chose the cards I wanted. I opted for the simple Everyday Photo Cards in size 3.5 x 4.9. It was a little confusing bc although I opted for 20 cards in the quantity section, the editor section only let's you edit 10 at a time. You also have to edit one card at a time, but you can choose 10 different designs, one for each card. I did my first batch of 10 cards all the same photo, the next batch I did 5 and 5. Since I ordered them so close to the holiday, they let me know there was no guarantee I'd get them in time to send for xmas. 

Artifacts Uprising was very quick and the cards arrived with in a week or so! I imagine the wait would be longer if the order were larger. The cards themselves are really lovely, printed on heavy, soft, textured, card stock. The images are crisp and the colors are bright. I love the minimal use of the company logo on the back of each card.  Overall, the quality is very high.
Artifacts Uprising is a little more pricy than some of the other makers out there (each card came to about $1.83) but I will definitely be using them again. I would highly recommend them!

Has anyone else used Artifacts Uprising?