Sustainable & Creative Living
I’ve never really made a bucket list before. For me, I’ve just always done the things I wanted as they come along. If an opportunity comes up to visit a friend or do something fun, I take it without thinking I’m going to cross it off a list later. However, with my trip coming up, I thought it would be fun to start a bucket list (among my many other lists) to drum up ideas and get even more excited about our adventure.
Nothing has turned my world upside down like having a child. In the best way, I feel like my life has done a complete 180. Suddenly everything revolves around eating and sleep schedules, dirty diapers, mounds of laundry, potty training, human training, cars and trucks, boo-boos, Mickey, and Blippi. Sometimes I feel like there’s no time for myself. My “me time” now consists of scheduled bubble baths and stolen moments of quiet on the swing-set. And that’s ok because as long as I fit them in, I’m making progress. Progress that’s necessary for me to stay happy and healthy as a mom. [Read more…]
I was born with a wayward heart. My entire life I have loved to travel. Some of my first memories as a child are those of a family vacation. I truly believe that traveling is not only good for the soul but necessary to have a full life.
As a kid, my parents always took vacations and trips. When I was a teenager I was fortunate to be able to take a trip to Europe. Since the beginning of my adult life, I have always made it a point to find a way to travel at least once a year whether with my family or my now husband. We’ve been up and down the east coast and bits of the west.
My 2 and-a-half-year-old son is at a very inquisitive age and thinks just about anything and everything is “so cool!” The “what’s that” stage started around 18 months and hasn’t let up. He’s not only into anything with wheels but also wants to know how things work. It’s amazing to see at such a young age the true wonder in his eyes. Looking for something to do and capture his attention, I was inspired by his favorite YouTuber, Blippi, to do a very basic science experiment. [Read more…]
Using too many paper towels around the house is my biggest vice when it comes to lowering my carbon footprint. Every time I swear I’m going to do better, I end up slipping back into my old bad habit. Then I give up for a while and concentrate on other eco-friendly practices that, for me, seem easier to adopt.
I don’t really know why the paper towel habit has been so hard to kick. Years ago I practiced eco-friendly habits like using cloth napkins and canvas grocery bags before it became popular. Then owning and running a business along with raising three kids consumed all my physical and mental energy and those practices got put aside. While I’ve gotten back to my old eco-friendly practices, this paper towel thing has been, I like said, a hard habit to break.
Last year I did a post all about my favorite podcasts. Well, it’s been a year and I find myself listening to a whole new set of podcasts. I absolutely love them! I listen to them on long drives, while I get ready in the morning for work, and pretty much any time I have spare time.
There is literally a podcast for everything. If you like TV there is probably a podcast all about your favorite show. If you like politics there are no shortage of those. There are mommy podcasts, there are feminist podcasts – whatever you can think of I bet you can find a podcast about it.
I love to shop! Anyone who knows me, knows I’m good for an all-day shopping spree. All I need is a comfortable pair of shoes, a chai tea latte from Starbucks, and a bag of my new favorite snack, Bare Cinnamon Banana Chips, and I can easily wander the aisles of Target for 5 hours. Sometimes longer if it’s Christmas! If you think about it, toddlers are the same way. They need to be comfortable and happy just like mommy if you’re going to avoid an all-out public tantrum (I’ve been there). You’re probably not going to make it through a shopping trip unscathed if your child is hungry, tired, bored, or thirsty. So be prepared. Stuff your diaper bag, purse, pockets, shoes— wherever you can fit a toy car and a bag of snacks—cross your fingers, and pray for the best. [Read more…]
I was recently inspired to do a post like this by Amber from XOXO, Am. Since I’m always interested to know what people are into, I thought maybe you all might want to know what I’ve been into lately. I haven’t done a post like this in forever! Since I canceled my Ipsy subscription (in an effort to save money and cut back on consumption), I realized I haven’t reviewed much of anything either. So this week I’m just going to catch you guys up on what I’ve been doing.
As a kid, some of my fondest memories are from when my mom and I would do art projects together. She would gather her crafting supplies and we’d sit at the dining room table for hours painting, coloring, gluing, and making everything sparkle. Mostly I remember making holiday decorations and crafts—painting Christmas ornaments (which we still do) were our specialty. And now that my son is getting to an age where he likes to color and paint, we can finally start using the Creative Kids Art Station I designed for him. [Read more…]
Spend Valentine’s Day (or any gift-giving holiday) with the one you love waste-free!
Here are 5 zero-waste gifts that still express love and thoughtfulness as well as care for the environment. Your gift doesn’t have to be an eco-friendly “thing.” It can be a digital gift or even the gift of your time and attention (those are my favorite). [Read more…]
I’m always trying to come up with fun activities for my 2-year son to do while I’m at work. This Mini Construction Site Sandbox is a perfect tabletop activity that can help develop his sensory and motor skills.
If you’ve read some of my other posts, you know that I bring little J to work with me every day. He’s been coming with me since he was 6 weeks old! As he’s gotten older, I’ve had to come up with new and exciting things to stimulate his little mind. Right now he’s into PlayDoh, coloring, painting, cars, and soccer. [Read more…]
When I first imagined my wedding I had dreams of buying vintage china and using recyclable paper for my eco-friendly wedding. In reality, there are some things that are just not always feasible. I definitely had the environment in mind when planning my wedding but I also had my budget in mind. But being frugal and eco-friendly aren’t mutually exclusive – they can work together. And it can be easy! You just can’t be afraid to break the mold a little bit. Once you get past the traditional or more commonplace wedding “essentials” you can move into the creative and eco-friendly zone.
If you’ve read some of my other posts, you know I have a thing for organization. In my house, no bookshelf goes unstyled, wardrobes are color-coordinated, bins are labeled—everything has a home. And now my food pantry is perfectly adorned with beautiful crisp white bins and seagrass baskets, each filled and labeled for easy access.
This project has been on my list for about a year and I’m so excited to have finally crossed it off the list!
I must admit, I didn’t do it all on my own. My husband helped with installing the new shelves which we got from Home Depot. He replaced the standard wire racks with white faux wood boards. Since Home Depot doesn’t sell a closet kit with white boards, my husband cut each piece to be customized to fit our pantry. He also put a fresh coat of white paint on the closet walls. [Read more…]
