***If you understand this reference and plan on reading the rest of the blog, we may be soulmates. If you don’t understand the title, please google it and realize why Jimmy Neutron was such an iconic show.
Before all of this gets fully up and running, I thought I’d introduce myself and tell you all about my journey to starting this blog and Instagram. I’ll try to keep it short and sweet so that we can get back to the regularly scheduled content of namedropping companies that will help make your transition to a more sustainable life easier. If you don’t really care about who I am, please discontinue reading and come back next week for more sustainable content. If you do care, buckle up, keep your hands inside the ride at all times, and let’s go.
Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.
John F. Kennedy
The One Where I Introduced Myself
Now that you all understand the reference, you know that I am, in fact, not Paul (the biggest difference being he has three eyes and I have four).
Anyway, howdy everyone! I’m Nicole. You can find my most basic information in the about page on the blog, but I thought I would share a bit more about how I got here, writing a blog in my teddy bear bathrobe (do people actually put on real clothes these days? Asking for myself).
My family and I always recycled. We would compost our leaves and cut grass and in high school, we started composting our food too. *** Please compost or throw out your egg shells. Do not throw them in the garbage disposal because over time, they will build up, and you just might flood your kitchen during a dinner party.*** Most of my lifestyle changes started in the past year, so it’s a very good place to start.
I was a college kid on a budget. I couldn’t afford to eat out all the time and quickly realized how meal prep and home cooking was way cheaper, and healthier, than getting takeout every night. As I meal prepped, I mainly used plastic bags to store my snacks and old, plastic take out containers for my meals. I was getting frustrated with how much waste I was producing and how squished my hard boiled eggs were getting (IYKYK). That was the beginning of this very long journey as I started searching for more environmentally friendly way to store my ~sustenance~ and keep my eggs in their proper shape.
After graduation, during my last summer of freedom, my friend (THE Mallory Golski) and I went on a backpacking trip through Europe. Because we had limited resources and had to carry all of our belongings on our backs, we made do with what we had. When I got home, I realized that I wanted to make the transition to a more minimalist lifestyle (this is also coming from someone who has over 40 pairs of shoes, so take that comment with a whole shaker full of salt, and add some tequila while you’re at it). Slowly but surely I went through my belongings and donated as much as I could to the local thrift stores.
A couple of health issues led to a couple of weeks off from work which led to finding something to stay mentally and physically active. I cleaned and organized my entire room and closet, and quickly realized how many clothes, miscellaneous items, and products I had that were taking up space and would end up being wasted if not used. I organized everything so I knew what I had and what I was running out of, so I could start making the switch to more sustainable products. The trunk of my car is jammed packed with clothes, shoes (can you believe it?!), and a lot of the things I brought back from college. I can now confidently say that I am moving closer to that ‘minimalist lifestyle’ that I have been trying to achieve since last summer.
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Lao Tzu
Long Story Short…
So, here I am today, trying to find a sustainable, egg shaped container and donating/using many of the things I have to live a more waste/clutter free, environmentally friendly life. I made this blog (and accompanying Instagram) to document my journey and help people realize that the transition doesn’t have to be hard. I hope that all of the time and effort to make this blog will help inspire others to make similar changes.
Oh and there’s also food. Everyone loves food.
Again, if you have any comments (probably about my grammar), questions, or suggestions for future posts, shoot me an email at hello@sustenance-and-sustainability.com
Thanks,
Nicole
Sustenance and Sustainability 