The Minimalist Lifestyle

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Definition of MINIMALISM

min·i·mal·ism
noun \ˈmi-nə-mə-ˌli-zəm\


1 :a style or technique that is characterized by extreme spareness and simplicity


Not only is minimalism easy on the pockets but it is also beneficial for the environment. Buying less will reduce the need to overproduce while lessening the waste in landfills. It is called supply and demand. If we demand less materials then the supply will/can reduce. Practicing to consume less and realize what you don't need and the neccessities in life can bring simplicity into your life. Besides, no one wants to be caught on Hoarders. The minimalist lifestyle will prevent unnecessary clutter around the house and save money as well.

BENEFITS;
Less of an impact on the environment
Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. This is not only the mantra of environmentalist everywhere but also key to minimalism. Reduce your consumption of unnecessary materials, reuse and recycle merchandise that you already have to cut down spending and more "stuff" which will eventually turn into clutter. Less consumption will also lessen waste going into your trash and the landfills. Be easy on the Earth.

Less money is spent so you can save
Obviously, if we consume more, that is more money in our pockets. We can save money by not making unnecessary purchases for things we do not really need.

Less stress gets you what you want
Unneccasary clutter is one of the most stressful and annoying obstacles in the home. There is nothing more irritating than searching through a bunch of items that you never use and do not need just to get to what you want. It is less to deal with when you practice minimalism. Living a simpler life is very rewarding and calming.



TIP;
Lets face it, I am a female. As are a lot of you out there. So therefor, we like to shop. I am pretty sure the main thing that women hoard would be clothing, shoes and accessories. Here's a trick that I use while shopping. When you take the mountain of clothes into the dressing room or while you are modeling that new shoe in the mirror, ask yourself, "Can I absolutely live without it?". Seems a bit extreme but my shopaholics and fashionistas understand. If you don't need it or have something that looks like it, DON'T BRING IT HOME!

We really don't need everything that we "want".

Here are a couple cool sites about minimalism;
the minimalists
miss minimalist
everyday minimalist

Picture of the Day

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Look what I came across during my routine Saturday morning errand run. I found this baby right outside of the local Rite Aid Pharmacy. "The Promise of PepsiCo" is what the headline on the machine says. I wasn't too familiar with the Pepsi Company project and its green initiatives so, I decided to do some digging.

I found the actual Pepsi Co Promise which reads;

At PepsiCo, Performance with Purpose means delivering sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for people and our planet. As a global food and beverage company with brands that stand for quality and are respected household names–Quaker Oats, Tropicana, Gatorade, Lay's and Pepsi-Cola, to name a few–we will continue to build a portfolio of enjoyable and wholesome foods and beverages, find innovative ways to reduce the use of energy, water and packaging, and provide a great workplace for our associates. Additionally, we will respect, support and invest in the local communities where we operate, by hiring local people, creating products designed for local tastes and partnering with local farmers, governments and community groups. Because a healthier future for all people and our planet means a more successful future for PepsiCo. This is our promise.

Good stuff Pepsi! It always gets me excited to find a company taking steps toward a greener future. The recycling bin machine lets you dispose aluminum cans and pet plastics (for when you are walking you dog I assume). That's awesome! Take THAT, Coca-Cola!

Kudo Pepsi, kudos.

Fast Fact

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At any given moment 123,000,000 cars are being driven on U.S. highways pushing 12 million barrels of oil into our atmosphere.

What is fracking?

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Fracking has caught national attention lately with the latest gas exploration going on. Basically, fracking is a technique used to obtain gas from the land. In fracking, a large well is drilled deep into the Earth that allows for sand, water and chemicals to put pressure on the underground rocks. This cracks/breaks the rocks to allow for oil/gas to seep through. However, fracking is not sitting well with a lot of environmentalist being that fracking is not really good for the environment. Many issues arise with fracking such as;

• Fracking chemicals are toxic and can contaminate water from spills or accidents.


• Fracking produces hazardous wastewater, which can contain radioactive substances as well as toxic chemicals, making disposal difficult and dangerous.


• Fracking requires millions of gallons of water, which can deplete local water supplies.


• Fracking can cause natural gas to migrate into drinking water sources, which can cause houses and wells to explode.


• Over 1,000 cases of water contamination near drilling sites have been documented around the country.

Check out this video on fracking to get a better understanding of what it entails.

The Dalai Lama’s 18 Rules for Living

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1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.

3. Follow the three Rs:

• Respect for self
• Respect for others
• Responsibility for all your actions

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

8. Spend some time alone every day.

9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.

10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.

12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.

14. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.

15. Be gentle with the earth.

16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.

17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

Meet Fred

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While out and about, I came across this new water bottle. It's pretty snazzy with its well designed flask shape. So I thought to myself, "what's the purpose?". It obviously must have something to do with the environment. So, I get excited. However, I look on the back, read a short ... bio? But the only thing I see about the environment is a recyclable symbol and that it is packaged locally. Well, better than nothing I figure. But I still wasn't satisfied. Yes, I was intrigued by this flask designed personification of a water bottle. So, I decided to do what everyone does who comes across a name they aren't familiar with, Google. I came across this pretty nice and interactive "trendzine" for "Fred" the water bottle. The site is pretty cool. It's more like a blog. Fred even has his own Facebook and Twitter!

However, I could not help but think about how this cute little bottle of water contributes to the privatization of water. How company's are packaging a free and renewable resource that our body so desperately needs and sells this water back to the people. Capitalism at its finest.

Hello Fred, nice to meet you.