14 Years of Live Local USA

January 25th, 2012 - today.

So much more I'd like to have done; so many ideas I wish I'd had time to develop. The conversations we have here matter - celebrating the people and places which built communities, opening minds and empowering small business owners - but it's a drop in the bucket compared to what we're up against.

 

What If We Pick The Better Option?

What if we choose what makes a positive impact, rather than what's easiest? I know, sounds brilliant, doesn't it? But hear me out.... we make decisions based on their benefits to our community, shifting purchases to independent businesses, for example, and guess who wins. Any guesses?

Choosing An Independent Coffee Shop Still Matters

Something as simple, as humble, and as inexpensive as a cup of coffee....may not seem like a great big financial impact to you. But the point of "shifting our focus", making choices that support actual humans we live next door too.....that's where the power is. THAT's where we start to take back our streets and towns, cities and neighborhoods, from being turned into places that all look exactly alike; cookie cutter shells of one another. Because who wants to live where everything all looks the same, without real flavor and variety?

Why My Dollars Go Somewhere That Matter

I hate shopping. It's not a sport or a hobby, or God forbid, a social thing, because I cannot stand trying to shop with anyone else around.

Choosing To Spend At Independent Businesses | Celebrating National Ice Cream Month

You may be wondering.... what is the big deal about ice cream? Why the excessive focus on July's celebration of frozen dessert? I will tell you! It's because getting an ice cream cone may appear to be a simple, small thing; not a lot of $$$ if you just get a scoop - of course you could venture into the sundaes and buckets and flights and so on....but I digress.