Marilla's Low Waste Lifestyle Blog

Meet the team!

Hi folks! Marilla here! While I’m away taking care of our two newest additions at the shop I wanted to take this moment to highlight the team that keeps things running smoothly at Marilla’s whether I’m present or not! I couldn’t have ever dreamed of bringing Marilla’s to life without their help and every day this group of people makes Marilla’s Mindful Supplies a better place. We can do so much because of THIS magnificent mindful CREW!

April 10, 2026 — Marilla Gonzalez

Exciting News for the New Year!

Hi there! I hope this email finds you peaceful, enjoying life, and gently giving yourself the permission to hibernate during the cozy winter months. Am I doing that, you ask?

The honest answer is: A LITTLE!

At Marilla's we jumped into 2026 with some exciting adventures on the horizon. We're adding to our team in store this winter because my husband Joe and I happen to be adding to our family this March, expecting the arrival of twin baby girls!

January 23, 2026 — Marilla Gonzalez

Plastic Free Gift Guide!

Ok. I really need to get going but as you can see from this MEGA EMAIL I have a lot of gift ideas. Maybe too many. I hope this email has inspired you to give plastic free sustainably sourced gifts this year for the folks you love and to shop small. When you choose to shop with us anytime, it warms our hearts, but we get especially warm and fuzzy when you trust us with your gifts!

December 13, 2024 — Marilla Gonzalez

This item is a SLOW MOVER…and it should be.

Never before in history has clothing been so cheaply mass produced and so wasteful. Mountains of discarded fashion fills less wealthy corners of the planet and that is partly because of unrealistic prices, and unfair exploitative practices in the fashion industry. By paying (and then charging) a REAL fair price for quality garments, we say YES to slow ethical consumption and NO to fast fashion and throw away culture.…

October 13, 2024 — Marilla Gonzalez

PEOPLE DOING THE PLANET GOOD

In a world where mega marts and big box stores churn through products and people as if they are nothing more than number on a page, we believe it’s important to let you all know about the people behind the products. Why purchasing that shampoo bar is MORE than just avoiding the plastic bottle, it’s an encouraging gesture for Kate at Dip AND Marilla’s Mindful Supplies and it gives us the courage and the confidence to keep going.

September 26, 2024 — Marilla Gonzalez

5 Essential Treasures for Plastic-Free Living!

There comes a moment for some of us when we look around the house and think..." wow, there's a lot of plastic in here". It's in our closets, it's wrapped around our food, it's holding our cleaning supplies, filling cabinets and once you start looking, it's easy to feel like plastic is EVERYWHERE.

September 10, 2024 — Marilla Gonzalez

Marilla's Hot Pink Lemonade!

It's summer time and that means it's FINALLY warm enough for me to enjoy a cold drink once in a while (as long as the A/C isn't too chilly, of course). My favorite drink when the weather heats up is my HOT (think spicy) Pink Lemonade. Super easy to make and way easy to sip.

July 19, 2024 — Marilla Gonzalez

Plastic Free at the gym?! On The Go?! Easy.

A common misconception around plastic free living is that it isn't convenient, and it only works if you're the peaceful homesteader type, living a slow life off the grid.

I'm here to tell you that I couldn't be further than that as a person. I leave the house early, I walk my dog down city streets, hit the gym, zoom to work, I eat meals on the go, and some days I'm not home until bedtime. EVEN on a day as crazy as all that, sustainable products make my life easier and save me money when all is said and done.

With that being said, today I want to highlight some products that are great if you are on the go go go and decide to hit the gym!

July 17, 2024 — Marilla Gonzalez

5 common single use plastics and 5 easy ways to avoid them!

When it comes to tackling single use plastic consumption, I like to think about the saying "Eat the elephant one bite at a time." Actually, I hate to think about that because I love elephants and the thought of eating one is against my inclinations HOWEVER the phrase does communicate the idea quite thoroughly: Anything can be accomplished one baby step at a time. Even reducing single use plastic. This week I've been reading up on some of the most common culprits in our eco systems and I thought it might be interesting to share with you! Some of these we've heard a million times and if you're ahead of the game that's wonderful!! And if you haven't tackled avoiding these products yet, hopefully this will give you some inspiration to find a swap that works for you and your unique routine!

July 09, 2024 — Marilla Gonzalez

Say Goodbye to Plastic with These Picnic Hacks!

Summer in our family means picnics by the lake. Since I was small the first warm weekend was spent grilling, with a side of cowboy beans and pasta salad. Unfortunately picnics can be pretty wasteful and while many things like napkins and paper products can be tossed in the fire or composted, Styrofoam and plastic lined cups can't be burned OR recycled so they get gathered and tossed in a dumpster. Over the last few years I have spent time finding and testing products that help reduce picnic waste AND make transporting and packing more convenient. Here are some eco-friendly alternatives that can help you reduce your plastic footprint while still enjoying a delicious meal outdoors. Let's dive into some creative solutions that I love that will make your next cookout more sustainable

June 27, 2024 — Marilla Gonzalez

The 6 Easiest Ways to Go Plastic Free Today

Of course, we all know it's important to reduce waste getting sent to landfills from an observation standpoint but now we are learning that plastic is breaking down to microscopic levels and finding it's way into our food, our water, and even our own bodies. With this knowledge, avoiding plastic seems to be becoming more personal (and overwhelming) so taking a moment each year to educate ourselves about what we can do and making an effort to be mindful of our plastic consumption is something we love to do!

June 26, 2024 — Marilla Gonzalez

Sustainable Summer FUN

Instead of any feelings of guilt or shame around the plastic that we DO use, we spend July celebrating our FAVORITE swaps, sharing tips that make our lives easier and products that make plastic free FUN. This email we are kicking off the summer with FUN and focusing on the products that keep summer care free and low waste!

June 16, 2024 — Marilla Gonzalez