be concious. be green. be good.
In today’s digital world, I often question how necessary the old school practice of handing out your business card is. It seems a little archaic, and a lot like a waste of paper. And then I find myself searching through the stack of business cards that I have collected over the years, for that […]
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I’ve talked about our plastic pollution problem before — recent studies have found traces of plastic in tap water and sea salt, FYI. I’ve mentioned all of the ghost gear in our oceans — an estimated 640,000 metric tons of fishing gear are left in our oceans every year. I’ve talked about textile waste — […]
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Earlier this week a report from the UN said that more than 40 million people were ensnared by modern slavery in 2016. That’s more than the population of the U.S.’s 29 biggest cities combined, FYI. Of that total, 25 million people were victims of forced labor, and 15 million victims of forced marriages. And, women […]
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Now, I love a good graphic tee. Could be snarky. Could be sweet. Doesn’t matter. Either way, it’s a good way to tell people how you feel without the awkwardness of actually having to tell people how you feel. But as a former knit top buyer for a fast fashion company I can also say […]
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Several times on my journey to be a better human/shop better/be a more conscious consumer, people have asked me how to do it. What resources do I use? How can you tell if a company is ethical? Etc., etc. Well, beyond just doing a lot of research on a lot of topics and a lot […]
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One of the biggest issues surrounding the fashion industry is the amount of textile waste it produces. I’ve mentioned this issue before, but between all of the clothes we throw away every year, to all of the fabric that doesn’t get used during production, we’re creating one monster pile of textiles waste. According to the […]
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For me nothing quite beats a good t-shirt. The perfect fit. Just the right amount of cozy, soft amazingness from countless washes. And endless styling options. Sigh… Not only are tees wardrobe essentials in my world, but one of those things that I just can’t live without (okay, I probably could, but I would really, […]
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The words ethical and sustainable fashion have often been met with a cold shoulder (pun intended) from fashionistas near and far. And I’ll be honest, the snubs are often justified. A lot of the pioneering labels in the ethical fashion space weren’t necessarily catering to a customer that cared about aesthetics and style, but rather […]
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At the start of this self-proclaimed ethical travel series, I mentioned an epic road trip that my husband and I took last year. Long story short, we were on the road for one month, visited 10 national parks and lots of friends and family along the way. Then last week, after a lot of talk […]
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I talk about plastic pollution. A lot. But one thing I don’t often touch on is actually one of the biggest offenders — polystyrene, or as you probably know it, styrofoam. According to the Environmental Production Agency, styrofoam is the fifth largest source of hazardous waste in the United States. The production, use and disposal […]
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Okay, okay, so you’ve picked the destination, bought your plane ticket and booked the hotel. You also may have also figured out everything you need to take. But, what are you gonna put it all in? Now my luggage has done me right for the past 10 years or so. I bought it when I […]
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I’ll admit it, few materials in life are as convenient as plastic. It is used for gosh-darn, quite near everything in our lives — vehicles, packaging, electronics, clothing. I mean, you name it, plastic is probably in it. I’ll also admit that I may or may not sometimes overdo it when it comes to talking […]
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One of my absolute favorite things about summer is how easy it can be to get dressed. Throw on a cute printed midi or a flowy maxi dress and some sandals and you’re good to go. One of my other favorite things about summer is how freakin’ cute all of the those summer dresses […]
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What you pack might have a lesser impact on the environment than say the type of transportation you use, but it makes an impact nonetheless. And you know what they say about small steps (they turn into miles, people!). From the weight of your bag to the stuff you take with you, there are big […]
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When I first started this blog, one of my main goals was to show people that buying more ethical products didn’t have to equate to you dropping boo koo bucks/pulling your hair out searching for said ethical products. That is why today I’m writing about all of the great non-toxic, clean, eco-friendly (insert other buzz […]
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Okay, so you’ve figured out where you’re going to go on your next trip, and you’ve figured out how you’re going to get there. Next stop on the ethical travel train is figuring out where you’re going to stay. My husband and I often camp or try to stay with friends/family when we travel — […]
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By now you have probably heard about about the plastic pollution that is clogging our oceans. Some estimates put plastic use at 300 million tons per year, with only 8% of it getting recycled. , Americans alone discard more than 30 million tons of plastic a year. And Greenpeace estimates that the amount of plastic […]
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Unless you are staying local, one of the biggest impacts our travels have comes from the transportation we use to get where we’re going. Planes, cars, boats and trains are all significant sources of carbon emissions. But not all modes of transportation are created equal, different modes of transportation come with different environmental costs. The […]
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Joey Active Crop Top in Stripe If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times — our oceans have a pollution problem. Between the plastic pollution, caused from plastic bottles, straws and all of the other millions of plastic things in our lives and the issues surrounding “ghost fishing” and “ghost gear,” we’ve […]
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I may have mentioned my affinity for shoes before. Unfortunately, it’s hard to find cute shoes that are also ethically made. A lot of shoes today are made using a combination of questionable chemicals (i.e. lots of petroleum) and questionable labor practices (i.e. exploiting workers). But the good news is that there are companies out […]
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Summer is here, and that can only mean one thing — travel season is upon us. That is why starting today (and continuing until who knows when), I will be starting a series on ethical travel — trying to answer your (and my) questions on how to be a better traveler. I could blame it […]
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This post was sponsored by Live the Give and I received 1 item for review. But, as always, all views are genuinely mine and products are genuinely loved. The importance of education has been quite literally proclaimed throughout history: “The direction in which education start, a man will determine his future in life.” – Plato, Classical […]
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I’ve written about homelessness before. But in case you missed it/just need a refresher, let me drop some quick facts on you. According to the United Nations, there are at least 100 million homeless in the world today. In America, the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty currently estimates that more than 3.5 million […]
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Hey! Me again, talking about our ocean plastic problem. I know, I’ve said it over and over and over (and over and over) again. But, I think it’s worth saying again — we have a plastic problem. We use a lot of plastic in our lives — some estimates put plastic use at nearly 300 […]
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Like any normal, red-blooded human being, I really dig a good cup of coffee. And besides smelling amazing, being super tasty, and just helping me generally function in life, coffee has other “science” backed benefits, too. Coffee may lower your risk of death (#winning). I mean, this is somewhat obvious considering the note about helping […]
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Yes way rosé. Rosé all day. I could go on an on. And because it’s officially summer, and because everyone knows that rosé is the official drink of summer, that is officially doubly true. That is why today we’re talking about all things rosé. Admittedly, before writing this my knowledge of rosé was a little […]
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Well, it’s the official first day of summer and the weather in San Francisco has been downright balmy these past couple of days — which, FYI, is incredibly uncharacteristic (case in point, the weather today is foggy and the temp is currently 53 degrees). And nothing screams summer like a maxi dress (and a margarita, […]
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World Refugee Day is observed on June 20 every year. Refugee advocates urge people to use this day to focus on the plight of those who have been displaced by famine, war and oppression, and to commemorate the strength, courage and perseverance of millions of refugees. And it is a day to show that the […]
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I loooove me a good jumpsuit. It’s kind of the one stop shop for a outfit, amirite? One piece wonders. Low maintenance. Effortless chic. I could go on and on. And also, it feels like you’re wearing pajamas, so big plus there in my book. They’re also really, really great for travel. Not only is […]
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You guys. We. Have. A. Plastic. Problem. I know, I know, I’ve said that before. But I think it’s worth saying again, and just in case you haven’t been paying attention, let me catch you up to speed: Some estimates put plastic use at nearly 300 million tons annually, and according to the Plastic Pollution […]
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The calendar may say it’s not “officially” summer yet but with nearly half the country experiencing some seriously scorching weather, I think ol’ Mother Nature would beg to differ. And warmer temps really only mean one thing in my book — spending more time outdoors…well, and drinking rose, but that’s kind of one in the […]
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If you’ve read my blog before you would know I love me some ocean. And you would also know that I have written about some of the pollution issues it’s facing…repeatedly. I’ve written about our plastic problem enough that you are probably ready to punch me in the face. So to save you a little […]
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It’s National Chocolate Ice Cream Day, and that can only mean one thing — time to shove copious amounts of chocolate ice cream into our mouths. Perfectly timed shortly after the unofficial start to summer (at least they tell me it’s summertime, although hard to say with the foggy skies/cold weather we’ve got here in […]
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I may or may not have mentioned that there’s a little problem in our oceans called ghost nets before (hint: I absolutely did mention it). But for those of you who don’t know, according to World Animal Protection International, an estimated 640,000 metric tons of fishing gear — including nets, lines and traps — are […]
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Today, a few short days after the U.S. withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement, we are ironically celebrating World Environment Day. Celebrated every June 5, World Environment Day is a holiday for reconnecting with nature and learning about the pressing issues facing our Earth. First celebrated in 1974, World Environment Day has been the United […]
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It is National Doughnut Day people (or National Donut Day, if you prefer, which for the record, I do), and that can only mean one thing — it’s time to celebrate with some deep-fried, sweetened little pieces of heaven. National Donut Day is celebrated in the U.S. on the first Friday of June each year. […]
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Well folks, it’s June. Which means we have arrived at peak wedding season. And while figuring out that wedding dress code might be a little bit puzzling — what the heck does “festive attire” or “beach formal” or “fancy ranch” mean anyway — finding ethical options to fit the bill can be downright difficult. Not […]
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I love me a good denim jacket and/or chambray shirt, or both, or all of the above. Like for serious. If you see me out and about the odds are high (about 99.1%) that I will be wearing one of those two things, or both, as one of my final layers (yes, I said layers, […]
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Shortly after I first started this blog, I wrote a brief post about what I deemed “conscious consumerism.” The essential message being that purchasing a new item of clothing, even from an ethical company, should be a last resort when thinking about building a conscious wardrobe. When you think about the problems within the fashion […]
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I’ve written about Imperfect Product before, but by God, if they aren’t at it again. For those of you who haven’t read/don’t know/didn’t retain what you read/suffered a head injury that caused memory loss, Imperfect Produce, is helping in the fight against food waste (long story short, it is estimated that worldwide, we waste 1.3 […]
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I know, I know, I’m beginning to sound like a broken record, but I’m going to say it again anyway — we have a plastic problem. But in case you haven’t been reading, according to a 2015 study, an estimated 19.4 billion pounds of plastic wind up in the world’s oceans each year. And I […]
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You guuuuys…today is National Chocolate Chip Day. Yep, didn’t know that was a thing, but I’m sure glad it is. No better way to celebrate than to chow down on an American classic — chocolate chip cookies. But before we jump into the good stuff, who would I be if I didn’t give you a […]
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FYI, Mother’s Day is on Sunday. I know, I know sometimes we get busy. And sometimes (just sometimes) we forget to get a gift for those oh so important/special/amazing/inspiring women in our lives. Never fret, I’ve got you covered. I’ve come up with a list of gift ideas that are not only ethical, but also […]
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I’ve written about our textile waste issue a few times before. Very quickly though — the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that in 2013, 15 million tons of textile waste was generated, and 13 million tons were sent to landfill or incinerator (almost 11 million of that coming from the U.S. alone). What I haven’t talked […]
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Whether you are looking for a last minute Mother’s Day gift (me), or you just want to treat yourself to something that will come in the mail that is not a credit card bill or Chinese restaurant menu (also me), then subscription boxes are a really good option. And, if you want that box to […]
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Today is the 5th of May, better known to many as Cinco de Mayo. And if you have read my blog before/know me, it probably comes as no surprise that this is one of my favorite days of the year And if that does come as a surprise to you, let me quickly break it […]
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I’ve been reading/thinking/slightly obsessing over gratitude lately. My husband and I are currently in a state of transition/contemplation/utter confusion. This has mainly been caused by the fact that we have a lot on our plates/minds — like me finding a career I’m passionate about, us wanting to buy a house, us also not knowing where […]
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I’m sure when most people think of ethical or sustainable fashion, the words crunchy or unusual probably come to mind well before fashionable or on trend. That’s why one of my main goals for this blog was to show people that there are pieces that can be both. In my previous life working in the […]
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I’ve mentioned our plastic problem once or twice before, but never one to forgo a golden opportunity, here I am again. And, in case you haven’t been reading (welcome, BTW), let me catch you up to speed. Whether it be the packaging on your latest Amazon order, the cup and straw for your daily iced […]
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This will be short and sweet, but before I go on and tell you all about the things you need to go out and buy, I wanted to take a quick second to stop and talk about the term conscious consumerism. Clearly, I’m a big advocate for buying products that are ethical and sustainable — […]
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I like trees. You like trees. I think it’s safe to say we all like trees, amirite? As a country we like trees so much that we actually designated a holiday for them. And that day, my friends is today. Today is Arbor Day — a day to plant trees to your little heart’s content. […]
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b.good 