Recipe | Zero Waste Vegan Baked Oatmeal

I usually like my oats pretty simple. Hot water, fruit, sweetener. The other day I made this baked oatmeal for a brunch and it was a huge hit! It requires slightly more work, but it’s still really easy and can be made very low waste! This recipe is easily adaptable, you can swap out your favorite flavors and change it up often, make as little or as much as you want, and eat hot or cold!

Ingredients
Quick oats
Dried spices. I used nutmeg and ginger.
Lemon Zest
Sugar
Frozen berries. I used bluebs and cherries.
Plant milk. I used cashew.

Equipment
Oven safe dish
Micro plane or zester
Spoon for mixing

Put your oats into your baking dish. I used about a cup of oats, but you can add more or less depending on who your feeding. Add dried spices, lemon zest, sugar to taste, and mix. Add frozen berries and twice the amount of milk as oats, mix well and let sit for 5-10 minutes. Mix again and pop in a 375 degree oven until oats are cooked and the top starts to brown a little. for the amount I made it took about 20 minutes. Serve hot, warm, or cooled. This would be great served with some warmed milk poured over it or with yogurt.

A few notes:
- The lemon zest is key!! used about half a lemon’s worth of zest But I could have done the whole lemon. if you don’t have a zester or micro plane, you can slice off the skin and fine chop.
- I used white sugar bc that’s what I wanted to use up, but this recipe would be great with brown sugar, maple syrup or any other sweetener you like. You can also change up the spices and fruit added.
- To be extra fancy, sprinkle some brown sugar on top and pop in the broiler to brown and crystalize the top of your oatmeal.
- My oatmeal came out a little dry this time bc I didn’t add quite enough milk. It was still good.

To make this recipe low waste, I used bulk oats and spices. I also used up some of my spices, which feels so good! I used pre packaged frozen fruit; I like the fruit from Whole Foods bc you can rinse out and recycle the plastic bags they come in. To make even more low waste, use fresh fruit or fruit that you have frozen yourself.

I didn’t plate mine up very beautifully, but it was still delicious!

This is an easy meal to make in advance. What are some of your favorite easy breakfast foods?

Best Nine 2018

I love to look back and see what my Best Nine instagrams were according to likes. Lots of cats and other animals this year, no surprise there. And I’m glad our garden made it in!

I struggled to find this website this year, I guess a few similar ones have popped up. The original Best Nine is my favorite. Have you tried it, yet?

I also like to look back at my past years. I love to see how the color palate changes.

2017

2016

2015

Even though he hasn’t had had many pics, I also did one for @irving_barry.

And here is my husbands, @anlight. I really liked that his was very thematic.

Pantone Color of the Year 2019

Each year Pantone, the paint and color people, choose a color in December for the year ahead. They imbue these colors with ideas and ideals for the new year. I don't always agree with the choices but along with many in the quilting community, I like to ruminate on them a bit.

For 2019, Pantone chose Living Coral.

Here’s what they have to say about it:

“Vibrant, yet mellow PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral embraces us with warmth and nourishment to provide comfort and buoyancy in our continually shifting environment.

In reaction to the onslaught of digital technology and social media increasingly embedding into daily life, we are seeking authentic and immersive experiences that enable connection and intimacy. Sociable and spirited, the engaging nature of PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral welcomes and encourages lighthearted activity. Symbolizing our innate need for optimism and joyful pursuits, PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral embodies our desire for playful expression.

Representing the fusion of modern life, PANTONE Living Coral is a nurturing color that appears in our natural surroundings and at the same time, displays a lively presence within social media.

PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral emits the desired, familiar, and energizing aspects of color found in nature. In its glorious, yet unfortunately more elusive, display beneath the sea, this vivifying and effervescent color mesmerizes the eye and mind. Lying at the center of our naturally vivid and chromatic ecosystem, PANTONE Living Coral is evocative of how coral reefs provide shelter to a diverse kaleidoscope of color.”

I may seems like a downer when it comes to Pantone’s color of the year. I started examining it and sharing my thoughts in 2016 and I’ve disagreed with the meaning or idea behind just about every color since. Serenity and Rose Quartz (2016) felt confining in it’s binary structure (at a time when we should be seeing past blue and pink), Greenery (2017) felt tone deaf in it’s optimism in nature as opposed to the world-leader’s intent to destroy it, and Ultra Violet (2018) would have made more sense if they had called it Ultra Violent (I mean, it was the year with the most mass shootings in the US so far).

I’m sure that Pantone intends these colors to be uplifting and inspiring.

But come on!! At a time when most of the world coral reefs are headed soon to destruction, when the US is actively repealing environmental safeties and sustainability, Pantone is going to say looking at an intestinal putrid pink is going to save us from the fantasies of the internet and connect with nature and the world??

But perhaps it is all in the name. If it had been called Puke or even Drink the Koolaid or Road Kill, I might have felt it was more appropriate for what we have to face in the coming year.

If this is our color of the year, let it be named Extra Strength Pepto Bismol. Pantone, help me stomach another year like the last few.

But don’t take my word for it. Here are a few articles on Living Coral

From Tree Hugger (you know I love them!)

NJ News likes it bc it’s from NJ!

I always love to read what A Quilter’s Table has to say about the Color of the Year.

Well and Good thinks Living coral is … sexy?

I really like what Thrillist says: “it's not a reflection, it's a response -- an answer”. I personally can’t seem to get that point, but I want it to be true!

What are your thoughts on Living Coral?

Regularly Scheduled Programming 2018

What are some of your favorite columns in your favorite blogs?
I love when blogs or youtube channels have regular or semi regular series. I love to see what Chloe is finding in her $25 thrift challenge, or find some weekend reads from Fairdare.

With my own blog, I love the idea of having some of the same kinds of posts each week, month or year. In 2016, I started looking back and seeing what of these posts I used regularly and making a list. This is for my own memory, mostly, but you may want to take a look back, too!

Month in Review - A review of each month and my favorite instagrams for that month. 

Monthly Plant Update - A review of all the plants I've observed for each month. 

On My Mind On Friday Morning - A few things I've noticed around the internet, and life, recorded on Friday morning. 

Something New - Something new I've learned or done. 

Off Season - Notes on places I've seen, been, or explored and why I like them better in the off season. 

Book Reviews - What I've been reading, showcased on quilts. 

Art and Nature... - Art and nature go together. I like to write about it here.  

Zoo at Home, Zoo Abroad - We love to visit animals, zoos, aquariums, etc... when we can. 

Shelfie - Just pics of my home. 

Bullet Journal - I've been keeping a BuJo for several years now, and I like to check in about once a month.

Mad Cat Capsule - In 2017, I started keeping a capsule wardrobe, follow my progress here. (added this year)

Zero Waste - 2017 also marked the start of my zero waste, plastic free journey. I post thoughts, ideas, recipes, and goals. 

Something Nice - Don't you love it when nice stuff happens? 

There have been a few categories that I started posting this year:

Habit Shift - Here I talk about the habits I love and those I want to make.

.Tattoo Story - To remember my tattoos and why I got them, I record it here.

What I Eat in a Day - I love to eat, love to know what people are eating, love to share!

Recipes - I want to include more recipes, specifically zero waste recipes, here.

Definitions - Some terms that I and other bloggers use might be new to you. Here’s where you can learn more.

Youtube - I really want to try and incorporate videos into my blogging.

And there are some that I did post in during the year, but have fallen by the wayside. Mostly these have to do with sewing and quilting.

New Block - I try to learn new blocks each month and share them. 

Finishes - This column doesn't get much love, but I'm always hoping to have a finish each month. 

WIP / Wrinkly Old WIPs - WIPs are for photos of what I'm working on, with few words. Wrinkly Old WIPs is for rekindling interest in old projects. 

I would love to have one of each of these posts every month and in some columns cases, more than once a month. I really enjoy looking back to see how the posts in my blog have grown. Does anyone out there have a favorite column at Mad Cat Quilts? What would you like to see more of? 
I rarely use tags in my post, but I’m thinking of trying it. Please let me know any advice you might have as to the benefits of tags! Leave your comments below!

My Minimalist Jewelry Collection

When I was young I wore a ton of jewelry. Rings on every finger, necklaces up to my chin. But somewhere along the way I stopped wearing almost all jewelry. For several years I wore only a few rings, then my wedding rings, and now I’m starting to incorporate more items.

I recently purchased a few new items from one of my favorite jewelry makers, Arcana Obscura. While I’m waiting for that to arrive, I was inspired to take a look at my current collection.

1) I got this quartz necklace this year while I was in Cleveland and it has quickly become one of my most worn items. I have completely forgotten the name of the designers that made it but I remember that it was made in Canada by sister designers!

2) Hamsa necklace by Arcana Obscura. I love this necklace and can’t wait to get more pieces from her! I got this one a few years ago.

3) + 4) I bought these two pendents at one of our favorite gems shops over the Summer. It’s a must stop whenever we find ourselves in Cape May NJ. They came with chains, but being no the best quality, I planned on swapping them out. For the amethyst I made a braided waxed cord inspired by one that a friend wears. The other I wore with it’s exisiting chain for a while, but it recently broke. I will most likely thrift a vintage chain for this.

5) + 6) Both my bracelets are second hand sterling silver (as you can see, I basically only wear silver). I found these in 2018 at various thrift shops, or antique markets. Does anyone else find it hard to wear bracelets in the Winter?

7) + 8) These two delicate silver rings are the oldest (as far as when I bought them) items in my collection. I bought them at a Renegade Craft Fair with my friend Racheal almost 10 years ago. I never take them off.

9) + 10) My wedding rings are the oldest items in my collection. I have’t had them the longest but the band is white gold and the diamond ring is silver both from the 20s or 30s, both second hand and antiquw. We got all our wedding jewelry from Erie Basin in Brooklyn.

11) My thoughtful mother in law got me this sea glass necklace as a gift. I love the colors! I kept the artist’s card for a long time, but no longer know where it is.

12) This E chain belonged to my maternal grandma, Elaine. This one is tricky to wear as it easily catches on clothing.

13) Another sea glass piece, a marble, I bought at a sea glass festival circa 2014. It’s a little difficult to wear bc of where it sits on me. I’d love to get it a new, longer chain.

14) Finally I have this citrine, amethyst, and quartz necklace which also has a very cheap chain that I actually snapped this week. I had been thinking of replacing it for a while, so now I have to! We picked this piece up in a gem shop in New Orleans in 2015.

You may have noticed a theme; I am very hard on my jewelry. It has to be able to stand up to a lot. I have several other pieces that have been broken a long time, or items I used to wear and stored away, and now have no idea where they are. I’m sure now that I am actively trying to wear jewelry again, I would wear some of them again. Maybe one day!

I’m not sure how jewelry fits in to slow fashion. I know that almost all of mine are fashioned by artisans, over 10 years old, locally made, and small batch. I feel pretty good about that.

What does your collection look like?

Two Habits I Love and Two for December

I’ve enjoyed writing this series bc I really love having my blog to look back on when I need inspiration to work on my goals. I also love to write down the habits I already have and meditate on being grateful for the routines that keep me and my family happy and healthy.

I’m still working on the four habits I want to practice so far in 2018, but I like look at habits I already have to keep me motivated for new habits. Here are two that I love:

No Straw, Please
This is a fairly new habit but it’s one I use every time we go out. this phrase has become second nature to both me and my husband!

Lemon Water
This is also a newer habit. Everyone says to drink water first thing in the morning, but that just doesn’t work for me. Instead, I’ll try to make sure to drink water mid morning, after my coffee. Sometimes I have lemon water at home but on days that I go to work the first thing I do is pour myself a big lemon water. This helps me get focused and energized for the day ahead.

So now for the two habits I’m working on this month:

Clutter Free Couch
Our couch is where we fold the laundry, where we put our bags, where we drop our groceries and coats… it’s not the place we sit very often. In order to keep it from getting out of hand, and in case we want to sit on it, I want to make sure I take some time each day to make sure it’s clutter free.

Daily Face Massage
Why buy fancy jade rollers, or trendy devices when you can jut massage your face. I’ve been trying to take a few minutes each day to start this habit. It’s calming and relaxing but also helps me feel invigorated and ready to start my day. Sometimes I’ll forget to do this in the morning, and what I love about this practice is that you can do it anywhere, anytime and nee no special equipment.

What habits are you working on this month? What habits have you made and love in 2018?

Here are the other habits I’ve been working on in 2018.
Stretch everyday
Dish free sink
Read everyday
Morning pages

Vegetarian, Vegan, Plant Based, Flexitarian

People use the food, diet, and lifestyle related words Vegetarian, Vegan, Plant Based, and Flexitarian a lot these days. When I was growing up these were “new” terms but now, they are spoken like everyone knows what they mean. In this series I explain low impact terms like these, simply, in case they are new to you. I wanted to take some time and explain these food terms. I have done some research on them, but these definitions are mostly what I understand them as and how I use them.

When describing these terms I will speak of them as they pertain to people’s diets, only touching on lifestyle. But many of them can also be used to describe products, foods, and lifestyles, and more.

Vegetarian
People who eat a vegetarian diet do not eat any foods that require killing an animal to obtain. Vegetarians no not eat chicken, cow, pork, fish, insects, or any flesh of animals. Vegetarians do eat cheese, milk, eggs, honey, (and more) as well as lots of fruits and vegetables, grains, etc… Vegetarians do not use items that require the killing an animal, like leather and fur*.

Vegan
Vegans do not eat, wear, or promote in anyway anything that come from animals at all. Vegans do not eat meats, fish, eggs, honey, dairy… Or use any animal products like leather, beeswax, wool, silk, etc… Vegans can be and often are very stringent about making sure they are not exploiting animals in anyway in their lifestyle. Vegans do eat lots of fruits, veggies, grains, and foods created from those things.

Plant Based
From Wikipedia: “A plant-based diet is a diet based on foods derived from plants, including vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes and fruits, but with few or no animal products. The use of the phrase has changed over time, and examples can be found of the phrase "plant-based diet" being used to refer to vegan diets, which contain no food from animal sources, to vegetarian diets which include eggs and dairy but no meat, and to diets with varying amounts of animal-based foods, such as semi-vegetarian diets which contain small amounts of meat.”

Flexitarian
This is the newest term, entering the dictionary in 2012. This refers to anyone who generally has a meatless diet and/or lifestyle but might eat meat, fish, use leather, etc… depending on circumstance. Flexitarians might eat meat or dairy when going out to eat, or when they really want to try a dish or product, or when someone cooks them something or gives them a animal product present. Flexitarian eating and lifestyle, sometimes called semi vegetarian, is often used as a gateway to be more strictly vegetarian or vegan.

These basic terms have more nuances, but I think this is a good over view for anyone who is learning about these matters. Which diet or lifestyle do you fit in or aspire to?

What other Low impact terms are readers interested in learning about? Please leave your suggestions below!

*Often times vegetarians and vegans will use vintage leather, fur, etc…

On My Mind On Friday Morning

I’ve been wanting to decorate for xmas/solstice this year. Some years we do and some we don’t but I’m feeling the urge and have been checking out a lot of great low waste decoration ideas.
Madfit is doing blogmas for workouts! 24 days of at home workouts. I love her simple style and short vids.
Really cool portraits revolving around a personal uniform.
I always need more tips to cure winter blues.
It’s that time of year where all the cats want to curl up in front of the radiator. Good thing we have a mat for that.

Recipe | Zero Waste Vegan Croutons

I love croutons. But they were one of the first things I gave up buying pre-made when I started going plastic free. It was an easy decision bc croutons are so easy to make!!
Here’s my go to, easy, vegan, zero waste recipe!

Ingredients
Bread (preferably a baguette or other crunchy loaf, preferably day old or bread ends or scrapes)
Olive oil
Spices (whatever you have at hand)
Salt & Pepper

Equipment
Bread knife
Cutting board
Baking pan

Cut bread into bite sized pieces. My bread was a few days old and too stiff to cut up safely, so I just tore mine to pieces. Place on the baking tray and add spices and salt and pepper. I used onion powder (old plastic jar that I’m using up, next I’ll buy glass), garlic powder, thyme (bulk and put in a reused jar), pink salt and fresh pepper. You can use whatever you have but a combo kinda like this is what I usually use. Douse generously with olive oil. Toss well to coat. Place tray in preheated oven. Bake until golden, tossing occasionally, about 20 min depending on oven temp.

A few notes:
- I usually bake these when I’m already using the oven, which is why I don’t have a set temp.
- I have made the spice mix with so many different variations! I really like to add cayenne or chili flakes to make them a little spicy. I also like mine really salty!
- These keep for about a week in an air tight container stored in a cool dry place.
- Use these on salads, soups, stews, or just as a crunchy snack!

Using up old bread, that hopefully came in paper which can be recycled or composted, or from the bulk section and using spices and oil that can be bought in glass or bulk are the biggest reason that this is a zero waste recipe. It is also a great way to save bread that wold have otherwise gone in the trash. And think about all the waste your saving by making these yourself as opposed to buying them in conventional packaging at the store!!

What are some items you used to buy but now make yourself?

Something Nice: When a Friend Rescues Something Just for You

Why I Hate My Bamboo Toothbrush

How many toothbrushes have you used in your lifetime?

Think about this: Every plastic toothbrush you’ve ever used still exists on the planet.

You may have thrown them out, but they didn’t actually go anywhere. They’re still hanging out in some huge trash pile somewhere.

One solution, or partial solution, is to use a bamboo toothbrush. Bamboo is a sustainable crop, biodegradable, compostable, etc… so it’s definitely a better option than plastic. It’s an easy choice when trying to be more sustainable and mindful.

Over the years, I’ve tried a few bamboo toothbrushes and one thing I can say about all of them is that I hate them. I know they should be the right choice for someone on a plastic free, low impact lifestyle and I do highly suggest trying them out for anyone who is interested in these things. But for me, they just don’t function the way that I would like. Here’s why:

All the bamboo toothbrushes I have tried are very “soft”.
I’m sure you can get a “medium” or “hard” version, but they were all too soft for me.

They don’t last very long.
I use my toothbrushes far longer than the suggested time period, so this is partly my fault. I find that all the bamboo toothbrushes I have had have only lasted about two months and that’s just not practical for me.

THE BRISTLES FALL OUT!
The reason they don’t last is bc the bamboo degrades and the bristles fall out. Let me tell you, if you’ve ever been brushing your teeth and suddenly you have a mouthful of spiky plastic threads choking you, it’s NOT FUN.

The bristles are mostly plastic.
In order to compost these toothbrushes you have to pull out the plastic bristles. But what do you do with them??

Since starting this journey towards a more sustainable, slow lifestyle, each choice I make is more weighed and more weighty. The option that is most used isn’t always the right right one for everyone. In this case, I have to look for an alternative. This gives me opportunity to research and explore new companies and methods. Doing so isn’t always easy, but not everything has to be easy. Even if it’s just brushing your teeth.

November Plant Update

The minute the weather changes to Winter cold, I worry that I’ll never go outside again. But we were able to get out and about a little in November. We went to one of our favorite beach-combing beaches, we went to one of our favorite breakfast spots and all their plants, we walked around our yard and neighborhood, and we watched our garden transition into Winter.

The walk up to the beach.

Look at all that goos stuff!!

Natural contrast.

Some happy plants (some not so happy).

I moved all the plants around this month. It makes some fun new corners around the house.

Record collection is guarded well.

Perfect rose.

Hanging in there.

Te garden is slowly being taken over by Winter.

Visiting plant friends.

Perfect Autumn views.

Is it Fall where you live? What are your plant observations for the month of November?

November In Review

November went by so fast, and the year is nearly over.

The weather turned very cold, so bundling up was necessary. Despite that we were still able to see family and friends, enjoy the holidays, have some walks on the beach and get a lot of work done.

1) Flounder… 2) …flounder. 3) Porch #watchercat, 4) And another warm inside.

#watchercats were out, finding sunny spots this month. We tried to save a flounder on the beach, and hung out with Flounder at home.

1) Morning light. 2) Afternoon light with a friend. 3) Morning essentials. 4) Giants in the sky.

We traveled only a little this month, heading to Brooklyn a few times and visiting a few toy shows around NJ.

Our holidays were very relaxed and we were super happy to see family and friends.

1) Recipe coming soon. 2) A little bit of zen. 3) Holidays collide. 4) Instant collection.

Over all it was a really good month! We’ve started to reflect on the past year and look ahead to the new year. Here comes December!

What I Eat in a Day | Thanksgiving 2018

No day is complete without coffee.

Woke up around 7am to have coffee with my BFF before I had to take him to the train. Once I got back I needed a snack and just had some cheese and crackers with orange marmalade and mustard.

We headed out to my father’s house for thanksgiving dinner and there was more cheese!! We also had brown sugar & spice mixed nuts, sour cherry spread, and celery with cream cheese and olives.

The main meal was a big salad, stuffing, roasted veggies, mashed potatoes, maple mashed yams, field roast, and an amazing veggie gravy! We also had wine, cider, water, and sparkling water. I piled my plate really high!!

For dessert, we had a Four and Twenty Blackbirds salted caramel apple pie and whipped cream. We ate it so fast I only got a pic of the pie after! Even though we ate quite early, I didn’t need to eat any more this day!

I loved having a vegetarian holiday meal! It was easy and delicious! We tried a vegan field roast for the first time and it was ok, but next year I would skip it. I just felt that it wasn’t needed for the meal as we had so many other fresh, non processed, options. I plan to make thanksgiving sammies out of the leftovers, though, and I feel like I’ll like that better than the loaf on it’s own.

What did you eat on Thanksgiving?

On My Mind On Friday Morning

Since I’m trying to post about house and home this month, here are a few of my favorite YouTube sites on the same topic. Whether it’s tiny homes, sustainable living, or thrifted living, I love them all.
Here’s an update on the neon art space in Asbury Park, NJ.
Bodega Possum.
Check out these gorgeous dogs being celebrated.
Lots of new Items added to Mad Cat Market insta in the last few weeks. Check it out and I would love to hear suggestions, wish lists, or comments! We’re closed for the holiday weekend, but I’ll have a big update on Monday 11/26. Thanks!

Mad Cat Capsule: Wardrobe Goals

I’ve had a capsule wardrobe for about a year and a half now and I love it, My style of capsule wardrobe and how I put it together had evolved a lot in that time. That makes sense bc my lifestyle has changed a lot, too! I still have a lot to learn and a lot to do towards having the perfect, for me, capsule wardrobe.

Here are some of my goals:

Move to an all slow fashion wardrobe
This one is an easy goal to achieve, all it takes is time!! I have completely stoped buying fast fashion, so all I have to do is wait until everything that I had bought before doing so is 10 years plus. After that, everything will be bought from ethical companies, thrifted, or 10 years plus.

Move to an all plastic free wardrobe (mostly)
Right now I still have a lot of clothes that are made with plastic. I’m not sure my closet will ever be completely plastic free. Some of the items are from when I shopped fast fashion, but more of them are vintage. I love to thrift vintage cotton, linen, silk, leather, and other natural fibers but every once in a while there is a fantastic poly or blended piece that I can’t resist. I’d like to get close enough to plastic free that all those items can be washed in a micro plastic capturing laundry bag.

Reduce the over all amount of clothes I have by… a lot.
I have so. many. clothes. Every time I make up my seasonal capsule, I try to pare down and get rid of items that I don’t wear or that don’t fit. But there are more and more clothes, and now that I am thrifting again, there are “new” clothes, too! Before I started thrifting regularly again, I was making a dent. I hope to one day either have a small enough over all wardrobe that I don’t feel that it’s exsessive. Perhaps when I can fit all my clothes into the one closet that now houses my seasonal capsule? I’m not sure how many items that will be, but I think I’ll know it when it happens. That leads me to…

Not buy “new” clothes unless I need them!
I would love to be satisfied with my wardrobe and not feel the need to buy more. I am not a minimalist and don’t plan to become one, but I do want to lessen the over all amount of stuff that I have. Perhaps Instead of not buying I simply rotate out items for “new” ones. A one in, one out wardrobe would be hard for me but may be possible. I love the idea of passing items on to new owners who will love them as much as I did.

These are the big four goals I have. I have some other goals related to my capsule wardrobe but not directly for my wardrobe. What are you goals for the future of your wardrobe?

Bullet Journal Check In: New Book for November

It’s finally time to start a new Bullet Journal and it just so happens that I thrifted a new (to me) note book a few weeks ago. While at a rummage sale I found this oversized, grid notebook with a Spiderman theme! It was obviously loved by a young someone and had some drawings still inside. I love them and have incorporated them into my index. I think it’ll be fun to come upon them when going through creating my journal.

This book is the biggest format I’ve used for a bullet journal and the grid is quite small. I love the idea of repurposing it and making due with what I have. I also think this large size will allow me more space for certain things. I’ve interested to see how I utilize it, especially for my daily spreads. I’ll be sure to show some results soon!

I really enjoyed getting something second hand and not buying new! It feels great to apply a low impact mindset to more and more aspects of my life.

I will have made it thru at least half of November in my current journal so the Spiderman BuJo will start mid month. I love to create the full spreads for both current and next journal, but I most likely will not fill in everything twice and will pick up the new book what ever day I switch over.

How do you transition your Bullet Journal mid month?

Something New: Pur Water Filter

Something we knew before we moved into our house in Asbury Park, NJ, was that we would need a water filter. We knew that the water here was terrible! It tastes undrinkable, especially coming from Brooklyn where the water is delicious! And goodness knows what's in there that you might be ingesting. So this was a priority for us right away. 

And, just over 3 years later, we got a water filter. 

We waited so long bc we were waiting for that perfect moment to get the exact filter we wanted. I didn’t want to get the exact under sink triple filtration water filter until we get the new sink and totally renovate our kitchen. 3 years later and of course that hasn’t happened yet.

When we got this sink tap water filter it was after days and days of feeling like I was intensely dehydrated. I was feeling so parched all the time, tired, and like toxins were building up in my body. In the winter it was always easy for me to drink wanter bc I would boil it and drink hot water, but in the summer I was not drinking enough.

It might seem totally ridiculous to wait until you feel ill to buy something as simple as a filter that can be installed in a few minutes. But since trying to live a more mindful and sustainable lifestyle, every decision is a weighty one. In the end, health won out and we got the filter. We are looking up ways to make our own filters more sustainably, so that they aren’t going to landfill. When we do get a more sustainable option, we will donate this water filter.

Since getting this simple devise, I have felt so much better!! A small change can have a great impact, and although it wasn’t perfect, it’s good enough. One day, I hope to have a really awesome and sustainable kitchen with clean drinking water but this small step helped my kitchen become a little healthier.

How do you filter your water? And what is a positive change you made for your health in your house?

Something Nice: Thrifting Something You Know a Friend Will Like