Sustainable Minimalists

What Is a Capsule Wardrobe? (And Other Closet Questions) When it comes to our closets, the most sustainable practice is to wear what we already own. Donating clothes contributes to textile pollution; as such, it’s prudent to wear and re-wear our garments until they are thoroughly worn out. But what is a capsule wardrobe, exactly, and how can you create one if you have a closetful of items you simply aren’t wearing and will likely never wear again? Amanda Warfield is a capsule wardrobe expert who argues that the average woman wears 20% of her closet, 80% of the time. That’s because we naturally gravitate toward the few items that fit our unique body type and make us feel fabulous. Conversely, we shy away from pieces that don’t quite fit or bum us out. Are you ready to tackle your closet? On this week’s episode Amanda and I are thrilled to identify the 7 items you’ll want to keep but can responsibly let go when decluttering your wardrobe including those jeans that fit your skinnier self, those on-trend items, and more. (Amanda also offers up her Closet Clean Out Helper, which is available in the Show Notes as a free download.) Enjoy!   * Access this week’s Show Notes here. * Want more episodes like this one? Check out #079: The Secret to a Successful Capsule Wardrobe. * Like the show? Support it by leaving a quick review! On the Apple Podcasts app, hit the Library tab, scroll allll the way to the bottom past all prior episodes, then click on the stars to leave a review. (Thank you!) * Join our (free!) community here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest.   Our monthly newsletter overflows with eco-friendly awesomeness. Get yours straight to your inbox! #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width:1998px;} /* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ Email First Name (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true);    

Conscious consumers are so much more than review-checkers. They don’t have their credit card information saved on Amazon. They’re not swayed by “deals” or “sales”, either. Conscious consumers don’t walk the shopping mall for fun + they certainly don’t follow marketplace trends. You’ve heard the term but – still! – its definition remains ambiguous. What is a conscious consumer, exactly? This week, I’m thrilled to identify key traits of intentional shoppers. I show you exactly how you can be one, too, with 4 easy-ish tricks + resources. Enjoy! * Access this week’s Show Notes here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest.   Our monthly newsletter overflows with eco-friendly awesomeness. Get yours straight to your inbox! #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width:1998px;} /* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ Email First Name (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true);

    Did you know? The average American kitchen holds a whopping 1,019 items. Yet professional chefs argue that fully functioning kitchens demand *just* 16 items. No need to spend an arm + a leg on top of the line models, either: you, too, can whip up delectable meals with just 16 items that cost under $300 total. This week, I’m dabbling in the concepts of minimalists kitchens + minimalist cooking with simplicity wellness coach Mirley Guerra Graf. Mirley believes that healthy living starts in a minimalist kitchen; I agree. On today’s episode we identify the gadgets you need, the gadgets you don’t need + how, exactly, to declutter the heart of your home. If cooking for your household is a stress-inducing affair, you’ll want to stick around for Mirley’s tips on making healthy meals without extra work, too. Enjoy! * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest. * Be in-the-know! Sign up for early bird access (+ a discount!) when “14 Days to a Zero-Waste Kitchen” reopens here.   Our monthly newsletter overflows with eco-friendly awesomeness. Get yours straight to your inbox! #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width:1998px;} /* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ Email First Name (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true);

Freshly baked artisanal breads, still warm from the oven. Imported cheeses in original packaging. Untouched organic berries. Did you know? You can find all this + more in your local dumpster. Cameron Macleish first learned about the food waste epidemic as a broke college student. These days, he dumpster dives and – with his mom’s help – cooks delectable meals with his finds to push back against both food waste + food insecurity. While Cameron neither wants nor expects us to dumpster dive for sustenance, he does want to educate us on the food waste epidemic. He comes armed to our conversation with his best tips for the average family to waste less, too. Enjoy! * Find your tribe! Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest.   Our monthly newsletter overflows with eco-friendly awesomeness. Get yours straight to your inbox! #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width:1998px;} /* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ Email First Name (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true);

Have you scheduled self-care into your days lately? I get it: We’re all busy. When we must cut something, we almost always cut the tasks that rejuvenate ourselves from our schedules first. I believe that self-care is less about time-intensive, expensive spa treatments (although if they light you up, go for ’em!).  Instead, self-care is a collection of little habits that promote healthy + peaceful existences. On today’s episode, we get some serious self-care bang out of *just* 5 minutes. Liann Hughes is a fellow blogger who has perfected the act of self-care for busy people; she’s here to motivate us to put ourselves first with 8 tried-and-true strategies that require very little time. Enjoy!   * Access this week’s Show Notes here. * Find your tribe! Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest. * Go on with your bad self + leave a review on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. (Thank you!)

  So you’ve slashed into the trash your household produces. (That’s great!) But what about when you’re out + about? Are you conscious of garbage when you’re on-the-go? The truth is this: Strategic handbags go a *long way* toward low-waste or zero-waste living. It’s easier than it sounds, too: I carry everything I need for eating out, doing errands + stopping anywhere spontaneous in my medium-sized shoulder bag. On today’s episode I divulge the ten items I keep with me at all times to ensure that I adhere to zero-waste living while on-the-go.   * Access this week’s Show Notes here. * Find your tribe! Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest. * Go on with your bad self + leave this podcast a review on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. (Thank you!)

Have you ever embarked on a dry month? Would you consider one? This week we explore the space where minimalism, intentional living + sobriety collide. My guest this week is blogger Kim Miller. Through the lenses of #winemom + motherhood drinking culture, Kim + I examine the idea that clutter isn’t *just* physical stuff. Clutter is old ideas + habits that don’t serve us. Clutter is anything that takes us out of the moment + away from our best selves, too. Kim suggests that taking a break from alcohol (or from any habit that isn’t serving you!) is a powerful way to seek a life of intention. Here’s how. * Find your tribe! Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest. * Want to say hello? Shoot Stephanie an email at MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com

Ever find yourself questioning the air quality in your home?  How about your water? Many of us have completed personal detoxes to eliminate internal toxins from our bodies. But how many of us tackle the toxins that reside in our homes? Toxins are everywhere, even in the cleanest of living spaces. As such, indoor air quality is typically 2-5 times more polluted than outdoor air. Worst of all? Abundant toxins can + do lead to health problems. There is good news, + it’s this: We can dramatically improve the health of our homes with simple changes. On today’s episode I outline 5 such changes that require little effort but pack a big collective punch. Want a deeper detox? Be sure to grab the free calendar printable, 30 Days to a Total Home Detox, in this week’s Show Notes. * Access this week’s Show Notes (+ snag the free calendar printable!) here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest. * Want to say hello? Shoot Stephanie an email at MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com * Receive 20% off your Jackalo purchase by being a Sustainable Minimalists listener!

Let me guess: You like the *idea* of thrifting as a means of preserving both your hard-earned money + the planet. But in practice, things get muddled. Who has the time, energy or desire to sift through mounds of less-than-ideal garments in search of a genuine find? Here’s the good news: These days, it’s easier than ever to shop secondhand. My guest this week is Lauren Spraggins. She’s a fashion reseller who searches for, cleans, mends + presses secondhand items. Thanks to fashion resellers like Lauren, resurrecting once-loved garments is now accessible to the average time-crunched consumer. Learn tricks of the reselling trade + how, exactly, you can benefit in this week’s episode. Enjoy! * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest! * Receive 20% off your Jackalo purchase by being a Sustainable Minimalists listener!

Humans are sick + are getting sicker. So is planet Earth.  Our health as a species is intricately linked to the health of our planet. Indeed, perhaps the most concerning aspect of greenhouse gases, polluted oceans + shrinking ecosystems is that – ultimately – we have manufactured an environment unfit for human life. My guest this week is Dr. Stephen Hussey. He’s a chiropractor, health coach + author who’s on the podcast to outline concrete action steps for reclaiming our health + helping Earth in the process. Enjoy! * Access this week’s Show Notes here. * Receive 20% off your Jackalo purchase by being a Sustainable Minimalists listener! * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest!

Zero-waste living is easier than you think. The secret? It all starts at the supermarket. Take home less plastic. On today’s episode I’m divulging my 5 tricks that can be implemented by absolutely anyone on his or her next shopping trip. ** This episode offers a tiny taste of what I’m teaching in 14 Days to a Zero-Waste Kitchen. Registration officially opens today! I hope you’ll join me for guided, one-on-one instruction + more content just like this. ** * Access this week’s Show Notes here. * Learn everything you need to know about 14 Days to a Zero-Waste Kitchen  here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest!

  It happens to all of us. We embark on a decluttering endeavor – a whole house purge, even – only to lose steam halfway through. Indeed, it’s as if the motivation to finish vanishes into thin air. We’re enticed by benefits of a minimalist home, including less stress, more free time + fewer items to clean. The problem is, though, that the act of decluttering induces stress, sucks up free time + requires hours of work. On this week’s episode, Melissa Russell offers 5 practical steps for staying motivated when decluttering gets hard so that you, too, can reap the benefits of tidy simplicity.   * Access this week’s Show Notes here. * Get Early Bird access (+ a 20% discount!) on ’14-Days to a Zero-Waste Kitchen’ here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest!

So you know fast fashion is bad. (Really bad, in fact.) But you’ve got a closet full of cheap, trendy items + you have no idea how to create a more ethical wardrobe. How can you avoid eco-burnout + cultivate sustainability in your closet? That’s the question Cait Bagby is answering today. Cait is a fellow blogger, ethical influencer + self-described fashion maximalist who’s offering her two cents on creating a wardrobe to feel good about. Enjoy! * Access this week’s Show Notes here. * Get Early Bird access (+ a 20% discount!) on ’14-Days to a Zero-Waste Kitchen’ here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest!  

“But I might need it someday.” “But shouldn’t I save it for my kids?” “But it was a gift from my great-aunt Bertha!” Over the past 2 years, I’ve been fortunate to chat with *many* minimalists. In these chats + interviews, I’ve learned one thing: In the throes of tidying, we all push through the Exact. Same. Concerns. Today I’m bringing 5 decluttering roadblocks into the light + addressing them one by one. Then I’m following them up with practical tips so that you, too, stay on course. * Access this week’s Show Notes here. * Get Early Bird access (+ a 20% discount!) on ’14-Days to a Zero-Waste Kitchen’ here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest!

Have yourself a disorganized household? No judgement here. I’ve got one, too. June Doran is a blogger, homeschooler + mom of 5 who argues that, if you want to get tidy, the answer *isn’t* to purchase additional bins + baskets. Indeed, the best way to organize a disorganized family is simple, painless + free. * Get early bird access (+ a 20% discount!) on ’14-Days to a Zero-Waste Kitchen’ here. * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Pinterest!