Stephany Writes

Categories: Life

Monthly Recap | December 2019

READING

I read 11 books in December to finish off the year with 130 books read. When I read 134 books in 2018, I didn’t think I’d ever get close to that number again and here we are! I set my Goodreads goal for 2020 at 135 books because I figured I might as well give myself an outrageous goal to shoot for. I am 100% not going to stress out about meeting this goal – I just made it for funsies. It’ll be fun to see my progress throughout the year, I think. 🙂 Here are my top three books for December:

WATCHING

  • Mad Men, season 6 – I started season 6 of Mad Men in December and have watched the first handful of episodes. I’m happy to be back in Don Draper and Peggy Olson’s worlds again – they’re such great characters.
  • Brooklyn 99, season 1 – I was a devoted fan of Brooklyn 99 until I got rid of cable and stopped watching the show. I recently decided to rewatch it from the beginning and it might have been one of the best decisions I made at the end of 2019. 😉 It’s such a funny show.
  • Knives Out – I saw this with some coworkers in mid-December and loved it! It was such a great movie with an all-star cast and an ending I didn’t see coming.
  • Little Women – My mom and I went to see this the weekend after Christmas and I loved it! I’ll admit that my expectations were low because I’m not a fan of the book (just couldn’t get past the cheesy language), but the movie was everything I could have wanted. Saoirse Ronan was the perfect Jo and the movie was so beautifully directed that it made me have lots of feeeelings.

LISTENING TO

  • Code Switch – I’m currently going through the archives of this podcast (which dates back all the way to 2016 so I have lots of episodes to occupy me) and it’s as great as everyone says. The podcast is about the topics, people, and events that shape race and identity, and every episode leaves me with things to ponder. Also, can we talk about Gene Demby’s oh-so-sexy-perfect-for-radio voice? I could listen to him read the phone book. Ah!
  • In the Dark – Lisa has recommended this podcast to me multiple times and I finally listened to season one in December! It was really, really good, following the disappearance of Jacob Wetterling in 1989. It’s shocking how much the police bungled their investigation! I know processes were different 30+ years ago, but damn.

BUYING GETTING

Instead of my typical “buying” section here, let’s talk about some of the fun Christmas gifts I got this year!

  • A new slow cooker – I’m so happy that my brother bought me this! It was the thing I wanted most. I haven’t yet made a meal in my new slow cooker but I think I’m going to give it a whirl next week!
  • A book scarf – I showed off my new book scarf on Instagram on Monday and got lots of compliments. 🙂 It’s so soft and cozy, and I love that it shows off my favorite hobby.
  • A cordless hand vacuum – Yay! The other thing I really, really wanted this Christmas. Y’all, this vacuum is life-changing. It took me, like, 30 seconds to vacuum my couch when it usually takes me 10 minutes, a lot of sweat, and a twinge of backache.

THE HIGHS

  • A birthday cruise – It was so lovely to go on a cruise again! This was my 10th cruise and while breaking my ankle on day two really put a damper on the vacation, it was still a special time.
  • A baking class – I chose a baking class at Sur La Table for my friend A’s “gift of time.” It was my first baking class and I had a great time, even though I felt like such a beginner. I mean, it was my first time using a stand mixer and everything!
  • Meeting my friend’s baby – It was WONDERFUL to finally meet my friend’s baby and soak up all the perfect newborn snuggles. She’s a delight with the best baby mohawk and I love her immensely.

THE LOWS

  • Breaking my ankle – Well, yeah. This was a major low for December. I had a pretty terrible experience in the medical center on the ship as they decided to splint my leg and seemed to believe I would need to spend the rest of the trip in my cabin. I understand they have a very specific protocol to follow, considering I got hurt on the ship, but damn, it would have been nice to be listened to by the medical team. I definitely felt like my needs were secondary. Anyway, I got through it and spent December recovering from my injury.
  • A weird Christmas – Ah, Christmas is always a little less magical when you’re a grown-up without kids, isn’t it? Christmas felt a little strange this year, waking up alone (well, I had my girls but they were pretty ambivalent about the holiday, heh) and having a quiet morning by myself. It was nice, but also strange.

Categories: Life

From 2010 to 2019

At the end of 2009, I wrote a post I titled “The End of an Era” that chronicled an entire decade’s worth of memories.  First of all, yes, I’m astonished to learn that I’ve been blogging on Stephany Writes for more than a decade now. (!!!) I’ve been blogging for longer than a decade, but on lots of other blogs that came and went. But this blog has been a consistent part of my life for ten whole years. That’s crazy!

Anyway, once I realized we were coming to the end of another decade, I knew I had to write a similar post, chronicling the memories from this decade. So much has happened! I graduated college, lost both of my grandparents, welcomed a new nephew, lost my beloved Dutchy, became a cat mom, fell in love (a few times), traveled, met so many new people. Looking back on the girl who started this decade, I have nothing but love for her. She was trying her damned best and I want to bring that grace into this new decade because I know it is going to bring more heartbreak and love and excitement. More travels, more people, more cats, more dogs, and hopefully my forever partner.

Let’s take a look back on this decade, though. It’s been a crazy ten years.

In 2010, I was 22 and in college.

I was finishing up my second-to-last year, including a really intense magazine design course that required me to teach myself how to use Adobe InDesign and produce an 18-page magazine within four months. (A decade later and I’m still proud that I received an A+ on my magazine and my professor used it as an example for years.) My grandma’s cancer returned but she beat it again. My mom was hit by a car while on a run. And this was the year I made the decision to sever contact with my father. It was a hard year and I was hard on myself, but looking back, I want to give that 22-year-old girl a hug because she went through a lot of trauma and emerged from it victorious.

In 2011, I was 23 and a college graduate.

I got shingles during my last semester of school, brought on by stress (and because I was intensely anxious that I wouldn’t graduate and let everyone down). I went on my first cruise this year, a graduation present from my mom. Three months after I graduated, I landed a job as a marketing assistant. I also started online dating, to terrible results.

In 2012, I was 24 and searching for community.

College was done and I had the rest of my life ahead of me, and I wanted some girlfriends dammit. I tried befriending a girl at work and went to a Tampa bloggers meetup that went horribly – nobody talked to me and I cried the entire drive home, convinced I was too weird to have friends. A few months later, I went to a book club meeting where I felt welcomed and accepted, and seven years later, I’m still in that book club and those girls are some of my closest friends. This year, my brother got married, I went on my second cruise, and I went on my very first plane ride to visit family in Georgia.

In 2013, I was 25 and ready for a change.

I spent most of the first half of the year in job hunt mode. I was supremely unhappy at my job as a marketing assistant – due to both the work and the pay. At the rate I was getting paid, I’d never be able to move out on my own. In August, I started a new job in the exact field I wanted (copywriting) and it came with a 30% pay increase, which was baffling to me. (You mean I can pay my bills and have money left over? WHAT IS THIS LIFE?) It was also a year of firsts: first romantic relationship, first time I bought a car, and first time going on a girls’ trip. It was indeed a big year for me.

In 2014, I was 26 and expanding my horizons.

This was the year I truly started investing in relationships, from my friendships to my dating life. I fell head over heels for a guy this year, an experience unlike any other. I went to Savannah for my birthday and fell in love with that charming city. I spent the last day of the year at two different parties, ringing in the new year surrounded by people I loved.

In 2015, I was 27 and experienced the first true heartbreak of my life.

My grandma, who had courageously battled cancer for six years, died. It wasn’t a shocking loss; we all knew it was coming when the cancer returned for a fourth time, but it was a devastating one. It was hard to know what to do without her. Our family was bereft. This year also saw another big change in my life: moving out. I moved into a cute apartment in Tampa with a dear friend and the adjustment was hard for me. I loved living with my mom – she’s my best friend and it was so comfortable and easy living with her. Living with Roomie was just as wonderful (she was the best Roomie, honestly) but it took a while for me to adjust. But there were also many, many wonderful memories in 2015 – the birth of my nephew, a trip to Savannah, another cruise, and my mom getting re-married. Joy and pain, happiness and grief – that’s what life sometimes is.

In 2016, I was 28 and independent.

I fell deeply in love this year – the kind of instantaneous love that you only think happens in the movies. I couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, couldn’t think of anyone but him. It didn’t last, and the heartbreak was immense, but man, was it a blast while it lasted. I was hugely social this year (mostly thanks to Roomie who knew how to keep me balanced between alone time and people time) and also preparing for a big move: my own apartment. I was terrified for this change, because the move last year had been such a difficult adjustment, and because finding a one-bedroom apartment in my price range seemed almost impossible. And yet – I found an apartment in my price range and the transition to living alone was easier than I could have expected. This year was one filled with lots of stress and anxiety (related to my own not-yet-diagnosed anxiety disorder and my big move), and I could have seriously benefited from therapy and anxiety meds. But that was to come!

In 2017, I was 29 and settled.

I filled up my time with dates, gatherings with friends, and family time. I was content for the first time in my life and finally felt myself settling into myself. I got involved in politics for the first time in my life, after the worst person ever was elected president, and even attended a political protest. I traveled to Puerto Rico and Asheville, North Carolina this year. I got my first tattoo. Some of my writing was published on Thought Catalog. And, perhaps most importantly, I started anxiety meds. It was a good year, one I look back on fondly.

In 2018, I was 30 and heartbroken.

This was such a tough year for me, one I never want to repeat. It started when my beloved Dutchy-Boy died in February, my sweet dachshund who had been my constant companion for almost a decade. He was old (16) so he lived a wonderfully long life, but losing him sent me spiraling into a months-long depression. A few months after Dutch’s passing, my mom adopted an adorable eight-week-old dachshund who helped me stitch my heart back together. I emerged from my depression in the summer, weary but happy to feel like myself again, and started therapy. Then, my grandpa passed away. It was completely unexpected and unthinkable and I still have to remind myself that he’s gone because it just feels so unreal. An incredibly tough year, however, ended on the happiest note: I became a cat mom! I adopted Eloise, a sweet black-and-white kitty, from a friend who had rescued her and she helped to put my heart back together again.

In 2019, I was 31 and happy.

I’m ending this decade on such a high note! Looking back at where I was when I started this decade and where I am now, so much happened over the last 10 years. So much growth. I adopted my second kitty, Lila, in February and I am now a super obsessive cat mom. I traveled overseas for the first time, to Ireland and had a blast planning that trip. I visited Boston on a girls’ trip and went on my tenth cruise. I invested heavily in my friendships and spent hours in therapy, unraveling my unhealthy thought patterns and learning the tools to better help my mood disorder. I didn’t date much this year, but I think I needed the time to myself to just be. I had a lot of grief to work through from 2018 and this year was about finding myself again. And I think I did just that.

I love stuff like this: tell me what your life looked like in 2009. How old were you? What were you doing? 

Categories: Life

Monthly Recap | November 2019

We are firmly in December (eeks!) and I’m just now getting around to posting my November recap! I was hoping to get this ready before I left on my cruise, but I ran out of time. Here it is!

READING

I finished 9 books in November so I’m sitting pretty at 119 books for the year. It’s doubtful I’ll read more than I did last year (134 books), I’ll get close to that number! And I’m happy about that. Anything over 100 is ridiculous anyway, lol. Here are my top three from the month:

  • Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, which will most likely be my favorite book of the year. Incredible. Everyone needs to read it.
  • The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare, a really fun historical romance that I couldn’t find any faults with. Romance fans, get your hands on Tessa Dare’s novels!
  • The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary, which was a really cute and fun book that had surprising emotional depth. Loved every minute I spent with this novel!

WATCHING

My TV watching was way down this month. I just felt less inclined to turn on Netflix for some reason. I think it had something to do with NaNoWriMo – I didn’t want to get sucked into a show. (You’d think this would mean I read less, too, but that wasn’t the case.) Anyway, I did start season five of Schitt’s Creek and I’m about halfway through it. Aside from watching an episode a week of The Office to keep up with the Office Ladies podcast, that’s all I watched this month!

LISTENING TO

  • Slow Burn, season three – Slow Burn is back! I really enjoyed the first two seasons of the show, exploring Watergate and then the Clinton impeachment. I was curious what the next season would be – and it was something I could have never expected! This season, it’s exploring the murders of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G. Both rappers died in the mid-90s, a time when I was most definitely not listening to their music. (On account of being very young and very Christian.) So, there’s a lot I don’t know about their lives and deaths and the story is MUCH more interesting than I imagined.
  • What a Day – I like to listen to a short news podcast first thing every morning. Previously, I was listening to Trevor Noah’s Daily Show podcast and really enjoying it, but since it’s a TV show in podcast form, there’s a little bit of a disconnect + there are MANY weeks with no episodes. What a Day is put out by Crooked Media and I’ve been listening to it for a few weeks now. I like it, but don’t love it. I feel like the two hosts aren’t super compatible together and there’s an awkwardness to their exchanges. Maybe just some growing pains, but if there is a must-listen daily news podcast that any of you recommend, I’m all ears. (Ha, pun intended.)

BUYING

  • Asics GEL-Nimbus 21 ($107) – I can’t remember the last time I bought new running shoes, but it’s been a few years at least. I really need to set a yearly reminder to replace my shoes! I finally had enough and went to Dick’s Sporting Goods one evening to try on a bunch of shoes and really loved the way these Asics felt. I need to buy inserts because they do make my arches cramp after walking in them for too long, but other than that, they’re just what I wanted!
  • Heating pad ($25) – I can’t tell you how many aches and pains I get where I think, “I could really use a heating pad right now.” This month, I’ve been struggling with some neck pain from the way I sleep and when even a massage didn’t ease the ache, I finally broke down and bought a heating pad from Target. Welcome to your thirties, Steph, where buying a heating pad is worthy of talking about on your blog. (Honestly, I’ve become so boring. You should see my Christmas list this year. Full of boring adult things like a cooking pot and dust buster.)
  • Mice in sweaters ($3) – I couldn’t resist these tiny little mice dressed up in their fanciest Christmas sweaters. The girls love them (literally, as I’m writing this bullet point, Ellie is batting one all around the room).

THE GOOD

  • Running of the Wieners 2019 – Chip participated in his second annual Running of the Wieners race! This race is exactly what it sounds like: a whole bunch of dachshunds racing against each other. It’s the cutest thing! Last year, Chip ran vertically across the field rather than horizontally so we were hoping for a much better performance this year. And he did so well! He ran straight to my mom who was waiting at the finish line, but got distracted at the last second by a toy another dog parent had. He ended up coming in second in his heat, but I was so damn proud of him!
  • My first hibachi experience – Can you believe I’ve never had hibachi? I’m a picky eater and just assumed I wouldn’t like it, but I was way, way, way wrong! We went for hibachi for November’s book club (if someone in book club has a birthday that month, they get to pick where we eat/what we do!) and it was really fun and I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. I can’t wait to go back!
  • Winning NaNoWriMo 2019! – Yay, I did it! I wrote 50,000 words in my novel in 27 days and I am so proud of myself for getting it done. It is not easy to sit down and force yourself to write every day, especially if you’re not in the habit of it (I definitely wasn’t), but there’s something about NaNoWriMo that puts a fire in me to get shit done. Next up: finishing my novel!
  • A lovely Thanksgiving – We had a small Thanksgiving dinner this year with just my mom, me, and my brother and his family. It was really nice! We had turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and so many desserts. And, of course, a delicious chocolate cake for my birthday!

THE BAD

  • Not exercising – I logged barely any workouts in November, which I’m blaming on NaNoWriMo. The evenings were reserved for writing and most days, I wasn’t getting into bed at a decent hour so I never really wanted to wake up at 5AM to work out. I think I logged 7-8 workouts, which put me way behind on my “150 workouts” goal. (A goal I won’t be marking complete, seeing as I can’t exercise right now! Argh.)
  • A sore neck – I mentioned this above, but I dealt with this really annoying neck issue for about two weeks in November. I think it was due to my sleeping position, but isn’t it weird how you can sleep one way for months and months and months (years, even!) and all of a sudden, your body is like, “NOPE!” That’s how it felt. Suddenly, the only way I could sleep without my neck hurting was to sleep with one flat pillow. (And as someone who loves sleeping with MANY pillows, this felt very weird to me.) I tried everything to ease the discomfort: icing it, using a heating pad, getting a massage… nothing helped! And then the pain just disappeared. So weird!
  • Loneliness – I tried not to make too many plans in November because of my writing goal, but it led to many days of loneliness. I don’t get lonely that often, but this month was proof that I need to make plans at least a few nights out of the week to keep my spirits up.

Tell me something good that happened in your life in November!

Categories: Life

Monthly Recap | October 2019

READING

I read 9 books in September, putting me at 110 books for the year. Woop! My top three favorites were:

WATCHING

  • Queer Eye, season 2 – I forgot how much I love Queer Eye! I watched season one but never went back to it. (And season 5 is coming next year, eeps!) I loved this whole season and cried at the end of every episode. It’s such a feel-good show.
  • The Office, season 1 – I’m rewatching The Office! And there’s a reason for that, which I’ll discuss in the next section. I’ve watched the first few episodes and, ugh, this show is just so good. One of my faves for sure.

LISTENING TO

  • America Dissected – This is one of the newer podcast series by Crooked Media and it is fascinating. It covers all different topics in the healthcare industry, from why prescription drug prices are so high to antibiotic-resistant superbugs to anti-vaxxers. The information is very accessible and the host, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed is so engaging and fun to listen to.
  • To Live and Die in LA – This true crime miniseries follows the strange disappearance of Adea Shebani, a struggling actress in LA. Adea’s family felt like the police weren’t doing much to find her, so they enlisted the help of a private investigator. The series is fantastic, with each episode ending on a cliffhanger that could feel contrived, but is totally working for me. I also love the host – he’s compassionate but still tenacious.
  • Office Ladies – Pam and Angela have a podcast! I was super excited when I heard Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey were going to host a podcast about The Office. I’ve listened to the first three episodes (covering episodes 1-3 of season one of The Office) and it’s fantastic so far. I love hearing the behind-the-scenes tidbits and learning more about the production of the show. While both ladies feel a bit awkward on the mic, I am hoping they will loosen up over time and it won’t feel as scripted as it does.

BUYING

  • Bed Head Rock N’ Roller Curling Wand ($25) – While in Boston, one of my friends curled her hair using this funny-looking bubble curling wand and I was so amazed at how it gave her perfect curls that I asked to use it… and then promptly ordered one for myself. It is an idiot-proof way to curl your hair and gives me the best curls that stay all day. I highly recommend it.
  • Fintie Slimshell Case for Kindle ($15) – I’ve had my Kindle Paperwhite for a few years now and… haven’t ever had a cover on it. (Bad Kindle user!) I just like the feel of my Kindle without a cover and it hasn’t even gotten that scratched up, surprisingly. But I’ve been feeling the need for a cover and a quick Amazon search brought me to the Fintie Slimshell cases, which have all sorts of fun colors and patterns. I opted for the “Z-Moroccan Love” pattern and I am SO very happy with my purchase!
  • Mad Love Keava Footbed sandals ($23) – I need to overhaul my entire shoe collection, replacing everything with shoes that are more supportive for my feet because I’ve apparently entered that stage of my life. I constantly deal with foot pain, from my heels to my arches to the balls of my feet, and I think it’s time to invest in supportive inserts as well as overhaul many of the shoes I wear regularly (you know, the ones I got because they were cheap, not because they were supportive). I’m starting with sandals and I bought these fake Birkenstocks. I’d like to invest in real Birks in the future, but wanted to try out the style first at a more affordable price point. I like them so far.

THE GOOD

  • BOSTON – Our annual girls’ trip is in the books, and it was a fantastic four days! I enjoyed traipsing around Boston, especially going to an apple orchard and walking the Freedom Trail.
  • A fun night out – A friend wanted to celebrate her birthday with dinner and drinks downtown, and I had a blast! It was the weekend before Halloween so downtown was a little nuts and filled with people in costume, but hey, get a few drinks in this girl and I’m A-OK with crowds. 😉
  • Chip duty – My mom went on a work trip in October and asked me to watch Chip for her, which I was delighted to do. He is just the best boy, even if he is way more rambunctious than Dutch ever was (even when he was a young pup!), and makes me so happy!

THE BAD

  • Anniversaries – October is forever going to be a hard month for my family, as it is the month Grandma and Pops died. It was hard to see these days pass and remember what they were like for us, especially Pops’ death, as it was so unexpected. I remember thinking when I got to the hospital that Sunday that I’d only stay for a few hours (rather than all day, as I had been doing) since I had some freelance work to do. I had no idea that within a few hours of arriving at the hospital, Pops would no longer be with us. So tragic.
  • Feeling my weight – There’s no other way to put it, but I could definitely feel how much my weight slowed me down on the trip to Boston. I could barely keep up with my friends and felt like such a slowpoke! I have a short stride as it is, but it was more than that. It was just a general feeling of slowness. Not to mention, my feet, ankles, and calves ached so much each day. It’s just a reminder that I need to work on my fitness and try to lose some of this extra weight I’ve gained over the past few years.

ANTICIPATING

  • Turning 32 – It’s my birthday month and I’ll be 32 this year! I keep forgetting I’m not already 32, so that’s weird.
  • Thanksgiving! – I looooove Thanksgiving. Mostly because all of the food is my favorite: turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing? YES, PLEASE! We’ll have a small family celebration this year with my mom, me, my brother, and his family, which will be nice. (My stepdad will likely be on the road, womp!)
  • Cruise #10 – Oh, surprise? My mom and I booked a cruise that leaves at the end of November. It was rather spur of the moment for us, but I mentioned offhand one evening how much I enjoyed the birthday cruise we took a few years ago and she followed up the next day with two options for me. HA. It’s a four-day cruise out of Fort Lauderdale and I’m very much looking forward to it!

How was your October? What’s something you’re anticipating this month?

Categories: Life

5 Things I’m Doing to Help the Environment & 4 Things I Need to Do

Let’s get real for a moment: the planet is in trouble. We’re in crisis mode and if we don’t make serious changes to the way we live, this planet is going to be a scary place for our children and grandchildren. It’s troubling that the current administration is filled with climate change deniers when the proof couldn’t be more blatant. It’s scary to think about the irreparable damage that will be done if they’re given another four years in power.

Sooo… happy Wednesday? 🙂

In all honesty, thinking about our planet and the systematic change that needs to happen to try and turn things around is something that’s always on my mind. I’ve been taking some small steps over the past year to try to lower my environmental impact because I’m pretty fond of Earth and would like it to be around for a long time after I’m gone. Here are some of the steps I’ve taken:

1) I stopped using paper towels. Earlier this year, I used up my last set of paper towels and decided not to buy any more. Paper towels are one of the easiest ways to cut down on your environmental impact because they are truly unnecessary, especially for everyday use. Now, I keep reusable wipes on hand whenever I need to clean up a spill. I’ll throw them in the washer with my towels and they’ve lasted four months. (Here’s what I use!)

2) I am no longer buying plastic baggies. I haven’t actually replaced my plastic baggies with a reusable option – mostly because I got overwhelmed by all the choices on Amazon and all the differing reviews. But I’m actually not sure if I even need a reusable option because it’s been six months at least and I’ve been doing fine by using plastic containers. I might end up investing in a small pack of reusable baggies just to have them on hand, but it’s not something I’m too worried about right now. (Although, please, if you have a tried-and-true reusable baggie option, let me know!)

3) I recycle. My apartment community doesn’t have any sort of recycling program, which is annoying, but I still do my best to recycle all my paper products, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and glass containers. I have a reusable bag hanging in my kitchen to store all my recyclables and when I have a few bags filled up, I’ll take them to a nearby recycling center.

4) I use my own dishes at work. It’s amazing to recognize how much is wasted in one office on a daily basis. I have my own plate, bowl, and utensils, which I use instead of grabbing a paper plate or plastic fork when I’m eating. I’m not perfect – there are times when I use paper/plastic products and I need to bring in a dish towel to dry my dishes after I wash them, but I’m trying! We have a recycling container in our office, too, so I try to recycle whatever I can throughout the day.

5) I got rid of single-use wipes. Ah, those blessed single-use Clorox wipes. I used them religiously. Especially when I had Dutch and he was having daily accidents. So easy to clean up messes! But they’re also terrible for the environment. I can’t remember when I stopped using these – probably sometime last year. I used up my last container and decided I wasn’t going to replace them. My life doesn’t feel that much different without them!

Okay, now it’s time for some brutal honesty because I am not perfect and there are many other things I need to do. Here are some of the items that are on the top of my list:

1) Replacing tampons with a Diva Cup. I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time, but I keep putting it off. “Next month, I’ll buy the Diva Cup.” “Okay, I’ll buy one more pack of tampons and then I’ll buy the Diva Cup.” I know it has partly to do with sticker shock at the expense of a Diva Cup ($40 compared to $10 for organic tampons that last me three months since I have a very light flow.) I’m also intimidated by the learning curve of using it. But I need to make this change!

2) Bringing a reusable cup with me to Starbucks. I visit Starbucks at least once a week and I’m still using their disposable cups. Argh! This would be the easiest change to make but I’m resisting it for a very silly reason. Basically, I’m confused about how it works. I’m not the type to get a regular coffee; I’m more of a latte girl. So, do I just give them my PSL order, hand them my cup, and they just… make the drink? In the cup? What if I only want a grande size and my cup is a venti size? Why does this feel so insurmountably difficult? It’s dumb. I KNOW it’s dumb, and yet, I keep putting off purchasing a reusable Starbucks cup because I’m scared of looking stupid and not knowing what to do.

3) Replacing single-use makeup remover wipes with machine-washable cloths. I have a pack of makeup wipes that I’m using now and once I finish it, I’m committed to using machine washable cloths instead of single-use wipes. An easy change that will be better for my face as well as the environment! (Here’s the link to the cloths I’m thinking about buying!)

4) Always using my reusable bags when shopping. I’m pretty good at this, but I could be way better. I’m probably at a 75% average of bringing my bags with me when I’m grocery shopping, but I wish I was at 100%. I also need to get better at bringing my own bag to Target and other stores. I even keep a reusable bag folded up in my purse but always forget it’s in there. I *do* recycle my plastic bags, though! My grocery store has a bin to recycle plastic bags and it seems like they are actually recycled, so there’s that!

What are some of the ways you’re lowering your environmental impact?