General
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How plastic enters our lives and practical ways to reduce it
Years ago, I did a big plastic purge. I cleared out containers, swapped materials, and felt confident that I had reduced the amount of plastic in our home. But lately, I’ve noticed some of it creeping back in. As life got busier, convenience started to take over. Kids grew, routines changed, and plastic slowly found its way back — not always as bags or bottles, but as wrappers, lids, toys, and everyday items I hadn’t questioned in a long time. Going against the grain — like trying to find food without plastic when almost everything is packaged in it — takes time, energy, and often extra money. And for a…
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Looking Back at our 2025 Blogging Year
This January has been not only full of reflection but also looking ahead towards what 2026 will hold. In the moments of reflection, we are taking some time to pause, reflect, and appreciate the journey this blog has taken over the past year. Our 2025 Year of Blogging 2025 held a big milestone for us–we had our five year anniversary of creating A Sustainably Simple Life! What a journey it has been from coming up with an idea in Krista’s living room to having tens of thousands of people reading what we are writing. Last year we had over 22,300 visitors to our blog, which is humbling! It is also…
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4 Sustainability lessons we can learn from past generations
Economic uncertainty is not new. During the 1930s and 1940s millions of people were forced to drastically change how they lived, consumed, and survived due to the Great Depression and World War II. I recently lost my grandmother and, of course, have been thinking back over time spent with her over the years. It’s interesting to note how many of the careful and frugal habits she developed during challenging times in her life align with modern sustainable living principles. As we continue to face new economic, environmental, and social challenges, I find it comforting to turn to the past for sustainability lessons that provide inspiration on how to respond to…
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Looking Back at our 2024 Blogging Year
The beginning of a new year is a natural time for reflection. A new year marks the passing of time, a fresh start. With all of my health challenges this last year, I’ve been in quite a reflective mood just in general. So as the new year starts, I thought I’d take a look back at our 2024 year of blogging. Our 2024 Year of Blogging This blogging reflection generally happens often, but the actually putting it down on paper seems to happen every two years. The last time I made a post like this it was about our 2022 blogging year. In a way these posts feel a bit…
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7 Ways to be an Eco-Friendly Pet Owner
This year my family and I adopted a new pet family member, picture below! We love the fun, entertainment, and companionship of having a pet, but having a pet also comes with an environmental footprint. We lost our last cat in 2019 and starting the journey with our new pet has had me thinking about ways to incorporate sustainable practices into our decisions. From pet food production to waste management, our furry (or not furry!) friends’ habits can impact the planet. However, with conscious choices, we can create more sustainable lifestyles for us and our pets! Here are some practical eco-friendly tips for pet owners looking to reduce their carbon…
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Behind the Blog: Introducing Krista
Krista and I have been writing this little sustainability blog for three years now and it’s a project we are so proud of. In all of the things we talk about, though, ourselves is rarely one of them. That’s why I thought it would be a good idea to hit pause and take a moment to introduce ourselves a little further than our About Page. This week, I’m taking some time to introduce Krista to you all. I hope you love her as much as I do! Getting to Know Krista Krista and I met over 10 years ago when we were in a small study group together. We met…
