DIY Natural Cleaner

I recently juiced a whole lot of oranges and decided to finally try out making my own natural all purpose cleaner. Its easy enough, cover citrus peel in white vinegar for a few weeks and voila. Pro-tip, mark the date on your container (preferably glass) with a dry erase or china marker so you remember how much time has gone by. The virgo in me couldn’t help but create a calendar reminder as well.

I decanted the solution into a spray bottle I had on hand and then emptied the peels (using chopsticks due to the bottleneck in my carafe). The cleaner is great thus far! Now on to more DIY, zero waste projects.

My Current Aid to Reduce Food Waste

If you’ve been around here a while you probably already know I have been eliminating plastic and all kinds of waste from my household. While I haven’t bought plastic wrap in many years, and typically use Pyrex containers to store leftovers, finding sensical storage techniques for things like half of a lemon has been challenging. Last year I started using beeswax coated cloths, which at first glance seemed the most sustainable option. Reusable, check, made of natural materials, check, easy to clean, no check. I’ve steered away from using them because of the crumbs and dust my wax cloths tend to pick up and have gone back to the clunky glass containers for everything. Until I got these little silicone babies in my recent Causebox! They are dishwasher safe and come in a variety of sizes so they can fit over many container sizes and even produce. It’s only been days but this feels promising!

Find these at Alternative Cooking Hub.

My Favorite Mindfulness Apps, 2020 update

A little over 3.5 years ago I shared my favorite mindfulness apps at the time. Its been a while and my mindfulness practice has evolved a lot since then, but there are still a few apps that support my practice

Headspace. An oldie but a goodie. I’ve been using headspace since before leaving NYC. It’s what started my meditation practice and I still love going back to it whenever I need more guidance. I also love the way the app has involved over the years to include more scenario-based modules, sleep casts, and exercise.

Jour. This is a new one I added a few weeks ago to my arsenal. I use to micro journal each day and check in with my thoughts and emotions. Jour uses therapeutic techniques to provide customized guided journaling prompts that take minutes to complete but get you reflecting.

Tide. I still love using Tide as my Pomodoro timer when I need to focus on a task. The pomodoro method is my go to when I am procrastinating on a task that requires som focus. I typically do 25 minute focus sessions capped off with 5 minute breaks and it works like a charm. The key is actually removing all distractions and Tide helps with the ones coming from my phone.

Spotify. My friends over at Design for Everyone introduced me to the guided mediations available on Spotify. This is so convenient because I already use Spotify for music and podcasts.

Not an app, but immensely important, screen time settings. Setting screen time restrictions for myself helps me be more mindful of my digital consumption. I typically restrict all social apps on Sunday for the whole day and the extra step to enter an app makes me more conscious of if I really need to use it.

How to make Dalgona coffee (aka whipped coffee)

You've probably seen it all over the internet already, but in case you haven't, I am going to share how I am making Dalgona coffee these days!

Ingredients:

• instant coffee

• sugar (cane seems to work best for me)

• water

• milk or milk alternative

Combine in a bowl:

2 tablespoons of instant coffee

2 tablespoons of sugar

2 tablespoons of hot water

Now mix together and beat.

You're going to want to beat it until it becomes a light brown color and your arm feels like falling off!

Now spoon on top of however much milk you like!

Enjoy, but beware of how much caffeine is in there! I made the mistake of having a full serving to myself but now I split it into two servings (which still seems to be more caffeine than a regular coffee!)

For more info check out this video tutorial 

Work from home hacks (from someone who has been doing it for years)

Many of us are heading into week three of working from home and I’m hearing a lot about how it is not as easy as it seems. Creating healthy boundaries and breaking up the day is essential to not feeling like a blob at the end of the workday, take it from someone who has been working from home (and loving it!) for 3 years.

Here are some of my tips for creating a healthy work-from-home lifestyle:

• Wake-up with enough time to have your morning routine before reporting to work. I like to feel like I have had time for myself before logging on and diving into emails and slack messages. It allows my brain to wake up and for me to proactively set my mood for the day instead of starting work and being reactive to whatever comes up on my screen if I were to roll out of bed and logon. 

• Create a schedule and stick to it. If you say you'll be online at 8:30 every day make sure you logon ready to work at that time. Communicate your schedule to your colleagues and try not to do work things outside of these hours. Setting good boundaries is key to not feeling like your home-life is being overrun by your work duties.

• Create a logon routine. I have a routine when I logon, much like you would when you walk into the office. I like to turn on my favorite morning podcasts (Up First, Today, Explained, and The Daily), check-in on slack, scan my emails for urgent items,  and then open up my calendar to plan my day and block off my schedule with meetings and tasks. Spending the first hour-ish of most days with this routine gets me out of "home mode" and into "work mode."

• Keep work-issued and personal devices separate, if possible. Having a digital boundary between work and home has helped me not think about work on my off-hours and just keep files where they need to be.

• Have a specific work area you report to, free of distractions and clutter. Best of it is well lit too if you’ll be doing video conferences. Going to the same spot each day, at least at the start of your day, will help make working from home feel more "official."

• Invest in good headphones (with a mic) if you are co-working from home or are working from a noisy environment. Noise is such an easy distraction that can be eliminated easily.

• Similarly, invest in a comfortable chair. It will make all the difference, I promise.

• Keep a bottle of water within reach. It is so easy for me to forget to drink water when I am home all day, but staying hydrated helps you not feel fatigued throughout the day and be more productive.

• Take regular breaks and try not to eat meals at your desk while you work. And what I find works well for me is having set breaks that I can look forward to a create a rhythm to my day.

• If you have a hard time focusing, try the Pomodoro Method. It's a great way to work in sprints and incentivize getting things done. Essentially you set a timer to work for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break. I use the Tide app's focus function to time myself.

• Turn off notifications (Slack, email, etc.) during non-working hours. This goes back to keeping a strict work schedule where possible. Even if you don't respond to incoming messages, but you get the notifications, you will have work on your mind when you're in your off-hours creating dormant anxiety.

• Have an end of day transition routine for when you log off. I like to go for a walk then take a shower before starting my evening at home. These activities just break the day up and let my mind ease out of the workday.

I hope some of these suggestions are helpful in making your work-from-home life more enjoyable!

10+ things I like do when I am feeling stressed

With the current coronavirus outbreak, it seems like most of the battle is maintaining a healthy mental attitude. Admittedly this has been very hard for me so I have a few small acts I go to when I need to beat the mental overwhelm.

• Turn off all devices. I find a lot of my overwhelm is from information overload and the easiest thing for me to do is unplug from my phone, the podcasts, and any other source of external info for a little bit.

• Power nap. Sleep can cure just about anything.

• Take a shower. I don't know what it is about taking random showers in the middle of the day, but for me, they seem to wipe the slate clean.

• Go for a walk. Fresh air, hopefully, some sunshine, getting the body active. A walk almost always gives me a fresh perspective on things.

• Do a few stretches, maybe even a 10-minute yoga flow. I love these from Fightmaster Yoga.

• Make a cup of tea and sit down with a book. Escape into another world, get your brain focused on something else. Sometimes a healthy distraction is the way to go.

• Call my grandma (or anyone who lifts my spirits). 

• Journal. Sometimes I need to dive deeper into the negative feelings and getting them out on paper helps me look at my thoughts as something separate from myself, something less emotional.

• Meditate. If you meditate do it, if you don't know is a great time to learn how. I started meditating with Headspace and their basic course to get started is free to all.

• Ask for a hug. This one could be thought for those of use social distancing alone, but a hug (even virtual ones) from people who care always lifts the spirits and reminds me of all the love in the world despite it all.

• And if all else fails, binge watch Hyori’s Bed and Breakfast on Netflix. This show is the most relaxing thing on Netflix. I wanted to become a homesteader after watching it! And I swear you cannot be stressed while watching it.

How I Hygge Up My Home, Tips for Surviving Social Distancing

When I first learned about the Danish concept hygge I was ecstatic to know there is not only a word but also a whole culture around something I already love to do. Hygge ("hue-guh ") is essentially the feeling or a moment of cozy, calm contentment. 

These are some of the little details to create moments of hygge:

• Light a candle. This is the easiest way to create ambiance and if it's a scent you love double win.

• Dim the lights and stick with lamps, not overhead lighting. The right lighting can completely transform a spaces' atmosphere.

• Pour a hot drink. A tea, coffee, hot cocoa, no matter what you choose it will give you an instant cozy feeling.

• Bake something tasty. Not only can the act of baking be a calming experience, but the smell of baked goods wafting and then sharing your treats with loved ones is a majorly hygge.

• Put on some instrumental music in the background. I am currently obsessed with the Lush Lofi playlist on Spotify.

• Soft furnishings everywhere. A throw here, a few cushions there. Just enough so you can cuddle up comfortably.

• Fewer devices. Instead of scrolling on your phone try picking up a book or writing instead. It immediately slows you down and creates a more hygge experience.

• Wear cute and cozy socks. Just the act of seeing them on your feet will make you feel content.

What are your quick tips for feeling content at home?

Tips for making the perfect espresso at home

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I love a good cup of coffee. And after a few years of making it espresso in my Moka pot, I have picked up a few tricks along the way.

• Clean the pot. Some people say to leave the upper part of the pot unwashed to get a buildup of espresso for more flavor. This can actually make your espresso bitter so I like to wash my pot after every use. No need to wash with soap every time as it can be cumbersome to thoroughly get all the soap out, but a good rinse and wipe will do.

• Use purified, room temperature water. Some people say to use boiled water to speed up the heating process and prevent the coffee from burning, but I find it works better for me to just use filter water. And filtered or distilled is key because depending on where you live your water may be harder or softer and that affects the taste of your espresso as well as the metal of your Moka pot. 

• Use the right amount of water. Another major key is to add the right amount of water, never fill the bottom past the vent. And if you like super strong coffee you can play with using even less water than usual to get a stronger flavor.

• Find the right grind, and use good quality coffee beans. I like experimenting with local roasters' darker blends. The grind should be close the that of a traditional espresso machine. Fine, but not too fine. You are looking for something like table salt and less coarse than powdered sugar.

• Don't overpack the coffee pod. The water in the bottom of the pot needs to be able to percolate up through the coffee grinds to you don't want to press down on the grinds firmly like you would with other espresso machines. Filling the pod and giving it a light press will do fine.

• Heat low and slow, and remove from the heat as so as the coffee starts making a gurgling sound. I find making it this way avoids overheating the coffee avoiding that burnt taste you can get when you do.

• Store your pot assembled but not tightly screwed on. This might seem like a trivial thing but by storing it this way your rubber gasket will last longer giving you a better seal and overall better espresso. 

• Practice because you'll only figure out just how you like it by doing!

Do you have any tips or tricks for the perfect espresso? Let me know!! 

And for all of the tools I use (plus some cute mugs), I have an amazon list here (I encourage you to also not buy them on Amazon, it's just the most convenient way for me to make lists at the moment).

Microfiber Accountability

I talk a lot about reducing my single-use plastic waste, but last year I started learning about micro plastics and how they are wreaking havoc on our oceans, food supply, and physical health.

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One thing I didn’t know until last year is that my clothes are shedding microfibers as were wear and wash them. Shedding isn’t much of a problem when it comes to organic fibers (cotton, wool, linen, etc) because they will break down and not release harmful toxins. This is one of the reasons why for my clothing line, Two Days Off, I only use natural fibers. But for synthetics fabrics, they shed fiber often derived from petroleum that breaks down to release harmful toxins.

There are a few easy solutions to capture these microfibers that I have stumbled upon. One are bags to toss your synthetic clothing in like the one from Girlfriend Collective picture above; the guppy bag is another one that has been on the market for quite some time. There are also attachments you can add to your washing machine to capture the shed fibers like this one.
Since I live in an apartment and don’t have an in-unit washer dryer, the bag was the best option for me. I also don’t have much clothing made from synthetic fabrics except for my work out clothes and swim wear so I think just one bag should work for me.

I’m eager to try this out and see what accumulates in the bag! Maybe I’ll share a follow-up if it is interesting.

Plastic Freedom: Cleancult

In my latest foray of de-plasticing my life I have gotten my hands on an array of household cleaners by cleancult.

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Cleancult products are made with clean, all natural ingredients and come in reusable shatter-resistant glass containers that are super cute and feel high-quality. Refills for the products come in plastic-free packaging and every time you place an order they offset the carbon emissions from your shipment! You can see why I am into them, right?

The next question is do the products work? I received a bar of soap, dryer balls, laundry detergent tablets, liquid dish soap, dishwasher tablets, liquid hand soap, and an all purpose cleaner spray in my kit. Thus far I have been happy with all of them, although the bar soap is nothing to write home about. What I think has been one of the most impressive products is the all purpose spray. I was super skeptical of natural all purpose sprays until this one. I love it for cleaning stuck on food on the stove and even soap scum in the tub!

I am looking forward to my first refill shipment so I can analyze the packaging it comes in, maybe I’ll share an update then.

If you are interested in trying out Cleancult for yourself use my code GINA15 for 15% off your first order. And check out my Instagram for a fun time lapse of me using the all purpose cleaner.

Gifts for the Avid Traveler

The holidays are fast approaching and I have already been looking around for gifts for the special people in my life. One of my favorite ways to shop is finding similarities between me and the gift receiver and then basically shop for myself (don’t judge). In this gift guide, I am shopping for my fellow travel lovers.

Some of my most used and loved items include a sturdy and attractive backpack, versatile neck pillow, long-lasting tumbler, packing cubes, noise-canceling headphones, external battery pack, cute passport holder, and a travel journal to record all the memories in.

Books to inspire

Plastic Freedom: Mouthwash

The last frequently purchased single-use plastic for dental hygiene item is mouthwash.

1. Mouthwash tablets such as these from Georganics or mine from ByHumankind.

2. Mouthwash in glass bottles, even better if yo can find a place to refill it!

3. DIY solutions (or just warm water and salt!

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Plastic Freedom: Toothpaste

Continuing our theme of “de-plasticing” our dental hygiene routine, this post will look at toothpaste alternatives.

Alternative Products

1. Paste in metal tubes like Davids; most have plastic caps but some are starting to use alternative biodegradable materials like the Goodwell one pictured above. Since Goodwell has updated the packaging to no longer use metal tubes but a recyclable bio-resin from sugarcane packaging.

2. Toothpaste tablets like these, also very convinient for traveling.

3. Or toothpaste in a glass jar like Georganics and Nelson’s Naturals (with metals cap), or Uncle Harry’s (with plastic cap but reusable)

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Plastic Freedom: Toothbrush

Sticking with the theme of metal health, the second regularly purchased (and thrown away) plastic item is my toothbrush. I actually have been using Quip for a few years, but I have novel loved the plastic replacement heads and packaging it comes in. I decided to try out Goodwell’s premium toothbrush that also includes a subscription model and replaceable brush heads, but their heads are actually biodegradable!

Alternative Products

1. Bamboo toothbrushes with biodegradable bristles like Goodwell’s.

2. Brushes made from biodegradable plastic alternative materials or recycled (and re-recyclable) materials.

3. Mechanical or electric toothbrushes with biodegradable replacement heads like Goodwell’s Be Brush (which required no electricity or charging!).

Plastic Freedom: Dental Floss and Flossers

I started my plastic freedom challenge with what I felt was my most wasteful single use plastic - dental flossers. I use at least one everyday and feel a pain of guilt thinking about the thousands that are sitting in a landfill from me alone. So I went on the hunt for plastic-free flosser and floss options and found three.

Alternative Products

1. Silk or bamboo floss sold in cardboard or glass. If you go with the glass jar you can purchase refills for it.

2. Flossers made from biodegradable materials like cornstarch, charcoal or proprietary technology that have been tested (like Goodwell’s).

3. A water pik (or flosser) which is made form plastic but not single-use. I also have heard of a water pik attachment for the shower which is super convenient, but I’d go with this super sleek one.

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

100 Days to Plastic Freedom

This year for my annual 100 day project I switched things up from my usual mindfulness challenge. I have been looking to reduce my waste and particularly use of single-use plastics, so I decided to use this as an opportunity to do so.

Each weekday I chose one single-use plastic item I but with some regularity and research alternative products that would produce no plastic waste, and minimal waste generally. I documented each of these in my Instagram stories, but for posterity I want to share that research here. I will call this series of posts my journey to “Plastic Freedom.”

5 Restaurants to Try in Barcelona

I have become pretty good at planning vacations. I scour the internet for the best neighborhoods, museums, shopping and the like. But one thing I tend to struggle with is food. I am the type that can go from having a blast to being hangry in the matter of an hour so being around good food options while traveling is a must. But at the same time I HATE eating at tourist traps. It is the saddest things for me to spend on of my few meals on vacation at a place that over charges you for the poor imitation or watered down version of a local cuisine. That is why I have to share some of the best place I at at on this trip to Barcelona.

For a full foodie day start off with a coffee here. Satan's coffee corner is small, quasi-hidden spot in the gothic quarter serving up rich brunch dishes, pastries, and excellent coffee. Hipster vibes are abound, and they're only compounded by the super slow and apathetic service. But despite this you can't help but feel a little cooler leisurely drinking your coffee here, and the food certainly makes up for it. 

For a proper breakfast head to Bubó Bar, right next door to world renown Bubó patisserie. If you are an eggs and bacon kind of person (like I often am!) you might be hard pressed to find it at other places in Barcelona. Especially if you are looking to avoid the very touristy places. Luckily there is Bubó Bar, situated right in from to Santa Maria del Mar Cathedral. Tables are limited, but their farm fresh eggs and incredible breads and pastries are worth the wait.

If you love a good donut then definitely pop into Chök, located in the heart of Las Ramblas. If you don't love donuts, who are you? No but in all seriousness, there are goodies for everyone here including truffles, churros, and other beautiful and artisanal pastries. Beware though, choosing just one is nearly impossible.

For cocktail hour and tapas you must go to El National. It is located in Eixample neighborhood (read more about Barcelona's various neighborhoods in this post) on the main stretch of Passeig de Gràcia. This parking garage turned high end "gastronomic experience" is beautifully designed and won't break the bank. There are several areas and bars to choose from including a tapas bar, oyster bars, cured meats bar and more.

For dinner you'll need to head to the beach for authentic paella that is rumored to be the best in Barcelona. Xiringuito Escribà is a spot on the boardwalk serving up seafood and sangria like none other I've had before. You can even watch your paella get cooked up in their open kitchen, but likely you'll be more focused on the seaside views or whatever delicious appetizer is in front of you.

Special shout out to Sal for being our foodie guru throughout this trip and leading us to many delicious meals!