Sustainable + Mindful Living

Get ready, friends. This is gonna be a long one. 

Taking care of our Mama is of the highest importance, which I'm sure most of you are aware of. Without her, there is no us. Its a simple as that. She is so utterly beautiful and magnificent and we've shown our gratitude in all the wrong ways. So, I'm here to share all the ways I try to live more mindfully and sustainably to more properly express my gratitude for the Earth and all she does and provides for us. With that said, I am NOT perfect- far from it, actually. So, if there is something you do to live a more sustainable life that I did not mention, please share! If I get enough responses, I'll send a follow-up email so we can continue to inspire each other. That's what community is all about, right? I'll also be sharing some of my favorite environmental activist / sustainable living blogs who are constantly educating others for FREE! Here we go:

Let's take on the obvious ones first:
-Reusable water bottle/mug/straw/utensils/bags. I mean, honestly, if you arent on this train yet I am definitely judging you. Ok, maybe I'll cut you some slack if you don't have the straw/utensils, but if you don't have a reusable water bottle, mug or shopping bags, what the F are you doing?! This has to be the easiest, most convenient swap to make on your journey of leading a more eco-friendly life. You can find reusable water bottles, mugs, and bags everywhere!
-I use a Nalgene from REI for my water because its big, BPA free and more lightweight than a glass water bottle, which I was using for a while but once I started teaching more and was on the road more, lightweight made a huge difference for me. Glass is great tho, I definitely prefer to drink from glass, but again, light-weight was a priority for me. And you can find those pretty much anywhere.
-My reusable coffee cup/mug is from Snowy Owl Coffee Roasters here on Cape. I like to support local as much as I can so when I saw they were selling these I had to buy one. I suggest you do the same! I think most coffee shops/cafes sell branded, reusable mugs. However, KeepCup is also a great option. I'm lucky because my mug from Snowy is a KeepCup so I can tell you from experience how great they are! I keep mine in my car for easy access and throw it in my bag to carry around when traveling without my car.
-I don't need to tell you where to buy reusable shopping bags because they are literally everywhere. Just look around and you'll see. I will share one specifically because of its convenience: I have a reusable bag that folds into itself making it a small ball shape that I keep in my purse/backpack all the time. This is great to combat the excuse of "I left them at home/in my car! Oops!" It makes it hard to use that excuse when it's on your person! I got mine at World Market, but when I did a little google search these came up, which are the same concept as the one I have. I wouldn't be surprised if TJ Maxx or Marshalls carries these, too.
-As for the straws, I got mine at a local juice bar/restaurant called Vivs Kitchen. The one I have is aluminum, but they also carry ones made from bamboo. I like the one I have but wish I did a little more research before purchasing only because I discovered the FinalStraw, which is made of stainless steel and folds into a little carrier, making it even more convenient to carry around with you.
-For utensils, I use To-Go Ware, which is made from bamboo and comes in a convenient little case! I carry the case in my purse/backpack with my reusable straw in it at all times. This is so helpful if you're eating at a place that only offers plastic utensils. Such an easy way to reduce single-use plastic waste! They also sell each utensil individually if you aren't interested in getting the whole pack.
-Package Free Shop makes it easy to grab these items as they sell them together as little bundles! Check it out here.

Now, do we need all these items to live more sustainably? Not necessarily. You don't need to have a reusable straw on you all the time, just simply opt-out of the straw. I'd be lying if I told you I always have a reusable cup on me. In the times where I'm buying a drink but don't have my cup I just ask for no lid/straw. It's not perfect but its better than nothing! If you don't have your mug but have a little extra time to spare, just stay at the cafe and enjoy your beverage there. Such a sweet, mindful way to spend your time, which we all deserve. Be careful with this as some places still serve your beverage in a to-go cup even when you're dining in (so annoying, I know). In those times you just have to be ~that~ guy and ask them to put your drink in an actual cup. It's worth it. The other day I asked a juice bar to give me my juice in a reusable cup, which ended up being a mug. If someone wants to judge you for giving a shit about the environment and your impact on it, that says much more about them than it does about you. There are always ways we can avoid unnecessary plastic use, you just have to get creative! I also keep a mason jar in my car for those times where I don't have my reusable mug on me- works just the same. As for when I have no bags on me, not even my cute little convenient one, I carry my stuff out. Obviously, this depends on how many items I'm getting, and sure it's a little awkward and not the most enjoyable, but my temporary discomfort is well worth the respect I'm showing to the environment.

Household items:
-Reusable lunch bags! I feel rather confident saying we have all used those single-use plastic baggies to hold our sandwiches, snacks, and leftovers (and other fun goodies) at some point in our lives. Sure, you can reduce your waste/use of those buy washing them and using them until they basically disintegrate, but I found a better solution: Stasher Bags! I literally put these on my Christmas list last year (because that's what adults do, right?) and I LOVE them.
-Beeswax food wrap! Buh-bye plastic wrap, it's not me, its most certainly you. Plastic wrap/saran wrap has to be one of the most popular, single-use kitchen items out there. Very easily replaced by beeswax wraps. I use Abeego but you can just search reusable food wrap and there are plenty of options if you arent into Abeego for whatever reason.
-Silicone baking mats are a great way to replace parchment paper. I got mine at BJs, but you can google silicone baking mats to find a ton of options.
-Dish soap, dishwasher detergent + laundry detergent: I've been using Seven Generations products, but my goal is to make my own dish soap so I don't have to continuously purchase detergent that almost always comes in a plastic bottle. You can use Google to find a bunch of recipes, which I plan to do once my current dish soap runs out. If you aren't a big DIY person, package freeshop and No Tox Life both have a solid dish soap bar you can use! There is also a brand called Dropps that sells sustainable dishwasher detergent + laundry detergent pods! The membrane they use for the pods themselves is biodegradable, which helps reduce the amount of plastic that makes its way into our waters. SO cool. 100% buying these when my current supply runs out.
-Dryer balls are an excellent way of getting rid of insanely wasteful dryer sheets. Those guys are one and done and are not even a little bit sustainable. I made the switch to dryer balls last winter (again, thanks Santa!) and I will never go back. Sometimes I'll even put a few drops of lavender essential oil on the balls so my clothes have a sweet scent once dry, but that's totally personal preference and not at all necessary. Dropps also sells dryer balls, so just add them to your cart when you go to buy your detergent.
-Sponges/Brushes are another sneaky plastic item that can easily be avoided by using those made from bamboo! Again, package free shop + no tox life to the rescue. They have plenty of options to choose from.

Bathroom goods:
-Toothbrush! Did you know that most toothbrushes arent recyclable and end up spending eternity in the landfills (and oceans)? Yeah, I didn't either. But once I did, I made the switch to toothbrushes made from bamboo! I use MABLE and I'm very happy with it.
-Razors are similar to toothbrushes in that they are not recyclable and spend lifetimes in landfills because of it. I made the switch to a safety razor and ordered one that I had been recommended from Amazon, but I wish I did a little more research before purchasing because shortly after I discovered Leaf Shave and I definitely would have gotten theirs.
-For soap, always go for bar soap! Such an easy way to avoid packaging. Again, No Tox Life has plenty of options, and so does Lush.
-Shampoo/Conditioner is also an easy fix. Similar to soap, you can easily find shampoo bars! Lush has a ton of options. I personally am not a fan of shampoo bars, so I use plaine products. What's amazing about them is they refill your bottles for you (and pay for shipping to get the bottle back to them)! They have a bunch of other options like hand soap and whatnot so definitely check them out.
-Deodorant is yet another product that comes in plastic packaging, but, not to fret, Meow Meow Tweet has plenty of options for us. I personally use the deodorant cream that comes in a glass jar, which you apply with your fingers. It's a strange adjustment but I honestly love it. I also have a weird thing for jars and like to clean/save them to use for other things, but I digress. If you're like wtf, deodorant cream?? With my fingers?? Then choose their deodorant stick option that comes in a paper tube! There's something for everyone.
-Men, close your eyes. Ladies, let's talk menstrual cups! Woo! The most sustainable period you could ever have. It's an adjustment for sure, but so worth it. I'm a huge, huge fan. I use the Diva Cup, but there are plenty of options, so google away!

Misc:
-Another great way to reduce your waste is to shop in bulk! Bulk tea, bulk herbs, bulk nuts, grains... the list goes on and on. Most Whole Foods have a bulk section, but honestly just use google, especially if you're in a big city. Most cities have stores dedicated to selling bulk items. I wish I had that! For those of us on Cape, Orleans Whole Foods Store has a bulk section and so does Whole Foods in Hyannis. If you know of more please share!
-Reusable produce bags are another super easy swap; most stores sell them or you can use the almighty internet to find them.
-Stop shopping for clothes! I know that's hard, trust me. But in all reality, you probably (definitely) have more than enough in your closet as is. Instead, try swapping with friends! I recently went to a clothing swap and it was so fun! Everyone brings items they are ready to part with and then you shop/swap! Obviously, there are occasions that require you to buy something, in that case, I recommend thrift shopping! This is a big one as the fast fashion industry has a huge, negative impact on the environment, bigger than you might think. I personally was shocked to find out the horrors behind the scenes of the fashion world. Nowadays there are so many ways to buy secondhand, especially online! I use the Poshmark app for clothing. You can sell your own clothes and also buy secondhand! I'm going to a wedding in a couple of weeks and got my dress there! Originally $198 and I got it for $65 and I am friggin PROUD. Plus, it was brand new! Came with the tags on it. Amazinnggggggg. Check it out. If you want something brand new and not thrifted, I totally get that. I do not only thrift shop/swap, but I am aware of the company I am buying from and what their impact on the environment is when I need something that is new. Again, it is, unfortunately, a big privilege to shop from some of these companies (I can't afford most of them, which is why I love poshmark), so just shop as mindfully as you can. We as consumers have so much power to make a change! We just need to be smart about who we are supporting with our dollars.
-Also, on that same note, Facebook Marketplace is such a great way to find secondhand goods for your home. We just got a super comfy couch (for free, nonetheless) on there. It's pretty much the only reason I'm still on Facebook.
-This is so random, but, make your own hummus! Honestly, make your own whatever you possibly can. I say hummus because I just made some this week, plus its another product that comes in a plastic container, but can be made at home really easily! Just google homemade hummus to find the right recipe for you. I'd tell you mine but I don't really do measurements so google is the best for starters. Another random thought: I sent an email last year about making your own almond milk. You can find that here.
-Compost! I live in an apartment and a town that doesn't have a composting program, so I cannot speak on this in detail or from experience, it's just something I aspire to have in my life. I would love to have one in my home, so anyone who has experience with composting in a small apartment hit me up! I'd love to learn. Anyway, you're kind of on your own for this one but I wanted to plant the seed :)
-Reduce the amount of meat and dairy you consume. I'm not here to convince you to become a vegan, I am simply encouraging you to realize how little you actually need those things to thrive and turn to plants as much as possible! Hate to break it to you, but the meat and dairy industries are two of the biggest contributing factors to global warming and climate change, with cattle ranching being the top cause of deforestation of the Amazonian rainforests. AND it takes almost 900 gallons of water to produce just one gallon of milk...That's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to devastating facts around the meat and dairy industries. Google, google, google. Treat meat like a delicacy, not a normal staple in your meal and choose nut milk when you can! Again, I'm not here to convince you to go vegan as that is an extremely personal choice that one must come to themselves, I'm simply encouraging you to think a little more about what's on your plate and how it's impacted others/our world to get there. We do not need meat and dairy as part of our daily diet to stay healthy and that's a fact. Again, GOOGLE. What you find will surprise you, and hopefully, inspire you to start adding more plants to your plate.
-Avoid unnecessary plastic as much as possible. This is TOUGH. I did Plastic Free July and learned just how hard it is to avoid plastic because almost anything at the grocery store comes in plastic. So, cut yourself a little slack on this one, especially if you're just beginning this journey of eco-friendly living. When you first start it can be really overwhelming, so take it one step at a time; ask yourself, do I really need this? If so, is there a way to avoid plastic? This type of lifestyle isn't about being perfect, it's about simply trying to do better however you can. On that same note, it is, unfortunately, a huge privilege to live this type of lifestyle as most of the products tend to be a bit more expensive. So, again, take it one step at a time and just do what you can! Every little bit counts and makes a big difference.

Okay, let's finish this up with some links to my favorite sustainable shops, brands, and blogs:

Shops:
-Most of the shops I use have already been linked, but I'll put the one I use most frequently here: Plastic Free Shop is so great. They are Brooklyn based, so all my CT/NYC peeps should definitely take a day trip there to avoid packaging from shipping. Everyone else, shop online! This is where I get a lot of my products from. Low Tox Life is another great option that I use often.

Brands:
-Again, most of the brands have been linked, but I wanted to add a couple of clothing brands that I love, like Girlfriend Collective for so many reasons, but I'll stay on topic and say that they make their clothing from recycled water bottles and fishnets. Outdoor Voices is another great company that is very conscious of its environmental impact. Honestly, all things REI. I fucking love REI. They're such a great company for so many reasons. Just go to one of their stores and you'll see for yourself. For more basic, everyday clothing I like Alternative Apparel. If you scroll all the way to the bottom of the page you'll see a link that says 'Our Responsibility" and that will show you why I like to support them. I could keep going but this email is already like a mile long, so just do your own research! It's easier than you'd think.

Blogs:
-Liv with Less Waste is ah-mazing. Olivia is so thorough in her research and creates amazing posts about environmental activism, sustainability and reducing waste. Here is a link to her blog, but she is also on Instagram @livewithlesswaste - I highly recommend following her. She has amazing resources in her story highlights like how to research brands to make sure they are actually as ethical as they market themselves to be, how to avoid shopping on amazon and facts about fast fashion.
-A Conscious Curation is a great option for those interested in more sustainable fashion, lifestyle and beauty products. Brittanie will do posts for mindful gift-giving from time to time and I'm obsessed. It's so helpful. She too is on IG: @aconsciouscuration

I know for a fact there are many, many more blogs out there, but I personally know these two ladies so I gotta show my love and support for all that they do. But you can easily find other blogs that cover similar topics, again, just research.

Alright, that's all I've got. For now, at least. Again, if I missed something, please share! Let's continue to inspire and help each other be better for our world.

With much love + gratitude,

Janelle