Theories, Philosophies, & Ideas

Past and Present: Springtime and Ruins

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“It was such a spring day as breathes into a man an ineffable yearning, a painful sweetness, a longing that makes him stand motionless, looking at the leaves or grass, and fling out his arms to embrace he knows not what.”
-John Galsworthy, The Forsyte Saga

Spring is a contemplative time. New life springing forth all around us, a rebirth, a new beginning. This spring I have rejoiced the birth of my darling little nephew, and have been saddened by the loss of my dear Grandpa Smith. It’s been quite strange thinking about life in a grander perspective. The happiness of new life, the beauty of blossoms in spring, and seeing ruins of a past time, the sadness of saying goodbye. Time never stops and to be alive is to love.

Life is beautiful. Life is painful. Life is precious. 

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
-Søren Kierkegaard

“Spring drew on…and a greenness grew over those brown beds, which, freshening daily, suggested the thought that Hope traversed them at night, and left each morning brighter traces of her steps.”
-Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

“The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also.”
-Harriet Ann Jacobs

“sweet spring is your
time is my time is our
time for springtime is lovetime
and viva sweet love”
-E.E. Cummings

“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.”
-Rainer Maria Rilke

“It is so small a thing to have enjoyed the sun,
to have lived light in the spring,
to have loved, to have thought, to have done.”
-Matthew Arnold

 

“Death takes us by surprise,
And stays our hurrying feet;
The great design unfinished lies,
Our lives are incomplete
But in the dark unknown,
Perfect their circles seem,
Even as a bridge’s arch of stone
Is rounded in the stream.
Alike are life and death,
When life in death survives,
And the uninterrupted breath
Inspires a thousand lives.
Were a star quenched on high,
For ages would its light,
Still traveling downward from the sky,
Shine on our mortal sight.
So when a great man dies,
For years beyond our ken,
The light he leaves behind him lies
Upon the paths of men.”
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

(For part two click here to read Past and Present: Loss and Love)

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Urban Homesteading

5 Extreme Household Challenges

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“I’ve learned in my life that it’s important to be able to step outside your comfort zone and be challenged with something you’re not familiar or accustomed to. That challenge will allow you to see what you can do.”
-J. R. Martinez

I’m a challenge fanatic. I’m constantly challenging myself and Donovan. Little challenges, big challenges, all sorts of challenges. It’s important to push ourselves. I think for Donovan the scariest words I say are “I have an idea” haha. Donovan has been a good sport though about most challenges and enjoys them. There are still plenty of challenges I want to do that Donovan isn’t quite ready for… yet… biking across the USA, sailing around the world, backpacking the globe etc.

“I just love a challenge, and always have, and will do anything to make it interesting.
I’ll try anything, really, as long as it’s a challenge and you can have some fun doing it.”
-Malcolm McDowell

I’m not suggesting you need to do these exact challenges, I realize they are a bit extreme. BUT, I hope you can be inspired to set some challenges for yourself, however big or small they may be! As you’ll notice, I don’t have deadlines on these challenges. Our goal is to make some of these permanent changes, or just see how long we can stand to keep going haha. (note: I will probably write in depth posts on each challenge soon, about why they are important to us and how we are accomplishing these challenges.)

Here are the 5 Extreme Household Challenges Donovan and I are currently doing.

1. No AC!
We are refraining from using the air conditioner for as long as possible. Which is going to be a pretty hefty challenge considering we live in the southwest USA desert where summer temps are triple digits. We’ve already made it through a 95 degree F day, but it’s not even summer yet, so I’m cautiously optimistic. People have lived for thousands of years without climate controlling their homes, so if they can do it, I can do it. AC units use a ridiculous amount of electricity, which isn’t good for the environment or my bank account.

2. Ditching the Washer and Dryer
I’m attempting to hand wash and line dry ALL of our laundry. We already line dry most things so that part won’t be a challenge. Older washing machines use around 45 gallons of water for one load, and the energy efficient ones use between 15-25 gallons. By hand washing I am using a lot less water, zero electricity, and can easily use the grey water. I’m hoping this one will be a permanent change and that I can eventually sell our washer and dryer, but we’ll see how I’m feeling in a few months time haha. We’ve been at this one for a week and it’s really not bad so far, one might even say it’s actually kind of fun.

3. Taking out the Trash
We are cancelling our garbage removal service. We are in the process of this (the city is being a bit difficult), but once done, we will no longer have a trash can! This will force us to be even better at zero waste and will save us $14.62 per month, $175.44 per year, AND $877.20 over 5 years!

4. Minimal Showers
We are showering with as little water as possible. This will save gas from our water heater, and obviously conserve a lot of water. I’m aiming to do this 95% of the time, because hey, sometimes you need a long, hot relaxing shower. Moderation is important 🙂

5. Level Up on the Garden
We are going to grow more in our garden this season than ever before. If you’ve been to our house or seen pictures, then you’ll know we already have an enormous garden! It’s exciting finding new ways to grow even more crops. (BTW we live in the city on about 1/5 an acre.)

I want to continue getting back to the basics in life. Living even more intentionally and closer to nature. The way most people lived up until these modern times.

If you are going to do some challenges yourself, just remember what Brendon Burchard said, “Challenge is the pathway to engagement and progress in our lives. But not all challenges are created equal. Some challenges make us feel alive, engaged, connected, and fulfilled. Others simply overwhelm us. Knowing the difference as you set bigger and bolder challenges for yourself is critical to your sanity, success, and satisfaction.”

Peace & Love
-Kayla Oliver

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Travel & Adventure

Zion and Bueller?… Bueller?… Bueller?

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“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
-Ferris Bueller

That ↑ was my senior quote in high school.
Ferris Bueller, you’re my hero. I actually ditched so much school that I almost wasn’t able to graduate. I believe in enjoying life. Luckily Donovan has a flexible work schedule, because I often convince him to take the afternoon off work so we can have fun.

“How can I possibly be expected to handle school on a day like this?”
-Ferris Bueller

Life with me is a spontaneous adventure. Yesterday, I got Donovan to leave work early and we spent the day in Zion National Park. We rode our bikes, ate lunch, played in the river, admired wildflowers, did some yoga… a chill day with epic views!

The question isn’t “what are we going to do,” the question is “what aren’t we going to do?”
-Ferris Bueller

 

We could all learn a lot from Ferris Bueller. Let’s all live life more fully.

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“You’re still here? It’s over! Go home. G0.”
-Ferris Bueller

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Theories, Philosophies, & Ideas

Live Authentically & Unapologetically (10 Things to Remember)

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1. Your life and reality is how you perceive it to be. Good or bad, it’s ultimately your choice.
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” -Helen Keller

2. You don’t owe anyone explanations. 

3. You don’t need permission to be who you want to be. You also aren’t obligated to have the same interests or be the same person you were in the past.

4. It’s not your duty to look good for anyone.  

5. You are in charge of your own happiness. It is your responsibility and yours alone.

6. Dare to like what you like. Don’t concern yourself with other’s opinions. Because really, who’s to say something is in style, out of style, cool, or uncool?

7. Live your life authentically and unapologetically. Women especially apologize incessantly over the most ridiculous things that don’t need an apology.

8. Don’t put yourself down. You should acknowledge fabulous hair days instead of complaining about the “bad” ones.

9. Give people the benefit of the doubt and take most things as a compliment. The majority of people mean well.

10. “Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald

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Travel & Adventure

Trail Etiquette: 10 Suggestions

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Hiking is great. I like hiking. Hiking is even better when those around you have good etiquette! Now I’m not really one for rules, so here are 10 “suggestions” of ways to have good trail etiquette. 

 

1. Leave No Trace
Don’t litter. Leave the place looking better than when you arrived. 

2. Talk Quietly
Trust me, not everyone wants to hear drama, obnoxious screams, and vulgarity etc. Use your indoor voice while outside (haha) so we can all enjoy the birds singing and the sound of trees dancing in the wind.

3. No Smoking
Smoking is banned in most National & State Park areas, smoking increases the risk of forest fires, AND most people *gasp* actually want to enjoy the fresh air, not secondhand smoke.

4. No Loud Music
I love music, I really do! But usually not when I’m out hiking. It distracts from being connected with nature. If you really need to jam, try using this magical thing called headphones, or at the very least, turn your backpack speakers to a lower volume. 

5. Don’t Hog the Trail 
Be courteous and let others pass. If you are hiking in a group, hike in a single file line instead of forcing others off the trail.

6. Don’t Disturb or Harm Plant or Wildlife
Do your best to stick to trails and avoid stomping on plants. Don’t feed or scare wildlife.

7. Pet Responsibility 
Keep your dog on a leash when others are around. Dogs can easily spook horses and wildlife, some people are seriously afraid of dogs, and other’s hiking with their dogs will appreciate it. For your pet’s safety too it’s a good idea. Also, pick up their poop.

8. Respect Other Photographers
At populated view points, get your shot and then step aside so others have the opportunity to snap some cool pics too.

9. Be Friendly
Smile, say hi, help others out when they are in need… You know, basic human kindness.

10. Try Going Electronic Free
Do yourself a favor and occasionally put down the electronics. Allow yourself to take it all in, meditate, and enjoy nature without distractions.

“All you need is Mother Earth, Father Sky, and your dear old Uncle Tony.”
– Tony Perkis, Heavy Weights

 

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Lifestyle

Appearance & Illusion

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“What the eyes see and the ears hear,
the mind believes.”
-Harry Houdini

The other night I had a dream I was at my sister’s house. Our late mother was there and offered to make us green smoothies. I watched as she put one single baby spinach leaf in the blender, an enormous amount of ice cream, then added some green food coloring. Yes, technically it was a green colored drink, but it was definitely not a healthy green smoothie. (I have weird dreams.) There are so many instances in life where appearances can be deceiving. It’s important to pull back the curtain and see the truth.

 Sometimes the great Wizard of Oz is just a man. 

We live in an age of photoshop, snapchat filters, autotune, deceiving advertising, fake online profiles etc.

It seems almost everything is staged and contrived. All an illusion.

There are many items in grocery stores and even health food stores that are labeled and marketed as healthy. Then when you look at the ingredients they are horrific. It’s important to do research, read the fine print, and wise up to marketing tricks. Things aren’t always what they appear to be.

To quote the incredible Henry David Thoreau,
“Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.”

 

The grass is greener on the other side, you get there and it’s not grass at all, it’s AstroTurf!
-OR-
The grass is greener wherever it gets watered and cared for.

Neighbors who look rich, but are actually drowning in debt.
-OR-
Neighbors who are actually rich because they’ve made smart decisions.

 

We don’t need to concern ourselves so much with what others are doing. As a society we’ve become obsessed with social media and what everyone else is doing all of the time.
I’m not saying we shouldn’t be inspired by others, develop friendships, enjoy entertainment, or daydream. There is certainly a time and place for illusions. They can be a coping mechanism, stress reliever, or just plain fun.

There is a huge difference between indulging imagination and being deceived. 

“Therefore trust to thy heart, and to what the world calls illusions.”
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Peace & Love

-Kayla Oliver

 

 

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Travel & Adventure

Lava Tubes at Snow Canyon

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“One does not simply walk into Mordor.
Its Black Gates are guarded by more than just Orcs.
There is evil there that does not sleep, and the Great Eye is ever watchful.
It is a barren wasteland, riddled with fire and ash and dust,
the very air you breathe is a poisonous fume.
Not with ten thousand men could you do this. It is folly.”
– Boromir, The Lord of the Rings

The lava tubes at Snow Canyon State Park are types of caves that were created by lava. There are a few different trails you can take to get the lava tubes. To get there you can take the Butterfly trail, the Lava Flow trail, or string together a few different connecting trails like we did if you want a longer hike. It’s a bit spooky exploring inside the caves. I felt like I was in Mordor. If you check these out, make sure you take the necessary safety precautions and don’t forget flashlights/headlamps!

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