Last Updated on April 18, 2024 One of the most sustainable things you can do is just use what you have. That pertains to clothing items too: Simply shopping your closet first can make a big impact.  Why? Well, did you know there are enough clothes on the planet right now to dress the next six generations of humanity?   According to the EPA 11.3 million tons of textiles ended up in 2018 alone – can you imagine what that number looks like now with the rise of places like Shein, Skims and Temu?  One way we can rebel against this is by caring for the clothing items we already ..read more

Last Updated on April 16, 2024 I love entertaining and throwing parties. In fact, I was hosting dinner parties for my friends in high school. During my senior year in high school, my final project in speech class was about tablescaping.  I love making food, drinks, inviting over friends and family – there’s just nothing better.  This post was sponsored. All thoughts and opinions are my own; for more information please see my disclosure policy. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links; for more information please see my disclosure policy. Creating signature cocktails for ev ..read more

Last Updated on April 12, 2024 You’ve probably heard the term “going green” before: But what exactly does it mean? And is there a difference between going green and being sustainable?  Not really: Going green basically means living a sustainable lifestyle or choosing to make more eco conscious choices.   In my own life, I “go green” by choosing to reduce the amount of single-use plastic in my life, bike or walk to my destinations, and eat a plant-based diet. All these individual choices help reduce my carbon footprint and promote a sustainable lifestyle.  That said, you ca ..read more

Last Updated on March 29, 2024 You’ve probably heard of silicone before: It’s in houseware, sealants, and medical devices. Think silicone baking molds, silicone utensil sets, etc.   But what exactly is it? And is silicone plastic? Not exactly.  First, it’s important to note silicone is a synthetic material, made from a combination of silica (sand) and oxygen (more on this later). The silicone-making process is complex and energy intensive, which contributes to emissions.  Silicone’s environmental footprint is worth discussing because it relies on non-renewable hydrocarbons ..read more

Last Updated on March 22, 2024 Did you know each year over 1 billion plastic bottles of body wash enter the garbage and recycling stream? Only 5-6% of plastic gets recycled, and it’s typically downcycled into something of lower quality.   Downcycling is when a product can only be made into a different type of product than the original. An example is a plastic body wash bottle being turned into fleece or carpet fiber.   Some of the links below may be affiliate links. For more information please see my disclosure policy.    Recycled plastics are often mixed with virgin ..read more

Last Updated on March 14, 2024 Have you ever come in contact with a burlap bag? Congratulations: You’ve probably met jute! While burlap can be made from hemp, flax, or synthetic materials, the most common material used to make burlap is jute.  That’s because jute is a sturdy material and jute burlap bags are often used on farms and in agricultural settings to provide insulation, protect from erosion, or transport fruits, vegetables and grains.  However, jute has been slowly but surely making its way into the mainstream too: Jute jackets, sweaters, tote bags, furniture and rugs ..read more

Last Updated on March 12, 2024 Most babies have more sensitive skin than adults, as their skin hasn’t fully developed yet. The protective hydrolipidic film is still very thin, which makes infant skin more vulnerable to harsh external factors.   One of those external factors includes the kind of detergent you use to wash baby clothes. Many conventional detergents contain questionable ingredients that are harmful to human health (that includes adults and babies) and the environment.  Thankfully, there are several detergents out there that contain safe ingredients and mindful pack ..read more

Last Updated on February 29, 2024 According to EWG, “fragrance” or “parfum” on a product label represents an undisclosed mixture of various scent chemicals and ingredients used as fragrance dispersants such as diethyl phthalate.   EWG further acknowledges fragrance mixes have been associated with allergies, dermatitis, respiratory distress and potential effects on the reproductive system. They give “fragrance” a score of 8, 1 being the best and 10 being the worst for human (and environmental) health.  I personally try to avoid items that heavily rely on fragrance. They give me ..read more

Last Updated on February 22, 2024 You may have heard of lyocell fabric, or seen it on a clothing tag, but what exactly is it? And is it sustainable? Well, in comparison to polyester it is. Most of the clothes we wear today are made from polyester, aka plastic. Polyester is made from non-renewable petroleum (crude oil) that’s extracted from the earth unsustainably.     To create polyester, 70 million barrels of oil are used annually, and turning this oil into polyester fabric releases a lot of toxins into the environment.     On top of this, every time p ..read more

Last Updated on February 19, 2024 I spend a lot of time in the kitchen: I’m always trying out and filming new scraptastic recipes, or meal prepping for the week.  The average American spends over 400 hours a year in the kitchen. I just finished writing my cookbook (which required a lot of recipe experimenting), and I think I might have that stat beat. Especially with all the dishes I had to wash!  I can’t wait to share more details on my cookbook launch soon, so be on the lookout! The kitchen can be a huge source of waste in the home. Between paper towels, plastic wrap, and food was ..read more