Waste Less Wednesday: Shampoo & Soap Bars

November 17, 2021November 16, 2021 by Katie | Leave a comment

This year we’ve been doing a series called Waste Less Wednesday focused on little and big ways that we can reduce our consumption. And if you’d like more hair-related posts, here’s our recipe for dry shampoo and here’s my DIY dandruff shampoo that worked like a charm!

This might not seem like the most technical of posts. And we’re suggesting you buy something, so even the “waste less” principle sounds questionable at first, BUT by adopting soap and shampoo bars, you’re getting the suds but skipping the plastic bottles, and that’s a win in our books!

Katie’s Fall Favorites

October 3, 2018November 9, 2018 by Katie | Leave a comment

This morning we shared a few favorite fair trade brands. Really we’re using that term as a catch all – kind of how society treats the word organic when it comes to food. By fair trade we mean companies not only providing fair wages, but also doing other great things like honest sourcing, impeccable waste removal, or B-corp certification.

Now we’re back with our comfiest picks for the season. You may remember these images from a couple years ago and while we like to keep it fresh here, Kate and I both realized we would still pick the same exact fall favorites. We don’t buy excessively, instead we choose items we truly love. Pieces that are timeless, work well in most situations, and are made with quality in mind. How do we know these pieces are timeless? All but two of the links still work four years after the original publication of this post! Bam.

See those clogs on Kate’s pic? She’s had them for ages and recently replaced the sole. That’s the kind of quality we’re looking for when we make new purchases. We buy items we love and cherish for years – I actually wrote a piece for another website all about my affinity for great clothing and gear.

As you can see, Kate’s outfit is a little more appropriate for the outdoors while mine would work well under a big fuzzy blanket. Details below!

Preparing for Baby #2

March 9, 2015March 8, 2015 by Katie | Leave a comment

As the months and weeks wind down, we’re starting to *think* about how we’ll prepare for our new little guy. When I was pregnant with Alex, I really enjoyed reading other people’s lists of necessary baby gear. Just as each pregnancy/labor/baby is different, so are these lists. Some are over the top with gadgets and gizmos, others are relatively tame. Luckily, Calder and I are on the same page about many things, and minimal baby gear is one of them, so I thought our list might be helpful to other minimalist parents.

Today I wanted to talk about what we needed/will need for the baby in the first few weeks after his arrival, and I’m leaning heavily towards the notion that you don’t need much for a few reasons. I think some expectant parents may find it useful to hear a voice saying that those long lists of “necessary” baby gear, may not be necessary. You don’t have to empty your wallet in order to prepare for a baby. We care deeply about our impact on the environment, and by default, the more you buy, the bigger your environmental footprint. That said, so much early baby gear gets lightly used, and you may be able to find some great second-hand sources for clothes, furniture, swings, and seats; that choice saves you money and saves resources.

When planning for the new baby’s arrive, I keep two questions in mind : 1. what does an actual newborn do/need? 2. if we don’t have it, but find that we need it, can we easily buy it?