Starting a backyard compost can drastically decrease the solid waste you add to landfills, where it’s hard to break down, and will provide you with easy access to nutrient rich soil to use in your yard or garden. Starting a backyard compost is easy. It’s easy to start composting with a compost bin for your yard. You will be amazed how much you compostable waste breaks down in your composter. Next year, you will be lucky to save money using your own compost instead of buying it all for your garden.
2. Install a Rain Barrel
Install a rain barrel in your yard. A rain barrel will reduce runoff water from your home while providing you with garden water. This means you can also reduce your water consumption and your water bill. For those in drought prone communities, it may take your rain barrel longer to fill between rains but permits some watering in the driest times.
3. Invite the Birds & the Bees
Invite the birds, bees, and other pollinators into your yard. You can start by adding a bird feeder with seeds or hummingbird feeder with sugar water. Take it a step further by adding native trees, shrubs, or other pollinators to your garden. These plants will attract pollinators like bees and butterflies to your yard for the food they need to do their work. You will get the added bonus of a beautiful garden thanks to their pollination and can enjoy their presence as they flutter across your landscape.
4. Cut Back on Paper Towels
Reducing your paper towel consumption is easy when yourself, and your kitchen, up for success. Adding a few sweedish discloths to your kitchen can do the trick. These reusable alternatives can be washed in your washing machine or your dishwasher. They are even compostable when it’s time to retire them from your kitchen. Now you can hide your paper towel roll somewhere off the counter (which may also help you break any habits of reaching for a paper towel all the time).
5. Modernize Your Food Storage
Stop blowing through single-use sandwich bags by switching to silicone sandwich bags. These silicone storage bags are reusable, free from plastic toxins, and dishwasher safe. Making the switch pays off over time but is expensive to get started. If you can’t make the switch overnight, add a few at a time until you can stop spending money on the disposable bags.
Have you heard about True&Co? I want to spill, they are my absolute new favorite spot to shop for unbralievable bras! Almost a year ago I saw an instagram ad for, honestly, a very ugly bra. This bra wasn’t anything along the lines of what I usually purchased but it looked so comfortable! I’d also been hearing about potential problems that stemmed from underwire bras so I decided to give it a try. When my order arrived, I instantly fell in love! Not only was this bra incredibly comfortable but it also looked great under my blouses for work. It was so smooth and seamless. Since purchasing this one I’ve found three more I love from True & Co. I’m excited to share my four favorites from True&Co! If you try them, I hope you fall in love as much as I did- you should spill the secret with others too!
I recently ordered The Double Shot Blow-Dryer Brush by DryBar. Then, I heard about Revlon Salon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer. They look really similar, both have great reviews but have a $100 difference in price. I needed to give them both a comparison to decide which was a better spend! Here’s my face-off review!
// The Double Shot Blow-Dryer Brush //
This brush by DryBar is $150. It’s a good amount of money to spend on a hair tool. Until a couple months ago I have been using the same $30 blowdryer that I purchased in high school. Admittedly, it didn’t get much use. $150 was a hard pill to swallow but I wanted to try it out. After my first use I was pretty impressed. My hair dried faster, smoother, and with much less effort than I was used to. My mom’s thought was that it was fast and easy but she couldn’t get the same volume as a brush and blowdryer so she would pass on the purchase herself.
//One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer //
This brush by Revlon is $56.99. That’s a lot less expensive than the one I tried from DryBar. Had I heard about the Revlon option first, I wouldn’t have even tried them both. After trying the DryBar brush, I tried this one a few times. They are very similar. The Revlon’s sound is a little louder and get’s a little hotter. It also makes a strong plastic smell, which I read is normal and will go away.
// Decision //
The price difference is $100. It’s a not a huge difference functional difference between the two. Between the smell and the extreme heat that I don’t want to damage my hair I decided spending the extra money on DryBar’s double shot was worth it. If you decide to try them both for yourself, try starting with Revlon’s– it could change the outcome.
My mom and sister did not love either option. If you’re someone who has already mastered the process with a round brush and blow dryer you may prefer the option for more control, like them.
It was a great time for me to give them both a shot and I am excited to have a better way to do my hair in the mornings through COVID-19 life and when I return to the office and can begin socializing again!
We’re all getting through this differently. One of my less-productive quarantine past-times is binge watching a few favorite shows! I would be lying if I said I didn’t always love a good binge session but I’m especially enjoying them right now because I have a little less guilt.Here have been ten of my favorites from Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.
// Orphan Black //
A Canadian science fiction thriller starring Tatiana Maslany, who is playing several roles– as clones! Try this show out if you wonder what ethical issues may exist around human cloning and how it effects identify! You can watch all five seasons of Orphan Black on Amazon Video.
// I’m Sorry //
This is a Netflix Original series created by and starring Andrea Savage, a comedy writer, wife, and mom experiences unexpected life situations. I thought the show was absolutely hysterical and blew through the entire series.
// Ozark //
This Netflix series released the third season. It’s about a finance Chicago based professional who must move his family to MO to continue laundering money for a drug boss. This is one of the few shows on the list that may actually appeal to you and your significant other!
// The Good Place //
This is an NBC show that’s available on Netflix through Season 3. The show gives you a look into afterlife as you evaluate what makes you a good person and how you can make it to “The Good Place”. I don’t want to give away too much, but it stars Kristen Bell so, enough said.
// Little Fires Everywhere //
This is a Hulu series based on Celeste Ng’s book, starring Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington. It’s currently being released one episode per week with the first seven episodes are available now. This is one that I’m watching with my mom and sister and it’s getting somewhat mixed reviews.
// Marvelous Mrs. Maisel //
This Prime original takes you back to the 1950s in Manhattan. The comedy follows a witty Jewish girl who’s perfect life took a change that allowed her to discover her comedic value. This one’s been popular for awhile, but if you haven’t joined the cult– now’s the time!
// The Handmaid’s Tale //
This Hulu series is based on Margaret Atwood’s 2013 dystopian novel. The show stars Elisabeth Moss in a future that plays with questionable power, gender, religious, and political issues. Warning: it’s dark.
// Catastrophe //
In this catastrophic Prime comedy, an American visits London and life and mistakes play from there. Take a little time from your own mistakes and watch the stars of this show see that life can go different than expected.
// Schitt’s Creek //
This Candadian sitcom is a true cult-favorite. It aired on CBC (it’s last episode aired April 7, 2020). You can watch seasons 1-6 on Netflix now. Watch the wealthy Rose family go broke overnight and learn to adapt to their new lives in Schitt’s Creek. I will admit, it took me almost an entire season to appreciate the dramatic, sarcastic acting but I have loved it since then! Plus, Alexis Rose (played by Annie Murphy) is my fashion idol!
// You //
This Netflix original is based on Caroline Kepnes’ novel. The show stars Penn Badgley from Gossip Girl. The main character is a brilliant man who would do anything for love.
I generally enjoy decorating for the holidays. I feel like it gives you the chance get to enjoy something different around your house for about a month and can really help you create a mood. Right now, it’s Halloween! I’m all about the mums and spooky side of things and less into the cutesy (read orange) part of Halloween.
When I decorate for a holiday, I prefer to keep it simple and not over-clutter my small space by choosing for small-touches instead of adding a too many large pieces that don’t fit into the rest of my home.
I typically buy 1-2 new decorations every year and try to do it after the holiday so I can get items after the prices have been slashed. Here are a few spots around my house from this year!
Thanks for checking out Colorfully Grey.