Here's a list of excuses:
1. Where I work moved locations and as manager it's been a huge undertaking. We're settled in now though and loving where we're at! We share a large parking lot with several other businesses and have become noticeably busier, which is wonderful for business but the change has been a bit stressful for me.
2. I've decided to take two weeks of vacation time in August. It may seem weird that something two months into the future is taking up such a large portion of my time in the present, but I'm traveling across the country and camping each night along the way aside from one hotel stop in Seattle, WA.
IT TAKES A LOT OF PLANNING. I've been calculating costs and budgeting, making reservations for a dozen campsites, purchasing tickets for tours and museums, creating packing lists and shopping lists and a hundred other lists...
My companions on this adventure are my little sister Bri (she just graduated high school) and her best friend. I'm genuinely super excited to play the role of "travel mom" for 14 days.
3. I've adopted two baby chinchillas from a coworker. They're nine weeks old and they're absolutely precious!
4. I've lost inspiration and motivation but this is definitely temporary! I'm finding my ambition.
Here's a list of things to come:
1. Planning and Packing Tips for road trips. I do believe I am unintentionally becoming a legitimate travel agent.
2. How to Eat Well and Stay Rested while traveling long distances, and living out of a car and tent.
3. Diary-style posts about each and every single day of my adventure to share with all of you! This will occur once I'm home, when I can filter through the thousands of photos I'll likely take and have reliable internet service.
4. Chinchillas
- Kathleen
Twitter / Instagram
Saturday, June 18, 2016
Monday, April 25, 2016
More Simplistic, Less Commercialistic (Pt. 1)
I spent a ridiculous amount of time on Saturday scrolling to the bottom of emails and clicking that little "Unsubscribe" link... Why? Because I've made the decision to no longer receive messages from retailers.
It would have been easier to just ignore them all and be diligent about deleting them as they stream in endlessly throughout the day, but then I'd still see the "Free Shipping On ALL ORDERS Today Only!" and "Get $10 OFF On $40 Purchase" headers, get curious, and click. and click. and click.
I imagine most people are leaping to the conclusion that I have a spending problem. Although I'll definitely admit that I need to be more committed to saving the bulk of my income, that's not the case. I usually don't end up taking advantage of the almost-irresistible daily sales alerts, but the issue is in the occasions that I do. Yes, a surprise gift of 50% off of one of my favorite makeup brands is lovely, but do I need more eyeshadow? No. Will I buy it anyway? Possibly. Probably. Would I have purchased anything that day if I hadn't gotten the notification? No.
Even though I've not made a terrible habit of it, all of my little unplanned and entirely unnecessary online shopping adventures have added up to a big pile of things I hardly use... Or ever worse, never use.
I don't want to spend 30 minutes of my day clicking through emails and potentially spending money that could've had a better purpose on anything that I don't need or have a true, real desire to own.
I'm planning on continuing this journey elsewhere online also, i.e. Instagram and Twitter. Generally all social media platforms are going to receive a marketing blackout from my account.
With all of this said, I will keep emails from my favorite retailers who give back. If a brand plants a tree every time I buy a tee, or gives 5% of sales toward ending sex trafficking, I'll happy commit some impulse spending there.
My goal is to continually live more thoughtfully, intentionally, and graciously. This is just the newest step I'm taking toward that.
- Kathleen
Twitter / Instagram
Monday, April 4, 2016
Introduction
Hello, beautiful! I'm Kathleen Mayhew. Welcome to my blog! I'm a twenty-four year old woman living in a (very) tiny town in rural Michigan, where I work as a florist and greenhouse plant mom. I was raised with hundreds of acres as my playground, surrounded by miles of the Huron National Forest. The best toys were hay bales, fallen branches, and wildflowers. My family owned and operated a U-Pick strawberry business for many years, along with various other crops. It definitely influenced the person I've grown up to be. I'm a big believer in gardening, preserving, and living as naturally and consciously as possible. Nurturing other life is where I find peace and encouragement. I love dirt, the things that grow from it, and those that eat what's grown.
If you can't find me, I'm probably cocooned in my bedroom reading about the adventures of hobbits or watching movies about the adventures of hobbits. I drink too much tea, take too many bubble baths, and spend too much money on DIY projects that I begin enthusiastically but are usually left behind half finished (goal of 2016, FINISH ALL PROJECTS). My favorite color still changes often; it's currently forest green. If I could be a mermaid, I would. My mom calls me pollywog because I essentially do live in water whenever possible... conveniently, Michigan has a lot of water.
I enjoy hiking, camping, and generally spending time outdoors. Bonfires are my favorite summer activity. If the weather allows it, there will be a bonfire! I'm lucky enough to live on a dead end road that turns into a trail head and several paths weave their way through my backyard. If you can't find me and I'm not in my bedroom with the hobbits, that's where I'll be. I've also recently become fascinated with metal detecting and wander the woods looking for treasure with my dad whenever possible. We've not found anything of monetary value yet, but have found historically cool objects (old railroad spikes, bits from horse bridles and carriages, horseshoes, etc.) and some junk (sardine cans).
I'm eager to explore more of the world, beginning with my home state. I've always been drawn to the novelty of instate tourism and little day trips. I want to attend more festivals, visit more parks and museums, be a patron of small town's small businesses... I'll see Earth, but I'll start here.
I first began my vegetarian diet at age sixteen after quite a bit of sickness and few real answers, having my gallbladder cut out and bleeding ulcers treated, and more tests... I found that meat triggered my severe indigestion. Since then, it's evolved. I avoid it now for compassion and sustainability. I've taken the leap to go even further: vegan. Goodbye animal byproducts! In addition to eating vegan, I also eat organic. I do not support the existence of pesticides and GMOs in my body.
Another commitment of compassion that I've made is purchasing only cruelty-free and vegan makeup, skincare, and hair products. This has become an enormous passion of mine. I will not sentence animals to torture for my own vanity. I admit that my transition hasn't been flawless. There's a bit of a learning curve and companies can be incredibly deceitful, but I'm always trying to become more educated. My greatest hope is that I'll be an inspiration to all of you!
- Kathleen
Twitter / Instagram
I enjoy hiking, camping, and generally spending time outdoors. Bonfires are my favorite summer activity. If the weather allows it, there will be a bonfire! I'm lucky enough to live on a dead end road that turns into a trail head and several paths weave their way through my backyard. If you can't find me and I'm not in my bedroom with the hobbits, that's where I'll be. I've also recently become fascinated with metal detecting and wander the woods looking for treasure with my dad whenever possible. We've not found anything of monetary value yet, but have found historically cool objects (old railroad spikes, bits from horse bridles and carriages, horseshoes, etc.) and some junk (sardine cans).
I'm eager to explore more of the world, beginning with my home state. I've always been drawn to the novelty of instate tourism and little day trips. I want to attend more festivals, visit more parks and museums, be a patron of small town's small businesses... I'll see Earth, but I'll start here.
I first began my vegetarian diet at age sixteen after quite a bit of sickness and few real answers, having my gallbladder cut out and bleeding ulcers treated, and more tests... I found that meat triggered my severe indigestion. Since then, it's evolved. I avoid it now for compassion and sustainability. I've taken the leap to go even further: vegan. Goodbye animal byproducts! In addition to eating vegan, I also eat organic. I do not support the existence of pesticides and GMOs in my body.
Another commitment of compassion that I've made is purchasing only cruelty-free and vegan makeup, skincare, and hair products. This has become an enormous passion of mine. I will not sentence animals to torture for my own vanity. I admit that my transition hasn't been flawless. There's a bit of a learning curve and companies can be incredibly deceitful, but I'm always trying to become more educated. My greatest hope is that I'll be an inspiration to all of you!
- Kathleen
Twitter / Instagram
Now, a little about me! My name is Victorian Amy Lane Sellers. I've been around the sun 22 times; born and raised in Pure Michigan. If you hold your right hand up, palm facing you, I live just about in the middle, a little to the left. I'm married to my best friend, and we have chosen to live an organic and natural lifestyle together. You'll get to know more about that along our journey!
Initially the reason I began this lifestyle was because of my own personal health. I cannot begin to explain the difference having a clean, organic, and nutritious diet can make in your life! Also, the impact doesn't end with you. Our planet and ecosystem are at risk and this lifestyle promotes health for ALL beings. By choosing brands that help our planet and making conscious choices, you're sending a message and making a difference. It's so much more than a "lifestyle" - it becomes a passion to do what's right.
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