If you've followed my blog for years (thank you for your support!), you know my family and I have committed to mindful consumption and planetary awareness. We've made steady progress without extreme overhauls.
That said, I still enjoy meat, haven't fully embraced bulk buying, travel by plane occasionally, and yes, order from Amazon sometimes. Sustainable changes must fit our lives seamlessly—my aim is to simplify, not complicate, daily routines amid our busy schedules.
A quick history lesson: On April 29, 1945, French women voted for the first time. Change takes time. My parents shopped at organic stores (limited by cost and availability back then), and my mom cooked everything from scratch—no processed foods. I've carried that forward with quick, home-cooked meals (pizza or sushi delivery as rare exceptions).
I'm naturally minimalistic—no need for Marie Kondo here. Sorting, donating, and recycling come instinctively.
Here's what we stopped buying as of April 2019:
- Bottled water: We switched to two glass carafes. For filtering, ceramic beads outperform charcoal sticks—same results, less hassle. No more explaining mysterious black residue to teen friends!
- Cotton pads: Long gone. I use konjac sponges (bamboo charcoal for my teen's skin) or reusable makeup remover pads from Tendances d'Emma.
- Paper towels: Rare exception for draining fries (soon to be replaced by cloths). Otherwise, washcloths from Tendances d'Emma handle spills, surfaces, faces, and more—like versatile mini-towels.
- Useless skincare products and exfoliants: Ditched pricey serums. Now: sweet almond oil for baths and makeup removal; argan as night cream; coconut for hair and lice; fine bicarbonate + almond oil scrubs; Pranarôm shea butter for body; aloe vera for everything from bites to hydration. Marketing gimmicks? No thanks.
- Diesel: Our cars run on gasoline for years.
- Laundry detergent: Huge savings! Avoid mixing baking soda and vinegar—they neutralize. Use soda crystals, bicarbonate, percarbonate for stains. Add essential oils cold (they're too precious for laundry alone). Current fave: MamanWhatElse's liquid recipe—shake well. Softener? Just white vinegar.
- Cleaning products: Black soap, baking soda, white vinegar. Windows: water + Brill’tout essential oil.
- Fruit juices: Swapped morning glasses (even pure ones pack sugar). Eat whole fruits or squeeze with pulp for fiber. Weekends: kiwi + fresh lemon/ginger. Weekdays: pulpy oranges or bananas.
Our setbacks (for now):
- Sparkling water bottles: Prefer glass, dislike SodaStream machines.
- Yogurts: Improving—found a non-electric, old-school maker!
- Bulk staples: Limited options for favorites like cereals, rice, lentils.
Next: balcony composter. Stay tuned for updates!
