Sustainable Minimalists

Home decor is a lot like fashion: the second we invest in a new piece of furniture or a new decor item, the catalogs and showrooms push a new trend. The items we just bought, then? They’re suddenly out of style. Today I speak with interior designer Jessica Velazquez about curating rooms that are timeless. Jessica believes that style must always support lifestyle: when we play it right, we can design spaces that won’t expire when stores usher in a new trend.   Here’s a preview: [5:00] Does evergreen and minimalist mean boring? Debunking common home decor myths [12:00] The Number One way to avoid making costly design mistakes [18:00] The hierarchy of accent pieces: tips for refreshing a space by zeroing in on accessories [23:00] What color should we paint our walls? [27:00] An eco-tip and a correction   Resources mentioned: * Jessica on Instagram * Watch the extended version of this interview on Youtube * Want more episodes like this one? Check out #217: Organized Entryway Ideas   * Thank you to SigmaTeaches for sponsoring this episode! Use code SUSTAINABLE at checkout for up to $200 off your first package.  * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.  

We want new things and we want them now. Our spending habits put brands on perpetual searches for ways to shorten the time between design, manufacturing, and distribution, and China has stepped up with the technology and the supply chains to meet our needs. Our consumption habits, then, can only be satisfied by purchasing from China. Today’s show analyzes the ethical and environmental implications associated with excessive reliance on the “World’s Factory”, as China has affectionately been dubbed. What does manufacturing and lax regulations mean for both the people and the planet, and how can we as consumers do better?   Here’s a preview: [2:00] What the Made In China label means (and doesn’t mean) about a product’s quality [5:00] A deep dive into Chinese manufacturing: 5 reasons why China has become the “world’s factory” [7:00] What China’s lower compliance standards mean for people [10:30] The story of Oregon mother Julie Keith, Halloween decorations, and Sun Yi [14:00] Chinese manufacturing and environmental pollution [19:15] Practical action steps for listeners that go beyond “just buy local”   Further reading: * Nearly 14,000 companies violate China pollution rules (via NYTimes) * How your cheap Chinese-made products may be killing thousands in China (via USAToday) * How much do we buy from China? (via NPR) * Are Made In China toys safe? (via The Baby Penguin)   Resources mentioned: * Episode #186: The Lowdown On Wooden Toys with Christina Floyd   * Thank you to SigmaTeaches for sponsoring this episode! Use code SUSTAINABLE at checkout for up to $200 off your first package.  * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.      

While minimalism may sometimes seem trendy, the reality is that the lifestyle has been around for centuries. Indeed, ancient philosophies touted the importance of Less Is More living as a means of finding inner peace amidst frenetic daily life. Today I speak with author Jessie Kanzer about first steps toward mental minimalism. Jessie argues that you don’t have to be a Zen master to simplify your cognitions and reduce unnecessary internal chatter; she argues too that enlightenment is about first learning to lighten up.   Here’s a preview: [3:45] Minimalism isn’t a trend, it’s an ancient lifestyle [10:30] Learning to slow down and be still in an achievement-based world [16:15] How to get in touch with your Observer Self [19:30] Taming our “monkey brains” as a means of enjoying little life moments [21:15] What to do the next time life feels discombobulated     Resources mentioned: * Don’t Just Sit There, DO NOTHING: Healing, Chilling, and Living with the Tao Te Ching * Watch the extended version of this interview on Youtube * Body sugaring 101 * Jessie on Instagram   * Thank you to KiwiCo for sponsoring this week’s episode! Get 30% off your first month plus free shipping with code SUSTAINABLE at kiwico.com. * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.  

When carbon and fluorine fuse together they create a virtually unbreakable compound. These days, such per- and polyfluoroalkyl (or PFAS) substances are widely used in thousands of products from food packaging to clothing, carpets, and more. And because these chemicals are designed to be unbreakable, “forever chemicals” are adding up in our bodies and in the environment. On today’s episode I’m answering a listener’s question about the group of chemicals known as PFAS by bringing you an interview with Kevin Loria. Kevin is a Senior Health and Science writer for Consumer Reports and has extensively covered CR’s research into the implications of extensive reliance on forever chemicals. Here’s a preview: [1:45] A PFAS primer: What this family of chemicals is, where they’re most commonly found, and why they’re dangerous [5:00] Health and environmental concerns [7:30] Forever chemicals in food packaging: What research found [11:00] Where we’re at with regard to PFAS regulation in the US and around the world [15:00] EcoCraft, 100% Compostable, and other greenwashing examples: The “environmentally friendly” food packaging that’s actually not environmentally friendly at all [16:45] 5 action steps to reduce PFAS exposure and make better purchasing decisions moving forward   Resources mentioned: * Dangerous PFAS Chemicals Are in Your Food Packaging (via Consumer Reports) * Watch the extended version of this episode on Youtube     * Want more episodes like this one? Check out #070: The Basics of Minimalists Kitchens and Minimalist Cooking. * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.  

It’s no secret that plastic razors are meant to be used a handful of times and then thrown in the garbage. As with any disposable product, if we continue buying them, companies will continue making them. Enter the alternative: safety razors. A safety razor is a steel razor with replacement blades: while you replace the blade (and recycle it!) once it’s dull, the razor itself is made to last a lifetime. On today’s show I speak with Tung Do, co-founder of WLDOHO. Tung is on the show to explain how you, too, can incorporate a safety razor into your daily life without stress or overwhelm. Here’s a preview: [2:45] A safety razor primer: what it is, what it does, and why advocates love them [5:30] One (expensive-ish) product versus a lifetime of (cheap) disposables: Does the money add up? [7:30] What to do with your discarded blades [8:15] Expert tricks for easing the safety razor transition [13:50] The benefits to exfoliating before shaving with a safety razor [14:45] Knees, shinbones, and ankles: Hacks for shaving tricky areas [18:00] The environmental implications associated with plastic, disposable razors   Resources mentioned: * WLDOHO on Instagram * Watch the extended version of this episode on Youtube * Use code SMOOTHSHAVE10 for 10% off any product at WLDOHO.com   * Thank you to Aura Frames for sponsoring this week’s episode! Take the stress out of gifting this Mother’s Day by using code MINIMALISTS at checkout for up to $40 off. * Want more episodes like this one? Check out #009: Creating A Sustainable Minimalist’s Bathroom. * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.    

In my corner of the world trees are budding and flowers are blooming. But leaf blowers are also blowing, and it’s nearly time for that first grass cutting. Enter No Mow May. Lawns that aren’t exactly pristine may indeed get your neighbors’ side-eyes, as intentionally not mowing your lawn here in the US is a quietly revolutionary act. But environmental advocates argue that there are many benefits to stepping away from overzealous lawn maintenance, at least for one month. On today’s short and sweet episode we’re covering pollinators, No Mow May, and lawn pesticides, oh my! Here’s a preview: [1:30] A pollinator and pollination recap from elementary school science [3:00 No Mow May: What it is and why you should consider participating [8:30] What you need to know about lawn pesticides before laying them on your lawn   Resources mentioned: * Episode #138: 10 Eco-Friendly Lawn Care Rules * In Wisconsin: Stowing Mowers, Pleasing Bees (via NYTimes) * Every Flower Counts extension activity for children * Find a certified organic landscaper near you   * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.    

Our master bedrooms *should* be our sanctuaries. While they’re the singular space we retreat to for rest, relaxation, and recharging, all too often our master bedrooms become like any other room in our homes: havens for clutter. Today I speak with professional organizer Amy Mayorga about all-things minimalist master bedroom design. Amy argues that Step One is honoring the purpose of the room: to honor its purpose, we must first ruthlessly declutter. Amy also offers her best organizing tips for those master bedroom essentials you choose to keep.   Here’s a preview: [5:00] Items that should be- and shouldn’t be! – in your master bedroom [8:30] Designing your bedroom like a hotel room: the how and why [13:45] KonMari space-saving strategies for dealing with and organizing excess clothes [21:30] Amy’s tips for storing semi-dirty clothes that you intend to re-wear [25:30] Thoughts on how to style gigantic master suites in newer houses (hint: the answer is always less!)     Resources mentioned: * Episode #256: The Best Things Are Free: Sleep * Amy on Instagram * Watch the extended version of this interview on Youtube   * Thank you to UpCircle Beauty for sponsoring this week’s episode! Use code MAMAMINIMALIST (one word) at checkout for 15% off your order. * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.  

Lithium is so much more than the name of a (very) famous Nirvana song. Lithium is a metal affectionately known as white gold, and it’s having a moment. On today’s show we are examining the environmental implications associated with our growing lithium needs for batteries in electric vehicles, laptops, cell phones, and more.   Here’s a preview: [3:00] Everything you need to know about lithium: its benefits, its drawbacks, how it’s extracted [8:45] The white gold race and the political/economic forces at play [9:45] Environmental concerns and controversies with Lithium Americas at Thacker Pass, Nevada [14:00] Answering listener questions about EV battery length, recycling concerns, and more [23:00] 3 lithium-related action steps for conscious consumers   Additional resources: The Lithium Gold Rush: Inside the Race to Power Electric Vehicles (via NY Times) Sodium-based Material Yields Stable Alternative to Lithium-ion Batteries (via UTexas)   * Thank you to UpCircle Beauty for sponsoring this week’s episode! Use code MAMAMINIMALIST (one word) at checkout for 15% off your order. * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.  

What’s better than deep and meaningful connections with those we love? Join me today for this third and final episode in our What’s Best In Life Is Free series as we discuss this importance of rich conversations. Research finds that rich talk is the antidote to the stress we experience in our daily lives, and Dr. Rebecca Rolland offers practical ideas for shifting conversations with your children toward what’s meaningful for the long haul. Here’s a preview: [5:45] The many benefits of rich talk [10:30] Adaptive, Back and Forth, and Child-Centered: The ABCs of rich talk with a nod toward research [15:00] The 3 E’s of rich talk in real life [19:00] Thoughts on letting go of the need to be the “expert” or the “authority” as parents [22:00] The double promises of rich talk: Practical ways to incrementally shift household conversations toward deep conversation   Resources mentioned: * The Art of Talking with Children: The Simple Keys to Nurturing Kindness, Creativity, and Confidence in Kids * Watch the extended version of this interview on Youtube   * Thank you to KiwiCo for sponsoring this week’s episode! Get 30% off your first month plus free shipping with code SUSTAINABLE at kiwico.com. * Thank you also to Wild Planet Foods for sponsoring! Learn more about their sustainability vision here. * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.

“I’m stuck between trying to spend as little money as possible while also buying sustainable, timeless items from eco-conscious companies (which often inherently cost more). Even though I’m buying fewer items and using my money more intentionally, I don’t find that I’m saving much. What tips do you have for conscious spending, i.e. spending less without sacrificing quality or values?”   Ethical items, quality garments and organic food, oh my: Because eco-friendly purchases are often more expensive than their conventional counterparts, eco-minimalism as a lifestyle can feel sometimes inaccessible to those of us on a budget. Today’s show answers a listener’s question about the space where eco-friendliness and frugality diverge. I speak with Certified Financial Planner Gary Grewal about the fundamentals of conscious spending: Gary suggests 3 strategies for listeners who don’t feel as though they’re saving much money and offers tried-and-true ways to vote with our dollars (without going broke).   Here’s a preview: [5:00] First things first: buying as your last resort [8:00] How and why it’s important to “zoom out”, with thoughts on investing in health [15:00] Impulse spending and derailed financial goals [17:00] 5 items to rent instead of buy [21:45] 5 free or low cost ways to spend time with others [26:00] 5 ways to vote with your dollars   Resources mentioned: * Turo car sharing marketplace * Financial Fives: The Top 325 Ways To Save, Earn, and Thrive To Retire Before 65 * Watch the extended version of this interview on Youtube * Want more episodes like this one? Check out #205: How To Right-Size Your Household Budget     * Thank you to Let’s Make Art for sponsoring this week’s episode! Get 20% off your first order here (discount will be applied at checkout). * Thank you also to Wild Planet Foods for sponsoring! Learn more about their sustainability vision here. * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.  

The origins of spring cleaning date back to times when homes were heated by fires: spring, then, offered an opportunity to sweep out the soot and grime that accumulated throughout the long winter. These days, the tradition of deep cleaning in spring rejuvenates our spaces, increases productivity, and clears out dust and other allergens. On today’s miniature episode we apply the principles of spring cleaning to all important areas of our lives for greater clarity and well-being as we welcome the start of a new season.   Here’s a preview: [3:00] The importance of clearing out old, stagnant energy in your home this spring [7:15] What psychology says about emotional clutter (and one antidote to remedy it) [12:00] How information overload impacts mental clutter, with thoughts on reducing it for greater clarity   Resources mentioned: * Episode #254: Managing Just In Case Clutter * Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport     * Thank you to Let’s Make Art for sponsoring this week’s episode! Get 20% off your first order here. (Please note that discount will be applied at checkout.) * Thank you to Caraway Home for sponsoring! Get 10% off your purchase with code SUSTAINABLE at checkout. * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.  

People who get great sleep get sick less often. They also think more clearly and are better able to maintain a healthy weight. Still, approximately 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Today we continue our limited podcast series into how to make the best (free) things in life even better. I have a content-rich conversation with chief mattress maker at My Green Mattress Tim Masters about the fundamental differences between conventional versus “natural” mattresses. Tim believes that we should all care about the quality of the fibers that we sleep on, and he’s here to arm you with the knowledge you need to take control of  your sleep.   Here’s a preview: [6:00] How to know when your existing mattress needs replacing, plus: afterlife concerns when it comes to conventional mattresses [9:30] Dunlop latex versus Talalay: why organic latex makes a great mattress material [14:00] The (multiple) benefits of wool as a mattress fiber [17:45] What to look for (and what to avoid) when purchasing your next mattress [21:45] Thoughts on using flame retardants in furniture and mattresses   Resources mentioned: * Episode #190: Curating a Healthy House * Watch the extended version of this episode on Youtube   * Thank you to Caraway Home for sponsoring this week’s episode! Get 10% off your purchase with code SUSTAINABLE at checkout. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.    

The best things in life are free, or so they say. And for moms and dads everywhere, one of the most enjoyable (and free!) aspects of parenting is story time. With this episode the podcast kicks off a new, limited series that dives deeper into the best free things in life. In honor of World Storytelling Day on March 20, I speak with co-founder of Once Upon A PJ Britt Gage about practical ways we can get the most out of story time with our children. Britt argues that, with a few simple tweaks, we can infuse story time with humor, happiness, and lasting family memories. Here’s a preview: [4:45] 3 reasons why story time may be for story telling (not book reading) [10:00] What research says about the importance of a nightly story time routine [14:00] Reading and story telling best practices [17:15] How to use the PAJAMAS acronym to maximize story time with your child   Resources mentioned: * Promoting Emerging Language and Literacy During Storytime (via National Library of Medicine) * Once Upon A PJ on Instagram * Watch the extended version of this interview on Youtube   * Thank you to Caraway Home for sponsoring this week’s episode! Get 10% off your purchase with code SUSTAINABLE at checkout. * Thank you also to Wild Planet Foods for sponsoring! Learn more about their sustainability vision here. * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.  

We all do it: We keep items around “just in case” we need them in the future. And while there’s certainly nothing wrong with holding onto things you’ll definitely use again, there’s a threshold in which just in case clutter gets to be too much and goes too far. Today I speak with Krista Lockwood, host of the Motherhood Simplified podcast. Krista argues that there’s a difference between being adequately prepared versus impractically prepared, and impractical preparedness often comes at a detriment to our daily lives. She’s on the show to offer motivation as you take a good hard look at all the items you’re holding onto “just in case”. Here’s a preview: [9:00] How to determine your personal threshold for just in case items [14:30] The key differences between being prepared versus being over-prepared [17:45] Questions to ask yourself as you sift through your just in case clutter [22:00] How to remove yourself from the analysis/paralysis trap [24:30]  Using the 20/20 rule as a tool to logically think through just in case items   Resources mentioned: * Today’s eco-tip: Donate your hair, fur, fleece and wool for hair mats * Motherhood Simplified on Apple Podcasts * Watch the extended version of this interview on Youtube   * Thank you to Caraway Home for sponsoring this week’s episode! Get 10% off your purchase with code SUSTAINABLE at checkout. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.  

Want to throw a birthday party for your child that’s light on waste but heavy on fun? Does a present-light party intrigue you but you aren’t sure how to pull it off? Today I’m answering listener Gretchen’s question about how eco-minimalists do kids’ birthday parties. I’m first describing how such celebrations look in my house; I also offer practical alternatives for goody bags, single-use decorations, and more.   Here’s a preview: [5:00] 5 reasons why you may want to consider a gift-free or gift-light celebration [12:00] How to host a gift-light birthday party for your child: 3 practical suggestions [17:30] Just say no to goody bags; use Stephanie’s alternative, instead [23:45] Eco-friendly decorations: thoughts on balloons, party hats noise makers, confetti, and more [30:30] Don’t have kids but are attending a kid’s birthday party? Best practices for guests   Resources mentioned: * Did you know there’s a book based on this podcast? (Thank you for supporting my work!) * Say hello! Send Steph an email at MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com * Join our (free!) community here. * Thank you to Zencastr for sponsoring this week’s episode! Use promo code SUSTAINABLEMINIMALISTS for 30% off your first 3 months. * Thank you also to Wild Planet Foods for sponsoring! Learn more about their sustainability vision here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube.