Medium hazelnut iced coffee please, light and sweet!
This used to be how I drank my coffee years ago. While I don't drink coffee daily, the times I would go to Dunkin Donuts and order a drink that was majority sugar was pretty often. My body and tastes buds got used to the taste. Fast forward a few years later and my husband and I are on the paleo diet for the first time during our first year doing Crossfit. Boy, was that an eye opening year for us in terms of health, diet, and nutrition. It was also the first time we started drinking coffee black. It took some getting used to, but eventually we sucked it up and started preferring our coffee black. Another year later and we then started getting introduced to this concept of "bulletproof" coffee. I, personally, didn't understand what all the fuss was about, but it helped reduced the bitterness of the coffee so we continued that route.
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My favorite time of the year is upon us: Fall.
I was recently looking at the Fall Foliage maps and saw that in parts of the US, there are people that DO NOT experience changing leaves and therefore do not experience FALL, at all! This made me sad, but I encourage all of you to visit your nearby state or city that experiences Fall and revel in the beauty of this season's. I was also on Pinterest getting targeted with "Things to Do for Fall" and didn't really find one geared for zero waste or at least geared with reducing waste while enjoying this wonderful season. So without further ado, the 100 things you can this fall that's not very wasteful.
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It's been eighteen months since I've bought a plastic water bottle.
A stat that I am now very proud to admit. This is all thanks to me learning more about the Plastic Free Movement and the Zero Waste movement. Now, if you've been with me for a while, I've mentioned the wonderful life changing magic of the stainless steel insulated water bottle. Today, I'm finally writing a review because after using it for over a year, I can confidently provide feedback on this reusable water bottle.
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Don't stand between me and my snacks or you will get hurt. Just kidding!
This summer, we've had a chance to hit the beach almost every weekend. Every time I'm at the beach, I always crave salty snacks. Alas, most of these snacks come in packaging that is hard to recycle. I've succumbed to temptation a few times and bought chips, but promised myself to do better. So I've been experimenting and trying to figure out the best zero waste snacks to make to bring to the beach. Here's my list. These are also great to make for school, for camping and for a party like the Super Bowl.
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A review of Plain Products Natural Shampoo and Conditioner in plastic-free packaging with vegan, non-GMO and sulfate free ingredients.
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Most mornings, I walk and listen to Tim Ferriss podcasts. I've been a huge fan of his for awhile and sometimes take on an experiment or two that he suggests. In episode #250, Tim answers questions from his fans. One of the questions asked was "How to Become More Confident?" Tim cites a few experiments with one of them suggesting that you lay on the ground for 30 seconds without saying a thing on a crowded street. Another was asking for a 10% discount on your coffee 2-3 times without any background or explanation. The point was to get you to do something different and unconventional to get over fear. Fear of rejection, fear or standing out, fear of looking stupid or uncool, etc.
I thought about doing this as a self experiment, but the more I thought about it, the more I came to realize that I already do this and in retrospect it has improved my confidence level overall.
Alright, let me explain how this all ties in with zero waste practices.
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My experience with the menstrual cup and how I became a convert to the Diva Cup. My journey to reduce waste continues and this time I’m tackling the monthly flow.
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Since learning about the zero waste movement, I've learned a lot in the past year. I've learned some of the lingo being used. I've learned key takeaways. I've learned the core necessities of a zero waster. While I am not 100% a zero waster (who really is though?), I'm striving to be. Here are some of the lessons I've learned on this journey in an A-Z format. Left side is key phrases I've started to live by and the right side as some of the object essentials.
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Here it is folks, proof is in the numbers.
I've learned that it doesn't cost a lot to switch to a more eco-friendly lifestyle. The key is to recognize what you use the most and find alternatives that are better for the environment. I thought I would do a quick exercise on things I've invested in starting a zero waste or low waste transition and my ROI or in this case, my savings. Now, we may not need to spend any money at all if we are handy and are resourceful. I took 3 of the top items that you can replace today.
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Here are the final list books that I've read this year. Have you read any of these?
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What was I thinking keeping this all of these years?
That's usually what you say to yourself a few years from now as you help your parents declutter and remove items from their house.
It's been some time since I've graduated from anything, high school, college or grad school, but my sister came back from college a few weeks ago, schlepping all of her stuff back into my parents house. This was my cue to try to influence her to reduce and minimize her belongings.
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Find tips on how to indulge in Las Vegas while still reducing waste and plastic usage.
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Iceland Ring Road Trip Essentials: What to Pack for Clothes, Food, Photo Gear, Car Equipment
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Keep Iceland beautiful, reduce your waste!
One of the things I loved about Iceland was how raw it is. With only 300K inhabitants, it has a lot of untouched land. Lots of open spaces also means lack of stores and restaurants. One has to be prepared especially when driving around the Ring Road. Sometimes, the only source of supplies can be a rest stop which is full of single-use disposable items. While I was not 100% successful in traveling zero waste while in Iceland, I am proud to admit that I survived 6 days travelling around the Ring Road without purchasing a single water bottle. A huge win for me. I also noticed so many opportunities to reduce waste the next time I go there which I am already marking as a future plan.
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Iceland is one of the most amazing and beautiful countries I have ever visited. It's raw beauty is unparalleled. Check out this 6-day photo itinerary that takes you all over Iceland on the famous Ring Road.
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The plastic we use today will outlive us, our children and our grandchildren. Let's not leave that legacy. I've listed some of the popular posts below and recapped other ways we all can reduce our plastic use.
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One of my favorite Filipino desserts: coconut macaroons. This version is paleo so no condensed milk, no refined sugar, no dairy, no soy, no eggs, no wheat, but just as tasty!
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We will never be able to get back all of the money we spent buying stuff, the key is to learn new habits moving hard.
That was the biggest lesson I learned when I started my minimizing and decluttering phase. One of the first things I tackled was clothing. I initially donated some and sent some to ThredUp. This was in 2015. I just re-ordered a new clean out bag and just recently received it. I'm happy to be sending a few more items to ThredUp. A few people say that it's not worth it or they don't pay enough for the clothes you send it, but I have a few counter arguments against that. If you are thinking of sending clothing to ThredUp, here are a few reasons to do so.
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Pork. Fried. Skins. A classic take on the Filipino chicharrones. These pork rinds have no MSG, are keto and paleo friendly.
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Paleo, sugar free, gluten free cassava cake. A classic Filipino dessert. Enjoy it without the guilt.
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