-
DIY Stainless steel cleaner: A simple plastic-free swap
Stainless steel appliances are a popular choice for modern kitchens, but keeping them free of fingerprints, smudges, and water spots can be a challenge. I recently found myself finishing a kitchen renovation, ready to move back in and clean my very dirty stainless steel appliances, only to realize I couldn’t find my usual cleaner anywhere among the boxes. Rather than buying another bottle, I looked around the house and mixed up a simple DIY version with ingredients I already had on hand. To my surprise, it worked really well! While there are plenty of commercial stainless steel cleaners available, many come in single-use plastic bottles and contain ingredients you may…
-
Easy, healthy and budget-friendly meals for when life gets busy
As we near the end of the school year, calendars quickly fill with concerts, sports tournaments, field trips and end-of-year celebrations, making life feel especially busy. The next couple of weeks are absolutely jam-packed for me, and I know I’m not alone in feeling like normal routines and schedules often fall by the wayside during this time of year. I’ve been trying to spend less this June, so I’m being more intentional about my spending than usual. But when schedules are packed and energy is low, the temptation to grab takeout or rely on convenience foods can be hard to resist. Not only do these last-minute purchases work against my…
-
No Spend June: Spending less, living more
Between birthdays, Mother’s Day, and a nearly completed kitchen renovation, it feels like the past few months have involved a lot of purchases. With summer vacations just around the corner, June feels like the perfect time for a reset and that’s what drew me to the idea of doing a No Spend month this June. Despite the name, a no-spend challenge isn’t about deprivation or avoiding every purchase. Instead, it’s an opportunity to become more intentional about spending and take a closer look at the habits that often happen on autopilot. A coffee on the go, a sale that’s too good to pass up, or another item that promises to…
-
8 Sustainable Mother’s Day gift ideas you can make
A sustainable Mother’s Day is about more than skipping plastic—it’s about choosing thoughtful, low-impact ways to celebrate the people who care for us, whether that’s a mother, grandmother, or chosen family member. Each year, I struggle to find something meaningful that also won’t add clutter or waste. Traditional gifts—with excess packaging and short lifespans—never feel quite right. That’s why a more sustainable approach resonates with me: focusing on handmade gifts, reused or natural materials, and shared experiences. I haven’t decided what I’ll make yet, but all of these ideas feel like a step toward less waste and more meaning. Note: In Canada, Mother’s Day falls on the second Sunday in…
-
9 surprising ways everyday life impacts the environment
We all like to think we’ve got a pretty good handle on how our everyday choices affect the environment. It often feels simple: some things are “good,” others are “bad.” Reusable bags? Good. Plastic? Bad. Eating plant-based? Better. Driving? Worse. But it’s not always that straightforward. Some choices that feel eco-friendly can come with hidden environmental costs, while other small, overlooked actions can actually make a bigger difference than we realize. That gap between what we think helps and what actually does is worth investigating so that we can continue to positively impact the world around us. Surprising things that may have a net harmful effect on the environment Surprising…
-
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…
