About a month or so ago I received an e-mail from a woman from Ottawa who wanted to interview me for their YouTube channel called Exploring Alternatives. Turns out I actually knew her from back in the day when I worked at a hair salon downtown right across from where she worked, Market Organics. I came in every single day to get food so when she told me she thought she knew me, I immediately recognized her. She asked if her and her husband could follow me around for the day and film me and my son and I thought it sounded like a great idea. I mean why not?
What’s the worse that could happen getting filmed with a three year old little boy while I run around and do everything?
I would love to see some of the behind the scene moments with my son, because as much as he looked so sweet in this video, he was definitely a threenager the whole day. Any other Mama’s know what I mean?
Anyway.
Check out what an incredible job they did! Thank you Mat & Danielle for taking the time to meet up with me and talk to me about living zero waste, I’m really happy that living this life has meant growing connections and making new friendships.
ALSO – YOU, all of you reading this, should all know that they also inspire me with the lifestyle that they live. The van life? Ya, I want that too one day. Go check them out.
Zero Waste Ottawa 
Hey Mailyne,
I’m a fan of Exploring Alternatives and, thanks to them, I found out about you! Very shocked and amazed what the amount of waste you produce – I wish more people would follow your example. I am very inclined to research more about it and slowly (and hopefully) be able to do the same. 🙂
Hi Susana,
Thank you for taking the time to write me. I hope that leading by example does help and if you have any questions about anything, feel free to connect. My number one advice for those venturing on the journey, is to simply take baby steps. And that could be as small as just bringing a reusable bag when you go shopping. All the best to you!
Hi Maylene! I’m so glad to have found your video and consequently your blog. Your authenticity and gentle spirit shine. You are a wonderfully sensitive and insightful writer. You are inspiring me to take steps to reduce my carbon footprint. As a women whose childhood is rooted in the 60’s, I’m working on staying mindful of my choices and am asking myself if an object would have existed in it’s current state when I was five. Very few items were packaged excessively or in plastic. The marketing of convenience was just blooming then and advertsing was just ramping up. We ate at home; used rags; drank from drinking fountains, sandwiches were wrapped in wax paper, items were of metal, wood or glass. We used it up, weared it out, made or did wthout. Homes were naturally minimal. We owned one car per household. Closets were small and still plenty of space. You could pull your car into garage. We shared bedrooms. Obviously, things were simpler. I have been mindful of that moderate minimalism for years. However, I wish to thank you for reminding me of the waste factor. My new mindfulness step is to limit plastic in my life. Ask myself what would my parents have done before WWII.
Grace, thank you so much for writing this to me. I think it is so beautiful to read this, like a breath of fresh air. And it’s true you know – that everything was actually simpler and really minimal before we made it.. not. Thank you for sharing with me a part of your journey!