April is Earth Month, and it has encouraged us to dig a little bit deeper into topics and headlines that flash across our screen. A (literal) big one is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. There are many detailed articles about this topic, and we don’t aspire to recreate them, instead we’re hoping to get you a concise summary of the issue. Throughout this post, we’ll use the term “patch” to identify the area, but as we explain below, this is not an ideal description.
And before we go any further, hopefully it’s obvious to you that the existence of a garbage patch within the ocean is a problem. Sea animals mistake the plastics for food, filling their stomachs with garbage rather than nutrients, leading to premature death from starvation. Other animals die by getting caught in the plastics and discarded fishing nets.
Happy Monday! In honor of Earth month, we’re sharing 34 alternatives to disposable plastic products. I hope you had a swell Earth Day yesterday. Initially I had a little lake kayak paddle planned, but a friend called and suggested a food truck rodeo in downtown Chapel Hill. After sharing a serving of every and anything that called to us, we headed to her deck to sit in the sunshine and plan a camping adventure. Soaking up eight hours of beautiful North Carolina sun was actually epically earthy. I enjoyed it to the max and ended up passing out well before midnight, a first in weeks for me!
The food truck rodeo was a no waste event, meaning everything that could be recycled or composted was with the help of volunteers who stood by each trash can instructing consumers where to discard their plates, cups, and food scraps. It’s almost unfortunate that we need that type of vigilance to get it right, but we surely do. Besides proper waste disposal, the coffee truck was selling stainless steel straws! They don’t do lids or plastic straws, hooray!
Plastic straws and my wish to ban them forever is actually what inspired this post of 34 alternatives to disposable plastic products. There is just no reason for us to go through so many, so often. Two at once?! I want to punch that drink right out of your hand. I’m not saying I’ve never done it, but I am saying I will never do it again. I once spent an entire afternoon picking up trash on one of my favorite Thai islands and by far the most common item was plastic straws. It was heart breaking.
Major benefits of swapping disposable plastic for reusable items :
Happy Friyay! There’s a party goin’ on around these parts as we celebrate the kiddos’ April birthdays with their little buds. Mimosas for the moms, a kid corner for cupcake decorating, this delicious cashew dip for fruits, some veggies and hummus, lox and bagels all around. That’s really all it takes for a good time. We think that the less you try to coordinate, the easier and more enjoyable the event. Some simple prep beforehand leaves you with very little ‘to do’ during party time giving you the time and energy you need to chat with guests and actually enjoy yourself.
Tonight I’ll catch a redeye to Philly, arrive Saturday morning, and finally see my pup, Cash, after more than forty days away. Hooooray! I’m excited to feel the air in Pennsylvania and see what’s in bloom, but I’ll head right down to my bug bungalow in North Carolina.
Sunday is Earth Day and I plan on spending a sunny afternoon kayaking on Jordan Lake followed by a long hike through the mountain laurels with Cash. While I normally encourage disconnecting in nature, now is a great time to snap some photos of the natural changes you witness and any wildlife you may see to upload to iNaturalist. Being a citizen scientist is helpful any day of the year, but what better day than Earth Day?! If you’re wanting a bit of mindfulness, check out the video above and get a primer on flower gazing, a form of meditation that you can take to the trails or your garden.
Today we’re sharing one of our favorite winter dinners : raclette.
If you haven’t heard of raclette, don’t fret; it’s not a common meal in America. Read on below as we introduce you to the perfect meal for a snowy day. And if you think we’re crazy sharing a “wintry” meal at the end of April, just know that it’s snowing in the mountains of Colorado this weekend!
Want to know something neat? Each time you click through to Amazon from our website, we are kicked back a few cents from each purchase with no extra cost to you. If you ever feel like going wild on Amazon, click through from our site and you’ll be supporting us at the same time! Thanks, yo.
Nature’s Healing Spirit is a compilation of 33 accomplished writers’ experiences with the natural world. Some passages are straightforward, concise, and clear in tone, while others tiptoe into the narrative and only slightly pull back the shades on their personal lives. Some stories have a succinct ending while others leave you wanting for more. Luckily, each author’s piece is followed by a short biography where you can find other published works and their websites.
Feeling cooped up? We know it’s technically Spring now, but if you’re wondering what to do with your last few weeks of what feels like winter, we have a solution for you. Go visit a National Park or Monument before they get hella hot and busy. Here are five reasons why you should visit a national park this winter. Added bonus? We included all the info on Devil’s Garden located in The Grand Staircase of Escalante, Utah. It’s the perfect place to head off to before it gets too hot.
Given that potatoes are our ingredient of the season, we use that distinction to try new-to-us recipes. So when I saw this post for melting potatoes on Smitten Kitchen two weeks ago, I have to admit that I was a bit more giddy than I normally am over a simple potato post. This was a recipe I had never heard of before, and the results looked amazing!
After giving it a try last week, I have nothing but praise for this simple side dish and can understand why everyone is obsessed.
On the first (or second) Wednesday of every most months, you can find us checking in with what’s coming up on the calendar, both literally and figuratively.
Spring is officially here, but have you seen the signs in your own backyard or city? According to the National Phenology Network, the Spring leaf out continues to arrive early in the West, Southwest, Ohio Valley, and parts of the Mid-Atlantic, compared to a long-term averages (1981-2010). In parts of the Midwest and Great Plains, we’re about a week behind schedule and conversely parts of Nevada and eastern Washington, Oregon, and California are 4-5 weeks early.
We want to break down these internet barriers and invite you into our lives and we’re hoping you’ll do the same. You are welcome to share a bit of your week or day in the comments, or if they’re better represented by a photo, tag us on instagram @liveseasoned.
Sarah here :
Sup spud buds? The weekend is here! Time to infuse some potato juicevodka? Nah? Here are a few book recommendations instead. This week flew by. It started with food poisoning and failing to send out a meditation Monday (here’s a meditation / yoga for your eyes if you want some mindfulness today) and ended with a flight to Kate’s house to celebrate little Luc’s third birthday! Ups and downs, but grateful for all of these days (definitely was not saying that on Monday and Tuesday!) that make up this beautiful, chaotic life of mine.
This weekend I’m planning on perusing REI to finally use my member coupon. (Here are my absolute favorite gear items if you missed it.) Did you see that REI decided to stop carrying brands like Camelbak, Giro, and others owned by parent company Vista Outdoor who also produces ammo and assault-style weapons? I think that’s rad and one of the many reasons I go on and on about my adoration for REI.
