Happy New Year! We hope you had a nice, safe weekend. Here is a bit of what has been going on since the new year started and the direction for 2022.

On Saturday we went to Mitsuwa to pick up a lucky bag to kick off 2022. We ended up with four and were excited to see what they contain. It’s the first year we purchased them. They’re something I had wanted to get for a long time and never got around to it. Lucky bags are not common where I live (a select few stores offer them) and often sell out in under an hour. Yes, everything comes in packaging that is nearly all recyclable and/or reusable where I live. Now, I hate feeling the need to justify my purchases, but for transparency’s sake, feel as though I do. The contents were definitely worth the purchases since we eat everything that was in the kid’s bag (all food items) and use nearly all of the products in the others. There was a large bottle of Shu Uemura Sakura Cleansing Oil ($75, retail at the time of posting), 60-second face masks, a curling iron, and so much more. Items we don’t use will make great gifts; although, truth be told, there won’t be much to give away.

In other news, this year is going to be filled with loads of new adventures, not related to travel, when time permits. That being said, we would like to do some low-waste camping when it’s safe, since we have the gear and have local campgrounds. I also want to get the Open Discourse section back up where everyone can have a safe space to discuss whatever the topic of discussion is.

We are in the process of creating a content schedule that will be more than just a post that I try to have up weekly, and quite frankly, have been failing at as of late. We’re also working out a food segment. The goal is to offer recipes that you can tailor to fit your own tastes and dietary needs.

I don’t want my life to be full of regrets. As long as I tried, and learned something from the experience(s), then it’s not a waste. Not to me, anyway. This year, despite the obstacles that undoubtedly are to follow, will be one of progress. It is exciting seeing things unfold in a positive way.

The start of the new year often signifies fresh beginnings and holds the promise of a better year than the one before. You’re probably thinking that this could happen any day. You’d be right. Why is it that a new year seems to give so much hope?

Peace & Love, always!