School is finally out and summer is upon us! Woo Hoo!
This natural transition time, being placed in the mid point of the year, always gets me thinking about my goals…what’s working, what’s not…what’s changed…do I need to regroup and reset, etc.? But, this summer specifically has me thinking more about what this summer and this new adventure of working from home WITH kids will actually entail! I’m simultaneously terrified and excited! We have a lot of opportunities to try news things and make some fun changes. Working from home has given me a new perspective on how this place operates and while I adore being at home, I’ve noticed some bad habits forming, mainly we have a lot of waste! So I created a “cut down” list and wanted to document our little journey! Notice it’s not a cut out list…I’m not about setting unrealistic goals! 😉 Here we go…
Paper Towels
My word do we use a lot of paper towels! We buy in bulk at Costco and almost always have to restock with each trip…that’s insanity. We use paper towels as napkins during meals, wiping counters multiple times a day, cleaning up after our excitable puppy, and a myriad of other ways. Just listing the ways we use them has my head spinning with alternatives! My plan is tackle the easier alternatives first and then make my way to the harder replacements.
First, cloth napkins during meals seems like a no brainer. We already have some on hand but I did purchase a few more here. I already do a load of laundry each day, so this doesn’t seem like a road block!
For wiping the counters and other light cleaning, I can easily switch to a cloth as well. Again, I already have a ton similar to these so this doesn’t scare me quite so much. I’ve already read about using old t-shirts that were about to get tossed for cleaning and I’m not opposed to that either.
The only thing that I’m really grossed out by is cleaning up after the puppy. I think that is going to remain paper towels until I get a little braver or stronger!
So cutting back on paper towels seems really do-able!
Ziploc Bags
Surprisingly, this one might be a little more challenging. Packing lunches for the kids made me realize how many ziploc bags we are using each day. I did purchase these reusable bags and they are great quality and have lasted well. However, one kiddo kept throwing them away at the end of his lunch hour…so that killed the purpose…and back to one-use plastic we went! I think over the summer we can better train him…I mean, them! 🙂
So this item seems fairly do-able as well!
Lady Products
And here is where it will likely get a little wild. 😉 Like most women in their late 30s, I suspect, my periods are a dumpster…on fire…hit by a train. I’ve read several accounts of women who successfully switched to less toxic methods, like menstrual cups, with so many of their symptoms calming while also producing much less waste. Many, many years ago, I attempted the switch with less desirable results. However, being at home and in a calmer environment most days, I think it’s time for another try. I’ve recently purchased this option and only time will tell!
So…we’ll see!
Toxic Beauty Products
This is another one I’m slightly nervous about based on previous attempts! But, again, being at home more now has led me to using less products anyway…so no time like the present for some bigger moves! 😉 I don’t plan on chunking all my products but focusing first on deodorant, lotion, soaps, shampoo and conditioner. I finally like my make up and skin care routine so I’m not planning to touch that just yet. I had previously attempted a natural deodorant with horrible results but so many improvements and options have emerged since then so I am cautiously optimistic! I just purchased this option and have started to cut back on what I use currently to help with the detox period. So we’ll see! I’ve always LOVED Lush products like their lotion bars and hair bars so once I run out of what I have currently, I’m actually looking forward to that deliciously smelly switch! Plus, I love making products so this could be fun!
Again…we’ll see!
Sugar, Dairy, Processed Foods
This is a category I’m going to be very realistic about because cutting these entirely just isn’t going to happen. However, cutting down on them can only be a good, healthy goal for our family! As vegetarians, we already eat more processed foods than I’d like but we also have lazily relied on dairy and sugary snacks to get us through. So, that just needs to change!
With this being our second year with a vegetable garden, we are getting a little more adventurous with what we are trying to make on our own. Chris has made some amazing salsas and is currently attempting pickles! While still not great for you, I’ve been trying to make more homemade bread and even dipped my toes in home-churned butter recently…both of which are delicious in moderation, of course! We can always do better and the lax summer months lend themselves well to taking the time to try new things!
Additionally, the diet of my kiddos needs a complete overhaul because it’s essentially 100% processed junk at this point. They can’t continue to be vegetarians that hate all vegetables…I refuse! So, I am going to try cooking things in new ways, trying new recipes, maybe resort to hiding vegetables in things, and even letting them get more involved. I’m open to any and all ideas at this point!
Finally, for me, I’ve been reading more about food that can help reduce things from bloating to anxiety and everything seems to agree that sugar, dairy, and processed foods can trigger a lot. So I’m planning to make a few changes to get to a more natural diet. For example, switching from regular creamer to an oat milk creamer and things like that. Not a huge change but I think small, incremental changes are just what I need to recalibrate!
So yeah, we’ll see!
I don’t think these are massive changes but they are crunk enough that I still thought it would be fun to document! I am open to any ideas or fun ways to cut down so feel free to drop a comment! 🙂
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