My High School Reunion Weekend

So, my 20th high school reunion was this weekend in Minnesota and I really really wanted to go. But, I didn't. Bummer.

First, here are two things you need to know about me and high school: 1) I haven't been friends with anyone from high school since about 6 months after graduation (why is another story). 2) Therefore, other than superficial social media contact (facebook!), I haven't talked to anyone I graduated with in those 20 years.

So, it shouldn't surprise anyone that when I messaged some of the girls I used to know from high school on Facebook, they weren't going. And couldn't be convinced otherwise. So fine.

And I wasn't about to lone-wolf the reunion. No way. Crazy.

On the plus side, I took my family on the roadtrip to Minnesota anyway. I got together with one friend from high school and met her family -- this was awesome. And saw some family who still live there. All in all, a pretty awesome weekend.

And I did notice some Facebook updates from the reunion. So, that's pretty fun.

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Reusable Cotton Rounds

Maybe one of the things I'm digging so much about this plastic-free venture is getting to be a little creative and crafty. It's a fun challenge to figure out the better choices and make them.

When looking through the bathroom for easy swaps, I zeroed in on those little cotton pads I use to remove mascara and swipe on face toner. Harvesting cotton, pressing it into little disks only for me to use it once and throw it away!? Plus, I'm spending 5€ for a plastic bag of them every few months? I can do better.

A little Pinteresting found a quick step-by-step to make these reusable pads. You can find better direction here, but basically I....

1 - traced circles in color flannel fabric using a water glass.
2 - Pinned three pieces together.
3 - Used a tight zig-zag stitch on my sewing machine to close up the edges.
4 - Last, I trimmed around the edges and repurposed a pickle jar to store them.

Nothing to it.

I wash them with the kitchen rags on a hot water setting. And I've i…

Three New Plastic-Free Swaps

This week I've been thinking about the plastic-free swaps that are slowly getting added to our home. One thing I read a lot is the misconception that you need to "buy all this new stuff" to go plastic-free. And that's kinda silly. I mean, the idea of buying a lot to become sustainable is a littlecontradictory, right?

Chances are, you have a reusable water bottle and shopping bag rattling around the house, or you can probably ask a family member for one. And you've already created a pretty good swap.

While I DO like shopping, I'm a touch frugal. So, I'm swapping out plastic items that are ready for replacement with more renewable sources as they need to be replaced. Here are the latest three.

First up, replacing our plastic toothbrushes for bamboo.
While usually I buy Preserve toothbrushes, made of 100% recycled plastic, mostly yogurt cups, I wanted to switch to a sustainable material. Bamboo! This Bam and Boo company offers a 3-month subscription and, mos…

My Tips for Visiting Paris

One of the absolute joys of being an expat living in Paris is that I can be a tourist without the jet lag and limited luggage space for new shoes. It's such a privilege! Having traveled to Paris several times, with and without kids, I have a few tips I can share to make your trip here enjoyable.

Wear good walking shoes. Paris is one of the most walkable cities. You can start at the Notre Dame, walk to the Louvre along the river, and up the Champs-Elysees in one day. Or over to the Palais Garnier. And just strolling through neighborhoods, picking up snacks, desserts, etc., is the reason to come here. It's beautiful. But it can also be hell if your shoes are too tight. I love my grey Nike sneakers or a pair of trusty Birkenstock sandals for when the weather is nice.

To blend in with the local gals, you'll want to pack a scarf. Or two. I love a scarf and always travel with one, because it's a blanket/pillow on a plane, and an extra layer while walking around -- adding jus…

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