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🌟 New Traditions 🌟 I'm jumping head first in

🌟 New Traditions 🌟
I'm jumping head first into the holidays this year, more than I ever have, because we could really use some cheer around here.
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Building traditions has been on my mind a lot and how sustainable practices could actually become fun holiday traditions! Things like making upcycled decorations, going bulk shopping for baking ingredients, or wrapping gifts in fabric or used paper. 🎁
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This year I'm starting a new advent calendar tradition. Instead of the disposable ones, we got this beautiful @weegallery pocket advent calendar from @shopearthhero (kindly gifted). Each day has a little card (which I made from old paint swatches) that has an activity for the day - like going sledding, baking cookies, ways to give back to our community, little craft projects, or supporting our local restaurants and cafes by getting takeout or picking up a treat.
I love that it gives us a fun thing to look forward to every day and I honestly wish we started this years ago! Of course it's fun with a child, but I also think it would be great to plan little activities for each other as a couple.
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Another new tradition we're starting is with gifts for B. I've heard a lot of people do "something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read" and think that's a great way to keep kids gifts minimal.
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I'd love to know if you're starting any new traditions this year or if there's any sustainably-minded traditions you love for the holidays!

I've been wearing this @free.label bra more as a t

I've been wearing this @free.label bra more as a top than a bra, so I guess it should officially become part of my capsule wardrobe 😅 The colour combo of teal and rust is my new favourite!

I have very mixed feeling about Black Friday; whil

I have very mixed feeling about Black Friday; while I hate the insane consumerism it promotes, I also know that this is a time of year where many small businesses really need the traffic and budgets are tight, especially this year, so it can be an opportunity to afford the higher price tag that often comes with responsibly-made products.
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So if you are shopping this cyber weekend 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 support small businesses and sustainable/ethical brands! Your money will go towards keeping lights on, fairly paying artisans, or supporting low impact supply chains, instead of Jeff Bezos' next mansion.
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To make things a bit easier for you, I have a list on the blog of responsible brands who are having BF/CM sales or running give-back campaigns. (Link in bio)
Also look for local businesses in your community to support!
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Finally, just a reminder that it's very easy to get caught up in sales - they literally give us a dopamine rush! So try to be critical of your purchases and only buy things that will get long-term use. Taking a moment to pause and consider what's in your shopping cart, where it came from, why you're wanting it, and when/where it will be used, is one of the most important steps you can take to be a more sustainable consumer.
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If you're avoiding the sales, I'd love to know what you have planned for today! And if you're shopping, what conscious brands are you supporting?
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I am shopping this year to get some @paradeorganics pjs for B cause she's growing like crazy! 😅
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❄️ There's always something magical about snow

❄️ There's always something magical about snowflakes, even if the cold is awful 🥶 (Anyone else love snow but hate winter?)
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I want to take this opportunity though to chat a bit about wool 🐑 because it's truly an amazing fiber with insulating and thermal regulating properties, it's water repellent, durable, smells less than other materials and can be cleaned less often, it's breathable, absorbent (even warm when damp!) and honestly the best and most comfortable material I've worn for winter.
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However it's not without it's issues; while it is possible for wool to be sustainably and regeneratively farmed, with proper care and ethical treatment of the animals (and brands like @izzylaneltd are doing some wonderful things), the majority of wool comes from suspect origins and there is unfortunately a lot of unethical, cruel, and unsustainable wool farming.
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So what can we do?
- Buy secondhand! I've gotten some beautiful sweaters as well as this wool coat secondhand. Because it's so durable most secondhand wool garments are in great condition and can last a lifetime.
- Look for brands that use recycled wool. This hat and gloves from @organicbasics are featured in my Green Gift Guide and made from recycled wool and cashmere!
- Support small, ethical, and sustainable farms (one of my favourite conscious wool brands is @myssyfarmi who makes handknit hats). This is especially great if you're a knitter as many local farms sell their yarn.
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One of the biggest lessons I've learned on my sustainability journey is that everything has nuance. It's easy to classify things as good/bad, right/wrong, or sustainable/unsustainable but it's almost always more complicated and wool is definitely an example of that.

#ad What do you do with your old batteries? Did yo

#ad What do you do with your old batteries? Did you know they should ALWAYS be recycled? 🔋
Sending batteries to the landfill not only creates unnecessary waste but can also be very damaging to the environment as they can potentially leach and spark.
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Through special programs the materials from batteries can actually be recycled into new batteries and things like golf clubs, pots, and bicycles! In 2019 Canadians recycled 3 million kilograms of used batteries and you can visit www.call2recycle.ca to find your nearest drop-off location.
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Up on the channel I also have a new video in partnership with Call2Recycle and @earthday.ca which shares some useful upcycling projects including how to make a simple and safe battery storage container to collect your dead batteries in for recycling! ♻️
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#recycle #reducereuserecycle #gogreen #call2recycle #batteryrecycling #lowimpact #recyclingideas #upcyclingideas #earthdaycanada #mygreencloset

It's surreal to think that a year ago we were livi

It's surreal to think that a year ago we were living in the hospital with no idea what was going to happen and what was wrong with B.
Thankfully everything worked out and she is healthy and doing fantastic now, but I am also very aware of how lucky we are.
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Thinking about our time in the hospital and how overworked healthcare workers are now, makes me even angrier at all the selfish people refusing to take covid seriously.
Is wearing a mask uncomfortable? Sure. Is having zoom chats instead of seeing friends less fun? Yeah. But it's worth it to help keep our family, friends, neighbours, and community safe, and keep hospitals from getting overwhelmed.
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This will end and it will end faster if we work together and each do our part. ❤️
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Thanks to @amandajillphoto for the precious snap.
#wearamask #stayhome #staysafe #stayhomestaysafe

Some picks from my green gift guide which is now o

Some picks from my green gift guide which is now out! 🎁
This year more than ever, sustainable brands and small business can really use (and deserve!) the support. 💚
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The guide has a variety of gift ideas for those on your list and at different price points. This year I also wanted to feature some very small conscious businesses who are doing wonderful things but you probably haven't heard of! 😊
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I've been working hard to get it up since postal services are saying we need to be ordering early this year, so also be sure not to wait too long to do your holiday shopping. 💌
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#sustainablegifts #ethicalgifts #ecogifts #vegangifts #supportsmallbusinesses #shopsmall #saynotoamazon #mygreencloset

My winter boots needed replacing and I actually fo

My winter boots needed replacing and I actually found some cute vegan ones that can handle -30° Canadian winters! 🥶
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Many of you have also shared how challenging winter boots can be to find and it took a lot of searching and weighing options. I went with @kamikofficial though because they're incorporating more sustainable materials into their products and have a great vegan collection, plus it's cool to see that some of their boots are even made in Canada 🍁
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I chose the "Snowpearl" style (which they kindly gifted to me) because it's a great blend of being practical and durable for winter but also cute and something I can style with my capsule wardrobe and see myself wearing for years - if you live somewhere cold, you know the struggle of finding functional AND stylish winter clothes! 😅
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Also while I have a sustainable shoe roundup, I'm debating doing another specifically for winter boots - is this something you'd find helpful?
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#winterwardrobe #capsulewardrobe #project333 #veganboots #sustainablefashion #canadianwinter #kamikboots #QuitFastFashion #mygreencloset

What a week. Like so many of you, I'm enjoying the

What a week. Like so many of you, I'm enjoying the relief!
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Last week, to distract myself, I decided to try dyeing my hair purple with henna and indigo... it didn't go as planned. 😅 I ended up with this auburn shade which is growing on me more and more.
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If you're interested in seeing the process and my experience/what I learned trying natural hair dye, there's a video up on the channel!

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