Sustainable in the Suburbs

I can’t be the only one who has complicated feelings about goody bags… right?
Kids' birthday parties have quietly escalated. The venues. The décor. The goody bags. The expectation that every year has to be a little bigger than the last.
But most kids don’t actually need all of that.
In this episode, I’m sharing how we’ve kept birthday parties simple, low waste, and still genuinely fun — from smaller guest lists to reusable decorations, bulk food, experience gifts, and activities that don’t end up in the trash.
If you’re looking for practical, eco-friendly birthday party ideas that feel realistic for busy families, this episode walks through exactly how we do it.
Related Episodes
Ep. 16: Sustainable Living with Kids with Jessica Nakamura
Ep. 22: Simple, Real-Life Sustainable Living with Julie Darrell
Ep. 23: Borrow Before You Buy with LEND-IT.CA
Ep. 26: Holiday Food Waste — Simple Ways to Reduce Waste and Save Money
Resources
How to Have a Zero Waste Birthday Party for Kids (blog post)
Should You Give Secondhand Gifts (blog post)
Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas for Kids (blog post)
Balloons Blow
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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio
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We talk a lot on this show about the small daily habits inside our homes. But every so often, the choices get bigger.
Renovations bring in materials, demolition, budgets, trades, and long-term decisions all at once. They shape how a home functions — and how it holds up — for years.
In this episode, I’m joined by Brittany Steptoe Wright, Founder and Principal of BSW Design and COO of Steptoe Carpentry, for a practical and thoughtful conversation about what sustainable design actually looks like inside real projects with real budgets.
If you’re planning a renovation — or simply thinking about your home with a longer lens — this conversation offers a steady framework for building and living in a way that lasts.
Takeaways
What sustainable design actually looks like inside a renovation
Where renovation waste comes from — and where it can realistically be diverted
Why durability often matters more than trend cycles
How antiques and inherited pieces can anchor a renovation
How professionals weigh sourcing, longevity, and budget together
Why maintenance plays a key role in sustainability
One Small Shift
Take care of your things — loved things last!
Maintain them. Repair them. Clean them properly. Loved things last — and extending the life of what’s already in your home is one of the simplest and most meaningful sustainability decisions you can make.
Connect With Brit
Website
Instagram
Podcast
Resources
Habitat for Humanity 
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
Sustainable Waste
Farrier Home 
RC Home 
HanStone
Jairpur Living
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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio
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Buying less is one of the most powerful forms of climate action we have.
In this episode, I’m sharing some of the things I’ve stopped buying over the last ten years of sustainable living. This shift into eco-frugal living happened gradually, beginning with using up what I already had, doing periodic waste audits to see what we were consistently throwing way, and getting very clear on how and where to spend our money.
Because truly, the most sustainable thing you can buy is nothing.
Takeaways
Climate action begins at the kitchen table
Many “household essentials” are designed to be constant restock items
Marketing — especially in personal care — encourages us to buy more than we need
Reusables make the most sense for things you use all the time
Saving money and reducing waste naturally go hand in hand
Not buying creates mental, physical, and financial space
One Small Shift
Instead of focusing on what you might stop buying next, try making a short list of things you already don’t buy anymore — and notice what made that possible.
Resources
Household Waste Audit Workbook (free download)
A Beginner’s Guide to a Sustainable Kitchen (use code PODCAST20)
How to Quit Using Amazon (blog post and podcast episode)
10 Zero Waste Kitchen Swaps That Save You Money (blog post)
How to Pack a Zero Waste School Lunch (blog post)
3 Ways to Have a Zero Waste Period (blog post)
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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio
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Donation dumps are basically reverse shopping hauls.
Decluttering is often framed as an end point — clear it out, drop it off, move on. But what if the way we let things go quietly trains how we bring new things in?
In this episode of Sustainable in the Suburbs, I’m exploring the relationship between decluttering, donation, and sustainable living — and why donation isn’t bad, but also isn’t neutral. We talk about mindful decluttering, overwhelmed donation systems, and how slowing down the letting-go process can shape more intentional habits around both acquiring and discarding things.
This conversation sits at the intersection of sustainable decluttering, minimalism, and organization, and asks what becomes possible when we stay present through the full life cycle of our stuff, instead of treating decluttering as the end of the story.
Takeaways
Decluttering is part of the buying cycle, not separate from it
Donation isn’t bad — but it isn’t neutral
Donation systems are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of donated goods
Slowing down decluttering creates useful feedback
Community-based solutions take more time... and that's the point
Paying attention when things leave your home shapes future purchases
One Small Shift
Look into your community-based options. That might mean joining a Buy Nothing group, checking what local organizations actually need, or learning where items are most likely to stay in use — and letting that guide how you let things go.
Resources
Sustainable Decluttering – An Eco-Friendly Approach to Letting Things Go (blog)
How to Host a Clothing Swap (podcast episode)
Fewer, Better Things - How to Reduce Kitchen Clutter (podcast episode)
Sustainable Minimalism - Stefanie Marie Seferian (book)
No New Things - Ashlee Piper (book)
The Story of Stuff - Annie Leonard (book)
Consumed - Aja Barber (book)
Aja Barber (Patreon)
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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio
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We all have clothes we don’t wear. Pieces that might fit again someday, that were expensive, or that feel too nice to just drop into a donation bin. When those clothes start piling up, donation often becomes the default solution. And once those bags are gone from the trunk, the buying cycle begins again.
In this episode, I’m taking a closer look at that pattern, and at what it might look like to slow down not just how we buy clothes, but how we let them go. We’re talking about clothing swaps — how they work in real life, why they’re such a powerful (and often overlooked) tool for sustainable living, and how sharing clothes within our existing circles can keep clothing in use closer to home, while also building connection and community.
Takeaways
How donation has become part of the buying cycle (and why that matters)
How clothing swaps keep clothes in use locally
Why letting go of clothing is emotional (and how swaps create a softer landing)
How to actually host a swap
Why planning for leftovers is just as important as planning the swap itself
How sharing clothes can quietly build connection and community
One Small Shift
Try it! If you have host energy, host a clothing swap — start small, keep it simple, and see what happens. And if hosting feels like too much, say YES to attending one.
Resources
How to Host a Clothing Swap (blog post)
Ep. 35: Rethinking Sustainable Fashion with Sabs Katz
Clotheshorse Podcast
Consumed - Aja Barber (book)
Aja Barber - Patreon
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Sustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal Studio
If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.