It’s now been a year since I started my zero waste project last February. When I mentioned this to Mike, he couldn’t believe it had been that long; I’m taking that as a good sign that it hasn’t been too catastrophic for our household! Since it has now been a full year that I’ve been trying Read More…
Category: Homemaking
Useful Sewing Lately
Small, useful sewing projects have been my favourites lately. For example, I converted two pairs of old pyjamas into some cloths that we use for cleaning baby hands and face after a meal. They are very raggy because I left the edges un-hemmed. These cloths are square and each is two layers of flannel sewn together Read More…
Zero Waste: The Composting Saga
The end of this saga is that we compost our food scraps. But how we got there is an eight months’ story of failure, flies, stink and slop. In fact some of the flies are still with us today, but I think their days are numbered. It began last year, a few months into my zero Read More…
January’s Project: More Careful Purchasing
This month, I am going to pay closer attention to my shopping habits. I’m allowed to buy things as usual, but I aim to keep two detailed records: Keep an ongoing wish list of things I want, including those little thoughts that pop up and flit away as quickly – ‘I should try that soap’, Read More…
Konmari: What I’ve Learned After Discarding
I’ve purposefully waited a few weeks to write about this, because after completing the discard phase of the KonMari method, I wanted to mull over the experience. It took me a little over 15 weeks to go through everything in the house, and it’s now been about a month since I finished. Here’s what I learned. Read More…
Crafty Christmas, Zero Waste Style
This Christmas, I am thinking more carefully about my festivities and trying to make them less wasteful. I’m not eschewing gift-giving or anything like that, but as far as it’s within my power, I’m trying to enjoy treats and activities that come with less packaging and less unnecessary consumption. So, while I was walking outside Read More…
Zero Waste: Takeout, Eating Out, Out and About
A new habit I am trying to develop is thinking ahead to avoid waste when I’m away from home. So far, my zero waste efforts have been focused on what I do at home, but I want to be more proactive about reducing waste when I’m out. I’ve noticed lately how many disposable products are used in Read More…
Konmari: Photos, and The End
The third part of my sentimental category is photos. These include both physical and digital photos. I started with several 3-ring binders, as well as some other albums that were gifts. Here are the binders, which contained all my photos from birth until just before getting married. What was interesting about these is that I put Read More…
Konmari: Memorabilia and Sentimental Papers
Right after going through my toys, I tackled my collection of various memorabilia: old schoolwork, souvenirs, love letters, etc. This consisted of a file box of mementoes (which was already pared down, as I boasted about earlier) plus various papers and items I had found during the rest of the KonMari process, including some sketchbooks, diplomas, Read More…
Konmari: Old Toys
The time has come for the sentimental category of the KonMari method. I started with my collection of childhood toys. I only recently realised, with clarity, that ‘sentimental items’ is what these actually are. I may tell myself I’m keeping them for my children, but that’s not the real truth. The KonMari method requires identifying Read More…