Your Organic Lifestyle Guide
natural + simple living
How to Live an Organic Lifestyle?
The key to living an organic lifestyle is to focus on natural and simple living.
+ organic foods
+ 100% natural materials (goodbye synthetic chemicals)
+ simple and nourishing homemade recipes
Organic Lifestyle Foods
With spring in full bloom and summer just around the corner, the best time of the year is upon us….. sunshine + farmer’s markets! Some of you may be fortunate enough to live in cities where farmer’s markets are all year round but in the Midwest this is a glorious time!
Although farmer’s markets provide you with the freshest & most delicious ingredients to nourish your body with, not all stands at the farmer’s market sell organic food. If organic food is important to you (which it should be because pesticides/herbicides are known hormone disruptors and can have harmful health effects), then be intentional with the vendors that you support.
Know your farmer. Ask your vendors about their farming practices. Are they certified organic? Do they use pesticides and/or herbicides? Do they till?
Find your favorite vendors and go early! & don’t forget to pickup fresh flowers.
Did you know that there are clinically proven health benefits for having flowers in your home?
Organic Lifestyle Clothing
As you know, cotton is one of the world's most pesticide-intensive crops.
Is organic clothing the most pressing nontoxic swap for you to make? Probably not…
BUT I am a firm believer that your purchasing power matters. You vote with your dollars. Companies create products that there is demand for. So let’s keep on increasing the demand for organic everything (including fabrics)… shall we?
Organic Undies
If you are interested to make your foray into organic clothing, then you should start with underwear.
Plan and simple: it is better for your vagina health. Organic cotton underwear gently absorbs extra moisture and keeps you cooler, which can reduce the spread of bacteria in case you struggle with bacterial vaginosis (BV) and UTIs. It is also free of harmful chemicals so your very permeable vagina will not be rubbing up against hormone disrupting chemicals. These are the best 100% organic cotton (bikini cut, thong, boyshort). A lot of brands advertise that they are organic cotton underwear but their ingredients also include synthetic fabrics.
Vagina Health Matters
Since we are talking about your vagina, I would be remiss if I did not remind you of the importance of 100% organic cotton pads (or, if you must, 100% organic cotton tampons). With hormone imbalances, endometriosis, PCOS and infertility reaching all time highs - it is more important now than ever to be intention with your female care products. Do you really want to stick something INTO YOUR BODY that is made out of (genetically modified and pesticide-intensive) cotton that is doused in chemicals to make it more absorbent? Again, inserting this into one of the most permeable parts of your body…. Those known harmful chemicals will go right into your bloodstream. Do more reach search for yourself if you aren’t convinced. Tell your friends. Talk to your daughters. Etc. Painful periods, debilitating GI issues and extreme moodswings are not normal and we, as women, need to support ourselves and our loved ones in learning how to heal naturally. I digress.
Shop Clean Clothings
If you want to start supporting stylish brands that are using organic textiles, these are the best quality & chicest organic clothing brands. Please note that not all pieces are made of 100% organic cotton so check the ingredients.
Mate The Label
Coziest 100% organic tee shirts. BEST 100% organic cotton pants; truly, a summer staple. I have them in white and blue! Their pants run large so if you are ordering, you should consider sizing down.
Matteau
Dresses, skirts & forever pieces. You will wear this skirt
Doen
Everything to fully embrace your Devine feminine energy; if I could, I would have every dress they make lol - favorites include this mini red organic cotton seersucker, this dreamy organic poplin skirt, and everyday black/white cotton poplin dress - which Saks doesn’t list as organic cotton but was when I tried it on while in the Doen store in LA. Pictured above/below me very diligently trying not to buy the whole store so Josh wouldn’t divorce me.
This black dress still haunts me in my sleep. Major regrets that I didn’t take it home with me.
but when you don’t/can’t shop organic clothing…
As a general note, you should be investing in quality wardrobe staples that are made out of 100% natural materials (even if they are not organic)… so buy 100% linen, instead of some poly blend that is packed with PFAS (known hormone disrupting chemicals) that you will inhale as the clothes wear from your use.
Organic on a Budget
1) Make your own products
+ DIY laundry scent booster recipe
+ DIY organic mold free coffee recipe (Skip your $8 coffee and make a cleaner & healthier cup at home. You can batch make this so that you will have it ready for your whole week!)
+ Organic lemon & aluminum-free baking soda for deodorant
2) Focus on Priority Foods
Have you heard of the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen? The Dirty Dozen are the 12 fruits/vegetables that are the most contaminated with pesticides. The Clean Fifteen have the lowest amounts of pesticide residues. Prioritize buying the organic option for the Dirty Dozen!
Dirty Dozen
Strawberries
Spinach
Kale, collard & mustard greens
Grapes
Cherries
Peaches
Pears
Nectarines
Bell & hot peppers (make sure your hot sauce is organic!)
Cherries
Blueberries
Green beans
Clean Fifteen
Carrots
Sweet potatoes
Mangos
Mushrooms
Watermelon
Cabbage
Kiwi
Honeydew Melon
Asparagus
Sweet Peas (frozen)
Papaya
Onions
Pineapple
Sweet corn
Avocado
3) Shop In-Season Produce
Not only will in-season produce be fresher but it will also be cheaper! Both conventional and organic products will be more expensive out-of season due to transportation costs.
4) Buy Direct From Farmers
Many organic farmer’s market vendors have websites and home delivery/pickup services year round! You can also look on BarntoDoor.com and find local farmers near you.
Favorite Organic Living Products
only the best
You will use this everyday. Ditch your fragrance-filled body wash.
Organic liposomal supplements, which are tiny, nano-sized bubbles that mimic the body's own cell membranes and are better absorbed by your body. You should have your bloodwork done annually by your primary doctor to check for any deficiency. Longterm deficiencies in certain vitamins have been tied to diseases (such as prolonged vitamin B12 deficiencies have been link to depression, erectile dysfunction, and neurological symptoms, including instability, neuropathy -which may cause numbness and tingling- and cognitive defects.)
Manuka honey has antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. It has also been found to enhance wound healing and tissue regeneration. Many cultures have used Manuka honey for wound healing for centuries.
A grocery cart staple. The best flavor is pumpkin cinnamon! Pictured above.
A great substitute for refined sugar. You can add this to your chai seed pudding in the morning for breakfast with your organic granola, which is a great protein-filled -ie hormone balancing- breakfast!
100% organic cotton, not just the outer lining!
+100% organic cotton underwear
They also have a bikini cut if that is your preference.
What are your favorite organic products?
Looking to transition to clean beauty? Here are the Best Non Toxic Foundations, Non Toxic Mascara and vetted Non Toxic Self Care products.
Not sure where to start your non toxic living journey? Try here.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your support!! You are so appreciated and your comments/texts/emails in pursuit of a more non toxic and organic lifestyle make my days.
More soon,
Drew