Many of us signed up for entertainment (streaming television! date night in a
box!) and regular home delivery of essentials (toothbrushes! groceries! toilet
paper!) at the start of the pandemic. If you’re like me, these days you may find
yourself signed up for 10 or more subscription services.
Subscriptions can be time-saving and convenient, and specialty ones make great
gifts. But if you aren’t receiving the value you expect from the subscription in
question, it’s simply a colossal waste of money and resources. There are other
drawbacks to the recurring payment model as well, and on today’s short and sweet
episode I’m uncovering them.
 
Here’s a preview:
[7:30] 5 disadvantages to subscription services that you may not have considered
[8:45] What do recurring charges mean for our data and privacy?
[12:30] Subscription services and the concept of sunk cost
[18:00] One incremental action step for listeners to save money
 
Further reading:
 * The Rise Of The Subscription Model
   [https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2019/08/12/whats-behind-the-rise-of-the-subscription-model/?sh=7ea5f18135c3]
   (via Forbes)

 
 
* Thank you to SigmaTeaches [https://www.sigmateaches.com/] for sponsoring this
episode! Use code SUSTAINABLE at checkout for up to $200 off your first
package. 

* Join our (free!) community here
[https://www.facebook.com/groups/134165317219800/].
* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook,
[https://www.facebook.com/SustainableMinimalists/] Instagram
[https://www.instagram.com/sustainableminimalists/] + Youtube
[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmEjOfANT67KkwTTp3pgSOg].
* Email me and say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com
 
The post Subscription Services [https://mamaminimalist.com/268/] appeared first
on Sustainable Minimalists [https://mamaminimalist.com].

Subscription Services

Home decor is a lot like fashion: the second we invest in a new piece of
furniture or a new decor item, the catalogs and showrooms push a new trend. The
items we just bought, then? They suddenly become out of style.
Today I speak with interior designer Jessica Velazquez
[https://www.interiorsbyjessica.ca/] about how exactly to curate rooms that are
timeless. Jessica believes that style must always support lifestyle: when we
play it right, we can design spaces that won’t expire when stores usher in a new
trend.
 
Here’s a preview:
[5:00] Does evergreen and minimalist mean boring? Debunking common home decor
myths
[12:00] The Number One way to avoid making costly design mistakes
[18:00] The hierarchy of accent pieces: tips for refreshing a space by zeroing
in on accessories
[23:00] What color should we paint our walls?
[27:00] An eco-tip and a correction
 
Resources mentioned:
 * Jessica on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/interiors_by_jessica/]
 * Want more episodes like this one? Check out #217: Organized Entryway Ideas
   [https://mamaminimalist.com/217/]

 
* Thank you to SigmaTeaches [https://www.sigmateaches.com] for sponsoring this
episode! Use code SUSTAINABLE at checkout for up to $200 off your first
package. 

* Join our (free!) community here
[https://www.facebook.com/groups/134165317219800/].
* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook,
[https://www.facebook.com/SustainableMinimalists/] Instagram
[https://www.instagram.com/sustainableminimalists/] + Youtube
[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmEjOfANT67KkwTTp3pgSOg].
 
The post Evergreen Rooms [https://mamaminimalist.com/267/] appeared first on
Sustainable Minimalists [https://mamaminimalist.com].

Evergreen Rooms

Home decor is a lot like fashion: the second we invest in a new piece of
furniture or a new decor item, the catalogs and showrooms push a new trend. The
items we just bought, then? They’re suddenly out of style.
Today I speak with interior designer Jessica Velazquez
[https://www.interiorsbyjessica.ca/] about curating rooms that are timeless.
Jessica believes that style must always support lifestyle: when we play it
right, we can design spaces that won’t expire when stores usher in a new trend.
 
Here’s a preview:
[5:00] Does evergreen and minimalist mean boring? Debunking common home decor
myths
[12:00] The Number One way to avoid making costly design mistakes
[18:00] The hierarchy of accent pieces: tips for refreshing a space by zeroing
in on accessories
[23:00] What color should we paint our walls?
[27:00] An eco-tip and a correction
 
Resources mentioned:
 * Jessica on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/interiors_by_jessica/]
 * Watch the extended version of this interview on Youtube
   [https://youtu.be/uEcQwDS_ng4]
 * Want more episodes like this one? Check out #217: Organized Entryway Ideas
   [https://mamaminimalist.com/217/]

 
* Thank you to SigmaTeaches [https://www.sigmateaches.com] for sponsoring this
episode! Use code SUSTAINABLE at checkout for up to $200 off your first
package. 

* Join our (free!) community here
[https://www.facebook.com/groups/134165317219800/].
* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook,
[https://www.facebook.com/SustainableMinimalists/] Instagram
[https://www.instagram.com/sustainableminimalists/] + Youtube
[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmEjOfANT67KkwTTp3pgSOg].
 
The post Evergreen Rooms [https://mamaminimalist.com/267/] appeared first on
Sustainable Minimalists [https://mamaminimalist.com].

We want new things and we want them now. Our spending habits put brands on
perpetual searches for ways to shorten the time between design, manufacturing,
and distribution, and China has stepped up with the technology and the supply
chains to meet our needs.
Our consumption habits, then, can only be satisfied by purchasing from China.
Today’s show analyzes the ethical and environmental implications associated with
excessive reliance on the “World’s Factory”, as China has affectionately been
dubbed. What does manufacturing and lax regulations mean for both the people and
the planet, and how can we as consumers do better?
 
Here’s a preview:
[2:00] What the Made In China label means (and doesn’t mean) about a product’s
quality
[5:00] A deep dive into Chinese manufacturing: 5 reasons why China has become
the “world’s factory”
[7:00] What China’s lower compliance standards mean for people
[10:30] The story of Oregon mother Julie Keith, Halloween decorations, and Sun
Yi
[14:00] Chinese manufacturing and environmental pollution
[19:15] Practical action steps for listeners that go beyond “just buy local”
 
Further reading:
 * Nearly 14,000 companies violate China pollution rules
   [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/13/world/asia/china-companies-air-pollution-paris-agreement.html]
   (via NYTimes)
 * How your cheap Chinese-made products may be killing thousands in China
   [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/03/29/china-pollution-manufacturing-factory-health/99782622/]
   (via USAToday)
 * How much do we buy from China?
   [https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2011/08/10/139388532/only-a-tiny-sliver-of-americans-personal-spending-goes-to-china]
   (via NPR)
 * Are Made In China toys safe?
   [https://thebabypenguin.com/are-made-in-china-toys-safe/] (via The Baby
   Penguin)

 
Resources mentioned:
 * Episode #186: The Lowdown On Wooden Toys with Christina Floyd
   [https://mamaminimalist.com/186-2/]

 
* Thank you to SigmaTeaches [https://www.sigmateaches.com] for sponsoring this
episode! Use code SUSTAINABLE at checkout for up to $200 off your first
package. 

* Join our (free!) community here
[https://www.facebook.com/groups/134165317219800/].
* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook,
[https://www.facebook.com/SustainableMinimalists/] Instagram
[https://www.instagram.com/sustainableminimalists/] + Youtube
[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmEjOfANT67KkwTTp3pgSOg].
 

Made In China

Fellow consumers: we want new things and we want them now. Our spending
habits put brands on perpetual searches for ways to shorten the time between
design, manufacturing, and distribution, and China has stepped up with the
technology and the supply chains to meet our needs.
Our consumption habits, then, can only be satisfied by purchasing from China.
Today’s show analyzes the ethical and environmental implications associated with
excessive reliance on the “World’s Factory”, as China has affectionately been
dubbed. What does excessive manufacturing paired with lax regulations mean for
both the people and the planet, and how can we as consumers do better?
 
Here’s a preview:
[2:00] What the Made In China label means (and doesn’t mean) about a product’s
quality
[5:00] A deep dive into Chinese manufacturing: 5 reasons why China has become
the “world’s factory”
[7:00] What China’s lower compliance standards mean for people
[10:30] The story of Oregon mother Julie Keith, Halloween decorations, and Sun
Yi
[14:00] Chinese manufacturing and environmental pollution
[19:15] Practical action steps for listeners that go beyond “just buy local”
 
Further reading:
 * Nearly 14,000 companies violate China pollution rules
   [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/13/world/asia/china-companies-air-pollution-paris-agreement.html]
   (via NYTimes
 * How your cheap Chinese-made products may be killing thousands in China
   [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/03/29/china-pollution-manufacturing-factory-health/99782622/]
   (via USAToday)
 * How much do we buy from China?
   [https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2011/08/10/139388532/only-a-tiny-sliver-of-americans-personal-spending-goes-to-china]
   (via NPR)
 * Are Made In China toys safe?
   [https://thebabypenguin.com/are-made-in-china-toys-safe/] (via The Baby
   Penguin)

 
Resources mentioned:
 * Episode #186: The Lowdown On Wooden Toys with Christina Floyd
   [https://mamaminimalist.com/186-2/]

 
* Thank you to SigmaTeaches [https://www.sigmateaches.com] for sponsoring this
episode! Use code SUSTAINABLE at checkout for up to $200 off your first
package. 

* Join our (free!) community here
[https://www.facebook.com/groups/134165317219800/].
* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook,
[https://www.facebook.com/SustainableMinimalists/] Instagram
[https://www.instagram.com/sustainableminimalists/] + Youtube
[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmEjOfANT67KkwTTp3pgSOg].
 

While minimalism may sometimes seem trendy, the reality is that the lifestyle
has been around for centuries. Indeed, ancient philosophies touted the
importance of Less Is More living as a means of finding inner peace amidst
frenetic daily life.
Today I speak with author Jessie Kanzer [https://jessiekanzer.com] about first
steps toward mental minimalism. Jessie argues that you don’t have to be a Zen
master to simplify your cognitions and reduce unnecessary internal chatter; she
argues too that enlightenment is about first learning to lighten up.
 
Here’s a preview:
[3:45] Minimalism isn’t a trend, it’s an ancient lifestyle
[10:30] Learning to slow down and be still in an achievement-based world
[16:15] How to get in touch with your Observer Self
[19:30] Taming our “monkey brains” as a means of enjoying little life moments
[21:15] What to do the next time life feels discombobulated
 
 
Resources mentioned:
 * Don’t Just Sit There, DO NOTHING: Healing, Chilling, and Living with the Tao
   Te Ching [https://amzn.to/3s32lya]
 * Watch the extended version of this interview on Youtube
   [https://youtu.be/QXTHphPYHFM]
 * Body sugaring 101 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qCVYtQ_orE]
 * Jessie on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jessiekanzer/]

 
* Thank you to KiwiCo [https://www.kiwico.com] for sponsoring this week’s
episode! Get 30% off your first month plus free shipping with code SUSTAINABLE
at kiwico.com [https://www.kiwico.com].
* Join our (free!) community here
[https://www.facebook.com/groups/134165317219800/].
* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook,
[https://www.facebook.com/SustainableMinimalists/] Instagram
[https://www.instagram.com/sustainableminimalists/] + Youtube
[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmEjOfANT67KkwTTp3pgSOg].
 
The post Mental Minimalism [https://mamaminimalist.com/265/] appeared first on
Sustainable Minimalists [https://mamaminimalist.com].

Mental Minimalism

When carbon and fluorine fuse together they create a virtually unbreakable
compound. These days, such per- and polyfluoroalkyl (or PFAS) substances are
widely used in thousands of products from food packaging to clothing, carpets,
and more. And because these chemicals are designed to be unbreakable, “forever
chemicals” are adding up in our bodies and in the environment.
On today’s episode I’m answering a listener’s question about the group of
chemicals known as PFAS by bringing you an interview with Kevin Loria. Kevin is
a Senior Health and Science writer for Consumer Reports and has extensively
covered CR’s research into the implications of extensive reliance on forever
chemicals.
Here’s a preview:
[1:45] A PFAS primer: What this family of chemicals is, where they’re most
commonly found, and why they’re dangerous
[5:00] Health and environmental concerns
[7:30] Forever chemicals in food packaging: What research found
[11:00] Where we’re at with regard to PFAS regulation in the US and around the
world
[15:00] EcoCraft, 100% Compostable, and other greenwashing examples: The
“environmentally friendly” food packaging that’s actually not environmentally
friendly at all
[16:45] 5 action steps to reduce PFAS exposure and make better purchasing
decisions moving forward
 
Resources mentioned:
 * Dangerous PFAS Chemicals Are in Your Food Packaging (via Consumer Reports)
   [https://www.consumerreports.org/pfas-food-packaging/dangerous-pfas-chemicals-are-in-your-food-packaging-a3786252074/]
 * Watch the extended version of this episode on Youtube
   [https://youtu.be/Y9PZM4Gb_9s]

 
 
* Want more episodes like this one? Check out #070: The Basics of Minimalists
Kitchens and Minimalist Cooking [https://mamaminimalist.com/070/].
* Join our (free!) community here
[https://www.facebook.com/groups/134165317219800/].
* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook,
[https://www.facebook.com/SustainableMinimalists/] Instagram
[https://www.instagram.com/sustainableminimalists/] + Youtube
[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmEjOfANT67KkwTTp3pgSOg].
 
The post

Forever Chemicals

When carbon and fluorine fuse together they create a virtually unbreakable
compound. These days, such per- and polyfluoroalkyl (or PFAS) substances are
widely used in thousands of products from food packaging to clothing, carpets,
and more. And because these chemicals are designed to be unbreakable? “Forever
chemicals” are adding up in our bodies and in the environment.
On today’s episode I’m answering a listener’s question about the group of
chemicals known as PFAS by bringing you an interview with Kevin Loria. Kevin is
a Senior Health and Science writer for Consumer Reports and has extensively
covered CR’s groundbreaking research into the implications of extensive reliance
on forever chemicals.
Here’s a preview:
[1:45] A PFAS primer: What this family of chemicals are, where they’re most
commonly found, and why they’re dangerous
[5:00] Health and environmental concerns
[7:30] Forever chemicals in food packaging: What research found
[11:00] Where we’re at with regard to PFAS regulation in the US and around the
world
[15:00] Ecocraft, 100% compostable, and more greenwashing examples: The
“environmentally friendly” food packaging that’s actually not environmentally
friendly at all
[16:45] 5 action steps to reduce PFAS exposure and make better purchasing
decisions moving forward
 
Resources mentioned:
 * Dangerous PFAS Chemicals Are in Your Food Packaging (via Consumer Reports)
   [https://www.consumerreports.org/pfas-food-packaging/dangerous-pfas-chemicals-are-in-your-food-packaging-a3786252074/]
 * Watch the extended version of this episode on Youtube
   [https://youtu.be/Y9PZM4Gb_9s]

 
 
* Want more episodes like this one? Check out #070: The Basics of Minimalists
Kitchens and Minimalist Cooking [https://mamaminimalist.com/070/].
* Join our (free!) community here
[https://www.facebook.com/groups/134165317219800/].
* Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook,
[https://www.facebook.com/SustainableMinimalists/] Instagram
[https://www.instagram.com/sustainableminimalists/] + Youtube
[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmEjOfANT67KkwTTp3pgSOg].
 
The post Forever Chemicals [https://mamaminimalist.com/264/] appeared first on
Sustainable Minimalists [https://mamaminimalist.com].

Stephanie

Shows