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5/24/2021 0 Comments Love Letter to Zoloft Recently on the blog, in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month I shared that I take medication for anxiety. I want to share my experience with you with three hopes in mind.
Taking Zoloft has changed my life for the better. Since taking Zoloft, I can finally be “back in my body”. I am so grateful that both my healthcare provider and my sister (who is a doctor) recommended that I try medication. TBH I was very hesitant and resistant for a long time, but it truly has been such a game changer. Someday I will share with you what it was like having anxiety but today is not that day. Today is about how I got better! When I was starting on Zoloft, it was rough. My anxiety got worse and I felt nauseous. Luckily I had a very close friend (who I now jokingly refer to as my Zoloft spirit guide) to talk to through my experience...and she assured me that if I stuck with it, I would feel better...and if not, there were different types of medicine that could be a better fit. But luckily, after the first 6 weeks, I started to really feel better and realized how bad I had let it get. It was like my shoulders no longer were up around my ears constantly. Intrusive thoughts happened less frequently, my insomnia and hyper-vigilance gone. I could breathe. I have said so many times that I wish other people who have anxiety could know that they don’t have to live like that. It was so validating to have my family say they noticed a visible difference in me. I could be the partner, mom and friend I wanted to be...I wasn't constantly in my head. I could experience life again. Paired with regular exercise, headspace, breathwork and medication, I can happily say that most of the time, the anxiety I experience now is all within the normal human experience. Do I still have moments/days that are harder than others? Sure do. But for the most part, Zoloft helps me feel grounded and like myself. Not everyone has the same journey when it comes to mental health. For me, medication is what I need to be ok. Help for mental health looks different to each person, but hope by sharing my experience with seeking help, we can kick the stigma to the curb.
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5/24/2021 0 Comments Tips for "greening" your wardrobeLooking to simplify and clean up your wardrobe?
Well here is my quick and dirty (clean?) tips for a cleaner closet:
Hope you find this helpful! 5/5/2021 0 Comments Camping With Kids- Our tipsAlthough we are now really “glamping” in our new airstream, I still wanted to write a post about how we camp with our kids.
Prior to getting our Airstream Flying Cloud trailer, we have tent camped AND rooftop camped with our Tepui. Camping is in my blood- I grew camping with my family, and my parents threw the three of us kids in the back of the ’88 red Volvo station wagon and we towed a tent trailer around the western US during my childhood. We visited Mesa Verde, the Redwoods, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon and many more. I have such fond and formative memories of camping with my family. I firmly believe it is why I have such a passion for the outdoors and protecting the environment. I owe so much to my parents for instilling this love in me. Camping (at any age, but especially with kids) teaches problem solving, grit, patience, and how to develop a sense of adventure. On every trip, there is going to be something that doesn’t go as expected- weather, road/park closures, broken/ forgotten gear, unexpected animal visitors, malfunctioning equipment, unexpected terrain- you name it…we’ve seen it. Due to this- I feel like camping also teaches how to be resilient and to go with the flow when life throws curve balls. These are valuable lessons that I wish to pass on to my girls. One of the best things you can bring to a camping trip with kids is a sense of humor. As aforementioned, there WILL be a hiccup (or several!), and the best thing you can do you for your partner, your kids and your sanity is to remember to keep your sense of humor. Take a breath, and model how to problem solve, how to laugh and how to roll with the punches. Remember- your kids are watching how you react to the hiccups. This is not to say we haven’t had our share of tense moments, but we do try to keep our wits about us. The next thing I think you should bring when camping with kids ( or traveling with children in general) are LOW expectations. Here me out on this- I am not saying come with an attitude that it is going to be horrible, instead come with the idea that riding bikes around the campsite, rolling around in the dirt, building troll houses with sticks, messy faces, dirty hands and filthy clothes are the essence of camping. My father always says “it’s a gift to be simple”- Casey and I often repeat this phrase to each other, and we use it as a reminder that enjoying the little moments are KEY to happiness. Its OK not to go and see a million things and hike a bunch of miles on your camping trip. That hike may end up being .5 miles and THATS OK. Enjoy the sticky marshmallow hands, the grubby camp hands and soak in every bit of WONDER that you can. Have fun out there! 4/24/2021 0 Comments Mental Health Awareness MonthWhat is your superpower? Today mine is vulnerability. So today I'm talking MENTAL HEALTH. Recently, I have shared via stories on Instagram that I take antidepressants for anxiety. After sharing these stories, I had dozens of people reach out to me. Some simply shared with me that they also struggle with anxiety and shared their stories. Some shared their appreciation for normalizing talking about mental health and taking medication. Some asked about my experience with anxiety/medication. Some even just held space for me and said things like “Anxiety is tough. I’m here for you.” The number one thing I kept thinking through all of these heartforward, vulnerable conversations was how often we feel SO alone in our struggles, but when we choose the power of vulnerability, we can see that we are not in fact alone at all. Vulnerability is scary. Putting yourself out there is scary. But as Brene Brown says, it is the key to connection. Now I am not saying that all people who take medication need to shout it from the rooftops (or internet like I am). But I what am saying is that by accepting and sharing ourselves as we are, and allowing ourselves to show up WITH our imperfections, we open ourselves to deeper and more meaningful connections with others. We find others to support and to lean on. We practice radical empathy when we choose to listen to another’s story and love them for all of their parts, even the messy ones. So here's to connection, vulnerability and to Zoloft! I am going to make this short and sweet. Moms are incredible. They deserve pampering. Here are 5 Beautycounter goodies that I think the mom in your life will love:
Counter+ Lotus Glow Cleansing Balm - one of our best sellers. Moms multitask all day long, and this multi-tasking powerhouse is a perfect mother's day gift. For day and night use, this balm hydrates while it cleanses, removing makeup and impurities with nourishing ingredients that won’t strip away your skin’s natural moisture. (Bonus: it can also be used as a mask for a hydrating overnight facial, a balm to heal cracked skin on hands and feet, and on eczema. Lotus Glow Cleansing Balm soothes and distresses skin while increasing luminosity. Melting Body Balm- We can all agree that Mom deserves a vacation. You may not be able to give her that, but you can give her this INCREDIBLE Monoi scented Body Balm. PS the tube is made with approximately 51% post-consumer recycled (PCR) resin that comes from curbside recycling programs and other recycling programs. Counter+ Charcoal Facial Mask- Give mom a few minutes of alone time and she can bliss out with this detoxifying face mask. This nutrient-rich kaolin clay mask with activated charcoal purifies and balances, absorbing excess oil and drawing out impurities. Countermatch Eye Rescue Cream- Since there is never enough sleep...this cream awakens eyes with hydrating squalane. Phytic acid helps to boost oxygenation and while reducing the appearance of shadows and puffiness. Counter+ No. 1 Brightening Facial Oil - This citrus-scented facial oil quickly absorbs and penetrates skin to awaken and replenish. Lightweight and silky smooth, our proprietary blend of oils is designed to help hydrate and improve the appearance of skin radiance. Happy Shopping! Don't forget, when you shop with me you are supporting a mom :) I appreciate each and every order! Please use my link or enter my name at check out: Allison Zilinek. “The internet is a terrible place to be a woman...we all know that”- Jo Piazza
Women tearing down other women... it is nothing new. Since a very young age, we all at one point or another talked shit about other women, and we certainly have been on the receiving. It doesn’t feel good. Recently, I have been listening to a podcast called “Under the Influence” which is “a deep dive into the Mom Internet, a place haunted by aspirational marketing where it feels like every other mom is a social media influencer trying to sell you something, all while posed in white kitchens that never seem to get messy… with toddlers in cloth diapers that never ever leak; a bastion of carefully curated lives that are #blessed” I think we all can relate. In the most recent episode “Burning Cats”, the host addresses the vitriol and hate that women spew on other women on the internet...particularly on Instagram. Instagram can be like the modern day burn book. Some of the more popular influencers have been on the receiving end of incredible hate….and it does irreparable damage to their mental health. There are even WHOLE FORUMS dedicated to spewing hate on these women. It is really sick. This is not to say that we should hold each other accountable for prejudice, bigotry, and racism. We CERTAINLY should be doing that. Speaking out against injustice and racism is an important step in lifting ALL women. I am taking about just the mean girl snark and shit talking. Putting yourself “out there” in any form, opens you up to criticism, judgement etc. I certainly have had anxiety and insecurities, and I am sure that people have snarkily shared things that I have posted. I am sure there are some of you out there hate following me right now. Hate following is deciding to follow someone on social media, even though you know you disagree with what they say, or think they are a total garbage person. I am going to be completely transparent...I am guilty of talking badly of other women; Women I know and women on the internet. And for that I am sorry. I wish I could take it all back. I know that I have internalized misogyny just like the rest of us, and in our current culture misogyny is imbued into every part of our lives...from day one. It has taken me a long time to recognize the extent of this...and it will continue to take a lot of work to dismantle it within myself and society But the thing about women is we can evolve. We can create the habit of stifling this impulse to tear down other women both here on the internet and in our “real” lives. We can stop this cycle of hate following, shit talking and internalized misogyny. We can celebrate each other and lift each other up. I don’t want my girls to have to worry about this. “We rise by lifting others”. I choose that Instagram. I choose the Instagram where the truth is important, our power of influence is used for good...Where we can share experiences to bridge the gap in the differences of our lives. A place where we can connect and learn, support and share. Let’s be choosey with who we follow, what we comment and what we post. All of these things are choices. Let’s lift each other up and empower each other. Are you with me? Tubby Todd ReviewAs a clean beauty junkie and advocate- I obviously care about what we use on the girls. Recently, Beautycounter discontinued it's children's line. So we turned to Tubby Todd! Tubby Todd uses gentle ingredients and natural plant-based extracts, and ensures the safety of each batch by conducting rigorous testing. I love that this company uses clean ingredients as well as has a mission they call "Tubby Cares". Here are some of their great goals!
For 2021: + They are committed to providing packaging solutions to cut back on 40,000 8.5oz plastic bottles. + Launch additional products and packaging solutions to continue to reduce their footprint! + 2,000 Gallon products = 30,000 plastic bottles saved as well as replaced 10,000 bottles with bar soap and Extra Tubby sales. They also partner with Baby2Baby and donated over 6,500 bottles of soap and lotion to help families in need to receive skincare essentials. Get 10% off by using this link! Our diapering journey and review of the REDYPER SubscriptionWhen we had Ruby we thought we would go the cloth diaper route. Quickly after she was born we realized that this was not for us and we switched to Honest brand diapers. We thought since they didn’t have many of the harsh chemicals and were non-toxic and “clean” that they would be a great choice to use on Ruby as well as a better choice for the planet. We used them happily for 2 and a half years (until she potty trained). They worked great for us- minimal leak issues, her skin didn’t react to them and cute prints to boot! But one day after chatting with my brother-in-law (who by the way is one of the smartest people I know, along with his wife- my sister…) told me that even though these diapers are plant based, they still would take DECADES to break down in a landfill- which is where our diapers were going. I was shocked to learn this. "A landfill is not a composting facility," the California Integrated Waste Management Board says on its website. "Nothing degrades well in a landfill." Oh Sh!t-the shocking facts about biodegradable diapers After doing some research I found out some statistics to go along with this new revelation : “ biodegradable diaper can take 50 years to decompose in a landfill, all the while emitting methane, a harmful greenhouse gas. 50 years is a long time, but it's significantly less time than 500 years, which is how long it takes regular diapers to break down.” And without getting into the nitty gritty of the science behind this…. That 50 year estimate is a best care scenario… "A landfill is not a composting facility," the California Integrated Waste Management Board says on its website. "Nothing degrades well in a landfill." This is because due to a lack of oxygen and microbes in landfills, things just DON’T break down. “Disposables of any sort won’t biodegrade in landfill sites, as landfill sites are managed to keep decomposition as low as possible due to the gases and liquid that leaches out”So to “break this down”(no pun intended)- all of those “biodegradable” diapers are NOT as earth friendly as you think….HELLO greenwashing! They ARE more earth friendly due to their makeup, and certainly are better for your child (the stuff in traditional diapers are really yucky), however they are still ending up in a landfill for MANY decades to come...not ideal! "A landfill is not a composting facility," the California Integrated Waste Management Board says on its website. "Nothing degrades well in a landfill. Our switch to Dyper and ReDyperFor these many reasons we have switched to DYPER and we use their REDYPER service. These diapers are made of responsibly sourced bamboo (bamboo grows quickly without fertilizer). DYPER diapers are free of chlorine, latex, alcohol, lotions, TBT or Phthalates. They're unprinted, unscented, soft to the touch, and we have found them to be durable and absorbent. AND WON’T END UP IN A LANDFILL! They have partnered with TerraCycle in order to provide composting for their diapers. By subscribing to the REDYPER service- you are ensuring that your diapers will be composted (as human waste is difficult to compost properly and you can’t do it at home with poopy nappies at all…) Additionally, Dyper purchases carbon offsets to help reduce the footprint of your diapering journey. How Dyper and ReDyper WorkDYPER subscription is much like any other diaper subscription. We made an account where we can customize the size, frequency and amount of diapers/wipes to be mailed to us. They also have an SOS feature if you are close to running out...all parents know that panicky feeling! Now on to REDYPER... First of all, with any solid waste (-ahem if you're reading this you're probably a parent and poop talk is standard) we try and roll it into the toilet. Then, we have an Ubbi pail with a reusable cloth liner where we deposit the used diaper. When that gets full we transfer those soiled diapers into the REDYPER bag and box that we keep in the garage. When that is full we zip tie it shut, print out a label and send it away to TerraCycle to deal with it properly. As a subscriber to the REDYPER™ service, we are provided with the bags, boxes and prepaid shipping labels designed to safely transfer the diapers. All parts of the process are designed with safety in mind and engineered to the strictest United Nations Haz Mat shipping standards. The BOTTOM line...hah see what I did there?Diapering is a personal choice and many factors go into what is the right choice for your family. We understand that diapers are a huge financial cost and at the end of the day, affordability is key. To be able to compost our diapers and provide our children with non-toxic diapers is a PRIVILEGE that we recognize. Environmentalism is very much intertwined with race, class, and privilege and I have so much learning to do on this topic...but please understand that I do not write this in hopes to shame anyone for their choice, but instead to let them know that this service exists and why we have chosen to use it. I hope that one day all parents will be able to have this choice for their children and our planet.
If you are interested in using Dyper, I have an affiliate link that you can use here: https://dyper.com/?ref=allisonzilinek
Why Buy Second Hand?Where To Shop For Quality Second Hand or Vintage Clothing Online: I know that there are some people that love the hunt of thrifting, but right now (during covid) it is much more difficult to get to thrift stores. There are many options out there to purchase second hand or vintage clothing and other items online. Several of my frequented sites/apps are Mercari, Poshmark, Depop, The Real Real, Vestiaire Collective. They are all online marketplaces for second hand, thrifted and vintage items. FYI: The difference between second hand and vintage- second hand are previously owned items and vintage is a subcategory of that in which clothes are between 20-100 years old. You can also use Facebook Marketplace, Letgo, Kidizen, Nextdoor, Ebay and Facebook Groups like The Buy Nothing Project and your local swap groups to purchase second hand items. You can sell your second hand or used items on many of these platforms as well! Tips For Purchasing Second Hand Clothing Online:
Final ThoughtsI want to remind you that the most sustainable wardrobe you have is the one in your closet right now. Wear what you have when you can (I need to take my own advice on this one more often.)
In a later post I will include some recommendations for some great sustainable clothing companies- as there are things that we still want first hand (hello underwear) and also, there are times we just want something new to us. It is important to keep companies like this in business too! Vote with your dollar and support businesses that are pushing the fashion industry to be more ethical and sustainable! I am going to wrap this up now as this is getting LONG. If you made it this far, you deserve a cookie. Good for you! And thanks for reading! This is a super simple, 4 step routine for nights that I don't have the time or energy for much else!Feel like you are too dog tired to do a skincare regimen consistently? Take a peek at my 5 min nighttime skincare routine. You CAN make time for this, I promise!
1. Lotus Glow Cleansing Balm- This is a powerhouse product that you NEED IN YOUR LIFE. It hydrates while it cleanses, removing makeup and impurities with nourishing ingredients that won't strip away your skin's natural moisture. (Bonus: it can also be used as a mask for a hydrating overnight facial.) 2. MAKEUP ERASER- you all already know that this is my favorite way to take off my makeup, GOODBYE WIPES- SEE YA NEVER! 3. Countertime Mineral Hydrating Boost Essence- Lightweight but deeply nourishing, this milky moisturizing essence (like a toner, but more beneficial) lends vital nutrients to the skin's moisture barrier. Hello more hydration! 3.5 ( You could add a serum here) 4. Countertime Tetrapeptide Supreme Cream this luxurious cream supports elasticity and visibly firms while minimizing the look of fine lines and wrinkles. 5. Countertime Ultra Renewal Eye Cream- brightens the under eye area and reduces the appearance of under-eye shadows and crow’s feet for a smooth, firmed look. ( hello mom bags) Other nights when you have the time (and energy) you can add in another step (either Overnight Resurfacing Peel or the Charcoal Mask) Remember to enter my name as your consultant! Allison Zilinek Allie |
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