Question your habits

Hi everyone.  Rosie Mendoza is a self-taught photographer, secondhand advocate, and the pro-environmental force behind, Question your Habits. In her words: I grew up with the notion that failure was not an option. A bad word. Some dark place where you never want to go. That thought didn't serve me well. It took me years and massive failures to realize that, they are, the only avenue to reach progress.  Call me crazy but, these days I celebrate my kids failures and mine more than our achievements.  Failing is as necessary (or even more) than victories to achieve success on our own terms.  If you are looking for some evidence, I am it. Failures got me here. Thank you for listening.  Looking forward to connect thru Instagram at questionyourhabits.

Hi everyone. Castor oil is a vegetable, thick and heavy liquid that people have used for thousands of years: being a natural hair treatment is just one of its many uses. According to experts, castor oil is an effective and gentle method of cleansing your scalp due to its antibacterial and antifungal properties.  It is filled with essential nutrients like vitamin E, omega-6 fatty acids and its ricinoleic acid content helps replenish the scalp’s natural oils, undo some of the damage of harsh chemical hair products and improve hair growth.  Due to castor oil’s ability to reduce inflammation, it may be an effective treatment for dandruff, that is caused by seborrhoeic dermatitis. Even tho castor oil is generally considered safe, it is best to check with your physician before adding it into your daily routine. More tips coming soon... thank you for listening. Looking forward to connect via Instagram at questionyourhabits.

Conventional deodorants and anti-perspirants mission is to remove odors and stop us from sweating, a natural bodily function which regulates your body temperature and helps to release toxins, among others. Fortunately, there are tons of non-toxic DIY recipes out there and over the counter options as well. These are the main ingredients to avoid while looking for your next non-toxic deodorant: Aluminum: stops sweat from reaching the surface of your skin. Propylene Glycol: absorbs sweat while helping other chemicals enter into your body. Please have in mind that when switching to a deodorant without aluminum, your underarms will most likely go through a withdrawal period.  You may experience more sweat and odor than normal. It is worth it. Promise. More tips coming soon... thank you for listening. Looking forward to connect thru Instagram at questionyourhabits.

Hi everyone. Welcome to Question your habits. If you are looking for to start putting your personal finances in order, you are in the right place. The trick is, to get specific on what you want to accomplish: Going on vacation, get out of credit card debt or start a savings account... but first, give it a hard look to your last year spending habits, how much you made, how much you spent and, on what. Next step involves making tough decisions. Cut off the unnecessary spending, like extra channels on your cable bill, subscriptions you barely use, take out meals you could cook at home and, move those funds towards your financial goals.  Budgeting your money is crucial.  Make sure you set realistic limits thru technology or, the old fashioned way, by making envelopes for food, gas money, basic expenses, etc. More tips coming soon.... thank you for listening. Looking forward to connect thru Instagram as well at questionyourhabits.

Hi everyone. Welcome to Question your Habits. Americans consume 300 % more sugar than they should. The AHA recommends no more than 9 teaspoons of added sugar per day for men, 6 teaspoons for women and 3 to 6 teaspoons for children.  Sugar is listed on nutrition labels as grams. To convert grams to teaspoons, simply divide by four. Unfortunately, it is hard to keep up with over 60 names, Food manufacturers, are using to refer to sugar these days: Maltodextrin and dehydrated cane juice are just a couple of them so, the easiest way to stay away from added sugar is, to avoid highly processed foods by preparing homemade meals. The following are few tips on how to reduce your intake of added sugars: Drink your coffee black or use natural sweeteners like raw honey. Pick up whole fruits instead of drinking sugar-sweetened fruit smoothies. Replace creamy dressings by adding basics seasonings like olive oil and vinegar to your next salad. Switch flavored, sugar-loaded yogurt to plain or greek yogurt with a splash of fresh fruits. More tips coming soon... thank you for listening. Looking forward to connect thru Instagram at questionyourhabits.

Hi everyone. Welcome to Question your Habits. Did you know? Dopamine is an important brain chemical that influences your mood and memory, among others. Levels of Dopamine are regulated by the body thru the nervous system but, there are always basic lifestyle changes you can make today to reach brain function at its best: Get enough sleep, exercise and spend time in the sun. Studies show that increasing the protein in your diet can increase dopamine levels in the brain. Eat velvet beans, they contain high levels of L-dopa, the precursor molecule to dopamine. In recent years, scientists have started calling the gut the second brain. Taking probiotics can alter your gut bacteria in a way that positively affects your brain function. Please have in mind, it’s important to consult with your doctor before making changes to your diet or supplement routine. More tips coming soon... thank you for listening. Looking forward to connect thru Instagram at questionyourhabits.

Hi everyone. Welcome to Question your Habits. Did you know?  Unfortunately, coffee cups from your favorite coffee shop are not easily recyclable. To recycle coffee cups, waste management locations have to have special machinery to separate the plastic lining from the paper cup.  The lids are plastic  number 6, better known as polystyrene, and is not recyclable in most curbside bins.  The cardboard sleeve is recyclable. Please consider purchase a refillable coffee cup next time you visit a coffee shop. Thank you for listening. Looking forward to connect thru Instagram at questionyourhabits.

Hi everyone. Welcome to Question your Habits. Looking for an earth-friendly alternative to conventional air fresheners? Most of already in the market products don't remove odors. Instead they trap them inside of a chemical shield, to mask the bad scent with a fake chemical smell. The following is a homemade, safer solution: half part vodka, half part distilled or filtered water.  Give it a good shake and spray it, everywhere. Vodka is a non-toxic disinfectant that will destroy the bacteria causing odors. Are you worried of the fire hazard aspect of using vodka? Don't be. There are a lot more flammable things in regular cleaning products than diluted vodka. Note: nothing is healthier or smells better than clean, fresh air. So when possible, open up the windows and turn on the fan to circulate the air. More tips coming soon... thank you for listening. Looking forward to connect thru Instagram at questionyourhabits.

Hi everyone.  Rosie Mendoza is a self-taught photographer, secondhand advocate, and the pro-environmental force behind, Question your Habits. In her words: Does waste-free sound too much of an unachievable lifestyle? I hear you. When I started looking at the way I was throwing away stuff I found myself feeling a bit overwhelmed and took me a minute to find a system that works for me and the planet. The trick is not to get discouraged when you don't get it right and learn from those who are already ahead of us on a more sustainable way to live.  What can you start doing today? Take your own bag, everywhere. Not only to the supermarket.  You will be surprised on how many plastic bags you can save. Educate your kids on the benefits of carrying your own reusable bottle of water. Yes, let's make it a family mission. When purchasing goods try to go for the ones with recyclable packaging like metal, glass and cardboard. Request plastic free shipping on all your online orders. Don't forget to turn off the water while brushing your teeth. And... this one is my all times grandmother's reminder: Unplug electronics when not in use.  At the end of the day, it's not a matter of perfect it's about creating better habits.  Time to raise the bar on what it means to be environmentally responsible. More tips coming soon... thank you for listening. Looking forward to connect thru Instagram as well at questionyourhabits.

Hi everyone. Welcome to Question your habits. Aside from being known as a spice that will make you break a good sweat, some experts consider cayenne pepper a great component to boost your metabolism due to its heat properties, which help to increase the heat that your body already produces through a process called diet-induced thermogenesis. Also, cayenne pepper contains tons of antioxidants, which are critical helpers for staving off diseases like psoriasis and may reduce cancer risk. It's best to check with your doctor before adding cayenne pepper as a whole food, spice or supplement into your diet. More tips coming soon...  thank you for listening. Looking forward to connect via Instagram as well at questionyourhabits.

Hi everyone. Welcome to Question your Habits. According to Zion Market Research, the global cosmetic products market was valued at around 532 billion dollars in 2017 and is expected to almost double by 2024. Yes, sales are on the rise, as well as the concern for how these mixtures are been formulated. Skin is the human body's largest organ and it seems, the American market is not willing to compromise health for beauty anymore, by shifting its preferences towards non-toxic, cruelty free, natural and organic products, to reduce harmful effects to consumers and the environment. Please join this going green party, by upgrading to safer products yourself, next time you need to refill your makeup bag.  With a little bit of research, you will find tons of brands doing what's best for all of us. Thank you for listening. Looking forward to connect thru Instagram as well at questionyourhabits.

Hi everyone.  Rosie Mendoza is a self-taught photographer, secondhand advocate, and the pro-environmental force behind, Question your Habits. In her words: Am I making a difference? I ask myself this question often. When in doubt, I don't have to go further than the kitchen, which has been completely refurbished with free pallets and make my morning coffee, or turn around and stare at the endless pile of just washed, secondhand clothing waiting to be folded, or... even go to take a shower to remember, we are running out of homemade body wash, to realize, I AM making a difference. My goal is to be more than a voice, but a doer, who challenge others to question their daily routines, by offering a glimpse of my own "work in progress / going green" lifestyle. There is tons of information out there on how slowly, go a little bit more sustainable.  I invite you to check out my Instagram at questionyourhabits and... who knows? Maybe I motivate you enough to start today. Thank you for listening. 

Hi everyone.  Rosie Mendoza is a self-taught photographer, secondhand advocate, and the pro-environmental force behind, Question your Habits. In her words: At first sight, I am a successful person.  I am my own boss. I have two healthy kids, one hefty mortgage and never a dull moment. All of the above keeps me grounded and humble but "success" is a concept I'm still chasing for. Every time I think I've reached "it", something triggers me to keep on digging deeper on what really means to ME. After 46 years, a handful of achievements and many disappointments I can clearly see that my understanding of success keeps on evolving at the same pace as I do.  Unfortunately, at some point we all get under the spell of caring about what our success means for others.  Their validation becomes common currency and we are willing to pay premium for it.  By the time we realize how invested we are on getting someone else approval it's hard to break up with the idea that we don't need it at all and that success is a very personal journey. We easily let success be dictated by where we live, what we drive and how many people like us without thinking that, for better or worse, those variables can and will change along the way.  THIS is the kind of Success I'm after these days: The ability to ADAPT (without losing myself) regardless my financial and social status. It won't save me from the struggle but certainly it will help me to bounce back from it much faster. Thank you for listening. Looking forward to connect thru Instagram as well at questionyourhabits.

Hi everyone. Welcome to Question your habits. If you are looking for to start putting your personal finances in order, you are in the right place. The trick is, to get specific on what you want to accomplish: Going on vacation, get out of credit card debt or start a savings account... but first, give it a hard look to your last year spending habits, how much you made, how much you spent and, on what. Next step involves making tough decisions. Cut off the unnecessary spending, like extra channels on your cable bill, subscriptions you barely use, take out meals you could cook at home and, move those funds towards your financial goals.  Budgeting your money is crucial.  Make sure you set realistic limits thru technology or, the old fashioned way, by making envelopes for food, gas money, basic expenses, etc. More tips coming soon.... thank you for listening. Looking forward to connect thru Instagram as well at questionyourhabits.

Hi everyone.  Rosie Mendoza is a self-taught photographer, secondhand advocate, and the pro-environmental force behind, Question your Habits. In her words: Let's take a min. and think about the amount of information we consume in a day... Wow! right? Every morning, most of us reach for the phones before even opening our eyes.  Between the real, the fake news and looking at what everybody else is doing along with the fear of missing out, there is little to no time or attention span left for what really matters to us. I consider content a valuable commodity.  But, when does information cross the line from having a purpose to being a dis-service to us?  That's why, I invite you to pause and write down a clear path of intention for what you are consuming today.  Then, weed out whatever is not serving you.  Personal growth is the end game for me so, I want to believe my time is well-spent on reaching my full potential with the help of meaningful information. Thank you for listening. Looking forward to connect thru Instagram as well at questionyourhabits.

Hi everyone. Welcome to Question your habits. 50% of the food produced in the US goes to waste and unfortunately, is the biggest single component of landfills. Rosie Mendoza, the force behind, Question your Habits invites you to join her today, to reduce such loss by incorporating some easy steps, to your daily kitchen routine: Check your pantry and fridge before going grocery shopping to make sure you only buy what you don't already have. Stay on top of what needs to be consumed first by labeling containers.  Yes, it's that simple. Canning and freezing are just a couple of ways you can use to make food last longer. And finally, her favorite, embrace left-overs. By making small changes in how to shop, prepare, and store food, you can save time, money and the planet. More tips coming soon... thank you for listening. Looking forward to connect thru Instagram as well at questionyourhabits.

Hi everyone.  Rosie Mendoza is a self-taught photographer, secondhand advocate, and the pro-environmental force behind, Question your Habits. In her words: I've been my number 1 critic for over 40 years, and self image has been chasing me, for most of my life.  Until, I started applying a simple habit, which, sometimes, I have to forced myself to accomplish.  Self-compassion. Self-compassion taught me that, this lifestyle of mine, is a combination of, mindful routines and eating right, is just one of them. These are a few steps, Rosie invites you to follow, to stay in control, of what you can control, in relationship with your eating habits. Plan ahead, so you don't have to rely, on willpower alone.  Give yourself options.  Healthy options. Remind yourself that food is fuel, not a reward or a choice of punishment. Love and respect your body, by incorporating some form of daily exercise, and much needed sleep. Positive talk to yourself, all the time. Accept setbacks as part of the journey.  Learn how to rest, not to quit. Time to make yourself a priority. More tips coming soon... thank you for listening. Looking forward to connect thru Instagram as well at questionyourhabits.

Hi everyone. Welcome to Question your habits. The positive attitude towards non-toxic options is increasing by the minute and activated charcoal, seems to be the No.1 ingredient you can find in every personal care product out there.   How does it work?  Well, the short explanation is, because of its adsorption properties, activated charcoal is like a magnet to attract toxins. Rosie Mendoza, the force behind Question your Habits, finds her activated charcoal base deodorant very effective, and brushing her teeth with activated charcoal powder is, definitely, a healthier alternative for whitening her teeth than whatever else is offered over the counter. More tips coming soon... thank you for listening. Looking forward to connect thru Instagram as well at questionyourhabits.

Hi everyone.  Rosie Mendoza is a self-taught photographer, secondhand advocate, and the pro-environmental force behind, Question your Habits. In her words: In 2017, I decided to go full throttle on reselling and purchasing secondhand clothing, without knowing that the financial aspect of those transactions, was going to be the most insignificant part of my gains.  Unfortunately, there's a lot of misconception and shame behind wearing pre-owned clothing.  And that has to change because... there's no planet B! As a community, we need to educate ourselves of the effects of, how the fashion industry operates and the way we consume fashion are damaging our environment. The buy everything NEW, barely wear and throw away mentality is NOT a sustainable approach.  Excess, clutter, and waste are the aftermath of a broken system and it's in our best interest to demand accountability at the top levels while doing our part as costumers. Please consider thrifting, swapping, re-selling and donating next time you need to revamp your closet. Thank you for listening. Looking forward to connect thru Instagram as well at questionyourhabits.

Hi everyone. Welcome to Question your habits. Did you know?  After 6, 7 or 8 hours of sleep our bodies are pretty dehydrated. Dehydration can affect your memory, stress level, mood, attention to detail and overall performance. That's why it is recommended to start your day drinking, at least, 8 oz. of water.  Yes, before your coffee. More tips coming soon... thank you for listening. Looking forward to connect via Instagram as well at questionyourhabits.