simple days with bonnie rae

Hi everyone!

Recently, I have been thinking about my impact. My impact on the earth, animals, and other people. I think about the positive impacts I am having, and also the negative ones. It’s important to remind yourself of both.

While there are always things we could be doing better, don’t beat yourself up. Remind yourself of what you are doing right. Then, when you’re ready to make your transitions, start making them.

I thought I would share the current transitions I am making in my life. I am not doing everything perfectly. None of us are. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be making every day changes.

Not long ago I met someone trying to cut meat out of their diet. They frequently asked me for tips and advice that I was happy to give. This person shared with me that after a few weeks of not eating meat they accidentally ate a chicken based box stuffing. After realizing this, they became very upset and exclaimed, “I can’t do this! I can’t be a vegetarian!”

After they shared their story with me I gently reminded them, “Just because you make one little mistake or you don’t do things exactly how you’re ‘supposed’ to does not mean you have to beat yourself up. That one little slip up does not mean you have failed.”

So often, when we are trying to change, we think that if we do not do it all at once (or if we do not do it perfectly) that we have failed. This is the opposite of true. Just changing your mindset and being willing to evolve and change is enough.

Take your time, be gentle with yourself, encourage your heart.

Without further adieu, the current transitions I am gently introducing to my life.

1. Paper waste.

I recently came across the Zero Waste Home blog. The blog is written by a mom with four teenage boys and a husband. For the past seven or eight years this family of six has produced zero waste. The tiny bit of items they were unable to refuse, reduce, reduce, recycle, or rot fit into one glass jar.

I was SO inspired. These are regular people, that used to live very wasteful lives, now living waste free. One day, I want to be zero waste or waste free. A small transition that I am making to begin this journey is…eliminating my paper waste!

With the support of my partner Andrew, we are no longer buying: paper towels, tissues, cotton balls, q-tips, or napkins. I am also transitioning to a Lena cup, more on that another day.

To replace paper towels and napkins we will use our dishtowels and rags. For tissues we will use reusable hankies. For cotton ball and q-tip purposes I will use a washcloth.

2. Beauty routine.

As soon as I found out about cosmetic animal testing I immediately began transitioning those nasty items out of my routine. That started my senior year in high school.

I haven’t used animal tested products in years which feels amazing.

This fall I found out about low tox living. I learned that most of the beauty products I had been using were not tested on animals; however, they were not good for my body. From my body lotion to my makeup remover, there were loads of chemicals in the items I thought were helping me.

I have started transitioning to very basic beauty products. I thought I would share a few of the items I am currently using as I rethink my entire beauty routine.

Body and face lotion: Jojoba Oil. Your skin is the biggest organ on your body. Be careful with it. I shower at night and then apply the jojoba oil to my entire body. It doesn’t leave me oily, it soaks in right away.

Homemade makeup remover: Witch hazel, jojoba oil, water. I used to use Burt’s Bees makeup remover, but even that has chemicals in it. The makeup remover from the link above is all natural, super cheap, and works perfectly.

Oral health (in place of mouth wash): Oil pulling  Remove toxins from your body and keeps your mouth healthy with oil pulling. I use coconut oil. It was gross the first time I did it, but now I love love love it!

Spots or acne: Tea Tree Oil Just apply a little tea tree oil to each of your spots before bed!

Let me know in the comments if you would like to see a more detailed beauty routine with all the products I currently use.

So, those are two of the transitions I am currently working on. I am celebrating my successes and forgiving myself for my failures. I am feeling so healthy and so happy- and I’m having fun.

What are your current transitions? Don’t rush yourself, it takes time to grow.

More soon,

Bonnie Rae xx