Little Green Dot

Category: Lifestyle

What I’m currently reading

What book have you been reading lately? I have three on the go… wait, do cookbooks count? Sure they do! Two of my current reads, I discovered at the library – a resources for cookbooks that I’ve never considered before. Am I the only one? Usually I’m at the bookshop debating whether or not to spend $50 on a cookbook – now I bring home tons of new inspiration! It’s been a lot of bread, and buttery scones recently. So this week I deliberately went for some healthier reads:

1. Preserved. This book covers preserving through different methods. I picked it up looking for early Christmas gift ideas (I know) like this raspberry vinegar. But it also turned out to be an unexpected source of food ideas for kids – homemade “canned” baked beans!

2. The Sprouted Kitchen. How beautiful is this book! She’s a whole foods advocate – no specific diet, just well-balanced eating on the menu. This weekend I’m testing out the hollandaise sauce made from goats cheese (yum!) and lentil meatballs!

3. Cooked, I bought on my Kindle. What do you think about Kindles – Some people don’t like them, but I’m a big fan – especially in bed! I prop it against the pillow… perfect for lazy reading!

Micheal Pollan is my favorite food writer and, in this book, he sets out to master the act of cooking – an endangered skill that makes us uniquely human. Pollan argues the case that: a life involving no home cooking, is a life diminished. Read this book and try not to bake a bread, slowly caramelise an onion or ferment a cabbage!

If you get the chance, check out these books – but mostly, If you haven’t been in a while, I encourage you to check out your local library and see what new inspirations you bring home!

June 6, 2014
Curating Naiise

Have you seen Naiise yet? It’s an online shop, with the goal to make good design accessible – and I was asked to curate pieces that fit our green lifestyle. I love the idea of creating a home that celebrates green living – choosing sustainable materials, supporting local and handmade, filling your home with plants and objects that encourage a hands-on life.

Come check out the full curated collection

Read an interview where I share how to be happy, healthy and green with design

Update: Great news – Naiise is giving us a 5% discount until May 31st. Just enter the coupon code: LITTLEGREENDOT

April 25, 2014
Press the Reset Button…
My youngest goes to the park most days – but today, I really wasn’t in the mood. It was one of those mornings where the day was just starting – and I already felt like I did 10 things wrong…

Half-heartedly, I say to her – honey, go get dressed for the park – so she runs in into her room… meanwhile I’m feeling sorry for myself because all I want to do is stay home, and work from bed. I hear “I’m ready” and there she is – dressed in her fairy costume and bright pink shades. I mean she’s three, what else did I expect! I instantly smile…

It totally lifted my mood! I grabbed my camera, we jumped on the bike and ended up having a far better morning than I was setting myself up for…

Some days are incredible, you’re doing well and feeling good, and then there’s the days where you’re barely getting out of the house in clean clothes. It happens to all of us (right? 🙂 We can get overwhelmed and lose momentum. Luckily I have a little fairy that helps lift me up – but having a good reset plan can make us feel empowered and positive again!

So here are 3 things I want to accomplish next week:
1. Set out my daughter’s school uniform every night to make sure it’s clean for the morning 🙂
2. Start the week by planning our menu (full of healthy, quick meals!) and do a good shop to stock up.
3. Buy a bucket to start my compost!
What on your list?
March 13, 2014
Composting Made Easy
Whether you want to grow your own veggie garden, windowsill herbs or a simple pot of mint – the secret to healthy, thriving plants is in the soil. A good compost can make all the difference. And, if you grow edible plants, it will produce healthier food for you.

It turns out making your own compost is far easier than I thought. Nature basically does all the work, and you get to recycle food scraps and make use of those greens you forgot about in the back of your fridge.

To learn this process, I went straight to the experts. Edible Gardens invited me on a private workshop headed by Nova who grew up learning from her father, an organic composter since the 70’s.

Nova taught me a simplified version for compost making. For those of us who don’t necessarily have a green thumb, a lot of space or a ton of time – we can still do this!

Composting Made Easy
- cost: practically free
- effort: 5 minutes per week for 12 weeks. Yes!
- benefit: mineral rich, nutrient rich compost for healthy plants
Nova demonstrated the compost in a wire frame, so that we can see the layers going in. But, at home you’ll use a plastic drum container with a lid.

#1. drill holes for ventilation

#2. alternate brown & green layers

The brown materials provide carbon, a good source of energy for your compost. The greens provide a good source of potassium, nutrients and minerals. Total ratio is 3:1 dry to wet.

#3. add extras and enhancers

Nova adds coffee grounds, egg shells, chicken manure and ground bones to enhance the soil. Each adds its own nutrients, minerals and the manure is a great fertiliser. For extras – you can add paper cups and cardboard to your pile too – what a great way to recycle them!

Nova makes her own growth promoter, a solution of effective microorganisms made by fermenting fruit scraps, water and sugar. It’s incredibly beneficial for your soil – She shares the recipe on her blog – check it out here!

#4. after 90 days – from scraps to compost

it’s magic!

Urban Compost Recipe

think of it like making a stew, you add your layers of flavour, close the lid and leave it alone to slowly simmer…

ingredients:
- brown materials: dried leaves, newspaper, cardboard, paper cups
- green materials: fruit and veggie scraps, green leaves and plants
- enhancers: ground bones, egg shells, Growth Promoter, coffee grounds (fresh or used) Put calcium, minerals and nutrients into your compost!
directions:
- choose your container, something that fits well in your space. Nova recommends a round container, so that you can easily knock it on it’s side and roll it up and down when you need to stir your compost weekly. It can be the size of a standard mop bucket or slightly larger.
- drill holes along the sides and at the bottom to allow for air ventilation. If you’re concerned about compost tea dripping out and making a mess – keep the bucket on a tray – but do keep the area dry as to not attract pests.
- start with a layer of mulch or sugar cane waste. This helps with drainage and to soak up extra moisture
- add a layer of brown
- add a layer of green – the more variety, the more nutrients you’ll be receiving.
- continue to alternate until you reach half way up your bucket
- add your enhancers. It wasn’t so much about measurements here. Treat them like seasonings – you want your pot to be well seasoned.
- give it a good splashing of water
- continue with your alternate brown and green layers
- give it a last splash of water and end with a layer of newspaper
- close the lid
- once a week, stir the pot. You can do it with your hands, with a heavy stick, or better, if you have a round container, simply roll it up and down on it’s side a few times.
trouble-shooting
- white growth. You may see a white fluffy mold growing – it’s harmless and probably means your compost is too wet or hot. Add in more dry material and give it a good turn. Make sure it’s getting enough air ventilation
- not breaking down. If your scraps are too large, they will take longer to break down. Try to cut down the scraps as small as you can
- it smells. Compost should not smell bad. It should smell of earth, but not rotten! Your compost is probably too wet and has too many green layers. Try adding in some more browns and give your compost a good turn. If you can’t bring it back – let it go and start over again.
- too dry. you may have too much brown material or the heat is dehydrating your compost. Add in more greens.
- collecting materials. start storing your veg and fruit scraps in a tupperware container with a lid – no more worrying over lost produce – throw it in your compost and it returns back to you in the form of healthy soil! When you’re out, keep a bag handy so that you can pick up any dead leaves you find along the way. When you have enough material to fill your bin, begin your compost.
- learn more. Nova recommends The Rodale Book of Composting as a good guide to have handy. Also check out her blog, Cultivate Central!
_________________________________________________

That felt like a lot of info to pack in there, but I promise – the process was easy and quick. Once you fill your bin, it’s just a matter of waiting for nature to do its thing. Once a week, check in on it, give it a turn and that’s it. So how do you use your compost? To make the best soil mix for you potted plants! I’ll be asking Nova to share her recipe for that too – so go get started on that compost, and check back in!
March 11, 2014
Why I Wake Up Early
If you feel like your day has a hold over you – like you’re constantly being pulled from one thing to the next and never have the time to engage in the things that make you happy – then hear me out on this one.

Last year during Christmas, I knew that I wanted to make some changes. I hated the rushed mornings, the busy days and the tired evenings. I felt like there was so much that I wanted to do, but time would pass and they never got done… Then I came across a book about how successful people wake up early, on purpose! It had a cheesy title, was only 30 pages long but, you know how it is, when you really want something you’ll take inspiration from anywhere.

So, for the past 3 months, I’ve been getting up at 5:30 am, an hour earlier than I need to. My alarm flashes the words – ‘Create Your Life’ – and I find the motivation to get up. Within 30 seconds, the heavy fog is lifted. I splash water on my face, brush my teeth and put on my exercise clothes. For the first few weeks, every morning – I did just 90 seconds of exercise. I’m not kidding. Dressed in all my gear and everything! It sounds ridiculous, but through the blog I have learned that little things add up. So I allowed myself to start with a little. Before long, I increased it to a 10 minute workout video. Now, I go on a bike ride 3 days a week. It’s the most beautiful trail – and to think, I’ve lived by the beach for almost 5 years now – and had never cycled this path before. It all started with 90 seconds….

I don’t have a set structure for my morning time – but I do have one simple rule: “Do not consume – Create”. That means no surfing the internet or watching tv! Some mornings I like to exercise and sometimes I write, cook, or work on a new recipe. My mind is creative during this time – I’m often thinking of new ideas, or planning out my day… And then, almost too quickly, 6:30 am rolls around. My kids are waking up and I’m making them breakfast. I think it’s important for my girls to see their Mom up and ready in the mornings. My hair’s not styled, but it’s combed. I’m not dressed up, but I’m not in my pajamas. I’m not wearing makeup, but my eyes are bright. I’m organised, I’m happy – and they see what it looks like to put in the work for the things that matter.

Then, the day takes off. It gets filled with deadlines, kids and life – but I had that time to think, reflect, create and set the tone for the kind of day that I want to have.

So I encourage you to make use of your mornings. If like me, you’re tired in the evenings and not really productive anyway – then put yourself to bed! I’m calling it a day by 10pm. You don’t need to sleep – read a book, cuddle with your partner, wind down… then wake up early and start anew. It can have such a positive impact and really, the worst that can happen is that you fall asleep during your morning mediation 🙂

Lastly, you know what really helps? A good breakfast!

This recipe cooks up in 15 minutes. While your potatoes are steaming, go ahead and make your lemon water to drink before you eat.
The Go Getter’s Breakfast
4 new potatoes cut in halves ((the small ones, or chop up a regular potato))

a few cherry tomatoes ((I used yellow))

sliced red onion

seasonings
set your potato to steam, about 8-10 minutes. Here’s a great tip to infuse flavour into your potatoes!

once they’re soft, cook them in a mini pan with a bit of butter or coconut oil

add your onion and cherry tomatoes and sauté until the potatoes get a bit of color.

Then, crack an egg over the whole thing, season and cover with a lid for 2-3 minutes until the egg is to your liking.

serve with a few slices of avocado
Seasonings (my favorite)
p.s. the weekends, I sleep in!
March 6, 2014
Q&A Green Thursday – Lemon Detox Excuses

My “21 Day Morning Detox” is by far the most popular post on the blog. It’s struck a chord with you guys and that’s awesome because it means you’re looking for ways to make healthy changes. It’s been viewed thousands of times (if you haven’t seen it go check it out) and I’ve received well over a hundred comments and emails asking this very question:

The short answer is no. Lemon concentrate has preservatives and added chemicals. But, more than that I want to talk about the question itself.

What we’re doing with this detox is cleansing and hydrating our body. Doing this first thing in the morning is like a kick-start to your day. The vit C and extra hydration is incredibly beautifying. Your skin appears more radiant and plump, not dull and parched. I’ve seen great results when I do this regularly, my skin glows and even my husband notices!

but for me it’s more than that….

This blog is about getting hands on. We all want to create healthy changes, but we’re also juggling our life demands. “My mornings are too rushed, I don’t have time” or “it’s too hard, I can’t do it right now” Is that something you catch yourself saying? I know I did for a long time. Choosing not to do something is actually making a big decision – you’re saying that it’s not in your control to create the kind of life you want. Think about the negative impact that decision has on all the other aspects of your life. What if instead every single morning you said – I create my life – what kind of impact would that have? I’ll tell you for me, realising the power of my decisions has been life changing!

The interesting thing is that when you have turned your decision into a conviction, when you are truly determined – it feels more calm – because then the details of how you’ll make it happen, no longer determine your long term success. You buy your lemons for the week ahead. You pre-make your drink at night. You take that minute in the morning to grab a glass, fill with water and squeeze in a lemon. Whatever works for you, at that given time. If you fall down, you get back up and try again…

It all starts with one small step. I think this lemon drink is a good one. It’s simple, healthy and it starts your day with a win. You’ll be amazed with what a lot of small wins can add up to! So go get your lemons! Figure out a way to make it work and start feeling your best – so that you can go out there – and be your best.

Do you have a good tip for making your lemon water every morning? Let us know in the comment below!

February 13, 2014
Consume Less, Make More
I read a great article called The Builder’s High which reminded me about why we take the time to make things. We see all this gorgeous content out there on the internet – recipes, people’s homes and ideas. It has us face-down, staring into our phone or laptop… but what we’re looking at, it’s all other people’s moments. Sure, they can inspire us, teach us something or make us think… but life continues passing by, so let’s not spend the majority of it consuming other’s moments – and instead spend time creating our own.

If there’s something that I’ve learned along this journey – it’s that inspiration is meaningless without action.

So, this week – let’s make the time for the things that matter. Here’s a little inspiration for moments to create, things that I look forward to making myself this week. I hope that you take the inspiration, and make it your own!
- Make a homemade treat. My kids freak out at the sight of a cupcake. I love that this healthier recipe includes beetroot in it, so I’ll definitely give it a go. Plus I’m going to get some serious mom points for this!
- Create a workable space. Implement some of those great ideas we see out there! Create a home that inspires you to do good work!
- Cultivate a green thumb. I love looking at pictures of people’s homes that inspire me. This week, I’ll cultivate my own green thumb to work towards my 2014 project: a little garden of my own!
top photo by: Fellow Fellow. One of my favorite moments making this All-natural Lip Balm
January 28, 2014
Q&A Green Thursday – Natural Mothballs
Hi friends! I’ve been wanting to do this series for a long time. You guys send me a lot of great questions, which I usually sit down to answer one by one – but we all share so much in common, I thought, why not get the answers out there to everyone?! So, that’s what Q&A Green Thursday is about. I pick a question, look at the solutions that I use myself – and share them with you! And if I don’t have the answer or haven’t figured out the best solutions yet, I’ll go to my experts and friends in the field and get the answer to you. That way we all learn together! Sounds good?!

So, this question comes from a reader, Pooja:

I know you guys are not the type to use nauseating and toxic mothballs, so here’s how I’ve tackled pests in my closet, in a natural and safe way. I live in a humid country, so I’m dealing with moths, mosquitos and mold!

First, a question: Is your closet jam packed with clothing and linens? Some you haven’t worn or even touched in over a year? It can get to the point where you can’t even move the hangers to see what you have anymore. If that’s your closet – it’s time to rid yourself of this. Set your old clothing free, they can serve someone else better! Not only will you feel lighter and happier in this space, but when it comes to moths and pests – clutter is like an open invitation.

I remind myself of this when I’m out shopping. Trinkets, shiny things, bulk bins and sales are oh, so tempting – and it’s far to easy to end up with a bunch of stuff that you don’t need or never really wanted…
1. Clear and Clean! First step is to take every thing out of your closet. Take this time to do a good purge – be ruthless – just keep saying to yourself: light and airy! Then, use a natural solution (recipe here) to wipe down the walls and drawers of your closet. I use a vinegar infused with herbs – it smells yummy and helps to kill any mold spores! If you infuse your vinegar with herbs like lavender, lemon balm or citronella you get the added benefit of a mosquito repellent! You can spot moth eggs easily, so taking the time to clear and clean everything out will help to get rid of them. Do this every 6 months and you will keep your closet pest free. This is a weekend job for sure, but after that first thorough cleaning, the next time will go by much quicker. Go get ’em!
2. In clear view! I’m obsessed with using clear boxes as storage solutions. Instead of folding linens away in the open, I now keep them boxed up. I use this Martha Stewart technique to keep sets folded together nicely – this solution has worked great. I can see exactly what I have, and little bugs can’t snuggle into my sheets! I also use vacuum seal pacs for some of the linens that I use less regularly. Plus when it’s time to clean the closet, it’s just a matter of taking down the boxes, wiping the walls and putting them back up. It’s so much easier!
3. Bag your garments! How heartbreaking would it be to put on a favorite dress, only to find it’s been nibbled on! For all your special occasion pieces, I say bag them up! Buy inexpensive garment bags for anything that can’t be folded away. It keeps moths out and helps to keep your closet organised, so that you only have accessible the things that you use regularly.
Once your closet is put back together, you’re feeling really good and want to keep it that way! For all those little moths that don’t get the message – make this DIY Moth Ball – it’s beautiful to us, but completely uninvited to them!
1. Cedar Wood! Make a potpourri out of dried herbs – cinnamon, lavender, eucalyptus, peppercorns are all really good choices. Pile them in the center of a handkerchief or light cloth, then add a few drops of cedarwood essential oil – it’s incredibly inexpensive and really effective! Moths find the scent obnoxious – but to us it smells lovely, like freshly cut wood!
2. Make a moth ball. Cinch around the edges and tie it closed with a string, leaving a long hoop for hanging.
3. Say Goodbye! Hang your homemade moth ball, here and there throughout your closet and drawers. Replenish with a few drops of cedarwood essential oil as needed.
Tell me about you! Have you found moths fluttering around in your closet? Do you have a techniques for keeping them out – share it with us in the comments below! And – if you have a green question, send it my way – I’ll pick one to cover for the next Q&A Green Thursday! This is so fun! I hope you think so too! Now, go into your closet and make it happy, healthy and green!
January 16, 2014
Lessons from an Accidental Environmentalist

My green journey started back in 2007. I was a new mom and trying to make healthy changes… but it was more like being on a roller coaster called “trying to be green, and mostly getting it wrong.” Not really a fun ride.

However, with every new year, it felt like a fresh start. A new chance to get it right. But I’m sure you know how it is – we start off feeling really positive and then, when the practicality of life takes over, our resolutions begin to feel more like a chore.

So, the big question is: how do we not only make new changes, but make them stick!

I have a perspective on this. My journey ended up being long, a little random and a bit… backwards really… but because of that I learned some interesting things about motivation.

2011 rolled around. I had been reading a few blogs and feeling inspired. I wanted to create something of my own. I wanted to be more eco-friendly but, the truth is, it was all theory: I hadn’t figured out how to make it work in my life. But I’m impulsive… so I decided to start a blog about becoming more green! And so it began.

This was my very first post:

It’s funny, because back then I had no idea that starting the blog, would end up being the very thing I needed to change my life! A saying goes: “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards.” So, looking backwards, this is how I learned to live my version of a green life. Viewed through your own lens, these lessons might make sense to you too.

Lesson #1: Give yourself permission to fail.

We’re often so focused on the final outcome, that if something doesn’t work out, we call it a failure. Even though I’ve “failed” a million times, my blog forced me to look at all the happy moments around them. Case in point: this DIY Bath Bomb Cupcake in the photo. By anyone’s definition, my bath bomb… bombed.

But at the end of the day it didn’t matter. My girls had fun making it. And I had fun with them. So I chalked it up as an all-around good day. Documenting these experiences for the blog helps me to see the positives, even without the success.

Lesson #2: Celebrate the wins.

If you’ve spent time with kids – you know the way they can do the slightest thing, and immediately it’s “Look at me! Watch this! Look what I can do!”

I think we adults should do more of that too. Sometimes I do get things right and with the blog, every week I get to share these wins. I’m basically being that kid saying: “Hey world! Look what I made!” and it makes me feel really, really good. So… I keep doing it.

Lesson #3: Surround yourself with people who inspire you.

This one has been huge for me. With Little Green Dot, I started seeking out people who were doing really cool things. Things that I wanted for myself: people who quit their day jobs to follow their passion; people who make cakes out of nuts; people who grow herbs and don’t kill them. People who work out, y’know, for fun. And… a lot of their habits started rubbing off on me!

Just being around them lifts me to be better. If there’s anything that you want for yourself, a good start is to find people who are already doing it.

Lesson #4: Find your true motivation.

I love that my lifestyle promotes a green planet, but to be honest with myself, that’s not why I’m doing this. I do it, because… it makes me happy. And that may sound selfish which is why not many people say that. But I think it’s important to know what triggers you, what really makes you happy – and to nourish it. Otherwise, when things get difficult, you’ll begin to resent the very thing you’re doing!

For me, I’ve realised that what triggers me – what makes me happy – is the act of creating and sharing. I like making things at home with my kids, photographing it, and sharing it with you – so that’s what I focus on. It keeps me wanting to learn more, try more, do more… it keeps me motivated.

Lesson #5: Be yourself.

I see these great champions out there doing amazing things: creating big initiatives, eating a vegan diet, going all the way to Parliament to effect change. But that’s not me, not right now. And even if my efforts seem small in comparison, I have to feel good about what I’m doing. This world doesn’t need me to be like everyone else, it needs me to be the best version of myself.

So I say, skip the years of wishing and wonder. Start now. Go after what you want and don’t be afraid to fail. Be a kid and celebrate your wins. Surround yourself around people who inspire you. Find your motivation and nourish it – and always be true to yourself. Before you know it you’ll be living the life that you dream of.

January 10, 2014
20 Ways to Get the Most out of Your Lemons
If you’re a green shake enthusiast, green juice lover – or trying out the 21 day morning detox – you’re going to be using a lot of lemons! Don’t throw away those peels – so much goodness lives there! I have 20 ways to use them:
1. Lemon zest for cooking. Before you squeeze your lemon, zest it first. You can store it in the freezer to use for cooking when you need. Perfect to brighten up a cream pasta sauce!
2. Lemon Vinegar Cleaner. Cut off the peels and store them in the fridge until the end of the week. You’ll have enough to make a vinegar infusion. Pat them dry and make a lemon vinegar to use in your household cleaning recipes. Use this recipe for the how-to.
3. Lemon Ice-cubes. Add lemon slices to your ice-cube tray to brighten up your drinks!
4. Lemon zest butter. Make any steamed vegetable awesome by mixing in a little lemon zest, butter and herbs!
5. Make Lemon Olive Oil. Pat dry the lemon rinds and add to olive oil. Allow to sit for 2 weeks to infuse in the lemon flavor
6. Make Drawer Sachets. Dry out your lemon peels in a warm oven and then mix with spices like lavender to create a beautiful potpourri.
7. Clean Stainless Steel. Use the rind of the lemon with a little salt to scrub your stainless steel clean.
8. Perk up your Mood. Squeeze the lemon rinds and let the essential oils fall around you. Breathe in the uplifting scent – lemon essential oils are known to enhance your mood and reduce stress and anxiety.
9. Sanitise your chopping board. Squeeze the lemon rinds and let the essential oils fall on the chopping board. Lemon essential oils are incredibly antimicrobial and help keep your boards clean!
10. Make a fruit & veggie spray. Infuse the vinegar with lemon rinds and use the solution to clean your fruit and veggies. Get the recipe here.
11. Make a lemon vinaigrette. Add lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, salt & pepper and dress up your greens!
12. Lemon Scrub. Add lemon zest, soft brown sugar and pour in coconut oil until the mixture feels like wet sand. Makes a great gift!
13. Coffee Cup Stain Remover. Place lemon peel in the stained cup with boiling water. Let it sit, and then wipe away with cloth
14. Microwave Cleaner. Place your squeezed lemon in a bowl with some water. Microwave for 2 minutes. The essential oils in the steam will help to break up any caked-on stains.
15. Oven Cleaner. Sprinkle baking soda inside your oven and use the used lemon to give it a good scrub. Rinse clean with a vinegar cleaner.
16. Lemon Salt & Pepper. Dry the lemon rinds in a warm oven. After they have dried, pulverize in a blender. Mix with salt & pepper to make a homemade seasoning.
17. Remove stains on surfaces. Great for any surface, wood or marble, take the used half lemon, add salt and scrub on stains.
18. Clothing Stain Removal. Soak delicates in a bath of lemons and baking soda for an hour before washing.
19. Make Lemon Extract. Just like a vanilla extract – it’s super easy to make. Zest you lemons and pour over vodka. Allow to sit for 8 weeks. As you collect more lemon zest you can add it to the mixture to strengthen your extract. Use lemon extract in cooking, baking and to make cocktails!
20. Make a refreshing toner. Add boiling water over the lemon peels with a mint tea bag. Store in a spray bottle and in the refrigerator for a cooling and refreshing mist to perk up your skin (and mood!). Lasts for up to 5 days in the fridge. Note: You don’t want lemon oil on your skin out in the sun! Wait a few hours or use this is the evening or when you’re not planning on going out.
November 13, 2013