Sustainable living isn’t a straight path — it’s a practice that shifts and changes as we do.

Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about what sustainable living really looks like. I’ve tried just about everything, and while some things worked beautifully (at least for a while), others were total disasters! This episode is a look back at a few of those lessons — the cutlery kits, the trash jars, the guilt, the burnout, and the pressure to both reduce waste and make it all look perfect online. Because sustainable living isn’t about getting it right — it’s about finding what fits your real life.

In this personal episode, I’m sharing five common traps we might fall into and why imperfection, flexibility, and community matter so much more than being perfect. It’s a gentle reminder that progress isn’t about what you see online; it’s about showing up, doing what you can, and keeping at it.

Takeaways

• Why buying your way to sustainability won’t work and what to do instead
• The burnout that comes from trying to “do it all” and how to recover from it
• How guilt and shame are built into our systems (and why they don’t lead to change)
• The difference between looking sustainable and living sustainably
• Why messy, imperfect progress creates the most lasting change

One Small Shift

Before you buy your next “eco” product, PAUSE. Put it in your cart, wait a few days, and see how you feel. You might already have what you need — or realize you didn’t need it at all.

Resources

How NOT to Go Zero Waste (blog post)

50 Easy Ways to Be More Sustainable (blog post)

Household Waste Audit Workbook

A Beginner's Guide to a Sustainable Kitchen

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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

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What if stepping into a refill shop for the first time could change the way you see your whole community?

This week, I’m joined by Julie Darrell, owner and founder of Bring Your Own Long Beach. Since 2017, Julie has been helping her community cut down on single-use plastics, rethink consumption, and find approachable ways to live more sustainably.

We talk about what really happens inside a refill shop — from the first-time nerves to the “aha” moment when you realize how easy and empowering refilling can be. Julie also shares what it’s like raising teens in a low-waste household, how she’s built community through local partnerships, and what keeps her grounded through the ups and downs of running a values-based business.

It’s a conversation about small steps, local action, and the quiet power of community care — a reminder that systems change starts with the choices we make every day.

Takeaways

• Refill shops make low-waste living simple, practical, and community-driven
• Refilling can be intimidating at first, but it’s easy and empowering once you try
• Sustainable living doesn’t have to be expensive — it’s about using what you have
• Teaching teens about consumption and waste builds lifelong awareness
• Community partnerships strengthen local action and keep small businesses resilient
• Burnout is real in sustainability work, but community and purpose help you keep going
• Plus, possibly the greatest zero waste birthday idea OF ALL TIME!

Connect With Julie

BYO Long Beach (Website)

Bring Your Own Long Beach (Instagram)

BYO Long Beach (Instagram)

Resources

Algalita Marine Research and Education

Circular Economy Month

How to Refill in Your Own Containers (Blog post)

How to Have a Zero Waste Birthday Party for Kids (Blog post)

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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.

Halloween is supposed to be spooky, but the real horror might just be the mountain of waste it leaves behind. Costumes that only last one night, piles of plastic candy wrappers, cheap décor that lasts one season, and millions of pumpkins sent straight to landfill. It’s expensive and wasteful — but it doesn’t have to be that way.

In this episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs, I’m sharing how to celebrate Halloween in a way that’s festive, affordable, and low waste. You’ll hear ideas for costumes, candy, decorations, and pumpkins that cut back on trash while still keeping the spirit of Halloween. And as always, it’s about picking what feels doable for you — practical, budget-friendly shifts that reduce waste without losing what you love about the season.

Takeaways

• How Halloween has become one of the most wasteful (and expensive!) holidays of the year.
• Costume ideas to save money and reduce waste
• How to hand out treats without all the plastic.
• Eco-friendly décor tips and why you should skip fake spider webs.
• What to do with your pumpkins after Halloween

Resources

Zero Waste Halloween (blog post)

What to Do With Your Pumpkin After Halloween (blog post)

Seasonal Decor - Making a Trash Pumpkin (blog post)

Ethical Candy to Try This Halloween (Fairtrade America)

Pumpkin Parades (City of Toronto)

TerraCycle - Halloween Treat Wrappers

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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio

If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.