SPRING CLEANING

After a long winter, I love to open up the windows, put out the summer linens, and give everything a good scrub. I've learned a lot of tricks on how to get the house sparkling without it smelling like chemicals. You can make your house sparkle with just a few simple supplies, many of which are already in your cupboards.

All Purpose Cleaner:

1/2 cup Warm Water

1/2 cup Vinegar

2 Tbsp Lemon Juice

15 drops Tea Tree Oil

The Tea Tree oil isn’t necessary, but it does make the cleaner anti-bacterial. So it’s great for wiping down hard surfaces, especially during cold season.

Grease Cutter:

2 Cups warm water

1/4 Cup Castile Soap (like Dr.Bronners)

Mix together in a spray bottle and spray on surface, let sit for a few seconds then wipe off with a damp sponge.

Glass Cleaner:

1 1/2 to 2 cups water

1/2 cup white vinegar

1/4 cup rubbing alcohol (70 percent)

Mix in spray bottle. Use to clean all glass surfaces or mirrors. I use newspaper instead of paper towels for glass, which may sound strange but it doesn't leave streaks or those little towel fibers behind.

And if making your own cleaners isn't something you want to do, brands like Method, and Seventh Generation, make good quality household cleaners and products you can invest some peace-of-mind in.

TOMATO BASIL SOUP + PANINIS

This weekend it was so dreary out, I got rained and snowed on in the same walk. After that I just wanted to stay in and make comfort food. I loved tomato soup and grilled cheese as a kid so I decided to make a grown up version. And we had a lot of fresh basil we needed to use. Both of these recipes are great if you are watching your calories, and they are very filling! Enjoy!

CREAMY TOMATO BASIL SOUP

Ingredients

4 tomatoes - peeled, seeded and diced

4 cups tomato juice

14 leaves fresh basil

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1/2 cup butter

salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Place tomatoes and juice in a stock pot over medium heat. Simmer for 30 minutes. Puree the tomato mixture along with the basil leaves, and return the puree to the stock pot.

Place the pot over medium heat, and stir in the heavy cream and butter. Season with salt and pepper. Heat, stirring until the butter is melted. Do not boil.

1 cup of soup has about 80 Calories

TOMATO BASIL PANINIS

Ingredients

1 ripe plum tomatoes, cored and sliced

3 ounce(s) fresh mozzarella, sliced

1/4 cup(s) loosely packed fresh basil leaves

1 avacado

1/8 teaspoon(s) salt

1/4 teaspoon(s) freshly ground black pepper

4 (1/2-inch thick) center slices whole-grain bread

You can also add chicken or turkey if you don't want the vegetarian version.

Directions

Prepare outdoor grill for direct grilling on medium. Or heat skillet on medium high.

Meanwhile, assemble panini: Place 2 slices bread on work surface. Divide tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, salt, and pepper evenly among slices. Top with remaining bread slices.

Place on hot grill grate. Place heavy skillet (preferably cast iron) on top of panini, press down, and cook 7 to 8 minutes or until bread is toasted and browned on both sides, turning over once.

Each sandwich has about 290 calories

HOMEMADE PEANUT BUTTER

This weekend I made peanut butter. We used to grind our own at the local grocery store, but then we moved and haven't been able to find a place since. I researched a few recipes to try and find the best way to do it. Most called for peanut oil and honey in addition to the peanuts. We wanted just straight peanuts so I thought I'd just go for it. So we just simply mixed it in our food processor, stirring every so often. It came out to the perfect consistency. I love to eat it with sliced apples, it makes the perfect snack. The best part is you know exactly what is in it and it is so much cheaper than the "natural" peanut butter because we bought our peanuts in the bulk food section.

Ingredients

15 ounces shelled and unsalted peanuts

1 1/2 teaspoons honey (just to sweeten)

Directions

Place the peanuts into the bowl of a food processor or into a high-power blender. (if you are going to use honey add it at this phase.) Process for 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Place the lid back on and continue to process until the mixture is smooth, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Place the peanut butter in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. Now I'm going to try to make almond butter.

DREAMING OF A CHICKEN COOP

If you love Portlandia, or chickens, or building mini houses this post is for you.

I have this little obsession with chicken coops lately. If I didn't have to live in "town" for work I would love to live in the country and have a giant garden, a wrap-around porch, and a chicken coop. Our town has an ordinance in place that allows residents within city limits to have 3 hens, but no roosters. Before you go buying your own flock check local chicken laws and ordinances and head over here to get all the right info on how to raise them in your area. But, be sure you have the right kind of space, chickens need quiet places away from traffic, and disturbances. There are so many great chicken coop designs floating around out there now-- I have seen some great options I have been lusting over. Whether it is something you build from scratch, or find some pre-fab plans there is something out there to fit everyone's style. I am loving the options below, if you follow the links you can find instructions. For now I'll keep dreaming about the idea, because the reality cleaning up after live chickens is probably more of a nightmare.

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BLUEBERRY FACIAL DIY

I love making beauty products from natural ingredients, a lot of times that means using food. I can usually find everything I need in my pantry or refrigerator. I love this blueberry facial treatment because I always have the ingredients on hand, and its so simple.

Blueberries are known for their antioxidant power, and they are filled with vitamin C and E. This treatment is awesome for adding hydration to the skin, and leaving it super soft. If you are looking to get rid of dead skin just add about a tsp of sugar to the ingredients for extra exfoliation qualities. The hardest part is trying not to eat the berries while you make it.

Ingredients

1/4 cup local organic blueberries (they provide the most antioxidant power if they were just picked)

1 tbsp raw organic honey

1 tbsp organic olive oil

 Directions

1. Add all the ingredients to a blender and blend well.

2. Evenly apply all over the face, leaving room around the eyes and mouth.

3. Leave the masque on for 5 minutes allowing it to fully sink in hydrating and nourishing the skin.

4. Remove the masque with a damp cloth.

DIY PALLET COFFEE TABLE

When we moved into our new apartment I had found/re-purposed almost everything we needed in the way of furniture- except a coffee table. For us its one of the most important pieces. We use the coffee table as a desk, ottoman, bench, and although we hate to admit it sometimes a dining table. I had seen a few pallets in the industrial part of town and I knew that they would make the perfect coffee table. So here's what we did, and when I say we I mean, I stood by and cheered and did some sanding.

We kept the basic structure of one pallet and used the boards from two to fill in the spaces. Now we couldn't get everything to fit perfectly so we ended up removing all the top boards and re-positioning them to fit along the table. Then I sanded down all of the rough edges.

We reattached some boards to the underside so that we could have little cubbies to hide magazines and remotes. For the legs we used some basic turned legs you can find online or at your nearest hardware store. (but don't forget to buy the metal mounting brackets- like some people we know...) We attached the legs to some 2x4 squares we cut to give the table about 2 more inches in height.

It ended up being pretty heavy, too heavy for me to move alone so we added some casters- you know so I could have dance parties on the weekend and do Pilates. Once it was finished we added one coat of stain to all the legs and the top. A tip when using stain- lighter is better, you can always add multiple coats. We used some leftovers so we added one coat to the unfinished wood and it soaked it up well. Here's how it turned out!

I'd love to see what you can make with pallets, send me some links in the comments section!!

QUINOA STUFFED PORTOBELLOS

A few years ago, while waiting patiently for John to grind his natural peanut butter at the grocery store, out of boredom, I discovered something called “Quinoa” in the bulk food section. I had never heard of it, and wasn’t even sure how you would prepare it. I researched it a bit and found that Quinoa grains were actually seeds from a goosefoot plant, and they contain amino acids like lysine. They also contain more protein than any other grain, and they have good quantities of calcium, iron, and phosphorus. I also discovered that it is pronounced “Kin Wa,” like a fool, I had been calling it “Key-Noah” – go figure. Once I had "discovered" this miracle food I figured it would be fitting to make a meal with it, and see if they hype was worth the taste. This is what I chose to make: Quinoa Stuffed Portobellos. I love this meal now, and it have become a comfort food for both of us.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup(s) quinoa, rinsed
• 1 1/4 pound(s) brussels sprouts
• 4 teaspoon(s) extra virgin olive oil
• 4 large portobello mushroom caps
• 1 teaspoon(s) fresh thyme leaves
• 2/3 cup(s) frozen corn
• 3 ounce(s) feta cheese, crumbled (3/4 cup)
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) ground cumin

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. In 2-quart saucepan, combine quinoa and 3/4 cup water. Heat to boiling on high; reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and cook 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.
2. Meanwhile, trim and halve sprouts. In an 18-inch by 12-inch jelly-roll pan, toss sprouts, 2 teaspoons oil, and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and freshly ground black pepper to evenly coat. Roast 10 minutes.
3. While sprouts cook, brush mushrooms with remaining 2 teaspoons oil and sprinkle with 1/8 teaspoon salt. Finely chop thyme and add to medium bowl along with corn, feta, cumin, and cooked quinoa.
4. When sprouts have roasted 10 minutes, push to one side of pan and arrange mushrooms, gill side up, on other side. Divide quinoa mixture among mushrooms; roast 10 minutes or until mushrooms are tender.

THINKING GREEN: BEAUTY

Finding truly natural, nontoxic makeup and personal care products can be difficult. It wasn’t until recently that I realized how bad the chemicals in makeup and beauty products can be. While it is unrealistic to throw out all of your old beauty products, it is good to note which ingredients can harm both the health of your body, and the health of the environment when you go to purchase new products.

6 Beauty Product Ingredients to Avoid

· Petrochemicals are chemical products derived from petroleum. Examples include petroleum jelly, isopropyl alcohol or isopropanol, methyl alcohol or methanol, butyl alcohol or butanol, ethyl alcohol or ethanol (often used in skin astringents and perfumes or colognes).

· Sodium laureth/lauryl sulfates and other sulfate-based detergents
Examples include sodium lauryl ether sulfate; sodium laureth sulphate; sodium lauryl ether sulphate (most commonly used in shampoos, shower gel, bubble bath) It is basically a cheap ingredient that makes things foam, but has been shown to cause irritation on animal and human test subjects

· Propylene glycol and polyethylene glycol, along with various ingredients formulated with PEGs and PGs. Examples include ethylene glycol (used in firming lotions) and propylene glycol (found in everything from deodorant, mascara, baby powder, after shave and more).

· Formaldehyde & paraben preservatives
Examples include butylparaben, ethylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben (found in sunscreen, shampoos, shaving gel, toothpaste and more) In June 2011, the US National Toxicology Program has described formaldehyde as "known to be a human carcinogen,"

· Synthetic dyes
Examples include anything with F&DC preceding it, usually followed by a color and a number. (F representing food, D&C representing drugs and cosmetics), other color additives, including caramel, lead acetate, manganese violet, and more.

· Artificial fragrances
Avoid most perfumes/colognes, which legally aren't required to list ingredients to protect their trade mark.

THINKING GREEN: FOOD

A year and a half ago I lived in New York City while I was doing a design internship for school. I resided in some dorms that did not include a kitchen. So I had to be creative when it came to meals, prior to that time I had made a commitment to eat foods that were more “natural” and less processed. While there are benefits to this type of diet I was finding it hard to follow when I only had a small mini fridge and microwave to supply my meals. I remember one night wishing I had some bananas- at 8:30 pm in China town it is not easy to find bananas. But there are a few rules that I stick to in regards to preparing meals- now that I have the luxury of a full kitchen this isn’t so hard.

7 Words & 7 Rules for Eating By Michael Pollan

1. Don't eat anything your great grandmother wouldn't recognize as food. When you pick up that box of portable yogurt tubes, or eat something with 15 ingredients you can't pronounce, ask yourself, "What are those things doing there?" Pollan says.

2. Don’t eat anything with more than five ingredients, or ingredients you can't pronounce.

3. Stay out of the middle of the supermarket; shop on the perimeter of the store. Real food tends to be on the outer edge of the store near the loading docks, where it can be replaced with fresh foods when it goes bad.

4. Don't eat anything that won't eventually rot. "There are exceptions -- honey -- but as a rule, things like Twinkies that never go bad aren't food," Pollan says.

5. It is not just what you eat but how you eat. "Always leave the table a little hungry," Pollan says. "Many cultures have rules that you stop eating before you are full. In Japan, they say eat until you are four-fifths full. Islamic culture has a similar rule, and in German culture they say, 'Tie off the sack before it's full.'"

6. Families traditionally ate together, around a table and not a TV, at regular meal times. It's a good tradition. Enjoy meals with the people you love. "Remember when eating between meals felt wrong?" Pollan asks.

7. Don't buy food where you buy your gasoline. In the U.S., 20% of food is eaten in the car.

These tips are great when you are starting to change your dietary habits. My biggest challenge wasn’t changing the foods I was eating but eating out less. Not only was the food not as nutritious but I was generally using a car to get there. The best ways to be “green” with food involve making a lot of things from scratch, and growing the foods you can on your own. If you don’t have a yard you can try a kit like this to grow in a window, or purchase some plants from your local nursery. Farmer’s markets are another great source of produce if you can’t grow your own. In the end its about being good to the environment and being good to your body. And remember not everything that says “organic” is better, always check the label!

More on this here

THINKING GREEN: FASHION

Most of us don’t know where our clothes come from, even though the label on everything we purchase is required to tell us. It isn’t uncommon to see things coming from India, Malaysia, or China. These clothes not only take more fossil fuels to get to us, but can also be produced in harsh environments where regulations on workers are not in place. In many cases these clothes are more affordable, but they pay a heavy environmental cost. Important things to be aware of when trying to buy “green” include clothing that is made in America, uses organic cotton or linen, uses recycled material like polyester or rubber, and products that are made using less energy (water, electricity, etc.) There are many brands that carry affordable options that are more environmentally friendly.

Five of The Best New Affordable Mainstream Fashion Lines

American Apparel has incorporated sustainability into their business model. Creative Reuse, an accessories and intimates collection made entirely from re-purposed and excess fabrics, shows how they see inspiration even in the scraps.

H&M is launching the Conscious Collection, a new ongoing collection for women, men and kids made with eco-friendly fabrics such as organic cotton, organic linen, recycled polyester, and Tencel (a biodegradable cellulose made from wood pulp).


Makers of the original blue jeans, Levi Strauss & Co. has been an innovator in creating eco-friendly denim, using organic cotton and natural indigo dyes. The new WaterLess Jeans line reduces water use by an average of 28% per pair (up to 96% for some of the 12 available styles) and represents the brand's commitment to turning blue jeans green.

The organic men’s and women’s casual wear brand has brought eco fashion to the masses through a limited-edition Loomstate for Target collection, and other collaborations with Vans, Bloomingdales and Barneys.

Zoe&Zac, the first collection to offer affordable green footwear for under $30—no kidding!—enlisted the help of Eco-model Summer Rayne Oakes, to help design collection that currently includes both footwear and bags made with eco-friendly materials like recycled rubber and hemp.

THINKING GREEN: INTERIOR DESIGN

A lot of people think that being green or environmentally friendly means you have to have sacrifice beauty for something rustic looking, but that isn’t the case anymore. With the eco movement gaining steam around the country many high-end lines offer greener solutions, and many new companies who cater to the green scene have sprouted up all over. Buying new from companies like these is always an option, but re-using old pieces is where you can make just as much of an impact. One of my favorite hobbies is to re-purpose old furniture and accessories that I find at thrift stores, antique shops, and flea markets. Most thrift store finds will need new upholstery, paint, or hardware. Whereas antiques and flea market finds are usually in the condition you want, and don’t require any restoring or repairing.

Antique Chair via 1stdibs

If thrifting interests you there are many great sources these days to find antiques online. 1stdibs is an online antique shop with inventory that is always changing. And ebay has many great buys. If you are looking for a specific piece Google searches can sometimes be fruitful, but all of these options will most likely need to be shipped to your home which results in packing material and fuel. I recommend looking local first, you will be supporting your local infrastructure, as well as negating the need for shipping altogether. Local options beyond thrift stores, and antique shops include, Craigslist, or the classifieds section of your local newspaper. I have found some great deals on local furniture that I have re-purposed.

#1 I found this chair for $8 dollars at a local thrift store, I painted it white and purchased the green bamboo print at the same shop a few weeks earlier for $.50. It adds charm to a chair that was rather bland before. What a deal!

#2 This chair came from a very small thrift store a few blocks from my home, it was brown and had chipping paint. I painted it to match chair #1 so I could use them in my dining room.

#3 This option came from the same shop as chair #1 and was neon orange when I spotted it. It has been painted blue and green and I have used it as an outdoor chair. I got it for a steal which makes it even sweeter!

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