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The Life of Vi

By Violet Elaine Thomas

10 Tips for Living an Eco-Friendly Lifestyle

June 22, 2020 · Lifestyle

Something that has been so important to me lately is reducing my carbon footprint. I never thought that my actions alone would make much of an impact, but then I had a thought… If everyone thinks this, nothing would ever change.

My childhood best friend of 10 years (Wow, I feel old just saying that) has made a conscious effort over the past year to preserve and restore our planet. I have taken in so many useful and practical tips just from being in close proximity to her. I figured there was no one better than her to share some tips on how to live an eco-friendly lifestyle.

Below you will find 10 tips that Kate recommends implementing into your daily routine. These tips were written by her in hopes that they would be easy, practical, and affordable. Enjoy!

1. Eat less meat – Try Meatless Monday!

After trying to go completely vegetarian for a week, I realized the lifestyle was not for me. For now. A lot of you probably feel the same way! Perhaps your mom still cooks meals that you want to take advantage of, or maybe meat is your absolute favorite thing to eat and giving it up sounds like a nightmare. I get it. The thing is, though, you do not have to have a completely meat-free diet to help the planet. I made the decision to stop eating both beef and pork, as I had discovered that these industries had an especially harmful impact on our environment. I also decided to participate in Meatless Monday. For more information on that, check out meatlessmonday.org.

2. Buy secondhand clothes!

A sad truth I’ve learned in the past couple years is that the fashion industry is horrible for our planet, especially with the rise of fast fashion – cheap clothes made with cheap products. Businessinsider.com informs us that “The fashion industry produces 10% of all humanity’s carbon emissions, is the second-largest consumer of the world’s water supply, and pollutes the oceans with microplastics.”

I love shopping and playing with different styles, so I have discovered some alternatives that allow me to do this while still being mindful! Next time you are looking for new clothing consider purchasing from a thrift store. I have found so many deals on unique items doing this. It’s kind of like going on a hunt for hidden treasure; you never know what you’ll find! Other options are to buy from or swap with your friends, or to shop with companies that are taking real steps towards sustainability. Also consider buying items made with sturdier fabrics. They will probably be more expensive, but will last you a few years vs. a season or two.

3. Say no to the straw!

Start using metal straws, or even reusable plastic ones. Single use plastic straws often slip through the cracks and don’t make it into the recycling bin. This leads to them ending up in our oceans. You may have heard it before, as it has been circling the internet for a few years now, but our oceans are projected to have more plastic in them than fish by 2050!

It’s a small change, but to our ocean friends it makes all the difference. The turtles will thank you.

4. Turn off the lights!

This saves energy and lowers your electrical bill! A win-win.

5. Turn off the water!

Use less water by remembering to turn it off while you brush your teeth or wash your hands. It’s such a simple thing I often forget it myself!

6. Recycle! 

Look into your city’s recycling guidelines and see which items you might be able to send off to a new life, instead of to the landfill!

7. Use less toilet paper. 

This one is not something I ever thought about it until I became more interested in an eco-friendly lifestyle. As a single use paper product, it is already bad for the environment, but what really causes the issue is the production of it, specifically its correlation with deforestation. According to National Geographic we flush approximately 27,000 trees down the toilet every single day.

Next time you go to the restroom, take a second to consider how much toilet paper you need, versus how much you’re actually using. You’ll probably be shocked, as I was, at how much extra your absentmindedly tearing off!

8. Reusable cups!

This one is super simple to implement into your life, and it keeps loads of single use plastic bottles out of our landfills! I first started using a reusable water bottle for school and travel purposes. This is pretty easy to do these days because many public places such as universities, airports, and places of work, have added bottle filling stations to their fountains. The hardest part is remembering to bring your bottle each day, hahaha. 

As a coffee lover, and frequent Starbucks customer, I decided it would also be worth my while to invest in a couple of reusable coffee cups. This change is a little more difficult because, unlike a water bottle, you’ll probably want to wash it between every drink. If you drink coffee as much as I do this can feel like a bit of a hassle. That is why I sometimes opt to simply go inside if I have time and ask to have my coffee in a glass or mug! Yes, they have them! 

9. Bring your own shopping bags!

This one is fun because you get to save the planet, and look cute doing it! Hahaha. Much like reusable cups, the most difficult part of making this switch is remembering to bring your bags to the store. Try leaving your bags in the trunk, or if you only need a couple things consider just carrying them to the car! 

10. Don’t strive for perfection, strive for improvement. 

You are going to mess up. You’ll forget your cup or your bags, you’ll tear off too much toilet paper, and you’ll leave lights on when you’re too tired to get up and turn them off. These things are inevitable. Instead of beating yourself up every time you make a mistake, use it as a reminder to do better next time. We are all on our own journeys toward sustainability and the growth process looks different for everyone. What matters to our beautiful planet Earth is that you continue to try, and by doing so, inspire others to do the same.

I hope you have found these tips to be helpful. All of these are attainable and realistically so simple for all of us to implement in our lives.

I’d like to give a special thanks to my sweet friend Kate for taking the time to write these tips out for y’all. If you don’t already, follow her on instagram @thekatesaylor. She posts wholesome earthy content and has a way with her words.

What are ways that you contribute to living an eco-friendly lifestyle? We’d love to hear.

Xoxo, Vi

Finding the good during COVID-19

May 9, 2020 · Faith

Times are hard right now. Many people have lost their jobs, some are fighting on the frontlines, and others are getting cabin fever while being at home. Regardless of what shoes you’re in, I think we can all say we are experiencing some hardships.

Personally, I haven’t had to stay home for longer than a few days at a time due to working in a hospital, but I feel for all of you that have been home for weeks now. With my husband being deployed, raising my newborn son alone, and working part-time during the middle of a pandemic, everything started to feel heavy.

I felt guilty for being sad because so many others were going through things far worse than I was. I hadn’t lost my job, I got to spend time with my son, and stay cozy in my home, so why was I feeling so low? It took me a few weeks to realize that I was starting to slip into postpartum depression. It felt like I was being consumed by the realization that I was alone during this time. My family lives 14 hours away, my husband is over seas, and your friends legally aren’t allowed to come over to help because of the ‘Stay at Home’ order.

I was going to work a few times a week and every time I left, I dreaded it. I was spending 13 hours away from my brand new baby and my heart broke a little more with every shift. Emotionally, I just wasn’t ready to go back to work. With everyone losing their jobs due to the pandemic, it felt like I should’ve been relieved to still have mine. That burden stayed with me for weeks. I shouldn’t have done that to myself because what I was feeling was valid. It still is.

The point of this is, regardless of the position you are in, your struggles are valid. Let me repeat that… Your struggles ARE valid.

Instead of carrying that guilt, I decided it was time to free myself of unnecessary burdens. So, for now, I will be soaking up the extra time I have with Henry Duke and finding joy in the midst of pain. Here are some tips that have been helpful for me in order to find the good during COVID-19.

  1. As soon as you wake up, name the things that you are thankful for. This has really helped me keep things in perspective. Mine goes a little like this: “Thank you God for my family, my job, and a safe place to live. I’m grateful for my good health, the food in my fridge, and the extra snuggle sessions with my pups.” Whatever it is that you are thankful for, remind yourself of it.
  2. Write down a list of things you hope to accomplish today. Keep it short and sweet! I felt like all of my days were running together and that I was getting nothing done which left me feeling useless. I found that doing this everyday has helped me look back on all that I had accomplished. Plus, nothing feels better than crossing off something on my to-do list! Here is an example of what my list was like: “Make the bed, take the dogs for a walk, make breakfast, pump for 20 minutes, shower, do a devotion, fold laundry.” Even though these tasks are simple, I felt much more productive knowing that these things are what I wanted to conquer each day.
  3. If you feel up for it, get ready for the day. This doesn’t always mean putting on nice clothes, doing your hair and makeup, and going out. For me, I will wash my face, brush my teeth, comb my hair, and put on some fresh clothes, even if it’s just a clean t-shirt and shorts. This is a simple way for me to feel like I’m slightly more put together.
  4. Get outside! This was one of the biggest factors that helped me get away from PP depression. It’s so nice to feel the warmth of the sunshine on your skin while staying safe during these times. Staying inside for too long makes me go stir crazy, so getting some fresh air is crucial to my sanity.
  5. Moving my body, whether it’s going on a walk or working out, has been essential for me in order to feel grounded and strong. Being active is known to improve your mental health by reducing anxiety and depression. This is huge at any time in your life, but especially now with social distancing in place.
  6. Lastly, allow yourself to deeply process the emotions you are having. Give yourself some grace, sis! Things are hard and it’s okay to not be okay. Cry it out, eat some comfort food, and do what makes you feel better. Remind yourself that this is just a season of your life and that these hardships will pass. Even if you don’t believe it right now, they WILL! I don’t say this to dismiss your feelings of fear or stress, but just to offer comfort if you’re feeling like this will last forever.

Everyone is different and has their own methods of coping with hardships. I hope that you have found this to be helpful and encouraging. If you would like me to pray for you, please leave a comment down below so I know to do so! I would love nothing more than to speak God’s love over you. Know that my heart is with you, my friend. We will get through this!

Thanks for being here! Let me know what you thought. Talk soon!

Xoxo, Vi

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henry duke + chase left for alabama this morning ๐Ÿค so many exciting things are happening for our family! we close on our FIRST home this week, chase is starting fresh at a new post, and iโ€™ll be an BSN, RN soon ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿผ iโ€™m already counting down the days until I join them in May ๐Ÿ’ญlife is good, but for today Iโ€™ll be missing my boys ๐Ÿฅบ
๐šœ๐š˜๐šŠ๐š”๐š’๐š—๐š ๐šž๐š™ ๐šŽ๐šŸ๐šŽ ๐šœ๐š˜๐šŠ๐š”๐š’๐š—๐š ๐šž๐š™ ๐šŽ๐šŸ๐šŽ๐š›๐šข ๐š•๐šŠ๐šœ๐š ๐š–๐š’๐š—๐šž๐š๐šŽ ๐š’๐š— ๐š”๐šŠ๐š—๐šœ๐šŠ๐šœ ๐šŠ๐šœ ๐šŠ ๐š๐šŠ๐š–๐š’๐š•๐šข ๐ŸŒž๐Ÿ’•

weโ€™ve been to this waterfall/creek 3 times in the past week ๐Ÿ˜‚ but some sunshine was much needed after a long NCLEX review day for me ๐Ÿ˜… nothing beats spending time with my two boys and the friends whoโ€™ve become like family ๐Ÿค
Happy Easter from my fam to yours ๐Ÿค Not gonna l Happy Easter from my fam to yours ๐Ÿค Not gonna lie... coordinating matching family outfits is an obsession of mine ๐Ÿค—
Iโ€™ve been telling myself this all week ๐Ÿ˜… As Iโ€™ve been telling myself this all week ๐Ÿ˜… 

As someone whoโ€™s primary income comes off of network marketing, itโ€™s hard sometimes to remind myself that itโ€™s okay to take a break from social media. But Iโ€™m here to tell you... The breaks are necessary. Time off is necessary. Self care is necessary. Take care of yourself so you can care for others. 

Save this if it resonated with you ๐Ÿค
Currently on the couch crying watching โ€˜This Is Currently on the couch crying watching โ€˜This Is Usโ€™ ๐Ÿ˜ญ I think it might be one of my top 5 series of all time. I wanna know... whatโ€™s your fav show(s) of all time?!? Drop em in the comments ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿผ Something that puts ya in your feels ๐Ÿคฃ 

Shows like this remind me to cherish every moment with my family. These are the days I know Iโ€™ll miss ๐Ÿค
the no makeup makeup game is forever changed. sw the no makeup makeup game is forever changed. 

swipe to see no filter, no foundation, just my SKIN๐Ÿฅณ zoom in!!! I dare ya๐Ÿ˜‰ no makeup texture here ๐Ÿ˜Œ

if youโ€™re all about letting your skin be the star of the show, this will be for you! watch my โ€œdemi colourโ€ highlight bubble to learn a little about this magic makeup ๐Ÿคฏ stick with me to see more broken down tutorials coming later this week โœจ
my everyday, 10 minute makeup routine kicks my old my everyday, 10 minute makeup routine kicks my old makeup routine in the butt ๐Ÿ’ฅ thank yerrrrr @seintofficial for making makeup easy for this simple girl ๐Ÿค 

swipe to see no filter ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ

watch this tutorial in my stories or saved in a highlight bubble called โ€œ10 minute makeupโ€ โšก๏ธ I promise if I can do this, you can too! 

for makeup help, visit the IIID colormatch form linked in my bio โœจ better makeup days are headed your way soon :) 

#seintbeauty #seint #seintofficial #seintartist #makeupmadeeasy #simplemakeuplook #bronzemakeup #highlightandcontouring
Limiting beliefs keep you stuck where you are. Itโ€™s time to believe in yourself for 2 seconds so you can start working towards the goals you have in mind. Tag someone who needs to hear this today ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ

#mindsetiskey #beliefsystem #believetoachieve #workharddreambig #getstartedtoday #believeinyourself #believeinyou
Letโ€™s do something fun! Letโ€™s play 2 truths + Letโ€™s do something fun! Letโ€™s play 2 truths + a lie! Guess which one is my lie ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿผ

1. Ferris wheels freak me out.
2. I make my bed every single morning.
3. I used to be a competitive figure skater. 

Comment your guess below ๐Ÿง photo creds: @nnivk 

#introducingme #gettoknowme #simplymamahood #honestlymothering #blessedmama #seintartist
Today was a good reminder ๐Ÿค When you get in a Today was a good reminder ๐Ÿค 

When you get in a groove of doing your thing, itโ€™s easy to get lost in translation and loose focus on the end goal. My entire reason for starting my own at home business is so much more than just selling makeup... Itโ€™s about these days that I would miss. Iโ€™m still in a season of life where I canโ€™t be home every day because of nursing school, but Iโ€™m going to keep hustling until all of my days look like this one.๐Ÿค Today was a good reminder to continue chasing my dream down and I hope that this can be yours too! ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ 

#blessedmama #honestlymothering #simplymamahood #boymamalife #seintbeauty #seintartist #workfromhomemama #henrydukeisone
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