In March 2020, to create more room people to recreate while physically distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Denver Parks and Recreation closed roads in several city parks to vehicle traffic. Now, one year later, they’re determining which closures to make permanent. Several parks will maintain the pandemic-era closures, but Denver’s central park, City Park, will be returning to more-or-less the way it was pre-pandemic (read: full of cars).

As a local resident who utilizes City Park daily for transportation and recreation, I’m firmly in favor of keeping City Park car free. To be clear, this does not actually mean there will be no cars in the park. It means that there will be parking available for cars in multiple locations around the perimeter of the park (as well as ADA parking in the center of the park for those with mobility limitations) and cars can drive on short stretches of park roads to access these parking lots. A car-free park means that vehicles are not allowed to drive through the center of the park.

There are so many reasons I support a car-free City Park, but here five of my top reasons we need people-full park that’s light on cars:

one // It’s safer for everyone. Three of the four roads that form the boundaries of City Park are on part of what is called the “High Injury Network” (HIN). This is not a positive achievement: the HIN “represents the corridors in Denver with the highest number of fatal and injury crashes. Collectively, the HIN accounts for 5% of streets in Denver, but 50% of traffic deaths” (Source: Denver Vision Zero).

Colorado Boulevard to the east of the park, 17th Avenue on the south side of the park, and York Street on the west side of the park are all arterial road that are part of the HIN. They’re busy roads that get a lot of people where they need to go every day. Speeding on these roads is common. Entering the park via any of these roads is dangerous, for pedestrians, bicyclists, and people driving motor vehicles.

Furthermore, allowing cars to drive within the park decreases the safety park goers. Kids riding bikes, people walking their dogs, families having picnics. Cars often cut through the park to avoid the traffic on the busy roads mentioned above. These cars often don’t follow the speed limit and are mostly just concerned with getting where they need to go.

As urban dwellers, we need safe spaces to recreate. Low-income residents are twice as likely as high-income residents to be killed while walking. And African American children are two times as likely to be killed while walking as white children. Latino children: 40% more likely. No matter who you are, being out and about poses significant risks. We need safer streets. But in the meantime, we need parks to be a respite from the risks of the roads.

Limiting the routes cars can drive through City Park is not a limitation on people. It’s a prioritization of people. It puts the safety and health of our citizens ahead of convenience or presumed desires. It’s not about closing the streets to cars. It’s about opening them to people.

two // The people want it. In a survey conducted by the Denver Parks and Recreation department in late 2020, 78% of the 1500 respondents who commented about City Park said they wanted to see the road closures made permanent for the long term. The survey respondents were predominately white (89%), and the survey notes point out that “The amount of people who identify as Black or African American and do not want roads/lots to remain closed is significantly higher compared to all other race/ethnicities. The amount of people who identify as White or Caucasian and do want roads/lots to remain closed is significantly higher than all other race/ethnicities besides Asian/Asian American.”

These are important takeaways. Nevertheless, to ignore the preference of such a strong majority because of conjecture about what hypothetical respondents may want? It doesn’t make sense. More outreach and data collection could have been done. But if the city is confident in the role equity considerations played in their survey outreach, then they should listen to results.

three // Exercise is good for everyone. In the context of championing road closures in City Park, exercise is a factor in a few different ways:

First is the idea that you don’t have to park directly next to your destination. This seems hard for some Denverites to wrap their head around. But unless you have a mobility limitation, parking a short walk from your destination is usually a good thing! It’s a chance to exercise, get fresh air, and enjoy your surroundings. It rarely pours rain in Denver, so really those 300+ days of sunshine per year make this a great walking city.

Additionally, open, car-free space in the park allows more people to move their bodies without safety concerns. People can rollerblade, bike, run, skateboard, stroll…The Mayo Clinic recommends at least 30 minutes of exercise everyday, and a 2018 study revealed that only 23% of Americans get enough exercise. 

This is again a great context within which to emphasize the point that no one is arguing against driving to the park, I’m just arguing that cars shouldn’t be driving through the park.

four// It’s good for wildlife and the environment.
In a stretch of trees adjacent to one of the closed roads on the west side of City Park, two red-tailed hawks are nesting. My children look for them every time we walk in the park. I don’t have hard data on the increase of wildlife in the park since the roads have been closed, but my observations tell me it isn’t insignificant. Our cities have always encroached on wildlife. Parks are a small refuge for all animals amidst the urban chaos.

Additionally, Denver residents endure elevated pollution levels daily. The air quality in our region continues to deteriorate each year despite stated goals to address the problems causing it. Our city leadership knows that we have to reduce car traffic and increase walking, biking, and transit trips to curb the negative effects of transportation emissions (between 1/4 to 1/3 of greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation!).

The parks department should be protecting nature and the environment by implementing policies that prioritize transit and help residents take fewer polluting trips.

five // RTD buses serve the park and surround attractions.
City Park is a regional park that should be accessible to people from the whole city and region (and beyond). In conversations about access and parking, it’s important not to make “access” synonymous with “car access.” City Park is well served by public transportation. The park is surrounded on all four sides by arterial roads with bus lines.

Of course, the convenience of Denver’s bus system can be debated and these bus routes will not provide the most convenient access for everyone. But as a city, we are striving to meet stated climate goals, and to do that we must continue to discourage the use of single-occupancy vehicle. As such, plans for City Park should incentivize walking, biking, and using transit to get to the park. And maybe make some convenient parking for electric vehicles too. The Parks and Recreation Department’s current plan to open the park back up to cars for events and everyday use is not forward-looking. It prioritizes and normalizes an outdated view of modality. We, as a city, have an opportunity to set forth as we mean to go on. Let’s reduce our air pollution, improve the health of our residents, and keep our friends and family safe.

I am so excited to share that I do believe I have found an exceptional option for purchasing low-waste foods: Azure Standard! They’re available to people in almost all parts of the US. I just completed my first order (bear this in mind when reading this post; I am not yet a long-time customer), and I am very pleased with the products and the process!

I’ve been shopping at Costco for bulk goods during the pandemic, but I just don’t feel great about all the waste, and they also don’t carry a lot of the items I need in bulk (how do they not sell dry beans!?). Basically, Costco and I tried each other out, and we’re just not a good fit. At first meeting, Azure and I seem to be made for each other! Here’s some more info:

What’s Azure all about?
From their website: “Azure’s goal is to provide the best, most affordable prices for families by operating on a cost-plus basis and passing on any savings when costs go down. We purchase large quantities from independent manufacturers and food makers in order to ensure you get the best quality food available anywhere. We work hard to provide volume discounts where we can, encouraging our customers to buy in quantities they can share with family and friends.”

I love that they encourage sharing with others. I bought large quantities of several items and then delivered portions of them to my friends and neighbors. Less waste for all and serious financial savings too!

What do they sell?
Azure sells a whole range of food products, including many “name brands.” But I was most excited about their own label, under which they sell grains, flours, spices, legumes, pasta, seeds, nuts, dried fruits and more! Most items come in compostable brown paper bags (I called them before ordering to confirm this), and most items are sold in quantities of less than a pound up to 20, 30, 50 pounds or even more. The product pages include lots of information about the origin, processing, and ingredients of every item. This made it easy to make sure I was getting exactly what I wanted. For example, they note that their olive oil is not processed using hexane. This is important information can be hard for consumers to find.

How does shipping work?
When you place an order, you can opt to pay for shipping to your home, or you can have it sent to one of Azure’s many “drop sites.” These are spots along their truck routes where a drop coordinator unloads several orders for customers to pick up. This reduces the stops a truck has to make by consolidating orders (read: reduces carbon emissions!). You can look for a drop site near you: they’re in most larger cities and lots of smaller towns, too. Some locations are eligible for free shipping, while other areas (Colorado) pay a 8.5% shipping fee.

What’s the catch?
I’m not sure there is one! It’s a particular way to get groceries, which appeals to me, but of course it won’t be the right fit for everyone. Here are a few more things to be aware of:

• “Drops” are made once a month. This means you need to plan ahead and get your order in by the cut-off time. (Although, you can pay for shipping to your house anytime.)

• My pick-up site was at a woman’s house. She was very accommodating about when I came to pick up my items. I imagine most drop coordinators are like this, but I can only speak to my one experience.

• Some items came in plastic bags. I’ve gotten pretty used to plastic packaging during the pandemic, but this is just something I wanted to flag for those of you who are striving to be zero-waste!

• They don’t have puy lentils. I really like puy lentils.

Here are some of the products and prices of what I bought in my first order:

• Organic Roasted Peanuts - 30 pounds @ $3.16/lb

• Organic raw cashews - 5 pounds @ $6.48/lb

• Organic raw pumpkin seeds (imported) - 5 pounds @ $3.88/lb

• Organic golden raisins - 5 pounds @ $3.12/lb

• Organic Thomson raisins - 5 pounds @ $2.46/lb

• Organic mango (no sugar added) - 1 pound for $11.48

• Organic red lentils - 25 pounds @ $1.93/lb

• Organic Great Northern Beans - 5lb @ $1.27/lb

• Organic dry black beans - 25 pounds @ $1.59/lb

• Organic popcorn kernels - 5 pounds @ $1.77/lb

• Organic old-fashioned oats - 25 pounds @ $1.00/lb

• Organic fusilli pasta - 10 pounds @ $2.25/lb

• Organic Einkorn flour - 5 pounds for $18.63

• Organic Spelt flour - 5 pounds for $7.66

• Organic white whole wheat bread flour - 10 pounds for $12.08

• Organic olive oil - 1 gallon for $35.37

• Sappo Hill Soap - 3 x 3.5oz bars for $5.87 total

Is it a good deal financially?
Having bought foods from bulk bins for year prior to the pandemic, I’ve memorized many per-pound prices. The prices above, are definitely less expensive than most typical grocery stores. A few items that stand out as particularly good deals: pumpkin seeds, raisins, peanuts, olive oil, pasta. Keep in mind the prices get lower the more you order and I bought 25 pounds of several items.

Is it a good environmental choice?
The more I think and learn about sustainability, the more I realize that everything we do has an impact on the earth. It’s not possible to live on our earth and not change it in some way. Keeping this in mind, all you can do is try to make the best choices possible with the options available. I can’t speak with authority since I’ve done zero actual studies, but given my knowledge of environmental impacts, here are a few considerations:

• Food waste is a huge contributor to carbon emissions, so buying 25 pounds of beans is only a good choice is you’re going to consume 25 pounds of beans (or share them with your neighbors!).

• Another significant chunk of emissions related to food come from agriculture and food production. Azure provides detailed information on their website about the production and ingredients of their products. Their “Core Values” and “Product Standards” indicate their care deeply about soil health, sustainable farming practices, removing harmful chemicals from our food, and more.

• The food you bring into your home also has an environmental impact based on how it traveled to your house. From the farm to factory, factory to packaging plant, packaging plant to distribution center, distribution center to grocery store, grocery store to your home. Azure takes out of a few of those steps, and also delivers to just a few drop sites in each city, meaning their trucks drive less than a truck from, say, a Kroger grocery store.

• Lastly, the packaging waste from my order was minimal. Granted, I only ordered bulk goods from the Azure brands (they sell several items wrapped in plastic). Also, my order was packaged in larger boxes that had been repurposed. Almost all the packaging I received was recyclable or compostable.

More questions?
Leave a comment below or send me a note! I love talking about all things grocery shopping and low waste.

Have you ordered from Azure? Do you think you’ll try it? Do you want to buy a few pounds of beans or oats from me? Happy to share my bulk or to order a few things for you next month!

After completing our kitchen renovation and having the space to cook again, I’ve really been enjoying trying new recipes (for months it was a steady rotation of pasta and rice with veggies!). Here are five vegan dinners I’ve made recently that I highly recommend!

one. // Pineapple Rice {101 Cookbooks} - This was a huge hit with the whole family. The dressing is made with pineapples, but I also set some aside to go in the rice itself (the recipe doesn’t do this but I think it improves the dish!). Be sure to make your rice ahead, as cold rice is best for fried rice!

two. // Orecchiette with Creamy Carrot Sauce {Feasting at Home} - My kids kindly call this “mom’s mac and cheese” but there’s absolutely no cheese in it. The creamy carrot miso sauce is the orangish color of mac and cheese, but much healthier. The sauce freezes well, so double it for multiple meals. The carrot top gremolata is delicious if you have time to make it. I often add sautéed mushrooms as a side, or fresh greens.

three. // Roast Squash Salad with Crispy Chickpeas {Bon Appétit} - Not a kid-pleaser, but the adults in our family (all two of us!) adored this dish. The recipe makes a good amount of dressing, so there might be enough leftover for a salad lunch the next day!

four. // Kung Pao White Beans Skillet {Full of Plants} - This is one of my favorite recipes I’ve discovered in the past few years. I cook a lot of Asian food, particularly Chinese, and this bean dish replicates delicious flavors of “traditional” dishes with the health benefits of legumes. I’ve made it with black-eyed peas, too, and it was equally delicious! Serve with rice or noodles.

five. // Kitchari {Goop} - Awhile back, I shared this recipe on my Instagram, and my best friend gently mocked me for the source. But I have made this mung bean and rice dish too many times to count and I adore the simultaneous simplicity and complexity of it. Add whatever veggies you have on hand (carrots and potatoes are always good) and eat it for any meal of the day.

What’s the best dinner you’ve made lately? Will you try one of these recipes soon? If you do, let me know what you think!

I am all about super practical tips that help us all make concrete changes that simplify our lives and reduce our environmental impact. I believe that individual actions keep us connected to the broader issues of the climate crisis. It also feels good to “do something” where you can.

I was thrilled when Redfin asked me share my best tip for a more sustainable kitchen.

I had trouble narrowing down my tips to just one, but thankfully they compiled tips from sustainability experts all across the country, so there is plenty of detailed advice. Read more:

Experts Dish Their Secrets for Keeping a Sustainable Kitchen

Which of these practices have you already implemented in your kitchen?

Are there any tips you’d add to the list?

What new habits would you like to adopt this year?

What changes do you think have the most environmental impact?

Here in Denver, there are ample opportunities for recreation nearby. There are innumerable hikes and parks along the front range, and venturing deeper into the mountains offers even more avenues for outdoor exploration. Our family loves going hiking and camping, and we’re working on increasing our winter activities (I grew up skiing but haven’t tackled taking our kids yet!).

But all that said, most of you know I’m not the biggest fan of driving, so I’m always on the hunt for easy places close to the city to get our outdoor adventure fix.

One of our favorite places to take a short nature walk is Bluff Lake Nature Center. Here’s what I love about it:

• There’s one clearly defined loop trail, so you don’t need to think too much about where to go.

• From the main trail, there are several places to veer off and let the kids explore. These include wooden walkways out onto the lake.

• The loop is only about 1.5 miles, so it’s doable even when someone is whiney or hangry.

• Even though it’s in the city and close to a residential neighborhood, if you look the right direction you can see mountains and other vistas.

• There’s water - a lake and a stream. And some muck throughout!

• It’s stroller-friendly (a BOB or similar would be best).

• No bikes allowed. (You all know I love biking, but keeping my littles out of the way of mountain bikes is one of my least favorite parts of hiking some trails!)

Other notes:

• NO DOGS allowed, even on a leash.

• They run a Forest School and outdoor summer camps here.

• There are several other naturalist activities offered for families, kids and individuals. Check out their website!

• There are bathrooms by the parking lot.

• Bike parking is scarce. Last time I was there with the cargo bike I had to lock to a sign post.

Have you been to Bluff Lake? What do you enjoy about it?

When I became pregnant with my first child in 2011, I registered for glass baby bottles. I was planning to breastfed, and ultimately did breastfeed. My daughter never really took a bottle. Neither did my second baby, or my third. Back in 2011, I never really thought about why I was registering for baby bottles. Babies just needed bottles, right? Well maybe. But mine didn’t.

From the moment you think you’re pregnant (nay, from the moment you decide you’d like to maybe become pregnant), our capitalist society is ready to sell you something. Messages bombard you from all directions about what you need, what the baby needs, what will make your life easier.

I fell for a lot of it. We all do. We’re human. We’re products of our environment. We’re persuadable. And, honestly, some of it does actually make your life easier. You need some of it. You just don’t need all of it.

Here’s what I’d say to my 2011 self; the advice I’d give on what to buy and not buy and how to start off on the right foot in terms of low-impact, minimalist parenting:

Wear what you have. It might be tempting to buy a lot of maternity clothes, but try to first “shop your closet” for your baggier clothes, pants with a larger/lower waist band, and all the spandex. You can use a rubber band on your jeans button for a couple months, and if it’s summer, dresses are always a good choice for a growing belly. Yes, you will probably need some new clothing, but not as much as you might think.

Seek out pre-loved maternity clothes. When you run out of options from your current wardrobe, it’s time to find some pre-loved options. Ask your friends, look on Facebook groups, or shop consignment online. You’re sure to find plenty of used maternity clothes. During this process, keep in mind: women are, by design, pregnant for only a relatively short period of time (I know it might not feel that way when you’re in the throes of it). This idea is important to remember for two reasons: you won’t need clothes that last a lifetime, and any used clothes you buy will likely be only lightly worn.

If you buy new, select a few key pieces from ethical brands that will work postpartum. If you do buy new clothing, seek out ethical brands that use natural materials. Undergarments and sleepwear that you can nurse in are items you’ll wear over and over again.

Do you really need the maternity pillow? Probably not. Think about it: what will you do when you’re no longer pregnant? Put it in your guest room? No. Use a few extra pillows to make yourself comfortable at night. Even buy a few new ones if needed; they’ll be much more useful in the long run.

But, if you do feel inclined to “stock up” on gear: GET IT USED! Parents love to get rid of things! Once a child is done with something, parents want it out of their house to make room for new items. As a result, they’re often happy to give things away or sell them for a reasonable price. Strollers, high chairs, baby bouncers, you name it! There are several online website dedicated to reselling kids’ gear, and Facebook groups are always a great place to look, too.

Rethink the registry. Once you have thought through what you can obtain for the baby from friends or neighbors, decide whether or not you want to create a baby registry. People love to show their affection through gifts, and you’re sure to have many well-wishers. Be very clear about what items you want (or don’t want!) for your baby. If you don’t give any guidance, you’ll get 25 Carter’s pajama suits in size newborn. And those are not very useful! Think about the items you truly want or need for the baby that might be more expensive and/or hard to find used: cloth diapers, a baby carrier, a crib. You also might ask for take-out gift cards, meal services, laundry service, a massage, etc.

Make goals + take classes. I didn’t love the idea of taking classes when I was pregnant, but I’m so glad that I had wise people in my life who encouraged me to do so. I gained a great deal from taking prenatal yoga and breastfeeding classes. The tools I gained from these classes definitely helped me during my pregnancies and postpartum periods.

Seek out like-minded friends. Generally, I think it’s great to have friends who have a wide-variety of views and ways of doing things. But when it comes to parenting, there are so many ways to do it and to do it well. As you think about your parenting style, it helps to talk to others who have similar intentions for how they want to raise their kids.

Focus on the baby and your health; the “staff” can wait. So often we want to prepare for a big event like a baby by buying all the things we “need.” But, remember, babies don’t need very much besides warmth, food, and love. Try to focus on your health during pregnancy and your relationships. Enjoy some alone time (trust me on this one). Of course you’ll get a few things for the baby, but you can still shop once the baby arrives!

With Christmas a few weeks, and Santa set to gift around the world, I thought I’d pop in with a few tips on how to decrease commercial consumption this holiday season. It feels potentially even more important this year due to the pandemic. As I’ve mentioned before, many of us use shopping as a way to try to address our emotional state. And let’s be honest, we all could use a little “pick me up” after the year it’s been.

Gift giving and receiving is a tricky topic, for sure, but it is one that is on many people’s minds. I’m a member of a few parents’ groups on Facebook, and there are numerous posts about how to minimize gift giving and decrease “all the stuff.”

There are so many different ways to look at this issue, and it is very important not to devalue the role of gift giving and reciprocity within one’s culture. Within that context, here are six ways my family has tried to navigate the holiday onslaught:

one // Communicate.
Obviously this is the best place to start. Discuss your family’s priorities and views with your partner, and then communicate these values to those closest to you who will likely be giving your family gifts. Also communicate them to your children. It’s important that your children have realistic expectations around gifts. We often talk about how different families do things differently and that certainly applies to the holidays!

A common complaint is that people have told their mom/dad/aunt/mother-in-law/grandmother how they feel and the “don’t listen.” Honestly, that’s their prerogative. All you can do is ask nicely.

two // Ask for and give experiences, food, or really useful items.
All of these things are slightly lighter on the environment and result in less stuff in your home. However, much of gift giving is about the “wow factor” and the recipient’s reaction, and the giver knows that. They might not want to give a museum membership instead of a toy that will bring the child instant gratification. Again, their prerogative.

However, holidays can be a good time to ask for things that will help you to live the life you’ve imagined with your kids. For us, this has meant asking for bike-related gear or toys that get the kids outside (scooters, skateboards, stroller attachments, etc.). Maybe your child needs some new “gear” that will help the pursue their favorite activities?

three // Ask for and give the things your children truly need.
Around late summer, I stop buying my kids the things they need. Socks, underwear, new clothes… And if I do buy these things, I set them aside until Christmas. These are things you can ask relatives to give as well.

four // Shop consignment.
This works best when shopping for one’s own immediate family, as not everyone is “into” consignment. (Although they should be, and apparently it’s the next “big holiday trend.”)

I start looking for holiday gifts around summertime. If I see a good toy or clothing item, I’ll buy it and stash it away until December. Goodwill and similar stores are usually pretty picked over right before Christmas, but there are great things to be found in August!

I also have good luck at kid consignment stores when I need specific clothing items for my kids. Last year my youngest needed mittens, and I was able to find a Patagonia pair for $5!

five. // Gifts do not need to be new.
I usually give my children books form “Little Free Libraries.” I also have boxes hidden in the attic of toys from my childhood that I will give to my kids, as age appropriate. Perhaps your relatives have and heirloom or old item that they no longer want that you or your kids would enjoy. My mom gives me some of her beautiful sweaters and my mother-in-law recently gifted me a candle holder that had been in her family for decades. Remind yourself and others that gift giving is about the thought; it does not have to be a brand-new item.

six // Let it go.
This is a reminder to myself as much as a tip to you: when it comes down to it, you can only control the things you can control, and people have a lot of different emotional attachments to gift giving. People show their love through “stuff,” so sometimes we should just say “thank you” and appreciate the sentiment. There are signs that the culture around gift giving is evolving (note the article I linked above!). Do what you can, and then just put your feet up and enjoy a holiday treat!

Five years ago, I started doing daily advent activities with my littles. I’ve always been a planner…spontaneity doesn’t come naturally to me. Having a master list for the month of December seemed like a good way to enjoy the holiday season and all it’s potential activities.

We’ve kept the tradition going, but each year I’ve scaled it back a bit. My goal is for it to be festive and memorable for the kids while not being too much work for us parents. The first year or two were a bit stressful. And stress is not what any of us need; not ever, but definitely not this year!

Here’s what we’ll be up to by way of activities this month. Typically there are a few holiday parties in the mix, but unfortunately not in 2020. Hopefully next year!

december 2017.

• Head to the mountains and cut down a tree!

• Watch The Grinch with special snacks

• Make Pizzelle cookies

• Write letters to Santa 

• Watch Claymation Christmas

• Make orange peel decorations

• Make holiday cards for your extended family

• Go for a walk after dark with hot cocoa

• Bake cookies to deliver to the neighbors

• Fancy family dinner

• Snuggle on the couch + read some holiday books

• Dance party to everyone’s favorite song

• Write a list 10 things you’re grateful for

• Family facials!

• Spinach balls and drinks by the Christmas tree

• Family bike ride to see holiday lights

• Stay in your jammies for breakfast + watch Home Alone

• Go on a bird hunt: see how many birds you can find on a walk 

• Drop food off at a local food bank

• Bake gingerbread friends 

• Enjoy reading ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas before bed

And that’s all she wrote! A few that didn’t make the list this year involve nail polish (not relaxing for me with my 3 year old!) and putting food coloring in our cereal milk (we ran out of green food coloring and I’m not sure when I’ll get around to buying more…).

I also reserve the right to change the activities ahead of time. I put the activities on pieces of paper in the pockets of our reusable fabric advent calendar and also keep a master list on my computer so I know what’s happening. I swap days or change activities as life indicates!

What about you? Do you do advent activities? What are your favorite holiday traditions?

A few of you might remember: I set a goal not to buy any clothes this year. Definitely nothing new, but nothing consignment either. I’d been feeling like I had too many clothes, and a lot of my clothing was items I didn’t really like but I’d picked up at Goodwill or a clothing swap. I wanted to stop consumption of any kind and reassess my wardrobe.

Turns out, I unwittingly picked a pretty good year for this endeavor. Once the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March, I was certainly not doing any ambling Goodwill hunts.

Nevertheless, I haven’t managed to keep to my commitment 100%. I’ve had some slip ups. But I’ve also resisted a lot of shopping! Which, I’ve learned, can be extremely challenging for me.

Given that today is “Black Friday,” a day that tempts our materialistic tendencies with sales galore, I thought it’d be the perfect time to share an update on my successes and failures:

I had a few impulse-buy moments:

• An Everlane black cardigan.
  I’ve been on the hunt for a “go-to” black cardigan for years. Seriously. Might sound silly to some but I bet others can relate! In early 2020, an Instagram influencer I follow posted about her favorite Everlane cardigan being on sale, and when I clicked the affiliate link, I discovered not only was it on sale, but there was only one left in stock! Before I knew what happened, I’d ordered it. FAIL. The positive side is that Everlane is an awesome company doing good things, and I do think this will be a high-quality staple in my wardrobe for years to come.

• A J.Crew bikini from thredUP.
  I was very sad that the pools in Denver were closed this summer. Going to the pool with my kids has always been how we pass summer days. Then, mid-July, I found a pool that was open! As a result, my kids needed some new swimsuits. I took to thredUP.com to find some options, and late one night I suddenly was ordered a J.Crew high-waisted bikini in my size. Second fail. At least it’s pre-owned?

• A romper from Goodwill. When COVID-19 cases started to go down mid-summer, I made a glorious solo trip to Goodwill. I was mostly getting school clothes and shoes for the kids, but I stumbled upon a beautiful linen romper in my size that was only $2.99. Despite my 2020 goals, I’m not a complete idiot. You snatch up a 100% linen romper when you see one!

I made a couple thought-through purchases:

• Underwear. I needed a few new pairs. Ordered them from Pact, and awesome Colorado-based B Corp where I get most of my family’s undergarments.

• Gloves: I didn’t have a good pair of gloves to wear on school runs. I was always taking my mittens off to help the kids with their stuff and it was getting cold. Ordered some, pre-owed, from thredUP.

• Everlane jeans from Poshmark. As the weather got cooler this fall, all 3 pairs of my “around the house” jeans ripped. I was able to patch one pair, but the other two were beyond repair. I bought a used pair from Poshmark. I love Everlane and their jeans, but still always try to buy used when I can.

I accepted a few gifts:

• A bikini bottom from a friend: Like I said above, swimming was front of mind over the summer. I had to help a friend out when it didn’t fit her. ;)

• Shoes from a friend: I have trouble saying no to free things that are looking for a new home. And I thought it through long enough before saying “yes” to make sure they were shoes I’d wear regularly.

• A hand-knit sweater from my mom: My mom has knit sweaters for decades. They’re beautiful. When I visited her a few months ago, she had one that didn’t fit her that she wanted to give me. I will always feel good about accepting a made-with-love warm sweater from a loved one.

I donated repurposed a lot of clothes.
A big part of my mission this year was to edit my wardrobe. I had too many clothes that I didn’t like and didn’t wear. I tried to donate as much as I could, directly to people who could use it (thank you, Facebook!). I also have a few bags in the attic to take to Goodwill sometime soon. (I recently read Adam Minter’s new book, "Secondhand", and was pleased to learn that most clothes donated to Goodwill find a second life and don’t go directly to the landfill. But those details are for another post!)

In conclusion: I resisted so, so many purchases.
My experience this year has taught me that even though I like to consider myself a minimalist who’s against excess consumerism, I have a real problem with consumption! I felt myself turning to shopping as a response to a whole range of feelings: boredom, sadness, moments of low self esteem.

This year has been challenging for all of us (and yes, I’m fully aware I’m writing about something very insignificant right now!), and I found myself often looking for a little “pick me up.” Buying clothes is a way we try to make ourselves feel good; a way to bring some excitement into our lives.

And there’s not necessarily anything wrong with that. There are worse vices. But I think it’s important to take a metaphorical look in the mirror and decide what’s really driving your shopping. That’s my aim, going forward. I’m not sure what my 2020 goal will be in regard to buying clothes, but I am very glad that I made an effort to curtail my shopping this year.

Now, if I can also make it through Black Friday without any impulse purposes!

What about you? Do you have any thoughts or goals around shopping? Are you comfortable with how much you buy?

one // Buy an ethically-raised turkey. Or skip it all together. Don’t support large-scale factory farms; order at least an organic turkey but perhaps go a step further to get one that was humanely raised, like a “pasture-raised.” These practices improve the health of the turkey and the health of the farm. However, don’t be hesitant to skip meat if possible. The environmental impact of raising animals is very significant, so eliminating meat from the meal would go a long way towards reducing your impact.

two // Use reusables not disposables. Food always tastes better off a real plate with a real fork. It’s a great time to bust out the china, if you have it. Your ancestors definitely weren’t eating with petroleum-based silverware!

three // Don’t buy any new decorations or clothing. Use what you have! Be grateful for what you have! Holiday decorations are the single-use plastic of home decor. If you already have some, great, but no need to go out and buy more. Especially during a pandemic!

four // Minimize food waste, and try to compost whatever you can. I’m always the person who takes compost home from a family party. Even though we’re having small gatherings this year, perhaps there’s someone who can collect the food scraps in a paper bag if you don’t have a way to compost yourself. Alternatively, there’s likely a compost drop-off point near you.

And nip food waste in the bud at the outset by making sure you don’t cook too much food, fill your plate too high, or forget to properly store what’s leftover. Also, make turkey broth from the carcass or send it home with someone who will.

five // Enjoy mashed potatoes! Did you know potatoes have one of the lowest carbon footprints of any food we eat? It only takes 3 gallons of water to produce one potato. They’re super sustainable, so be proud of your second helping.

six // Get outside. A walk or a “trot” before or after the Thanksgiving meal is always a good idea. The more we connect with nature, the more we think about the ways can help be good stewards for the earth.

Happy Thanksgiving!