How to be sustainable during a crisis.

Where ever you are today I applaud you for stopping by. For some reason a sustainable lifestyle doesn’t roll off the tongue and sound sexy to the ears, but it can start today and it can change in your mindset.

I took a trip out to California last year, my first visit in all my 26 years of life. I can admit that I had fantasized about what it would be like out there for years. I had the help of seeing it in movies and in shows and I had even met a few cool people from Cali.

But man you guys, the vision and the reality some how didn't match...The misty horizons, of morning dew would never settle.... because that was SMOG in the horizon.

I felt disappointed....in myself.

I had THOUGHT about recycling, but I didn't. I looked at friends that were doing it but I didn't join them. For some reason I was leaving it for tomorrow, but after this trip tomorrow became TODAY.

Recycling, saving the planet, living a sustainable lifestyle....it's one rabbit hole that leads down many others. I don't want to shove you in that rabbit hole, jump in at will, but let me introduce you to some undeniable facts.

WE ARE HARMING THE PLANET

OUR OCEANS ARE POLLUTED

WE ARE WASTING PRECIOUS RESOURCES.

I know hard to hear, but I am not yelling at you. I am shouting so everyone can hear, especially for those in the back unsure of when its their turn to jump in....

Now during the National Coronavirus Pandemic it was hard to wrap our minds around the fact that people all around the world are in their home wayyy longer than usual. Like you probably are, my family and I are making our way through our supplies and finding projects to dive into, to keep our minds occupied.

Well I have a theory that although there may not be as much fuel emmison in the air, there might very well be a rebound in the trash we will produce during this time. Single use plastic might be at an all time high to avoid contamination and if offered by a restaurant your options of recycling are already out the window. Figuratively and literally speaking.

To know WHAT to recycle click here

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There is one thing you do have in your control during your decision making, and that's how to create a sustainable lifestyle within your home.

Amazon is still delivering so let's see our options.

Reusable Napkin

What a game changer this has been in our household ! It started with me, long ago, making breakfast and in between dirtying my hands and reusing a butter knife to make 3 different sandwiches.

By the time I looked I had ran through 5 napkins ! I was embarrassed but aware. When I ran across Grow your pantry's, Bamboo Paper towel I was so excited to give them try and since, I have used it in so MANY ways.

Like; while cooking, while eating, and you guessed it while cleaning!

With this shift alone we have cut down on so much waste of paper towels.

It is YOUR business what you do in the bathroom with this reusable towel. However, keep in mind it will free up your rolls of non reusable towels for those needs.

Wool Balls

Pull one, two too many because I love the scent boosting benefit of a good dryer sheet. Buuuuut, they are useless after and totally end up in the trash. Wompp.

This was life for my household literally a month ago, and now I am so happy that I made the switch to Wool dyer balls. They are scentless, but I coat them in a unique blend of my essential oils and the scent lasts for DAYS after its been dried and hung up.

Now of course a step further would be to utilize the power of the all mighty sun and hang it outside. However, until someone builds me a clothes line this is the next best thing :P

Id say one down side to these is that you can lose your balls in your clothes, and if your rotating laundry all day you would want to keep track of your balls for reuse. I recommend getting XL balls for better tracking, and for less than $9 bucks theses balls will change your life. Did I mentions balls? Because these balls are great :D

Sorting

The most grueling task, people will think you are hoarding, they'll think your so desperate you need these to cash in on, your space will be taking over by empty cans and useless bags. Inconvenient, now you know how the planet feels !

Now this is where I am talking about mindset, if you can make it work and you make it your moral responsibility, no ones judgment will matter when in your heart you know you are doing the right thing.

Ever looked for the recycle symbol on bottles, and wondered why there were numbers on them. If not, now you will. Well they all stand for the type of plastic that it is and how it will be sorted at the recycling facilities to be repurposed. The most popular are #1 #2 & #5, which is used in Clothing, bottles, tubs and ropes and Can be recycled into fibers !

I find there is levels to this sorting game. I am guilty that if it doesn't have a recycle symbols on it, I do just waste it. That is after watching a docu-series on Netflix called BROKEN, Episode .4 (A MUST WATCH !) which stated people recycle things they shouldn't and I don't want to be people.

Many brands have taken it upon themselves to go beyond the numbers and straight up tell you HOW to recycle or if not to recycle. Places like Target have recycling stations, and Whole Foods has Gimme 5 where you can recycle your Brita water filter !

The options are there, you just have to care <3