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Earth Day falls on April 22nd this year, but there’s no reason we can’t celebrate all month long. In fact it is so important that we begin making every day Earth Day. This is the only Earth we have and I want to do what I can to protect it for future generations. For that reason our family has begun taking steps to live a greener lifestyle. One of my favorite ways we have chosen to be a tad greener is using cloth diapers. Not only are they super cute, but we’re also sparing hundreds, if not thousands, of diapers from ending up in a landfill. I will be the first to admit that living a more eco-friendly lifestyle can be a bit daunting. But even changing small things makes a huge difference in the long run. How about starting at the bathroom sink with Tom’s of Maine natural personal care and oral care products?
We actually started using Tom’s of Maine products about a year and a half ago. At that time after some trial and error we realized that food dyes, red40 especially, were having very negative effects on our children. Totally eliminating the dye from our home was a bit challenging at first because it is in so many things – including many brands of toothpaste. And so I was absolutely delighted when I stumbled across Tom’s of Maine while shopping at Walmart. All of their products are made with no artificial colors, flavors, fragrances, or preservatives. Our girls absolutely love the Silly Strawberry™ Fluoride Toothpaste and as you can see it is never a struggle to get them in the bathroom brushing their teeth.
Speaking of brushing those teeth… with six people in our house and a very small bathroom the miniscule amount of space near the sink faucet was constantly cluttered with toothpaste tubes and toothbrushes among other personal care necessities. When the hubby and I first got married we had a beautiful porcelain toothbrush holder that matched our shower curtain… but kids happened… and porcelain things just don’t last around kids. The porcelain lotion dispenser and trash can didn’t fair well either. But back to getting our toothbrushes and toothpaste off the sink. I had a few mason jars sitting around…. well maybe more than a few…. I kinda have a thing for mason jars. Anyhow, I thought repurposing them into holders for our toothbrushes and toothpaste would not only look great, but would be a fun activity for Earth month. It was super simple to make – check it out.
Mason Jar Storage Rack
You will need: small piece of wood, 2 mason jars, 2 hose clamps, primer & paint or stain, sandpaper, 2 small screws, 2 long screws, drill, screwdriver.
Instructions:
1.) I chose a piece of wood 3/4” thick and 3/5” wide then had a very nice employee at Home Depot cut it to 10” long for me. Once I got it home I used the sand paper to round all the edges.
2.) I then sprayed one coat of primer to cover the wood and once dry added one coat of paint.
3.) Once dry I used the sand paper to scuff up the edges and a bit on the surface to give a more primitive vibe which is how the rest of our home is decorated.
4.) Next we measured where the hose clamps should be attached so they would be evenly spaced. Once those spaces were marked a drill was used to make pilot holes.
5.) Two small screws were used to attach the hose clamps. Next two long screws were used to hang on the wall. The mason jars were then placed into the hose clamps. So simple!
If you would prefer the toothbrushes to not touch each other simply punch some holes in a mason jar lid and screw on the top of one of the jars or use a longer board so that each person has their own jar.
Are you ready to take a baby step towards living a more eco-friendly life? If so, the next time you need to pick up some toothpaste or deodorant give Tom’s of Maine a try. You can find it in the personal care section at Walmart. Plus there are so many to choose from including Silly Strawberry™ Fluoride Toothpaste, Antiplaque & Whitening Peppermint Fluoride Free Toothpaste, Whole Care® Peppermint and Spearmint Fluoride Toothpaste, Unisex Long Lasting Apricot Deodorant, and more. Oh and I can’t forget to mention this awesome coupon for $1 OFF any Tom’s of Maine product purchase at Walmart.
Using Tom’s of Maine toothpaste and deodorant is just one way our family makes natural choices in our quest to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle. I’d love to hear some things your family does too.