When we removed the upper cabinets in our kitchen a few years ago, I could envision a little shelf like this being helpful. I wanted to wait + see how things felt first, but thought an old crate with a couple of added shelves could make a charming shelf. An already built shelf could be convenient. A handmade shelf could be doable, if a bit intimidating. 

The things living on the counter were asking for a decision to be made, and when repeated inquiries about adding a second shelf over the stove went unanswered...I decided to try making a little shelf to put here instead.

This is the simplest little woodworking project, but I did have some learning opportunities along the way. As a result, the end product feels like an accomplishment. I'm just gonna put a few notes here for myself or anyone else who might find them useful:

• choose pine rather than maple when doing first projects, because it is a softer wood (no nail gun required)
• make pilot holes even for nails in order to avoid bending long nails or splitting wood
• repeat the mantra: I am a wabi-sabi gal (+ mean it)  :)

It's always nice to have a place for things that makes sense + works. I think this little coffee/tea spot will serve us nicely.

Love,
​Jane

I'm noticing that my attention is looking autumn-ward at the moment. Seemingly perpetual 90 degree temperatures can have that effect. A few of the things that have been catching my eye lately:

• this autumn-leaf hued potholder is on my list for a little seasonal color
• these little stools would be great for extra guests at the table or as a table next to the couch
• comfy shoes are the only ones that get me through the day, so I'm thinking of revisiting Danskos (though I'd much prefer the No 6 version)
• love the fit + big pockets on these darker jeans 
• a secondhand babaa cardigan in this autumnal cocoa color is on its way toward my closet + I'm looking forward to wearing the heck out of it
• this little chest of drawers really appeals to my sense of humble simplicity 
• considering adding a fun scrunchie to my top knot again sometimes

A few things making me happy lately:

• painting (an activity that never ceases to clear my mind toward a little more positivity) in a tiny, watercolor paper sketchbook - reminding me of taking time to paint under tall trees on vacation in Michigan

• not returning Eating at Home by Trinity Mouzon Wofford to the library just yet, because it's reminding me that an egg on rice can be a lovely, nourishing meal 
• a home tour I woke up thinking about this morning
• + oh, have I shared this one here yet? so, so good

Wishing you a weekend that involves summer fruit (tart, sweet, juicy cherries here), a leisurely read (about to start The Summer Book by Tove Jansson) + some good company (a couple good outings with my girls this week!).

Much love,
Jane

Behind the front seats:

• shoes, rain coats, umbrella, book, notebook, tiny watercolor kit
• clothing + toiletries
• small towels (which dried hanging over our headrests)
• fanny packs hanging behind our headrests to hold our phones + keys at night
• extra water

Our set up each night is quick + easy. We move our seats forward, put the screens on the windows, move our clothing + toiletries to the front seats, put the jackary on the armrest, set out our stools, assemble the back portion of the platform, fold the mattress down, move our pillows + put the sunshield in the windshield. It takes less than five minutes.

In the future, we may decide to get a one burner stove, but for now we are happy to eat things like yogurt + bananas, deli potato salad, chicken or sushi. We had a stash of bobo bites (our go-to hunger buster) + never stressed about food. Grocery stores were always close by and a good breakfast burrito, wood fired pizza + goat's milk ice cream are part of the adventure too.

Regarding cost: we bought these things little by little over time. We first camped like this overnight with a pair of window screens + the mattress. Once we knew we liked that (we were so stoked!), we invested in the platform. A year later, we discovered that fans + another pair of screens would keep us more comfortable. We took advantage of sales + spread out the cost. The cost of Airbnb's would probably pay for this in a couple trips. It's also a lot cheaper than a mobile home or van. 

One of my favorite things is realizing how little I need. That is adventure to me, and it is incredibly freeing!  :)

Love,
Jane

The shapes + colors of J. Marin clothing reminds me of living in Los Angeles in the 90s. We loved driving to Manhattan Beach for the sand + up the coast to Santa Monica for an always inspiring walk through Shabby Chic's flagship on Montana Avenue. Across the street was another favorite shop of mine, Subtle Tones, filled with the softest cotton + lightweight linen clothing in soft pastels. 

J. Marin takes me right back. These sweet pieces are made with carefully sourced fabrics like 100% organic cotton fleece milled in the USA. Each piece is designed, sewn + dyed in Los Angeles. I'd very happily wear any + every piece from this collection with thoughts of golden sunshine + warm sand.

I don't draw a card from the deck on my bedside table every morning, but sometimes it feels like a good idea. Lately, it's been coming up "monkey" every time. It makes me laugh, because it's true. My tangled, busy, monkey mind is too often running the show. Transformation is on my to-do list, and I've been noticing the practices that help.

Riding my bike:

• feels like a physical representation of moving forward + leaving things behind
• makes me focus on the present moment 
• gets me into nature under the trees, under the sky, feeling the breeze
• is zooming, coasting play 
• feels cooler moving through the air on these hot days
• is a fun way of getting somewhere like a coffee shop at the other side of the park
• is a slow way of doing things like picking up dish soap + a cookie after dinner
• makes me spread my arms with unbridled joy
• connects my partner + I because we both love it
• lets me notice the comings + goings of the dragonflies, the snakes, the milkweed
• gives me space to think + to not think
• allows me to push hard + expel negative energy
• lets me stop + listen to birds + water lapping the shore softly

Riding my bike for enjoyment + connection, for movement + wellness...well, it makes me smile every time.  :)

Love,
Jane

The power we're born into
+ the power we gain throughout our lives
is a mirage.
​
In the really real, 
power can only be shared.
When we let go of the power we hoard,
power grows wide enough to share.

When the few in power release their hold on the land,
everyone has space to spread out + flourish.
Gentleness is the way toward an earth where we live in peace,
where resources are shared,
where everyone has enough.
~Micha Boyett

The other day, someone mentioned she was in the process moving toward a plastic-free wardrobe. Of course, this was pretty thrilling to me.  :) I kept my cool, because there wasn't a lot of time for conversation...but it got me thinking.

​It's always interesting to see where different people decide to engage with movement toward a more ethical or sustainable wardrobe, and I thought it might be a good idea to create some resources for some different on-ramps or focus points here. So, you'd like to move toward having a plastic-free wardrobe? Yay!  :)

Motivation is key, and there is plenty of motivation for pursuing a plastic-free wardrobe:

• it feels good to not be encased in plastic (polyester, nylon, lycra, etc.)
• plastic fiber production keeps us bound to oil production + consumption 
• the plastic we wear will never decompose fully 
• plastic fibers produce microfibers with every wash + wear that are in our drinking water, brains + placentas

Moving toward a plastic-free wardrobe involves learning to recognize what different fibers look + feel like. Looking at the labels on our own clothing is a good place to start. When looking for secondhand or new clothing, we'll want to check the label before falling in love. It's easier to recognize the names of natural fibers (cotton, linen, hemp, flax, wool, alpaca) than synthetics (polyester goes by many names). It’s kind of like reading a processed food label. Look for the recognizable words. It's not incredibly difficult to find 100% natural fiber tops, pants and dresses, but it may be easier in some shops than others. Check out our ethical brands page for lots of options.

When it comes to natural fiber, there are some choices to be made. We can prioritize organic cotton over conventional cotton grown with the aid of pesticides. We can focus on what I'm going to call whole fibers (like linen + cotton) rather than processed fibers (like rayon + cupro) which are made with naturally derived through chemical processing.

Going truly plastic-free involves saying no to lycra + spandex as well as polyester + nylon. This particularly narrows the choices in a few categories of clothing, and yet there are some incredible people putting the effort into offering functional, plastic-free pieces. We'll dive a little deeper into a few of those resources here.

One further note, before we get to the resources: Here at Fairdare, we like to prioritize farmers (so we prioritize organic cotton + other fibers that can grow well without pesticides like linen + hemp), garment workers (so we look for fair-trade certifications + domestic labor that can be monitored closely + is governed my labor laws) + the planet (so we care about how many miles a garment travels from seed to closet, the toxicity of dyes, and that materials biodegrade). These values are reflected to various degrees here.

:: Intimates :: A few brands have taken on the challenge of creating 100% natural fiber intimates. Since lycra + spandex are normally used to enhance performance, expectations will need to be adjusted in regards to recovery + support when choosing these items. 

• Pansy :: 100% USA grown + milled organic cotton, designed + sewn within 20 miles in California, biodegradable rubber/cotton elastic, men's + women's styles available
• Oddobody :: 100% organic cotton from Peru, sewn in WRAP (world responsible accredited production) certified factories in Peru, designed in New York :: cut out the elastic to compost
• Kent :: 100% GOTS organic cotton, sewn in a fair-trade certified factory in India, guaranteed free from plastics, biodegradable, men's + women's
• Industry of Nations :: 100% organic cotton, sewn where the cotton is grown in India, recycled elastic, undyed + natural dyes, fair wages, men's + women's
• Q for Quinn :: a few plastic free options :: 100% GOTS (global organic textiles standard) organic cotton from India, sewn in India, biodegradable rubber/cotton elastic​
• Ozma :: it's possible some may be able to wear a rigid fabric bra like this one made from regeneratively farmed silk or this one made from 100% organic cotton, designed + made in California, cut out elastic before composting

:: Athletic Wear :: Designers turn to ribbed fabric for stretch + recovery in the absence of lycra or spandex, but we can't expect 100% cotton ribbed leggings to recover in the same way as our stretch leggings. If we want to go plastic-free in this category, it will probably be helpful to think differently about what we wear to exercise. ​

• Industry of Nations :: 100% organic cotton rib fabric, natural dyes, sewn where the cotton is grown in India, fair wages, men's + women's tees, tanks, shorts and soft pants
• Pansy :: 100% USA grown + milled organic cotton, designed + sewn within 20 miles in California, biodegradable rubber/cotton elastic, tees + shorts, ribbed fabric leggings + shorts
• Sokoi :: 100% linen pants + shorts :: linen/cotton blend tees :: designed + made in Los Angeles, these pieces are made for yoga + movement, but are also great for everyday life :: versatility is a great ethical quality! when we need less, less resources are required - less waste results too (I love my Laurel linen pants for yoga, stretching + everyday life!)
• Oddobody :: 100% organic cotton from Peru, sewn in WRAP (world responsible accredited production) certified factories in Peru, designed in New York :: cut out the elastic to compost :: biker shorts, tanks, tees, soft pants
• Jungmaven :: some 100% hemp + 100% hemp/organic cotton shorts, tanks + tees, designed + made in California, cut out elastic before composting

In my opinion, choosing ethical + sustainable clothing often involves a bit of prioritization + compromise. We may need to pay a little more for organic fibers, purchase a necessary new piece when we can't find a secondhand version, or accept that a secondhand piece has to travel from a distance. When choosing plastic-free athletic wear, we might choose looser basketball type shorts rather than bike shorts that will stretch out + sag.

:: Footwear :: Leather (for non-vegans), canvas + natural rubber would be the obvious go-to materials here. It is tough to get away from glues + non-natural rubber which are usually made with synthetics. However, plastics only came onto the scene in 1855, and people have been wearing shoes for centuries. Therefore, even in this tough category, options exist without the need for complicated synthetic processing. Think handcrafted, traditional footwear.

• Cydwoq :: leather, water-based, biodegradable glues, handmade in Burbank, California
• Christy Dawn :: leather, nailed soles, made in Spain

​​I'm not sure if it's helpful or not to mention my own experience here, but I don't want to give the impression that anything other than a perfectly plastic-free wardrobe is failure. I don't have any issues prioritizing 100% natural fiber tees, jeans, shirts + sweaters. I did, however, quit wearing unsupportive, organic cotton bras after I saw a picture of myself wearing one. I keep (+ use) my lightweight rain jacket. I wear a cotton bodysuit as a swimsuit, but it does contain a touch of spandex.

Rather than demanding perfection, this list is made to offer possibility + hope. Progress is positive.  :)

All photos via links.

Love,
Jane