Sunday, January 29, 2012
Be My Sustainable Valentine
Valentines. It's hard to share the love and still buy sustainably ... right? I disagree. We just have to reduce disposability, think about where products come from, and buy fair-trade when we can.
Easy Peasy.
Let's run through a few creative options that are good for the heart and the environment.
1. Chocolate
Chocolate is the go-to for Valentine's Day, but you don't have to buy the cheap stuff with a label-full of unintelligible ingredients. Buy a small bar (or two) of the best chocolate you can afford - something with only a couple of ingredients, fair-trade, and preferably organic. Why fair-trade? Because the cocoa bean trade is a bit dicey, and we ♥ supporting families with fair wages.
Some of my favourites? Green and Black's and Loving Earth.
Alternatively, make something chocolate ... little cakes, wrapped up in pretty, re-usable boxes; cookies in heart-shaped tins; even homemade chocolate spread in a ribbon-tied jar.
Remember, it doesn't have to be perfect ... just made with love.
2. Art
Here's an idea for you. Instead of a Hallmark card - why not buy a small piece of art? Something that speaks to you, or reminds you of a place you and your loved one have been (or dream of going), or just reminds you of that person. There are lots of small photographs or prints that would say much more than your standard greeting card. Check out etsy.com for ideas!
You can even find some of them - complete with poetry - (and 20% off at the moment) in my shop.
Just saying.
3. Personal photographs
Last Valentine's Day I got Nelle to hold a sign asking her daddy to be her Valentine - while I took a series of photos. I printed out 5 of them and framed the series ... and it's one of Robbie's favourite gifts ever. So easy.
And even better? This year I'm improving the frame. So he gets it again.
4. Audio books
I do still like the feel of a good, solid, paper book. But I also like having a variety of audio books on my computer and iPhone for those times when I don't feel like reading. And with audio, you can snuggle up close to your hubbie and share a totally tree-free book together. Now that's romantic.
What ideas do you have for a sustainable Valentine's Day? Please share, we'd love to hear them!
Amanda xx
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Macadamia and Ginger (Melting) Shortbreads
The cricket's on in the living room, the barbie's fired up outside. Hot sun, cool drinks. It's summer in Queensland and it's sweltering. Today? Meltingly so.
We hang outside when we can stand it, sweating even though we're sitting down in the shade. We watch lizards skitter through the garden. We can practically feel the recent rain evaporating from surfaces around us.
Time to pull some shortbread out of the freezer.
Friday, January 20, 2012
It's Almost Australia Day!
My perfect Australia Day? Involves a smashing breakfast, a drive in the countryside, and a BBQ on the deck. Preferably with a cold beer in my hand.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
How to Make a Stop-Motion Video in Picasa
Ever since Cheryl of 5 Second Rule introduced us to the stop-motion video The Joy of Books, Nelle and I have been a little bit obsessed. It's the first thing my girl wants to do when she gets home from kindy ... and I have to admit when I watch it, I feel more than a bit elated. It makes me want to write and dance and read.
But Nelle keeps asking me - how do the books move?
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Super-Simple Roasted Nectarine Bruschetta
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
The Year of Sunshine and Lemons
2011 was a year of sunshine and lemons.
We started and ended the year in a holiday house with a lemon tree out back, making lemonade and eating crepes and hanging out with family and friends.
A year that started with lemons and ended with lemons and sunshine.
Not everything in 2011 was great, but mostly.
When life gives you lemons ... and all that.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Peppermint Tea Granita
I'd never gotten a granita to work properly before ...
till I realised you have to load it with sugar.
And as long as you're ok with that, I've got the recipe for you.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Cookie Swap 2011 - The Delinquent
Well. Here I am - the delinquent. This year's cookie swap (that I pestered inspired everyone into doing, but forgot to register us, so we ended up doing it on our own) is done. The swapped cookies from Yasmeen, Sherilyn, and Steph are all happily devoured, and my shortbreads were the last to be swapped, with (according to Steph) only 20% breakage.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Brown Sugar Cookies with Chia Seeds and Orange Zest
This is how bad she wants Santa to come ... she'll hold a plateful of cookies while Mummy takes a photo or three ...
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Have You Heard of Kickstarter?
Well, if you haven't ... today's your day! Kickstarter is an *awesome* idea, about awesome ideas.
People with innovative new business plans post them on the site, and all of us out there in the world can become 'backers' - giving anywhere between a few $$ and mega-$$, depending on our interest and what we want in return. Typically you get the product itself, plus any number of added extras.
I love this site - because it's full of energy and novelty and incredible gift ideas.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Revised Beetroot (Beet) Smoothie with Cocoa
I originally wrote this recipe using beet juice. Recently though, I haven't been juicing so much ... I think it's the mortal fear of having to wash the various implements involved. But I do love the idea of integrating more beetroot (aka beet, for you North Americans) into my diet and my family's.
Which is a challenge, because Robbie detests it. Almost as much as blue cheese.
But beetroot has this amazing synergy when it's mixed with chocolate, or cocoa powder ... making something utterly, indescribably good. Hence, this smoothie was born.
This is the new, revised, juicing-free version.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Christmas Market - Dec 10 - Buy Handmade!
So, here's a little more about what's been keeping me so busy these last few weeks ... besides the normal stuff, that is ...
It's pretty exciting - I'm selling my very own products at the BrisStyle Christmas markets! (yay!)
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| the red arrow shows you where St Augustine's is ... you can see Brett's wharf at the bottom in blue |
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Where to Start
I know you're out there. You browse the photos, the recipe names, and the little stories ... but you don't make any of the recipes. You want to (you really do!), but you find you don't have the time or the energy, and organic stuff is just too expensive.
Right?
You *can* do this. If you want to change the way you - and your family - eat, it's not that hard ... but it does help to know where to start.
Here are some of my favourite recipes that are easy on time, energy and budgets!
Breakfast
1. Make your own toasted muesli. You can cook up a batch on the weekend, and have it all week long. Homemade toasted muesli/granola is fresher, you can add whatever you like best, and it's probably got a lot less fat than the store-bought stuff.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Thanksgiving Ginger Cocktail
Where Oh Where Have I Been??
Sadly, I haven't just jetted back from France/Poland/Singapore/anywhere exciting really.
Where have I been?
I've been digging around in the dirt ... a lot.
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| a corner of my townhouse garden |
I've made bread that looked like this -
