UPcycling Is The New REcycling

The racks of Op-Shops and Recycled clothing stores are usually lined with dated clothing that looks pretty good for it's age, but I wouldn't want to be seen wearing it!

This is when Upcycling steps in, where you get out your scissors and make that 90's skirt into something fresh, funky and useful. Not only is it fun and thrifty, but Op-Shopping takes on a whole new dimension when you are solely looking at the colour & quality of the fabric instead of the whole garment - which isn't always pretty!

Here are a few Upcycled creations of mine to get you inspired:

A Baggy Op-Shop T-Shirt is now a Bandana Bib that doubles as a Headscarf

Mum's old tea towels have a new life as playful Bunting Flags

and those little bits of ribbon that usually get thrown away are now part of a Taggie Toy!

Recipe: Satay Beef

Tasty, easy, nutritious and the leftovers make a great lunch the next day.......need I say more!

Ingredients:
500g Minced Beef
1 Tbsp Butter or Coconut Oil
2 Tsp Curry Powder
3 Tsp Peanut Butter
salt and pepper
400ml Coconut Cream
a few handfuls of cashew nuts
a few handfuls of green beans
1/2 a head of broccoli
Coriander to garnish


Method:

1. Start by cooking either the brown or basmati rice, while it is cooking continue with the following 
2. Steam Broccoli and Green beans and set aside
3. Heat butter/coconut oil in a pan and saute meat until browned
4. Add curry powder, salt, pepper, peanut butter then cook for a couple of minutes
5. Add coconut cream and stir on a gentle heat until it reduces
6. Add the steamed Broccoli and green beans 
7. Garnish with coriander and cashew nuts

Book Review: 'The Idle Parent' by Tom Hodgkinson

Since becoming Mother, I have got out various books about parenting from the library. While most of them left me feeling torn between their conflicting advice, Tom Hodgkinson's 'The Idle Parent' was a breath of fresh air that got me even more excited about raising a child!

Tom's philosophy to parenting is simply "Leave the Children Alone" Let them create their own fun and games and don't worry about the expensive and over-stimulating array of products and activities that make up the"children's industry" let them explore, let them make a mess. As long as they are safe, let them do it! and while they are exploring and making a mess, you sit back and do what you are passionate about. Sounds like a win-win situation to me if the result is happy, healthy, carefree & creative children teamed up with happy, healthy, carefree & creative parents. I would be stoked if I could accomplish this while Jacinda is young!

Although Jacinda is too little to do most of what's suggested in this book, I will definitely be putting what I read to good use in the future. I like to think that I made a start last week when she spent an impressive 45 minutes ripping up an old newspaper and emptying the plastics cupboard while I was in the other room completing a sewing project! all the while keeping an ear out and knowing that there was nothing she could hurt herself with.

To read part of the first chapter Click Here

Riding High Above The Waves... Well, Sort Of.

Dave and I have a new weekend activity that we are sooo excited about....... Surfing!

I have always wanted to have a go, as I have always had a love of the ocean, but for some unknown reason it never featured highly on my to-do list.

So, a couple of weeks ago, we dropped Jacinda off at her Grandparents house and headed out to Muriwai Beach on Auckland's West coast for an introductory surfing lesson. What a blast! Beau from the Muriwai Surf School taught us the basics and by the end of the 2 hour lesson I had stood up a few times and was already looking forward to my next surf.

We headed out to the Wild West Coast for the second time this weekend, this time with Jacinda in tow. Dave surfed for a couple of hours while I played with Jacinda at the Playground & walked on the beach, then we swapped over and I got to have the surf that I had been looking forward all fortnight.

Unfortunately I forgot to take my camera. But I have looked through Google images and decided that this photo would be the most like me, falling off almost every wave I caught..... except for the fact that my hired board and wetsuit were hot pink so that I looked like a Surfing Barbie!

I got battered by the strong, messy surf and dumped by the waves so many times that I lost count. But the stressors of daily life felt like a distant memory and my body got an intense workout that I barely noticed until I ran out of the water with that heavy feeling in my muscles that told me just how hard I had worked. And once again I am counting down to my next surf!

A Very Healthy Dessert

Check out this yummy dairy-free and sugar-free Chocolate Pudding. So easy to make too....
http://balancedbites.blogspot.com/2010/02/easy-recipe-dairy-free-chocolate.html

I adapted it slightly, by adding in a little more coconut milk and a Tbsp of locally produced Runny Honey that I got from the Grey Lynn Farmer's Market.

Makes a good snack too, I had the leftovers from last night for my afternoon snack today.

Enjoy!

365 Days of Nothing New

From today, the 25th of March 2010 I am going to challenge myself to go without buying anything new for a whole year. The purpose being to free myself from the mindless consumerism that plays such a big part in our society today and to learn how to be more creative and thrifty with the added bonus of saving a few bucks along the way.

Of course it is not possible to buy absolutely everything new, so here are the rules......

I Will Not Buy New....
Clothing
Accessories
Furniture
Things for the House
Kitchenware
Books and Magazines
Toys
Baby Clothing
Cards and Wrapping Paper
Sports Equipment
Electronics

The Exceptions:
Handmade items from Craft Markets
Anything made in New Zealand
Trade Aid
Food and Drink
Toiletries and Make Up
Underwear and Socks
Fabric, Wool and sewing supplies
Optional- Gifts


Other Tidbits:

• If something breaks, I will not throw it away and buy another. I will fix it.
• If I no longer require something, I will give it to a friend who does. Failing that, I will give it to the Hospice Shop http://www.nshospice.co.nz 
• I will accept all gifts that are given to me no matter how old or new they are as it is not my intention to make others feel uncomfortable.

I made a start on this today with a few purchases. Firstly a beautiful rimu trolley and blocks from www.trademe.co.nz  to put away for Jacinda's 1st birthday present.

And a Winter Coat from Encore on Ponsonby. Encore sells secondhand designer clothing, all the pieces are in pristine condition and most items cost the same as buying new clothing from a chain store....but much more original! 

They also sell pieces for you, as long as they are in top condition. So if you don't like what you bought this season, you can always sell it next season!

How to make a Stainproof Bib

Jacinda's bibs have been looking pretty shabby lately, covered in banana and other various food stains. So I decided to make my own, using a laminate fabric.

All it requires to keep stain-free is a wipe with a damp sponge post-meal, which helps keep the laundry pile that little bit smaller too. It also has a handy pocket to catch any spills (although not all, that would be an impossible job!)

How to make:
1. Trace the pattern of one of your little one's favourite bibs onto Oilcloth or Laminate Fabric and cut out.

2. Then, re-trace the lower half of your favourite bib and draw a straight line between the two upper points and cut out. This will be the front pocket.

3. Sew a zig-zag stitch across the top straight edge of the pocket.

4. Line up the pocket with the main bib and sellotape into place (you can use pins but I found it quite tricky on the thick fabric and it left holes)

5. Sew a zig-zag stitch around the whole bib, taking your time on the curves.

6. Sew on some velcro to fasten the bib.

Bon Appetit!!