Winter Is Coming + How I'm Dealing With It

I have never been a fan of winter, or of being cold. 

Recently I’ve discovered a similar transition into the colder months that I experience with my luteal/menstrual phase. 

And I’ve come up with a theory (and since then have seen other ladies talk about it as well). But my theory is that the different phases of our menstrual cycles correlate to different months. And by that I mean we have a similar feeling during that phase that we do in that phase. 

It could differ person to person, and be dependent on where you live. But for me it goes a little something like this:

Luteal Phase = Fall

Menstrual Phase = Winter

Follicular Phase = Spring

Ovulatory Phase = Summer 

Cold weather has always been something I’ve struggled with and even fought at different times. But this year I am taking a different approach. 

The same approach I have when I’m headed into my luteal and menstrual phase. 

And the two big strategies there are: 

+ Allowing myself to slow down. I love a fast paced, super inspired, productive day, but we all know that can’t happen every day. Mid way through my luteal phase I notice the pull to slow down, and I’ve really challenged myself over the past year or so to listen to that. 

I’ve been pleasantly surprised when I do. And I’m going to approach winter the same way. 

+ I recently discovered the Danish term “hygge” (pronounced hoo-ga) and while it looks like I’m behind the times, something about it resonated with me. And in particular during my period, and now as it is getting colder.

I saw it described as:

- the art of building sanctuary and community, of inviting closeness and paying attention to what makes us feel open hearted and alive;

- to create well-being, connection and warmth;

- a feeling of belonging to the moment and to each other;

- celebrating the everyday

Doesn’t that sound just absolutely freaking lovely?  

And I’ve realized. It’s ok to transition to “delights" of winter, warm baths, hot drinks, curling up with a good book, sitting in front of a fire place, spending time with family, wearing warm, cozy clothes, fuzzy socks, and just making your space into a place you can sink into comfort and relaxation in. 

Seriously, go on Pinterest and dive into the world of hygge for a moment (if you haven’t already of course). 

Now, a few other things I plan to focus on this fall and winter:

+ Setting a sleeping schedule and sticking to it. The days are getting shorter and darker and while I love waking up with the sun, it’s not making it’s appearance until around 7:30 am. 

I love my mornings when I wake up at 6 a.m. because the stat of my day is the best time for me. When I start my day sooner I feel calmer, accomplished, and less rushed.

+ Going along with that we’ve decided that we’re going to buy a sunrise simulator clock when we get back from France.  A friend of mine got one last year and swears by it saying it was a revolutionary purchase. And I’m ready for that. 

+ And finally is something I try to do year round, but it’s especially important (and slightly more difficult when it’s cold) is to exercise and eat a balanced diet of whole plant based foods. 

Heading into winter with this strategy makes me feel much more accepting of the weather and at ease with the transition. 

Not to mention we’re already talking about how we can escape the worst of it in January and February.

Foods For the Different Phases Of Your Cycle

I’ve had countless women ask for me to cover this topic. I haven’t reached this level of cycle/nutrition connection, but I know it’s possible. 

How? 

From reading different books like Alisa Vitti’s “WomanCode” which I recommend for anyone out there with a serious menstrual issue like PCOS or Endometriosis. 

Today is a small taste of what’s in that book, which you should definitely pick up if you’re interested in the subject. 

I try to eat a balanced diet of whole plant based foods (WPBF), and so I’ve included that portion of her food suggestions today. 

Menstrual Phase:

+ healthy fats

+ root veggies

+ water rich fruits and veggies

What you’re looking to do: be conscious of both giving your body the nutrition it needs but at the same time some comfort food goes a long way in soothing during our menstrual phase. Fats help keep mood stable. 

Grains: buckwheat and wild rice

Veggies: beet, burdock, pulse, hijiki, kale, kelp, kombu, mushroom, wakame, water chestnut

Fruits: blackberry, blueberry, grapes, cranberry, watermelon

Legumes: adzuki, black soybean, kidney bean

Nuts + Seeds: chestnut, pumpkin, flax

Other: Bancha tea, miso, sea salt, liquid aminos 

Follicular Phase: 

+ sprouted and fermented foods

+ light, fresh and vibrant foods

What you’re looking to do: estrogen is dominate in this phase and you’re looking to balance this hormone out.

Grains: barley, oat

Veggies: artichoke, broccoli, carrot, lettuce, parsley, green peas, rhubarb, string bean, zucchini

Fruits: avocado, lemon, lime, orange, plum, pomegranate, sour cherry

Legumes: black-eyed pea, green lentil, lima bean, mung bean, split pea

Nuts + Seeds: brazil, cashew, lychee, pumpkin, flax

Other: nut butter, olives, pickles, sauerkraut, vinegar

Ovulatory Phase:

+ fresh juices

+ fresh, whole veggies

+ fiber rich foods

What you’re looking to do: eat plenty of foods to keep estrogen moving through body.

Grains: amaranth, quinoa

Veggies: asparagus, bell pepper, brussel sprouts, chard, chicory, chive, dandelion, eggplant, endive, escarole, okra, scallion, spinach, tomato

Fruits: apricot, cantaloupe, coconut, fix, guava, persimmon, raspberry, strawberry

Legumes: red lentil

Nuts + Seeds: almond, pecan, pistachio, sesame, sunflower

Other: Tumeric

Luteal Phase:

+ greens

+ grains

What you’re looking to do: eat plenty of foods rich in b-vitamins, calcium and magnesium to help with mood swings

Grains: brow rice, millet

Veggies: cabbage, cauliflower, celery, collard, cucumber, daikon, garlic, ginger, leeks, mustard green, onion, parsnip, pumpkin, radish, squash, sweet potato, watercress

Fruits: apple, date, peach, pear, raisin

Legumes: chickpea, navy beans

Nuts + Seeds: hickory, pine nut, walnut, sesame, sunflower

Other: mint, peppermint, spirulina

I’ve heard a lot of people talking about intuitive eating for awhile now, and if you haven’t experienced what that actually is then I guarantee it can be quite confusing. 

We’ve been told for so long that certain things (I’m mostly referencing to animal products) are good for this that and everything when it comes to a “balanced” diet when in reality eating this way has been recking our bodies for years now. But we think, we’re doing what we’ve been told to do, eating what we’ve been told is a balanced diet so feeling this way must just be normal. 

Well, I can tell you that it’s not. I spent the majority of my life dealing with issues related to what I was eating without even thinking about it. It was only when I switched to a plant based diet that this light bulb came on. When I started feeling better and better I just thought, how did I spend all my life feeling like crap and thinking that was normal for me? 

So, while some people thrive on a strict, go big or go home diet, I encourage everyone to start recalling paying attention to what they’re eating on a daily basis, and how those foods are making you feel. And if there’s something that time and time again comes up as problematic, take a week break from it and see how you feel. 

Listen to your body and I guarantee you’ll be pleased with the results. 

Bleeding Through Everything While Running

I remember when I first saw the story about Kiran Gandhi and her infamous London Marathon. 

"Bad ass," I thought. And I wonder if I would do the same in her situation? 

Well, I haven’t reached the marathon mark, but I sure am training for one. 

And can I just say, when it rains, it pours when it comes to running and your period. Not every time, but we all have that one day. That one day where your period has a mind of its own. 

I’ve bled through multiple pairs of jeans, two of those being in the same day. On one occasion, back when I was still waitressing I could feel it happening, which led to me having to run home quick to change (thankfully I lived only a block away). It took only a wide-eyed gesture to the crotch of my jeans to a coworker to cover me while I was gone. “Oh nooo…. wow,” was her response. 

The first time it happened while I was running, I was already a mile into my run when I could feel it starting. Shoot, I thought. Hmm, should I turn around and run home? Or chance it? Screw it, I’m going to keep running. 

And so I kept running. 

Did I bleed through everything? You bet. But, I tucked my shirt into the back of my pants in a “sweatshirt around the waist” attempt. 

That’s happened twice now. 

Looking at the predictions in period tracker app, my period should be over (by a day or two) by the time my marathon rolls around. But that’s just a prediction and cycles can shift this way and that, so who knows what my fate for that day actually holds. 

I remember in high school when the worst thing that could happen was the possibility that you would leak through your pants. We all fed each other horror stories of embarrassment. 

The girl in the white pants. 

The girl who left a puddle of blood on her chair. 

They go on and on. 

If you ever leave a pool of blood in a chair, you deserve an medal because that’s an accomplishment. 

It’s inevitable that you’re going to bleed through countless things in your lifetime, and I’m going to let you in on a little secret: life goes on. It’s not the huge deal people make it out to be. I bet 99% of the time you’ll be the only one who knows it happens. 

It’s always me that feels the need to let someone else in on my situation. Look what happened!

If you skinned your knee and it was slowly pooling into a patch on your knee, would you be embarrassed? 

Hell no. 

I’ve decided to not let it be something that embarrasses me anymore. Because it doesn’t. I’m over it. I’ve got bigger things in life to concern myself with.  

So laugh it off and share it with a friend. 

Why I Have $100,000 On My Wall

Last week I wrote a post about lessons I had learned from the book “Get Rich, Lucky Bitch” which I devoured and thoroughly enjoyed. 

One of the glaring realizations was that I had this subconscious belief that I only deserved to make the bare minimum needed to survive. 

But what happens when your goals change, what you want changes? What if a house and a family doesn’t seem so distant? 

The answer: you’re going to need more money. 

I realized that I thought making more money than I “needed” was greedy. That I should only want what I need and nothing more. 

Why set big goals if you have enough now?

Well, I realized it wasn’t about being ungrateful for what I already have. It’s about growing, as a person, as a business, and it’s OK if you desires and goals change. 

It doesn’t take much money for me to support myself at this point in life. I’m pretty proud of that fact, but I also discovered that the idea of making “a lot” of money freaked me out, gave me these weird, cringey feelings that I didn’t like. 

In the book she talks about clients who had the goals of making six figures, seven figures, and each time I found myself a bit bug eyed thinking, “That’s sooo much money!” 

When I thought about what it would be like to make six figures I found myself really uncomfortable with the idea of that much money. 

I’m a far way off from that income goal, but how could I ever expect myself to seek out more money if I wasn’t even comfortable with the idea of making more money. 

Essentially, I was repelling money and opportunities that led to more money because I didn’t think I needed it nor deserved it. I was uncomfortable with it. 

So, I’ve started doing a few things to change my attitude towards making more money. 

One, slightly absurd, thing I’ve done is put “$100,000” on the bottom of my felt letter board that sits on my desk. 

And when I first put it up there I would hide it behind candles, embarrassed that it was even there. But slowly, as I sit down and look at it every day I’m becoming more and more comfortable with it. Slowly but surely it doesn’t seem so absurd, it doesn’t seem so greedy, it doesn’t seem so impossible. 

I’ve also started putting up little positive money affirmations on sticky notes above my desk. 

I’m slowly chipping away at my preconceived notions about income and self-worth. 

I want things in life, and I want them sooner rather than later. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Having goals doesn’t make me greedy. I’m not harming anyone to get there. 

I love learning about personal finance and money mindsets. Money will probably always be taboo, but it doesn’t mean I can’t change my own attitude towards the matter. 

What are some of the big money lessons you’ve learned so far in life?

Luteal/Menstrual Phase Funk

Even though I’ve dug into, and learned to love all aspects of my cycle, I am still caught off guard time to time by that week that overlaps the end of one cycle and the start of the next. 

It falls on the last few days of the luteal phase and first few days of the menstrual phase (your period). 

Today, I wanted to go over what I notice during this week and how I deal with it:

+ I am TIRED, exhausted, to a point that coffee can’t combat. 

I go to bed earlier, sleep in just a little longer, and I don’t feel guilty about it. And if there’s a day I need a nap, I take a 30 minute to an hour long nap, and don’t feel guilty about it. 

I get outside more, or just go out and run an errand. Getting up from my desk and out of my apartment usually gives me a little boost.

+ My motivation goes straight out the window.

This one is so much harder to accept than feeling tired. I get frustrated when I don’t feel that usual spark for work I normally have. 

There is only one way to handle this. Cut down your to-do list to what absolutely must get done that day. And focus on getting that done, give yourself more time and more breaks throughout the day. And if that’s all you accomplish, congratulations, celebrate it!

You can be productive on a different level when your motivation is low. Find that balance, that happy medium. 

+ Feeling blah, meh, wanting to curl up in a ball and do nothing.

There’s a time and a place to just let this take over, and I’ll usually allow myself one day to be a human blob. But if you’re going to do it, commit to it, don’t feel an ounce of guilt and really just bask in the glory of doing absolutely nothing. 

I also find time for mindless tasks I don’t make time for during the rest of the month. Usually decluttering or deep cleaning, organizing or sorting. Things that are on your to-do list but aren’t top tier essential must do's. 

+ Feeling more blue and gloomy than usual.

This is the time to pamper yourself. With food, with bubble baths, music, whatever makes you feel loved by yourself. 

It’s also a great time to do some reflection on life. Look at what you’ve been spending your time working on, or doing lately. Are you happy with how you’ve allocated your time? Are there things you wish you would make more time for? What changes can you make going forward to curate your days into what you want them to be? 

This phase (or combo of phases) is pretty much the same as the end of fall, headed into winter. Think about when the weather starts to get colder than you're comfortable with, the days get darker, shorter, more gray. You don’t just stop living because it’s not as exciting and fun. You learn to adapt and change your habits during the colder months. 

Learn to look at your cycle in a similar light. How can you adapt to make the most out of each phase? 

My Daily Routines + Habits

I’m on a constant quest to fine tune my daily habits and routines in order to reach optimal life for myself. 

I spent a lot of my life living for the future, for the possibility of what could happen one day, but I’ve learned to appreciate the time I have (nothing’s guaranteed). 

I’ve been trying out a few new daily habits that I wanted to share with you today. 

Positive Affirmations

This is one of those things that I saw as frou-frou for a long time. But I can’t begin to describe the impact that your thoughts have on your actions and your emotions. 

Some may scoff at me, but I’m a big believer in you get what you put out into the Universe (not always obviously, but I’ve noticed a trend). 

If I’m in a super negative, everything sucks, life sucks, sort of mood, guess what I’m going to get? More negative things. This could be partially because when you’re in a bad mood you only notice the bad things, but I think there’s something else at play. 

So, something I’ve started doing is writing down a daily positive affirmation and putting it somewhere in my line of sight for the day. Every time I catch a glimpse of it out of the corner of my eye I stop what I’m doing and say it out loud to myself, letting it sink in. 

Recently, I have been focusing on positive money affirmations because it’s amazing how many subconscious beliefs I have about money (and I just read a book about this). Mostly surrounding the thought that money isn’t bad, or greedy. It’s a tool. If you have negative beliefs about money you might be saying no to opportunities without even recognizing them. 

Writing Down my Goals

I’m a big supporter of goal setting. 

Dr. Gail Matthews, psychology professor at the Dominican University in California found that people are 42% more likely to achieve their goals when they write them down. 

And my thoughts about it are this: 

If you take the time to sit down and write out your goals, first you have to actually decide what it is you’re striving for. You’d be amazed to realize that you don’t even know what it is that you want. And how are you supposed to achieve something you didn’t know you wanted in the first place? 

Goals help guide me in my day to day actions. I’ve learned to break bigger, long term goals down into small, tangible steps. 

Take money for example. Almost everyone wants to “make more money”, but how many have taken the time to sit down and write out what we individually need to survive, what we need to buy a house or a car, what we need to actually go on that dream vacation? 

We look at these things as far off, some day goals, when in reality we could start working towards them today. 

Setting My Intentions

If you’ve ever been to a yoga class there a chance the instructor has asked everyone to take a moment to set an intention for the class before beginning. 

This is kind of in the realm of “goal setting”, but it’s slightly different. 

For me an intention is more like a theme to guide me through the day rather than a task to complete. 

Common intentions are to “be more present in the moment”, “to find gratitude in the small stuff” and usually something to do with being “positive”. 

Reading

It’s something I’ve loved to do since the age of four when my mom first taught me how to. 

But actually making the time to sit down and read can be a bit tricky. We get sucked into doing other things like scrolling through social media, watching Netflix or waiting until right before bed to read, only to fall asleep after a few minutes. 

Travel is a time that I make it a clear goal for more time to read. I don’t like working on the plane and much prefer to curl into a good book. And when you’re traveling you have plenty of down time, or moments of waiting where a reading is a perfect activity. 

I’ve also allowed myself to read more on the weekends or after work. It’s something that brings me so much joy so I’ve been making more of conscious effort to create space for it. 

Running

If you’ve been following along for the past few months you may have noticed that I have started talking about running. 

And this is was not something I did. It was something I avoided. But it’s the perfect combination of achieving two goals: get outside more, and move my body each day. 

And as I’ve found my stride, conditioned my lungs and strengthened my legs I’ve been able to find a certain meditative quality to running. 

I don’t always want to go out and run, but I’ve never once regretted going for a run when it’s done. No matter how bad I hurt after. 

Gratitude Journal

It’s something I’ve been keeping up with for almost a year now.

Each month I dedicate two pages in my bullet journal to my “Sparkly Bits” and each day I will take the time to write out a few things, or just one thing, that I was grateful for that day. 

Keeping a gratitude journal, like most types of journals, help separate the days. Without journaling my days can seem to slip into each other, and when that happens it’s always a shame. It’s like I’m losing time, experiences and memories. 

And if you can get consistent with your gratitudes you’ll start to notice more moments in your days where something will catch your eye (or mind) and you’ll kind of step back and say “Wow, that could be my sparkly bit for the day.”

Limit Social Media

Finally, one of the hardest habits to break. 

There is a time and a place for social media, especially in my line of work being all online. 

But there is a big difference between constructive social media use and mindless scrolling. 

And it’s the mindless scrolling I’m working to cut back on. I’ve been trying to limit myself to only scrolling through social media during different times of the day. Like when I’m going to the bathroom. (Weird? Gross? Who cares. It’s a limited amount of time where I’m aware of the time rather than losing myself in it). 

I’ve tried to cut my social media before bed as well as when I wake up. We’ve all been guilty of scrolling till our eyes burn before bed, and reaching for our phone as soon as we wake up in the morning. 

I’ve also noticed that I use it as a social crutch when I’m out in public for uncomfortable situations. 

On the elevator with a stranger?

Pull out your phone. 

Waiting for someone at a restaurant?

Pull out your phone. 

The list could go on and on, but you get the point. 

In the end these are a few of the things I’ve been trying to add, or subtract, from my life in order to be the happiest, best version of myself. 

Now, I’m curious to hear, what are some daily habits you’ve found to be beneficial? 

Embracing Your Body

#BodyPositive anyone? 

We’ve gotten a lot better recently with telling each other to love our bodies, but that’s easier said than done when we’re being bombarded with mixed messages from all angles. 

And that doesn’t even begin to include what preconceived notions of “beauty” we’ve been instilled with from childhood. 

So, how are we supposed to make peace with our bodies when we’re being told to “strive for a 'healthy' body” but “to love the body you already have”? 

I have no idea. And I don’t think it’s a one-sized fits all solution. But I can offer you my story.

I know, according to "society" I have a body type that is fitting with what others “strive" for. I’m not here to post photos of my thigh gap and tell you to eat your greens. 

I want to share two life changes that revolutionized the way I felt about my body.

I won’t get into how I used to grab at my “saddlebags” and wish for a perkier butt. 

But what’s it mean when someone who is “skinny” still feels they aren’t “there”. Who knows? 

Even the girls in the magazines don’t look like the girls in the magazines. (There’s a quote out there that is basically this). 

But moving right along. Those two changes:

Learning about my menstrual cycle and changing my diet (lifestyle). 

I know I’ve talked about these things before, but they are worth repeating over and over again. 

I don’t even know how to begin to explain the personal empowerment I discovered by ditching the pill, learning about how my body actually worked, and taking control of my own fertility. 

It made me realize how many myths there are about our fertility, our menstrual cycles, our minds and our bodies that are still prevalent today. 

Up until at least the age of 21 I didn’t know that a woman was only fertile for a few days out of every menstrual cycle. I seriously thought that we could get pregnant regardless of when we had sex. 

Knowledge is power, and that power feels good. 

I used to despise my period. It was annoying, unnecessary. It wasn’t fair that I had cramps and continuously ruined underwear. 

But when I discovered the magic behind the menstrual cycle, within the different phases and the purpose of the different functions, my world was rocked. 

No longer did I whine “Why me?!” when I cramped, but instead marveled at my body’s ability to do something without any effort from myself. To see what you are learning about play out in real life is quite incredible, and something I suggest for everyone. If there is something that frustrates you that you don’t understand, do some research. 

Moving along to my change in diet, or like I prefer to call it, lifestyle. Because diets seem to be pandered as temporary, quick fixes. Something you only have to do for a period of time before you can go back to what you were doing before. And frankly I think that’s a load of crap. 

I don’t understand how we can expect something that hasn’t been working to somehow work after we take a brief “health” hiatus from it. 

There's a quote that goes a little something like this: 

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results.” 

Think of the number of fad diets you’ve seen out there that claim you can continue eating everything you love eating, you won’t have to exercise, but you’ll somehow be able to drop all those unwanted pounds?

Anything that is sold as “temporary” screams fake to me. 

The truth is so many of us don’t want to change our habits. We like what we’re doing, but we don’t like the results. We see a potential change as difficult or unenjoyable. 

“But I don’t want to eat just lettuce!"

We think that to maintain a healthy lifestyle and body we have to live in a world of deprivation when in reality for many it’s a world of abundance. 

When you cut out processed foods, animal products and focus on filling your stomach with a whole foods plant based diet you can (*gasp*) eat as much as you want. 

Discovering this world of abundance, energy and vibrance was incredible as a 21-year-old. 

Not only did my insides feel so much better (I had a lot of digestion issues before), but I started to feel better about my outward appearance as well. When you start treating yourself better in one aspect of your life it is infectious, and it spreads. 

Instead of grabbing at and complaining at my perceived imperfections I started noticing and appreciating what my body was capable of. 

If your biggest problem in life is that you don’t have a thigh gap or a flat stomach it’s time to take a step back and find the things about your body that you are grateful for. 

And even if it just starts with “I’m grateful I have two legs,” that’s something to be grateful for. Recently, I’ve been challenging myself physically, and I’m constantly aware of my gratitude that my body is able to run 10 miles, or complete a sprint triathlon. 

The moral of the story here is to find ways to nourish and enrich your body and life. Find gratitude in your days, in your abilities. Learn about your body, what makes you feel good and what doesn’t? And start doing more of what does make you feel good. 

Practicing Gratitude and Mindfulness

One habit/mindset I’ve been trying to get better at is being more grateful and present in the moment.

I saw/heard on TedTalk that we spend 47% of our time with wandering minds. But that we’re less happy when our minds are wandering. 

"When people were mind-wandering, they reported feeling happy only 56% of the time. Meanwhile, when they were focused on the present moment, they reported feeling happy 66% of the time." 

Even if it’s driving to work. You’re going to be happier if you are present rather than letting your mind wander to other things.  

While I’ll always be a daydreamer I want to put a conscious effort into not distracting myself and not letting my mind wander too much. 

So, in the realm of staying present and grateful I wanted to share a list of some simple things I’m doing at the moment: 

+ Time and time again I have heard the benefits of keeping a gratitude journal. Currently this is my "Sparkly Bits” page in my bullet journal. Each day I’ll think back to those little moments I was thankful for. The more consistent I am with this the more present I am during the day. Something will happen and I will have the where with all to recognize it, step back, and enjoy it in the moment. 

+ I’ve been running lately. And I find that the first two miles are the hardest of my run so I’ve started a new thing. I now spend the first mile of my runs saying all the things I’m grateful for. 

+ Sometimes you’ll catch yourself letting your mind just wander and for me I have a new phrase that helps me come back to center. “Be Here.” It’s what I will say to myself to remind myself to be present, to quit thinking about a million other things, and to notice what’s happening around me and within my own body. 

+ Most of us set goals for ourselves. But I find that a lot of the time they are either unreachable, far off, 5 - 10 years down the road sort of goals. And while it’s great to set those long term goals, I think it’s even more important to set goals that have a short timeline. Then after you’ve found something you want to work towards take the time to list the tangible steps you can take day to day to reach that goal. 

+ Meditate. There are countless benefits surrounding being present in the moment and grateful when it comes to meditating regularly. Not to mention it just helps with stress and anxiety. Do it. 

+ When I get those moments of gratitude I stop and soak in all the senses. The other weekend I went camping with some of my girlfriends and while waiting on another friend to go to the bathroom I just remember looking up into the sky, closing my eyes, breathing in the smells and listening to the sounds. 

+ Limiting myself on social media. While I love Instagram it can be a black hole of "oh let me just look really quick" and then 30 minutes later you come to. While I'm not going to give it up I want to be more conscious with how I'm using it rather than letting it use me. 

Now, what are some of the positive effects I’ve noticed from doing these different things?

+ I just feel overall happier and thankful for what I have rather than spending so much time worrying about what I don’t have. And would you guess it, like attracts like, ad with that positive attitude I’ve attracted more of what I want in life. 

+ I feel calmer, more steady. I don’t really get stressed out, but do get anxious here and there. But I feel like I have a better grasp on it and am able to calm myself. 

+ I enjoy the things I’m doing more. Whether that’s something fun like being with friends or something like running or cleaning. I had a moment of gratitude stirring a bowl of dough last night, seriously.

It can be so easy to just allow our lives to be frantic, hectic and stressful. And while I’m not saying this is going to fix bigger problems in our lives, it can’t hurt to have control over our perspective of situations.

What do you do day to day to practice gratitude and stay mindful?  

You Hate Your Period, But Don't Want To

So, you hate your period, but you wish you didn’t? 

I used to be in the same boat. Well, I just hated my period. It never crossed my mind that I could change my perspective on the situation. Disliking your period was just the norm, everyone did it. 

But more and more I hear from gals out there who want to mend that relationship. 

They want to (*gasp*) get along with their cycle. 

Well, if this is you, here’s a few things you can do:

Start learning about your menstrual cycle: 

+ Look into the power of your four phases, the strengths and weaknesses in each and how to use all of it to your advantage

+ It’s amazing how your perspective changes on something when you finally understand the purpose of it (i.e. cramps)

+ Start charting your cycle (tracking your fluid and temperature). You’d be amazed how many cringe at the idea of checking their fluid. If you can’t touch your own vagina, we need to talk. 

Change the conversation:

+ Notice the tone and attitude of conversations surrounding periods with your friends. Do you only complain to each other? 

+ Start saying positive things, little tidbits you’ve learned and things you’ve started to notice in your own cycle

+ Don’t worry. You’re still allowed to say things like “oh my god these cramps!” or “I just bled through everything!"

Upgrade Your Period:

+ Do you hate the period products you use? 

+ I really didn’t like pads when I first got my period. They just made me feel frumpy. And I distinctly remember when I was finally able to successfully use a tampon. I felt like a new woman. 

+ Maybe you feel itchy, irritated and uncomfortable. And you’ve been associating this nonsense with why you dislike your period so much. Well, it’s time to try out a reusable pad, period underwear and maybe even a menstrual cup

+ Take time to pamper yourself around your period, whether that’s sleeping more, eating better food or taking a bubble bath. Treat yourself like a million bucks, and don’t apologize for it. 

These are three easy things that we can all start doing. And this is kind of my formula for everything in life. (Food, money, etc.) Educate yourself, change how you talk about it, and find a way to improve it. 

Where do you struggle or excel in the realm of menstrual magic?

How I Choose Running Routes

One of my favorite parts about training is getting to go on a new route, or an old favorite. 

Everyone has their own method of getting in their mileage, but this is what has worked for me. 

I tried for about a week to use the Nike Run Club app, which is awesome, but something about hearing how far I had gone and how fast I was going made me feel like I was doing worse than I was. 

I’ve recently started not listening to anything while running, and often times even leaving my phone at home. 

So, how do I know that I’m running a certain number of miles? 

It’s all in the planning stage. 

Usually the day before a run I will sit down to decide my route for the following day. 

As I find new routes I’ll add them to my growing list (which I keep in Evernote). If I’m repeating a distance I’ve already done I will usually choose from that list, but if I don’t feel excited about any of those paths or I’m going a further distance than I have I head to good ol' Google maps. 

I start most of my runs outside my apartment, sometimes I’ll drive to a nearby park I like to run through. 

Knowing that I prefer to run on trails over sidewalks I’ll scope out one of the many awesome trails winding through and out of downtown. 

I just use the directions function of Google maps and add a destination to hit the different point of the route. I just kind of fiddle with a route until it equals the distance I need to go. 

For example, back when I was doing shorter runs I would do something like run to Grays Lake and back, which is 5 miles. Or I would do four to five mile routes through Ashworth Park. 

But now I’ve started adding and connecting different routes together for my longer runs. Which mostly just means running through multiple parks and back home.

It’s very satisfying to create a new route and find the perfect path to get your exact mileage whether that’s 3 miles or 14 miles. 

I got to do 14 miles for the first time today, and to get that distance I combined three different routes to create 14 miles.

And there’s nothing quite like finally finding the perfect route to make those big runs, stepping back and looking at them, going Woah that’s far, and then knocking them out like a champ. 

What are some of your favorite settings to run in? The greener the better for me!

Being an Aunt + the Magic of Birth

While I became an aunt to two awesome girls this past October when Michael and I got married, there was something magical that I got to experience this month. 

My sister giving birth to my nephew, Maverick. 

You see, we didn’t always get along, Veronica and me. But now that we’re both out of school and have our lives, we’ve started to talk more and more. And then over the course of her pregnancy we started talking even more, almost every day.

She let me pick her brain, and ask her everything I wanted to know about pregnancy and her experience with this and that. 

She put up with my obsessiveness to say the least. 

Then she asked me to make a video from his birth, and said I could be in the room. 

How freakin’ exciting!

I left town when she was 38 weeks, and told her to hold him in at least until I got back. 

The following weekend at 39 weeks I got a phone call from her as I was setting up for the last kid’s triathlon of the season. She had been told by the doctors to hang out in Des Moines for the afternoon because she was feeling crampy, etc. 

Then I got a text from my brother-in-law as I was finishing up dinner with the team. “We’re in triage waiting for a room.” 

Once I figured out what exactly that meant I made a joke to everyone about how I had to go catch a baby, and left to go grab my things from home. 

Michael found someone to replace me in the morning just in case I didn’t make it back to the race and I headed up to the hospital. 

She was progressing along nicely, bouncing on her ball, walking laps in the halls, keeping a really cheerful mood throughout it all. 

Then around 1:30 a.m. the nurse told her to try and get some rest so we all tucked in for the night. 

After getting her water broken in the morning, being hooked up to Pitocin and crying through the pain as they kicked up the dosage of Pitocin she was well on her way to pushing. 

Watching her handle the contractions and the pain was impressive, but nothing could compare to what followed. 

Her sheer determination to push that little guy out. And she did it in what seems like record time, not even an hour. If you’ve never watched someone give birth I highly recommend it. It was incredible, magical, inspiring. My sister is a bad ass.

And then he was there. 

To finally see this tiny little human that you’ve been thinking about and waiting months for is such a surreal moment. 

I haven’t been able to look away since. Analyzing every detail possible of his little body. The way he holds his hands up near his face. The way he sucks in his lower lip when he sleeps. His teeny tiny fingernails. The way he cried when he was born. 

As I write this he’s just a few days old. I’m in awe and hopelessly in love. 

To have this human come into your life that you know will be there until you die is a crazy thought to wrap your mind around. 

I cannot wait for all the moments and memories to come with this little guy. Not to mention copious amounts of snuggles and kisses. 

And then I can’t wait to experience it all again. 

Not Losing Your Cycle While Training

When deciding whether to train for a marathon I knew I didn’t want to screw up my cycle , and so I knew if I was going to do this I needed to do a bit of research.

According to a few different sites, at my current pace and weight I burn around 90 calories a mile, which means:

- 3 miles = 270 calories burned 

- 5 miles = 450 calories burned 

- 10 miles = 900 calories burned

While I’ve never really tracked calories, I have been more conscious of the need for me to consume more during this little adventure I’m on. 

Now, let’s talk about why it’s important to incorporate that information into your diet. 

Turns out that when you don’t have enough fuel, your body starts choosing to support functions that are vital to survival. And would you guess it? The menstrual cycle doesn’t make that list. So, your body can shut down your cycle if there’s not enough nutrition, which results in a hormonal stress response, lowering the levels of estrogen, messing up your healthy cycle. 

When you cycle starts not showing up it’s because you don’t have the necessary energy to ovulate. 

At first you might not notice anything, but that doesn’t mean it’s not affecting you. Low estrogen affects bone loss, which means stress fractures can be the first sign that something is wrong. 

If you keep training under these conditions it’s going to affect how your recover, your energy, and your running, which seems quite detrimental doesn't it?

I have found that my body (obviously) just naturally started needing more fuel as I started running more. I’ve gone from two meals and one snack a day to three meals and two snacks a day. 

I remember to eat breakfast, to fuel up before and after runs, and I eat when I’m hungry. And I’ve been keeping an eye on my menstrual cycle. 

Because I view the cycle as the canary in the coal mine. If things head south there then I know something is up. 

Loosing your period isn’t a good thing, it shouldn’t be a moment of success or relief, or a “I’m doing this right” moment. 

If your cycle disappears you need to reassess what you’re doing. Up the calories and lower the amount of exercise. And remember it took a few months or so for this to happen so it will take a few more for it to get back in order. 

While there are certainly other factors at play, time and time again it comes back to nutrition. So if you're having issues I alway suggest starting there. 

And it should be worth noting the quality of some calories over others. Make sure you are getting enough of your nutrients for good sources. Head to the produce aisle, through in some beans, rice is always easy and great, and happy eating. 

Not to mention, coming home from a long run and being able to replenish (stuff your face) with delicious, nutritious meals. 

Happy training!

Books I've Read this Summer

I’ve been working my way through a number of books this summer, and I always enjoy with others share their reading lists, so I wanted to do the same for you. 

Here are the books I’ve read, and am currently reading:

Nurture Shock by Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman

I picked this one up in the Portland airport before flying back down to San Francisco. I am absolutely fascinated by parenting psychology, and will read just about any book on the topic. It talks about how a number of our modern strategies for raising tiny humans are actually backfiring. It talks about sleep, praise, race and so much more!

How to be Bored by Eva Hoffman

I had no idea there were a series of books like this on by The School of Life. She talks all about how we are overactive and overstimulated. In a world when there’s so much happening, and access to distractions is so simple, we need to make sure were stepping back and unplugging at the same time. 

Goodbye Things by Fumio Sasaki

I’m a sucker for minimalism books, and there aren’t too many out there (that I’ve discovered yet anyways). This is one man’s journey into minimalism, where he shares different examples of other minimalists, how there’s no right or wrong way to do it, and plenty of tips as well as ways he’s changed since making the transition. 

The China Study by T. Colin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell

This one has been on my wishlist for quite some time, but now a friend and I are reading it together. I knew from the introduction that I was going to like this book. It is jam-packed with information, statistics and studies making the case for a plant-based diet. We’re just a little ways in, but I’m fascinated and excited to keep learning.

Skinny Bitch: Bun in the Oven by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin

I picked this one up in Florida, after our cruise this spring and gobbled it up. I read the original Skinny Bitch years ago, but I’ve been very intrigued with all things pregnancy, fertility, birth and parenting recently and this one is good. It’s like having a chat from a smart, but blunt friend. And not to mention the push to eat plant-based. 

The Kind Mama by Alicia Silverstone

One of my favorite pregnancy books so far. I love that she is honest and loving, but also optimistic. There is so much fear around pregnancy and birth. And seeing that I want to have a kid one day, and I plan on being vegan I was curious about what that looked like. So, it has been great to discover a few books of vegan mamas. And not only a vegan pregnancy but natural birth, breastfeeding and gentle parenting. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. 

Baby Catcher by Peggy Vincent

A last minute addition to this list, seeing as I just finished this two days ago. I tore through this book in a matter of a few days. It was one that you sat down to start reading, and next thing you knew you were nearly 200 pages in. Peggy is a midwife, and in this book she shares her journey by telling birth stories. I learned a lot about the history of midwifery as well as the potential issues with the future of it. I sometimes wish I would have become a midwife, but I think becoming a doula would satisfy the same curiosity while still allowing me to do other things. A must read. 

My reading wish list grows faster than I can keep up with, and I absolutely love reading, researching, learning and discovering new things. What are some of your favorite books you’ve read this summer? 

Some Of My Favorite YouTube Channels

I’ve been watching YouTube videos since high school, and while my interests have changed over the years I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite people on YouTube. 

In no particular order, here are some people/channels I love:

Sarah Lemkus 

She has an adorable little vegan family, and they live in New Zealand. She shares a lot of What I Eat In A Day videos, as well as her life in New Zealand as well as travel. 

Ellen Fisher 

Possibly my favorite family on YouTube. Ellen has a heart of gold, her husband is a sweetheart and she has two super adorable boys. She talks all things vegan, sustainable living, and her life in Hawaii. 

Raw Alignment 

She talks a lot about self-love and being vegan. She also shares her adventures, her workouts and just general feel good messages. 

Sailing LaVagabonde 

This sweet couple travel the world on their sailboat, and you get to go along on all their adventures. [And it is because of them that I discovered Patreon. It is what makes their adventure possible, and now I have a Patreon for those who want to support FemmeHead.] 

Kathleen Lights 

I’m used to watch a lot of makeup YouTubers, but over the years my interests have changed, but I will always watch Kathleen. And that’s for her personality.

Damon and Jo 

You don’t have to be rich to travel the world, and these two are a complete hoot while doing it. They have vibrant personalities and share practical travel tips. 

Sarah Norse 

She is one of those people who is living the life she wants. She does a lot of traveling, moving countries with her husband. She shares videos all about minimalism, money, travel and lifestyle. 

Alli Cherry 

She has a great esthetic, personality and shares videos on a range of topics. Everything from design, cool flea market finds, sustainable living, natural products and travel and camping videos. 

Ollie Ritchie 

Pure inspiration for beautiful videos. Gives you this nostalgic feeling for memories, places and people in your past. 

Wild Daze 

An eclectic gal sharing her adventures around the world. She’s based in the UK, goes to festivals, shares her wacky style and is unapologetically herself. 

Coolripa 

I always wanted to be the girl in high school who made her own clothes, but I didn’t have the skill or patience to do so. This girl takes her thrift store finds and turns them into adorable outfits that you want to wear. 

Lavendaire 

A calming influence on your life. She talks about minimalism, personal growth, and creating the life you want to live.  

Muchelleb 

She’s all about creating the lifestyle and space you want to live in, covering how to simplify your space, be intentional about your life, goals, minimalism and goodness like this. 

Shameless Maya 

I sometimes struggle when it comes to technology, but anytime I need an answer or some inspiration I head over to her channel. I really enjoy her Tech Talk Tuesdays as well as her just explaining different methods and techniques. 

BuzzFeed Unsolved 

I love watching BuzzFeed, but one of my favorite series currently is BuzzFeed Unsolved. They’re a hilarious duo who travel to haunted places, often staying the night, sharing the history and trying to stir up some ghosts. 

SoSonia on SoulPancake 

She makes me feel good, she makes me think and she inspires me to get creative. 

These aren’t all the channels I like, but I didn’t want to go on forever. Hopefully this will help you discover a new channel or two that you like!

For Those Who Are Worried About You Using FAM

It’s inevitable when some people find out you’re ditching the hormones and choosing a natural alternative. 

There is a lot of confusion around fertility, birth control and our options. 

So, when you get a lot of “But, you’re going to end up pregnant!” try not to get too frustrated. 

Think back to when you didn’t know there was another way, before you knew how our fertility actually works. 

Here’s how to have a polite conversation with someone who is “concerned” about you not being on hormonal birth control. 

Start by sharing some of your favorite FAM, cycle, period facts. Pique their curiosity. [This is where books like “Taking Charge of Your Fertility” and “The Pill: Are You Sure It’s For You?” come in handy]. 

+ Did you know that women are actually only fertile around 7 days each cycle? And that’s mostly because sperm can live in a fertile vagina for up to 5 days.

+ Hormonal birth control alters at least 150 different bodily functions. 

+ FAM is actually very different from the Rhythm Method, and when practiced correctly is over 98% effective.

Tell them why hormonal birth control wasn’t working for you, people are often shocked when you start listing off all the negative side effects you were experiencing and how you don’t have any of those since quitting. 

+ I developed mild depress, anxiety, chronic UTI’s, gained weight, and had a substantial decline in my dental health after starting the pill [just to name a few].

Give them a brief overview of how FAM works. That there are different fertility signs that you track every day and use that information alongside a set of rules and guidelines to determine whether you’re fertile or not. 

Make it clear that this isn’t a guessing game based on past cycles. It’s based in science and what is actually happening in your body. 

And in the end they still might not be on board, but if you continue forward with your journey, learning, practicing the method safely and essentially “prove them wrong” you’d be amazed. 

Sometimes still when I talk about not being on hormonal birth control and using FAM instead people will make some comment about pregnancy or how it doesn’t really work. And my calm comeback is that I have been using it successfully for over 4 years now, I know countless other women who use it too, and that I am much healthier and happier than I used to be. 

Not to mention I don’t ever plan on taking hormonal birth control again. 

At the end of the day it’s your body and your choice. You get to decide. 

[If you're curious about ditching the pill, and what all that entails, grab your spot in my upcoming Ditch the Pill course, which starts August 21st. And if you're ready to learn all about FAM, sign up for my Chart Your Cycle course, which begins August 16th!]

Too Scared to Ditch the Pill?

I was here at one point.

There was at least a year where I desperately wanted to get off the pill, but didn’t think there were any non-hormonal options that would actually work for me.

I tried to look back in my old journals to see if I talked about quitting the pill. But there’s nothing in there that I’ve found where I specifically mention the pill.

But there were so many eye-opening entries in there that are mind-boggling and heart breaking to read. Because of how bad I had gotten mentally and emotionally that last year.

I want to share just a few paragraphs from different entries to give you a grasp of that time in life. 

July 2, 2012

“I want to feel like I’m floating, like I’m flying, like I’m not here. How do I do that, how do I feel that? Free, like I don’t exist. Invisible like no one can see me. So no one notices me? I wish I were a bird. I would fly and fall, glide and soar. Free from life.” 

August 9, 2012

“I’m really proud of myself today. I ate an apple and fiber bar for breakfast. An apple for lunch and a tuna sandwich for dinner. Plus I went for a run with Bob (my dog), did a lower body workout, twice and cardio pilates once.

I still want some pills. I’m thinking Hydroxycut. I need to check out where I can pick some up.”

August 17, 2012

“Slowly slipping deeper into this shallow depression that is surrounding me. Little by little, further and further down I go. It’s comforting to be alone. Then there are no fake smiles, no fake laughs to force out of myself to please those around me. When I’m alone I can quietly slip away.”  

This is just a taste of what was in there and it always breaks my heart to read these old journals. To know and remember what I was going through. And to so clearly see it now, but to know that I was completely blind to it then. 

And I know I wasn’t alone in that. That there are still countless girls and women struggling today because of their hormonal birth control. Either unaware that there are other options or too afraid to get off it. 

And I just wish I could sit down with you. Give you a hug. Tell you that you can do it. That there is another way. 

But also that you shouldn’t feel pressured to jump off that cliff until you’re ready. 

So, you want to quit, but you’re too scared to? What to do?

Educate yourself. 

Build your community. 

You’re not alone in your desire for a different way. And you’re not the first to venture down this path. 

Start with some books, take a class or find an online educator.

Taking the time to learn the method thoroughly and completely will put you at ease and give you the confidence you need to take that leap. 

Yes, there’s the chance of pregnancy, but you take that risk with every single method of birth control you use. That’s the choice and risk you take when having sex with someone. 

But if you want to avoid pregnancy and use FAM I promise you are capable and responsible enough. 

There are condoms, there are copper IUD’s, there are new advances in technology to help make your non-hormonal birth control journey that much easier.

And let’s not forget that there are plenty of fun physical and sexual activities you can do with your partner without the risk and fear of pregnancy that comes with intercourse.

Sex doesn’t just mean intercourse, don’t forget that. It’s an exciting spectrum of things waiting for you to try out.

When you first discover you can quit your hormonal birth control and use a non-hormonal option like FAM, the prospect is terrifying. 

We have been led to believe for so long that we are incapable of controlling our own fertility. But that’s a lie. You are more than capable of doing just that. 

I promise the more you learn, the more you let it sink in, and the more you hear from those of us already doing it, the more ready you’ll be to join the club. 

[If you're ready but want someone to help guide you through the process, to talk about what that entails and what to expect, my Ditch the Pill course is perfect for you. Sign up now for the relaunch August 21st! If you're new to FAM and want to learn how to properly chart your cycle, snag your spot for my Chart Your Cycle course, which starts August 16th!]

Thin Privilege

This started with a question by a subscriber to talk about thin privilege. 

So, naturally I had to start by educating myself on what exactly “thin privilege” is. 

And as I was reading through blogs and tweets, I felt uncomfortable. I didn’t want to talk about it, because I didn’t think me, as a person who has had a fast metabolism all my life had the right to discuss this. 

At first, as I was reading, I found myself thinking, well that happens to me in one way or another as a skinny person, but I quickly was able to see the difference. 

When people say “oh my god your arms are like toothpicks” or call me “chicken legs” or tell me “I just want to feed you a burger”. They aren’t doing it because they look at my body as wrong or unhealthy. It’s said almost with a friendly, envious laugh.  

Or when people find out I’m vegan, “They go, oh that’s why you’re so skinny.” But there’s still a lot of junk food available to me as a vegan, and I can eat it without people judging me or me worrying about gaining weight. 

And just like any other person I can put down large quantities of food. But when people see me do it they are impressed. They think it’s awesome. But if I were 100/200 pounds heavier you can bet your sweet tushy they wouldn’t have the same attitude towards me eating that much. 

In college when I would go a few days just eating cupcakes for meals people thought it was funny. What if I were 215 pounds instead of 115 pounds? 

There are so many underlying issues out there today that dictate our lives, our health, our bodies, etc. So many things that are invisible to the naked eye. When people see someone who’s overweight there’s a good chance their first reasoning is “Well, they must eat like crap and sit on the couch.” 

And you know what? There are a ton of people who fall into that category of eating unhealthy and not moving. But do you know how many skinny people fall into that category… a lot. But people don’t question your health in relation to your size when you’re skinny. 

Do I want people to live the healthiest lives possible? Of course I do. But your size isn’t always in direct relation to that. And people shouldn’t be made to feel ashamed, or not be able to do something because of their size. 

And justifying the hurtful things you’re saying/thinking about someone with “oh I just want them to be healthy” is a BS excuse.

Stop doing it. 

I could go on and on about the advantages I have learned I have because of my size, but I challenge you to go seek those out for yourself. 

It’s a great practice to learn about issues that don’t effect you personally, because just because you don’t experience it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. 

What’s an eyeopening experience/lesson you’ve had about something that effects other, but not yourself? 

The Fear of Pregnancy

The ultimate fear surrounding our birth control choice: 

Unwanted pregnancy. 

I have people write me all the time saying they want to quit whatever form of hormonal birth control they’re on because of x, y or z but there is absolutely zero chance that they can handle a unplanned pregnancy at this point in life. 

So what are their options, they want to know.  

I’m not here to promote unplanned pregnancies.

I just want to say that right now before I go any further, because people jump to conclusions when you start talking about supporting others quitting hormonal birth control and learning how to chart. 

I’m here to promote knowledge. 

Because so many of us don’t know much of anything about how our fertility works. 

And so naturally if you don’t know how the menstrual cycle and fertility works, I can totally see how people think charting is some dangerous hippy method. 

But if you take the time to learn about your body, learn how your fertility actually works, thoroughly learn a charting method, and practice that method correctly every time, you can ditch those synthetic hormones and still be responsible and effective in preventing pregnancy. 

Others think that to use a charting method, and avoid pregnancy that they can never have sex. And this is something I wanted to throw in here today. 

There is a seven day period that you are “fertile” every month. 

But I think we need to talk about something else here. There is so much  more beyond penetration when it comes to “sex”. I honestly think people forget about the amazing spectrum of sexual activity that comes along with being “intimate” with someone. 

My advice, quit being a bore. Use those seven days to think outside the box that is penis in vagina sex. Yeah it’s awesome, but that shouldn’t be the only thing on the menu. 

So, get out there, learn about your body and learn about your sexuality too.

And just remember that regardless of what method of birth control you are on, hormonal or not, there is going to be a small chance of pregnancy. So, yes I know, pregnancy would be just about the worst thing possible for a lot of you out there. But by having sex with someone you are making that choice to put yourself into the lottery for an unwanted pregnancy. 

Regardless of what method you’re using, learn all you can about it, how it works to prevent pregnancy and how to use it correctly and therefore effectively. 

Oh, and finally, don’t forget about protecting yourself against STI’s, because most birth control options do nothing to keep you from catching something someone else has. So many think that being on the pill or having an IUD is all they have to do to be safe and responsible. Get tested and use condoms. 

Zero Waste Update | Where I'm Doing Well + Where I'm Not

I first started learning about the not so great side of plastic around the same time I was getting into minimalism. 

I see both of them as a spectrum that you fall within. 

And while there have been a few big changes I’ve made in regards to the waste I create, there are still a few areas that I can/need to still improve in. 

So, today I wanted to go through how I’ve been excelling at creating less waste, and then cover a few spots I’m not doing so hot at. 

And because I’m a positive person I will start with the changes I’ve made that have helped me create less waste.

+ Using reusable bags instead of plastic bags when shopping

This was one of the first and easiest switches I made. I have a few totes/reusable shopping bags I’ve acquired, as well as a few I made myself from old t-shirts. 

And while I remember to bring them along 98% of the time, there is still the shopping trip every few months where I forget them. Instead of getting plastic bags, or even paper bags I just ask them to put the groceries back in my shopping cart once they’ve rung them up. I then just walk the shopping cart out to my car (which I normally do anyways) and put my groceries straight into there. 

+ Sending my food scraps to my mom’s to compost

If you take a look at what the vast majority of your trash can consists of it is food scraps. 

I played with the idea of creating a in-apartment compost system for a long time, but couldn’t figure out what I would do with the compost once it was done. 

My conclusion was that I needed to find a place where I could send my scraps to get composted. I did a little research to see if there was anything convenient and easy around town, but eventually just settled on asking my mom if she could take it. 

Which, as mom’s do, she gladly accepted. But eventually sent me home with an old kitty litter tub to collect my scraps in so they didn’t leak in her car as she transported them home. 

+ Recycling

I took the time to see what was accepted as recycling here in Des Moines, got a little recycling bin (and eventually a bigger one as a wedding gift), and started recycling. 

It was easy even though I always let it collect in the big bin in my hallway closet a bit too long. 

And I discovered that a local grocery store recycled plastic bags for those few suckers that made it into our house. 

+ Reusing

There are some items that could just be thrown away or recycled. But I try to get as much use out of them as possible before sending them on their way. 

Glass jars, while I have too many of them, in various sizes, I love using them as food storage containers. 

And because I’m not completely zero waste I still create some garbage (a lot less than before, but still some) and repurpose those few plastic bags that still get into my house as garbage bags instead of buying new ones for my bathroom garbage. 

+ Buying second hand

I’ve done this for awhile, mostly because it was just better for my financially, but once I learned more about fast fashion and how wasteful the retail industry is, I have made more of an effort to find what I need second hand first. 

This doesn’t just mean clothing either. I recently made my desk out of one I found on Craigslist and found my desk chair at the thrift store. 

+ Overall being more conscious of what I’m buying

I think this journey as well as minimalism combined has really changed my mindset on buying stuff. 

I put more time and thought into stuff before buying. 

Do I really need it? Will it be something that I can use/wear for years and years to come? 

And one trick that helps me with this is keeping a Want List on my computer, and as things come to mind that I want to buy I put them there instead of impulse purchasing them. This has helped me realize what I really do want/need and gives me time to find the perfect item that I will love forever. 

Ok, now that we’ve got all those done, let’s touch on a few places where I’m not doing so great at this whole zero waste lifestyle and how I can/will improve. 

+ Buying groceries that come packaged

Unfortunately the store I buy in bulk at packages a lot of their items in plastic. When I first started in on this switch I was getting everything from just one store and not buying anything packaged (even bread). 

And I should get back to this, even though it ended up costing more money. 

+ Forgetting my reusable coffee cup

I have a handy little stainless steel coffee cup, but I don’t always remember it. 

I need to get a lid for it, and then just put it in my bag before I head out anywhere. 

The same goes with bringing along a mason jar for those spur of the moment smoothie trips. 

+ Making the switch to bamboo, compostable toothbrushes

This one is an easy one that I literally just have not gotten around to. 

And it also requires me to remember to say no to the little goodie bag they give you at the dentist. 

+ Continuing to switch out packaged beauty products for unpackaged products

I actually have quite a bit of gift card money to Lush that will be perfect for this switch. 

My skin went through a bit of a difficult time this past winter and I caved when I discovered the whole Korean 10-step skincare routine. I didn’t go as far as to get one use masks, but I did get a nice toner and essence, which did wonders for my skin.

But now that my skin is back in order I have been able to simplify my skincare again. 

+ I need to buy bamboo utensils and to-go containers

This is the final area that comes to mind when I think of where I’m failing. 

While I normally just throw in a fork/spoon from my drawer I would much rather have a designated set of bamboo utensils that are easier to travel with then actual silverware. 

And figuring out how to order take-out and use my own containers. I know people might be confused, but I think just asking nicely can get you a lot of things. 

I want some to-go containers that aren’t my glass tupperware I use at home. I’m always worried about this getting broken. 

And there you have it. 

Not all my triumphs and failures, but what I could think of today. 

Where do you excel/flop when it comes to zero waste? And what advice do you have for others wanting to lead a less wasteful lifestyle? 

My Cleaning Products

If you’ve been following along for awhile you know I’m not a big fan of chemicals. 

I can get a bit neurotic about what goes in and on and around my body. 

And one thing that I’ve never talked about before, was what I use to clean around my home, and that’s where a lot of chemicals can reside.

[By no means is this me claiming I live a perfect, chemical-free life. This is just me sharing different ways I’ve become aware of the problem and have started to make the switch]

To wipe down most surfaces in my house that don’t need much i’ll simply use water and Norwex cloths. I dust, clean my mirrors, and wipe down my kitchen countertops each day in this manor.  

To clean my dishes I use two products, Mrs. Meyer’s Dish Soap and Seventh Generation Dishwasher Detergent Powder. So, depending on whether I’m hand washing or dishwashing I’ll use one of these two plant-based cleaners alongside a wood bristle brush to scrub my dishes. 

For cleaning our clothes I am currently using the Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent Powder. I’ve tinkered with making my own, but it’s obviously easier to just buy this in a box.  

And finally, when something needs a little extra grunge removing power I’ll use a diluted mixture of Thieves Household Cleaner, which is another plant-based cleaner containing essential oils. It smells amazing and depending on your cleaner to water ratio it really packs a punch. 

This has been a process over the past year, but I’ve been working hard to replace different products with a healthier alternative.