Darphynia's Diary

It's hard to believe we started the #MinsGame nearly 31 days ago!  Where has the time gone?  So far, we have piled up an incredible number of "things" we have accumulated over the years.  It's easy to forget how much you have until it is all put in front of you.  We are starting to run out of things to put in the pile, which is good in a way.  We just have to remember not to accumulate more.  I think we (the collective "we") often gather more things after we have gone through a "spring cleaning" bout, for various reasons.   In just a few days we will have a photo up of everything we will have to donate/sell/toss.  Have you thought about downsizing?  We'd love to know about your experience(s)! Stay beautiful!

Happy summer!  We are doing a summer zero-waste giveaway with our friends at Ethique Beauty .  They are based in New Zealand and make wonderful, effective, natural, beauty products that are packaged plastic-free.  The boxes are compostable, which means they are truly zero-waste products!  In case you are wondering, yes, they have vegan products but not all are vegan.  Now, about the giveaway. Last time we did a giveaway it was for our Instagram followers.  This one is for all of you who follow us via Facebook .  This giveaway is focused on spreading awareness through zero-waste, eco-friendly, reusable products.  It also happens to be #plasticfreeJuly!  In light of that, we will be running this giveaway until July 31st @ 11:59pm PST.  The winner will be announced on August 5th. Items in this giveaway: 1.  Mason Jar 2.  Reusable Glass Straw (color will vary) 3.  Straw Cleaner Brush 4.  Ethique Solid Sunless...

Our friends at Ethique sent us some amazing zero-waste, sustainable, eco-friendly hair and body care.  Everything they offer comes in compostable/biodegradable packaging, making their products truly zero-waste!  And, a portion of profits go towards charities, such as The Orangutan Project and International Animal Rescue .  If only all companies were as transparent.  Now, on to the review. 1.   Glow Solid Deodorant in Lavender and Vanilla For those of you who are looking for a natural alternative to deodorant, or something new to try out, this block is worth a shot.  This deodorant kept me odor-free all day, and the scent sticks-- well, it did for me.  The soothing lavender and warm vanilla adds to its positives.  The bar also travels well.  I have an old square tin that I pop the bar into when I head to the gym or wherever I travel.  Some natural deodorants don't last.  I've used sticks, pastes, and unpackaged solids. ...

Whether you are going on a road trip, or flying the "friendly skies", the last thing you want is for your liquids to explode.  Okay, maybe that's a bit dramatic, but you know what I mean.  You have everything packed, and let's say you're taking a flight, which can be stressful enough.  You get to the screening area, and unless you have TSA Pre-Check, you will need to remove your liquids bag.  Unbeknownst to you, the shampoo cap came unscrewed, leaking product all over everything.  Just when things couldn't get worse, there is a small hole in the bag, and the shampoo has leeched out into the bin.  You're out of shampoo, have to wash out the bag and wash off its contents, and now you have a bin to clean.  There is a line of people behind you, and the feeling of holding people up just adds to the current stress level. Perhaps you've decided to go on a spontaneous road trip with some friends or family, and have placed your liquids in your bag.  ...

We are four days into the #MinsGame, and that means we have gotten rid of 10 items!  The box is beginning to fill up.  This whole process is far easier than I imagined it would be.  I think the difficult part will be the initial upkeep.  Hopefully it won't be a constant battle between needs  and wants .  But isn't a lot of this a mindset?  If I think about everything I have, I don't really need  any more, well, anything.  Since I have been replacing single-use or limited-use items with products that will supposedly last years (provided I don't break or ruin them), I won't have a need to buy replacements for some time.  You can read our other articles about those purchases here .  Combining paring down with our no-spend July should make for an interesting time.  You know, never did I ever think about how my purchases would affect anything.  It is just stuff.  But in having more things to sift through and take care of, ...

I don't remember how I first read about The Minimalists .  I think it was when I was researching small space organization and de-cluttering.  One of the ads for their documentary video popped up, and I was intrigued.  Around the time I saw them, I was also looking into the whole "Zero Waste Movement".  The two ideals seemed to coincide a bit.  Minimalism isn't just about living with less, but living with more meaningful items that you will use (the same with zero-waste), as opposed to having lots of items sitting around collecting dust.  What I love about that is (1) having less means not having to search endlessly for something you've misplaced and (2) you have more money to spend on experiences or items that will last versus fast-fashion and impulse buying.  Not that you need to follow any specific model, and there are no directions or specific rules-- minimalism is not as constricting as it sounds.  Aside from things like holiday wrapping paper...

This week I have decided to focus on minimalism.  I never really thought about how much "stuff" I was accumulating until I moved some things to storage.  Holy s**t!  I have more than enough items.  Do I think that people should never spend or buy things?  No.  But, I want to see what it's like to focus on being present and here rather than on what I want to buy.  Plus, my wallet will surely thank me.   This will be a huge challenge because I am a sucker for samples.  If it is something I will use, then I'll take it, but other than that, I will, "...just say no."

I am currently writing an opinion piece on the Zero Waste Movement and minimalism.  Until then, I thought I would post up some of the things I have purchased that help control the chaos in my tiny space.  While I have some issues with zero (I prefer minimal) waste, there are some things to be said for it.  Here are some products you may be interested in: 1.   Facekins Image courtesy of Connie @ Facekins.

Monday:  The Beginning Today was a pretty easy day, since I've been working from home.  I haven't purchased anything, and have been eating in.  Conveniently, my leftovers were in a recyclable container, so there's that.  Starbucks has been calling (though I secretly long for a tea from Coffee Bean), but truth be told, I'm too comfortable to go.  Plus, they end up tossing a cup anyway since they always measure in the plastic cups, with few exceptions.  I normally get Youthberry tea, and when I take a jar, just have them fill it with room temperature water.