I've Fallen Down A Rabbit Hole

It all started with this book.  I took Archer and Lyla to the library for story time (remember when we got to get out and do those sorts of things?) and had just finished reading a book so I needed a new one.  Archer and Lyla were running low on patience, so I grabbed one that looked interesting from a display area.  So whoever happened to add this book to the display is responsible for kick-starting this new passion of mine.

I selected this book thinking I would get new ideas to help save the sea turtles and our environment.  What I didn't expect to get from it, was a new knowledge of just how harmful plastic can be to our health.  Not all plastic is created equal and some types are worse than others.  But reading this book gave me a basic understanding of how some plastics can leach into the foods and health items that they are stored in.  It was enough to make me think twice about heating up plastic in the microwave, storing food in plastic and buying food wrapped in plastic.  It also made me start to look for plastic-free alternatives to health and beauty items.

I was a little irked after reading this book.  I was mad at companies and corporations for leading me to buy, buy, buy lots of plastic crap I didn't really need.  But I realized who I really should be mad at was myself.  I was the one making all those decisions.  No one was holding me at gunpoint making me buy that stuff.  This book taught me to be a smarter, more responsible consumer.

After reading this book, I needed and wanted to know even more about making healthier choices for my family and the environment.  Doing some more research led me to the idea of zero waste lifestyles.  Zero Waste can have different definitions depending on who you ask, but basically it means reusing products and preventing waste from being sent to landfills or ending up in oceans.  I've since read several more books about the topic and the following are two I would highly recommend.

Zero Waste Home by Bea Johnson
101 Ways To Go Zero Waste by Kathryn Kellogg

Like any new information, I took it all with a grain of salt.  I know I won't be able to take every bit of their advice and our family's yearly waste will not fit in a single mason jar (like Bea Johnson and Lauren Singer).  But I can definitely take some of their ideas.  As Anne Marie Bonneau (a zero waste chef) has said, "We don't need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly.  We need millions of people doing it imperfectly."

It can seem overwhelming once you have all this information.  When you realize all the stuff you are doing to harm our planet and our health.  And there are lots of different perspectives out there surrounding zero waste.  Some people are only focused on the issues relating to health.  Others may solely be focused on eliminating plastic.  Yet others want to make sure the items they buy are produced sustainably, meaning the resources companies use to produce products are procured in a responsible way and they treat their workers well.  Then there are folks focused on reducing their carbon footprint, which means they pay attention to the emissions companies put out while making and shipping products.  I don't know about you, but my brain starts swirling when I try to consider all of this when trying to figure out the best kind of floss to buy!  But there are a few guiding principles I now use that I've taken from different people to help move my family closer to being zero waste. 

Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot and only in that order.
Bea Johnson bases her zero waste lifestyle around this principle and I have tried to adopt this principle too.  I've tried to refuse what I don't need, reduce the things I do need, reuse items, recycle what I can and rot (or compost) what I can.  I've tried to ask myself if I truly need something before I buy it.  I've tried to reduce the things I do have to only what's essential.  Giving the things I no longer need to friends and family or donating to charities is a good way to accomplish this.  This also helps me simplify all the stuff in my home.  I try to reuse what I have.  For instance, I reuse salsa and marinara jars to store leftovers.  I've learned exactly what my local recycling facility will accept and how to prepare the items so they will actually get recycled.  I've also researched other ways to recycle items that aren't accepted in curbside recycling.  And I have been composting our food scraps and some cardboard items in our backyard compost bin.   

Personal sustainability matters.
Kathryn Kellogg talks about this in her book and it really resonated with me.  She says, "Personal sustainability is so important, and it will look different for everyone- only you know your schedule, level of determination, and laziness factor."  It can be time-consuming if you are making your own toothpaste and pasta sauce and bread all the time.  So you have to decide what makes the most sense for you and go with that.  And you don't have to do it all- especially not all at once.

Start small.
Pretty much any book or blog you read about taking steps towards going zero waste recommends starting small.  So when you run out of an item, first, ask yourself if you really need it.  If you do, then look for a plastic-free alternative.  I think the first swap I made was with dental floss.  I ran out of what I typically buy and decided that I did need to get more.  So I opted to buy silk floss that can be composted.  It comes in a little refillable glass and metal container.  Then I ran out of sponges.  I realized I didn't need sponges, but I did need something to scrub my dishes clean.  I did some research and ended up buying a wooden dish-washing brush.  So it's been helpful to just focus one swap at a time.

A few easy swaps: reusable paper towels, using a kitchen towel instead of plastic wrap while bread dough is rising, bar soap instead of hand soap in plastic bottles and a dish-washing brush instead of a sponge. 

Not every swap will make sense for you.
Sometimes you'll try something and it won't work out and that's okay!  For example, I tried out solid dishwashing soap.  I gave it a good couple weeks, but it left my dishes greasy, my sink covered in slime and I wondered what was building up in the drains.  So I switched back to Dawn dish soap, which comes in a plastic bottle.  I was bummed, but then I reminded myself of all the other changes I've made.  It's not helpful to focus on your failures.  Just try to think of another swap you could make to offset what didn't work out.

Not everyone will be on board with your decisions. 
I'm very lucky that my husband Adam is happy to try new, more sustainable options.  He's been generally on board with the swaps I've made, though I've made it clear that he's still welcome to make his own decisions.  I've recently started using reusable tissues that I made out of leftover fabric.  He's still not willing to give up his Kleenex, which is just fine.  Archer and Lyla are still young enough that I get to make the decisions for them.  Things will likely change when they get older, but we'll deal with that when the time comes.  My family has been supportive too, which is nice.  After I made the swap to reusable paper towels (one of Adam's old t-shirts all cut up), my dad sent me a picture of a dish of cut up towels that my mom set next to the sink.  I can't tell you how happy a cut up old towel made me.  That's the beauty of the ripple effect.  You never know just how much influence you might have to make a positive change.  But not everyone agrees with my crazy ideas.  I know some people might roll their eyes at me or think I'm being too extreme.  But that's okay.  I get to decide what happens in my home and they get to decide what happens in their homes.

Stop buying crap. 
This is perhaps the most simple concept, yet the most difficult one for me.  I was buying so much stuff that I just didn't need.  Shopping was my hobby.  I would wander the aisles at Target and buy a vase I liked or sheets just because they were on sale.  I bought clothes because they were a good deal, would wear them once, and then decide I didn't really like them so I'd get rid of them.  When I first started on my plastic-reducing journey, I started buying non-plastic replacements for everything.  It wasn't really in the spirit of zero waste.  For instance, I used to use those disposable swifter dusters.  So I decided to buy a wooden-handled, fleece duster that is washable.  It worked fine, but I realized later that I could have just used old rags I already had at home.  So I've since tried to come up with solutions that I already have in my home before buying something else new.  For example, I was going to buy some new Mason jars to house items I buy from the bulk section.  But then it dawned on me that I had already been saving empty salsa and marinara jars that could do the trick.  It was the perfect example of reusing.  Buying stuff has been a hard habit to break, but I've been doing a much better job.  I ask myself if I truly need something and make myself sleep on it before I commit.  I've also saved a lot of money!

So what's the point of this blog post?  It's not to toot my own horn or tell people how they should live their lives.  It's merely to share some information I have found helpful.  I hope you might find a swap or two you could try out that will benefit you or the environment.  Ultimately, I'm doing this for Archer and Lyla.  I want my kids to be healthy and have a beautiful planet to call home for years after I'm gone.  The actions I take now will dictate what happens to their future.  That's a big responsibility and I want to do what I can to make a difference.  If you would have told me I'd be collecting used floss and clumps of hair from the shower drain in a jar to put in my compost bin, I'd have told you that firstly, you are disgusting.  And secondly, I will not be doing that.  But that's exactly what I do.  And I have no shame about it!  (However, I'll spare you photographic evidence.)

Let me be clear, I'm far from perfect.  My kids still use disposable diapers.  Some of the food I buy still comes in plastic packaging.  Occasionally I will slip up and order something online that I don't really need.  But that's okay because I'm only human.  There will always be room for improvement, so I will just keep on trying to improve.

The pandemic has thrown a bit of a wrench in some of my efforts.  Grocery stores aren't allowing customers to bring in their own containers or reusable bags. (I still forgo the plastic produce bags and just have the baggers put my food back in the cart without any bags.)  They've also closed up their bulk bins, which made me really bummed.  My favorite coffee shop won't allow customers to bring their own cup. (I've since nailed down a delicious recipe for hot chocolate to make at home.)  But I know the pandemic won't last forever, even though it seems like it might right now!  I'll just do what I can to cut down on waste, but also cut myself some slack if I do rack up more waste than I'm used to. 

My next goal is to tend to my new little garden.  I planted cherry tomatoes, broccoli and cucumbers.  There's also mint in there that comes back every year despite how much I uproot it.  Lyla and Archer have been helping me water it and I can't wait until we get to pick some of our very own produce!

Welcome to the rabbit hole! 

Two and a Half Years!

Archer and Lyla are two and a half years old!  Two and a half!!  You hear about the "terrible twos," but honestly, this is such a fun age.  They are settling into their own personalities and can communicate with me.  Yet my kisses still fix their boo boos and they still need me to snuggle with them throughout the day.

They are certainly little sponges and soak up every little bit of information that's thrown their way.  If I was ever curious about what things I repeatedly say, Lyla and Archer have definitely enlightened me.  They've started asking more questions and I can just see their brains constantly turning.

Perhaps the thing I enjoy most at this point in their development is watching them interact with each other.  Sure they have their differences, but they truly love to spend time with each other.  I adore the way they grin at each other when they first see each other in the morning.  They love to pretend to put each other to bed in Archer's toddler bed.  They'll repeat the same phrases Adam and I tell them, give each other a hug and kiss, and then close the door.  They'll take turns doing this for a good half hour before they move onto their next adventure.  They got scooters for Christmas and I let them ride around the house on them.  They pretend they are their cars and will announce they are going to Aldi or "TG Max" (TJ Maxx) and then ride around.  It's pretty adorable. 

They both love going to stores even though I never buy them anything.  Any time we get back in the car after leaving a store, they'll say they want to go to another store.  They enjoy going grocery shopping at HyVee because they get a cookie at the bakery.  We are regulars at the many pet stores around town, too.  It's pretty nice that I don't have to come up with much to entertain them. 

Going to storytime is still a favorite activity.  They enjoy selecting their own books to check out and returning them to the book drop slot.  Both Lyla and Archer adore looking at books on their own and reading them with Adam and I.  Just the other night I was reading a favorite book of Archer's (How to Babysit a Grandpa), and he started reciting the words on the pages to me word for word.  He read the whole book to me!  I realize he's just reciting the words from memory, but that's one of the first steps of reading on his own.  I might have had a few tears in my eyes while he did this. 

Archer has a newfound love of jumping.  He jumps from the couch and fireplace to the floor.  He jumps from the two little steps in our hallway.  He jumps off the coffee table in the family room.  You get the point.  He's got quite the arm on him and can throw very well.  He's just starting to get the hang of catching, but still has a ways to go before he masters that skill.  Archer loves trains.  He likes to put his wooden track together and pull his train along it.  He recently got a Thomas train engine that moves on its own and you can usually find that in his hand.  When he is upset he'll get his "night nights" (the blankets he sleeps with) and come up to me and holler at me, "SNUGGLE ME!!!"  It's equal parts sweet and hysterical and Adam and I have to try not to laugh sometimes. 

Lyla has turned into a little momma.  She continues to be very fond of her baby dolls and likes to feed them their bottles and wrap them up in blankets.  I love when I catch her offering up a bite of her snack or a sip of her water to them.  I tell her all the time how she's a good mommy and she loves to repeat this fact.  Lyla wants to do everything herself these days.  She asks to wash her hands and brush her teeth all.day.long.  I try to give her every opportunity to do things independently.  She enjoys putting her plate by the sink and putting her dirty clothes in the hamper.  Lyla also has a bit of a temper and will get very upset if I do something instead of allowing her to do it on her own.  She knows how to be very dramatic.  Again, Adam and I have to try not to laugh in these moments of her despair.   

They both have been giving Jazzy more attention lately.  They like to fight over who gets to put a scoop of dog food in her bowl.  They also like to give her treats throughout the day.  I tell them to give her only one, but when I follow up they're usually feeding her a handful.  Jazzy can be a bit grouchy with them if they get too wild around her.  But they seem to all have an understanding with each other.  The kids know to nicely pet her and Jazzy knows to allow it since they give her so many treats. 

Archer and Lyla love to be outside more than anything!  This winter has been rough.  Though many times we have just bundled up and played outside even though it's cold.  They are definitely happier on the days we get to go outside. 

I still can't get over how lucky I am to be their Mommy (or Mom as Archer has started calling me.)  I love watching them acquire new skills and seeing experiences through their eyes.  They are my beautiful, crazy, rambunctious, adorably sweet babies!  (I mean toddlers.)

Making Small Changes

Having Archer and Lyla has continued to change me in ways I never dreamed possible.  They constantly make me consider every move I make.  After finding out TIME Magazine named 16-year-old Greta Thunberg as their person of the year, I realized I could be doing more to help combat climate change and reduce my carbon footprint.  Even though climate change is a global issue and it seems like I have little control over it, there are some small changes I can make that will ultimately impact Archer and Lyla's future.

I wanted to share some of these small changes I've been making to help inspire others and to also hopefully get some new ideas on other ways I can help.  Please give me new ideas!!  I am far from perfect, but change doesn't always have to be something monumental.  It can start small.   

Here are a few of my small changes:

I use a reusable water bottle.  I ditched using plastic water bottles long ago and have used some form of a reusable water bottle for years.  My current favorite is stainless steel and the perfect size.  I bring it everywhere and love that the lid stays on tight even when my kids chuck it across the room.  I have to have ice water and this keeps my water cold all day long!

I use reusable bags when shopping.  I always bring reusable bags when I go grocery shopping.  Recently, I even invested in some heavy-duty canvas ones that I hope to have for years to come.  I've also tried to make sure I bring along reusable bags when I go to other stores.  If I do forget to bring them in (does anyone have any ideas for remembering to bring bags inside the store??), I tell the cashier I don't need a bag and just carry the items to my car or stick them back in my cart.

I say "no, thank you" to plastic straws and lids.  Whenever I go out to eat, I decline a plastic straw.  If servers put one on the table for me, I always hand it back to them and say that I don't need it (as politely as possible).  I should probably take it a step further and mention I don't need the straw when I order my drink since some restaurants automatically stick a straw in the drink.  I did get some reusable silicone straws and keep them with me in the diaper bag.  Archer and Lyla aren't quite skilled enough yet to drink from a cup without a lid without the entire drink ending up in their laps, so these straws come in handy.  I actually like that they are softer than plastic and I don't have to worry about them accidentally poking a straw down their throat or in their eye.  (One of the reusable silicone straws is featured in the photo below.)

I bring my own cup to coffee shops. I don't actually drink coffee, but I sure do enjoy hot chocolate.  One of my guilty pleasures is going through the drive-thru of Caribou Coffee (which is a coffee shop attached to the HyVee gas station, classy right?) and getting a hot chocolate when I go out and about with Lyla and Archer.  Recently, I started bringing my own ceramic mug with me.  When I give my order, I just mention that I brought my own cup.  Then when I pull up to the window, I hand it over and they fill it up with delicious hot chocolate.  I even get a discount for bringing my own cup!  (The one I have is ceramic and has a silicone lid.  It was a gift, but I'm sure you can find one similar on Amazon.)

I stopped buying individually packaged food items.  Oh man, this was a hard one to give up.  Those little pouches of applesauce and yogurt were so convenient and mess-free for Archer and Lyla!  But I felt a horrible sense of guilt every time I threw one in the trash.  I also bought tons of pre-packaged snacks for Archer and Lyla.  Since then, I've purchased some reusable snack pouches and just keep those filled with snacks in the diaper bag. They actually seem to keep the snacks from getting as smushed so I don't have to hand over a package of Cheez-It dust to the kids when they want a snack.  I've tried these (which you can put in the dishwasher) and these (which you can put in the washing machine) and like them both.  I think it's nice to have a variety of different materials and sizes. 

I use waxed fabric instead of Saran wrap.  This was an easy swap to make because I hate using Saran wrap.  It just sticks to itself and makes me angry.  So when Adam brought home some waxed fabric from Trader Joe's, I was excited to give it a try.  Now when I have to cover a bowl of pizza dough so it can rise or cover up some leftovers, I use some waxed fabric.  I will say it's hard to get a completely air-tight seal, so if that's what I need, I just store it in a glass container with a lid.  I think there is thinner waxed fabric out there that can give you a completely air-tight seal, so I'll have to look into finding some different options.  (You can see the waxed fabric in the bottom left corner of the above photo.)    

I use a menstrual cup.  This might fall under the TMI category, but I'll share about it just in case anyone out there is interested.  A menstrual cup is a small, flexible cup that is worn inside your vagina (like a tampon) to collect your monthly flow.  It's pretty amazing because you can't feel it once it's in place and you can wear it for up to 12 hours at a time.  I will say there was a bit of a learning curve for me and it took awhile before I got the hang of it.  But I've been using it for a couple years now and haven't bought any pads or tampons!  So I'm saving money and preventing waste from going in the landfill.  The Put A Cup In It website is an excellent resource if you want more information or feel free to ask me any questions.

I recycle everything that can possibly be recycled.  Sometimes this makes me seem like a weirdo when I put "trash" in the diaper bag to take home to recycle or gather all the wrapping paper at Adam's family Christmas get-together to take home to recycle.  But it makes me feel better knowing I am keeping excess stuff out of landfills. 

I hit up thrift stores when possible.  Lately I've been looking at thrift stores before I buy something elsewhere.  For example, Lyla needed a few long-sleeve shirts and I decided to go to a secondhand children's clothing store.  I found just what I needed, spent less than I would at other stores, and gave old items a second life.  I also needed another pie dish this Thanksgiving.  So instead of getting a new one from Amazon like I was going to, I stopped by one of our local thrift stores and got one for a couple bucks! 

I use reusable cleaning cloths.  I used to use a ridiculous amount of paper towels and wipes when I cleaned my house.  I realized how wasteful this was, so I picked these reusable cloths at Target about a year ago.  I've used them ever since and have been very happy!  The green cloths are great for cleaning glass, and don't leave lint behind like paper towels did.  I dampen the blue ones to dust with and use the gray ones to scrub the counters.  I also cut up one of Adam's old white undershirts that got a hole in it and use the little squares to clean things like the toilets.  I also found some super soft cloths that I use to wipe the kids' faces with after they finish eating their meals. 

I use wool dryer balls instead of fabric softener.  I ran out of fabric softener a few years ago and did a few loads of laundry before I had a chance to make it to the store.  I realized I couldn't tell a difference, so I just never bought any more.  A few months back, I got some wool dryer balls with the promise of cutting down drying time.  And I definitely agree that I don't have to dry our clothes as long if I have the balls in the dryer.  I just found some random ones at TJ Maxx, but I see them everywhere now. 

I've stopped buying stuff just to be buying stuff.  In addition to trying to make changes to better our planet, I've also been on a bit of a minimalism kick.  While I'm a long ways away from considering myself a minimalist, I have adopted some minimalist qualities that have made my life simpler.  I've donated tons of random housewares and clothes and just stuff that wasn't serving me a purpose other than taking up space.  Since getting rid of so much stuff, I've also been more conscious of the things that I do buy and bring into my home.  I used to be a sucker for a good bargain, so now I have to ask myself if I truly need and want each item or if I'm just getting it because it's a good deal.  And I've done a much better job of saying "no" lately.  By not buying as much, (in my tiny way) I'm creating less of a demand for products to be manufactured.   

I am far from perfect and nowhere near living a zero-waste lifestyle.  But I am trying to do what I can and am looking for ways to improve.  My next goals are to shop thrift stores for my own clothes, look into using more eco-friendly personal care items (think wooden toothbrushes, plastic-free beauty products) and look for ways to reduce food packaging waste.  So give me all your ideas!!  And hopefully my small changes gave you a few ideas too.