a mason jar life in a cookie cutter house
Suburbs were designed with cars in mind. Roads, parking lots, driveways, and 2-car+ garages on homes all prioritize cars over people. Living car-free seems like only something someone living in a city with a great transit system (and probably no kids) can do. But what if we shifted our mindset from going completely car-less to [...]
Replacing paper towels and napkins with reusable options is a good place to begin reducing waste and saving money in your kitchen. Paper products (even those made of recycled content) still require a ton of resources to produce, ship, purchase, and bring home - only to use them once and throw them away. Nothing truly [...]
We all have clothing we are not wearing. As a society, we are buying (and wasting) more clothing than ever before, much more than the resale market can possibly cope with. Buying fewer items (of better quality) is one part of the solution, but making the most of what already exists is another. After all, [...]
It's that time of year again, when we realize we may have overdone it and are faced with holiday debt and even more stuff. Decluttering becomes a main topic of conversation in January for a reason - it is now part of the buying cycle. Instead, let's shut off the consumerism tap and be mindful [...]
Consumable gifts are a great low waste options any time of the year. Who doesn't like food?! Or a free jar? Over the years I have done baking mixes, soups, coffee, tea blends, and infused olive oils. Most ingredients can be sourced in bulk or even grown in your outdoor space. Gifts in jars are [...]
The holiday season presents a challenge when shifting to a low waste lifestyle with kids. Older children in particular have developed expectations about receiving gifts and are around peers with different experiences. Now is a good time to model giving presents with intention and showing that the meaning of gifts can (and should) go beyond [...]
When I first started planning for school lunches, the challenge was how to go nut-free for the safety of other kids. My brain got stuck on peanut butter and I wasn't sure what I could send our picky vegetarian kids that they would actually eat. Eventually I figured out 2-3 main items that would be acceptable [...]
