Sustainable & Creative Living
It’s been almost a month since my husband and I started our van life adventure. It’s definitely been a whirlwind of change. Our whole world has been turned upside down and all the comforts of home have just been completely changed. We now find comfort in simpler things. Like a quiet place to sleep or a private place to shower.
I am always surprised by how many of my friends and family don’t really know anything about shapewear. I’ve been wearing it for years, specifically thigh shapers and I can’t imagine not wearing them. I’m also a big fan of dresses and skirts so that could have something to do with it.
Just over a week ago my husband and I started our adventure as Van lifers. We’ve spent the last 4 months renovating a 2002 Dodge Ram Conversion Van into a space we can live in full time as we travel the country.
After many months of planning, things are finally happening! A little less than a year ago, before we were married, my significant other, Nate and I decided that we were going to travel the country.
We’ve always been travelers, from the very first year of dating. So it kind of feels like everything we’ve done together has been in preparation for this trip. It started out as a small idea inspired in part by our first trip to Colorado. Another bit of inspiration came from when two of our best friends went to New Zealand for a year.
Last week I wrote a post about all kinds of eco-friendly products that are great replacements for single-use/disposable plastics – check it out here.
As I was writing that post and seeing all these great products, I couldn’t help but wonder – what makes these products eco-friendly?
My thought process has always been that if you can use it more than once, it’s automatically better for the environment. After all, you’re not throwing something away after you use it one time – i.e. a straw or plastic cup. If you can get more than one use out of it, it’s already a step in the right direction.
While this is a step in the right direction, it’s not the whole truth.
This weekend is Earth Day! I’m always excited about Earth Day because it brings out everyone’s inner Lorax! I wish that every day was Earth Day (my friends used to call me the Lorax in high school). The fact is that keeping our earth healthy by living a green lifestyle, no matter how small or large scale, is important.
Last year, we went to an Earth Day Festival in Tampa and we got to see how local communities are really trying to improve their environmental impact. It’s inspiring because it shows how individuals working together towards a common goal can make a difference. Even if it’s just doing something simply at home, we’re all working towards the goal of minimizing our environmental footprint.
Last week I wrote a post all about learning to let go – let go of all my stuff since I’m trying to downsize for my upcoming van life adventure. I wrote about how this is a serious struggle for me, not only because I tend to assign a sentimental value to a lot of things – but also because I love to shop. I didn’t emphasize that as much last week because I am working on it. But have to admit, I’m definitely a bit of a shopaholic.
Last week, I cut my hair for the first time since August 2015. My stylist cut 12 inches off and I do not miss that hair for a second. I don’t cut my hair very often and it grows pretty fast so I’m not very attached to it. Which is odd for me because I am usually attached to everything.
My big problem with letting things go is that I tend to assign a sentimental value to a lot of things. Or I feel like I’m going to need it and can find a way to use it. On top of not letting stuff go easily, I also really love shopping.
If you follow us on Instagram (you totally should), you may have seen my post last week about my little shopping haul at my local Walgreens drugstore that’s closing. All the makeup is 50% off! (I ended up going back and getting more makeup.)
For the past few months, I’ve really been trying to cut down on my makeup addiction. I canceled my Ipsy subscription and I haven’t been shopping for makeup unless I need it. As in, I use it every day and buy more when I’m out.
So when I saw that all of the Walgreens makeup was 50% off, I was at a loss. Part of me thought – you don’t need it, don’t buy it. Another part of me thought – I’m going traveling soon and I won’t have a lot of money. I have the money now, I’ll need this makeup eventually when I run out, so why not get it while it’s super cheap??
Last year I saw a viral video on Facebook all about a nonprofit organization that uses mascara wands to clean baby animals #wandsforwildlife. It’s called Appalachian Wildlife Refuge and they rescue and rehabilitate injured and orphaned wildlife in North Carolina.
This organization, in particular, caught my eye because of their unique approach to not only helping animals but also recycling, literally two of my favorite things.
I’ve never really made a bucket list before. For me, I’ve just always done the things I wanted as they come along. If an opportunity comes up to visit a friend or do something fun, I take it without thinking I’m going to cross it off a list later. However, with my trip coming up, I thought it would be fun to start a bucket list (among my many other lists) to drum up ideas and get even more excited about our adventure.
I was born with a wayward heart. My entire life I have loved to travel. Some of my first memories as a child are those of a family vacation. I truly believe that traveling is not only good for the soul but necessary to have a full life.
As a kid, my parents always took vacations and trips. When I was a teenager I was fortunate to be able to take a trip to Europe. Since the beginning of my adult life, I have always made it a point to find a way to travel at least once a year whether with my family or my now husband. We’ve been up and down the east coast and bits of the west.
Last year I did a post all about my favorite podcasts. Well, it’s been a year and I find myself listening to a whole new set of podcasts. I absolutely love them! I listen to them on long drives, while I get ready in the morning for work, and pretty much any time I have spare time.
There is literally a podcast for everything. If you like TV there is probably a podcast all about your favorite show. If you like politics there are no shortage of those. There are mommy podcasts, there are feminist podcasts – whatever you can think of I bet you can find a podcast about it.
