Zero Waste in San Diego

I took a little vacation last week. I met up with my mom in San Diego! She still lives in Arkansas so we don't get to see each other very often. I thought it would be nice to meet up in a little beach town for a fun Mother / Daughter weekend.

We didn’t stay in San Diego very long, but I really wanted to round up some of the neat places we visited! I looked all over the internet to find cool zero-waste/eco-friendly places to frequent in SD and it was a little tough finding a definitive guide.

So, if you’re reading this to prepare for a trip to San Diego - let me just tell you - you’re going to have a great time!

where to stay:

We stayed at the Catamaran Resort which has managed to divert 70% of their waste from landfill and have onsite composting - which is something I struggled to find in San Diego. Their restaurants are also Ocean Friendly certified by Surfrider.

We ordered room service for dessert, (more than once!) and I’ve got to say the skillet brownie was the best on the menu.

The Catamaran has a private section of beach where you can lounge as well as great walking paths. My mom and I strolled around the inlet every evening.

The Catamaran also has a ship called the Bahia Belle which is a fun little cruise that pings back and forth between its sister resort the Bahia. There’s dancing and drinking onboard. We, unfortunately, didn’t get a chance to catch it, but I plan on visiting again and will make it a priority to hop on!

The hotel was also VERY close to the boardwalk with lots of good places to eat with amazing views.

And, lastly, I have to talk about the spa! OMG. The spa was incredible. We both got a massage, but we had access to the spa all day long. Between the steam room, sauna, and relaxation room we were very content to spend our morning sipping cucumber water and letting the stress from the outside world melt away.

The spa had a great selection of green beauty products, but I was pretty excited to find Coola there. If you’re looking to pick up some reef-safe sunscreen in SD now you know where to go.

where to eat:

Tacos. Tacos. Tacos. Who doesn’t love tacos!? I had tacos and margaritas for almost every meal and I’m not complaining. I found San Diego to be very vegetarian friendly, but it was a little tough for vegan food. However, there is a Café Gratitude in Little Italy!

Honestly, I wish I had more time in San Diego to eat, visit the museums, and spend more time in Balboa Park.

La Playa Taco Shop:

OMG. These tacos! If you’re staying at the Catamaran, this shop is right around the corner. Neither my mom nor I are big eaters so we split a lot of meals. We got three tacos to share, but these were SO good that we ordered two more.

Cafe Coyote:

Cafe Coyote have an extensive vegetarian menu, but I really went here for the tortillas! I honestly wish I had brought some home.

Oceana Coastal Kitchen:

The Oceana Coastal Kitchen is a nice restaurant at the Catamaran Resort. We ate dinner here and had a wonderful time! The Cadillac margarita was my go-to and we also loved the three mushroom flatbread and the yasai roll.

Buon Appetito:

We loved our dinner at Buon Appetito! I could have feasted on the bread and marina served at the beginning of the meal all night long! Their red sauce is some the best I’ve ever had so we kept it simple with just noodles and red sauce! Of course, we also got some chianti.

Their portions are very big so if you’re not a big eater I do recommend splitting.

Baja Beach Cafe:

The Baja Beach Cafe place was SO fun. I did not order a margarita here because we went for breakfast, but I definitely plan to stop in again. My mom and I split the pancakes and a skillet breakfast.

Harbor Breakfast:

Harbor Breakfast is absolutely darling! Great food and I loved sitting at the counter, it’s definitely a must for breakfast. I love to eat roasted potatoes and fruit for breakfast and this place did not disappoint. My mom and I also split their pumpkin pancakes. I wasn’t super crazy about them, but my mom thought they were amazing!

where to drink:

LJ Wine Bar:

The LJ Wine Bar is an absolute MUST. They're a completely zero-waste winery and tasting room. Even the labels are reusable - how cool is that!

We picked up two bottles to enjoy while we were in SD and then returned the bottles to be refilled and reused.

Water Bar:

The drinks and view can’t be beat at the Water Bar. My mom and I enjoyed some cocktails and relaxed for the afternoon - it was honestly perfect! Mom got a rum and cherry coke which was stellar.

Babcock & Story:

Babcock and Story is associated with the Coronado Hotel. I love Coronado Island with its golden sand, so making a pit stop at the hotel bar was on my must list. My mom and I enjoyed a cocktail, the view, and a little snack. It was lovely!

what to see:

We didn’t have a ton of time to visit museums as we weren’t in town for too long, but we did a hop-on, hop-off trolley tour which I absolutely LOVED!

We stopped off in Old Town where we toured the Mormon Battalion Museum and got some fresh tortillas. We hopped off on Coronado Island to enjoy the golden sand beaches and grab a drink at the hotel bar. We also walked around seaport where we rode the antique carousel, and then we finished in Little Italy where we ate some DELICIOUS pasta!

Of course, if you’re visiting you should also make a point to visit Balboa Park!

Have you been to San Diego? I would love to know what you enjoyed doing while there!

8 Tips for the Perfect Staycation

I canceled my trip to New York this September.

I don’t travel very often. Sometimes, I feel like the only millennial in the world who’s not interested in that nomad lifestyle. I love being at home.

For me, vacationing doesn’t feel that different from everyday life. The only true difference for me is a change of scenery and a little (hopefully a lot) less work!

When I’m home I eat, drink, shop, and walk around. When I’m on vacation I eat, drink, shop, and walk around in a NEW location.

Upfront, I know that I’m privileged and have had the opportunity to travel in the past. The first few times you travel it is absolutely transformational and I don’t want to downplay that in any way.

But, as someone who hates flying and detests traveling/being trapped in a moving vehicle for an extended period of time, I prefer not to do it. Add in the emissions, and I feel like I have plenty of good excuses to stay put.

All that being said, I do enjoy a brief weekend trip/trips close to home. Even staying in a hotel in Napa a few miles away feels like a major treat, and is something I LOVE to do!

My goal of this blog post is to convince you to cancel one big trip in lieu of staying someplace nearby because taking one fewer flight is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint.

I’m super excited to be partnering with Icebreaker for this post all thoughts and opinions are my own for more information please see my disclosure policy.

Icebreaker is the perfect clothing for going on vacation because it is so versatile and you don’t have to worry about washing it. You might remember the Icebreaker challenge I took earlier this year. The goal was to wear one t-shirt for seven days without washing it.

And, it was a success! But, the true testament was with Ben Lecomte from The Vortex Swim.

Ben swam from 350 nautical miles from Hawaii to San Francisco through the Great Pacific Garbage Patch collecting micro-plastic samples for research and the entire crew was wearing Icebreaker. They only washed their clothes once a month, so they took the challenge much further.

Related: Learn More About the Vortex Swim

Icebreaker uses merino-wool which is anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and rockstar for temperature regulation. Wool has been my favorite natural fiber for a very long time.

Icebreaker has a very strict animal welfare policy that ensures a healthy, low-stress quality of life for the sheep. They use small family farms that treat their sheep with care!

Icebreaker produces a transparency report every year that covers everything from social responsibility, worker safety, animal welfare, and environmental integrity. Read the Report

One of the things I love about Icebreaker is how easily it packs. It’s wrinkle-resistant, making it easy to shove in your suitcase and go.

If your trips include a lot of outdoor activities like hiking, running, camping, backpacking, etc then this is absolutely the brand for you.

I am not a very active traveler. I prefer leisurely walking, delicious meals, and watching shows. But, what’s great about Icebreaker is that no matter what you like to do their pieces easily transition from active settings to more leisurely ones.

Icebreaker is offering free shipping to GZW reader in the US until the end of November

I will say, the one place I really like to visit is New York. Having majored in musical theatre, and being very passionate about the art form, I really like to see shows.

But more than ever I’m extra conscious of my transportation footprint. Taking one fewer transatlantic flight is one of the best things that you can do for the environment.

I’ve seen a push among many sustainable living advocates for taking trains, busses, and transportation with lower emissions, and I think that’s AMAZING!

However, the public transportation sector in the states has a long way to go. For me to get back home to Arkansas it would take me more than 80 hours with a train/bus combo. Surprisingly, it would take around the same amount of time to get to NYC, but it would cost $2,000 one way.

If I were single and had no responsibilities at home, I could definitely see myself taking off for an extended period and exploring the states via train. But, unfortunately, that’s just not in the cards for me at this time.

I think it makes more sense to travel less frequently so I decided to try and accomplish my entire New York vacation list but at home!

3-Day Vacation Plan:

• Walk All of Central Park
• Eat Ice cream at Serendipity
• See a show
• Eat great food and drink fancy cocktails
• Walk the Brooklyn Bridge
• Go thrifting

PACKING LIST:

• T-Shirt Dress
• Biker Shorts
• White Tee
• Sweater
• Fancy Dress
• Tennis Shoes
• Wedges

I am all about packing light so I try to prioritize versatile pieces that I can mix and match. Icebreaker has a great selection of clothing that can easily transition through all of your planned activities.

All of my pieces fit nicely into a small backpack. Justin and I are both very reliant on public transit so packing in a small backpack is preferred.

DAY 1 | San Francisco

T-Shirt Dress / Biker Shorts / Tennis Shoes

I got a head start on Justin for day one!

When I’m on vacation I want pieces that can move with me. I want to be able to look cute when out and about, but also be able to walk A LOT.

I love wearing short skirts with tennis shoes so the t-shirt dress is perfect for a day at Golden Gate Park. I wear shorts underneath the dress to prevent my thighs from chaffing. I just fold the shorts in half so they don’t peak out under the dress.

My first stop was to walk the entire length of Golden Gate Park. I made a pit stop at the Japanese Tea Garden for some tea. This is where Justin proposed so it holds good memories!

Then a stop at the Conservatory of the Flowers is a MUST! It’s one of my favorite parts of the city.

Be warned! CotF is VERY humid and quite warm. The plants love it, and thanks to Icebreaker, I don’t mind one bit.

Synthetic fibers like polyester aren’t breathable so it traps in your natural body heat. Natural fibers like merino wool are very breathable making it easier for you to adjust to a quick changes in temperature.

Merino Wool also wicks moisture very quickly allowing you to stay cool and dry!

Then I walked all the way down to The Giants - the big windmills at the end of Golden Gate Park, and walked all the way down to the Ice Cream Bar, where I grabbed a black bean burger and a GIANT Vegan Sundae!! It was magnificent.

The rest of the afternoon was spent thrifting up and down Haight and Ashbury and then stopping for dinner at my favorite restaurant Cha Cha Cha for excellent food and drinks. My go to is roasted potatoes with plantains and black beans.

DAY 2 | Albany

White Tee / Slinky Dress / Wedges

I love how easily this outfit will go from day to night. I wanted today to be a bit more relaxing, so the morning starts with breakfast at one of my favorite spots Sam’s Log Cabin which is right near downtown Albany.

I love Albany. They have a bowling alley, cute restaurants, and shops. We window shopped in antique stores went to my favorite spice shop, and I saw a psychic - something I’ve always wanted to do, but never have!

Afterward, we had to stop at Mr. Dewies Cashew Creamery. I have to say we definitely got our fill of ice cream!

I didn’t find a show playing that I was super interested in seeing so Justin and caught a movie at the Albany Twin a landmark theatre. Theatre’s always tend to run a little chilly so adding a merino wool tee over my favorite summer dresses was an easy way for me to stay warm and cool.

We finished the day with dinner at Little Star where I ordered several Old Mexico’s one of my favorite cocktails to date!

DAY 3 | Sausalito

White Tee / Khaki Shorts / Sweater / Tennis Shoes

Today is the day! I have never walked the Golden Gate Bridge before. September and October are the closest things we get to summer months. You’ll find that you don’t need a jacket during the day which is amazing.

But around 5 or 6 the fog rolls in and it’s great to have a sweater on hand. I have this one from Icebreaker which has been my go-to! Justin and I started in SF and walked across the Golden Gate Bridge before venturing into the Marin Headlands which is absolutely breathtaking.

It was a little windy, but not too bad. We finished our little weekend vacation in Sausalito. Where we grabbed brews and dinner at The Barrel House and before heading back we, of course, had to stop and get some ice cream.

I hope I’ve encouraged you a bit to get out and enjoy your town! I had a blast getting to hang out with Justin and explore new parts and old favorite parts of where I live.

I wanted to leave you with a few tips for when you plan your next staycation:

1. Plan your trip. If you were going to go somewhere else, you’d make a plan so do the same thing for when you stick around town.
2. Pack appropriately! Finding a few versatile pieces that transition through all of your activities is a must. (I, of course, am a huge fan of Icebreaker!)
3. Budget for your trip. This is the time you can treat yourself and really splurge. Go to a nice fancy restaurant you’ve always wanted to try. Support a local artist or maker.
4. Unplug! When I’m on vacation, I’m completely unplugged. No laptops, Instagram, or working. This allows me to really get into vacation mindset.
5. Get a souvenir. Now, I know that might sound crazy coming from a zero waste blog, but I love to get souvenirs when I travel. But, my souvenirs are typically edible… like a big loaf of sourdough from San Francisco or chocolate from Ghiradelli Square.
6. Clean your house before your trip starts. One of the best things about going on vacation is staying somewhere else. I just love walking into a cleanroom.
7. Take photos! If you were somewhere new, you’d probably break out your camera to capture a few moments. Do the same when you’re on a trip close to home.
8. Relax and have fun!

I want to give another shoutout and thank you Icebreaker for sponsoring this post.

Don’t forget, Icebreaker is offering Free Shipping to all GZW readers in the US until November! Rolled up t-shirts make great stocking stuffer gifts, you want to get a head start on that holiday shopping. ;)

I would love to know if you’re considering sticking around town for your next vacation?

10 Eco-Friendly Beach Essentials

Oh, Northern California. It’s amazing. I actually went to the beach more when I was in the landlocked state of Arkansas than I do living on the coast. Why, you might ask?

BECAUSE IT’S COLD.

Last weekend we had highs of 55, cloudy, and even rain. But, this week it flipped to the hundreds. Cool. Cool. Cool.

This post was sponsored by SOL Organics all thoughts and opinions are my own. For more information, please see my disclosure policy.

There’s only three things on my MUST list:

• See Friends
• Eat Tacos
• Go to beach

I’m a simple lady. But, it got me thinking…. what does an eco-friendly/zero waste gal pack in her beach bag?

1. The biggest, fluffiest, organic towel:

First thing on my list is the biggest, organic, fluffiest towel. In fact, I’d prioritize bringing two. One to hold down my dry spot of sand and another to towel off.

My biggest, best, fluffiest towels of choice are. I have a set of a SOL Organics Sheets and absolutely love because they’re such high-quality.

So, when they launched their towel line, I was chomping at the bit to place my first order.

Their towels are VERY generously sized, they’re incredibly absorbent, super soft, and even after washing several times they’ve stayed brand new! I can definitely see myself having them for a decade at least.

For my beach day I’d pack:

1. Organic Bath Sheet This is the towel you want for holding down the fort
2. Organic Hand Towel This is the towel I’d keep in my bag for toweling off
3. Organic Bath Towel I’d just slip this cutie in for the hotel because these beat hotel towels any day…. I jest, I jest. But, really - I might just start bringing my own towel when I travel.

SOL Organics is certified Fair Trade, Organic Cotton, and GOTS certified, and they ship completely plastic free.

Their factory partner runs a transparent supply chain from farm to factory to fabric, using only non-GMO, certified raw 100% organic cotton, manufactured in a FLO-certified factory .

They always pay a living wage and are partnered with proven partners that invest in the health and well-being of women and children all while working to eradicate child labor.

And, as a huge bonus they’re offering all GZW readers 20% off with the code 'GZW20' just apply it at checkout.

2. beach bag:

You know me, #ZEROWASTE, #MINIMALIST, #LAZY so my super stylish farmers market tote doubles as the cutest beach bag and I know it’s up for the task because it totes 15lbs of vegetables on the reg.

And, I’ve successfully fit everything on this list including the Organic Bath Sheet , Organic Hand Towel , and Organic Bath Towel . Mary Poppins bag ain’t got nothin’ on me.

3. reef safe sunscreen:

This one’s a biggie - your sunscreen might be damaging the coral reefs.

And, this doesn’t only happen when you’re headed to the beach because ANY drain you wash these chemicals down will eventually make their way out to the ocean. 

So beach day or not you really should look for reef safe sunscreens that don’t have oxybenzone and octinoxate on the ingredient list.

Instead, opt for reef safe sunscreens. I’ve listed a few bellow: reef safe sunscreens. Be sure to wear a hat when you're out, cover up with sleeves. If you want to stay extra safe stay in the shade, and spend time outside during the early and later hours when the sun isn't as intense.   

• Sun Bum Reef Friendly Mineral Sunscreen (SPF 50)

• Thinksport Non-Nano Zinc Oxide Sunscreen (SPF 50+)

• Blue Lizard Sunscreen, Sensitive (SPF 30+)

4. hat:

I need my beach hat! I have a trusty straw hat I have relied on for quite some time, but I would really like to up my repertoire. Here’s a few of my favorites.

5. snacks:

Is it even a beach day without snacks!? You can have an amazing picnic on your gigantic SOl Organics Organic Bath Sheet. Here would be my plastic-free snack roster:

• Cooler full of iced tea complete with stainless pint cups to stay hydrated all day long
• Insulated water bottle Fav 1 & Fav 2
• Stasher bag full of pitted cherries and berries + a bamboo fork
• Stasher bag full of carrot, bell pepper, and celery sticks
• Tiffin full of homemade hummus

Snack packaging like drink cups and plastic wrap tend to get swept up by wind and make their way out to the ocean.

Trash cans around beaches are often overflowing so just avoid bringing and single-use disposable items with you to the beach and instead pack yourself a zero waste picnic!

photo from Stasher

6. cutest ethical swim:

I have a full guide to ethical swimwear similar to my post about summer trends, but for now, I’m packing this cute tankini from Jessica Rey.

I wore it on a bachelorette trip weekend where I tried to accomplish Zero Waste at Disneyland!

7. flip flops:

Pretty much the only time I wear flip flops - I just don’t find them to be very comfortable is on the beach or at the pool. I have this pair from Third Oak. They’re responsibly made in the US and are closed loop so if they break you can send them back to the company for recycling.

8. sunglasses:

Sunny, sunny, sunnies! Pela Case my phone case of choice and has been for years just launched the most eco-friendly sunglasses on the planet. They’re biodegradable and they’re adorable. I have a pair of the Dians and Justin has a pair of the Mayas.

9. bluetooth speaker:

I threw a portable speaker into my bag just incase we have a small section of beach to ourselves. I hate forcing my music on others. I have a bluetooth portable speaker which is pretty large and a little heavy so instead I’d probably opt for a mini!

House of Marley is one of the few brands that’s offering sustainable electronics. They use mindfully sourced materials including bamboo, FSC™ certified wood, recyclable aluminum, plastic and fabrics.

10. beach reads:

And, of COURSE, how could I not include beach reads. You know there’s like four in my bag and honestly this could be a whole post within itself, but if you’re looking for easy-to-read books on sustainability might I recommend my book 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste or Ashlee Piper’s Give a Sh*t

I’m not sure if we have the same taste in books, but I just tore through every Gwendolyn Womack book in about two weeks.

I’d like to thank SOL Organics for sponsoring this post. Whether you’re looking for a beach towel or eco-friendly towels for your bathroom, I can’t recommend SOL Organics enough.

PLUS, don’t forget about that 20% off for GZW readers! Use the code 'GZW20' at checkout!

What are you packing in your beach tote this summer?