Tired of being tired?

Sometimes Wants (Summer '23)

 These are the summer time, "Sometimes Wants," that have caught my eye lately.

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3. 4.

5. 6.

7. 8.



9. 10.


  1. Lately I've taken to seeing a lot of spice racks change their jars out for ones that are more uniform and minimal. Although we purchase organic spices, and all of them come in glass containers anyway, it would be nice to have some that look cohesive in the cabinet. I have had my eye on these lately, because they have bamboo lids and come with labels. I am also liking these from KonMari, as well. The black bamboo lids look sharp.
  2. You can never have enough good quality cotton t-shirts and these are so soft and comfortable. They come in three colors, but the company makes a lot of great cotton items to add to your wardrobe and clothing rotation. I've replaced a lot of my lesser quality cotton shirts with these and I love all three colors and sizes from XXS to 6XL. FYI: They are perfect for yoga sessions and working out, and if you size up about three sizes, they are great for sleeping in and lounging around, too.
  3. This was a pricier purchase for me this season, but one that I will be making again. These are some of the best lip balms I've ever used. They are smooth, classy, and feel great on the lips. They are just under $50, and are 16 ounces each. I've been using them now for about two months and I love them a lot. The colors I have are the Clear, Translucent Garnet, and Sheer Rose, but will be purchasing the Clear, Peony, and Tomato soon. The Clear along is a great lip balm to just have on hand, too.
  4. I have been using these pot brushes for everything lately. We've been cleaning up areas on the bus and these have come in handy to get into small cracks and crevices to really get the grime out of them. We recently finished placing insulation is the wall areas and these little pot brushes came in super handy to be able to clean the small areas before putting in the insulation sheets. I've also been using these around the house to clean and scrub appliances, floors, and even walls.
  5. Been rethinking how I ship things lately and the amount of waste that goes into packaging items to ship through the mail. I recently found these biodegradable shipping bags. They come in a 50 count package and are perfect for smaller items being shipped. They are compostable poly mailers with eco-friendly packaging that break down over a short period of time. The company also makes other biodegradable packaging and other items that make me feel just a bit better about doing my part of the environment.
  6. Looking at light puffers lately and I fell in love with this longer puffer from Everlane. It's a nice color for fall and can be worn clear into June here in the Willamette Valley. It's comfortable and does a nice job of keeping even my legs warm on road trips. Comes in black, as well and is made from 100% recycled polyester material. Easily packs up and can be worn alone or in layers, I just love it. It comes in XXS to XL and tends to run a bit larger.
  7. Along with going more eco-friendly in our house, I have found better ways to help the environment, while not compromising my cleaning habits. We have been using better sponge options lately and these are great. They are all natural, biodegradable, made with hemp/sisal plant, non-scratch, chemical-free, and odor free. With a bit of elbow grease, they really get the job done. I use one for about three weeks with my regular daily cleaning routine and toss them in our compost bin. They work for household cleaning, as well as dishes, and countertops.
  8. We are still loving our Daxlena Safeparty Firepit Mat and when Summer Solstice hits we always know it's time to break it out for the season. With having the school bus now when we go camping, it has definitely come in handy no matter where we end up. We loved ours so much we ordered two more to use in different locations. We use it under anything hot to save the surface of what's underneath. We also use it in the sand and on our lawn when needed, as well. It's a great addition to your camping box, or just to use every day at your own home. Check out my blog post on the Safeparty Fire Pit Mat here.
  9. These notebooks were a random find while working with some Amazon affiliate companies recently and they are perfect for what I needed at the time. We are planning a big trip here soon and I'm hoping we can document the trip in our own words in a notebook. These pastel colored notebooks will be just the right thing for that. I can't wait to be able to get back and read what all of us put in our notebooks about our trip. These come in the pastel colors pictured, more bold colors, and vintage colors and are 16 to a pack.
  10. We've taken to coffee scrubs lately and not to discredit the companies that make quality coffee scrubs, but some are way overpriced. We found a good recipe, after some trial and error, that works for us and have been making it now for about three months. It's a simple recipe that has ethically-sourced ground coffee in it, coconut oil, sugar, and a bit of essential oils. The essential oils we change out depending on the season and whether we want to mix it up for a more uplifting scent. We create about a pound at a time and separate it into 20 ounce containers. We keep one of the 20 ounce containers in the shower and use it at least three times a week. The coffee we use is from Ethical Bean Coffee and we love that their coffee is better for the environment and the farmers that grow and harvest it. They carry whole beans and ground. If you're a coffee drinker, this a great brand to add to your morning brew.
Happy Summer Solstice!

Five Simple Things (June 16)

 Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. This day.

Taking Skylar to and from his classes has been a real treat for me. We were going to get him his own car, but we decided that since he was going to a four year college out of state soon, that we would take the time to spend every moment together that we could. I drive him to class and then head to work, then pick him out when I am done. It has worked out well and the time we are spending together reminds me of the days that he and I would drive everywhere and take road trips together. I sure do miss those days, and I will miss this days, too. But for now, I am embracing every second.

2. This view.

Eleven is loving the new setup I have for our ginger and avocado plants in the front window. The sun comes through in the mornings and she soaks in all the rays.

3. These cupcakes.


I made strawberry cupcakes from scratch this week and I think I did a good job of it. I used fresh strawberries in the cake batter and in the icing and topped each one off with a small wedge of fresh strawberry. The cake recipe I used was from Minimalist Baker and is vegan. The icing is just a guess of mine that I kept mixing until it tasted right to me. I used butter, confectioners', a small amount of milk, and just a little vanilla paste. Once I mixed that well in a stand mixer I added the pureed strawberries (blended in a blender) slowly so that I didn't flood the mix. Once I liked the taste I went with it. I didn't measure anything, so use your best judgement and always taste as you go. These cupcakes were so good, I will be repeating it again. Next time I will make sure and take note of each measure and share it.

4. This pizza.

On another baking note, this week I also made homemade pizza for Skylar's class "party." It was more of a last day of class get together for his classmates and Skylar wanted to take homemade pizzas. I spent hours making homemade pizza dough and the rest of the process was easy. I hate cooking, or baking, but I will do anything for Skylar, so I pressed on and made four pizzas for his class and froze the other dough for us to use at home. We called around to different pizza places in the city and the only place that would let us have pizza boxes to use was Pizza Schmizza. They charged us 50 cents per box, because we insisted on paying something for their trouble. We are extremely grateful and definitely want to give them a shoutout for their generosity. And, the pizzas were a big hit and his classmates and teacher couldn't believe that I made all of them. They said the pizzas were so good and such a good idea. Some classmates even took some home. I couldn't believe people actually enjoyed something that I made. It made me feel so good and Skylar couldn't stop saying thank you to me. It was a good day!

5. These plants.

We have spent this week getting different plants that will stay on this property long after we are gone. We are trying to create a natural landscape that will beautify the property and will create some privacy. Our ducks are enjoying the coverage that some of the plant's leaves are creating, and they have been playing in the foliage. We are still trying to find a good place for these boxwoods we purchased, but we aren't quite sure where yet. It will come to us soon, we just need to "feel" the space out before deciding. Our backyard will hopefully be an escape for us in time. It's almost there, but we still need a few more different aspects before it's complete.

One more thing:

I have had my eyes on a few older camera lately and this one caught my eye right away. It's being sold by an individual that lives in Japan and I have sent him a message that I am very interested. He is selling it on eBay and I hope he takes my offer. (photo credit: bummei sasaki)

Positive affirmations this week:
Simple tips, like the one below are helpful reminders to keep going and keep on track. Definitely smile more and drink more water. You should shoot for working out at least three times a week, too. Working out and drinking more water will have great benefits to your mental health. Keep going and keep a routine. 
You can do this!🌈

Have a nice weekend.

Five Simple Things (June 9)

 Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. These flowers.

Another week of fresh flowers. Love having this routine and they bring so us so much joy.

2. This dragonfly.


Skylar gave me this as a Mother's Day gift and I just love it. I have always loved dragonflies, so this was just the perfect gift. These Rusty Birds products are made in Vancouver, Washington, and are all handmade from recycled metal. I am definitely going to be getting a few more different designs, especially the mushrooms, owls, and ferns.

3. This jar.

I started a jar of soaps this week for guests, or for us to grab and go when camping, or trips on the bus. We don't have a guest bathroom, or this would be perfect for that. For now, it will sit on the vanity and await their next adventure with us, or guests.

4. These towels.


We recently participated in a summer Twitter party with Only Organic and answered questions regarding our all-organic lifestyle. Delilah Home was one of the merchants participating in the questioning and Jeff answered and won. We weren't sure what the gift was, but these towels were perfect! They are made from organic cotton and are so soft and luxurious that we couldn't help but buy several more. The color is a mineral green and we absolutely love them.

5. These nights.

This week was a good view of the Strawberry Moon and also the Big Dipper was beaming. We love space in this house and anytime we get to view a grand event, we are definitely present.

One more thing:

I try any chance I get to get involved in what Skylar is into at the current time. Right now he is all about Star Wars, so we have been diving deep into the lore, history, and novelty of it all. Right now he is building a grand collection of Star Wars fighter planes, jets, and troopers. It's interesting to learn how he sees things over how we see things. There is always something to learn from everyone. Good things, and bad things we can take from each person we encounter. A lot of people put their egos first instead of just allowing to expand their knowledge and brains. Life is really fun, if we just sit back and allow it.
Skylar got new stickers for Jeff's old Star Wars X-Wing fighter. The two of them have been restoring a lot of Jeff's old toys and this one got a makeover this week. There are a lot of things to be grateful for and a lot of things that people stress about that don't matter in the overall picture of life. Sometimes I talk to people that don't like me, because I want to learn from them and see things from their perspective. Recently I had a conversation with one of Jeff's family members. They have stated things on many occasions that they don't like me, so I wanted to see what it was that I was missing from them that made them feel this way. I agreed with their political views in order to get them to relax enough and put their guard down so that I could maybe try to see things from their viewpoint. It was a hard thing to do, because our views do not align and their comments of gay Americans was way far from where I stand politically and personally, but I learned something during the conversation. They are afraid. Afraid of losing what they have and losing the people around them. In the end of the conversation I felt sorry for them and wanted to help them. Although they never would allow me in enough to help them do anything, I felt closer to them on my end for the simple fact that I let them open up just a little bit to be able to get to know them better. Every single person has a good and a bad lesson for us. A good and a bad lesson can be taken from every interaction. Communication is a huge problem with humans. Some feel we can't talk about certain things, and some people don't say enough. Conflicts and resolutions come from one simple thing, ego. When we can finally put our egos aside and actually listen and communicate better, even if it's as simple as sitting down and talking to my son about his interests, that's when we really do come together. Besides, when am I going to know how the engines of an X-Wing Fighter was used in Star Wars if I don't sit down and learn it from someone that knows? ♥

Positive affirmations this week:
Try this week to stop those excuses and do something every day that helps get your to your goals.
And always tell yourself,
You can do this!🌈
 

Have a nice weekend.

Five Simple Things (June 2)

 Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. This popsicle.

We recently discovered Jonny Pops. We love rainbows in our house and these popsicles are always a treat for us. We found these at our local food co-op, but after some online sleuthing we found some different varieties and you can use their "Product Locator" to find the ones you are looking for. There are also ones that you can order online and have them shipped right to you house. Since June is Pride Month, we love the multicolored flavor this month. The best part about these popsicles, they are organic and made with delicious flavors.

2. These prints.

We just love Hardy (aka Mr. Farts). He is getting older, so we are cherishing every moment with him. He turns 16 this coming November.

3. These subscriptions.

Mighty Nest and Kiwi Eco Box sent some great items this month. I'm not too keen on the metal lint remover, but I love the wool fabric fresheners. They are easy to use and take just a drop or two of essential oil and throw right into a drawer, backpack, and even in a lunch box. With Kiwi Eco Box, I love everything this month, especially the lunch box.

4. These plants.

Some plants thrive in Oregon and some don't. I'm still on a learning curve, even though I've been here for over 10 years. Right now, though there are some thriving plants, and they are putting on their best show. The older I get the more it bothers me when plants die. I have had people make fun of me being upset when one of my plants dies, but the way I see it, how can you value life when plants don't matter? I love that I care about all living things and not just the ones I pick and choose.

5. This day.


Sum... Sum... Summer time!

One last thing:

I have been using more CBD massage oils lately and this one is great. Unfortunately, this company has stopped selling this particular oil blend, but most reputable CBD massage oil companies take pride in their products and offer good oils. The best thing to do is read the label and do research on the company before buying. Here are a list of good ones that was put out through Massage and Fitness Magazine this year and two companies on the list make great CBD products. Remember, reading and doing a bit of research on any product will help you find just the right product for you. 

Positive affirmations this week:
Hot Tip! No shame in taking a break. Never feel guilty for concentrating on you. You are what matters the most! 
You can do this! 🌈


Have a nice weekend.