A Visit to the Local Landfill
When you throw something “away,” where do you think it goes? Or do you even think about it once it makes its way into your trash bag?
I had the chance to visit the local landfill and ReSource Center here in Santa Barbara County last week — my second visit in two years — and I was just as mind blown as the first time.
Being there generated so many new questions and a huge amount of respect for the people who work there every day. Let’s just say… it’s aromatic.
Standing on top of what is essentially a mountain of trash is a very different experience than tossing something into your kitchen garbage can.
It makes one thing crystal clear: there is no such thing as “away.”
Why Shopping Your Local Farmers Market Matters
I am fully aware that living in Southern California affords me the luxury that is year-round farmers market access. But even if you’re located somewhere with larger seasonal shifts and only a partial year market [hi, Minnesota friends], shopping the market when you CAN is so very important.
Why, you ask? Let me tell you:
5 Approachable Swaps for a More Mindful Bedroom
The bedroom is one of the most overlooked spaces when it comes to mindful living — not because it doesn’t have opportunity for impact, but because there are fewer products, fewer decisions, and fewer opportunities to overcomplicate things.
You don’t need to overhaul your bedroom or buy a cart full of new things. A few small, intentional swaps can support better sleep, a calmer nervous system, and a happier planet.
Here are five approachable bedroom swaps that focus on comfort, function, and ease — not perfection. ✨
What Travel Teaches Us About Waste, Access, and Awareness
Travel has a way of widening your lens. ✈️
Last week, I spent a few days in Cozumel, Mexico with my mom. It was one a trip filled with sunshine, vibrant colors, and the kind of lush vegetation that reminds you how alive the planet really is. 🌱 And yet, alongside all that beauty, there was something else I couldn’t stop noticing:
Trash. Everywhere.
As someone who cares deeply about the environment, this was hard on my heart. My instinct was to grab a bag and start picking it up, but the reality was sobering: I could have spent the entire trip collecting garbage and barely made a dent. 🗑️
Sustainable Brands I Love: Primally Pure
I’ve been using Primally Pure’s skincare consistently for the last two years, and it’s become one of those rare routines that feels both deeply nourishing and aligned with my values. It’s a multi-step process, but honestly it’s quite therapeutic, especially at the end of the day before bed.
In a saturated world, it’s skincare that really works and is thoughtfully made from the ground up. Simple ingredients. Honest sustainability.
And it’s pretty convenient that Primally Pure’s tagline taps into our world of mindfulness:
“Mindfully made skincare. Sourced from animals and plants.”
And unlike a lot of “clean beauty” marketing, this one holds up. Their formulas are intentionally simple, rooted in traditional ingredients, and designed to support the skin’s natural function, not override it with fillers or fragrances (no thx.)
Why Junk Mail Drives Me Nuts (And Why It Should Bug You Too)
One of my biggest pet peeves is junk mail.
According to the EPA, the average American household receives around 40 pounds of junk mail every year. It’s such a waste of resources — trees, ink, energy, emissions from delivery trucks, and then more energy to recycle it (or worse, it ends up in the landfill). And all of that for something most of us toss straight into the recycling bin without a second glance.
As a former small business owner, I get the need to market your business. Visibility matters. But as a lover of planet Earth, in my opinion: mass mailers, oversized catalogs (!), flyers, and promo postcards are not it.
The 2026 Conscious Consumer Checklist: What Actually Matters (And What Really Doesn’t)
Let’s be honest: being a “good” consumer has started to feel like a full-time job (or at least a very committed side hustle). Reusable this. Compostable that. A new eco swap every time you open Instagram (maybe even from The Mindful Edit!). And while many of these small, everyday choices do absolutely matter — especially when they’re accessible and fit naturally into our lives — the constant stream of “do this better” can start to feel overwhelming, even for me.
Let’s Talk Some Trash 🗑️
How to Choose the Most Sustainable Garbage Bags (Yes, Really)
Okay friends, we need to talk trash. Specifically… the bags. This is something I’ve been wrestling with for A WHILE, so it’s time to unpack it.
If you’ve ever hovered in the store aisle or shopping online and debating between compostable, biodegradable, recycled, or whatever’s cheapest, you’re not alone. And even if you haven’t, read on. Trash bags can feel like a throwaway decision (pun intended), but they actually offer a sneaky opportunity to reduce waste before it heads to the landfill.
Let’s break it down.
🌿 Mindful Hosting Made Easy
We’re officially in the season of gatherings — joyful meals, cozy hangs, and yes… hosting 💫.
And while hosting can sometimes feel like a 1000 piece puzzle wrapped in a festive bow, it absolutely can be done mindfully (without sacrificing the fun). Our convenience culture tries to convince us that single-use everything is the answer — but honestly? Hard pass.
Here are some earth-friendly swaps + hosting habits that make a BIG difference:
The Return Habit We Should Break
I’m currently deep-diving into the circular economy in my Climatebase Fellowship, and while there’s so much we could unpack, let’s zoom in on something we all do without thinking: online returns. 🛍️
We’ve all ordered multiple sizes/colors/options with the intention of sending back whatever doesn’t work. It feels efficient… but behind the scenes, it’s actually pretty rough on the planet. The labor, transportation, processing, quality checks, and restocking often cost companies more than simply paying the disposal fee to toss the item. Yep — many returns never make it back on the shelves [woof]. 😬
Sustainable Brands I Love: Bamboo Switch
If you’ve been around here for more than five minutes, you know I’m borderline obsessed with swapping out everyday items for lower-waste, better-made alternatives. It’s kind of my sport 😅. And one brand that consistently crushes? Bamboo Switch — a Minnesota-based small business I stumbled upon a couple years ago and have been shouting from the rooftops about ever since 📣.
From North to Coast: Our Weeklong Van Journey 🌲🚐☀️
We made it! After a week on the road, my husband Drew and I — along with our rockstar road-trippers Avo, Buster, and Maui — officially made it from our home in Minnesota to our condo in California!
This was our first big trip in our new Geotrek Sprinter van, and we decided to take the scenic route to truly embrace the experience of van life. Our stops along the way included:
Why I Choose a Plant-Based Diet🌱
Let me start by saying: this is a very personal choice. I’m not here to give you medical or nutritional advice - I’m simply sharing my perspective and what’s felt right for me.
Over time, I’ve learned that what we eat is about so much more than calories or convenience. It’s about alignment - with our values, our planet, and our wellbeing. Here’s a look at my whys behind choosing a mostly plant-based lifestyle:
5 Approachable Swaps for a Low-Waste Laundry Room
When it comes to living more mindfully, even the laundry room offers easy opportunities for change. With just a few swaps, you can cut down on plastic, save energy, and protect your clothes (and the planet) in the process.
Tree-Free, Toxin-Free: Why I Love Plant Paper 🌱🧻
When it comes to everyday sustainability swaps, few feel as simple—or as impactful—as switching the paper products we use daily. Enter Plant Paper: a brand that’s redefining what bathroom and household essentials can look like when they’re kinder to both people and the planet.
Most of us grew up with traditional paper products (think toilet paper, tissues, and paper towels) made from virgin tree pulp, bleached with harsh chemicals, and wrapped in plastic, because white and fluffy equaled good quality. Plant Paper turns that whole system on its head with products that are:
🌍 Earth-Friendly Fall Clean Up Guide
As the leaves start to change and the air turns crisp, many of us start preparing our yards and homes for the winter months ahead. Fall clean up is a tradition here in Minnesota (and many other places), but it doesn’t have to mean bagging up every leaf or sending piles of stuff to the landfill. With a few mindful choices, your seasonal reset can be kinder to the planet - and still set you up for a cozy winter ahead.
Why Bamboo Rocks 🌱
When it comes to making swaps for a more mindful lifestyle, you’ll notice that a lot of the products I love are made of bamboo - and for good reason. Bamboo isn’t just trendy; it’s one of the most sustainable materials on the planet. Here’s why:
5 Approachable Swaps for a More Mindful Bathroom
When it comes to creating a more sustainable home, the bathroom is often overlooked - but it’s a space where small swaps can make a BIG difference. And good news: these changes are approachable, affordable, and many of them even feel like upgrades. 🛁✨
This round, we’re focusing on five simple swaps you can make today. (And yes, spoiler: bamboo is where it’s at. We’ll dive into why this material rocks in a future post, but for now, trust me when I say it’s durable, renewable, and endlessly useful.)
How My Rescue Pets Teach Me About Mindful Living 🐶🐱🐱
Bringing rescue animals into your home means saying yes to a little chaos, a lot of love, and lessons you didn’t know you needed. My pets - with their many quirks, challenges, and unconditional affection - have been some of my greatest teachers in [trying to] slowing down and living more mindfully.
Back to School, Mindfully
As summer winds down [wild!] and the school year is in sight, it’s easy to feel the pressure, mentally and financially, to stock up on brand new everything: clothes, backpacks, lunchboxes, notebooks, and the long list of school supplies requested. But here’s the skinny: you don’t buy your way into a successful school year.
In fact, there’s a lot of power in slowing down, taking inventory, and approaching back-to-school season with a little more intention - for your wallets, for the planet, and peace of mind.
Here are a few practical, low-waste, and community-minded ways to get your family ready for the new school year - no (or limited) Target haul required.