A lot of people seem to believe that living a more sustainable lifestyle is a hefty expensive. I was one of those people before I started to delve into the benefits, both sustainably and economically. Although the tools you need to live a more sustainable life are oftentimes a small investment, it is one that you will not have to make time and time again. Also, a lot of people already have the tools they need to live more sustainably. The key is to learn how to use those tools effectively. Over the last year, I have replaced some of my everyday items with more sustainable alternatives. Also, I’ve made some investments that save me money in the long run. Here are my favorite reusable swaps!

1.A reusable water bottle– nothing drives me more insane than people who walk around toting a plastic water bottle! Can you believe that globally, humans buy a million plastic water bottles per minute? Now, there is an exception for people who do not have access to clean water. BUT, for those of us who do have access to clean water, there is no excuse. So, what are some of your reusable options? I got my mom the yeti tumbler for her birthday a couple years ago and was blown away by how long it kept ice cold. Not wanting to spend $30 on a cup, I did some research and found an affordable alternative. I ended up buying the Ozark Trail 20-ounce double-wall, vacuum-sealed tumbler at Walmart for $6.74. I’ve been using it for around 3 months now and am completely in love. This thing will keep your cold beverages cold and warm beverages hot for 24-hours easily! If you don’t want to go out and spend $6.74 on a new water bottle, try to dig up one that you already have on hand. I’m sure you have one lying around somewhere, and if it’s plastic, from a reusability perspective, its better to just use that instead up going out and buying a new stainless steel one. A third option is to head to a thrift store. You can find really nice water bottles for a couple of dollars. So, set yourself up with a water bottle you are happy with and commit yourself to drinking water from the tap! Not only will you save money, but you will also be keeping plastic out of our oceans.

2. Reusable Shopping Bags– I’ve noticed that a lot of people have been making the move towards using reusable shopping bags! I do a lot of shopping at Aldi which makes it beneficial to bring your own bags since you have to pay for their plastic and paper options. I’ve unconsciously collected my bags over the years from different events and family members. Recently, I went to a dog adoption event and was given a free bag that was stuffed with adoption information. I think very rarely you would have buy some bags, but if you do, you can get fabric ones for a couple dollars a piece. I’ve especially had my eye on this set of cotton fabric bags for $13.99. Now, the tricky part of using reusable bags is keeping them handy when you need them. It just becomes a habit eventually, but definitely takes time. That is why I like these. They fold up nicely so you can keep a couple tucked away in your purse or glove compartment just in case you end up at the grocery.

 

 

3. Silicone Baking Mats– I do a lot of baking and one of the items that I was finding most difficult to replace was parchment paper. At first, I tried doing away with them altogether until one day my beautiful macarons stuck to the tray. I then invested in these silicone baking mats and they made a world of difference! AND, you’ll rarely have a need for waxed paper or parchment again!

4. Reusable Ziplock Bags– I wrote a post about how to make reusable ziplock bags. Originally, I had tried to use bee’s wrap but I didn’t particularly care for it. Plus, it doesn’t last that long. So, I ended up trying out a couple of reusable ziplock bags! Ding ding ding! We had a winner. But, these bags were pricey and I didn’t feel like I could go out and buy as many as I needed, so I ended up making my own. They are super easy to make! I use these things to pack my lunches and save leftovers. Just yesterday, I filled one full of leftover Christmas cookies! When I made my own, they only cost around $1 a piece to make. Just watch out for those JoAnne Fabric Coupons!

5. Dish towels instead of Paper Towels- My family goes through SO MANY paper towels. Although my parents aren’t sold on the idea of using cloth instead of the wasteful alternative, I made the switch long ago. Paper towels are one of the easiest things to swap out because most of us already have kitchen cloths that we can use to wipe up messes. I also save scraps of old clothing and towels to use for any big messes that I don’t want to use regular kitchen towels on. Noah loves using these dish towels from Ikea THAT ARE ONLY .70 apiece!

6. Stainless Steel Straws- I’m a straw girl, so I keep a couple of stainless steel straws in my purse for when I go out to restaurants. But, an easy way to avoid using plastic straws is to just forgo using a straw completely 🙂

These are just some of my favorite reusable items. As I continue my sustainable life journey, I’m sure that I will discover new swaps to share. In the meantime, I hope that you try out some of my alternatives! Do you have any favorite sustainable swaps? Leave me a comment below!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall has always been my favorite season of the month. There is something about pumpkin spice, knee high boats, leggings, and flannel shirts that make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I’ll make any excuse to light a candle or buy a comfy new throw blanket. Recently, a stumbled upon the word “hygge” pronounced “hoo-ga” which seems to completely encompass the reason why I get all tingly inside at the sight of a roaring fire. This Danish word explains the feeling of well-being through the enjoyment of simple things in life. I’m sure that you too have experience hygge, perhaps without even realizing it.

Last years I wrote a paper that analyzed why some countries are happier than others. I used a lot of data provided by The Happiness Research Institute and it is in fact true that Nordic countries are generally happier than people in the rest of the wold. The Happiness Research Institute explains that Nordic countries are usually happier because they create a framework that “creates security, free educations, and a sensible balance of work and leisure time that allows people to enjoy both their work and their family life.” In my opinion, that makes a lot of sense. I feel that oftentimes it is hard to strike this balance in The United Staes. Plus, there are a lot of societal pressures to work your way up in your career, without the focus of being a good parent or friend.

Regardless of the research, I happen to believe that one of the tricks to the Danes happiness is that they take such joy in the little things. Although hygee is considered a way of life in Denmark, it has recently become more of a lifestyle technique for those of us who are trying to capture that warm and cozy feeling. Listed below, I have provided a list of items which will make it easier to capture the essence of hygge.

1.Candles– I already briefly mentioned this one above and it so happens to be one of my favorite “cozy” items. My fiancé and I light candles when we are reading, cooking dinner, baking, playing cards. Essentially, we light a candle whenever we get a chance but I think it is important to notice how lighting candles makes you feel. For me, lighting a candle creates a soothing ambiance. A local coffee shop that I frequent always dims the light at 8pm which gives me that warm and cozy feeling.

2. Hot chocolate (Or other hot drinks and sweets)- I consider myself a low-profile foodie. One of my greatest joys is trying out new restaurants, but I think it is important to realize that when it comes to hygge it is more about familiarity. I love sipping on a warm glass of hot chocolate but I also love indulging in a piece of my grandma’s peanut butter pie because it is familiar and comforting.

3.Cozy Throw Blankets– A couple of years ago I went to Gulu, Uganda on a school trip. It was quite the experience but after an exhausting day of traveling, I hated coming back to scratchy blankets. First world problems right? Well, that is definitely the case but it did make me realize how comforting a warm, soft blanket is. There is nothing better than falling asleep among bedding that you love. I also love putting a throw blanket over my lap while I’m watching a movie or checking my e-mail. Such a small gesture can make such a big difference. I would say that thick socks, warm scarves, and oversized sweaters fit into this category 🙂

I think the important thing about hygge is to think of it as an organic thing, not necessarily a lifestyle but a way something makes you feel. There may be something out in this great big world that makes you feel hygge that doesn’t typically inspire warmth in the rest of us. For example, going out for coffee with my friends on a Saturday morning makes me feel hygge. Take note of the items or actions that give you that cozy, warm feeling and try to introduce more of that into your life. You don’t have to go out and buy 16 pounds of candle wax, a lifetime supply of down comforters, and cable knit socks to feel hygge. Lets not make this about following an online obsession, but more about figuring out what makes us feel warm and happy and running with it.

I’ve always been obsessed with books. From my grade school years into my college years, you would be hard pressed to find me without my finger stuck in a book, marking my page. Unfortunately, reading is somewhat of a luxury these days. I set aside a half hour each night to indulge myself into my current read, but far too often a measly 30 minutes doesn’t seem long enough. Fortunately, I’ve rediscovered the solution to my woes. Audiobooks. Now, I am sure there are some reading purists out there who believe you are only to read certain books a certain way. Well, wait until all you book snobs who apparently find my audiobooks distasteful learn that I dog ear pages, crease the spine of my paperbacks, and eat food while reading. So there! Perhaps I’m not the most eloquent book reader but thats okay in my book and I’m overjoyed that I reached a solution to my limited book reading time.

So, I’ve now gotten myself hooked on audiobooks and since picking a new book to listen to is just a click away, I’ve found myself looking at books by author, not by genre. Typically, I read blogs that promote different books NOT DIFFERENT AUTHORS. I’ve never been a follower of any one particular author (unless you count my Stephen King phase which I believe all of us book readers go through at one point in our life). I mean, sure, in my teen years I followed authors like Stephanie Myers and John Greene because they were the “hot” thing,  but recently I’ve typically just read whatever was recommended to me.

Enter, Lisa Jewell. In the last 18 days, I have listened to four of her books (totaling 45 hours of audio!) including “The Third Wife”, “I Found You”, “Then She Was Gone”, and “Before I Met You.” Although I find that the titles of her books are less than inspiring, her stories are captivating. Jewell’s novels are typically a healthy mixture of romance and mystery, but it isn’t your typical romance. Nor is it your typically mystery. The way Jewell allows the novel to organically reveal itself is remarkable. Oftentimes, especially in “I Found You,” I found that my predictions were all wrong and yet when she makes her grand reveal, you can think back to subtle clues she left throughout the book! I often feel that writers clue their readers into the solution to the protagonist’s problems far too early. For example, the American-Irish writer Tana French, who is a wonderful writer most things considered, gives away the story (or at least fundamental clues) very early on in her novels. Nothing irritates me more than reading a book that has no problem for me to try to figure out. I enjoy not knowing everything about the characters, and slowly getting the chance to become more intimately aware of who they are as individuals. For example, in “I Found You” the main character Alice is very mysterious. At first, she comes across as cross and solitary but as the novel progresses you learn that her sometimes vexed demeanor is simply a result of judgmental neighbors who questioned her parenting ability. With time, she begins to soften and the layers of hostility are pulled away to reveal a gentle core.

Some people might call her books cookie cutter. In many ways, when I was first introducing myself to her background, Lisa Jewell came off as a Nora Roberts type. She has written so many damn books that you figure each plot is going to be nearly identical, but this isn’t so. She seems to follow the same equation throughout each of her novels and her writing style is very identifiable once you become familiar with it, but each and every one of her plot lines is unique with its own set of developed characters. I especially commend her on her ability to tease our her twisty plot at just the right moment. Each and every one of her books that I’ve listened to has left me on the edge of my seat, begging for more.

Overall, I highly recommend her books AND I also highly recommend downloading the app Hoopla which I have been using to listen to audiobooks for FREE. Do you have any favorite authors? Leave me a comment below with a suggestion.

*Disclosure- all of these opinions are mine and my own.