You may think I’m crazy for starting a blog in 2023. And, while that may be true (time will tell), I have realized that there’s only one way to know for sure, and that’s to try. It’s true, blogs had their heyday in the early 2000s, and there are literally millions of blogs on the internet today, but I think there is still room in the blogosphere for new content. 

So, here are my top 5 reasons for starting a blog in 2023!

1. I can use my hobby to create useful, fun content 

To be honest, this blog has been a long-time coming. I started a photography blog back in 2017, while I was in college. Though I posted consistently for a while, I never really committed to it, and eventually just stopped posting altogether. After I graduated I became a grant writer, and as I wrote 40 hours a week for my job, writing for fun became less appealing. 

I left grant writing earlier this year, and have since felt the desire to write for fun reappearing. This blog will let me explore that hobby in a new way! I am looking forward to getting back into content creation here(and on TikTok and other platforms). 

I plan to write about plenty of useful topics, mostly focused on lifestyle (home, design, cooking, etc.) and travel, all with a focus on sustainability and environmentally conscious living. 

2. I can create the sustainability content I like to read!

There are lots of sustainability-focused blogs out there, all with a plethora of amazing content. However, I’ve found many are focused on zero-waste living, homesteading, and other admirable, albeit sometimes unattainable sustainability goals. Obviously, going off-grid and growing your own food probably is the best thing you can do for the environment, but that just isn’t attainable (or desirable) for many people. I want to focus on realizable sustainability. While I plan to cover a variety of topics that appeal to people in many places on the journey to more sustainable lifestyles, I am going to focus on smaller, more affordable changes. Not everyone can afford organic groceries, $100 bamboo leggings, or an electric vehicle. But, there are hundreds of small choices we make each week that can slowly help us live more sustainably without breaking the bank.

Change is hard! Anyone who’s tried a new diet knows that! Cutting things we enjoy and making big life changes all at once can cause a lot of stress (which makes it even HARDER to sustain that change). I truly think that the biggest changes are made slowly, and would like to create content that’s helpful for people just beginning their journey to sustainable living. 

3. Blogging will let me share my DIYs and Tips!

One of the cheapest, easiest, and most environmentally friendly choices you can make is to just buy less. Whether that’s spending a bit more for a higher-quality product to start out, or putting some time and effort into fixing up what you have, both are great ways to decrease your footprint! 

My grandfather was a farmer, and anyone who knows a farmer, knows they are pros (perhaps to a fault) at fixing what they have, instead of buying something new. Watching my family consistently repair instead of re-buy helped me learn a lot about making-do with what we had. Because of this, I’ve truly grown to love fixing things, life hacks, and DIY projects. My house is full of thrifted, repaired, re-purposed items, many that have brought me more joy because of the work I’ve put into them. 

I want to share some of the things I’ve learned through these DIY projects and hope you can use my tips to get more use out of your items and spend less!

4. Blogging gives me the opportunity to showcase companies and brands doing awesome things!  

The more research I do on sustainability the more hope I have for the future. There are thousands of small (and large) businesses that truly care about their impact, their workers, and the sustainability of the products and services they offer. However, many of these companies are small startups, local businesses, or family-run companies with little widespread brand recognition. 

Plenty of products we use every day have sustainable alternatives that are not much (if any) more expensive than the products for sale at any big box store. I find it often comes down to ease of purchase–many of us don’t have time to do hours of research to find the most sustainable toilet paper brand, which shoe brands use sustainable materials, or what hotels have the smallest environmental impact. If that information is more accessible, it’s easier to make a sustainable choice! I’ve done a lot of this research over the years, and would like to share what I’ve learned to help you! 

5. Blogging is a side-hustle opportunity

No, I’m not quitting my day job to start a blog, but I do plan to use this as an opportunity to bring in some extra money! 

You’ll see some ads and affiliate links throughout some of my posts, but I refuse to recommend things I don’t use or love myself, and I will always tell you if/when I get any commissions off of purchases through my site!

If you’ve gotten this far, thank you! I am so excited to be starting this blog and cannot wait to share so many fun things with you! Welcome to ModMango!

Welcome and Disclosures! 

Currently, all items I plan to review will be purchased with my own money. If I am ever gifted an item to review, it is my policy to disclose that the item was a gift at the start of the post. All my reviews will be 100% my opinion, and honest about how I feel about the product. If I’m not a fan, I will tell you. If you have a brand or a product you’d like me to look at or review, you can submit your ideas on my Suggestions page!