Sometimes Wants (Summer '23)

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

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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!