Menstrual Cups

Not only do menstrual cups save money but they also save the environment. They decrease the amount of waste. Instead of buying about 9 boxes of 36 tampons a year you can buy a menstrual cup that will last about 5-10 years for about $20-40 instead of spending about $60 per year for tampons or pads. It also prevents around 320 tampons from being thrown away or flushed down a toilet (which can cause plumbing issues).  But learning how to use a menstrual cup can throw you back to when you first learned to use a tampon. Here are some things I wish I had known.

1. There are different sizes, shapes and materials in menstrual cups. Make sure to do your homework on what you think will fit your body best. Each body is different and simplifying it to whether you have had a child or not can be harmful.

2. When inserting the tampon fold it in half. If it hurts going in you have the wrong angle. Try many different angles and don't be afraid to mess up. I find squatting or leaning back can help me insert it.

3. The location of a menstrual cup is different than the location of a tampon. When you put a tampon in the higher it is placed the better. With the menstrual cup you want it low and just above the cervix. After placing feel around and make sure it suctioned out. This ensures that it doesn't fold weird. Then grab the end (usually there is a ball or something that sticks out) and turn it around in a circle.

4. Cleaning is pretty simple just wash it with warm water and a mild soap. You can boil it in water. This is good especially when you first get it or between periods.

5. While it is difficult to figure out ultimately it becomes more comfortable. Tampons dry out your vagina. Now that I use a menstrual cup I've noticed that it gets less irritated and dry.


Sources:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/18/period-cost-lifetime_n_7258780.html
http://jezebel.com/5890058/this-is-how-much-it-costs-to-own-a-vagina-an-itemized-list

Diving Aspirations

This is a blog to catalog my journey in learning how to dumpster dive. Among diving I would like to learn and implement other things that help reduce my carbon footprint. There is an excess of waste and I would like to do my part in limiting my waste. So far I have found that local grocery stores and bakeries are the best places to find safe edible garbage. In Logan Lee's Market and Einstein Bagels are the most consistent spots. There are still several places I would like to try. Crumb Brothers and Little  Ceasars are also probably good. I haven't found the best time to get food at either of those places.

My goal is to decrease my environmental footprint by eating foods that would likely be thrown away. I also plan on learning to grow better gardens and eat foods that I may not think about eating otherwise.

Good Spots:
Einstein Bagels
Lees Grocery Store
Crumb Brothers

To Try:
Sweetly Divine
Temptation Cupcake
Old Grist Mill South
Kneaders
Hearms
Maceys
Island Market
Market Los Primos