Eco Cajun

2022 Thankfulness

noreply@blogger.com (Caitlin) — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 16:34:00 +0000

In many ways, this year has felt like it's lasted for three. There's been so much change, and it's seemed like as soon as we settle into a routine, it would change to a new routine.

With Thanksgiving this week, I've been reflecting on what I'm most thankful for in this year. Aside from my family and friends, I realized that I'm thankful for finding my yoga practice again.

Before I had Ariana, I was going to yoga twice a week every week. I was in great shape and doing advanced poses. Even during my pregnancy for her, I was still going about once a week. And over the past four years, I had probably made it to 5 or 6 yoga classes. It was just one of the parts of me that got pushed to the side so I could focus on my new balance of motherhood, family time and my job.

And then, of course, there was a pandemic and I had another pregnancy and another baby, adding to my already crazy balance.

Earlier this year, I was wrapping up an at-home postpartum workout plan, my youngest was 15 months old, and our new daycare was shifting its pickup time from 4:30 to 5:30. I felt like I was finally ready (and able) to recommit to a regular yoga practice and prioritize an hour a week for me.

One of my favorite things about this time is that I don't feel guilty for being away from the house. I know my girls are fine, my husband is awesome, and my well-being is important for all of us.

I went back in June, on International Yoga Day (and the five year anniversary of our first miscarriage), and it was one of my best decisions this year. I've made it to class almost every week, and while I still have a long ways to go if I ever get back to headstands, handstands and crow pose, I can feel myself getting stronger. In addition to the physical aspects, it's also about the mental care for me.

So, while I'm thankful for finding my yoga practice again, the bigger picture is that I'm thankful for prioritizing my health and well-being again. It's a journey, but it's one where I'm traveling forward again.

A refresh for Eco Cajun

noreply@blogger.com (Caitlin) — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 13:30:00 +0000

This month marks 10 years that I've had ecocajun.com, going beyond a simple blog and investing in a personal brand and website. This space really has been a little home for me for so long, and I'm proud of what it's helped me accomplish.

I've been brainstorming over the past year or so on exactly what to do with this space... and whether I even wanted to keep it going or not. Frankly, I still can't say I won't give it up altogether, but I have thought of a few ways to make it more reflective of my life these days.

The past four years have been a wild ride in motherhood, which really is the most rewarding, humbling and maddening role on Earth. My girls and my family are my top priority, and take up most of my energy. My full-time job also keeps me busy and takes up most of my brain power.

And that goes to say that my bandwidth for blogging and really being active in the environmental realm has taken a serious backseat.

I still care about the environment just as much as before, but it's been more difficult to generate content when most of the time, my environmental actions include recycling cans and bottles and renewing my junk mail opt out.

So, I've decided to shift my focus on the blog a little to be a better representation. I'm excited to get back to a focus on sustainable and eco-friendly living, now combined with reflections on motherhood and life in general. I'm most excited to dive more into how others can combine eco-friendly living with their current lifestyle. Life is not all or nothing - it's a balance of so many different things.

With that said, I'm also excited to share the refreshed Eco Cajun logo and updated website!

If you've got an environmental question or have an idea for a blog post you'd like to see here, let me know!

Thanks to those of you who've stuck around over these years, and thanks to those of you who may be new here.

Green Around Acadiana: Backyard Sapphire

noreply@blogger.com (Caitlin) — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 13:00:00 +0000

Backyard Sapphire is truly a local company that fills a much-needed void. When the city of Lafayette discontinued glass recycling a few years back, it was a weird adjustment having to throw glass bottles in the trash. Glass is one of the best materials to recycle because it can be recycled endlessly without losing quality. However, when there's no market for it, it's hard to have services continued.

Many Target locations nationwide have offered a glass recycling bin, but it wasn't enough to still impacted the amount of recyclable glass being thrown away citywide.

Lafayette and Republic Services have yet to reintroduce glass recycling, but luckily, there's another option available to residents.

Backyard Sapphire entered the scene and opened in the middle of 2020 for friends of the owners, Tina Crapsi and Dawn Vincent. In 2021, they expanded their operations to the public. Tina and Dawn collect glass bottles from participating residents, and pulverize it into glass mulch.

Photo courtesy Backyard Sapphire

The glass mulch can be used however you like, typically in landscaping or potted plants. The process that Backyard Sapphire uses to crush the glass rounds and softens the edges and allows for safe handling. The mulch comes in different color and size variations, and provides a lot of benefits to landscaping.

Glass mulch doesn't retain as much moisture as wooden mulch, so there isn't as much potential for fungus to grow.
Glass mulch is very suitable for plants that grow best in sandy and rocky soils, but packing it loosely can make it adaptable to any environment or plant.
Glass mulch serves as an eye catching topper in flower beds, in rock and rain gardens, or along stone paths.
Glass mulch is a great way of suffocating weeds and shows a better success rate at weed-prevention than traditional wood mulch.
Glass mulch cover is perfect for low-water gardens and landscapes.

Photo courtesy Backyard Sapphire

However, glass isn't the perfect solution for gardens with shallow rooted plants or that may get a lot of sun because they can hold more heat than traditional mulch.

Backyard Sapphire is a grassroots movement towards sustainability and making our footprint smaller, and they made their own way in the beginning. "The machinery we wanted to start out with was expensive, so we built a glass crusher that gave us three different sizes," they said.

There are two ways to contribute your glass to Backyard Sapphire's operations: curbside pickup or drop-off. For a nominal subscription fee, you can have your own collection bin that will be emptied by Tina and Dawn on a regular basis. At the moment, there is one drop-off location - bring your glass to the Fightingville Fresh Market on Tuesdays between 3 and 5 p.m. or Saturdays between 1 and 4 p.m. There is a small fee to drop off glass, which directly supports Backyard Sapphire's continuing operations and efforts.

The glass mulch can be purchased through Backyard Sapphire's website or at Fightingville Fresh Market.

Photo courtesy Backyard Sapphire

Tina and Dawn say they have a great community of curbside customers and contributors at their drop off site, and they hope to have additional sites available in the future. They say they plan to do more events and pop-up drop-offs in the future.

Photo courtesy Backyard Sapphire

One of the most exciting developments for Backyard Sapphire happened late in 2021, when they were able to invest in the GLSand Bottle Crusher 2.0. With the new machinery, Tina and Dawn are able to crush more volumes of glass, more easily.

"We plan to continue to grow and advance our technology and methods to be as efficient as possible, which will allow us to take on more glass. We are experimenting with ways to use our products and byproducts," Tina and Dawn said. "There is only potential for such a sustainable product with endless applications."

In less than two years of operations, Tina and Dawn estimate they have recycled more than 31 TONS of glass. It's extremely impressive that in less than two years, a two-woman operation in one city can divert that much glass from the landfill and create a product that can be reused and loved for a long time.

"In six months of 2020, we probably collected and crushed a ton of glass. It grew quickly to almost a ton a week, and now it is a little over a ton a week. It's so much and so little at the same time," Tina and Dawn said.

In the summer of 2021, Backyard Sapphire was even featured on the CBS Evening News. Check out their interview!

Back to Me

noreply@blogger.com (Caitlin) — Sat, 02 Oct 2021 03:01:00 +0000

The past few years have certainly been a roller coaster ride, especially learning to navigate life as a mom of two little ones...something that would be difficult with or without a pandemic thrown in the mix. Motherhood truly shakes up any routine that you had before.

I was at an event with some other moms recently, and the speaker was talking about regaining your identity and not feeling defined by external people or things. I left thinking about how much my identity has shifted toward being someone's mom, someone's wife and someone's employee. They're all roles I value very deeply, but in the past few years, I've focused so much on them and less on me.

Even as I write this, everyone in my house is asleep, and I should be as well, but it's my chance to enjoy the quiet, a glass of wine and Schitt's Creek on in the background.

When I think about what I can do to regain some of 'me', the one thing I keep coming back to is this neglected space... the blog I've put so much time and effort into over the past 12 years, and that I've ignored in favor of children, family, work and home. I've gotten so out of practice and routine here, and I truly want to re-prioritize writing as an outlet and learning even more about environmentalism.

Will I keep up with it? Probably about as well as I am that postpartum workout plan I'm doing...which is to say, not consistently at all. But hey, I've renewed this domain for another year, so at least I'm hopeful.

I've got a few posts that I'll be working on soon and I'm sure there will be some housekeeping and some site updates here and there, but I want to know... what do you want to read about?

Lafayette's first Zero Waste Week!

noreply@blogger.com (Caitlin) — Wed, 12 May 2021 13:10:00 +0000

Thanks to the dedicated people working with No Waste Lafayette, May 16 -22 has been declared as the first local Zero Waste Week. The week will feature opportunities to learn about local zero waste efforts through in-person and virtual activities.

No Waste Lafayette President Catherine Comeaux says, “Zero waste refers to the conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse and recovery of products, packaging and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water or air that threaten the environment or human health. Zero Waste Week will explore how Lafayette is already embracing this philosophy and opportunities for us all to do more.”

Each day of Zero Waste Week will focus on specific themes, and No Waste Lafayette is calling on residents, nonprofits, schools and businesses to participate in each day’s theme. These events provide a great opportunity to participate and learn more on sustainable ways of living, and show you how easy it can be to adopt zero-waste principles.

Sunday (5/16): Reconnect. Reconnect with nature and look for upstream solutions. Join us for a self-guided group paddle on Bayou Vermilion, starting at the canoe/kayak launch near Vermilionville at 2 p.m. RSVP on Facebook!
Monday: Rethink. Rethink your consumption and disposal habits. Consider new ways to avoid creating waste.
Tuesday: Reuse and Refill. Visit local thrift stores and businesses who help us work towards zero waste.
Wednesday: Reduce. Reduce food waste through growing and composting. Join us for a 3:30 p.m. tour at Bayou Vermilion District’s La Cuisine de Maman to learn about their Rocket food waste composter. RSVP on Facebook!
Thursday: Research. Join us for a virtual Zero Waste Happy Hour, where we will dig deeper into what it means to work towards zero waste. RSVP on Facebook!
Friday: Reject. Reject single-use disposables, especially those that are harmful to the environment, like Styrofoam and plastics. Have a Foam-Free Friday lunch, post a pic, tag No Waste Lafayette on Facebook or Instagram, and enter to win a prize.
Saturday: Repair. Join us at the main Lafayette Public Library downtown from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. for a Fix It Event. Bring in your broken items and volunteer fixers will be repairing items and teaching us about how to reduce our waste through repair. RSVP on Facebook!

No Waste Lafayette was founded in 2017 and strives to educate the community on various zero waste methods in order to help with the reduction of unnecessary waste. The group's members are awesome examples of living sustainably, and have helped reduce waste in Lafayette through numerous fix-it cafes and community cleanups.

Next week is sure to be fun and educational. Join in and participate in Lafayette's first Zero Waste Week!

Fresh Compost with Worm Lady Recycles

noreply@blogger.com (Caitlin) — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 13:17:00 +0000

One of the best things you can do in support of a sustainable lifestyle is compost your food waste. It keeps a lot of waste out of landfills, and it helps your garden and yard thrive by providing plants with great nutrients. There are three types of composting - aerobic (air is used to help break down material quickly), anaerobic (oxygen is kept out) and vermicomposting (where worms come to play).

However, composting may not be feasible for everyone, especially for those with no space for a compost bin or yard to use it in. And composting may also not be a project you choose to take on. I am honestly in that camp - I love the concept of composting, and we have landscaping and potted plants, but I haven't set up a composting system for our house. And I honestly don't know that I want to take that on.

Photo via Worm Lady Recycles

Now, there are options available if you want to help reduce your waste or reap the benefits of compost, without doing all the work yourself. In the Acadiana area, Worm Lady Recycles is a small operation run by Taylor Vaughan with help from her husband, Eric. She collects food waste from residents and utilizes a vermicomposting process. Once the compost is ready, it's sold as worm castings or tea. The products can be used as a fertilizer in gardens and landscaping, providing nutrients and goodness for your plants.

Photo via Worm Lady Recycles

Worm Lady Recycles partners with other local businesses, residents and schools, and Taylor provides education for those interested in learning more about the process. Mark your calendars for her Worm Workshop on May 16!

Worm Lady Recycles also recycles produce from Acadiana-area grocery stores.

Worm castings and tea can be purchased online for local pickup or delivery, or you can shop in person at the Fightingville Fresh Market in Lafayette. Currently, worm castings are sold at $8 per pound and tea starts at $5 a gallon. Check her website for current pricing!

Photo via Worm Lady Recycles

Benefits of using worm compost products

Worm Lady Recycles' product is made from 100% recycled material from the Acadiana area.
Increase plant growth and yield more fruit.
Help prevent against some plant diseases.
Reduce run off of harmful chemicals into our water systems.
Most powerful natural fertilizer on the market.
Improve and build your soil.

Photo via Worm Lady Recycles

Items that can be recycled for composting

Coffee grounds
Most fruit and veggies
Paper egg cartons
Paper towel and toilet paper tubes
Brown paper bags and paper cupholders (grocery store and fast food bags)
Thin brown cardboard
Packaging paper

Items NOT accepted for recycling

Citrus
Onions
Meat
Dairy
Potatoes
Cooked food

Worm Lady Recycles also accepts plastic containers and buckets to use for packaging products. You are able to contribute containers for reuse, whether hard plastic half gallon and whole gallon buckets or juice bottles with twist tops. They are also currently looking to partner with local restaurants who would like to recycle different sized buckets/containers.

Drop-off locations (Drop off as you please; contact-free!)

Always open:

206 Vivian Drive Lafayette, La. 70508 (gray bin is located near electricity pole)
115 South College Road Lafayette, La. 70503 (bin is located behind playground fence)

Open specific hours:

Fightingville Fresh Market, 315 W Simcoe, Lafayette, La.
Open Tuesdays 3-5pm and Saturdays 12-3pm. (You can also shop some of the products here!)
United Way of Acadiana, 215 E. Pinhook Road Lafayette, La.
Gates are OPEN ONLY M-F 8am-4pm. (White box located next to United Way building entrance.)

Promotion!

Taylor also shared with me that starting this week through May 22, you can enter to win a free class and starter worm bin. Simply recycle paper products at one of the drop-off locations, post a photo of your action on Facebook or Instagram and and tag Worm Lady Recycles to be entered!

Contact/Visit

Email | Phone: 337-412-2653

Facebook | Instagram | Website

Prepping for a Second Baby - the Perks of Saved Items, Hand-Me-Downs and Secondhand Gear

noreply@blogger.com (Caitlin) — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 13:00:00 +0000

One of the biggest perks of preparing for a second baby, especially one who's the same gender as your oldest child, is being able to reuse the majority of things you already have.

As our daughter grew out of clothing, toys and gear, we put it all in storage, knowing that we would eventually try for another child. When we were expecting Ariana, we took in a lot of secondhand clothing and gear, and we saved much of it. The items we're getting ready to use again are past the secondhand stage and are probably third- and fourth-hand by now. I wrote this blog post back in 2018 about all the secondhand items we had for Ariana.

I think baby clothing, toys and gear is the best category that practices use-it-and-pass-it-down. Thrift shops, resale shops and nonprofits count on donations/sales to offer gently used goods. And the family/friend/social media community tremendously supports selling/trading/loaning goods. Baby and kid items certainly add up quickly when purchased brand new (even secondhand), and it only makes sense to reuse it multiple times when they only get used for a few months.

Over the past two and a half years, I managed to pare down some of the excess that we'd collected, and we've donated or sold a good amount of clothing and a few pieces of gear that just took up a lot of space. Luckily, we've been able to replace just about all the gear at no cost through friends passing things along or loaning things to us.

It's certainly a relief this time around to know that most of what we need for a baby, we already have. I was about 33 or 34 weeks when we picked up the bassinet from my friend, and it was a huge sigh of relief to get it set up in the corner of our bedroom. The two baskets are also hand-me-downs and will be used to hold diapers/wipes and onesies/gowns/sleep sacks. I found another basket in storage that I'll reuse as a hamper.

One funny note about how pregnancy brain has been catching up to me: Over the past few weeks I've been getting the immediate items ready for Baby's arrival. I washed everything in the NB/0-3 month container and put some away in the nursery and some in a basket in our room. I've also got 95% of my hospital bag packed. One evening I was recalling a specific newborn-size onesie that I loved, and realized it wasn't in the drawer or basket with clothing. I was starting to wonder if I'd accidentally donated or sold it, until it dawned on me around 11:00 one night to check my hospital bag...where it was safely packed! (Pregnancy: when you can't remember a number of important things, but you get hung up on the whereabouts of one tiny onesie.)

New-to-us items that we've purchased secondhand, received as a hand-me-down or been loaned for our new baby:

Double stroller
Infant bathtub
Bassinet for our room
Infant clothing/shoes/additional sleep sacks
Glass bottles
Storage bags for pumped milk
Mamaroo Rockaroo

When it comes to getting our home ready for our newest addition, I would have to say we are decidedly more laissez faire than we were when preparing for Ariana, haha. I insisted on having the nursery decorated and complete before she was born. Currently, we are planning to keep Ariana in the nursery while the baby will be sleeping in a bassinet in our room.

After a few months, we'll move Ariana into our bigger guest bedroom, aka her big girl room slash playroom, and the baby will move into the nursery. I'm not exactly in a rush to move Ariana into a real bed, but she tends to handle transitions better than I anticipate.

We've been making steady progress to update the room before Ariana moves in, from having the room painted, to hanging curtains, to putting up art and getting a new rug. We plan to update the bed frame so it's lighter and more feminine. We've repurposed art and other pieces from around the house, although we've bought a few new things to make the space fresh.

The nursery will more or less remain the same, which is certainly a weight off our shoulders. I love the design of the nursery as much as I did when we were putting it together, and didn't want to see it change. This blog post from 2018 details a lot of our eco-friendly items in the nursery, all of which we still use!

And so now, we soak up our time as a family of three and await the arrival of Baby Sister. Now that it's February, the countdown is officially on!

Tiptoeing into 2021

noreply@blogger.com (Caitlin) — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 20:45:00 +0000

Between Christmas and New Year's Day each year, I always feel the urge to start fresh and get a burst of inspiration to set out my goals and resolutions for the upcoming year.

This year? Not so much!

I'm certainly feeling the desire to organize and I do feel ready for something fresh, but I'm also going into this new year full of trepidation. I'm not feeling inspired to put together a grand list of goals, and I think there's a beauty in that approach as well. Rather than attempting to start big, I'm going for a smaller approach. No actual resolutions. Who knows what 2021 will throw at us?

And first of all, let's get real here. My true goal for 2021 is to figure out life as a mother of two and a family of four. We are eight weeks away at most from meeting our second daughter. I've dedicated January to working on my "new baby punch list" - from getting our newborn clothes out of storage and into the washing machine, to packing my hospital bag to preparing a few freezer meals.

I'm anticipating my second experience with a newborn and seeing how my toddler interacts with her baby sister. I wrote a blog post a few weeks back on the things I'm looking forward to doing differently this time around.

My focus is definitely on my family in this upcoming year, and part of that includes prioritizing my own self care and health so that I can really be present for this next chapter of our lives.

I would love to figure out how I can re-energize my blog and find a system that encourages me to write and post a bit more regularly. As my day-to-day life has changed over the past few years, it's certainly harder for me to get out and get involved in community events or activities, which has of course made it more difficult to find new things to write about. But there's certainly much that can be shared about eco-friendly lifestyle no matter what your stage in life is.

2020 certainly tested us all, and there's a lot that kept me from feeling like a decent version of myself for much of the year. But even with the setbacks, unknowns and constantly changing plans, we've made it here, to the end of the year. I'm grateful for our health, this pregnancy and for the ability to accomplish some big projects at home.

I desperately hope that in 2021, we see a return to some semblance of normalcy. But I'm okay with tiptoeing into the new year with a plan of taking things day-by-day. We may not be setting any grand travel plans or hopes for epic family memories, but no matter what, memories will be made!

Tips for Holiday Shopping This Year

noreply@blogger.com (Caitlin) — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 20:07:00 +0000

You can count me in the group of people who started decorating for and celebrating Christmas extra early this year. My desktop tree went up in my office the first week of November, and my husband and I started decking our halls that first weekend. We're excited to go pick out a Christmas tree this weekend and really have the house looking festive.

With the past few months feeling extra heavy, November has turned out to be a good month full of holiday cheer. I'm not ashamed in how much Christmas music I've listened to and how many Christmas movies we've watched so far. We've taken our Christmas card photos and they've already been printed and delivered (thank you, Paper Culture). Excited to mail them out next week!

Beyond the decorating, I've started my Christmas shopping earlier than usual this year, and it's been nice to feel a little ahead of the game! Although I've made a few online purchases so far, my goal for the majority of our gifts for family and friends is to shop small and local businesses.

The annual Small Business Saturday, happening this Saturday, November 28, is an extra important reminder to support your favorite locally owned small businesses and online small business vendors. Especially after all the challenges this year, so many entrepreneurs and business owners are struggling to remain open, and the Christmas shopping season may well be a deciding factor on some being able to stay open.

Take advantage of extra shopping options that many businesses are offering, like delivery or curbside pickup. This is one thing I actually wouldn't mind if businesses kept permanently! Before going to shop in person, check a business' website or Facebook page, or give them a call to see if their store hours are different than normal. And of course, when shopping in person, please wear your mask and respect social distance.

Ariana had a fun time checking out a few local business storefronts recently, even running toward the wine shop. Hint: This year is an excellent year to gift bottles of wine to family and friends! (And surprisingly, I do not have a countdown going yet to drinking my first glass of wine since June!)

If you choose to shop a small online business, check order deadlines to ensure delivery by Christmas, especially if you are looking at something personalized or customized. Shipping delays have been a little extra crazy lately, so definitely reach out to a shop's owner or customer service department if you have any questions.

One small business spotlight: For any moms of girls, Well Worn Bows is a great online shop to check out! The owner uses vintage, thrifted and reclaimed fabrics to make bows, headbands and scrunchies. It's fun to know that your bows had a previous life, and that your girl has a unique accessory to wear.

Although I typically prefer to give and receive tangible gifts rather than gift cards, they are a great way to support many local businesses and restaurants and allow your friends and family to do some of their own shopping or dining throughout the next few months. One of my favorite things to do is build a gift off of a gift card. For example, if you give someone a gift card to a local restaurant, include a bottle of wine from a local wine shop, a pretty pair of candles from a local gift shop, or even a couple sets of reusable utensils from an eco-friendly shop for an outdoor picnic. It could inspire your gift recipient to really create a date night at home.

It's hard to put together a truly comprehensive list of Lafayette-based businesses (because pregnancy brain is real and this year has knocked me sideways!) but you can peruse my recently updated guide to sustainable shopping in Acadiana as inspiration for your eco-friendly holiday shopping.

I hope everyone has a very safe, healthy and peaceful Thanksgiving this year!

Sustainable Maternity Style, Round Two

noreply@blogger.com (Caitlin) — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 04:25:00 +0000

It's hard to believe that as of this post, I am already 26 weeks pregnant with our second baby. It's been quite a roller coaster to this point, in many ways. And now it's blowing my mind as I realize I'm almost to my third trimester.

With a repeat pregnancy, it can be inherently easier to be more sustainable and less wasteful. Since we knew we would want to try for a second child, we kept a lot of baby and maternity items in storage, and it's been a relief to know we have almost everything we need.

I'll have another post on what we've saved for a second baby and what we are purchasing! Today, I'm talking maternity clothing and gear.

How this pregnancy compares

While I saved almost all of my maternity clothing from when I was pregnant two and a half years ago, the biggest difference this time is the change of seasons, as I'm due in February compared to September. I won't be wearing too many sundresses and shorts in my third trimester this time around!

I've learned what I like and don't like from last time and have adjusted accordingly. I'm not one to go crazy shopping for such a temporary season of life, so I've found many ways to minimize spending money on maternity items. In addition, knowing that this is my last pregnancy has helped cut down on frivolous shopping. Y'all, maternity clothing can get so expensive!

Make your existing clothing work

Once you start to show, it's extremely helpful to go through your closet and see which of your pieces may be bump-friendly and which are not. Save yourself some frustration by putting away the clothes you know you won't be wearing until after baby. It'll also help save you time when you get dressed.

Loose and flowy tops or dresses or longer sweaters work well to accommodate growing bumps.

I've also made do with the maternity clothes I saved from last time. I purchased a pair of maternity yoga pants last time because they were on sale and I was in the store, although they are not the greatest quality and not made of any kind of sustainable material. I don't love them, so I spent the first few months of this pregnancy hunting for a sustainable pair... with no luck.

I bought a new pair of compression-like maternity leggings off an Instagram ad recently and they didn't fit right, so I returned them. It made me realize the hunt really wasn't even worth it, being halfway through my pregnancy and only needing them for four more months. Although I don't love my existing yoga pants, they do the job, and I can pass them along or sell them when I'm done needing them.

Borrow or freecycle

Ask around to your friends and social media networks to see who might have some maternity clothing stored away that you can borrow for a few months.

I am grateful to have a good friend in my neighborhood who is close to my size and has two young children. We've gotten closer this year thanks to social distance walks with our kids during the stay-at-home phase. When I told her about my pregnancy, she generously loaned me her saved collection of maternity clothes, which has helped provide me with just enough fall and winter work-friendly and casual pieces.

The dress in the top photo of this post is one of those loaned items, and it is extremely comfortable, forgiving and season appropriate!

Shop secondhand

Almost all of the maternity clothes I bought while pregnant with Ariana were secondhand, either from my local Clothes Mentor or from ThredUP. Since then, I've learned Clothes Mentor stopped selling maternity clothes. I'm disappointed to not have a local secondhand option, although there are plenty of online outlets.

I decided I wanted to get a maternity dress for the holidays and any nicer events coming up (although at this rate, I might just be wearing it around the house) and browsed both Poshmark and ThredUP for a couple weeks for something that would fit my style. My current nice cool-weather dresses are overall not bump-friendly.

It helps to try a few different secondhand outlets, because you'll find a wider variety of options. In my search, I first tried Poshmark, but gave up quickly because all of the dresses I found were asking $50-$100, and I'm just not willing to spend that much on a secondhand maternity dress. (Although as a seller, you can earn more money through Poshmark compared to ThredUP.)

ThredUP certainly offers more affordable dresses, and I found one that works. Tip: Take your time and search a few times over a few days, because their inventory changes so frequently. You can favorite the dresses you like to keep tabs on them.

Shop sustainable

There are sustainable and ethical brands that offer maternity and nursing-friendly clothing and accessories as well.

Pact is one of my favorite stores for organic cotton basic pieces, and they sometimes stock maternity tops and leggings, but it comes and goes.

Boob Design is a Swedish-based company that uses eco-friendly materials in their nursing and maternity clothes. I have one of their nursing-friendly dresses that I'm actually looking forward to wearing again!

My friend Natalie over at Sustainably Chic wrote a guide over the summer about sustainable and ethical maternity clothing, so check that out as well!

The Good Trade also has a roundup of eight sustainable maternity/postpartum brands.

One of those brands, Isabella Oliver, even has a pre-loved section where you can shop secondhand pieces. It would be amazing for more brands to adopt this practice!

Shop new and sell, donate or pass along later

Another item that I saved from last time and didn't want to wear again was a secondhand pair of jeans. I donated them (they didn't sell on Poshmark) and treated myself to a new pair from H&M. It wasn't a really sustainable purchase, but I knew I would want to wear jeans I actually like. I've already gotten a lot of use out of them, and will keep wearing them during these cooler months. They're much more my style and feel like regular jeans (with a belly band!)

I've bought three other things brand new: a comfortable dress and top also from H&M, and a pregnancy support band from Amazon. I didn't feel like I needed a support band for my first pregnancy, but it has absolutely been a life saver this time. I am sure there are plenty for resale online, but I was getting to a point where I needed one to come in quickly!

And I'll be selling everything on Poshmark next spring, ha.

Even if I didn't buy everything secondhand, I'm wearing my new items often enough to be worth it.

Whether you're in your first pregnancy or not, if you're thinking about having more children, save as much as you can to rewear!

This outfit (one that has been on repeat many times) is a combination of my different tactics: I already had the kimono in my closet, the top is new from H&M and the pants are borrowed from a friend!

In the end, having a minimal maternity wardrobe helps to decrease your cost per wear, which makes buying clothing more worthwhile. Don't feel the pressure to buy a completely new wardrobe for just a few months of your life. Sure, it gets tiring wearing the same things over and over again, but you'll be back to your regular clothes soon enough.

How to Help Those Affected by Hurricane Laura

noreply@blogger.com (Caitlin) — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 19:02:00 +0000

(Originally published 9/11/20, last updated 9/15/20)

It's been two weeks since Hurricane Laura made its way across Louisiana, destroying Lake Charles and surrounding towns and parishes in the process.

This was the biggest storm that has hit Louisiana since I've become an adult and moved out on my own. It certainly brought a high level anxiety as none of us knew what to expect or how bad it would be for us here in Lafayette. As the storm came through in the middle of the night, we stayed up listening to the wind, but thankfully, Ariana slept through the whole thing.

I'm extremely grateful that Lafayette and my home were spared of major damage and we personally didn't lose power, but it's hard to see the majority of Southwest Louisiana so battered. In addition, many areas in Central Louisiana faced damage from the strong winds. I've heard from friends and colleagues that photos don't even do the damage in Lake Charles justice. Nearly every building in the city is damaged to some degree. Many compare the sight to what it looks like after a tornado passes through - except across a much larger area.

Photo via Second Harvest

So many people have stepped in to assist, from working around the clock to restore power and water, to cooking and distributing food, to distributing ice and water, to donating and distributing needed supplies and clothing.

The rebuilding process is well underway, and there are ways you can help even if you aren't nearby or in a position to provide manual labor.

Via Times Picayune

United Way of Acadiana

Donate supplies via United Way of Acadiana's Amazon wishlist.

United Way has also partnered with local startup Hampr to provide laundry services to displaced residents. Support that effort by donating here.

Photo via United Way of Acadiana

United Way of SWLA

Donate supplies via United Way of SWLA's Amazon wishlist.

The organization is keeping an updated list of supplies and materials needed for residents who are cleaning up and rebuilding. You can donate to their efforts at the bottom of the page.

Red Cross

Donate or volunteer through the Red Cross.

The Current

My friend April put together a comprehensive list of places where you can donate supplies in Lafayette for The Current. Check out her list if you want to donate goods rather than money.

Second Harvest food bank

The Second Harvest food bank has been collecting food donations in Lafayette and Elmwood and transporting them to Lake Charles. Visit their Facebook page for current information.

Operation BBQ Relief

Operation BBQ Relief is one of the nonprofit organizations currently deployed in Lake Charles providing meals to residents and first responders free of charge. Donate to support their efforts here.

Team Rubicon

Team Rubicon is a group of veteran volunteers who help communities recover and rebuild, often by providing manual labor. Donate to support their efforts here.

Louisiana Care Fund

This fund is administered by the Louisiana Hospital Association Research and Education Foundation and supports hospital workers in rebuilding. Donate here.

Acadian Companies Employee Disaster Relief Fund

Similar to the Care Fund, this fund is set up by Acadian Ambulance to support EMS personnel and Acadian employees who were impacted by the hurricane. Many first responders were on shift when the storm passed through and were away from their homes and families and continue to work as they rebuild. Donate here.

Resources for Lake Charles residents and volunteers

Lake Charles Memorial Hospital is keeping an updated list of resources on their social media, including where to pick up food, ice and water.

Cajun Navy

The Cajun Navy has been hard at work helping residents recover and rebuild. In a post on their Facebook page from September 9, they list specific donation items needed for residents whose homes are facing mold damage.

Follow the group's Facebook page for other ways to donate or volunteer.

The705

Lafayette-based organization The705 is collecting used laptops that will be cleaned up (with all personal information removed) and converted for use by displaced Calcasieu and Cameron Parish students who may not have a laptop for remote learning.

Donate your old laptops to EDC by September 30, 2020.

As I find more resources throughout the recovery from Hurricane Laura, I'll update this list. There's a long road ahead for Louisiana, but we have proven over the years that we can and will rebuild.

Local Restaurants That Use Plant-Based Packaging

noreply@blogger.com (Caitlin) — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 16:45:00 +0000

(Originally posted 7/16/2020, last updated 4/1/2022)

With almost every restaurant adapting to takeout and curbside pickup orders during the pandemic, single-use takeout containers, utensils, straws and napkins have definitely multiplied.

It is so important to continue to support local businesses during these times, especially restaurants that are struggling to keep their doors open. And ordering dinner from your favorite restaurant is a nice break from cooking once in awhile. (Even though I love to cook, I get burnt out on doing it as often as I have been, and look forward to treating the family to some restaurant food!)

So during Plastic Free July, I came up with a list of locally/regionally owned restaurants in Acadiana that use plant-based or plastic- and Styrofoam-free packaging. Not only are these some delicious restaurants, but you can also feel better knowing you aren't contributing to more plastic and Styrofoam waste.

A few notes:

No matter where you may order food from, always ask (or put it in the special notes section of your online order) the restaurant not to give you any plastic utensils, straws or napkins. You can also ask them not to put any condiment packets, especially if you have them at home. Another small way you can reduce is by not ordering drinks, as they'll almost always come in plastic or Styrofoam.

This list was compiled with feedback on my Facebook and Instagram - thank you to everyone who commented! I am sure there are more restaurants in the Acadiana area who use eco-friendly packaging. If you know of a restaurant that you don't see included, leave a comment or email me, and I'll update the list and the map.

If you're planning to order from a restaurant, check their Facebook page or website first to see what their current hours are. Things are changing almost daily, and some restaurants may be temporarily closed.


La Cuisine de Maman

Another Broken Egg Cafe

I discovered a few years back that Another Broken Egg uses Eco Products packaging when I needed a container for leftovers. We ordered from them last Mother's Day as well and enjoyed our brunch at home!

Brick and Spoon

According to the person who commented on my Facebook page, Brick and Spoon uses paper boxes for their takeout.

CENTRAL Pizza

The person who commented about CENTRAL and TULA Tacos on my Facebook page says, "It's a conscious choice for them - I spoke with one of the owners. He said it costs about ten cents more per package, and with restaurants' already slim margins, it's a big deal. He still thinks it's important!"

Emerge: An Artisan Juicery

Emerge is known for using glass jars for their juices, rather than plastic. They distribute juices to vendors around Acadiana, and you can order online. Emerge used to accept the empty glass jars back for sterilization and reuse, but I am not sure if they are still able to do so during this time.

Karma Collective

This is a great place to find local healthy food, drinks and desserts.

La Cuisine de Maman

The restaurant inside Vermilionville made the switch to takeout products made of bagasse, a compostable plant-based material, a few years back, and it's one of the many ways they've focused on sustainability over at Vermilionville.

Here's a blog post I did on the restaurant back in 2018.

Courtesy: La Cuisine de Maman

Market Eatz

Market Eatz is one of my favorite new local restaurants. The restaurant has a great atmosphere and very cozy outdoor dining space. When we picked up dinner recently, I learned that they use compostable containers and paper bags for their takeout orders!

The Northside Vegan

This is a fairly new pop-up restaurant in Lafayette, and although I haven't tried it yet, their food looks seriously delicious. Because there's no fixed location, I'm not able to add it to the map below, but if you follow their Facebook or Instagram accounts, you can see where they will be located each day. A bonus: The Northside Vegan is a Black-owned restaurant!

Courtesy: The Northside Vegan

Pamplona Tapas Bar

Pamplona has strived to reduce waste and recycle more over the past few years. I wrote a blog post on their efforts back in 2018.

Pop's Poboys

Pop's uses paper and cardboard boxes for takeout.

Scratch Farm Kitchen

Scratch began as a food truck before opening a permanent location in Downtown Lafayette. They focus on healthy food and locally sourced ingredients and they are delicious.

Spoonbill Watering Hole & Restaurant

Spoonbill is a fairly new restaurant in Downtown Lafayette, and they use Eco Products takeout containers and compostable plastic bags, in addition to compostable silverware. We finally ordered takeout from them recently, and I loved seeing the compostable food trays. We didn't get any utensils with our order, which I liked, since we were eating at home anyway. And I cannot tell you how delicious this chicken sandwich is!

Taco Sisters

I blogged about Taco Sisters' use of compostable containers in 2016, and they still use them, although since then, they added a midtown Lafayette location and closed their downtown one.

Taylormade EATS

Taylormade EATS is known for locally made kale chips that are sold in farmers markets and area Whole Foods stores. Taylor is now doing vegan plate lunch pop-ups on Sundays - follow the page on Instagram for her locations and times. Taylor says she travels to Baton Rouge to stock up on sustainable packaging and says it is worth the effort.

Tchoup's Midcity Smokehouse

This new barbecue restaurant opened fall 2020 in Lafayette, and it is amazing. The interior decor is absolutely gorgeous, but they offer easy takeout. We recently picked up dinner here, and the restaurant uses Eco Products for their takeout containers. The barbecue sauces come in small plastic containers that can be recycled. Everything came in a paper bag that I saved to reuse. You can request not to receive utensils or napkins through the online ordering special notes.

TULA Tacos + Amigos

TULA is owned by the same group who owns CENTRAL and they use plant-based containers for takeout.

Bonus listing!

McAlister's Deli

Although McAlister's Deli is a chain, an Instagram friend shared that at least the Lafayette location uses compostable packaging.

Plastic Free July

noreply@blogger.com (Caitlin) — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 21:09:00 +0000

Today kicks off the annual Plastic Free July movement, which aims for millions of people to be part of the solution to plastic pollution, enabling us to have cleaner streets and oceans and beautiful communities.

This year is the 10^th year for the movement that has now inspired over 250 million participants in 177 countries, according to Plastic Free July's Facebook page.

It’s not about being perfect (there is no failing with Plastic Free July) but rather starting by looking at the plastics in your life (look inside your bin, fridge or pantry) and choosing to refuse one single-use plastic.

I shared this in a blog post from 2018 about Plastic Free July:

Did you know that every piece of plastic that has ever been created still exists in some form on our Earth today? Despite recycling efforts, only 9% of that plastic ends up in new products.

Think about that, and think back on all of the single-use plastic you've used in the past. The toothbrushes you used as a child still exist, even if you threw them away 25 years ago. That Styrofoam takeout container from a restaurant 10 years ago is still around somewhere, whether it's in a landfill or somewhere out in nature. The thousands of straws you've used over the years are all still on this planet. Plastic doesn't biodegrade, it photodegrades, which means it breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, either in a landfill or out in the world as litter and pollution.

Here are some ways to be plastic-free this month (and after that!):

Use reusable shopping bags
Use reusable produce bags
Shop at your local farmer's market if it's open, and skip the plastic bags (but don't forget your mask)
Use reusable straws, or skip the straw altogether
Make coffee at home
Use glass food storage containers instead of Ziploc bags and plastic wrap
Consider purchasing items in cardboard packaging rather than plastic packaging (like toothbrushes)
Buy canned drinks instead of bottled
Avoid products with plastic microbeads (like face washes)
Ask a restaurant not to include plastic utensils with your to-go order (although plastic and Styrofoam food containers are being used more widely as restaurants do more takeout orders, it is so important to support our businesses. Order your food, but skip the unnecessary extras.)

I'll be sharing more about my favorite ways to be plastic-free throughout the month, with a focus on ways that don't have to cost extra money.

I'd love to see some of the plastic-free swaps you make this month!

Guide to Shopping Sustainably in Acadiana

noreply@blogger.com (Caitlin) — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 16:25:00 +0000

Over my years of blogging, one of the things I've enjoyed most is seeing more businesses come to Acadiana that focus on sustainability in some way. It's encouraging to see more demand for secondhand goods, locally made goods and waste-free shopping!

So today, I'm rounding up a guide to shopping sustainably in Acadiana! Whether you live here or plan to visit when it's more safe, this can help you find a place to start if eco-friendly shops are something you value. Many of these businesses I've written about before, so click on their name to read the post! Scroll to the end to find a custom Google map as well.

Note: This list doesn't include restaurants, as I'm working on putting together a separate guide that highlights local restaurants that use compostable takeout products and/or source local ingredients.

Guide to Shopping Sustainably in Acadiana

(updated 11/24/20)

SugarWolf Outdoor Exchange

Sans Paquet

Hub City Cycles

I am combining these three shops because they share a space in Downtown Lafayette, making it a great one-stop eco-friendly shop. SugarWolf Outdoor Exchange is a new consignment store for outdoor gear and clothing, Sans Paquet is a package-free shop where you can find beauty goods and household items, all plastic-free. You are encouraged to bring your own containers. And Hub City Cycles, which recently moved from their previous location downtown, sells and repairs bicycles - an essential for eco-friendly transportation and exercise.

Deuxieme Vie Creative

This newer shop downtown is a great place for secondhand arts and crafts materials, and throughout the pandemic, they've been sharing Facebook Live craft hours. They also used to open on Saturday evenings during ArtWalk and will resume once ArtWalks are on the calendar again.

Lilou

Lilou is a new addition to Downtown Lafayette and calls itself a concept thrift shop. The unique space has secondhand and vintage clothing and coffee offerings. You can grab a cup of coffee or purchase coffee beans in bulk. The goal for the shop is to have a minimal environmental impact.

Clothing Loft

Clothing Loft is a locally owned consignment shop for women's and kid's clothing and shoes. I've written about them before because they're a great option for eco-friendly formal gowns, although many formal events are on hold right now.

Clothes Mentor

Once Upon a Child

Plato's Closet

While these three stores are national brands, they're locally owned franchises and great sources of clothing and accessories for babies, children, teenagers and adults.

Baby & Me Boutique

ARC of Acadiana

LARC Beads n More

Habitat for Humanity ReStore

All of these local resale shops benefit nonprofit organizations, so you can give back while you shop!

Hub City Farmer's Market

Lafayette Farmers and Artisans Market

Earthshare Gardens

For instant shopping from local farmers and vendors, visit a local farmers market! I included the two in Lafayette here, but you can find a list for Louisiana here.

Earthshare Gardens is not a farmers market, but it is a community garden that you can become a part of each season and enjoy the fresh produce!

Vermilionville

St. Landry Parish Visitor Center

While these are not strictly shops, they are great attractions in the area that spotlight Acadian living and eco-friendly principles. Vermilionville is operated by Bayou Vermilion District, and they do have a gift shop where you can find unique Acadiana goods.

Tee Tiny House

When you're done with shopping, spend a night or two in a custom-built tiny house north of Lafayette!

Lafayette Public Library

Always an excellent resource for books, movies and magazines! Friends of the Library typically holds a used book sale each year, although they haven't said anything about the Fall sale yet.

Bonus: No Waste Lafayette

No Waste Lafayette is a local organization focused on zero-waste efforts. They have held many Fix It Cafes, which are such a great resource for the community. There are none currently on the schedule, but the group is still holding virtual monthly meetings. If you'd like to learn more or get involved, join in on a meeting!

If there's a shop that I've missed, let me know in the comments and I'll update the guide!

Our Night in a Tiny House

noreply@blogger.com (Caitlin) — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 20:30:00 +0000

My husband and I have imagined for years what it might be like to live in a tiny house. We follow tiny home accounts on Instagram and have chats about what features we would want in our ideal tiny home. Mind you, most of this was before we had a baby.

Although I know that we won't be trading our home for a tiny home anytime soon (maybe once we're empty nesters and/or retired), we have still been curious about what it would be like to have one.

A couple years back, I introduced y'all to Tee Tiny Houses, an Acadiana-based tiny house builder, and gave y'all a tour of their first construction. Since then, they have turned the home into an AirBNB located in Sunset, Louisiana.

The owner, Cherie, and manager, Jamie, were so kind to let us spend a night at the home to check it out and see what it's like. We made our plans and took a one-night staycation not long before Coronavirus shut everything down and our governor implemented a stay-at-home order. Looking back, it really was nice to have a night out before many, many nights in.

The house is located conveniently near the interstate, but is set off on a piece of land that makes it feel much further away.

It's a tiny house on wheels, but has been anchored to a concrete slab, so it feels more permanent. There's another tiny home on the property (with spaces for more) and a large community gazebo being constructed. While we were there, the weather was impeccable, with a warm sunset, and a foggy, ethereal sunrise the next morning.

The extra touches really made our stay special. Even though our stay was complimentary, I felt like we were treated as a regular visitor. Our name was on the letterboard welcome sign over the fridge, there was a bottle of wine on the kitchen counter and water and tea in the fridge, and there were toiletries in the bathroom that would have covered us if we had forgotten anything at home.

What I learned from our night in the tiny house

I enjoy the simplicity of not having as much space to maintain. If we had stayed a few more nights, the home would have been very easy to keep clean and tidy.

Even though there's less space, you don't sacrifice on the amenities. I love this tiny house because it has a full-size shower and conventional toilet. There's a four-burner stove, microwave and large fridge, although no oven or dishwasher. We brought food from home, and I cooked dinner and heated up breakfast the next morning. I could see the kitchen being very functional for longer stays. There's a peninsula that swivels up for extra counter space.

The storage is impressive. From the tall closet between the bathroom and couch to the cabinets and drawers under the stairs, the space is maximized for storage. The home was originally built to accommodate a combined washer/dryer next to the kitchen, but that space is now an open cabinet.

It's energy efficient, but still extremely comfortable. The air conditioner in the home works very well, and there's a ceiling fan that helps circulate the air. We loved the remote control that we could take to the loft, so we wouldn't have to go up and down the stairs to adjust anything.

The bed in the loft is pretty damn comfortable. The home has a queen size mattress and was very comfortable for our stay. We brought an iPad and watched a movie after our daughter went to sleep in her Pack and Play downstairs.

The stairs are definitely not toddler-friendly. The listing does note that the home is not suitable for children or infants, and pets are not allowed. We chose to bring Ariana so we could have a family weekend, so to accommodate, we blocked off the stairs using our luggage and ice chest. It's not exactly photo-friendly, but safety comes first. We brought some of her favorite toys and let her watch a couple episodes of her favorite show that we had downloaded on our iPad, since the home does not have WiFi.

I don't think I could live in one full-time, at least not with children. This home is 240 square feet, which is comfortable for short-term stays or a vacation home. If it were just me, or just me and my husband, it would be much more feasible for longer-term living. What I do think is perfect is having a home like this as a lake house or a camp. I could absolutely see my family making special memories in a tiny vacation home, and hope that one day our future will allow for that.

After we checked out of the tiny house, we kept our staycation going by driving into Arnaudville and having breakfast at the Little Big Cup, a quaint restaurant on the banks of a bayou that's known for its buffet. It's been on our restaurant bucket list for awhile now, and we were excited to finally visit. The weather was perfect and we left completely stuffed.

Now that we've been at home for so long, I look back on this staycation with extra fond memories, and I look forward to being able to do something like it again. Getting to stay in this tiny house for a night was a very fun, unique and memorable experience. In addition to it being our one night away from home in the past few months, that was also the last weekend we dined out at a restaurant.

When travel and activity restrictions are lifted again in Louisiana, I absolutely encourage you to make plans to spend a night or weekend out at the Tee Tiny House. It's a very affordable rate and you'll enjoy your stay for sure. Take a solo trip, celebrate a romantic anniversary, or catch up with a friend!

Look, if you need some time away from your family post-quarantine, go ahead and book yourself a night or two. There's no judging!

Earth Day at Home

noreply@blogger.com (Caitlin) — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 19:01:00 +0000

Happy Earth Day, everyone! This year marks the 50^th anniversary of the movement, and the celebration is going digital. I'm celebrating at home and on social media, and it's been a welcome change of pace to see my news feeds filled with photos of nature and graphics that feature the environment.

I kicked off the day with coffee in my favorite mug, and spent the morning working from my living room. For our lunch break, Ariana and I went for a neighborhood walk, where we enjoyed some fresh air and sunshine, and I picked up some litter that most definitely would have gotten blown around in today's strong winds.

This is also Keep Louisiana Beautiful's #LoveTheBoot challenge for today!

Another way we're low-key celebrating is by wearing secondhand outfits. Ariana's shirt here is a hand-me-down, and although this photo is from February, she's wearing it today too. Her yellow pants below are also secondhand. I'm currently wearing a Go Green shirt from Animal Kingdom in Disney World with gray secondhand shorts.

I pulled these photos to use for the #LoveTheBoot campaign on social media. They're a nice reminder of nature's beauty, a fun memory of a weekend away earlier this year and inspiration that we'll one day get to travel again. I'm definitely missing some water views!

This got me thinking that one way we can each celebrate Earth Day is to work on a post-quarantine bucket list. What are the things you want to do or places you want to go later this year when it's safe to do so and things are open again?

How are you planning to celebrate Earth Day?

Love the Boot Week

noreply@blogger.com (Caitlin) — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 18:15:00 +0000

We have officially made it to Love the Boot Week! Spearheaded by Keep Louisiana Beautiful and kicking off today, the week is all about celebrating both the state of Louisiana and our environment.

A big part of Love the Boot Week involved cleanup and beautification events planned throughout the state. Following the state's stay-at-home orders and health guidelines, all physical events were canceled.

However, Keep Louisiana Beautiful is keeping the spirit of the week alive and has planned challenges and virtual activities to help everyone feel connected to one another and our communities.

There are many ways you can celebrate Love the Boot Week and Earth Day from the safety of your home and through social media - I share some of them in my column for the Times of Acadiana!

“Love the Boot Week is Louisiana’s unique way to engage all citizens to show love and respect for their home, city, parish and state,” said Casey Rudolph, development and communications manager for Keep Louisiana Beautiful.

The organization has shared their first challenge for the week on their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: Share a photo of your favorite reusable drink bottle to spotlight the importance of reusable versus disposable bottles! Use the hashtag #LoveTheBoot to participate when you post.

There will be a new challenge each day, so follow Keep Louisiana Beautiful to find out what they are!

Since we've been home for the past month, using reusable bottles and cups has been extremely easy. We've been going for near-daily walks and bike rides, and I always make sure to bring a reusable bottle for both Ariana and me. We enjoy the sunshine and fresh air, and I've picked up litter a few times as I'd come across it.

Last week, we joined a neighbor friend for a social distancing wine and walk. We stick to opposite sides of the road, but get to chat and fit in 30 minutes of exercise with our children. It's all fun and games until your toddler insists on standing up in a moving wagon!

CHEERS to a positive Monday and a great Earth Day this week! I hope you all stay safe and keep your head up.

Sip Sustainably with Reusable Bamboo Straws

noreply@blogger.com (Caitlin) — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 21:13:00 +0000

I've been on the reusable straw train for a few years now, after investing in a set of stainless steel straws. I've been able to dramatically reduce my straw usage and get in the habit of requesting "no straw, please" when out at restaurants.

Reusable drinking straws are a very simple way to help stop the plastic pollution problem.

Stainless steel straws are pretty great overall, but they aren't the only kind of reusable straw available. Straws are also commonly made of glass and bamboo.

I recently got to try a few bamboo straws as a gift from The Other Straw, an Australian company that sells the straws both retail and wholesale.

Overall, I really enjoy using bamboo straws over stainless steel. If you have sensitive teeth, bamboo is a much better option, because the straw stays room temperature when the drink is cold.

I also find they are safer for younger children to use, which is especially great when you have a child who just wants a sip of your own drink!

They should be cleaned by hand, which is easy with a cleaning brush, and left to air dry.

The straws I have are the original size, which are 10mm in diameter, but they also offer cocktail (7mm) and smoothie (12mm) options. You can start small with a two pack that comes with a carry case and cleaning brush made of coconut fiber, or get a five- or 10-pack.

One thing I love about The Other Straw is that they offer wholesale and bulk options with the ability to put your own logo on the straw. They are able to offer a low minimum quantity, which is great if you want to purchase custom straws for an event or party (after we're all out of quarantine, of course!)

"Since launching in 2018, we’ve sold over 50,000 reusable bamboo straws and prevented more than four million plastic straws from entering our landfills, natural environments and oceans. We’ve also educated over 12,000 businesses and individuals on the impacts of single-use plastics and supported over 45 beach cleanups," says The Other Straw co-founder Jamie Lee Kay.

The company grows organic bamboo, free from chemicals, pesticides and nasties. They also send out online orders and wholesale bamboo straws are using carbon-neutral methods and zero waste. All packaging materials contain 100% recycled and/or post-consumer materials.

Check out The Other Straw online and follow them on Facebook and Instagram!

Earth Month 2020 kicks off today!

noreply@blogger.com (Caitlin) — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 22:23:00 +0000

This Earth Month is certainly unlike any other in its history. It's a strange time, with all of us sheltering at home for the greater good.

Although Louisiana remains under a stay at home order through April 30, much of the country is under the same restrictions, and Earth Month events are canceled, it's still possible to celebrate the spirit of Earth Month.

With the quarantine and being home, we've remained as eco-friendly as usual: making sure not to waste our paper goods, using reusable dinnerware and coffee cups, recycling, not wasting food and conserving energy as much as possible, although we're having to run the air conditioner more since we are home.

I'm washing my cloth shopping bags extra to make sure they are clean. We've been saving on fuel since we don't need to drive anywhere.

Appreciate the nature around you

I wrote about this a couple weeks back, but especially during Earth Month, get outside in your yard or nearest safe green space. Even the smallest bits of nature are providing a lot of comfort right now. Take a break from work and family pressures and help your mental health by getting outside.

We're still going outside daily, either playing in the yard, going for a walk or going for a bike ride as a family, staying away from any neighbors who are also out. I'm grateful that we've had overall great weather these past few weeks, and extra grateful for the cool front that passed through today!

While we can't hug our loved ones, we CAN still hug trees! I most definitely am teaching my daughter about being a treehugger.

Love the Boot

This year, Keep Louisiana Beautiful launched Love the Boot Week for April 20-26. The original intent was to engage all citizens to show love and respect for their home, city, parish and state. In communities throughout Louisiana, thousands of citizens will organize or volunteer for events to clean up and beautify public spaces.

All cleanup and beautification events have been canceled, but Keep Louisiana Beautiful has a list of 21 ways you can still Love the Boot while staying at home.

Share any photos or posts on social media with the hashtag #LoveTheBoot and join in the fun that way!

"Travel" on social media

Over the weekend, I saw a post going around Facebook about sharing a photo you've taken from somewhere in the world with the goal of traveling around the world virtually. I don't join in most Facebook things like that, but this was a fun one to participate in. Why not use Earth Month to share some of our favorite nature photos online and really put a spotlight on the planet and nature?

Practice conservation

Being at home is a great time to put conservation measures into practice. Make your groceries and toiletries last as long as you can, especially while being home is the safest place. Use rainwater for your plants. Turn off lights when you don't need them.

Hang in there

I know it goes without saying, but hang in there! Don't stress to accomplish a lofty to-do list right now. I'm surely feeling the survival mode vibes, and there's nothing wrong with that. Prioritize your sanity and take a deep breath when you need to. My top ways to attempt to stay sane are to stop reading every news article (you seriously don't need by-the-minute updates!) and get off social media every once in awhile.

Happy Earth Month everyone! I'll be sharing some of my favorite nature photos, both in Louisiana and from travels on social media this month, as I balance out every day survival.

Earth Hour 2020

noreply@blogger.com (Caitlin) — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 02:54:00 +0000

With everything that's been canceled this spring, it's comforting to know that one event is still going on - Earth Hour!

Started by WWF and partners as a symbolic lights-out event in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour is now one of the world's largest grassroots movements for the environment, engaging millions of people in more than 180 countries and territories. It has become a catalyst for positive environmental impact, driving major legislative changes by harnessing the power of the people.

Many physical community events were planned to honor Earth Hour and have been canceled, but every year, millions of people participate at home. It's the perfect event for this crazy time. On Saturday, March 28, at 8:30 p.m. in your own time zone, turn out the lights for the hour.

Since we're already all staying home, might as well turn off the lights! The Earth Hour website even has 20 ideas of what you can do during that hour.

Other ways you can participate in Earth Hour:

Tune in to a livestream
Sign the 'Voice for the Planet' petition
Share your on-the-night Earth Hour experience - Use the hashtag #EarthHour and tag @EarthHour on Facebook and Twitter and @EarthHourOfficial on Instagram
Participate in online challenges and contests
Learn more about the issues and solutions
Learn how to live more sustainably
Share your stories

How will you celebrate Earth Hour?

Keeping Somewhat Calm

noreply@blogger.com (Caitlin) — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 17:00:00 +0000

In a culture that prides itself on how busy we always are, or how many things are on our calendar, it surely feels weird to be told to stop and stay put for the next few weeks and months. It's weird to see our calendars emptied all of a sudden, although it is for the greater good.

Every day is uncertain, and like everyone, my anxiety is running high as well. I'm glad that my daughter is young enough to not understand what is going on, although I know she can sense the heightened feelings of worry.

As an eco-friendly blogger, it's sad to see all of these Earth Month events being canceled or postponed, but it doesn't mean we can't love the our planet all the same. I'll be looking forward to celebrating Earth Month virtually this year! Not to mention, Earth Hour is scheduled for Saturday, March 28, and can still be celebrated while everyone is social distancing!

In times like this, single-use items are an absolute necessity. For the sake of cleanliness and sanitization, it makes sense to rely on these items. This is what single-use should be for, not for simple convenience. It's the same reason I think bottled water is perfectly acceptable in times of disasters, like following a hurricane or other natural disaster. It's there to help and be a safe way to get a necessity.

While it's absolutely vital to give yourself grace and allow yourself some flexibility during this time, there are some ways you can incorporate eco-friendly practices while maintaining cleanliness, social distancing and self-care.

Conserve your resources

In a world where toilet paper is being hoarded like diamonds or gold, it's important to remember conservation practices. Make your toilet paper and paper towel stash last as long as possible by not going overboard when you use them. And maybe keep the TP away from toddlers and pets who like to unravel the whole roll! If you do run out of TP and can't get more, just saying, an old raggedy T-shirt cut into squares will work in a pinch.

Don’t waste food

You worked hard and paid good money to get those groceries - don't let them go to waste! Make sure to eat any leftovers or perishables before opening any canned or frozen goods. Check your expiration dates as well.

Reuse where you can and save the single-use for when you need it

Especially while at home, and provided you have the ability to wash things, choose reusable - like using a kitchen towel rather than a paper towel when washing your hands. Set out one towel for each member of the family.

Save water

While you're washing your hands for at least 20 seconds, turn the faucet off. If everyone has the faucet on while washing, can you imagine the amount of water being wasted?

Get outside

Social distancing is so important right now, but it doesn't mean you have to stay holed up inside your home. Go outside, even just to your backyard. With the time change, we have been spending so much time in our yard, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to be outside in the fresh air, where my daughter can run around and enjoy herself safely. You can also go to a local park (just keep to yourself), ride your bike, plant flowers or trees at home, or clean up trash in your neighborhood (gloves of course recommended, or use a trash picker if you have one.)

Find the positives

They're still out there! Like I mentioned earlier, I'm grateful for the time we've spent outside lately. This past weekend, I was watching my daughter run around and play with sticks, and I felt a sense of calm and appreciation for our house with a large yard.

I'm also grateful that my husband and I didn't get rid of our deep freezer, like we've been talking about doing for a few months. It's certainly being put to use.

I think all of us have experienced really rough moments and hard thoughts during the past few weeks. I was feeling a lot of worry yesterday morning, but after talking to a few people and seeing that my fear was not real in that moment, I was able to release it.

My thoughts are with everyone right now. Be kind to others. Even if you personally feel less concerned, respect those who are extremely worried and taking extra precautions. Now more than ever, we're all in this together.

Starting Your Zero-Waste Journey with Curated Bundles

noreply@blogger.com (Caitlin) — Sat, 22 Feb 2020 03:33:00 +0000

If you haven't made a transition toward being zero-waste, the idea can be extremely daunting. However, the goal isn't to become completely zero-waste in one day. Instead, look at it as making a few small changes at a time.

Break it down and make it a little easier on yourself. Maybe commit to making changes in one room of your house each month. Look around your kitchen and see what single-use items you can swap out, like using cloth towels rather than paper towels, or silicone baking mats rather than aluminum foil or parchment paper.

Starting off can be even easier with some starter packs from EarthHero! Earlier this year, they shared a collection of sustainable starter packs, and it's a helpful way for you to take that first step. They curated a few bundles, a few gift boxes and a few collections, ranging from Stasher bags to nontoxic laundry detergent to a very cute sustainable guru bundle.

Rather than picking each item individually, with a bundle you can make one click and be on your way toward being more earth-friendly. EarthHero is one of my favorite resources, because they make it easy to find what you're looking for, and everything is made by eco-friendly and sustainably minded brands.

Even beyond the curated starter packs and bundles, EarthHero has tons of sustainable items for every member of the family and every room of the house. Last year, I added some eco-friendly toys to my daughter's Easter basket, and I've gotten everything from clothes for me to household items to baby accessories.

I love that EarthHero goes beyond just carrying eco-friendly products, and they stay committed to their mission through the shipping process. Shipping is carbon neutral, offset through CarbonFund.org. Their zero-waste office environment utilizes 100% recycled paper and refillable dry-erase markers, among other things. In addition, they partner with 1% for the Planet to donate 1% of their sales towards approved nonprofit initiatives that give back to the environment.

So now that you're ready to get started, head on over to EarthHero!

As you shop the site, get 10% off your EarthHero purchase by using my code, ECOCAJUN!

Secondhand Gear with SugarWolf Outdoor Exchange

noreply@blogger.com (Caitlin) — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 19:52:00 +0000

SugarWolf Outdoor Exchange is not a typical retailer — they’re a brand-new, locally-owned consignment store that accepts and sells outdoor adventure gear and apparel.

If you’ve got unused gear sitting at home taking up space, now is the perfect time to clean out and make a little extra cash in the process.

SugarWolf expects to open in downtown Lafayette in early March, but they are holding three advance public consignment days THIS WEEKEND to help with stocking the store:

Friday, Jan. 31, from 2-6 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 1, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 2, from 12-3 p.m.

Bring your gear to Hub City Cycles, 208 E. Vermilion Street in downtown Lafayette, and bring your used gear for SugarWolf staff to review. If your items are accepted for consignment before the store opens, you will earn an extra 10% cash or store credit on the sale of your items.

Mardi Gras Ballin on a Budget

noreply@blogger.com (Caitlin) — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 19:10:00 +0000

Now that Mardi Gras season is in full swing, Mardi Gras balls seem to be a weekly occurrence.

Lafayette's Krewe of Rio kicked the festivities off this past weekend with their ball. I'm not a regular ball-goer, but I know it's a lot of fun to find the perfect formal gown for the occasion.

However, finding a gown can be sometimes difficult or expensive...and it doesn't have to be!

Shopping sustainably can help save you money and save a dress from being worn once and stashed in the back of your closet for years. Here are some options if you're shopping for a Mardi Gras ball, or any upcoming formal, including prom! These also work for finding accessories and shoes to complete your outfit.

Rent the Runway

Rent the Runway is my go-to source when I have an out-of-the-ordinary occasion coming up. When my husband and I attended a ball three years ago, I found this gold sequin Badgley Mischka gown with a rental cost a fraction of the retail price. This dress was higher than my usual rental budget, but I'm also not usually renting formal gowns.

When I rented this dress, Rent the Runway's customer service was extremely helpful in sending me a third size when the original two sizes didn't work out for me. It wasn't the most eco-friendly option to have a dress overnighted, but it was better than losing out altogether and being without a dress days before the ball.

It's best to shop Rent the Runway early, now that it's one of the most popular shopping spots for Mardi Gras, but even closer to the event date, you can find a dress that works for your budget.

Local consignment shops

The Clothing Loft in Lafayette has a formal gown section, and although I've never shopped it, I've found some great cocktail and party dresses there. I feel like this is a fun hidden gem in Lafayette, and it may still have a great selection of dresses and accessories. With many designer names, the price tag can be a little higher, but you're still getting a great deal on a secondhand dress.

Clothes Mentor is another secondhand shop that has a selection of formal gowns at great prices.

Goodwill

While each Goodwill retail store carries slightly different items based on their donations, at least some stores in the region carry formal gowns. If you're interested in thrifting at Goodwill, give the store a call first to confirm they have gowns available. This is a great budget-friendly option.

Friend/relative closets

One of my friends attended the Krewe of Rio ball this past weekend, and last week, shared that she hadn't found a dress yet. She ended up finding a fabulous and classic dress in one of the best places - her sister's closet. Borrowing from a relative or friend's closet is awesome because it's almost always free, and you can return the dress so it doesn't sit in your closet.

I've borrowed cocktail dresses from friends for weddings before and it's one of my favorite eco-friendly options.

If you do borrow from a friend or relative, be courteous and have the dress cleaned before returning it. Check out this blog post I did on GreenEarth Cleaning and find an affiliated dry cleaner near you!

Facebook

Facebook Marketplace and your friend feed can both be great resources to find a secondhand gown. Every year, I see a lot of friends posting that they're in search of a gown in a particular size, and their friends will come through with store recommendations or offers from their own closets. The Marketplace has plenty of dresses for sale, and the bonus is that you can pick it up locally.

Reuse bridesmaid gowns

Bridesmaid gowns are notorious for only being worn once, but they can make great options for formal events. Break out that dress from a wedding you were in a few years back and accessorize it to work for Mardi Gras.

The Lafayette Mom even has a post today from a local mom about how she's reworn a convertible bridesmaid dress for numerous Mardi Gras balls over the past few years. A great eco-friendly and thrifty way to go.

If you've got dresses in the back of your closet that you no longer wear, help complete the loop and donate or sell them so others can wear them!

2020 Resolutions

noreply@blogger.com (Caitlin) — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 20:56:00 +0000

I'm seriously looking forward to this new year.

2019 threw me for more of a loop than I expected, and I'm hoping that I can let go a little and move forward feeling stronger than before.

These are some of the things I would like to pursue more...not necessarily accomplish them, but at least try!

Simplifying

At home

I know I say it every year, but I'm in the mood to declutter our house in a big way. We do a great job of finding items to get rid of, but get hung up on moving them out of the house and to the proper donation centers. This year, my goal will be for us to declutter our guest bedroom once and for all. The next step would be to maintain it, and not keep bringing items in.

Email inbox

Every so often, I look at my inbox, see all of the marketing emails that have collected, and then delete them without even opening them. Now is a great time to simply unsubscribe from the email lists that I don't feel compelled to read anymore and declutter my email.

Get my organizational system together

One of my big struggles in 2019 was staying organized and on top of my things. Mom Brain is completely real, and it's way too easy to feel too spread thin all the time. I've been slowly figuring out ways to keep myself organized, from using Trello for batching my work tasks, to continuing using Todoist for personal and blog tasks.

I'm getting better at setting deadlines or notification times on my tasks or notes-to-myself so that I'll be reminded when I need to do something. And I'm working on scheduling everything on my calendars so that I have a complete view of what my schedule looks like. I'm staying almost completely paperless as well, so that everything is on my phone and/or synced to my computer.

One thing I started a couple months back that is starting to work and become a habit is building out our weekly menu before my weekly grocery trip. If I at least have an idea of what to fix each week, I'm not stuck every Sunday to figure out meals and make my grocery list. It's especially helpful now that Ari eats regular food, so I can stay organized and also know what to pack for daycare.

Wellness

Prioritizing workouts on calendar

I feel like a broken record on this one, but last year was awful in terms of getting back to my exercising. Beyond almost-regular walks during the day, I feel like I only went to about 10 yoga classes. I'm not motivated to exercise at home, since there are a thousand other things I could be doing there. It kind of goes hand-in-hand with my organizational goal, but I plan to book my workout times on my calendar so that I won't let the time slip away and forget to go to the gym.

Meditate regularly

I'm a fan of meditating and have found it effective with Headspace. In my final trimester, I think I hit a 61 day meditation streak...and in 2019 I don't think my streak ever went past two days. Getting back into a meditation rhythm, even if it's a short two-minute breathing exercise, will help me tremendously.

Blogging

Write more and expand my topics

Now that I've been blogging for nearly eight years, I've been feeling the writer's block hard, especially since having a baby. I'm working on ideas for new content and finding new things to write about that still fit within my eco-friendly niche.

Is there something you want to learn more about or want me to write about? Let me know!

Explore different creative outlets

I'd love to expand my blog posts a little beyond writing and photos, and I'm excited to play around with more graphics, photography and maybe music playlists...things that will help make the site more interactive for you!

Hobbies

Lettering/calligraphy

I'm not sure why, but I've been feeling drawn to learning lettering and calligraphy. Maybe it's because I'm currently awful at it and would enjoy the creative outlet. I'm accepting any recommendations on books or apps that help teach you!

Activities with Ariana

I can't wait to bring Ariana to get a library card and start checking out books that she can interact with (under supervision, because she's kind of a Destructo).

We would also love to go camping together, even though that might be better when she's a little older.

Especially after the time changes in March, we'll incorporate family bike rides into our free time more often.

Maybe this is a lofty list to start with, and I don't expect to accomplish everything by December, but I'm at least hoping this will help me stay inspired. Here's to a fresh start to the 20s!

Eco Cajun

2022 Thankfulness

A refresh for Eco Cajun

Green Around Acadiana: Backyard Sapphire

Back to Me

Lafayette's first Zero Waste Week!

Fresh Compost with Worm Lady Recycles

Benefits of using worm compost products

Items that can be recycled for composting

Items NOT accepted for recycling

Drop-off locations (Drop off as you please; contact-free!)

Promotion!

Contact/Visit

Prepping for a Second Baby - the Perks of Saved Items, Hand-Me-Downs and Secondhand Gear

Tiptoeing into 2021

Tips for Holiday Shopping This Year

Sustainable Maternity Style, Round Two

How this pregnancy compares

Make your existing clothing work

Borrow or freecycle

Shop secondhand

Shop sustainable

Shop new and sell, donate or pass along later

How to Help Those Affected by Hurricane Laura

United Way of Acadiana

United Way of SWLA

Red Cross

The Current

Second Harvest food bank

Operation BBQ Relief

Team Rubicon

Louisiana Care Fund

Acadian Companies Employee Disaster Relief Fund

Resources for Lake Charles residents and volunteers

Cajun Navy

The705

Local Restaurants That Use Plant-Based Packaging

A few notes:

Bonus listing!

Plastic Free July

Guide to Shopping Sustainably in Acadiana

Guide to Shopping Sustainably in Acadiana

Hub City Cycles

Clothes Mentor

Once Upon a Child

Plato's Closet

Baby & Me Boutique

ARC of Acadiana

Hub City Farmer's Market

Lafayette Farmers and Artisans Market

Our Night in a Tiny House

What I learned from our night in the tiny house

Earth Day at Home

Love the Boot Week

Sip Sustainably with Reusable Bamboo Straws

Earth Month 2020 kicks off today!

Appreciate the nature around you

Love the Boot

"Travel" on social media

Practice conservation

Hang in there

Earth Hour 2020

Keeping Somewhat Calm

Conserve your resources

Don’t waste food

Reuse where you can and save the single-use for when you need it

Save water

Get outside

Find the positives

Starting Your Zero-Waste Journey with Curated Bundles

Secondhand Gear with SugarWolf Outdoor Exchange

GO

ONLINE

Mardi Gras Ballin on a Budget

Rent the Runway

Local consignment shops

Goodwill

Friend/relative closets

Facebook

Reuse bridesmaid gowns