Summer is here! The weather has gone from the low 70s to 90+. Okay, it’s not surprising given that we are located in California. I normally look forward to spending time at the beach, cleaning up the trash and honing my photography skills. With the way things are shaping up, this summer will very much be the same as last year, spent mostly indoors, with the exception of grocery shopping. The being said, there are loads of things we can do in our own backyard.

We had discussed a camping trip once things were safer. Since cases are on the rise again, we’ve opted for a camping trip in the backyard. It might not be the same as being in a spot near the ocean, but it will still be nice. A tent, small outdoor fire pit, and we’re good to go. I’ve never had an imagination– not even as a kid, but I’m trying. Speaking of, I’ll be trying my hand at Final Fantasy XIV. In relatively recent news, loads of WoW players have migrated over. Will they be back in WoW? Hopefully, if there is new content, they will. It has been ages since any new content was released, and Blizzard (in my opinion) has waited far too long to release patch 9.1 (release date is set for June 29, 2021). Now, on to other topics.

Have you noticed the growing popularity in so-called “environmentally friendly” swaps? It has blown up, more so in the last couple of years, even though it is far from being a new concept. Everywhere you look, some manufacturer or brand is coming out with some new duplicate product targeted at the zero-waste community and those who are looking to be more environmentally conscious. Even if you don’t need an item, you get suckered into making a purchase. While I’m significantly more conscious now about the companies I buy from, it doesn’t mean that I’m the exception when it comes to the purchasing aspect. When I began living low-waste, I went out and bought a ton of jars. Why? I bought them because I thought it was what was needed. Had I simply looked in the fridge, and made an actual effort to see the repurposing potential in what was there, it would have been a better option. Another example is with these produce bags for over a year, and when they finally went on sale, I bought them. Did I need any more than what I have? Nope. I have, probably close to 20, washable produce bags…yet I wasn’t content. Since buying that last set, I have zero desire for new bags. Don’t need them; don’t want them. All that being said, we’re not living in a fantasy world. Companies aren’t making less than usual because one person stops making purchases, but change can happen when enough of us band together. Other one-time swaps include durable items like safety razors (note: At the very least, keep it in a dry place. I recommend taking it apart after every use and letting the parts dry to keep it from rusting.), washable makeup wipes, insulated metal bottles, and canvas tote bags. In theory, while you may have to do a little mending, as long as you’re buying a higher-quality product, it will be a one-time deal.

On a personal note, if you had told me that content creation would ever become a “thing”, I would have told you you were nuts. The plus-side to platforms is that they provide a way for people to have a “voice”…people who would otherwise never have that opportunity. We can see how people live in all areas of the world, and see the ups and downs of life outside of our own personal bubbles. While I, at least at the moment, make nothing from doing this, I appreciate the ability to be able to converse with all of you. It has also given me the opportunity to meet people and test out products. Sometimes I go off on tangents and rant about causes that are close to my heart. Other times the posts are much more focused and intentional. I can’t thank you all enough for sticking around. Life has been very difficult, especially over the past few weeks. Here’s to bigger and better things in the upcoming months.

Peace & Love, always!