It’s been a while since I’ve been on the blog! Thank you for sticking around.

I’m currently just over 30 weeks pregnant and I wanted to share how my simple maternity capsule wardrobe has been holding up for the past month. I curated this capsule back at the beginning of May. If you haven't watched that video yet, I would love for you to check it out on my YouTube channel. I’ll leave a link below!

This capsule is full of oversized dresses, comfortable jumpsuits, and billowy tops, almost all of which previously existed in my wardrobe. I’ve been really impressed with how versatile this capsule has been in adapting and changing with my growing body. I have grown out of some pieces at this point in my pregnancy, but the majority of this capsule is still going strong. I love all the fun colours and oversized silhouettes of a lot of the pieces.

A few thoughts

what I’m doing with pieces I’ve grown out of

For the pieces that don’t fit at the moment, I’ve passed them onto family and friends to wear for this season and once I can fit into them again, I can enjoy them! I love that the pieces are still getting worn even when it’s not worn by me.

maternity-specific pieces

Investing in a pair of maternity pants has been super key for me this season because although I had a lot of dresses and jumpsuits that fit, I really miss my high-waisted denim and black trousers. Those were key staples that I lived in before pregnancy. Simply having a pair of black joggers has allowed me to feel a lot more like myself even though my body has been going through a lot of changes.

versatility

I’m honestly really impressed with how versatile this small capsule has been so far. I even completed a #5x5ByFriends capsule wardrobe challenge with five of the pieces. It just takes a bit of creativity to get the most out of pieces that you already own, which is what I love the most about capsule wardrobes and shopping from your own closet. Because wearing what you have is always the most sustainable option!

a few of my favourite maternity looks

Jumpsuit by Tradlands
Cream Cardigan by Tradlands
Sneakers by Veja

Black Dress by ABLE - CANDICE20 for 20% off
Wrap Top by Vetta
Flats by Everlane

Black Jumpsuit by Boob Design

Black Linen Top by Power of my People
Black Joggers by Storq

Navy Jumpsuit by Curator SF
Grey Tank by FRANC

Striped blue top by Laude the Label
Black Joggers by Storq
Sandals by ABLE - CANDICE20 for 20% off

I hope you’ve enjoyed this mini recap of my maternity capsule, I’ll be in these pieces for about two more months! After that, we’ll see what happens!

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This post is not sponsored but may contain some gifted items and affiliate links. If you decide to shop through the links above, I may make a small commission that helps support this blog and other social platforms. I only share products and brands I love and support. All opinions are my own.

Thank you for supporting Candice Tay!

Tips to Help You Save Water in the Kitchen

In Partnership with Finish Canada

Today I’m partnering with Finish Canada to share a few quick tips to save water in the kitchen, helping you live a little more sustainably. Canada is home to 20% of the world’s freshwater resources and 35% of Canada’s water is renewable. However, there are many places where the abundance of water and water quality is threatened. I’m excited to share that Finish is partnering with the Nature Conservancy of Canada to help preserve Canada’s freshwater supply. Together through this campaign, we’re hoping to help Canadians and people across the world implement small changes to make a big impact. If you’ve been around my blog for a while, you’ll know that I’m all about taking small, simple steps to living more simply and sustainably.

Alright, let’s get into the tips!

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Partnership Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Finish Canada and some items listed below were gifted as part of this partnership. I earn a small commission (at no additional cost to you) on sales made through the Amazon storefront link which helps to support this blog as well as my other social channels. As always, thanks for your continued support!

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Soak, don’t rinse

The first tip is to soak your produce instead of rinsing it under the tap. This helps to save water because instead of keeping the tap running using both energy and water, you can sufficiently clean your produce in one large bowl of water. This tip also goes for stubborn pots or dishes. Instead of running the tap to clean these dishes, let them have a good soak and the food should come off easily.

Use a vacuum flask

This tip is especially useful during the fall and winter seasons. JT and I turn on the kettle in the morning to start our days with a cup of coffee. We then pour the remaining hot water into a vacuum sealed flask so that throughout the day we have access to hot water whenever we need it. This saves energy and water because you don’t need to turn on the kettle for a new pot of water each time you want a hot cup of tea or a hot drink.

Try waterless cookware

I’m just learning about waterless cookware now and am quite impressed by how it works. These pots don’t look drastically different than your regular every day pots, but they are supposed to help save energy and water while helping you make delicious, healthy meals. After a little bit of research on my own, the thing that makes waterless cookware unique is that it is consists of three layers. The main outer layer is usually made of stainless steel, while the heating surface of the pot is often copper or aluminum. The middle of the pot is usually made of iron. I found that the pots heated up significantly faster than my usual ceramic or cast iron pots and pans. This in turn helps to save not only energy, but also time. When cooking with waterless cookware, you’re supposed to allow the steam to help cook your food which reduces the amount of water you need to use when cooking. Check out my YouTube video to see the little experiment we did with our veggies.

Reuse water when cooking

When you’re in the kitchen preparing meals, try to reuse water where possible. For example, when you’re making pasta, save some pasta water to be added to the sauce instead of turning on the tap for water. If you like to boil your veggies, save that water to make your own veggie broth with any vegetable scraps you’ve saved up.

Use appropriately sized pots

My final tip is simple! Whenever you’re cooking, choose an appropriately sized pot for whatever you are making. Specifically, when boiling, select a pot that will have just enough water to cover your food.

Don’t pre-rinse your dishes

Opt to use the dishwasher when you can, but make sure it’s a FULL load. This will help save a ton of water and is a lot more energy-efficient. Don’t forget, that when you use the dishwasher, you don’t need to pre-rinse your dishes. Simply scrape off the larger chunks of food and let the dishwasher do its job.

More sustainable kitchen swaps

I also wanted to mention a few of my favourite sustainable swaps specifically for the kitchen. You’ve most likely heard me mention these, but if you haven’t given these a try, I highly recommend making these simple changes. These are all swaps that I’ve been using for over two years and haven’t looked back.

Beeswax Wraps

Beeswax wraps are probably my favourite kitchen swap because they are SO useful and effective. They are the perfect alternative for cling wrap and help reduce food waste and keep your food lasting longer in the fridge.

Swedish Dish Cloths

I honestly can’t get enough of these dish cloths. Swedish dish cloths are made of cellulose plant fibre so they are not only super absorbent, they are also compostable at the end of its life. I use Swedish dish cloths or old rags to wipe up spills on my counters and table top surfaces. You might not be at the point where you can cut out paper towels completely, but these are a great swap to at least help you reduce the amount of paper towel that is used in your household.

Reusable Straws

Reusable straws are probably the most accessible swap you can make these days. They also come in various materials like glass, silicone, stainless steel, and bamboo, so you can choose what you prefer and what best fits your lifestyle.

There are so many more swaps I could mention, I’ll leave a link to my eco-friendly storefront so you can shop some of these swaps when you’re ready to make the change.

I hope these tips were helpful and inspiring. It’s all about taking small steps to make big changes. These tips will not only help you save water but will also help you save energy and money in the long run. I’ve also filmed a new vlog over on my YouTube channel walking you through some more simple sustainability tips while putting Finish’s Quantum Ultimate dishwashing pods to the test. If you can’t get enough of these water-saving tips or want to learn more about Finish’s commitment to water conservation, head over to www.skiptherinse.ca to learn more.

Happy long weekend friends! Although to be honest, the past couple of weekends have felt like a long weekend anyway because of all the staying in. I thought I’d share some recent zero waste self-care things I’ve been loving and what better time than a long weekend of staying in, to give yourself a little pamper! So kick off your shoes, light a candle, grab a hot drink and let’s get into some cozy zero waste self-care ideas.

Body Scrubs

There are tons of DIY body scrubs out there that you can quickly whip up and use the next time you’re in the shower or having a bath. Body scrubs are an extremely relaxing thing to do and is great for your skin. It helps to remove dead skin cells, leaving your skin feeling refreshed and super soft! Here is a simple recipe you can create using some products you might already have in your home.

DIY Sweet Sugar Body Scrub

In a clean bowl, add 1/2 cup of sugar (I like to use brown sugar or raw turbinado sugar). Gradually add in 2-3 tbsp of sweet almond oil or jojoba oil. Slowly add in the oil and mix the two ingredients together until you reach a consistency that resembles wet sand. Scoop the scrub into an air-tight container. I love to upcycle jars for purposes just like this! I had an old coconut oil moisturizer that I recently finished using up so I cleaned out the container using hot, soapy water and it’s the perfect storage solution for this scrub.

I’ve written about reusing coffee grounds in a body scrub in a previous post which you can check out here if you’re interested in another recipe! If you like, you can try switching out the coconut oil used in that recipe for sweet almond oil.

How to use:

To use this scrub in the shower, scoop a small amount with your hands and gently apply the scrub onto your skin in light, circular motions. Rinse off the scrub with water and pat dry with a towel. Be sure to follow up with a luxurious body butter — see below!

Safety Razor

After exfoliating, now is the perfect time to shave if you wish. I wanted to highlight this safety razor that I’ve been using for the past couple of months from Canadian brand, Well Kept. Honestly, it was a little intimidating for me at the beginning, but after some practice and learning some tips and tricks to using a safety razor, I’ve really enjoyed this sustainable swap I’ve made. I’ve found that using a safety razor has slowed down my self-care process when I’m in the shower just simply because I have to be more careful. The simple act of shaving has become a reminder to slow down.

Do you use a safety razor and if so, do you have any tips for beginners?

Body Butter

I had to mention this body butter again because it is SO good! I have the driest skin ever and it is just so moisturizing and has such a lovely, whipped texture that makes it really enjoyable to use. If you use this body butter followed after the above mentioned sugar scrub, let me tell you, your skin will feel like a baby’s bottom.

DIY Whipped Body Butter

I’ve made an entire video on how to make this whipped body butter which you can find here. Here’s the TLDR version of that video. Melt 1/2 cup of shea butter, 1/4 cup of coconut oil, and 1/4 cup of sweet almond oil over a double boiler until completely liquid. Let the oils harden in the fridge. Whip up the oils with a whisk or electric hand mixer until you’ve reached a light, airy whipped icing consistency. Scoop into a clean air-tight container and there you have it!

How to use:

This body butter is best used after showering because your pores are open and ready to absorb the moisturizer. Apply a light layer of body butter all over your skin. Let the oils melt into your skin.

Clay Mask

I think after all that pampering in the shower, it’s time to work a little magic on our faces — cue the face mask. My personal favourite is doing a clay mask, but really any kind of mask is so soothing and relaxing for your skin. I’ve been using clay masks from Canadian brand, Eluo for the past year and have seen amazing results in my skin. I also thoroughly enjoy the slow, intentional process of mixing up my clay mask and applying it to my skin. Let me tell you, I’m not the only one in my house that enjoys doing a clay mask!

What are your favourite kinds of masks to do?

Get Brewin’

To complete this self-care evening, why not brew a comforting hot drink to enjoy. In the evenings I usually opt for tea and prefer to use loose leaf teas when I can, to reduce on packaging and also because a lot of tea bags are actually made of plastic and can’t be composted. So opt for loose leaf when you can! Other hot drinks I love are coffee (usually in the morning), matcha latte, or the occasional hot chocolate. Whatever your drink of choice, get brewing and enjoy a quiet moment.

Now that I’m at the end of this post, I’m feeling extremely relaxed and ready to grab a hot cup of chamomile tea and snuggle up on the couch for an evening in.

My evening plans? Maybe read a book or catch some reruns on Netflix!

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This post is not sponsored and but mentions some gifted items. I only share products and brands I love and support. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting Candice Tay!