This is going to be easy right?

This is going to be easy, right?

YES! Easy, maybe not always MOST convenient, maybe pushing a bit out of our comfort zone, but when is change comfortable? Most importantly, is it going to be worth it? Well, if you like the planet you live on and want to continue doing so comfortably then, yes. If you love your family and friends then, yes. They live on the same planet and need you to do this too. So, if not for you, do it for someone else you love. It won’t always be most comfortable but I’ll do my best to show you how to make small, EASY changes that will make a BIG difference. I know we are all busy and it’s hard to make time to read, research, and put extra effort into our already busy lives. That’s why I’ll do the work and show you how a busy mom, teacher, and family are working to make small changes over time that will lead to big changes in our impact on this world.

 I first began this journey years ago by doing really simple things like investing in my own reusable straws, never buying or using single use water bottles, and bringing my own cutlery when I needed to eat out to avoid plasticware. Soon, I began doing more research into carbon emissions, eco-friendly companies, ways to further reduce our plastic waste, reading and watching stories about people actively standing up for and helping to make change in ways I only applauded and thought “gosh I wish I could do that.” Surprise, I CAN. You can too!

If you don’t want to commit to everything my family does, that’s ok! If you want to educate me on better, more sustainable products or living, I will gladly invite that too!(but I will not tolerate hatred or judgement for my efforts in trying to do better) I’m constantly trying to educate myself and do better for our earth and encourage you to also! For the record, my family is NOT living a ZERO waste lifestyle, making our own toilet paper, and growing all our own food. I’d love to say we are and that we have been for years, but we just aren’t there, likely will never be, and that’s ok! If everyone cared enough to do just a handful of things to live more sustainably what an incredible change that would make. So do what you can, ask me questions, if I don’t know the answer, I’ll do my best to find out! So that you don’t feel too overwhelmed, lets start with 5 ways my family made a change that were EASY and we could start right away.

Here are 5 things you can do THIS WEEK to start your journey to a more sustainable lifestyle.

1. Buy and USE a reusable water bottle, STOP buying single use plastic bottles! My family all has their own Hydroflask ( even my 9 mo. old ) and we LOVE them. They keep our liquids cold, have easy to carry handles, are easy to clean, and go with us everywhere! the kind we use are linked here https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MZCFYQ2/ref=twister_B07BDR5FLZ and most recently I just got Henry this glass sippy that is no spill and its fantastic! click the link to check them out! https://www.amazon.com/Set-Toddlers-Spill-Proof-Silicone-Removable/dp/B0852RGPL4/ref=sr_1_5?crid=UBOHAOVZHZXI&dchild=1&keywords=glass+sippy+cups+for+toddlers&qid=1602525556&s=baby-products&sprefix=glass+sippy%2Cbaby-products%2C197&sr=1-5 * NOTE: I have mixed feelings about Amazon, but know that it’s what MOST people use. ( Guilty, but not my all the time for EVERYTHING website.. I’ll be using it to link products for your reference ) SO, if you choose to use Amazon please consider linking your account to the ” amazon SMILE prime ” it allows you to view and support thousands of charities all over the world and contribute money from your purchases to these efforts as well as the ability to purchase items each organization needs and donate those goods directly to people aiding in those efforts. ( More on Amazon and their eco footprint below) If you’re like us and don’t like drinking tap water, we use a Brita filter and fill up our glass water containers at the grocery store when we go each week. ( Now with Covid, we are not going to the store.. so our Brita gets more use.. but I prefer no waste and will resume filling our water containers once we feel safe going to stores again.)
2. Buy and USE reusable straws if you must use one at all. I was once a ” I HAVE to have a straw kinda girl” now, I rarely need one, but have my own for when I feel so inclined. You can get one that folds, one that extends, one that is straight, or one that has a bend. If you don’t like metal, get a silicon one that is softer and less rigid to carry around. I have had ( and have) them all, but my favorite is the long metal easy to clean and rinse kind like these -> https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Reusable-Drinking-Tumblers-Silicone/dp/B07RJQHM8S/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=reusable+metal+straws&qid=1602525930&sr=8-3-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyTkI3NUxSSDVRRzJWJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNTIxMzAwNjhUMjhNRVFGTlQmZW5jcnlwdGVkQWRJZD1BMDA3MDAxMVY4NENESUE3RDlaQiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU= I even bought large “smoothie or boba tea” straws for my addictions that allows thicker liquid or tapioca pearls up the straw. – and they are beautiful! click here -> https://www.amazon.com/Pcs-Reusable-Boba-Straws-Smoothie/dp/B07Q48PHGT/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=metal+boba+straw&qid=1602525599&sr=8-6
3. Use LESS or NO paper towels. If you’re like our family we can go through a roll in days. With an infant and busy lives, it’s easy to rip one off, clean, throw away, and move on. We use them for everything from cleaning the house to mealtime napkins. * more on where I got mine and a bio on this amazing woman owned business in the next post! * Also, she graciously agreed to give a discount code for readers of my blog! * read the next post to get it!
4. If you use Amazon PLEASE set a prime day and order your items as many as you can at once so that you can opt to select your PRIME DAY and get all of your products in less packaging and in less trips. If everyone who used Amazon did this the carbon footprint would drastically change. Less trips = less carbon emissions and less waste on packaging when more product can come in less boxes! I know Amazon is working to have a Net ZERO carbon footprint by 2040 but that is still a LONG way away and involves much more than reducing delivery vehicles carbon emissions. (Their projected 100% use of electric vehicles for deliveries wont be till 2030.) This is still FAR TOO LONG from now to make a huge difference in what our planet needs TODAY. So, if you must use Amazon… please try and reduce the number of packages and number of deliveries you make. * read more about their sustainability efforts here in these links https://sustainability.aboutamazon.com/environment/sustainable-operations/carbon-footprint https://sustainability.aboutamazon.com/about/report-builder
5. REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE! Reduce the number of items you buy in packaging. One way we do this is by buying in bulk whenever possible at the grocery store and I bring my own baggies/containers to fill. ( You can even re-use the ones from the grocery store! just slap the new label on top of the old one and keep using it when time to refill!) Reusable baggies like these are GREAT for nuts, seeds, coffee beans, etc. also great for produce! no more of those single use plastic baggies. IF you must use them check to make sure they are recyclable and DO NOT put the weight/price sticker on the bag. Instead, stick the stickers to themselves in a long strip or a block and have the cashier scan them separately so you can recycle your baggies. OR cut/tear the sticker off before recycling the bags. These are a great option not only because they are washable and reusable, but made from 100% cotton, so they are earth friendly also! https://www.amazon.com/Reusable-Drawstring-Shopping-ECO-Friendly-Biodegradable/dp/B07Z3QGH6C/ref=sr_1_9?crid=1CZ059APGE7MF&dchild=1&keywords=reusable+produce+bags&qid=1602525756&sprefix=reusable+produ%2Caps%2C198&sr=8-9

* note: I am not getting paid by companies or products I support on my website. I am sharing my journey, products I use and love ( those I don’t), companies I support, and why because I genuinely enjoyed them, wanted to try them, and wanted you to do the same!