by Kelly | Apr 12, 2015 | Environment, Goals, Homesteading, In the Kitchen, Simple Living |
It has been such a fun week of little accomplishments and large delights! Currently, I am honoured to be volunteering as a David Suzuki Queen of Green Coach. The program allows me to focus on what I love best (my family and friends and our beautiful planet), in a way that I love (connecting with others and challenging each other in meaningful ways). I am working with five of my favourite families in the whole world, to create positive change in our lives, and be mindful of our ecological footprint. It has been so fun to see what each family has set for their greening goals, and it has been so inspiring for our family, too!
Right now, we are all working on the various ways we create, process and dispose of waste in our lives. Last week, I wrote about our plastic purge and my family’s very exciting move towards zero waste. When I first started, I thought the process would be really slow, but I am amazed at what changes we’ve already made, and how easy and fun they’ve been!
Here are a few of the little steps I’d love to share & celebrate this week:
A fridge full of milk in glass bottles (delivered by this amazing local farmer!)
I’m balancing the extra cost of glass, by using a few litres to make my own yogurt – yum!
Handmade re-usable produce bags (from thrift-store fabric costing a total of $2!)
Our new waste system.
Anything compostable goes into the garden compost,
the rest of the food waste goes to the new municipal green can program,
and the tiny one is what’s left.
And, of course, recycling (which, I’m hoping we’ll need less and less of, as we continue our plastic purge!).
A set of hankies (one for everyone in the family!).
Oh, how I love thrifting (now to get in the habit of using these).
Homemade butter in a jar (from whipped cream delivered in a jar!).
Yielding both butter, and buttermilk pancakes!
Yum!
by Kelly | Jul 7, 2014 | Goals, Simple Living |
This week, my parents were kind enough to offer to treat my two eldest children to a week at Grandma & Grandpa’s. Five whole days without my little faces will be both wonderful and tough. I don’t quite know what to do with myself. I have big plans. And small hopes.
First, the big plans. I am hoping to de-clutter the house (or as much of it as I can feasibly comb through in a few days). Simplicity is the big word here. Less of anything would be great – but I am specifically thinking of toys and clothes. My aim being twofold: spend less time tidying and less time doing laundry. I hope to send a plethora of boxes to goodwill at the end of the week. We shall see. I suspect these big plans are too big for one week, but it won’t stop me from trying.
Second, the small hopes. I am also hoping for just a few moments of selfish bliss. Reading a book, enjoying a quiet cup of tea, napping with Small (baby) while he sleeps. And, who knows, perhaps writing a few things… or even painting a little something. And, I’d like to get out in the garden for some maintenance or into the woods for a wee walk with the pup. And, finally, I’m hoping for a small date with my husband. Something simple and wonderful – which for us usually involves a bookstore and a treat. It’s a bit of a long list for five days, isn’t it?
Still, one has to keep motivated when their little rays of sunshine are absent. Perhaps I’ll even finish my daughter’s nature bag, and felt the little person I have promised to my son.
Here’s to a week of simplicity, beauty, and, yes, some hard work!
by Kelly | Apr 22, 2014 | Creativity, Natural Learning, Simple Living |
I was so pleased this Easter to be able to participate in a few of my favourite activities: thrifting & crafting.
A few days ago, the kids & I tried wet felting some Easter eggs, and Sea and I crafted a lovely little yarn nest for them. Then, as I’d been dreaming of gifting some needle-felting to them for Easter, I made a little rabbit to add to the nest. Isn’t he sweet?
We also decided we’d try our hand at silk-dyed Easter eggs (inspiration care of The Magic Onions). What a simple, beautiful project to do. I think the results are beautiful.
We picked up the silk scarf we used at a local thrift store. It was obviously hand-dyed, which led to some very beautiful blending of colours on our eggs. Quite different from the example we were following, but equally lovely, I think.
While thrifting, we also picked up a couple of sweet tea cups for less than a toonie. We meant to use them for fairy tea gardens, but they are so lovely, we might save them for poetry tea time (inspiration care of Brave Writer).
Either way, it was a beautiful, hand-crafted Easter, resplendent with the perfect kind of creating – that which equally appeals to both Mama and the babes.
Happiness to you in this season of rebirth,
Kelly
by Kelly | Aug 5, 2011 | In the Kitchen, Natural Learning, Simple Living |
It’s funny. Before I had kids, I hated being in the kitchen. I hated cooking, although I suppose I didn’t mind baking every now and again. Since having kids, however, I have started to take pride in my kitchen, and the things I prepare for my family. Part of this is an effort to provide healthy foods for my children. Things that will help them thrive. But, another part is the fact that it is fun to cook with kids. At least, with Dylan. He loves to help me make muffins. It is one of the few activities I can always count on getting a hearty “yes!” Since Dylan has been born, I have slowly been getting more domestic in the kitchen. I have made pies, waffles, yogurt and bread for the first time. And, I’ve made an awful lot of fruit and vegetable purees.
This week, we happened upon a great thing: a stainless steel popsicle maker.
For a long time, I’ve been wanting to try popsicles, but I cringed at the thought of making food in plastic. I’ve been trying more and more to separate our food from plastic, and for some reason, plastic popsicle makers were a real sticking point for me. So, when I found this item, I knew it was a must have!
This week, we made orange, carrot popsicles. We got the recipe from Jessica Seinfeld’s newest cookbook, Double Delicious. It’s as simple as they come. Orange juice and carrot puree. Voila.
Dylan and I had a great time together. He helped measure the water for the orange juice, mix and stir, blend the carrots, and put the sticks in the popsicles.
Oh, yeah, and eat the popsicles!
He learned about freezing (liquids & solids), measuring, counting and brushed up on his fine motor skills. He also got to use a myriad of senses, from taste, to touch, to hearing.
But, mostly (and by far the most important), we shared a lovely afternoon – and a popsicle.
What about you? What’s your favourite thing to make with the kids? Favourite new kitchen gadgets?
Hi! I’m Kelly Woods, writer, mother & librarian. I write about beauty, creativity, green living and lifestyle design to help others live a life of inspiration, too.