Comparing Stitches

Thankfully, I’ve moved from sewing fans to straight lines on my latest quilt. Which means I’m almost finished with the quilting! But it got me thinking about all the other quilts I’ve quilted with fans. Here is my latest fan stitches compared to ones I completed in 2014.

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I thought there would be a big difference between the more recent (above) and the stitches from 6 years ago (below). but it wasn’t very noticeable to my eyes. It’s a little hard to see in photos as the scale is not perfect. I feel that I strive to make my stitches smaller and closer together but I also realize that my stitches will never very very fine.

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I love quilting as a meditation, so I try not to think too hard on “perfecting” my stitches, but improving is okay! I know I’m done when I feel my stitches becoming too long or wobbly, signaling that my eyes or hands are tired. That’s a good time to stop.

Do you set some time aside to quilt each day and stop after that allotted time, or do you hand quilt until you just can hand quilt any more?

Linking up with Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy’s Quilts.

BookTube is a Thing

And I’m loving it.

I only discovered it a little over a moth ago and I’m already hooked! I already can’t remember how I first discovered it, but I know that some of the first videos I watched were BooksandLaLa’s Closet Clean Out Unhaul series (see below). I stayed up late one night and watched every video. I was hooked.

Here’s what wikipedia says about BookTube. A subset of YouTube, it was basically started by publishers to drum up interest in physical books again. Although it is a tool for publishers (and authors) to make money and often features new releases and focuses on books that the publishing world want to make popular, BookTube has taken on a life of it’s own.

Videos you may see include book reviews, hauls, reading vlogs, wrap ups, tag videos, and to be read (TBR) posts. Many BookTubers read those popular books, many do book subscription unboxing and other commercial aspects of this subculture. But many go their way; read classics, make interesting reading choices, read secondhand books, or otherwise make it their own. One of the biggest goals for BookTubers is to connect to other readers thru the books they read and the videos they make.

If this sounds interesting to you, here are some channels to get you started. I was lucky enough to find BooksandLaLa and her series where she looked back at her first TBR list and either read or unhauled the books each month.

A lot of BookTubers are women and it’s a little harder to find male driven channels (much like all of youtube). I really enjoy Gabriel Armstrong’s channel bc he has an engaging style and reads interesting books. His videos are sparse, but really entertaining. The Mid Year Book Freak Out Tag was the next thing I became obsessed with on BookTube, and I really enjoyed his.

If you watch videos mainly for the aesthetic, we have the flip side from the last rec, which is KalynAbridged. Her videos are so pretty! She reads a lot of course, but she also does more traditional influencer vids like night routines, DITL, bullet journaling, and thrift with me’s as well.

I have so many other recommendations for this niche in youtube land, it was hard to pick only three! Let me know if you want to learn more of my favorites or share your own in the comments!

Videos about Videos

As you may have noticed, I want to start a YouTube Channel.

(Well, okay, I already have one. You can visit it here. But be warned, I haven’t posted there in a long while!)

Over the last 5 or so years, I’ve really gotten into watching YouTube. Watching videos and hearing people stories has really helped me on my Zero Waste journey, taught me sewing techniques, helped me better understand composting, shown me the joys of marble racing, and much more. I hope one day I can make videos that make people happy too!

I’ve been watching Renee Amberg for a few yers now. I really like a lot of her videos (about books, manifestation and planning), and others not so much (her lifestyle is very different from mine, so I skip a lot of her vlogs). I thought these “honest” tips for starting a channel were really helpful.

Jania On Film, is not a youtuber I ever watched before searching this topic, or the kind of youtuber I watch normally. But I found this video while seraching videos about how to become a youtuber and how much money creators make and I was really captivated by her style. I plan to explore some more of her content!

Another new to me creator is Jada Jones. I came across her in a video about up-and-coming yourtubers and I really enjoy her vibe. I like the way she talks to the camera as she would to a friend. This video echoed a lot of things that Renee said, but it was good to see another take on it.

My OG favorite channel abut building a youtube channel, tho is channelnotes by MuchelleB. I love her style, her voice and I think she has a lot of great advice. She breaks it down way more and shares more detailed aspects of how to create a youtube channel. I highly recommend her vids! She’s paused channelnotes but her main channel is still great!

Do you have a Youtube? How did you get started?

Something New: Writing Letters to Companies

A few years ago, I wrote a letter to my favorite pasta company, Bionaturae. They make the best commercial pasta, in my opinion. It’s tasty, easy to cook, and gets perfectly al dente if you cook it correctly. Since I was just starting my zero waste and plastic free journey, I really wanted to find alternatives to using products with so much plastic packaging, but this pasta is something I didn’t want to go without. I wrote and asked if there was any way I could get their products plastic free? Perhaps they sold in bulk? Perhaps I could buy directly from them? The answer I got back was a not-overly-polite “no”. It wasn’t impolite, but it wasn’t enthusiastically polite, either. I had intended to write more companies but this flat no made me a little discouraged. I wrote a few more letters here and there, but largely gave up on the idea.

A few weeks ago, I was buying my favorite pasta again and was so pleased to find out that the are changing the packaging to use less plastic!! I had resigned myself to recycling the bags this pasta came in, but the new packaging is far less plastic and mostly cardboard! Now it will be easier to recycle or even compost parts of my pasta packs.

I don’t really think my letter had anything to do with the change, but maybe it did! Maybe lots of people asked the same thing and that facilitated the change?

Either way, writing letters to your favorite companies asking them a few simple questions couldn’t hurt!

So now, I’m back to writing letters. I recently wrote to one of our favorite bread makers, Martin’s Potato Bread, to ask what ethical practices they use for their workers and in their factories. They are a family run business that is made in the USA, they only use non GMO ingredients, so in my mind they are already showing that they care. I asked if they had any plans to make a vegan version of their products. I would feel way better about buying vegan potato rolls!!

The same day, I wrote to a flip flop company I had purchased from a few years ago. I need a new pair of flops, but I’m just not sure what to get. This company is among several companies often listed for making sustainable flops. They do use sustainable practices for harvesting their rubber, but do they use ethical practices for the people harvesting? They make an interesting point, that recycled flops, often made from spent tires, are only delaying the inevitability of them ending up in landfills and not biodegrading. The rubber they use biodegrades. But since nothing biodegrades naturally in a landfill, I wanted to know if they had other suggestions for disposing of the flops?

I haven’t heard back from either company yet. But hopefully I will! What questions do you have about some of your favorite products? What do you want to know before you buy something new? I encourage you to ask those questions!

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BYOS (Bring Your Own STRAW)

Getting rid of plastic straws and plastic bags will not save the planet, but every little bit helps.

The zero waste and plastic free movements are not just about bringing your own straw or using reusable grocery bags but everyone has to start somewhere. Learning to say no to a plastic straw is a greaat starting point to saying no to other disposable plastics. It’s also a great exercise in going without. Learning to carry a reusable grocery bag is an exercise in mindfulness. We have become a society obsessed with convenience and getting everything we want exactly when and how we want it. But if we have chosen to advocate for the environment, convenience is something we have to give up. Making due and going without is a big part of living a zero waste, plastic free lifestyle. Taking on that responsibility is a huge step in the right direction.

One of things that strikes me about a more sustainable lifestyle is that it places more responsibility on the individual; to make due, to go without, to find alternatives, and do better for themselves, the planet and our global community. That’s a big responsibility, a big commitment. And it’s not always easy. But no one is going to hand us that, we have to achieve that task for ourselves. Sometimes it seems impossible. Sometimes it seems like too large a task. But by breaking it down into easily achievable steps, we can do a few steps every day until we achieve our overall goal.

Now that it’s gotten harder to bring your reusable items to many places, at least you know you can always bring your straw! (and flatware, and napkins, etc…). We cannot count on shops and restaurants doing the right thing by getting rid of plastic, we can’t expect them to forgo the health and safety of their patrons for the health and safety of the environment under the world’s current conditions, and we cannot rely on big corporations to take a long term view on the safety of the planet and our global community (they have money on the mind instead). But we can choose to fight for what we want instead of sitting back and being passive. As consumers we can make the right choices and take responsibility on ourselves. Instead of using plastic cutlery at a restaurant, we can bring our own reusables. We can refuse a plastic take away bag, and use a reusable bag we brought ourselves. We can say no to a plastic straws, but no one needs to go with out, simply bring your own.

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What is Plastic Free July?

And What Are We Doing About It?

For the last 3 years I’ve posted about Plastic Free July. Each year, people all over the world take place in the exercise of giving up some sort (or all) non-reusable plastics (single use, disposable) to help reduce disposable plastics on a global level and raise awareness towards a plastic free lifestyle. Visit the official website to learn more about it.

“Plastic Free July is a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution – so we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities. Will you be part of Plastic Free July by choosing to refuse single-use plastics?”

My first Plastic Free July in 2017, I was testing the waters, learning about the movement and working out how the zero waste lifestyle could be part of my life. The following year, I was more able to incorporate PFJ into my life. By 2019, I was making lists and getting stuff done. This year, it feels easier than ever to make plastic free changes..

At first glance my Plastic Free July to do lists might not have that much to do with plastic. But the fact that disposable plastic is so insidious in our daily life means that almost everything we do daily is some how connected to single use plastic…

At first glance my Plastic Free July to do lists might not have that much to do with plastic. But the fact that disposable plastic is so insidious in our daily life means that almost everything we do daily is some how connected to single use plastic or plastic waste.

We didn’t have to sit down and have a brainstorm about what to do this year (but we did make a list, of course!). Our big challenge for PFJ 2020 came organically from an idea we had had for a while. We had be researching and talking about giving up store bought cheese (which is bad for the animals, environment and inevitably comes in plastic), for a while, so PFJ was the perfect time to put that plan into action.

This might seem like a very small thing to do. How can the act of not buying one thing help the world? But if everyone made a choice to give up one item of disposable plastic, it would have a huge global impact, and if we all give up the same item, for instance, disposable plastic bags, or straws, or water bottles, well then we wouldn’t have to worry about those pollutants or the ripple effect of problems they cause at all any more.

PFJ isn’t about doing it all, getting everything right. It’s about making a mindful, intentional effort to be better. To do better. It’s about a easy month long challenge to break into a more sustainable plastic free lifestyle. Plastic Free July can be a great jumping off point for anyone interested in leanring more ahout this movement, or the push you needed to get started.

Since we at Mad Cat Quilts already break up our journey to reduce waste into month long challenges, Plastic Free July is easily incorporated. How will you celebrate and challenge yourself this month?

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6 More Months of Zero Waste: June - Say NO, Say Yes

6 More Months of Zero Waste is the series where we tackle problems in our everyday lives to become more sustainable, more practical, use less plastic and create less waste.

What a weird time to be alive, huh? And what a hard time to be on a zero waste journey.

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Over the last few months, a lot of our zero waste practices have been challenged. Shops and cafe have stopped accepting reusables. Restarants have moved to only take out, with all the plastic packaging that entails. Supermarkets have done away with bilk bins. Disposable masks and gloves literally litter the streets. It all adds up to be very disheartening and demoralizing for those trying hard to fight plastic waste and waste in general.

BUT there is still hope!! Some wonderful side effects have come from the pandemic; carbon emissions are down so much that scientists are actually able to study them in new ways, sound pollution is so lessoned that ornithologists can study bird calls as never before, the canals in Venice Italy are clearer than they have been in a century, light pollution is down, animals are retuning to cities and towns that should be their habitat not ours, and many people in many fields have taken this time to come up with new innovations for a more sustainable future.

As nature tries to rebalance, so must we. Here are some ways to balance a negative with a positive.

Say NO to using plastic bags at the grocery. My grocery will allow reusable bags, as long as I bag them myself. I know people who have put all items back in the cart, no bags, until they reach their can and can bag the items there. Say YES to continuing to use reusable bags.

Say NO to take out. Although we want to support local businesses during this time, we must sacrifice it to some extent when they use all plastic and disposable to go items. Say YES to finding your local spots that use paper or cardboard (pizza is always a good option!). And say YES to cooking at home more!

Say NO to disposable masks. Say YES to buying from an artizen making reusable masks or say YES to making your own!

Say NO to big box stores and groceries for food, plants, or what ever else you need, whenever possible and say YES to local farm markets or stands. Many of these types of locals shops have expanded their inventory at this time.

Say NO to driving, going to the gym, or seeking entertainment in malls or shopping centers. Say YES to long walks, staying local and staying in or around your own home and fining fun activities to do (victory garden anyone?) even AFTER lockdown. For several months we were forced not to do these things, now that things are reopening, you can choose not to do them.

Say NO to shopping for items online and YES to making due with what you have. Or borrow items from friends. Or urban forage.

Say NO to fast fashion and YES to ethical alternatives like online thrift shops. Better yet, say YES to shopping your own closet, decluttering as you go!

Say NO to spending money for the sake of buying and YES to thinking about saving in new ways. For some, the stay at home order and forced furlough or unemployment as well as having to change spending habits have have given people new insights in where and how they spend (and waste) money.

Say NO to thinking only how this time effects us, and YES to how it effects everyone on a global level. A small way to do this is to say YES to wearing your mask in public and continuing to self isolate even after the lockdown is lifted. Another is to donate, volunteer, or come up with other ways to help those more greatly effected then yourself.

Say NO to going right back to NORMAL and say YES to committing to coming up with a life that is more sustainable, more mindful and more fulfilling for YOU.

For our 6 More Months of Zero Waste this months, let’s remember to take what we have learned to balance and carry it with us into the future. Balancing a no with a yes in a sustainable lifestyle is a helpful practice that we can use and share now and many years from now.

What are some other things, activities or ideas that you have balanced during this time?

If you are new to this series, here’s what ew are working on for this 6 moth block. Follow along or pick and choose challenges to try.:
June 2020- Say NO, Say Yes
PLASTIC FREE JULY
August 2020 - carry no disposables
September 2020 - back to school/educate
October 2020 - beach clean
November 2020 - Hidden plastic
December 2020 - Repair before you replace

We started our tackling new zero waste challenges six months at a time in 2019:
January 2019 - Trash Audit
We separated and looked our trash to see what we are throwing away and what we can reduce.
February 2019- Declutter Everything
We went thru what we have to declutter and reduce.
March 2019- Switch to Paper
This month we moved to paper to get one step closer to reusables.
April 2019- Compost
Composting is an easy way to reduce food waste and prevent it from reaching the landfill.
May 2019- Meatless Monday
One of the best ways to improve the environment is to stop eating factory farmed meat and industrial fish. Small steps lead to big change so this month we gave up meat (or dairy or fish) for at least one day.
June 2019- No Bottled Water
We gave up bottled water as an avenue to give up more disposable plastic in Plastic Free July.
July 2019 - Plastic Free July!
Go plastic free this month!

In late 2019, we continued our journey to becoming more zero waste:
November 2019 - Zero Waste Kit
We created a zero waste kit to help us be more zero waste in our day to day life.
December 2019- No Gifts
We took Dec to give no gifts and get no gifts.
January 2020 - Clothing and Fast Fashion
This month we explored what fast fashion is, and how we can stop buying it forever.
February 2020- Use Mass Transit
The shortest month seemed like a good time to explore alternatives to driving our cars.
March 2020 - Bathroom Make-over
You’ve swapped out a few items to more sustainable choices around the house. It’s time to tackle a full room.
April 2020- Grow Your Own Food
April marks the start of spring in the continental USA, and when we can start growing food easily. But there are many ways and time to grow your some of own food.

My Number One Tip for Quitting Fast Fashion

This is an easy tip:

DON’T BUY FAST FASHION.

Fast fashion is bad on many levels. The environmental and human impact is enormous. There are tons of resources for you to see all of it. You might want to start with my simple definitions surrounding Fast Fashion, and other fashion terms.

But avoiding fast fashion is easier said than done. As with almost everything in the sustainability movement, it starts with a mind-set shift. We must move away from the idea that we need to constantly be buying new clothes, that we need to keep up with changing trends, and the idea that having a lot of cheaply made and purchased clothing is better than having a few pieces that we love and that cost more (and therefore, hopefully, were made humanely with the environment in mind). We must also change how we think about clothing at a basic level. We are consumers and our first thought is about ourselves. We must move away from our first thoughts of “that would look good on me”, “that’s so cute!”, “that’s on trend”, “I need this item”. and think about where our clothing comes from. Who made this item? What conditions were they exposed to? What impact did it have on them? On water supplies, on animals, on the earth? Once these become questions you ask yourself before buying you are less likely to buy unnecessarily. The impact fast fashion has on the world becomes an impact on you as well. But this may take time and certainly takes a lot of effort.

So while you are figuring out how to make that mind-set shift, here is my number one tip for quitting fast fashion:

STOP GOING TO FAST FASHION STORES.
In real life and online.

Vintage clothing labels.

Vintage clothing labels.

This is the one big thing that really helped me kick my fast fashion habit; I stopped looking to shop fast fashion. I stopped visiting the mall, target, stopped going to online shops. Stopped looking at sales and deals. Mostly I stopped looking at clothes at all, unless I was in my own closet or at the thrift shop. Since we are consumers, we are conditioned to look at sales, we are taught that merchandising and deals are important, that having more will make you feel better and shopping will make you happy. But we need to reconnect the human and environmental cost of the things we buy. That cheap, trendy, top is not just a inexpensive pleasure for you to have. That top was made by a real person who most likely worked in horrible conditions, used water that could have saved someone from thirst or hunger, shipped across the world leaving pollution and destruction in it’s wake, excreted microplastics into the oceans and air, and finally will be thrown away and end up in a landfill or burned to create even more waste. By changing the way we think, and eradicating the temptation of looking at fast fashion, we break the hold that consumerism has on us.

What has helped you quit or reduce buying fast fashion?

Lady Celestina's Book Reading Method

My friend, Lady Celestina, reads a lot of books. When I asked them how they did it, they let me in on thier special method. It’s quite simple, really, but I was excited to try it, especialy bc I have more time to read than in many years. After using this method since the end of March, I can say that this totally works! I’ve read 8 books in about 7 weeks as of writing this.

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Lady Celestina’s method has more to do with commitment and a mindset change than it does with an elaborate trick.

Simply, take the total number of pages of your book, divide by the number of days in which you want to read it (7 is suggested), and read that amount each night rounding up to the nearest chapter or page break.

Super easy, right? But if you stick with it, it gives you the right motivation to get thru books super quickly while being attentive and engaged. My previous problem was that I would read only a few paragraphs or pages at a time. I thought any reading was better than none. Reading so little never gave me enough to sink my teeth into. I was easily distracted, and would put the book down right away. Once I was on to The Lady’s trick, once I committed to trying it and using it, it allowed me to really get into each session and often times I would read more than the allotted number of pages. Having a method to rely on, I found it easier to put away distractions. I would highly recommend Lady Celestina’s Method for anyone trying to read more productively!

Do you have any tricks for reading?

The Problem with Wanting Too Much is Having Too Much

I really want to buy new underwear. New fresh, cotton, ethically made, sustainable underwear. I would love to get rid of basically all my old ones and buy all new.

I would love to go on the internet and buy every little thing I want, like artisen jewelry, zero waste skin care, a comfy tye died sweatshirt, all the jeans, even more of the records. And now that most of us are spending basically all our time at home, this is even more tempting.

There are several reasons why I don’t do that but what they all boil down to is that we should do now what we want for the future. People’s greed and shortsightedness definitely played a part in getting us into our current situation and certain people are taking advantage of the situation in which we now live. It’s up to us as individuals to think more carefully and mindfully about our decisions and how they impact the world, especially while we have the time to make really informed, thoughtful, decisions. While the whole world is forced to move a little slower, let’s move slower within ourselves.

I am now even more mindful of my space, and what I want from it. Our spaces are directly related to ourselves. We’ve all heard the expression “cluttered home, cluttered mind” and we know that for the vast majority of us this is true. I see that in my own life, even more clearly while I’m spending so much time at home. I won’t be becoming a minimalist, but I’m working on ways to decide what is most important in my space. People who are busy buying instead of thinking might come out of this time of covid 19 with more stuff but feeling less safe and whole and “decluttered” in their homes and minds. The problem with being taught to want so much is you will end up having too much.

One of the biggest changes zero wasters and minimalists have to make is the mindset shift from what society has taught us (bigger is better, more is never enough, buy stuff to feel better), to what we know to be true (simple is satisfying and we have a responsibility to ourselves, our world and our community to be better then before, self reflection is healthy). Now that you have a minute, take that time to think about what you want to survive from this time and how to best achieve that in your mind, life and the world.

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My Favorite Videos About Productivity

I love to watch Youtube videos about productivity, habits, resets, to keep you on track, different methods of systems and checklists, and meeting your goals, whatever those goals may be. I find by watching a lot of these types of videos, I can pick and choose and create my own views and methods of being productive in both work and life. Here are some of my favorite videos and a great way to get started.

One method that I love to use to increase my productivity and organization and keep my life in order is Bullet Journaling. I have a bunch of posts about my bullet journal you can check out. But the best video to start a bullet journal is the Bullet Journal Set Up by Ryder Carroll.

My favorite youtuber to watch on this subject is MuchelleB. She does a lot of reading on the subject and can distill that info down, so you don’t have to. I enjoy almost all of her videos, but especially like that most of them are short and to the point. I follow, to some extent her method of having a Life Admin Day when I can.

Calendar blocking is a great method for productivity and organization and Any Landino is the queen of calendar blocking. Her style is more commercial and brash than most of the videos I watch, but I enjoy many of her vids.

Who are your favorite productivity gurus? What methods do you find useful to keep your self on track in the day to day? Do you find videos helpful? Share your favorites!

Pandemic Pantry - A Trip to the Supermarket Has a Whole New Vibe

I love supermarkets. I’m a supermarket tourist. I love to visit them, see new ones, go to them when I’m traveling, or seek out interesting ones near me. We used to hit the supermarket 2-5 times per week. Whenever we were thinking of something, wanted to get out of the house, needed an item or two, we would head to the grocery, sometimes stopping at a more local shop in between. We did this bc we liked it and bc we could.

But visiting the supermarket has become a whole new experience in the time of covid 19. It’s become something we must all plan for as we make our Pandemic Panty. Here are some tips for your next visit!

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Plan what day you want to shop and stick to it!
There are several benefits to plan what day and when you will take a trip to the supermarket. While we are social distancing, it’s best to leave the house only when absolutely necessary. By planning your day to shop, you will know when you have to go out and you can plan other chores around that day (post office, pet store, etc…). You will also have a better idea how much food you have left in the house. If you plan to go shopping and stick to that day, you may find yourself getting creative in the last meals before your trip and this is a good thing! Another good reason to plan your day to shop and stick to it is that you can coordinate what days/times are the least bananas at your grocery, or will be the most productive for you. With all the restrictions placed on times to shop (senior hours, long lines, early closing hours, restocking or sanitizing days, etc…), being strategic so you are sure to get everything you need and not get overwhelmed is key.

Make a thorough list.
We talked all about that in our last pandemic pantry post.
Remember it’s very important to only buy what you need and avoid hoarding.

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Be prepared.
Once you have you list, make sure you have your cloth bags, for produce and groceries. Make sure you have your mask and gloves (if you use them). Come equip with a sanitizer for before and after. get everything you need together before your trip, so you are not scrambling around at the last minute or feeling flustered. The vibe at most groceries is now super tense, we want to eliminate this in ourselves as much as possible. You know when your shopping trip will be, so gather your gear early.

Stick to your guns.
Many groceries now require certain items and disallow others. You can bring reusable bags, but you must bag you own groceries (no big deal, you were prob doing that already). Some require masks and gloves, make sure to wear your own reusables, to avoid waste. Many supermarkets have done away with their bulk sections, so you might have to get creative. The important thing is that you are still thinking about how to shop the most sustainable and zero waste under the current circumstances. This will def require some extra work, but putting aside our own convenience is still a big part of this endeavor. It’s easy in this time to give into thinking, why does it matter? But it matters more now than ever, and what we demand as consumers now, could change the face of consumption after the pandemic.

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Do the best you can.
The above being said, it has become harder to be sustainable in this time so, as always, we must start where we are and do what we can. Can’t wear your own gloves? Take the disposable but make sure they get thrown away properly. Can’t bring your own produce bags? Use the groceries paper bags (often where the bakery items are). Can’t find items in bulk? choose the same item with cardboard packaging or has the least amount of plastic. Can’t use cloth bags at check out? Ask for paper so they can be recycled. This is a useful time to think about all the easy swaps to be made. resourcefulness is a huge part of sustainability.

Stay calm.
or as we like to say at MCQ, Don’t Panic. This is going to be a frustraiting visit to the supermarket. They may not have what you need. They might only have it in plastic. They might be crowded. People might be rude. It’s hard to tell what people are saying, thinking and feeling when everyone is covered up and apprehensive. Remember to communicate clearly, smile, take your time, and don’t panic.

With these tips in mind, you are sure to have a successful shopping trip. Do you have any ideas or experiences to share?