Sustainable Brands I Love: Oceanfoam
A foam roller made with algae? Say WHAT?! 🤯
I’m always interested in the places where sustainable living overlaps with things I already enjoy. Movement is one of those things. So when I learned about Oceanfoam—a company incorporating algae and recycled materials into workout products—it felt VERY aligned with what I love sharing here. (Shoutout to Lifetime Fitness for supporting and working with this newer, rad brand!!) 🙌🏼
What Does “Non-Toxic” Actually Mean?
If you’re anything like me, you want to make mindful choices about what you bring into your home, the products your family uses, and the brands you support. But spend a few minutes on social and suddenly your cookware, cleaning products, makeup, and food storage all seem to need replacing.
It’s a lot. 🤯 And the word connecting so much of that conversation? Non-toxic.
It sounds reassuring. Of course we don’t want products that are going to harm us. But the idea of a completely “non-toxic” home makes something complicated and complex sound very black and white.
The reality is that it’s much more gray (grey?).
Why I’m Switching Dishwasher Tablets
Some of you might be surprised to see Cascade dishwasher pods in our house. 😳
But this is a great example of what mindful living looks like for me in my very real life. I have a product I bought. I found another option I’d prefer to use. And I’m finishing what I have before making the switch.
The next product waiting in the wings? Blueland’s fragrance-free dishwasher tablets.
We already use them at our condo in Carpinteria, and they work great. So this isn’t an unfamiliar product I’m buying because the packaging sounds good. It’s one I’ve used and been happy with, and now I’m bringing it into rotation at our Minnesota home, too.
Both the Cascade and Blueland came from Costco. So yes, this swap fits PERFECTLY into your “stock up” shopping trip. 💃
Sustainable Brands I Love: Ridwell
Is Ridwell worth it? Here’s why I’ve used it for years—and what actually happens to everything they collect.
If you’ve followed The Mindful Edit for any amount of time, you know I’m a little obsessed with figuring out what to do with the things that can’t go into our regular recycling bin.
Plastic film. Chip bags. Batteries. Old textiles. Random packaging that makes you stare at the recycling symbol and think, okay…but are you actually recyclable? 🤔
That’s why I’ve been a Ridwell fan for years.
My First Full Moon Dinner
I’ve dreamed about hosting a full moon dinner for YEARS. 🌕
Rachel Hollis once talked about a monthly ritual she shares with her closest friends and ever since I heard about it, I knew I wanted to host one of my own. On June 29th, I finally did.
It was the Strawberry Moon 🍓 — a moon associated with nourishment and abundance — and it was absolutely magical.
A Night of Active Hope
Last night I attended a TEDXSanta Barbara Salon event at one of my favorite non-profits: Community Environmental Council. The theme of the night was ‘Active Hope’ co-hosted by Vicky Riskin, creator of Bluedot Living, a media company + newsletter I read every day, AND CEC’s CEO Sigrid Wright.
Have you been fortunate enough to be in a room with so many like-minded people you leave buzzing with ideas, joy, fulfillment? That’s what happens every time I attend an event centered around the topics of climate + sustainability. Climate news can be heavy, mostly filled with despair and a lack of hope, but last night we watched three TED talks from three incredible women that switched the script and now I’m even more fueled to make an impact.
What is Earth Month All About?
There’s a ‘National Day’ for almost everything now, but Earth Month [April] has been a thing since the first Earth Day in 1970. Earth Month is a global, month-long extension of Earth Day [always April 22] focused on environmental awareness, sustainability, and action. It brings together over a billion(!!) people across 190+ countries to advocate for the planet, focusing on issues like climate change and plastic pollution.
In my world, every month is Earth Month, but it’s pretty awesome that this is so widely recognized every year, and gives us an opportunity to really highlight all the ways we as individuals can make a positive impact.
There’s also a theme every year; 2026 = "Our Power, Our Planet" highlighting that environmental progress is resilient and independent of political cycles.
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: