End of summer check-in

Are you playing ‘August’ on repeat? Constantly saying ‘where did the summer go?’ at any opportunity? Generally bemused about how we got to this point in the year? Time for a check-in. Sure, I could have written this in June to make it a nice neat, mid-year update post, but better late than never. Here’s a little update on my 2024 ins and outs and things I’m loving right now… 💕

• Veggie cooking inspiration ✨🍲

Feeling hungry yet? One of my goals for the year was to experiment more with vegetarian cooking and expand my go-to recipes. At the start of summer I bought the new Higgidy cookbook, Clever With Veg, and I’ve since been working through a number of the recipes ever since, as seen in the above gallery. They are so tasty and very easy to make, in particular the risotto which you bake IN THE OVEN 🫨 with seasonal toppings – delicious but without half the day spent working out if you’re just stirring fried rice or not (just me?). If you have a penchant for feta, this is the book for you. Lots of fresh ingredients, full of veggies and above all it is quality nosh😋 I’m looking forward to trying more from the book and making more comforting plant-based meals.

• Getting out in nature 🌿 – Reminding ourselves that being part of this ecosystem is what it is all about, and sometimes you need some perspective to do that. Whether seeing the big mountains, some rolling fields, the ocean or watching a butterfly in your garden or local park, focusing on nature connects us to something beyond ourselves. I’ve done a couple of new walks recently, and seeing a new view can give you a wave of gratitude and love towards the place you live, reminding us how important community and our environment are. Walking and hiking are great ways to clear the brain fog and feel more wild, but if walking isn’t your thing, even just taking yourself to a green space and allowing yourself time to just enjoy the space – the birdsong, the colours, the smells – is a wonderful way of pausing and making that connection.

• Stuff < Scrapbooking 🧾 – One of this year’s outs for me was overconsumption and the accumulation of stuff. I’m a very sentimental person, so holding onto stuff comes very easily to me. But after a few years of so many amazing things happening, I wanted to keep hold of the memories and pieces I’d collected without losing the keepsakes in the everyday clutter. So I started making scrapbooks, printing off my photos through free apps and sticking them with significant items, like wristbands and tickets, papers I collected and packets of stickers I hadn’t used up. So often we take so many photos but they remain on our phone, so I find doing this makes the best memories more fun to look back on and to share with family and friends. And you don’t have to do it in the formal, old-fashioned photo album way if you don’t want to – customise your scrapbook with different prints, crafting accessories or fold-out items. You could do this for a year, or just a season like summer, whatever season of your life you wish to look back on. Hours of creative fun and a place to store all the keepsakes you want and help you identify those that can be recycled.

What about your goals? As one season ends and a new one begins, set aside a couple of minutes, maybe during your first hot drink of the day or just before bed, to check in with your 2024 goals and sustainability progress. Maybe you’ve made huge strides, congratulations! Maybe there’s still more to achieve… But either way, we have four months left of the year to make an impact on 2024 and put ourselves and our planet in a good place. Soak up the last of the summer sun, wherever you are, check in with yourself, celebrate your achievements and plan your new goals. Maybe a stuffed pepper, scenic walk or crafting session await? 💚

P.S This is our 100th post! Thanks to everyone who has been following from the start, those that have supported in some way over the last 4 years and welcome to any new readers. We love having you all here making a sustainable life together – thank you!