Inspiration for Wholesome Living

 

fall family pic

Wholesome living is an ideal that I strive to achieve.  I consider it living to the best of my ability – appreciating simplicity while it seems there is so much chaos and complication in the world today.  Traditions and ideals from generations ago are re-emerging in today’s society as the new lifestyle preferences.

pumpkin patch

The popularity of farm-to-table and organic items are through the roof, and for good reason.  Not only are these practices those from yesteryears, but they are also a growing lifestyle choice of today. Wholesome living and adopting ways of life from our parents’ and grandparents’ era are becoming the new trend.  People now seem to be more concerned with their health and the environment as we return to our roots, and ways of life from simpler times.  Although there may be different definitions of wholesome living, this is my account on attempting just that.

fresh produce

When I was in college, Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth was released, putting Global Warming at the forefront of mainstream America.  I guess you could say that was a pivotal point for me.  I started taking a closer look at the choices I was making and adopting (or attempting to adopt) a more wholesome lifestyle.  (Not to mention, I attended a liberal school where environmental awareness was always prevalent.)  But it was more than just the concern for the environment that sprouted.  I started to make changes with everything from food to cosmetics.

organic produce

It seems that what’s good for you is also good for the environment.  Buying locally grown organic food when possible was another change I made.  This was also around the time I was first introduced to a Trader Joe’s, where there were many organic options available.  And the grocery I shopped at near campus carried milk in glass bottles from a local dairy farm.  You just returned the glass bottles to the grocery for a credit, and the bottles were recycled back to the farm.  If that doesn’t give a sense of nostalgia, then I don’t know what does.  Or maybe it was just the way the smooth glass bottle felt in my hand compared to the plastic jug that made me feel so good.

milk glass jars

Cosmetics were another part of my life I started to examine.  A roommate introduced me to the Juice Beauty brand, which was really the first I had heard of organic cosmetics.  I’ll be honest, I don’t go to that extreme with every product I use now, but it has certainly made me question what I purchase.  If nothing else, I look for products that are free from phthalates, BPA’s, parabens, etc.  It’s amazing how many options  are Vegan, cruelty free, and/or use natural ingredients.  A few of my favorites…Jane Iredale, Dr. Hauschka, Milk Makeup, Caudalie, and Hey Honey.

clean cosmetics

Another life changing event that contributed to my desire for wholesome living was becoming pregnant.  Knowing that someone else’s life was completely dependent on the decisions I made was quite the motivation.  Choosing organic foods and eating healthy became paramount, and the EWG list of which foods are most important to buy organic was incredibly helpful.  Of course with my second child, this choice was fairly easy and really the only option since, for the most part, anything fried, unhealthy, or with too much seasoning came right back up the whole pregnancy.  I became more cautious about the chemicals we used in our house and opted for more green or plant based options, such as Seventh Generation and Berkley Green.

little blessing

After having kids, especially the second child, the trend of wholesome living continued.  Organic cotton for at least some of their clothes, burp cloths, bedding and so on.  Using plant-based diapers.  I had several friends who went the cloth diaper route which is even better, but I was not quite up for that adventure.  So I’ve stuck to Honest Company Diapers which work remarkably well, and look so cute 🙂 I used glass bottles here and there (honestly, my youngest nursed mostly and didn’t get a bottle very often – simply because it was easier for me than trying to get a bottle ready and pump while taking care of the toddler as well).  But I did use glass baby food jars for both girls, and gave them mostly homemade baby food…with a huge amount of help from my wonderful mother-in-law and their fabulous gardens!  I’m very blessed to have a village to help me take care of my children.  When I decided to use mostly homemade baby food for the girls, I found this website (Wholesome Baby Food) to be a great resource!

honest diapers

Some lifestyle changes weren’t made until the second child, as I continued to learn more and be exposed to new baby products on the market.  I used mostly natural rubber pacifiers the second time around (though she was a premie and pretty tiny so I used the MAM newborn pacifiers for awhile until the Hevea rubber ones didn’t seem to cover her entire face).  Rubber, silicone, and wooden teethers were my choice rather than purchasing plastic.  My love of wooden and eco-friendly toys started with my first child…and ran rampant after my second child 🙂  Some of my favorites are Green ToysLittle Sapling Toys, Grapat, Bannor Toys, Grimm’sPlan Toys, HABA, Bajo, Wooden Story, and the list goes on and on and on.  I prefer products from sustainable materials that I feel are a better choice not only for my children, but also for the environment.

girl with wooden camera

baby and wooden toys

Wholesome living is not just about the products you purchase however, it’s also about life experiences.  The simplicities of attending a county fair and walking down a historic Main Street, alive with the most exquisite little local shops and boutiques, are experiences beyond compare.  We recently took our girls to the fair for the first time, and the look of amazement and wonder in our three year old’s eyes was incredible.  We also love to get her outdoors to play as much as possible.  The joy on her face when she is running around on my in-laws’ farm picking berries, making applesauce, digging in the garden, playing in the pumpkin patch, and splashing in the creek – it just makes my heart smile.

fair

berry picking

more berry picking

By no means am I perfect, or do I live a perfectly wholesome life.  But what matters is that I try.  Even small changes can make a difference.  I want to provide the best of everything for my little girls.  Provide a better environment.  Provide better and safer products and food in our home.  Provide quality time without a screen (but don’t get me wrong, there is still time for Daniel Tiger and Peppa Pig in our house…but it’s all about balance, right?).  I hope that reading about my attempt at a wholesome lifestyle, and some simple ideas to try, will inspire someone else to make an attempt for themselves, their families, and the environment.

Leave me a comment or send me an email with other ideas that you’ve tried!

 

 

Author: admin