Hi everyone. 

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.