From the Front Porch: Earth Day Edition

Hello from the front porch, sweet friends.

Thanks so much for being here and for making us part of your day.

Welcome to the Earth Day edition of this weekly series.

How has your week been?

Each year in honor of Earth Day, we recommit to making mindful swaps and creating more sustainability in our lives.

While it hasn’t always been easy, I can see the difference in the amount of trash we’re generating and the number of items coming in and out of our home each week, which feels really good.

So, with that in mind, I wanted to share super simple, eco-friendly things you can do, even if your town doesn’t have a big recycling program, that will help make a difference.

• Buy sustainable items once you run out of the items you’re currently using.
• Carefully consider needs vs wants.
• Clean up after yourself (and your pets) when you enjoy places such as the beach, park, lake, trails, mountains, waterfalls, rivers, springs, campgrounds, and along the highway.
• Use an insulated tumbler as opposed to a plastic bottle water when possible.
• Shop at the farmer’s market to help cut down on the amount of plastic containers in the landfill. Remember to bring your reusable shopping and produce bags.
• Shop at thrift stores, charity shops, estate sales, yard sales, and antique markets when possible.
• Limit the number of deliveries you’re getting when possible.
• Use refillable containers for household, beauty, and personal care products when possible.
• Cut down on the amount of single-use items you use each week.
• Using laundry sheets or laundry detergent in cartons will help cut down on the amount of plastic bottles in the landfill.
• Prioritize products made with recycled materials when possible.
• Consider energy-efficient home improvements and appliances whenever you need to buy or replace your old items.
• Buy native plants.
• Compost.
• Look for products that have established third-party emblems and educate yourself on the brands you currently support.
• Volunteer with community organizations for clean-up days.
• Support organizations that align with your values.

A Few of Our Favorite Posts from Around the Web this Week…

Beautiful Home and Garden Tours:

• Love, love, love The Fox Group. Their portfolio is filled with inspiration, and every home is swoon-worthy.
• This before & after makeover via My Scandinavian Home features a former welding plant that becomes a home and wedding venue, and there are lots of fabulous details to explore.
• This CA Home Tour via Jacelyn Clark is filled with cozy nooks and warm wood.
• Speaking of makeovers, this cottage flip house tour from Jenna Sue Design is a fun one, too.
• This post from Classic Casual Home has us considering open shelving in the kitchen at Loblolly. Fingers crossed we can get my Dad on board!
• We’re always looking for garden inspiration, and this post from House & Garden is filled with gorgeous cottage garden ideas.

Seasonal Project Ideas and Inspiration:

• Can you even with these beautiful charcuperies from Michael at Inspired by Charm? They’re almost too pretty to eat!
• This post, 15 Trash to Treasure Free Decor Finds from Rachel of The Ponds Farmhouse, was a fun one. She always finds the most interesting pieces.
• This waxed pine dresser from Anna of Sky Lark house is one of my all-time favorite upcycles.
• A helpful post from Rachel of The Antiqued Journey on how to incorporate eco friendly vintage decor into your home and why it’s so important.

Health and Wellness Inspiration:

• These tips on how to combat seasonal allergies via Lemon Stripes were helpful.
• 8 Natural Ways to Reduce Your Stress Hormones via The Everygirl.
• 4 Ways to Declutter Your Life For Mental Peace, According to a Psychologist via Forbes.
• Bookmarked this post, 100 Ways to Live a More Sustainable Lifestyle from The Minimalist Vegan.

Makeup, Style, and Travel Inspiration:

• If you’re traveling to Europe anytime soon, Alyson Hayley put together a fabulous post, 15 Outfit Ideas for a Spring Vacation to Europe, filled with really beautiful ideas.
• Forget Grays, Hair Loss is the Most Significant Change After 40 (via Marie Claire)
• 11 New Products Vogue’s Beauty Editor Wants You To Try (via Vogue)

Pep Talks:

• If you need a pep talk on procrastination, this Substack post from Unfiltered with Roxy A Real Talk Reflection on Procrastination, Purpose and Pressing Through was fantastic.
• Also, this video, 7 Productivity Habits That Honor God from Thrive with Rossi, was a good one too.

Encouraging Words…

If You’ve Missed Anything from the Blog or the Archives, Here’s a Peek at What We’ve Been Up To…

Decorating with Vintage or Salvaged Finds

How to Create a Console Table From An Old Door

DIY Stenciled Bee Tray

Repurposing a $15 Payer Bench

Crafting Crock Inspired Paint Cans

Tips for Shopping Yard Sales

Getting ready for the first Saturday in May? Explore ideas in our From the Front Porch: The Derby Edition post.

Shopping Notes…

 **(Amazon affiliate links have been provided for your convenience. As an Amazon and Impact Media Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Any sales made through such links will support us with a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read our full disclosure policy here)

• Laundry Sheets (curious about these after reading the reviews)
• Cotton Swabs (an easy swap)
• Dry Body Brush (self-care that’s eco-friendly)
• Refillable Deodorant Starter Kit (introduced to this brand from a YouTube channel I follow, and I’m intrigued)
• Toothbrushes (another easy swap, especially if you keep extra toothbrushes on hand for guests)
• Dryer Balls (have and love, unfortunately, Piper does too, so we’ve had to replace them several times)
• Toilet Cleaning Strips (another product I’m curious about, especially for those of us with hard water)
• Reusable Grocery Bags (have used these for years and they’re still holding up well)
• Reusable Food Wrap (a simple alternative to plastic wrap)
• Bandages (a recent discovery, this brand has lots of eco-friendly products to explore)
• Dishwasher Pods (hoping to try these once we finish the pods we’re currently using)
• Toilet Tissue (made from bamboo)
• Hand Soap Refill (a company on a mission to keep plastic bottles out of the landfill)
• Swedish Dishcloth Set (the pattern I use is no longer available, but there are plenty more to choose from)
• Hand Cream (a French brand that’s Certified B Corp)
• Straws (have, love, and use daily, ours came with a bag)

That’s all for now!

As always, we appreciate you so much, and we hope your weekend is peace-filled and relaxing.  We can’t wait to share even more with you next week!

Until next time, I’ll see you on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

Many blessings,

CoCo