We often hear from young women who want to try GladRags, but are afraid that living in a college dormitory will make reusables impossible.  Whether you live by yourself, with roommates, or in a coed dorm, it’s totally possible for GladRags to be a simple, convenient part of your life.  Here’s a few tips for using cloth pads and cups in less-than-private living situations:

Use a menstrual cup
Alicia M. writes, “I usually empty my DivaCup twice a day! It’s that easy. Even in the dorms there is usually a time when the bathroom is empty.”  You can also bring either a small water bottle or damp paper towel into the stall with you to discreetly clean your cup.

Presoak your pads
Nadia R. advises college students to “just have a small tub (like a plastic basin) that when you’re done with a rag/pad you can put it in to soak.  Use an old dark t-shirt to drape over the top while they soak — it won’t smell if its just a day or so — then pop them in with a load of laundry.  Good luck! You can do it!”

Try the “dry method”
“I don’t actually soak my pads until I am ready to wash them (so they don’t sit around and mildew while wet). I’ve never had a problem getting any “stains” out and if you throw them in with underwear at a communal laundry room, chances are no one will even notice,” says Jennifer W.

The facts about disease
Occasionally women are concerned about the possibility of disease transmission by using cloth pads.  Fortunately, there are very few viruses or infections that can survive outside the body or a wash in soap and water — including HIV.  Keep in mind that all kinds of bodily secretions (mucus, semen, and fecal matter to name a few) are often present in clothing that is washed in shared facilities, and that the chances of getting sick from a shared washing machine are incredibly slim!

It’s your choice
Whatever you choose to use for your menstrual cycle, remember that it’s your choice!  No one else has the right to decide for you, so choose what’s right for your body and your life — and be proud, not embarrassed!  If you still need some encouragement, Amanda S. say, “DO IT.  Seriously one of the best choices I have ever made… start a dorm movement!”  And you can always find more support and tips here on our blog or on our Facebook page!

Readers, what tips do you have for college students who want to try GladRags?

• Green Upgrader sings some praises in Reusable Menstrual Products Help Reduce Waste, Save Money.

• A study finds that the presence of older brothers delays menstruation in girls.  Learn more about why they think that is and how it relates to sexual activity here.

• I’ve always wondered What Causes Digestive Issues During Menstrual Periods.  And now I know!
• Ashley at Domestic Chaos reviews cloth pads and the Instead and rates them according to effectiveness and comfort.
• A new study finds a link between stress and worse PMS symptoms.
• Life on Health brings us many reasons to start using menstrual cups in Wondering How To Forget About Menstrual Pains & Discomfort Of Constant Tampon Or Pad Changing? Menstrual Cups!
• Check out this laughable recent ad for douching How to Ask for a Raise: First, Wash Your Vagina.  If only we could all feel comfortable with our own bodies silly shaming ads like this would not be a problem!
• Reasons to use a menstrual cup, let blogger Delta S count the ways.

About GladRags:

• Thanks to everyone who donated to our campaign for an orphanage in Nepal!  Learn more about the orphanage and our donation campaign here.
• You can see the TigerMama crew sporting their new GladRags pins in the picture to the right! Want one of your own? Sign up to be a GladRags Guerrilla!

• Just in case you’d forgotten why you love your GladRags (or need a link to pass on to a friend!), Green Upgrader has a great post called “Reusable Menstrual Products Help You Reduce Waste, Save Money.”

• MSNBC shared a brief but intriguing article about the effect of having brothers on a woman’s reproductive development.

• Ever wonder why your digestive system seems to get a little wonky around your peroid?  Dr. Sugar explains it all for you in this Q & A post.

• Ashley reviews cloth pads and the Instead cup, and rates them according to comfort and effectiveness.  Find out which method she likes best at Domestic Chaos!

• We recently learned about the Sierra Club’s Beyond Oil House Parties from a GladRags user who hosted one at her home in Minnesota and contacted us for materials and coupons to share with her guests.  Stacy wrote, “This event is fun learning opportunity to inspire simple and eco-friendly lifestyle changes that will make a difference for our Earth.”  And of course, using GladRags is one of those easy changes that can help reduce our dependence on oil!  Check out Stacy’s pictures from her party (below) and let us know if you host an event of your own.

I’ve been a little under the weather and missed last week’s Green Goal post.  This week, I thought what better topic for the Green Goal than eco-friendly first aid?  It’s surprisingly easy to take care of minor issues without having to head to the nearest pharmacy.  And, when you do it yourself, you’re avoiding packaging and manufacturing waste and petroleum-based products.

Of course, if you have any medical concerns, are pregnant, breastfeeding, or may become pregnant, you should always ask your doctor!

Your Green Goal this week is to start stocking your medicine cabinet by following some of the tips below.  As always, please share your ideas and feedback in the comments!

•  Break off part of an aloe vera plant and what’s inside?  Aloe vera gel!  Use it to soothe irritated or sunburned skin naturally.

• To treat a stuffed up nose, crush up a few dried eucalyptus leaves in a bowl and fill the bowl with boiling water.  Cover your face and the bowl with a towel and breathe in the steam through your nose to help clear out congestion.

• Chewing on fresh mint leaves is said to ease indigestion.

• Rub lavender oil on insect bites and stings to reduce inflammation, or on your temples to help calm headaches.

• A common folk remedy for gas is to drink a strong tea made with basil leaves.

And of course, just taking time to rest, eat properly, and drink plenty of water can help you feel healthier!

Author: Eve Agee, PhD

What it’s all about: The uterus!  In many cultures it’s considered the center of the body and a source of power, but in Western medicine the uterus is often ignored or considered a “polluting factor for women’s health” (remember hysteria?).  The author, a medical anthropologist and holistic healer, encourages you to celebrate your uterus and offers in-depth guidance for optimal uterine health.

Who it’s for: If you have a uterus, this book is for you!  You’ll learn how to maintain uterine health through cognitive restructuring and visualization, nutrition, posture, and bodywork.  Women with uterine health conditions such as menstrual cramps, endometriosis, and fibroids, will find detailed chapters on holistic approaches to improving their well-being.  Each section is chock-full of useful information presented in a positive, empowering way.

Why you should check it out: With full chapters on menstruation, fertility, and menopause, this book makes a great reference for all stages of life.  Plus, the author draws from a unique base of experience and knowledge: she was born in the Ozarks, conducted women’s health research in the United States and Africa, served in the Clinton Administration, and is a certified Spiritual Life Coach.

Take a look:  Alex recently attended a discussion led by the author at In Other Words, a feminist bookstore just down the block from GladRags HQ.  The reading and discussion were great!  Agee lead the all-woman group in an open and honest way, and created a safe conversation space where we could say what was on our minds.  The ease of the discussion really mirrored the book’s friendly and informative approach.

We’re giving away a copy of The Uterine Health Companion to one lucky blog reader!  To enter, leave a comment on this entry by August 6th at 12 pm.  We’ll pick a winner using a random number generator. Make sure to include your email address so we can contact you if you win!

The Uterine Health Companion: A Holistic Guide to Lifelong Wellness by Eve Agee

• Toni Weschler, author of Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement and Reproductive Health, answers a few questions about menstruation on Scarleteen in Talking Menstruation with Toni.
• Lani Beloso, an artist with menorrhagia paints canvases with her own menstrual blood (see photo).  Read more about how she sees her work as catharsis and art in this article on Jezebel.
• The Huffington writes about reusables in How to Green Your Period!  Negative comments ensue.  Be sure to change that by posting about how much you love GladRags or your menstrual cup!
• The Diva Cup, Race, and Blood by Nuñez Daughter brings up some thought-provoking ideas about race, feminism, and alternative menstrual products.

Giveaways:

Win a 3-pack of the Color Cotton GladRags from the Rent Tent Movie!  Also check out their site; we can’t wait to see this film!

Did you know that the United Nations has stated that the meat industry is one of the biggest contributors to carbon dioxide emissions?  Or that consuming just one pound of meat is equivalent to driving an SUV 40 miles?  Or that you’ll save more water by not eating that one pound of meat than you will by not showering for an entire year?

No matter how you look at it, skipping the meat in your meals is better for the environment — and your health!  Even if you aren’t ready or able to go completely veg, limiting meat consumption to just a few servings per week can make a huge impact.  Your Green Goal this week is to try replacing bacon at breakfast with veggie sausage, the turkey on your sandwich with hummus and avocado, and serving a bean or quinoa-based dish as the main course at dinner.

Of course, even with the plethora of fake-meat products on the market, it’s always better to substitute whole foods like grains, beans, or veggies for meat.  You can even make your own “burgers” from black beans!

In response to our recent No-Poo post, commenter Jadea suggested making your own hair care products as a way to avoid icky chemicals and excess packaging.  I had planned to write about Farmer’s Markets this week, but since it feels like November outside here in the Pacific Northwest and I can think of nothing better than a hot shower, your Green Goal this week is to try out one of these eco-friendly hair recipes.  And of course, please share your favorite natural haircare tip in the comments!

Rosemary Rinse for Oily Hair

Ingredients
1/4 cup organic dried rosemary

Directions
Simmer rosemary in 1 1/2 cups of water. Strain mixture and discard rosemary. Use remaining mixture as the final rinse after shampooing.

Ginger Dandruff Treatment

Ingredients
Ginger root (grated)
1 teaspoon organic sesame oil
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Directions
Squeeze ginger root through press to obtain one tablespoon of juice. Mix all ingredients. Apply to scalp and let dry before shampooing. Repeat three times a week for best results.

Color-Enhancing Rinse (Red)

Ingredients
1/2 cup carrot juice
1/2 cup beet juice

Directions
Rinse thoroughly (and carefully — beet juice can stain!) through hair after shampooing to add or enhance a red tint.  Brunettes: Try a rinse of black tea or coffee to add shine and deepen color.  Chamomile and lemon juice will brighten blonde hair.

Banana Avocado Mask for Dry or Damaged Hair

Ingredients
1 banana
1 egg
1/2 avocado
2 tbsp honey
3 tbsp buttermilk
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Directions
Mash banana, egg, and avocado in a small bowl. Add remaining ingredients and stir until well combined. Apply to hair from roots to tips. Leave in for 30 minutes and then wash out with a moisturizing shampoo.

Nourishing Tea Treatment

Ingredients
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tsp ground lavender
Dry contents of 2 peppermint tea bags

Directions
In small saucepan, heat olive oil, lavender, and peppermint tea. Do not boil. Massage into scalp over damp hair. Cover hair with shower cap or towel to keep in heat and leave in for 20 - 25 minutes.

Sources: LongLocks, SheKnows, Stash Tea

Take a break from your (hopefully not too) manic Monday with this week’s Menstrual Monday: a line-up of interesting news articles, blogs, art, and more, straight from the GladRags Twitter feed.

• Pick up a copy of the latest Mothering Magazine for their awesome article on cloth diapers; a lot of the concepts in “The Diaper Dilemma” apply to cloth pads, too.

• Lunette Selenes are in!  You’ll have to excuse us shouting this from the rooftops, because these cups are just so darn pretty.  I think I actually clapped my hands with glee when the package arrived at the office.

• Read “Saving the World by Not Using Tampons” to learn more about the founder of Green Drinks Singapore and why her first experience recycling was not so fun.

• “Eight Myths about Washable Pads Dispelled” makes me love the folks at Scarleteen even more than I already did.  Such an amazing resource for young people!

• Kali from The MakeUp Drawer Blog recently heard about cloth pads for the first time and shares her thoughts.  She says she’s not a convert (yet) but wants to hear your experience in the comments — so make sure you let her know how much you love reusables!

• Go Green Street has five super easy tips to help ease menstrual cramps — naturally.

• What does it mean to stop menstruating?  The Great Whatsit reflects on the finale of her 29 years of menstruation.

• Here at GladRags HQ we’ve been preparing for this year’s Green Festival in Seattle.  We’re hoping lots of GladRags fans will stop by our booth to say hi! Volunteers for the festival get free passes, so there’s no excuse to miss this incredible event!

The weather is beautiful again, which makes this the perfect season to spend time outside!  Your Green Goal this week is to make one trip on foot or by bike, instead of driving or taking the bus. There are many benefits to using alternate forms of transportation.  Not only are biking and walking awesome forms of exercise, but you’ll be traveling independent of environment-destroying gasoline or electricity.  You’ll see and experience your town in an entirely different way.  You can interact with your community, discover places you never knew existed, and even pick fresh fruit!

Often people are afraid of looking sweaty when they get to their destination.  Try short distances at first to become more comfortable with what clothes you need to wear and how much extra time you might need to give yourself to cool off.  You will soon end up feeling energized and good about yourself when you arrive at your destination!   Don’t forget a helmet — and bike lights, too, if you plan on biking at night.

Here at GladRags we love biking everywhere!  Of course we do have the advantage of living in Portland, OR, a biking mecca.  Tomorrow I am representing GladRags at Bike Economics: a fundraiser showcasing local, woman-owned, bicycle-oriented businesses.  I am really excited to connect with other bicycle-loving women in my community.  If you are in Portland, you should join us!

Do you bike or walk everywhere?  What obstacles did you face when you started?  Comment and let us know what biking and walking is like where you live!