Meet Lilia Lopez | Environmental Advocate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lilia Lopez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lilia, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
My platform discusses living your best life, sustainably. I educate on how you can find little changes to intertwin sustainability throughout your life. The sustainability niche was one I never really fit into. I eat animal products, I love shopping and fashion, and city life. I constantly felt like I was living two lives, my life as Lilia and my eco-life. Then I thought, why not be both? Thus sprouted my mission, helping show others how you can live your most fabulous life in a way that’s kind to our planet and its people. My mantra is small changes make a big difference. I show others how they don’t need to sacrifice the things they love to be more eco but explore new ways to enjoy the things they love. You love to shop? Awesome, there are so many amazing, unique & sustainable companies out there for you to find. Or how about upcycling some thrifted fabric and making a one-of-a-kind outfit for yourself? Living sustainability can be super intimidating, humans don’t like lots of big changes, so sharing bite-sized tips or swaps to make that transition more inviting is what I’m here for. Hopefully, I can show others how doable living sustainably can be so together, we can make bigger contributions to stopping climate change, providing fair livable wages to all, reducing environmental racism, having cleaner oceans, and more! The result, happier, healthier humans that thrive!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My eco-journey started when I moved home from California to Arizona and saw how differently people created waste. Not using reusable grocery bags or straws and instead, single-use plastics were quite the norm. I wanted my home to be as eco-friendly as possible and thus lit a fire in me to start living more sustainability and build a community of individuals who wanted to do the same. I’ve had many renditions of the type of brand I wanted to create. It started off more factual & less personable, and now it’s developed into a brand that is inviting and fun yet educating. I’ve struggled with wanting to fall in line with what all other sustainability influencers do because it felt right, but I knew my message was just a little different. What I want the world to know is you can be you and an environmentalist. Environmentalism is not a stereotype, anyone can weave sustainable living throughout their everyday lives in a way that works for them. I eat meat, but just not every day, I love fashion and shopping but I thrift and shop from companies that are sustainable, I love living in urban areas, but choose to use public transportation or biking as my main form of travel.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
San Diego Itinerary:

We’d stay in Point Loma, get there mid-day on a Wednesday just in time for the OB Farmers Market, where we’d stroll down aisles of various food trucks and local artists. We’d eat our dinner while watching the sunset.

Thursday: Acai Bowls from Northside Shack by Shelter Island, we’d walk down to Shelter Island to enjoy a beautiful view of the downtown city skyline. When we’ve finished breakfast, we’d rent paddleboards and explore San Diego Bay. For late lunch early dinner, fish tacos, and spicy margaritas from Point Loma Fish Market. Next, drive up to Cabrillo National Monument for a short sunset hike with the most beautiful view of the bay. For a nightcap and maybe a small bite if we’re hungry, get drinks at the Bali Hai restaurant on Shelter Island.

Friday: Brunch is at Breakfast Republic, and I recommend the brekkie sandwich. We explore downtown San Diego and shop a little in all the unique little boutiques and hit up Rosewood San Diego to see if we can get some limited edition sneakers in our size. Then we have small bites and drinks at arguably one of the best happy hours, Ketch by the Waterfront Park downtown. We stay there 4-6 pm munchin’ on $5 bites and sippin’ on $5 mules, taking in the beautiful views of the bay. Then we get ready to go to a Padres game at 7 pm. They’re playing the Dodgers so it’s going to be a good one. You get beers (since this stadium has the best craft beer selection) and onion rings from Hodads!

Saturday: Quick breakfast at my house (french toast with fruit because yum) then we head to OB for an all-day beach day. For lunch, we have to get It’s Raw Poke Shop, great portions and prices and so fresh! Then we head back to shower and order a pizza from Pummaro on Shelter Island to go to enjoy on sunset cliffs as we watch the sunset.

Sunday: We start off by getting golden matcha lattes from Paru Tea Bar, the best in the city. Then we head over the bridge to Coronado Island. We walk along the shops and get lunch at the Little Frenchie for the best charcuterie boards and french onion soup. We wash it all down with some Rose. Next, we head over to the Hotel Del Coronado and feel the eerie vibes from the haunted establishment and enjoy some ice cream from Sundaes, then drinks on the Sun Deck to end the night.

Monday: Get avocado toast and matcha lattes at Holy Matcha in North Park. Then we rent bikes to bike around Balboa Park, stopping at any and all the museums we want. Lunch is in North Park at Crazee Burger. Then we head to Verbatim Books to find our next read and read a little there. We have fun exploring the North Park area, then head to South Park for dinner. Dinner is at Buona Forchetta, you know the wait is usually 30 minutes to an hour so you pass time across the street at Kindred getting one of their super unique and creative cocktails. You get the text, your table is ready. You order the margarita pizza because it’s perfect and the pappardelle noodles with Buona Forchetta sauce and a salad to share.

Tuesday: Tea again at Paru, you’re obsessed. Then you head to Torrey Pines State Park to hike the trail down to the cutest beach tucked up against the cliffside. Then you head to Liberty Station to experience the Liberty Public Market. So many options so you get a bunch to share. Fluster Cluck is definitely in the mix. Then you end the night with drinks at Stone Brewery.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My dad and my Tia Mónica. When I was younger my dad and I would garden together, we’ve grown lots of stuff from corn & tomatoes to citrus and pomegranate trees. I always loved how I could be playing in my backyard, get hungry and pull an orange off the tree to snack on. When it was watering time, my dad always made it a sort of ritual. He would play music and sing to the plants as he watered. I thought it was weird at first but I now do the very same thing with my plants. This is where my love and desire to care for nature/earth sprouted. So, when I’m feeling uninspired I think of those moments with my dad in the garden and remember what I’m fighting for and it reignites my drive. As for my Tia, she’s an Environmental Scientist. Her work focuses a lot on the environment and its impact on communities. Watching her go out and engage with communities to see how, for example, heavy metals found in their drinking water, made them feel, really opened my eyes to the human element of environmentalism. This realization helped shape my tone and message from one that feels like you’re reading a textbook to one that feels more inviting and fun! Something people would want to learn more about.

Website: https://liliaglopez.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinlalilialopez/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=4FoE7vNQQc5AL_g3xf1aXA&utm_source=ishare

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwVirNPQDf5D0q0a5ucEfnQ