December in Review

Well, that’s 2018 Done and Dusted!

Last night, for the last few minutes of the year the whole family (people and cats) were eating a late dinner and before we knew it is was 12:01am. It was the first year in a really long time that we had “missed” new years. But we were happy together as a family, content, well fed, but not quite in line with everyone else in the world. It felt like a good metaphor for the year. And an interesting thing to see at the start of a new year.

In December, we saw friends and family and had low key celebrations. We got back into doing a few beach walks, and tried to spend our time off together doing things we love. We were sick this month, so self care was a priority.

This month we made a conscious effort to create more, to eat healthy, to make new habits, and to care for the health of ourselves and the cats.

#watchercats were few, but we saw some this month!

We worked on our house a little in December but more than work, we identified somethings we want to work on in 2019.

Overall, Dec went by quick and easy, and it was a good month.

Now we are ready to say goodbye to December, goodbye to 2018, and hello to 2019.

Goals for 2019

It's that time again! Time to think about the new year ahead and what I'd like to focus on, be mindful about and accomplish. I don't consider these task or resolutions, mearly guidelines for growth. 

Seek Balance in Life/Work/Art
I make this goal every year and I’m still working on it.

Create More Than Consume
I’ve become very aware at how much time I spend on my phone and the internet and how little time I spend concentrating on creating. This year, Creating should be the priority.

Become Better at Being Plastic Free and Zero Waste
One of the best things I’ve done for myself in the last few years was start my Zero Waste journey. Here’s to a more good work in 2019.

Blog / Youtube
I dabbled in YouTube in 2018, but this year I want to make it a regular part of my life. Blogging is also a priority.

Habit Building / Monthly Goals
In 2018 I tried to build new habits and set monthly goals, in 2019 I want to make sure to do more.

Home Improvement
There are a lot of things we want to do to improve the house. Some we have started, others need starting and all of them need finished! I hope to get a lot done this year!

Be a Better Wife
I never thought I would be a wife. Now I want to become better at it. This has to do with lots of things that I will go in to depth another time.

Travel / Explore
We did OK at this goal last year, but I want to do more!! There are a lot of local areas and some more far afield that I want to go to.

Read One Book per Month
Another goal that I set every year is to read more, but this year, I want to set the goal to read at least one book each month.

Create one Tattoo per Month
I only created a few tatttoes in 2018, I want to make sure to do more in 2019.

Study Japanese
I love to learn languages and I miss studying. I want to get back in to the habit of this and be able to converse with more people.

Lose 20lb
OK, I usually don’t include goals like this. I usually don’t make them!! But this year, I need to get serious about my health and losing some weight is part of that.

Save Money
Pretty standard.

What are your goals for 2019? Share your blog, or list them in the comments.

2018 Goals Review

In 2018 I organized my goals in a way I never had before. I set goals in the beginning of the year and mid year I reviewed and modified them to better suit my needs. My intention with this was to reassess, but also to remind. I’m not sure this actually worked for me. I’m thinking of what I want to do for my goals in 2019, and looking back is always helpful.

Here are the original goals I set for 2018 and the modified goals I worked on mid year and some blog posts that fit into each category:

Be Balanced in Home Life/Art/Personal Endeavors and Work
Sew and Quilt More
Be a Better Blogger
Zero Waste Journey
Be Purposeful and Mindful in My Home Life and Relationships
Improve My Health, Wellness, and Mental Well Being
Make Time To Travel and Explore 
Write 2 Letters Per Month
Create 1 Tattoo Per Month
Save Money

1. Seek Balance - Balance in life, work, and art.   
Bullet Journal January
Philly Anniversary
BuJo Feb
Modern Art in Philadelphia
BuJo March
Morris Museum
A New Bullet Journal
YouTube Beach Walk
Cleveland Aquarium
Mid Year Goals Review
Whitebogs Revisited
Five Days in Cleveland Part One
Fives Days in Cleveland Part Two
BuJo August
Art and Nature in Cleveland
In Search of Milkweed
Something Nice: Friends Visit
On Not Being in VT
gARTen
Hello My Name Is…
One Day in Cape May
Apple Picking
Why I’m Not Changing the Name of this Blog
Moth Coffeehouse
Ghost
Best Nine
BuJo Dec

2. Strive to create - Rediscovering things that that help me create and be inspired is a priority for the rest of the year. Letters, tattoos, thrifting, styling, and more might be part of this goal. 
January OMG
2018 FAL Q1
Year of the Stash 2018 Manifesto
Bowtie
Mad Cat BOM
Feb OMG
MCQBOM Feb
MCQBOM Group Photo
WIP Feb
Basting Party
MCQBOM 8
March OMG
YouTube Bujo Flip Thru
How I Bind
MCQBOM 9
MCQBOM 10
April OMG
Visible Mending
2018 FAL Q2
YouTube Hand Sewing
MCQBOM 11
MCQBOM 12
May OMG
MCQBOM Group Photo 3
June OMG
July OMG
Recently Thrifted
Mad Cat Market
Stick and Poke
Owl for a Friend

3. Be a better blogger - This goes hand in hand with how I feel creative and how I can focus on that goal. 
Regularly Scheduled Programming

4. Live a mindful and intentional life - Continuing to save money, improve our mental and physical health, provide for and enjoying family and friends, create a curated lifestyle and home, make improvements on our environment at home and abroad, read more, create healthy living routines, etc... all fit into this goal.   
Shelfie 006
What I Ate
Jan Plant Update
Working Cats
Feb Plant Update
March Plant Update
The Hound of the Baskervilles
YouTube What I Ate
The Cheese Monkeys
The Thrifting Bug
April Plant Update
YouTube What I Ate
Shelfie 007
Tattoo Story Anchor
June Plant Update
The Lighthouse
July Plant Update
August Plant Update
Making Habits
September Plant Update
October Habits
Tattoo Story Cup of Coffee
Garden Tour Summer 2018
October Plant Update
House and Home
November Habits
What I Ate on Thanksgiving
November Plant Update
December Habits

5. Continue my zero waste and low impact journey - Every month is plastic free july! Every day is a chance to reduce waste and improve our lives and health!
Mad Cat Capsule Winter 2018
Everlane Review
The Joy of Using Up
Mad Cat Capsule Thinking about Shoes
Zero Waste On My Mind
Cloth Coffee Filters
Shampoo Bar
Sock Sorting
Mad Cat Capsule Spring 2018
Foraging for Fire Wood
Comparing Springs
Plastic Free July
Plastic Free July On My Mind
5 Steps for Plastic Free July
Mad Cat Capsule Summer 2018
My Plastic Free Kit
So You Forgot Your Zero Waste Kit
Plastic Free July Wrap Up
Thinking About Fall
Everlane Review
Zero Waste, Low Waste
Mad Cat Capsule Fall 2018
How We Eat
Capsule Goals
Why I Hate My Bamboo Toothbrush
Zero Waste Croutons
Vegetarian, Vegan, Plant Based
Minimalist Jewelry Collection
Zero Waste Baked Oatmeal
The Joy Of Using Up

Overall, I think it was great for me to reassess my goals mid way thru the year. I think I did well with a lot of them and looking back has given me some good ideas about what I want to do in the year ahead.

I’m a strong believer that each year will be better than the last and you can accomplish everything you want as long as you work at it.

How did your 2018 goals go? What are your plans for next year?

Mad Cat Capsule: Sometimes It's Sad to Say Goodbye

There is a great Joy in Using Up, but sometimes it’s sad to say goodbye.

I was going thru my clothes in anticipation for my next capsule wardrobe and realized that there are a lot of items I will be getting rid of. It feels good to declutter, pass on items that I no long want or need or that don’t fit right. But some of the items I love so much!

The high top vans were a lost and found from one of my old jobs. They were well loved when I got them, but I was able to get a few more years from them. I had to let them go when they were so used that they had holes in the bottom and hurt my feet to wear. I haven’t figured out how to recycle these yet, so I’m storing them until I do.

I’m giving up two thrifted pants that I have had for for several years. They happen to both be J Crew, a brand I don’t ever buy new but I find that I enjoy second hand. They both are mid rise, a style I never really wear any more bc I don’t enjoy the fit. They also both do not fit me now that I have gained some weight. I of course, have the impulse to keep them until I lose weight, but why? If the size were the only reason, I might try to keep them, but there are other reasons to pass these along as well.

Some items I want to keep bc of the good memories attached to them, or the feeling they gave me when I could wear them. I think that’s ok! If the item still brings me joy, I want to have it around. I have a small space I keep for nostalgic clothing, and some of the items I’m de cluttering might end up there. Another great way to “save” clothes if you will no longer wear them is to take pictures!!

Something Nice

Celebrating with family.

Bullet Journal Check In: December - Daily Spreads with Journalling.

With my new larger format Bullet Journal, I was excited to start reincorporating some notes on each day into my daily spreads. Although I use my BuJo for organizing and keeping myself on track with goals and tasks, I also use it as a record of my life. I fell out of the habit of this practice, which was always one of my intentions with bullet journalling.

My weekly spreads look a lot different in this bigger journal. It’s perfect to jot down a few notes for each day. I like to record what we did, how I felt, what time I got out of work, and general info.

What info besides tasks and to dos do you like to keep a record of?

The Joy of Using Up

“There have been a lot of panties in the trash lately…” my husband mentioned the other day.

And I thought, yeah! isn’t it great!?

I have barely bought any underwear since I started my zero waste journey. Once I started a capsule wardrobe, I realized how many socks, panties, and bras I had. I decluttered many, but most were perfectly good and I saw no reason to throw them away or get new. When it comes to underpants, I did cull for comfort but many that I kept are simply not my favorite, many are not my style, but I thought it would be better to use them up, than trash them right away.

I’ve talked about it before, but there is a certain kind of joy when you use something all the way out or up. In this time of disposables, single use, fast fashion, and convenience in all things, we have forgotten how great it is to use objects to the end of their life.

It may seem a little woo woo (definition: witchy, crazy, new agey) but I feel that using something to the end of it’s life helps to honor that object and it’s creator. It’s a way to be mindful about what we own and therefore more mindful about what we buy/get/make next. It’s a great way to be low waste, make new habits and be more present.

Ideally with textiles, I would send them to be recycled. A lot of the underwear and socks that I have been throwing away have micro plastics. Tossing them in the trash isn’t the greatest solution. But these are items that are too far gone to donate, too intimate to pass along. Even though I wish I had a better option than throwing them in the garbage, I feel good knowing that I’ve used them up, and won’t have the same dilemma in the future.

On My Mind on Friday Morning

I had wanted to go thru all my ornaments and decorate the house this year. I haven’t done this yet, but I have had my eye on some fun food shaped ornaments this year! 1, 2 (love this!!), 3 (very NJ!). Here’s a whole article that was very fun!
Japan has loosened it’s immigration policies, let’s go!!
NJ has officially name the Bog Turtle it’s state reptile!
Very long article on the fossils our trash will become.
The three books I’m trying to use each day:

Morning pages, currently reading, sketch book.

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.