by Amy Mazurek
Sustainability Studies Student
As we approach Earth Day, we’ve decided to share a series of reflections on how one person is trying to move towards a more responsible, and sustainable, lifestyle.
Moving to an organic, sustainable, and greener lifestyle sounds great, but can be overwhelming. The earth-loving life is enticing, but the idea of giving up my hair products, my old fashioned Sunday newspaper, or even my chemical filled junk food is overwhelming, to say the very least. Hopefully, by taking baby steps, the process will be more enjoyable and less scary than anticipated.
Day to day activities
First thing Sunday morning it’s time to read the paper. I love sitting on the deck relaxing, the smell of newspaper, and thumbing thru the ads. I motivated myself to switch the South Bend Tribune to the online version. It took a little time, and it doesn’t smell the same, but I enjoy my iPad version now.
It can go anywhere with me and I’m never running late because I haven’t finished it yet. I’ve even starting switching my magazine subscriptions to online versions. I read them anywhere and everywhere, and my bag no longer weighs 30 pounds from the September issues! I’ve already saved countless trees, the expense of recycling, and I am one step closer to being a tree hugger!
Mornings start with making lunch on school days. We searched for a lunch box and reusable containers that would fit. By searching the stores a bit and daily washing Tupperware, we eliminate the need for paper bags and plastic baggies. The added benefit is that my son’s food is never smashed and always fresh when he opens his lunch. We have good tasting water from our tap so a BP free reusable water bottle replaced his milk or juice box.
Getting ready in the morning was a big concern for me. I’ve always known that there are environmentally friendly products out there, but the idea of switching from my long time favorites was a little much for my comfort level. Before I looked for other options, I decided to find out what kinds of things I was already using on my hair and skin. I was delighted to find that my rosemary scented shampoo was already a good call. The L’Oreal shampoo I use is made from botanicals and is 100% vegan! Unfortunately, my makeup wasn’t quite so lucky. By searching online, I’ve found dozens of makeup products that are gluten free, vegan, and very environmental friendly. I’m looking forward to some informed shopping and trial runs of some highly rated products!
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