I had the opportunity to test out the world's first biodegradable shoe from BLUEVIEW. If you're unfamiliar with BLUEVIEW, let me tell you about them.

Two surfers, one a biology professor, and the other a VP of Product meet and talk about their love of surfing and the ocean. They designed and developed the first biodegradable shoe using plant-based fabrics and sustainable materials. In order to help fight for cleaner water and a greener future, they did away with the toxic plastic material by creating a plant-based polyurethane made from plant oils, and natural materials such as hemp and eucalyptus fibers.

Not only did they focus on sustainability, but they also created an ergonomic, durable, and customizable shoe. You no longer have to worry about plastic waste and harming the ocean animals. These shoes will end up decomposing and will feed ocean microorganisms instead of harming them.

BLUEVIEW Pacific Shoes in Vintage Black

When I first received the shoe, they didn't seem like it was something I would wear. The shoe itself was light, extremely flexible, and had a strap that went over the top of the tongue and was held in place by two knots. I chose the Vintage Black color and I could see why. It looked like those faded acid wash jeans but in a more canvas-type shoe.

I had reservations about the strap and immediately thought about how they would look on me. I also tend not to wear socks or I'll wear loafer socks and the first thing I thought of was my feet were going to sweat and start to smell because I probably wouldn't wear these with no-show socks.

The website says the shoes fit true to size and that's no lie. I went to put them on and they were a little tight. I have a wider foot and it took a little effort to wiggle my way in. In hindsight, I really should have a shoe horn since I have a couple of other pairs of shoes that are a tight fit.

The only other thing I have to say is the tongue is a flap of fabric and it folds in and under when trying to put the shoe on. Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal but the top of my foot is a little hairy and with the tightness of the shoe, it was hard to get the tongue pulled back out without pulling my foot hair. But I managed.

Once on, I thought they didn't look bad and they seemed comfortable. I laughed a bit because they looked as if I should be at the beach or on the way to a Jimmy Buffet concert but honestly, they weren't bad. The strap has to go I thought and wondered if I could just take it off without ruining the shoe. (Looking at the website, I now know they are meant to be customizable).

Since I work from home, I mostly go around barefoot so I don't really wear them around the house. When I run errands, I slip them on sans socks and end up wearing them all day. They were pretty comfortable. I have worn them all weekend while out enjoying the summer weather, hanging out poolside, going to the movies, or out to dinner. You hardly know they're on.

They are comfortable, and I noticed my feet didn't sweat. The insoles actually feel soft as if made from talcum powder. They don't come out when you take the shoes off either as some shoes do.

Each shoe is made with a plant-based biodegradable plastic that replaces petroleum plastics which as we know, is the cause of a lot of plastic pollution in our rivers and oceans.

This sustainable footwear is made from two primary materials:

Basically, it's a plant shoe that will completely break down when exposed to the compost environment. After only 6 weeks, the upper portion of the shoe is 90% composted and in about 200 days, the Soleic foam follows suit.

​According to the website, you can place them in a washing machine using the delicate cycle, cold water, and mild detergent. They advise removing the insoles and washing by hand versus machine washing. To dry, you allow to air dry.

​You can wear the biodegradable sneaker just about anywhere. As I said, I wore them to the pool, to the grocery store, walking around town, and even to dinner. I think they would be ideal for visits to the beach and even camping.

Keep in mind that this footwear isn't suitable for more rigorous activities like hiking, and mountain climbing, and although I haven't tried it, I don't see it as a running shoe either.

​Honestly, I think the price is a bit hefty but it is a small price to pay in comparison to all the plastic floating in the water. On the other hand, if you're like me and your wardrobe lasts several years, I can see this as being a good investment.

I would say yes. It's a comfortable shoe, it saves sea life and the ocean, and they look good (minus the strap). It depends on your budget and whether biodegradable plastic is important to you. It is after all, truly the first sustainable shoe in the footwear industry.

Skin health is an important issue for everyone but it is especially important to the LGBTQ+ community. Finding a health care doctor that understands your medical history, gender identity, and sexual orientation is difficult. It's very important for a healthcare provider, including dermatologists, to have a better understanding of the needs of the LGBTQ+ population.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, the number of melanoma deaths in the U.S. is expected to increase this year by over 5 percent. Studies show that gay and bisexual men are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with skin cancer due to indoor tanning and unprotected sun exposure. Even transgender people dealing with acne due to hormone therapy are susceptible.

We spoke with dermatologist Dr. Cuong Le with the U.S. Dermatology Partners to find out the ins and outs of skin care health. Dr. Le treats patients of all races and provides a safe space for LGBTQ patients. Education and understanding are his main concern and here is what he had to say regarding LGBTQ skin health:

A: Everyone should be moisturizing daily and make it a part of their routine. Moisturizing helps repair the skin barrier- which can be damaged in certain diseases like eczema or if you are using products that contain ingredients that can dry or irritate your skin. Moisturizing also helps hydrate the skin. This can make your skin look plumper, fill out fine lines and wrinkles, and healthier.

A: Moisturizers work best if applied to damp skin. In the morning, wash your face with a gentle cleanser, apply a moisturizer, and then apply sunscreen. At night, wash the face with a gentle cleanser and apply the moisturizer to damp skin. If you have toners, serums, retinol, or retinoids, they would usually go on before the moisturizer.

A: Everyone should be moisturizing regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. There might be a difference in how dry or oily the skin is - but even then that doesn't matter. Both dry skin and oily skin will benefit from moisturizing. Something else that might play a role is how complex your skin care regimen or routines are but that is specific to each person- not necessarily a gender or sexual orientation.

A: Some ingredients to look out for are ceramides, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid. Humectants like glycerin and hyaluronic acid attract water. Ceramides help repair the skin barrier. Petrolatum is an occlusive that helps retain moisture in the skin.

A: There are some things that you should avoid if you are looking for a moisturizer. Fragrances, parabens, and dyes can be allergenic or irritating to some people with more sensitive skin. It might be good to avoid them if you are not sure. Night creams can contain retinol - which can irritate the skin and cause redness, peeling, and make products sting when applied. If you want to use something with retinol in it, I would introduce it slowly so your skin can get used to it. Some night creams also have AHAs or BHAs- these are weak acids that can also be irritating especially if they are overused.

A good skin care regimen does not have to be complicated and can consist of just a gentle cleanser, a good moisturizer, a good sunscreen, and retinol or retinoids.

Based on the interview from Dr. Le, we put together a little skin care routine that is very easy to follow and you can add to it as your skin care health needs. Remember, the different seasons also play an important role in skincare. During the summer months, you will most likely need a lighter moisturizer while during the winter months, you'll need a more thicker and richer moisturizer.

Every morning you should use the following routine:

Your nightly skincare routine should look something like this:

There are plenty of skincare products out there. It really comes down to your skin type and skin health. At the minimum, you should have a mild cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. You can build from there. For instance, if you wear makeup, then having a makeup remover will clean a lot of the residue from your face before actually cleaning it. The cleanser will then remove any leftover residue that the makeup remover didn't get.

It's not typical to order scotch or whiskey in a gay bar (gesturing widely to include lesbian bars and all-welcoming bars). However, there are those of us in the LGBTQ+ community that enjoy a good whiskey-or whisky depending on where it comes from.

They say if you're a red wine drinker you'll most likely like whiskey and Scotch. We don't know if that is necessarily true or not but some of us do enjoy whiskey as much as we do wine.

Let's try to explain the difference...Near as we can tell, Scotch is whisky because it's made in Scotland. Everything else is bourbon, whiskey, and well, whisky. The differences are that whisky is made in Scotland, Canada, or Japan but whiskey is made in Ireland and the U.S. When it comes to bourbon, it means that it is whiskey distilled in the U.S.

Those are the more basic explanations and it goes even further than that. Scotch whisky, whiskey, and bourbon are all grain alcohols but they vary depending on the regulations and the blending process.

All Scotch must be aged in oak barrels for a minimum of three years and then they can be placed in sherry casks which adds another level of flavor and aroma to the scotch.

​Now that you have that down, let's dive into single malt whisky vs blended scotch whisky.

Single malt whisky is the product of just one distillery. Single malt whisky can be blended with other single malt whiskies and still be labeled single malt because...you guessed it, they were produced at the same distillery.

Blended scotch whisky is a mixture of two or more whiskies that are barrel-age and grain whiskies. On top of that, you have blended malt scotch whiskey which is a blend of two or more distilleries. Then there's blended gain scotch whisky which is a blend of grains from two or more distilleries.

Whew! Still with us? Great. That was tough and we could use a drink just trying to wrap our heads around that one...And that is only scotch whisky. We haven't even touched on the other locations...maybe another time.

Cheese Sex Death A Bible for the Cheese Obsessed

Did you know that just like wine, cheese goes great with whisky and whiskey. It doesn't sound that appealing but trust us, you can really get them to compliment each other.

The flavor of the cheese and the whisky is enhanced if paired properly. Sure there are cheeses that just don't go with certain expressions of whisky just as in wine. It's really up to personal preference and the flavor profiles of both cheese and whisky.

One way to test the theory is by picking up the book Cheese Sex Death: A Bible for the Cheese Obsessed by Erika Kubick. While you're at it, you may want to check out her Instagram account too. It's loaded full of sexy cheeses.

If you thought you knew all there was to know about cheese, you'd be wrong. We were. So wrong.

GlenDronach Core Single Malt Scotch Whiskies

The core whiskies of GlenDronach are the 12, 15, 18, and 21-year aged whiskies. As you taste these whiskies from 12 to 21, you will notice what a difference aging makes. The sweet spot is the 15 and 18-year bottles. Think of the 15 as your everyday drinking scotch and the 18 years as a once in a while. The 21-year-aged scotch however is for those nightcaps where you just had the perfect meal and you're settling in for the night and maybe enjoying a cigar.

Every single malt scotch whisky is matured in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks, which are the grapes used to make Spanish Sherry. Aging in sherry casks gives each whisky a depth of flavor and finish that you can appreciate in every bottle.

The core bottles of Benriach are The Original Ten, The Smoky Ten, The Twelve, The Smoky Twelve, The Twenty One, The Twenty Five, and The Thirty.

The 10 and 12-year whiskies can be peated or unpeated which means the level of smokiness. These whiskies are matured in a three-cask system and aged for 10 or 12 years. If you're looking for a more aged scotch, then the 21, 25, and 30-year scotch whiskies are it. These whiskies are matured in a four-cask system.

What does three cask matured or four cask matured mean?

When a spirit is aged (or matured) in barrels, they take on some of the flavors of the barrel. The three cask matured whiskies here are matured in bourbon, Jamaican rum, and toasted virgin oak casks. Whereas, the four cask matured whiskies are aged in bourbon, sherry, virgin oak, and Bordeaux red wine casks.

There is a vast world of booze out there. Some good, some bad, and well, some definitely ugly. While it's great to have a cocktail with your favorite people, it's even better to be able to sit down and really enjoy and appreciate the work that goes into creating a spirit you can drink on its own or with a piece of ice.

Packing up boxes to move

Whether you’re looking for a fresh start, heading somewhere for work, wanting to move to a safer community, or you’re just up for an adventure, it’s exciting to move somewhere new. There will always be considerations when packing up your belongings and heading to a new community.

However, for an LGBTQ+ individual, it can feel like these considerations are doubled.

Not only is it important to find a place that feels safe and accepting, but it’s equally important finding a location that feels like home. That feeling is essential for your mental well-being and will make the experience of moving to and living in a new location less stressful and more hopeful.

What are some of the most important things you should consider when you move somewhere new? How can you feel empowered as part of the LGBTQ+ community before, during, and after your move?

The motto isn’t only used by real estate agents and those looking to open a successful business. Location is hugely important when it comes to choosing a place to live. You might find your dream home in a city that isn’t accepting, or in a location where the cost of living is out of your price range.

It’s important to decide where you want to live before you begin your house or apartment hunt.

Unfortunately, some parts of the country aren’t as LGBTQ+ friendly as others. While times continue to change and people are becoming more accepting, you might want to consider heading to a city that already accepts and empowers the LGBTQ+ community. Some of the best cities in the U.S. that promote inclusivity include:

By moving to an inclusive city, you’re less likely to run into safety issues. You’ll also have an easier time finding housing and won’t be at risk of experiencing discrimination based on your identity or preferences.

Moving is often considered to be one of the most stressful life events a person can go through. One 2020 survey found that 45% of Americans think it’s the most stressful event in life.

As someone in the LGBTQ+ community, that stress can feel ten times heavier if you’re nervous about acceptance, a new job, leaving friends, or moving away from the security of your family for the first time.

While you might not be able to remove all of the stress from the moving process, there are things you can do to make it a more enjoyable and less overwhelming experience. Some of the easiest ways to take that extra stress away include:

It’s important to be able to effectively manage stress, too. You may not be able to control everything, so knowing how to stay calm when things don’t go according to plan will make a big difference. Practice self-care throughout the moving process by staying physically active, eating well, and leaning on your support system as you prepare to go.

Heading to a new community can make anyone nervous, but that’s especially true for someone in the LGBTQ+ community. Unfortunately, you'll never really know the kind of people you’re going to find until you step out and get to know them.

Whether you are moving to one of the cities listed above or are following current moving trends, it’s important to make your new location feel like home. Decorating your place and bringing your belongings is one thing, but you’re not going to be confined to your house or apartment 24/7. While it can be a little scary at first, immersing yourself in your new community will break down barriers and open new doors to opportunities and relationships.

Something as simple as going to local parks is a great way to meet people (bonus points if you have a pet!). Or, take a class, volunteer, or head to local events that interest you. Doing so will give you the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals and develop new friendships.

You’ll also feel more comfortable in your new community if you become an advocate for safety. It’s a great way to get to know your neighbors. By promoting a safe and inclusive neighborhood, you’re letting your local community know that you care about their well-being, and when everyone looks out for each other, you’ll experience the difference a positive community can make. Host community gatherings, get to know the people around you, and help to uplift the people in your neighborhood. It can be hard to put yourself out there, at first. However, when you’re promoting a strong sense of community and togetherness, you’ll quickly establish a circle of friends.

Moving should be an exciting experience, but it’s completely normal to feel a little nervous about the process. Keep these tips in mind from start to finish, and you’ll have an easier time overcoming those nerves and feeling confident and happy in your new home.