Tips to go Zero-Waste on a budget

Tips to go Zero-Waste on a budget

Sunday, November 15, 2020

Nowadays people think that having a zero-waste life is a trend. That we just want to become this way because the “zero-waste items are cute”. But to be honest, I’d be proud of people even if they become zero waste just because is a trend.
Our planet is dying and we have to make people understand that someday we’ll die surrounded by plastic, and if teens will start because it’s a trend and then understand that they’re doing something for the planet, then let them be!
Sadly, most of us are becoming zero waste because of what is happening with Amazonia. This is something that has touched the heart and conscience of many people around the world.
So, if you’re here because you want to start a zero-waste life like me, then you are welcome! Let’s get into the steps I’ve been taking into this journey.

Steps I’m taking to have a plastic-free life

Bye-bye buying bottles of water

Did you know that a plastic bottle can last between 500 – 1000 years to biodegrade? That’s a lot.
I used to buy up to five bottles of water whenever I was out of my house or work. Now, I take my eco-friendly bottle of water with me everywhere I go. I stay hydrated and help the planet at the same time, isn’t it awesome?

Changed makeup remover pads

I used to buy normal cotton makeup remover pads, but I changed them to these reusable makeup remover Pads.
These makeup remover pads are soo gentle on my face and I have saved money by buying them! Because think about it, how many times don’t we need to buy a new pack of makeup remover pads? With these, you only need to make one purchase and that’s it!

Glass food containers
I’m a fan of meal prepping and these glass food containers have saved my life.
They are divided into three sections which makes it easy to carry lunch with me. Plus, I think they are pretty affordable.
Started taking stainless steel straws with me
It was hard at the beginning cause I used to forget them every time I went out of my house. But now I take them everywhere I go.
My friends are used to make fun of me cause I take them even if I go to restaurants, however, do you know how aesthetic your pictures look with them?
Spoiler: they look AMAZING.

Stopped buying coffee
In some countries it is pretty common to take your cup with you and, whenever you buy coffee, you just hand it to the waiter and he’ll put the coffee there. Well, in my country it is a sin.
I used to eat almost every single day at a McDonald’s near my job. Something that ashamed me, but it helped me understand lots of things.
MCD decided to stop giving people the straws and tops because they thought it was a waste of plastic, which I think is amazing. But not everybody was happy about that.
One day, a woman talked to me while I was eating and said “I don’t understand why these people are doing this. Do they think they’ll save the planet? I bet they’re just trying to save money”
And that’s the way almost every person in my country thinks. That’s why I decided to keep my cup of coffee with me. I take one from home and fill it again when I’m at work, and that’s it.
I really wish I could change my people’s minds. They think everything is a joke.
So yeah! These are the small steps I’m taking to zero-waste life. I hope this was helpful and don’t forget to pin and share!

Cantu Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream - Review

Cantu Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream - Review

Thursday, November 12, 2020

Cantu’s Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream is heaven.

Being a natural girl can be stressful sometimes.

Having to find the perfect curly hair products for your type of hair or your necessities (if you’re transitioning or if your curls are dry) or having to look for tips to help you deal with those rebel curls, can be a nightmare.

Watching YouTube videos, reading blog posts, and even the reviews on Amazon or eBay just to buy a product which, in the end, may not even work on you!

I tried everything while transitioning. Homemade gels, homemade hair masks, deep conditioning, everything! And that everything was not helping me… at all!

That’s when I found Cantu.

Cantu’s Curl Activator Cream – Review

Cantu, for me, is one of the best when it comes to helping us no matter what’s the problem we’re dealing with, from masks to curl activators, they have it all!

The Curl Activator Cream from Cantu is, honestly, one of the best products I’ve ever tried. It helps my curls feel so soft and moisturized, besides, how defined they are is amazing!

I got to be honest, the first time I tried them, I gave them a minus, but it was not the product’s fault.

I started transitioning about a year ago and it was the first product I ever tried. Everybody was saying: “OMG Cantu is amazing!” or “you should start using Cantu, right now!” and as the good listener that I am, I followed the advice.

The problem? They didn’t tell me how to use it!

I didn’t use a leave-in nor divided my hair into sections to put the product on. I just took some of it and put it on my hair, oh God… what a mess!

I hated the product at that moment and I even wanted to cry because I thought I’d wasted that money! (They’re pretty expensive in my country and I didn’t have a job back then).

But I didn’t give up. I couldn’t just lose money, I had to find a way!

I looked for some tips on YouTube, I read tons of blogs and bought a good hair mask to hydrate my hair (actually I bought a sample of their deep conditioning mask, I was not going to make the same mistake twice).

The second time I tried it? It did magic with my curls!

I just needed to do some research on how to use it and it became THE product everybody was talking about.

It defined my non-existing curls at that moment. They ended up being super moisturized after some weeks using it and the way it made me feel is hard to describe!

My curls lasted for days. I only had to use a bit of water and a bit of leave-in and they were as if I just finished styling them!
Good things

1. It can last for a long time since you can have good results with so little product!

2. The fragrance can last forever on your curls.

3. Does not weight down your hair, which means that you’ll have good volume.

4. Reduces tangling and hair breakage.

5. Affordable.

6. Shiny curls.

Bad things

The only bad thing I find is that, if you don’t like the coconut scent, then this product won’t be for you.
How to use Cantu’s Curl Activator Cream

1. Wash, Condition, and detangle your hair.

2. Divide your hair into sections.

3. Apply the Cantu Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream section by section. (Note: Comb your hair for even better product distribution)

4. Scrunch, scrunch, scrunch!

5. Hair dry with a diffuser (Tip: Use the diffuser when your hair is 80% dry to give more volume and to finish drying it)
Important note about Cantu’s Curl Activator Cream:

Cantu’s Curl Activator Cream gives better results to 2A-3A types of curls. So if you’re over 3C I don’t think it will fit you, however, if that’s your case I highly recommend the Cantu’s Maximum Hold Moisture Retention Styling Gel.

10 things I stopped buying as a minimalist

10 things I stopped buying as a minimalist

Monday, November 9, 2020

Something is a fact: I wish I had stopped buying these things sooner.

As someone that grew up in a Latin American home, with parents and grandparents obsessed with having big furniture, lots of clothes, and thousands of accessories, I thought that minimalism was a crazy and nonsense thing.

Then I found a post on Pinterest that talked about how minimalism helped that person with her anxiety. And that post opened my eyes: The more I had, the more I wanted.

I used to compare myself with my classmates, who had these fancy outfits and makeup, or with my cousins, who lived in another country and could buy as much as they wanted. I wanted to be like them and I got a job just to be able to get all those things.

An old English teacher got me a job at an institute, the payment was low, the hours were killing me, but, that made me happy because at least I could buy plenty of shoes, pants, dresses, and makeup, even though I don’t like makeup nor dresses.

I just wanted to be like them and even lost myself trying to be like someone else. My anxiety and depression were worse than ever. I just couldn’t handle it anymore!

So I took a bag and cleaned my closet. I got rid of all the things I never used or that I didn’t like. I sold or gave them all away. God, there are no words to explain how good it felt.

Of course, I’m still on the way through. I still live with my parents and just thinking about all the furniture they have, triggers my anxiety. However, that is something I cannot change since my mom loves all the things she owns.

So here we go with the 10 things I stopped buying on my way to minimalism!

10 things I stopped buying

Fast food

I stopped buying fast food once I got into a diet. While being on that diet I understood there are plenty of foods that my body doesn’t need and they only make my stomach upset.

When I stopped eating at MCD, BK, or KFC I could feel the difference in both my stomach and my pocket. I saved hundreds of Dominican pesos doing this! Do you know much can we spend eating out almost every day? Let me tell you: A lot!

Now, I meal prep and take my food everywhere I go. I save money, my stomach is happy and I’ve lost weight. Amazing, isn’t it?

Accessories

As a teenager, I was obsessed with accessories. I had all types of necklaces in different colors. There was a necklace for every occasion and every outfit. And I loved combining them with my shoes or my purse, or even both! Crazy, right?

Now I only own a couple of them. They are cute, simple, and go with any outfit. So I don’t get stressed anymore trying to combine.

Makeup

I already said that I don’t like makeup. However, when I started university it was hard for me not to buy it.

There were so many girls using makeup, going there with these cute outfits and getting all the boys’ attention, that I just wanted to be that way. And then this Korean Skin Care Routine came up, with cute and simple makeup ideas. It was temptation everywhere I looked!

So I went through another journey: Loving myself.

I understood that if I didn’t love myself I would never stop comparing every single detail of me with other girls and I’d want to buy and have everything they had.

Coffee

On my zero waste tips blog post I talked about why I don't buy coffee anymore, and one of the main reasons is because it comes in plastic cups. However, another big reason is that I’m picky when it comes to coffee. I drink it without sugar and If it has milk, it has to be almond milk cause I don’t drink cow milk, and they just don’t sell it that way here!

Every time I bought coffee, it had like a pound of sugar and more milk than coffee, cause that’s the way Dominicans drink coffee. So I just decided to stop buying it. That way I reduced waste and feel a loooot more comfortable taking my coffee with me.

Frozen fruit

Smoothies are my life. And I used to buy a bag of frozen fruits every time I went to the supermarket. I consumed 2-3 bags each month. That’s a lot of plastic! And do you know how expensive they are just because they’re frozen? It’s insane!

That’s why I decided to go to the market and buy them naturally. That's definitely the best way to eat healthier and to save money.

Perfume

You may think I’m crazy because I don’t buy perfume anymore. But, the products I use for my hair smell good enough for me to stop using perfume.

I used to have both the products and perfume, yet I felt that the perfume was a waste of money. So I just stopped buying it. I mean, why would I be wasting that much money in perfume when the smell of my hair was more intense? I don't think people even smelled the perfume. 

Face masks and Skin Care Products in plastic containers

When the amazing Korean Skin Care Routine became a trend, I got obsessed with it. I wanted to have every single step from it and the money I spent on that was crazy.

Every product was expensive and I was not seeing that miracle everybody was talking about. Indeed, my skin went from combo to oily because I didn’t know anything about the products I was using.

That’s when I decided to go from toxic and non-natural products to natural and non-toxic ones. I use just a few products on my routine and I try to avoid buying a bunch of serums. 

Clothes I don’t need

My mom makes of me cause I buy pants only when all of mine are broken. There was a time when I only bought a couple of pants because I was left with none.

The thing is that jeans are too expensive and if I have a couple that I can use in any occasion, why do I need more?

I don’t by dresses either. Whenever there is a special event, I prefer renting one or using one of the two dresses I own. Life is too short to worry about clothes, isn’t it?

Technology

I’m an iPhone lover. But, even though I love the iPhone 11 Pro Max, my 7 still working perfectly. Then why should I change it?

I learned from my father that running after the technology is a vicious cycle. I get one, and three months later there’s another better than mine. It only gives me anxiety having to worry about the new phone that this or that brand just threw out.

So, on the behalf of my mental health, I try to be with technology the same way I am with clothes. I just get a new one when mine isn’t working anymore.

And that’s it! These were the 10 things I stopped buying on my journey to minimalism. I hope this was a helpful post! 

Are you on your journey to be a minimalist? What are some things you don't buy anymore?

8 habits of highly creative people for 2021

8 habits of highly creative people for 2021

Sunday, November 8, 2020

My Arts teacher used to say “everybody’s creative, it’s just that some of us do more activities to grow that creativity”. And it's been proved that creative people have routines and habits that help them exploit their potential.

Some of us spend days walking around and appreciating our surroundings. Others, go to Art Galleries, concerts and get in touch with any art manifestation. We all do different activities to get inspired, and that’s the beautiful part of being a creative person.

Habits of creative people

Creative people take care of themselves

No, I’m talking about those “Selfcare Sunday” that you see everywhere. I’m talking about daily self-care.

Creative people take care of their health, both physical and mental. They do things they love and make them happy every single day.

So, if you don't do this already, you should implement it on your daily routine. Do things you love, read the books you like, see the movies and series you enjoy, love yourself every single day, not only on Sundays. And trust me, you'll create amazing things. 

Set goals

Creative people set goals. Yearly goals, monthly goals, daily goals, goals everywhere!

Setting goals help your brain focusing on what’s important, and help you stay motivated. So you should start setting goals in both your personal and professional life.

I don't know. Think about a project you want to start, a language you want to learn, even a place you want to visit. Anything you could imagine, set is a goal. 

They have a creative routine

I have a morning routine that helps me with my productivity, however, I also have a daily routine that helps me with my creativity. I try to do as many activities that’ll keep inspired as I can, every day.

Try to include in the routine activities you enjoy and that will give you a bit of inspiration each day. Like, you could add painting something new every morning, or start writing a bullet journal. Just be creative!

Study and grow

Some people need to feel they’re growing so they feel they’re doing the right thing. They study as much as they can and love learning new things about the topics they like.

Some creative people are like that, too. So you should find new ways to grow.  Look for information about the things you like, read new books, magazines or blogs, watch documentaries, grow, and never stop growing.

Creative people understand their body and mind

You think you need to be a morning person so you can create new things? Well. I’m sorry to disappoint you, but no.

Everybody is different. That's why, you need to listen to yourself, understand what your body is telling you, and work with it.

You’re not crazy if you stay up late cause it was at midnight that your brain decided to come up with an idea for a painting or a poem. You’re just part of the group of people that work better at night.

So don’t stress yourself with being a morning person, if your body is telling you that it works better at night.

Creative people connect themselves with art

My wise teacher also said, “you need to be surrounded by art to find the right inspiration”.

Artists often visit art galleries, writers read lots of books, photographers follow photographers and visit galleries, and so on. Us creatives need to find what inspires us to create more and beautiful things, and art is a piece of inspiration that we can find everywhere.

They keep a journal with themselves

Saw a cute couple in the park? Write about it.

Saw a beautiful flower? Draw it.

Never stop creating, cause that’s part of an artist’s life. Create as much as you can and whenever you have the opportunity. Just let it flow, be yourself, express yourself. 

Meditate

This is one I’m currently putting in practice. I love the fact that it makes me feel relaxed all day. I feel less anxious and it helps me stay more productive and creative every day.

Personally, I like to do it at night, right before going to sleep. Sometimes, I have so many things going on, that when I try to sleep, my brain just keeps working. So, I meditate to help that boy relax a bit.  Whenever I meditate before going to sleep, I sleep better. 

So, these are some of the habits us creatives can do to push that creativity a bit! 

How about you? Do you have any habits that help you stay creative? Let me know in the comments!