![Never buy gift tags again! [super simple no-waste DIY]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8385f1741fe57b005961f0/1608289527996-ED47YE2UFGPDT1URKXE4/IMG_8771.jpg)
Never buy gift tags again! [super simple no-waste DIY]
Low-waste living isn’t always easy. Or cheap. Or all that cute, truth be told.
So when I stumble upon a waste-free solution that’s frugal, simple, and looks great, I stuff it firmly into the “keeper” pile.
This is possibly the easiest DIY ever to make gift tags out of something you already have at home.
Simple built-in bookshelf DIY
This little project’s been on my list forever but we finally got around to doing it. Isn’t it funny how sometimes the simplest projects hang around your to-do list the longest? This one’s a good reminder that not everything needs to be complicated to be worthwhile. 🤗
![How to create a simple non-religious grace practice [5 WAYS]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8385f1741fe57b005961f0/1605877469698-KQFLXGH9A04KVA3NFO55/non-religious-grace_table.jpg)
How to create a simple non-religious grace practice [5 WAYS]
Whether you want to connect with a higher power or give thanks for the food on your plate, saying grace is a powerful way to take a moment for what matters every day. Even if you’re not formally religious (🙋♀️ hi, me neither!) you can create a grace ritual that will feel great for you. Here are 5 things to consider as you design your daily grace practice.
Easy upcycle: DIY clay-effect paint to turn junk into trendy decor pieces
Have you seen the DIY chalk paint craze, where people refinish tacky thrift shop items and make them look all contemporary and textured? I love the idea…but I wanted to do it in a way that didn’t require buying anything (even secondhand) to spruce up my decor collection. So I tested this DIY on some more unusual items I already had at home. And while it didn’t work for everything, I was pretty stoked at how nice-looking (and easy!) this one turned out.
How we found the “perfect” ethical leather sofa
I wanted a cozy leather sofa you'd find in a ski lodge...but like a ritzy one, where all the guests smelled good and wore crispy, starched Ralph Lauren plaid button-downs, sipping handmade ceramic mugs of hot cocoa next to the fire. (Know what I mean??) But finding that dream sofa ETHICALLY was a tricky challenge. Here’s how we made it happen.
Calm your body and mind with this easy (+ scientifically-backed!) breathwork practice
The way you breathe impacts almost every system of the body and can reduce a whole boatload of symptoms like stress, sleep, even allergies! The great news is, no matter how bonkers the world is, the way you inhale and exhale will always be within your control. And it's a powerful way to relax your body and mind.
Millionaire’s Shortstuff: The real-food treat when you’re craving something sweet
This is a recipe for a delicious and satisfyingly Twix-like treat that just so happens to:
Use 100% natural ingredients
Be gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, and vegan
NOT send you into a sugar coma afterwards
Bud, if you love Millionaire’s Shortbread, you’re going to LOVE this healthy Millionaire’s Shortstuff.
3 apps to (painlessly) cut your social media use
Our mental energy is precious. And when social media apps are literally in the business of manipulating you into spending more time on them, consciously using technology is crucial to live a balanced life. It seems counterintuitive, using technology to manage technology, right? But these three apps really put YOU in control, so you can use tech wisely (rather than letting it use you.)
![How to compost at home for $0 [the total beginner’s guide]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e8385f1741fe57b005961f0/1602767011251-3EC5O1W7L9JHWTZCY30T/how-to-compost-at-home_8.jpg)
How to compost at home for $0 [the total beginner’s guide]
What if there were a simple way to slash your household waste by a Hagrid-sized, whopping 60% this year...without reducing your consumption AND while feeling more in tune with nature around us?
When you know how to compost at home, that’s exactly what happens. And there are ways anyone can get involved, even if you don’t have space for a compost bin.
5 healthy autumn recipes that aren’t pumpkin spice
Eating seasonal foods is an easy way to slow down, get present, and savor the season. I’m sharing 5 delightfully autumnal recipes that are on regular rotation here at Westwind Cottage….and none of them are pumpkin-spice-flavored. (Nothing against pumpkin spice, of course. I just want equal opportunities for the other amazing fall flavors out there. ✌️)
Grocery shopping on a budget: 7 ways we eat well and save money
Left to my own devices, I’ll spend an admittedly unreasonable amount of money on food. 🤷♀️ While we can't afford organic, local, free-range everything...we CAN stretch our food dollars further by being smart + strategic. Let’s dig into the 7 painless ways we consistently save money on food (plus one trap I’m no longer falling for).
Small closet solutions to make the most of even the tiniest space
Short on closet space? Me too, bud. These 6 clever tips took our little closet from “how can we possibly fit everything?” to “WE HAVE SO MUCH SPACE FOR ACTIVITIES!” Okay, not quite 😂…but they helped turn this little puppy into a super efficient storage space. (And you can, too.)
How to creatively cover wires (aka finding beautiful solutions through the challenges)
You know the room in your home with that THING that makes it impossible to design around? What if I told you that thing, that thing, that thiiiiiiiiiiiing 🎶 was actually there to guide your design? That’s what happened when deciding what the heck to do with our small, unusual boot room.
Foods that reduce anxiety: 5 easy meals to add to your life
Did you know you can eat your way to ease? Certain foods are proven to reduce anxiety symptoms, according to a Harvard psychiatrist and trained nutritionist. Let’s combine them into 5 healthy, delicious. and easy-to-make meals to help you feel more balanced.
3 easy DIY home projects to make something useful out of “waste”
Honest-to-goodness green living isn’t just crisp linen napkins and fancy glass canisters. Chopped up old t-shirts and repurposed salsa jars work fine, too. And finding purposeful uses for “waste” is its own little act of defiance…and a great reminder that we already have enough, if we just pause and look.
4 ways to stop stress, instantly change your perspective, and feel better
Who among us doesn’t love a good life hack? Here are 4 ways to hack your mood and perspective (in about 0.5 seconds) to stress less and boost your mood so you can focus on the truly important stuff.
The roast tomato pesto so good, it’ll be at my funeral (vegan, paleo + Whole30 options!)
For real though, Joe already has specific instructions about my funeral requests. This sauce is THAT good. 😂 And it’s an easy, delicious way to make use of the tomatoes and basil billowing over at farmers market stands in late summer.
Our elopement story: why we chose it and what we’d do (+ not do) again
When people hear that we eloped, they're always curious to learn why. It may not be traditional but it was the perfect choice for us. Here are a few things we’d do again (or differently) if we could go back in time.
How to remove labels from glass jars (without chemicals)
Instead of adding MORE to your house with pricey storage containers, opt for a beautiful, eco-friendly, and free option, using jars you already have. And with this easy method, you’ll get your glass jars perfectly glue-free without any toxic chemicals.