Low Waste Living

If you’ve been trying to go plastic free for awhile you’ve probably accumulated quite a few jars some way or another. I often buy in jars and will keep them for upcycling, but sometimes I run out of ideas on how to reuse them. These are some good ways to repurpose those jars. In addition to these some zero waste stores will take cleaned jars for people who don’t have containers but are looking for a refill. While some of these are exclusively for glass, some of these ideas work for plastic containers too! Happy upcycling!

while i don’t claim to be a “book blogger” by any account (more of a cranky publishing-person blogger most days), i know a lot of people have followed me through my book posts, so i’m taking advantage of that captive audience to boost these bookstores. shop them through their own websites and if you’re local, look into curbside pickup to minimize shipping costs and overhead. okay that’s all thanks bye stay safe.

the lit bar (a personal favorite and the bronx’s one remaining bookstore)

hariett’s bookshop

semicolon bookstore

mahogany books

uncle bobbie’s

loyalty bookstore

dare books

listening tree books

underground books

multicultural bookstore

pyramid books

black dot bookstore

brain lair books

medu bookstore

wild fig books and coffee

frugal bookstore

olive tree books

detroit book city

cafe con libros

revolution books

sisters uptown bookstore

source booksellers

hakim’s bookstore

sankofa books and cafe

If your New Year's resolution is to live a healthier lifestyle, do not weigh yourself.

Do not try and create a supposed "caloric deficit".

Do not make a goal of losing weight.

Instead, if you want to make a New Year's Resolution to live a healthier lifestyle, I would recommend having goals like:

Building strength

Increasing lung capacity

Becoming a faster/better runner/swimmer/biker/etc..

Being more mindful

Loving yourself better

Taking care of yourself the way in which you deserve to be taken care of

I cannot stress enough that if something that you're doing in the pursuit of "being healthy" is making you miserable, it's not healthy. Your mental health is a part of your overall health; I would argue that it is the foundation.

CLEAN OUT YOUR 3828 EMAILS!!! That's electronic waste. It takes energy to send and store them. Go through 10 emails a day so u dont have to do all 3828 in one day.

Delete random emails from ur inbox

Unsubscribe from subscriptions

Clean out ur spam

I am sure that every one of us has a lot of things at home, we don´t use or need. They can be books, jewelry, cute t-shirts or bags. Who said, that presents have to be always new?! 

I had some awesome books, that I knew I will never read again and I have tons of bookwormy friends. Perfect! :D

Instead of throwing things away, let´s give them a new home.

I know, that you can´t do this with everyone. But I am sure there is at least one friend or family member, that would appreciate the idea. <3

Be mindful about the ways in which you use water! Which of these have you already implemented into your everyday life?😊💙💦💧✨

1. Takes shorter showers. A typical shower uses 5-10 gallons per minute!

2. Use the dishwasher and washing machine with full loads only.

3. Check the toilets, faucets, and pips for leaks.

4. Don’t run the hose while washing your car.🚘🚿

5. Turn off the water while shaving, brushing your teeth, and washing veggies.

6. When washing the dishes by hand, don’t leave the water running.🚿

7. Water during the cool parts of the day.

8. Only water your lawn when it needs it.

9. Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants to slow the evaporation of moisture.🌲🌳🌴

10. Postion your sprinklers so they don’t water unnecessary areas like the pavement.

11. Use a broom to clean driveways, sidewalks, and steps.🧹

12. Plant drought-resistant trees and plants.🌱🌿

13. Try to acoid pre-rinsing your dishes before placing them into the dishwasher.🍽

14. Install water-saving shower heads and faucets.

• • •

Sources:

1. Makeup Remover Wipes: instead, use a washcloth (preferably black) and apply coconut oil or almond oil to the cloth (or face), then use the cloth to wipe your entire makeup off until satisfied. *(continue with face wash routine or face mask)

benefits: reusable // machine washable // save money // gentle on the skin // effectively removes makeup

2. Plastic Toothbrushes:  instead, buy a pack of bamboo toothbrushes on amazon or a general store. use these brushes as you would any other brush and thoroughly brush to improve oral health.

benefits: organic // reusable // decomposable // cleanses teeth effectively // eco-friendly // BPA free bristles

3. Multi-Step Facial Cleansers & Name Brand Body Washes: instead, use African Black soap for both your body and face with your preferred method of washing (electronic brush, hands, or wash cloth). for more simple face washes, consider using vegan and/or organic facial washes that work for your skin type.

benefits: multipurpose // improves overall skin health // all skin types (especially acne prone or oily) // single-step process // organic // save money

4. Plastic Water Bottles: instead, use a simple stainless steel bottle that you can refill throughout the day and keep up with.

benefits: reusable // washable // aesthetic // easy to monitor and handle // eco-friendly

5. Face Moisturizers: instead, use carrier oils (such as coconut oil, argan oil, almond oil, castor oil) that work with your skin type/skin needs *(you can try combining them with essential oils such as tea tree oil, lavender oil, etc.)

benefits: organic // improves skin health // no harsh chemicals // save money // longer lasting // multipurpose

6. Animal Cruelty Makeup: instead, buy makeup products that you truly need (wear daily) from companies that are Animal-Cruelty FREE and/or vegan. do your research and spend your money wisely. some may seem expensive, but consider how much some high-end brands benefit from not being animal-cruelty free *(invest in vegan and/or organic products too).