But here’s the thing I know about myself: things have to be easy, or I’m just not going to do them. My guess is, I’m not the only one who feels that way.

So, that’s what this space is all about. I want to share simple ways to make sustainability easy for you and your family. This isn’t about guilt or being perfect. It’s about feeling good about making small steps that actually fit into your real life. My own journey started with a childhood program about the ocean and, years later, a single magazine article that changed my whole perspective. It’s a path that eventually led me to Little Rock, where many of you know me from my role as manager of The Green Corner Store.

Everything I’ve learned has confirmed one simple idea: we can make a difference, and it doesn’t have to be complicated. Thank you for being here.

Why Launch in July?

So, why did I want to launch in the month of July? It’s no accident. July is a special month in the sustainability community because it’s Plastic Free July, and its story is a perfect example of how small, individual actions can grow into something huge.

If you’re not familiar with it, Plastic Free July is a global movement that encourages millions of people to be part of the solution to plastic pollution by simply choosing to refuse single-use plastics. It all started with just a small group of people in Western Australia back in 2011 and has grown into one of the world’s most influential environmental campaigns. It’s proof that a few people deciding to make a change can truly inspire the world.

And the need for that change is very real. While the global statistics can feel overwhelming—like the fact that only about 9% of all plastic ever made has been recycled—the issue becomes clearest when we look at it on a local level, in our own communities. For example, here in my home state of Arkansas, organizations like Keep Arkansas Beautiful are doing incredible work, but the challenge is significant. In 2023 alone, volunteers collected over 600 tons of litter. That plastic waste finds its way into local rivers everywhere, from the Arkansas River here at home to the waterways in your own backyard.

Seeing the problem in our own backyard is a powerful reminder that our small, daily actions matter. And that’s exactly what this month is all about.

Simple First Steps for Your Journey

Okay, so reading about the scale of the problem can feel a little big, right? The good news is that the solutions don’t have to be. Getting started is just about picking a few simple things and turning them into habits. It’s about progress, not trying to be perfectly plastic-free overnight.

If you’re wondering where to even begin, here are a few of the easiest and most impactful swaps you can make:

Looking at that list might still feel like a lot, and that’s completely okay! Please don’t feel like you have to do it all at once.

My best advice? Just pick one.

Seriously. Choose one single thing from that list to focus on this week. Once it starts to feel like second nature, you can try another. That’s how real, lasting change happens.

Let’s Start Together

And that’s really why I wanted to launch Natural State Living in July. This brand is all about embracing that same spirit we see during Plastic Free July—the belief that our small, individual choices, when made together, can add up to a big, positive impact. I’m so inspired by the work of local organizations like Keep Arkansas Beautiful, and I hope this space can become another helpful resource for this growing community of conscious consumers.

This is just the beginning of our journey, and I am so grateful to have you here with me. I invite you to follow along on Instagram and Pinterest for more simple tips and to see the vintage finds we’re curating for the shop.

Now, I’d love to hear from you. In the spirit of “progress, not perfection,” what is one small change you’re thinking about making this month?

Please share it in the comments below—let’s cheer each other on!