If there are two things that can (at least temporarily) pull me out of the funk that 2020 has trapped me in, it’s gotta be A) getting creative with someone (yes someone, social distance style) and B) spending time outside. Our talented photographer Charity and I had canceled our spring shoot due to the pandemic. Halfway through summer and sufficiently bummed, we knew that even if just the two of us got together outside we’d feel a whole lot better!
Today I’ll walk you through what we did so that hopefully you can make the most of this strange summer safely, with just a good friend (or family that you live with!) and a little patch of grass.
We’d connected with Tatiana of Zuahaza earlier this year with a tour of her creative studio in Bogota here on eco club. Zuahaza’s ethically made home décor are designed and produced in collaboration with their local community of female artisans. Tatiana is a fiber artist herself so it’s very inspiring to see how she combined so many of her own passions into this sustainable business.
She mailed us Zuahaza’s Salento Pillow and Jardin Pillow. When possible, I love to personally experience the brands we add to our sustainable shopping directory. I know there’s a bit of risk in not being personally involved with each & every one, but we’re also mindful of each member’s budgets and the fact that quite honestly we don’t need that much product. The pillows were beautifully made using 100% organic cotton and vibrant natural dyes. And as mentioned, they’re SO soft. So I brought those, along with several pillows I’d collected from Etsy for my balcony, over to summer happy hour with Charity.
Next we made this tasty cantaloupe margarita recipe by Charity’s sister, Katie Hestead, who is a cocktail expert!
Click here to view her cantaloupe aperol mint frozen margarita recipe. It was the perfect summer cocktail for real. We garnished with mint and edible flowers from Charity’s garden and took 9 million photos because that’s what we do with pretty drinks ‘round here.
A few suggested accessories for such an afternoon: snacks like fresh fruits & veggies, sun wear and care, a fun little raffia fan (I use them as wall décor so I have a few around), journals or books or magazines, and a camera if you’re in the mood to get creative and share your pretty scene with your Insta community.
And more cantaloupe margaritas.
How are you making the most of your summer during COVID? Let’s all be sure to check in on our friends and try to lift people up when we can. Even the tiniest activity like those above can be difficult to be motivated to do when you’re feeling down.
Shop Zuahaza on their website or via eco club member Made Trade.
[…] you have outdoor space you can retreat to during the summer of COVID? I’ve always been one to make use of any outdoor space I have, no matter how small–in […]