Tag: nature

Take a Hike

Take a Hike

by doodleplix ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With gyms and yoga studios closed during this pandemic, one of the best things to do is going for a walk or hike. On the days I don’t run, I really look forward to hiking.  

Before the pandemic, I used to walk with friends several times a month. However, with social distancing, that isn’t possible. I usually walk alone or with my teenagers. Walking has allowed me to gain precious conversation time with them. It is amazing what we can talk about without phones, earbuds or other devices. It has brought us closer.

Sometimes you run into a few friends like turtles, frogs and deer. Sometimes we run into a few snakes. They are usually non-venomous and are as scared of us as we are of them!

The trees provide a lot of shade in the North Carolina heat and humidity. It is at least 15 degrees cooler in the shade!

Wildflowers are abundant and everywhere.

Babbling brooks are so peaceful. Standing by moving water is like meditation.

Sometimes you run into things that make you wonder…”What is this red thing”?

Rainy day walks with umbrellas are fun too.

Going early in the day means fewer people and less crowding. I really look forward to my walks. I hope you can get outdoors safely and take a hike. Long walks are truly underrated. It’s good for mental health and good for fitness. Stay safe!

The Three R’s

The Three R’s

by doodleplix ♥ 1 Comment

Happy Earth Day! NASA just declared 2018 the fourth hottest year on record.  The top ten can be found here: Hottest Years on Record 

The earth warming even by 2 degrees means more frequent extreme weather, drought conditions that jeopardize drinking water, more diseases, more pollution, more wildlife extinction, and the list goes on…

It is all worrisome, scary and overwhelming! You have to start somewhere right?  I started thinking of ways to make my carbon footprint smaller and came up with the following list.  Keep in mind, this is just the start of my green journey. I have a big list below and it will probably change and get larger. Now, I can’t achieve everything on this list all at once. But for right now, I am going to start off doing some easy ones. 

My List So Far:

  • Take a shorter shower.
  • Don’t keep the refrigerator door or the oven open for too long.
  • Stop using plastic straws, even in restaurants. If a straw is a must, purchase a reusable stainless steel or glass straw.
  • Use a reusable produce/shopping bag. A single plastic bag can take 1,000 years to degrade. Purchase or make your own reusable produce/shopping bag and be sure to wash them often!
  • Give up gum. Gum is made of a synthetic rubber, aka plastic.
  • Buy boxes instead of bottles. Often, products like laundry detergent come in cardboard which is more easily recycled than plastic.
  • Purchase food, like cereal, pasta, and rice from bulk bins and fill a reusable bag or container. You save money and unnecessary packaging.
  • Reuse containers for storing leftovers or shopping in bulk.
  • Use a reusable bottle or mug for your beverages, even when ordering from a to-go shop.
  • Bring your own container for take-out or your restaurant doggy-bag since many restaurants use styrofoam.
  • Make your own cleaning products that will be less toxic and eliminate the need for multiple plastic bottles of cleaner.
  • Pack your lunch in reusable containers and bags. Also, opt for fresh fruits and veggies and bulk items instead of products that come in single serving cups.
  • Use a razor with replaceable blades instead of a disposable razor.
  • Turn off lights and electrical appliances when they are not in use is another one of the simple ways to conserve energy at home. This may seem obvious but most people tend to neglect this.

My List is in no way a comprehensive list! It is a work-in-progess for sure. I am sure that I have missed many areas. So, if you have some good ideas that you would like to share, please do so in the comment section!

Read more:

Microplastic found in Human Poop

Plastic in Chewing Gum

Recycle your Brita Filters

all-recycling-facts.com/ways-to-conserve-energy.html#ixzz5eyDtraHB

A Brand New Year

A Brand New Year

by doodleplix ♥ 5 Comments

The New Year is just days away.  Every year, I have friends and family who make resolutions.  Resolutions to change habits, lose weight, do more of something…the list goes on.  Many of them achieve success but many of them don’t make it past March.

I have never made New Year resolutions in the past.  But this year, I plan on improving myself.  The path to change is not easy right?  It is not enough to say “I want to change…”.  There needs to be a plan with details for change to happen.  Writing down the changes you want to make, may or may not help you.  This year, I am writing them down.

Change 1:  Get enough sleep.  Shut everything off and be in bed by 10:30 pm.

Change 2:  Manage my time better.  Write down a schedule for each day of the week because everyday is different.  I will use my calendar to help me from missing events and scramble last minute.

Change 3:  Get back to my usual running pace and mileage.  I have been plagued with injuries and simply need to do my physical therapy in order to improve certain muscles.  I have been blowing off my exercises and it has really affected the way I feel and how I run.

It is a brand new year and I want to make it count.  I want to make it an awesome year for me, my family and my friends.  Will keep you posted on how it is going!  (Pun intended…)

Are you planning on improving yourself this year?  How will you do it?

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Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota Florida