I took this opportunity to try some new delivery services:

• Instacart - review - discount
• Butcherbox - review - discount
• Hello Fresh - review - $40 discount
• Misfits Market - review - discount
• The Wine Shop - review - discount​

More Posts Like This: Low Waste • Sustainable • Health & Beauty • Reviews 

​Sooo... I used to subscribe to dollar shave club, but canceled my membership because 1. I was getting too many blades (I don't replace them until they need replaced, rather than on a schedule) and 2. I was interested in using up what I had and switching to a less wasteful alternative. Granted, refillable razors where you replace just the head are a good step if you are using the kind that you are supposed to dispose of after each use. But I was ready to take the next step. So I set out to use all my dollar shave club replacement blades. Months and months later I saw that Leaf Shave had a kickstarter for a new safety razor - the Twig Razor! I thought this was a great opportunity to save some $$ on this investment piece. 

While the Twig was in development/production during the crazy year that was 2020, my dollar shave club razor fell (as it had done countless times) in my shower and actually broke in a way that I could no longer attach the replacement blades. :( I literally spent the subsequent months gripping the razor head with my soapy fingers and making due. lol. Crazy, but maybe good training?

More Posts Like This: Low Waste • Sustainable • Health & Beauty • Reviews

I backed the The Twig razor: plastic-free shaving made easy campaign in the summer and it was charged to my Chase Freedom Unlimited card on 9/24/20 once the project was fully backed with an estimated delivery date of November 2020. 

As an early bird I snagged the starter kit (1 Twig single-blade safety razor, 1 Twig stand, 1 Blade Recycling tin, and 1 pack of 50 single-edge blades) in Silver for just $68. Yay! Today it's regular price is $91. So huge savings! 

I received the final product on 1/23/21.

I'm giving you these details so you can know what to expect if you back something on Kickstarter. You have to be patient, delays come up, design issues come up. But I think it's worth it because you are part of something awesome that is being created. Your support allows a new product to come into existence that otherwise may not have, or at least not as quickly. And in appreciation for that support, you can get a nice discount if you don't mind the waiting! I have backed some other great crowd funded products like Last Tissue - The Reusable Tissue Pack, Last Swab - The World's First Reusable Cotton Swab, Throw Throw Burrito from the makers of Exploding Kittens (super fun games), and I enjoy the experience. I know encircled's UnBlazer was crowdfunded on indiegogo which was cool. On the other hand, there's one product I backed in 2019 ($1.3 million was crowdfunded) that was originally to be delivered by end of 2019 that has still been in prototyping all through 2020 (shut downs worldwide delayed things for sure, and to date, at the start of February 2021 I still haven't received it. So it's just a risk you take, but if you really believe in the product I recommend sticking with them. Imagine how much you would appreciate the support!

More Posts Like This: Low Waste • Sustainable • Health & Beauty • Reviews

I can only speak from my own personal experience. I found shaving with this razor to be an absolute delight. I was nervous I would cut myself, however I just tried to use a gentle hand and I haven't cut myself once (yet)! I didn't use shaving cream or anything. Just the suds from the handmade soap I got off Etsy recently. I've only been using this razor for about 2 weeks now, so my experience with it is limited. Yet so far I would definitely recommend giving it a shot if you're looking for ways to cut down on waste and also because it just looks so slick! 

At the start of 2021 I set out to replace my white cotton bath towels. Our previous towels have been used daily and washed weekly for several years. Even after they are washed, they just don’t feel like they used to. A little stiff, a lot less bright white. I’ve tried the vinegar tricks and whatnot suggested online, but finally my husband said “I think they’re just old and need replaced!” lol So that has been my mission.

I want something that is timeless, fresh, and made from natural fibers. One issue is that we have a small, poorly ventilated bathroom. In other words, anything too fluffy doesn’t dry completely before the next use. Bearing this in mind, I’ve decided to try waffle weave Turkish cotton towels. 

The idea is that the lightweight, waffle weave towels are both highly absorbent and fast drying which sounds up my street. I ordered from two different brands for the first time - Brooklinen and Quince - so I can do a side-by-side comparison of their waffle weave Turkish cotton waffle weave bath towels. 

Quince - Organic Turkish Waffle Towel Bundle - $69.90 - $10 friend discount = $59.90
The bundle includes 2 bath towels and 2 hand towels.

Brooklinen - All of their bundles included floor mats, but I didn’t like the color options (please add black!)
​So I made my own bundle:
2 Waffle bath towels, 2 waffle hand towels, and 2 waffle wash clothes - $100 - $25 refer a friend discount = $75

Quince - Free Shipping • Ordered 1/8/21 • Shipped 1/13/21 • Delivered 1/20/21
Brooklinen - Free Shipping • Ordered 1/8/21 • Shipped 1/10/21 • Delivered ​1/15/21

The Brooklinen order arrived in a sturdy cardboard box with a handle. The towels inside were wrapped in plastic. They also included a very nice canvas tote!

The Quince Organic Turkish Cotton Waffle Towels are slightly smaller than the Brooklinen Towels. The Quince Waffle Towels, I would say are a little more light and springy. The finishings are nice! Quite pleased! 

As indicated above, the Brooklinen waffle bath towels are slightly larger in dimension than the Quince waffle towels. The Brooklinen towels are also a bit more substantial. They are also excellent quality. I was surprised, though, to see a number of threads poking out of most of the towels. Upon initial inspection, they don't seem to be loose/ I don't anticipating them affecting the integrity and durability of the towels. Nevertheless, I was surprised to see this. I need to trim them! The Brooklinen towels are OEKO-TEX certified which is great. 
​
Tip:  I do recommend paying close attention to the care instructions. I accidentally dried them a little too warm (see my initial impressions here) and I think that caused puckering on the bottom edge as seen in the pics below. 

Get $10 off Quince • Get $25 off Brooklinen • More Home Reviews • Easy Eco Swaps Discount Here

The Brooklinen Trim is on the top/in the foreground in these two pictures and the Quince trim is in the background/ on the bottom. So you can compare the subtle design elements of the two. 

Get $10 off Quince • Get $25 off Brooklinen • More Home Reviews • Easy Eco Swaps Discount Here

More Brooklinen Reviews here • More Quince Reviews here

The Brooklinen washcloth is on the right in the first photo and on top in the second photo. Can you tell it is more dense than the  Quince towel? It's not easy to capture in photos. 

Overall I am really happy with both sets so far, but it's early days at just around 2 weeks of use and 2 washes. I think my husband may prefer the Brooklinen set, and while I kind of think that one will last longer and may be of higher quality in a lot of ways (even despite the loose threads), I may actually prefer the Quince set as I enjoy the springiness and I feel that the less dense waffle wave makes them more soft which I enjoy. I look forward to seeing how they both hold up over time and if those preferences shift. Ultimately, I don't think you can go wrong with either set. Let me know if you try them! 

​Update coming summer 2021

So you can get the discounts when you're ready!

I purchased these two long sleeve organic cotton tops (white and black) as wardrobe basics for my capsule wardrobe from Pact. Pact is a great place to find organic cotton basics at an approachable price.

First Impressions: I’m not in love with the fit of the organic cotton stretch fit long sleeve tees from pact, primarily the way they sit on my neck/shoulders. I’m not sure if it’s a sizing thing or a design thing. I was between XS and S in the sizing chart and went with XS because I wanted a snugger fit. The fit otherwise is fine, so I am wondering if the Small would have fit better around the neck and shoulders? These foundational pieces I primarily plan to use for layering, making the 100% perfect fit less of a priority. I'm curious to see how the fit will be over time!

These tees are 93% organic cotton and 7% Elastane. I can definitely feel the difference between the fabric in this shirt and my original pact purchase (read about them here and 1 year update here).


TIP: Wearing a lightweight, fitted shirt as a base layer can both aid in keeping you warm in the cool months and simultaneously preserve the life of your other garments such as cashmere sweaters (here or here), silk blouses (like this one or this one), and even cotton sweaters! The inner most layer can absorb any sweat etc. from your body and minimize the frequency of washes needed for your investment pieces!

Overall Rating 4/5 - These tees definitely serve the purpose I bought them for and will be worn well.
Would be a 5/5 if the fit was better on me! 

​Pact Organic Cotton Stretch Fit Long Sleeve Tee Review

Full review here.

Recently realized mycapsule wardrobe has two obvious footwear gaps - a light colored flat and a black flat, both for primary use with dress clothes. I snagged a pair of leather pointed toe flats from everlane totally unexpectedly in their year-end sale.

Initial Impressions: Fab purchase. I think they will last for years, the toe box is wider than most point toe shoes, and I’ve already worn them >12 times in less than 2.5 weeks.

Overall Rating 5/5
Everlane 40 hour flat review

Full review here. (soon!)

I was looking for a light colored sweater to replace a taupe turtleneck I had been wearing for years after receiving as a hand-me-down from a friend (ie. it had a long, long life and it was time.)

I don’t think this Everlane sweater is the perfect replacement, but I do think it’s a good addition to my capsule wardrobe. I’ve worn it at least 4 times in 2.5 weeks. The fit is good. I wish it was a little denser of a knit as you can definitely see a bit through the knit whether it's bra lines or a cami or other undershirt and that kind of bugs me although pretty common for a light colored top.

Overall Rating 4/5 so far.

Everlane Cotton Crew Sweater Review - TDF Life & Style Blog

Full review here.
​
Brooklinen Waffle Bath Towels, Hand Towels, and Wash Cloths in white. Love that they are OEKO-TEX certified! The towels feel durable and the waffle is nice both functionally and aesthetically.

Tip: Remember to dry on lowest setting/air fluff if you can’t lay flat to dry. I forgot and now the trim of my towels is puckered. No big deal, but kind of a bummer.

Overall Rating: So far 4.5/5

Brooklinen Waffle Towel Review - TDF Life & Style Blog

Full Review here
​ 
I thought I would compare another waffle towel set on the market and snagged the waffle bath towels and hand towels from Quince. No wash cloths available at this time. They are light and springy and absorbent. Organic Turkish cotton.

Overall Rating So far 5/5

Quince Waffle Towel Review - TDF Life & Style Blog 

Get $10 off Quince! 

Full Review here
​
I guess I didn’t actually purchase this in January. I ordered this on Kickstarter ages ago and finally got the finished product in January. Great addition to my low waste bathroom set up (read here) and I’m stoked I haven’t cut myself at all yet!! Really happy with this single blade safety razor set for plastic free shaving!!

Overall Rating 5/5

Twig Razor Review by Leaf Shave 

We recently added this air purifier to our bedroom and decided to add another one in our office since we’re spending so much time at home now. We ordered this one.  Are air purifiers worth it? If you don’t mind white noise, they are definitely nice to have as they really keep air circulating and clean. If you have a small space that gets stuffy quickly, it's really helpful! 

Overall Rating: 5/5
Levoit Air Purifier Review

Snagged some replacement V neck tees from Pact and some of their cotton knit boxers for my husband. I'll share any feedback he has in time.

​He is comparing these to the Amazon Goodthreads Slim Fit "Perfect V Neck" shirts he's been wearing for a couple years and really likes. 
Pact Soft Spun V Neck review Pact Cotton Knit Boxer Review

Full review here.

TLDR: Love the idea of the cake mascara and zero waste eyeliner - better ingredients and less waste, but for every day I dont have the patience!
I did find some tips to help with application which are in the review. 

​
I hope with time and more practice I can implement this, but in the mean time... 

Clean Faced Cosmetics Vegan Zero Waste Cake Mascara Review ​Clean Faced Cosmetics Vegan Zero Waste Eyeliner Mascara Review

As mentioned above, I was struggling with the new cake mascara and for rushed mornings I just wanted an easy mascara to use with an improvement in ingredients.

I've heard a lot about Pacifica Stellar Gaze Mascara for several years, so I just snagged a tube and I'm grateful for the ease-of-use! 

Pacifica Stellar Gaze Mascara Review

Gneiss Magnetic Spice Jars Review

Last Swab Discount

Underdesk Elliptical Review