Green Chic

On a Big jet plane

2011-12-29T19:36:00.008+11:00

I am a fan of Angus and Julia Stone. #Justsayin.

But I guess as a sustainability campaigner (which is what I note as my occupation on custom forms!), I really ought not to be a fan of big jet planes. But travel is important.

For Norwegian environmentalist, Erik Dammann, travel allowed him to “challenge Western values and lifestyles in order to promote a more responsible attitude to the environment and the third world.”

Dammann returned to Norway with the realisation that the West’s focus on competition for personal gain had more to do with social structure than human nature. He also came back with a deep respect for other cultures and with a sense of responsibility for the way they were being destroyed by the consumption-oriented Western lifestyle and world view. He perceived an immense gap between the stated values of Western society, such as justice, freedom, responsibility and solidarity, and the actual impact of that society on people in other countries and on the Earth.

So for the following month I will be blogging from http://www.travelgreenchic.tumblr.com/, documenting the amazing stuff happening in the UK, Denmark and Germany. I am out to prove being green is simply not all mung beans and no style. Far from it. It's everything we know but just simply tweaked for the better.

*this blog post comes to you from the skys... Emirates A380 OnAir internet... crazy this technology stuff!

In all colors and in all sizes

2011-12-18T18:20:00.012+11:00

The festive season tis upon us with jolly times catching up with me this weekend. But I got through it. Maybe it's the excitment I'll be jetting off soon that is helping me push through it. And before you start questioning the "jetting off" aka isn't flying really bad for the environment, I refer you to this post (the start of my travel blog which explains why travel is important).

As I start preparing for my trip, working out what to pack, I realize it's also the perfect opprtunity to do a big clean especially since when I return it'll be 2012, a start of a new year. The big clean involves going through items I no longer wear or use and d0nating them to charity. What always seems to stump me is what to do with bras I no longer wear. Is it rude/offensive to donate used under garments?

Several months ago I remember reading an article about an organization who were collecting bras for third world countries. Thanks to trusty Google I came to find Uplift Bras, an Australian charity that collects and distributes new and secondhand bras to third world countries as well as indigenous communities in the NT.

"It is not just a matter of comfort for these women. There are medical issues as well including back problems and skin diseases particularly for those who are doing hard manual labour."

Check out Uplift Bras and the good work they do.

So in the keeping up with the crazy season and borrowing a quote from Damien Hirst "it's not me but the drink speaking", I asked my girlfriends if they had any unwanted bras they could give me. Given that I am the so-called "hippie" of the bunch, I had to explain they weren't for me... whether they believe me, we'll see come time we exchange chrissy gifts!

Mi Shed Tu Shed

2011-12-12T20:25:00.012+11:00

My shed is your shed. And so leads me to add another #collcons business to the list.

Open Shed is a peer-to-peer rental website that allows you to list the things you have around the house, which you might not want to let go of but you also never really have any use for.

There's much benefits to be reaped by not being so precious about your stuff. One namely is that you can make a little cash from renting out your stuff but also you can save yourself a little cash by testing driving items you might want to play with now but maybe not in the future.

Another benefit as well as being in line with the Buy Nothing New Month campaign, a campaign that saw the social media junkie in me come out, is the reduction of waste, thus the reduction of items sent to landfill, thus the reduction of greenhouse gases produced. Wooah and wow, cause it's a win-win-win!

Let's remember, Buy Nothing New Month ain't about anti-shopping, rather it’s pro conscientious consumption, thus it's not ‘Buy Nothing New Never.

In an article published in the Sydney Morning Herald Business pages, ‘Will Any One Buy Anti-Shopping Campaign’, a poll was carried out asking readers what they thought of Buy Nothing New Month. Over 10,000 people voted (this is huge for an online poll) with 82% saying Buy Nothing New Month to be a good idea, only 18% suggesting it would harm the economy.

This simply shows that there's a groundswell of people living thoughtfully when it comes to respecting our finite resources. Businesses such as OpenShed help foster such behavioural change in consumption and asset owernship, making it easier for the everyday Joe Blow to cash in on the potential $3,772 worth of unwanted items they have around the home. On an economic scale, this equates to almost $43 billion in potential trade. So hands up if you think not buying new will hurt the economy??

Flexi-ing my bank balance & carbon footprint #collcons

2011-11-13T15:42:00.015+11:00

To kick off my Collaborate Consumption life, I got myself a Flexicar Membership via a Green Renters membership. A double win.

A Green Renters membership starts from $25 to $100. No matter which membership you take out with Green Renters, you're guaranteed to score yourself a Flexicar Membership as well. You see, Flexicar is a carsharing business that recognizes there are cheaper and greener ways to car ownership. Partnering with Green Renters highlights Flexicar's committment in paving the way for a more sustainable world.

The 3 major benefits of a Flexicar membership:

Rid the responsibilities and costs of car ownership such as servicing, car insurance and registration
Eliminate the fears of purchasing a dud car
Reduce your environmental impact by only using the car when you truly need to

Check out the car locations to see if they are conveniently located near you. I'm pretty lucky, the closet flexicar from where I live is a 2 min walk away. Booyah!

What I'm also loving is I can also choose the type of car I need or want. So if I need to pick up something large like a bookshelf from Gumtree or at the market or on eBay, its so much cheaper and less of a hassle to simply grab the flexicar than to organize a delivery guy (usually $50) or hire a car for a whole day.

Taking out a Green Renters membership helps support the work they do in providing sustainable living advice to those living in rental property.

With Christmas just around the corner, this could be the gift of all gifts! "Hey hun, guess who gotcha a car for Christmas?! It's all yours when you need it!"

Challenging the Status Quo with #CollCons

2011-11-10T19:16:00.022+11:00

#CollCons, the Twitter hashtag for Collaborate Consumption. A term used to define a way of life in the 21st century as opposed to 20th Century Hyper Consumption where it's about more, more and more. #collcons gives real meaning to less is more.

Christmas being just round the corner means we're also headed towards a new year. Wowzer, another year already? While I'm not a fan of using this phrase but I will, boy time sure does fly. Rather scary actually, there's still so much to do, and yet the years seem to keep passing me by.

I've wasted so much time constantly searching and hoping others will do the right/honorable thing, and while I have the support, I am still seen as a complicated character, or the nicer term would be free-spirited. People simply don't understand why I choose to work part-time and occasionally freelance. I continually get sent full-time job offers and I know it's because they care. But you see, I feel I have more control of my life when I work 2 jobs. Having watched organizations screw people over, I don't need to waste my time worrying if one day I'll be the one screwed over. One job will always be a back up for the other. I know I have a strong work ethic but I also know I don't like being taken advantage of either.

Life ain't a dress rehearsal. And I want to live.

So enters Collaborate Consumption. If I reduce my consumption or if I share my consumption, I can work less and live more.

In the next few weeks, I'll be joining, signing up, registering with #collcons focused businesses to support my life changes. Watch this space. Sustainable behavior change, absolutely!

Dining the way it should be

2011-11-09T22:15:00.019+11:00

I probably have mentioned this a number of times that I'm a hop, skip and jump kinda girl. So it says quite a lot when I say I will travel to the otherside just to dine at Little Deer Tracks, a cafe and gallery in Coburg. Two trains will get me there or a rather long bike ride or lets compromise, 1 train ride and a reduced bike ride!

There is much to list as to why Little Deer Tracks has found a way to my heart. I've always had a soft spot for Italian family home style dishes (Da Noi in South Yarra being my ultimate favourite restaurant of all time... get the picture?!), but it also doesn't hurt that the cafe is the brainchild of Marco Sellitto, a veteran known for iconic venues such as the Continental, Marios and the Italian.

You wouldn't know until someone decides to order bacon on side that this is a meat-free cafe. Being meat-free however, doesn't mean boring and blah. Far from it. Spaghetti with lentil ragu, brocolli saffaron lemon fetta risotto, fetticinni with wild porcini mushoon and truffle are a just a few dishes to tempt you with. Yes I love my carbs and naturally those dishes linger in my memory more so than any carb free ones!

Little Deer Tracks is a place where one can expect healthy, fresh food, organic, free-range, pure olive oil used for frying, rennet-free cheeses, homemade and slow cooked but without any of the "hippie" tags or labels. Coz at the end of the day it's all about good food. No "faux" meat, just real food.

Should you cave and order a pasta dish, I recommend that you throw in the towel and load up on the cafe's infamous sourdough bread, which Marco calls ''Pascoe Vale brew'', where he nurtured the starter for four years on his window sill. I would never have thought bread could be sooo amazing but it can.

Btw, staff are mighty charming, unpretentious and knows a thing or two when it comes to dressing vintage!

Quirky love, the cafe is scattered with loads of little piggie figurines. But don't think it's just for decoration, one has gone missing and continues to be soarly missed.

Could I, will I eventually become a Coburgher, who knows? But what I do know is that this is how cafes and restaurants should be. A fine example, something for the government to consider when selling climate change?

Nature's Alternative Soap is A-OK

2011-10-18T16:03:00.010+11:00

A while back I purchased a packet of Wild Soapnuts. I had read about them in an Oxfam email blast but it was at one of the many markets I loiter at, that I finally made the purchase. While I may have made the purchase I either forgot about them or there was so much laundry detergent laying around that I just never had the need to use them. I'm all about not wasting anything unless I really dislike it but I will always give it a go first or it's past it's used by date.

Anyhoo, I finally took the plunge and tested these Wild Soapnuts over the weekend. I had finally run out of laundry detergent, outside was washing weather and I was in desperate need of underwear. Everything was going swimmingly until I realized a funky smell on my fingers. These Wild Soapnuts sure are smelly. Not sure if its just the ones I got but lets say I had to wash my hands not once, not twice but three times to rid the funky smell. So I was worried during the wash cycle. Will my precious clothes reek? OMG I hope not.

Guess what? They didn't, actually there was no smell but maybe a clean one! Plus my mascara stained towel was no longer mascara stained. Booyah! I really need to have more faith, don't I?

What are Soapnuts?

The soapnuts I used are from the outside of a macadamia-sized berry found in the Himalayan foothills, which is then cracked open and dried in the sun, producing a dark golden shell. The shells are found to contain a high percentafe of saponins (mother nature's soap), a surfacant, which is found to remove dirt and oils from fabric when dispered in water.

Why Soapnuts?

Soapnuts are a wild harvested product in true organic form. Used for centuries in India, China and Nepal, and has been tested to be hypollergenic, antibacterial, biodegradable. It's on the supermarket shelves in Europe and it's cheaper than the chemical alternatives.

Soapnuts can actually be used as a liquid soap as well, but for the time being I'll just stick to using them to launder with first! For more info check www.wildsoapnuts.com.au

M.I.A. Green Chic

2011-09-22T17:35:00.014+10:00

Yes, I've been kinda M.I.A lately. But I've not been away. I've actually been rather active on the social media front. Tweeting, Facebook-ing, Blogging, YouTubing rah rah rah under the moniker(?) Buy Nothing New Month. That's right folks I've taken charge of the social media side of the campaign. Privileged, absolutely. Busy, damn straight. But all in all it's exciting. It's a campaign where it's not asking for money, it's more, in my opinion, about setting you free.

I personally, view the campaign and these are my thoughts only, as why be manipulated into buying stuff you don't need? Know what you like, buy what you like. But don't say you don't have money or boo the carbon tax or the economy and retailers will suffer. These are pretty poor excuses. For retailers, are you scared people will realize you're selling them a crap product? What makes you so special? What about service businesses? What about businesses that are striving to do good or design for the better? Do they not deserve a fair go? As oppose to retailers manipulaing people to buy stuff they don't need? I pity those who defend these retailers, how they need someone they don't even know to stroke their ego for a brief moment, just to be sucked into buying an item they may never use so as to feel better about themselves in the short-term. But in the long-term they end up the sad fool who continues wishing they were something they're not, rather than just living and doing what truly makes them happy. If you are angered by my opinions, then I guess I've hit a nerve ?!

I'm not saying there's a right or there's a wrong. Everyone's values are different. If you value buying stuff you never use, higher than saving for something you really want, like a house or a holiday, or even that beautiful hand made necklace, then we don't have a problem. We only have a problem when you're not truly honest with yourself.

Wooah a light hearted campaign and I've not made it light hearted in this post. But this is my personal blog and I own my thoughts.

I'll leave you with the light hearted side of the campaign by quoting Buy Nothing New Month ambassador, Paul Gilding;

“Buy Nothing New Month isn’t about going without, nor is it Buy Nothing New Never. With the rising costs and pressures of living, it’s about living smarter, reassessing how much we really need, looking at where our stuff comes from, where it goes, and what our alternatives are. Importantly, it highlights the time and money we can access by modifying our consumption and waste.”

WORD.

Round the Corner I find 2 Bushrangers

2011-08-12T15:59:00.013+10:00

Two-ish months ago, I moved into new shin digs and while I miss having the yarra river right at my door steps (now I’m 10 minutes away from it), I am however rewarded with a new local. I do love Tofu International on Bridge Road but I consider that a little far for me. I’m a hop, skip and a jump kinda gal. So coming across Gypsey and Musquito was like finding gold at the end of the rainbow!

Why I am in love with Australian bushrangers from Van Diemen’s Land? The story of Musquito, an Aboriginal, and Gypsey, an British, uniting to fight for indigenous rights, teamed with servings of free-range eggs and pork, offerings of 6 types of bush teas, use of leatherwood honey from Tasmania and bush tomatoes (for chutney) from the Northern Territory, basically keeping it short and sweet, they work under the banner of local, native and iconic produce.

Recycle, reuse, upcycle, all things that encapsulates sustainability and tables that faciliate communal bonding, makes this local treasure a home away from home.

For coffee connoisseurs, 5 Senses is the choice of brew. And for those who have a soft spot for childhood favourites, Spiders (the drink) are also on offer but with a twist. Mineral sodas such as blood orange together with ice cream in jim jam jars, helps make Summer not seem so far away.

NB - KeepCup friendly yes they are!

Do your bit with just one call

2011-07-12T11:17:00.007+10:00

I live in the City of Yarra. As a renter I don't really take much notice of what's happening in my municipality but you know I really should.

What I didn't realise and I reckon most residents don't either is that we don't have to dump our hard rubbish on the streets. While leaving hard rubbish on the kerb can be seen as a generous way of letting go of items, it's also a fast track way of sending items to landfill. And we want to avoid landfill as items sent to landfill increases greenhouse gases.

So how has the City of Yarra address this issue? They have set up a hotline (03) 9205 5190 for residents who wish to request a hard or green waste collection. By having council collect our hard/green waste, they are in a better position to dispose, recycle and recover items for re-use.

One phone call, too friggin easy don't you think?

Price on Carbon explained in 2 easy minutes

2011-07-12T09:56:00.007+10:00

Thank you GetUp! Action for Australia
- An independent movement to build a progressive Australia and bring participation back into our democracy.

it's not complicated...

Attenborough... you beauty

2011-07-07T20:41:00.003+10:00

With all this hoo-ha surrounding carbon tax, David Attenborough sums it up beautifully and simply in under 100 words...

"The future of life on earth depends on our ability to take action. Many individuals are doing what they can, but real success can only come if there's a change in our societies and our economics and in our politics. I've been lucky in my lifetime to see some of the greatest spectacles that the natural world has to offer. Surely we have a responsibility to leave for future generations a planet that is healthy, inhabitable by all species."

Zoya for my nails

2011-05-28T16:08:00.008+10:00

I have a thing. I'm not a fan of feet. So much so, I simply squirm even at the thought of people having foot fetishes. It's not just other people's feet I don't like, I don't even like my own. Maybe its because I don't treat them with much love and do tend to work them pretty hard. Hey, backpacking and climbing Angkor Watt in havannas, no probs! I just love the easy laid backness of it all. However, being so closely exposed to dirt and grime and getting that grime caught benneth the toenails is just 100% yick. So that's why I like, no make it luv when my feet are given the pamper treatment. I avoid the feet by treating myself to spa pedicures on a regular basis. But how can I, being a green chick green a luxury I luv so much? BYO nail polish! Majority of manicure/pedicures businesses stock and thus use nail polishes that are damaging to the environment. Since I go for the service and not the actual product, I bring my own natural nail polish that is free of toluene, formalehyde, DBP (phthalates) and camphor.

Thank you Zoya, I no longer feel guilty from a simple pleasure.

i eat green

2011-05-23T19:17:00.007+10:00

I don't deliberately seek out green foods nor do I solely eat green foods. It just so happens broccolli pasta is one of my favourites, a childhood favourite to be more exact.

I grew up in a neighbourhood where as kids we would roam the streets on our bikes whether it be to the park, the local milkbar or to the creek to fish for tadpoles and yabbies. We would pop over to each others houses via the back fence as much fun was always had by the pool. Like That 70's Show, we would all generally converge at the Cardamones, as did the 70s kids gathered at the Foremans. Lucy (mother Cardamone), would always welcome us with open arms and feed us wholesome homestyle Italian meals. Broccolli pasta being one of them.

Twenty years on, broccolli pasta still goes down a treat. The simplificity, flavours and memories that comes from this dish will always remain a winner in my books!

Broccolli Pasta:

Standard bag of Frozen/Fresh broccolli (in this instant I used frozen)

125g Butter

5 tbls Olive Oil

500g Pasta

1/4 cup of grated Parmensen cheese

Salt, Pepper and extra parmensen to taste

Boil brococolli til soft and mash

Melt butter in a pan and add olive oil

Add broccolli mash

Mix in cooked pasta

Toss through grated parmensen

Salt and pepper to taste

Serve

Quote - Kylie Kwong

2011-05-21T13:17:00.002+10:00

I'm Green and I'm Budget OK

2011-05-11T16:29:00.008+10:00

The Australian Federal Budget was released yesterday and while the media present the budget in a negative light, I am okay with what has been proposed. Of course putting the country in debt is not favorable BUT what can be achieved is quite promising. While I am a Greenie, I am more optimistic than the 6/10 rating given by the Greens.

Yes there were cuts made to Climate Change but seriously were the Green Car Innovation Fund, Green Start Program and Clean Car Rebate viable initiatives? I'm glad they're gone. Yes, wasted money but better to admit they are failures now than later.

New initiatives such as $45.6 million going to farmers with the aim of reducing the agricultural impact on climate change, $100 million for renewable energy and efficiency projects, extending the Solar Hot Water Rebate program as part of a $144.2 million renewable scheme, and allocating $20 million to establish a biofuel research institute, are in my opinion more viable solutions in effecting sustainable behaviour.

Helping our farmers, helps with localizing our economy.

'Going local' is a powerful strategy to help repair our fractured world – our ecosystems, our societies and our selves. Far from the old institutions of power, people are starting to forge a very different future... - The Economics of Happiness

I have no sympathy for those who were disappointed to not receive any relief on raising utility bills. How self-involved are these people? Pay for what you use. The law of economics will tell you there is no frigging free lunch.

A recent study Origin Energy, found Australians wasted an astonishing $1 billion on standby energy.

Oh, and onya Gillard for investing heavily in work and training as there are a lot of thick heads out there who need to be properly skilled and skilled in such a way that will foster sustainable actions/behavior.

For I, the budget is a wake up call for Australia to take responsibility.

*I am all for supporting 100% renewable energy, however it is not a solution in addressing our wasteful habits

My pursuit of happiness

2011-05-04T19:12:00.010+10:00

Last night I attended the screening of “The Economics of Happiness”, presented by the Australian Conservation Foundation, Victorian Eco Innovation Lab (VEIL) and The Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, which was followed by a Q&A session with film maker Helen Norberg-Hodge.

A beautifully made film that simply links environmental and social movements to promote a ‘new’ economy. It’s nothing out of this world but that’s the thing, it’s pretty much common sense yet somehow we continue to live in a world where a false illusion exist that globalization is the key to economic growth and will solve poverty. HA! End of the day,“globalization is built on handouts to big businesses”, and that is far from sustainable.

We are surrounded with “romanticize images of consumerism” and “superficial solutions”. Are we that insecure to think this will make us happy?

"Research has shown again and again and again, that biodiverse small farms using ecological inputs, produce 3 to 5 times more food than industrial producers" - Vandana Shiva

"All I need is a complete integrated farm of one acre, and I can feed 20 people. We don't need agricultural scientists, we don't need hybrid seeds, we don't need GM, we don't need anything. We just need to be left alone to do our farming." - Balaji Shankar

Intrigued? You can grab a copy of the film via this link or tweet me and we'll get a social experiment happening through twitter where we'll tweet and follow where my copy will travel, a case of collaborative consumption? #collconshappiness

Haigh's chocolate is not just chocolate

2011-04-18T14:00:00.007+10:00

I work a part-time job to pay the bills and so that I can truly spend MY time working towards a sustainable future. Afterall, David Suzuki did say we needed to slow down, and slow down I have, no longer am "I heading towards a brick wall at 100 miles an hour."

What makes my part-time job tolerable is my manager. She understands my motivations in sustainability and lends her support to it. Bless her as my actual work and the organization I work for is far from accepting to environmental sustainability. An organization with offices nationwide and abroad, it's quite disappointing they are without a sustainability policy. This is something I hope to change... but will leave that for another blog post.

Anyhoo, with Easter drawing near, my manager gifted a Golden Murray Cod to my team in-place of Easter Eggs. No, it wasn't literally a slimy fish but a chocolate shaped fish from luxury chocolatier Haigh's. Such a lovely gesture. You see the Murray Cod is an iconic fish. It is the largest freshwater fish in Australia, growing up to 1.8 metres long and has an estimated life span of over 100 years! But it is now in danger. Numbers are in great decline and it has been classified as a vulnerable species. So what Haigh's has done is produce a Chocolate Murray Cod made in honour of the native Murray Cod. Part proceeds from the sale of every Haigh’s Chocolate Murray Cod goes to Healthy Rivers Australia (previously known as The Waterfind Environment Fund). This not-for-profit organization works to improve the health of Australia’s river systems and support the survival of our precious native fish species.

A lovely gesture as my manager did not just give me chocolate, she gave her support to a vulnerable specie.

click the above image to find out more on
Haigh's Green scheme

Garage Sale Trail hits Melbourne via a Roller Door

2011-04-12T16:06:00.010+10:00

mX - Melbourne

ABC News

Green Magazine

Roller Door Cafe is a local of mine and one of the very first in Melbourne to jump on the Garage Sale Trail. Fair trade coffee, biodegradable coffee cups when you forget your KeepCup, organic goodies, free range eggs, weekly organic food boxes and rooftop honey, plus the added bonus of being super fly makes this green chick mighty giddy to have it as one of her locals!

Added bonus, Matt the barista aka the early riser aka the caffine saviour did come in second as serving the best drop of coffee in Melbourne, amongest the likes of St Ali, Brunettis, Julio's and Caffe Remo.

When it all fits, it really does fit.

Green Chic booyah!

Who is Green Chick?

2011-04-08T13:06:00.000+10:00

I often receive offers to have a "proper" photo taken. Not because I am drop dead gorgeous but because of my headless profile picture. FYI, that's not even me, it's a photo taken by the Satorialist during Paris Fashion week 2009. Everything about the photo encapulates what green chic is all about.

But it does bring up the question of who is green chick? Well I thought I'd let you in on who I am. No face but that's cos green chick is not about what I look like, but rather the life I lead. Hence, anyone can be green chick.

This is my bike - I use it to get from A to B. I ride slow and I hum when I ride.

This is one of two of my solar powered lamps - I used them to ease myself to sleep together with a good read

These are my retro furnishings - I dump my bag and everything else I don't want dumped on the floor on them

These are my soy candles - I like the smell of caramel and the light it gives. The soy tealight candle is citronella which keeps the mozzies away!

These are my memories - I am happy when surrounded by things that have been gifted and are personal to me - music/art/beach

A place called Commonground

2011-04-04T14:13:00.022+10:00

The 2011 Sustainable Living Festival may have wrapped up a month ago, but the team behind the Festival continues to live and breath the magic as they plan for 2012.

2012 planning kicked off with a weekend away at Commonground in Seymour. A magical place that fosters collaboration in the mist of serenity and nature.

"Commonground is an Intentional Social Change community established in the early eighties. The founders were a small group of social activists exploring their best collective contribution to the creation of a just, nonviolent and sustainable world."

Commonground is a place that fosters the "keep it real" movement. The place seems to put me at ease, where social norms are no longer a priority. Getting in touch with nature, getting in touch with the people around you, and quite simply just breathing. And to think all this is found in our own backyard. I can only hope this kind of community spirit continues to thrive. It may have taken years and much blood, sweat and tears to achieve what they have, but the outcome, well it sure makes me wonder why one would ever doubt magic. Think, a place made from recycled materials, a place where resources are shared (co-housing), a place where the pool is the damn that is warm from the natural sunlight. Make it what you want. For the crazy Festival kids, 3 words: Royal Rajasthan Discotheque.

The Atlantic - Ocean to Plate with a game to play

2011-03-31T16:36:00.012+11:00

The Atlantic at Crown, the latest addition to Crown's monstrosity, has been in the works for a number of months but as we were told by one of the visiting managers, it was only a couple of weeks ago that it officially open. While the place looked beautiful, I do question whether it has been all smooth sailing (excuse the pun).

Even though I may call Crown a monstroscity, I am however rather curious to find out if what the Atlantic prides itself on, "a team who hand selects an unrivalled selection of wild and sustainable fish, unique oyster varieties and pristine shellfish", truly justifies the price and the hoohar surrounding its arrival. I do give it the benefit of the doubt since the intention to be sustainable is there, right?

Conclusion, overated. Quality, decent but for the price and teamed with inexperienced staff makes this over priced dining experience quite laughable. Seriously. Watching my brother get taken on a tour of the restaurant unintentionally, taking away the place setting when we were still waiting on one, placing the napkin on all laps but mine, watching bimbos juggle plates, even with all this, the piece of resistance was the game we played or rather I played. Counting the number of times dishes went back and forth from table to table, an unintentional game of musical dishes perhaps?!

This of course has nothing to do with chef Donovan Cooke. The menu is crafted with great thought and does cater for all. Those with acquired taste to cashed up bogans who not surprising will alway pick the seafood platter (at $85 per person and requiring no skill at all to cook..hmmm...). The unfortunate thing however was we had to send a plate back for it was undercooked.

On a better note, desserts were of a fine selection. Much to choose from, I wanted them all! But if given a choice, I could probably do without them, as my heart still belongs to Dai Noi.

This is a place to be seen and possibly the "green" intention is there (though I am not fully convinced). Sadly these two factors just doesn't cut it in my books. Billy Kwong can you please come to Melbourne... pretty please.

Sweet Lochie

2011-03-27T17:12:00.012+11:00

I am the second child as is Lochie, the second grandchild, the second nephew, the second everything. My point is we both are not the first. Not that he and I are bitter about it but let's face it, shall we say the novelty wears down after the first. I love nephew number 2 as do I love nephew number 1, but I am a bad aunty for it was Lochie's birthday on 13th January and it is only until now that I blog about it. The intention was always there but not so the urgency.

So what "green" gift do I give a one year old? To start him on his green path, a Baby SIGG bottle of course. With removable handles, good habits aka sustainable behaviour are instilled in this bub from get go!

Happy Birthday Sweet Lochie!

While you may have started life differently to most, you have however ended up being the most gorgeous, sweetest bub ever.

Earth Hour - some candles are bad eggs

2011-03-26T17:23:00.010+11:00

Tonight is Earth Hour.

At 8:30pm, Earth Hour will sweep around the globe as people switch off their lights and celebrate a worldwide commitment to protect our planet

Initally, the idea behind Earth Hour was to make a bold symbolic statement about the critical issue of climate change and to engage Australians in taking action. 2007 was the first year of the campaign with approximately 2.2 million people and 2,100 businesses in Sydney taking part, switching off their lights in a clear signal to government and industry that there's a demand and a need for change.

Since then, Earth Hour has rapidly gained momentum and burgeoned into a worldwide, community-driven sustainability movement.

Those switching off their lights may opt for candle light. But there is a catch. If we are doing this for the purpose of saving the environment, we need to make sure the candles we use are made from soy/natural beeswax/vegan and NOT paraffin. Paraffin candles in fact does more damage than turning on a light as paraffin candles produce a number of byproducts when they are combusted, including greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. Paraffin is also a petroleum product, making it a nonrenewable resource and adding to pollution through oil spills and other issues associated with the oil extraction process.

SOY CANDLES are BEST!

Local Vs Imports: The Show Down

2011-03-23T20:36:00.013+11:00

There's this belief that buying local is best. While I can see the arguments for buying local, ie supporting local farmers and the local economy, and less travel miles, it was only recently that I started to question this idea. You see I was at Aldi supermarket the other day where I was faced with the decision as to whether to buy a bottle of olive oil made in Australia or one made in Itay. Naturally I went for the Australian one. But looking at the carbon label and Aldi's website, if I am to choose an olive oil that is good for the environment and will reduce my carbon footprint, I have selected wrongly.

The ALDI everyday range of olive oil products has undergone a comprehensive assessment to determine the total carbon footprint, which encompasses all the life cycle stages, from raw materials and manufacturing right through to disposal or recycling of packaging.

Each olive oil product has been assessed and certified by the Carbon Trust as meeting all requirements of the Publicly Available Standard 2050 (PAS 2050). The PAS 2050 is a consultative document that specifies standard best practice for the assessment of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services.

Judging from Aldi's carbon assessment chart, the olive oil from Italy has a lower overall carbon footprint of 300 as oppose to the one from Australia which has a footprint of 320

This then leads me to the question, have we been naive and too trusting to believe everything purchased "local" is best?

Buying local food does not guarantee that it is sustainably produced. Pesticides, chemical fertilizers, factory farming, hormone use, and non-therapeutic use of antibiotics can all be involved in local food production, so it's important to make sure that the local food that is bought is from farmers or gardeners using sustainable methods.

Thus it is important to know the true carbon footprint from the things we buy. Fortunately, Aldi has taken the lead by working with Planet Ark, to introduce the carbon reducation label.

Aldi maybe internationally owned, they do however strive to operate with a sustainable conscience and will always endeaviour to support local farmers who just need to offload their goods.

The Great Debate - Is Environmentalism Failing?

2011-03-19T15:36:00.019+11:00

One of the highlights from the 2011 Sustainable Living Festival.
A sold out event, naturally. If you missed it, here's your chance to catch up or if you were there, a chance for you to take a trip down memory lane!

Starring - David Suzuki, Ian Lowe, Christine Milne MP, Anna Rose, Clive Hamilton, Phillip Sutton, and moderated by the one and only Julia Zemiro

Selling out to travel

2011-03-07T13:08:00.017+11:00

I have a confession while I try to live a "green" sustainable life, there is one thing I just can't give up. Travel. I absolutely adore traveling. Immersing oneself in another lifestyle, another culture, knowing that there is so much out, is something I constantly crave, that is to seek out the unknown. So what can I do? I can offset my travel.

While I do see purchasing offsets as a cop out, it is necessary when there is no other option. Well the other option is to take a year off and gradually make my way to each desired destination, but that's not possible... well not at this point in time.

So how do I make my travel the greenest it can be? Take my weekend away to Sydney and Canberra.

Flights:

Melbourne to Sydney [.23 tonnes = $5.75]
Canberra to Melbourne [.15 tonnes = $3.75]

Shared car travel:

Hawthorn to Burnley to Tulla Airport (return) [7.4kms]
Sydney car rental to National Gallery of Australian Canberra [288.1kms]
NGA to Food to Canberra Airport [7.1km]

=> Total car travel per person = 302.6km = $62.75/3 = $20.92

TOTAL travel offset $5.75 + $3.75 + $20.92 = $30.42

Offset calculations via Climate Positive

[I've only offset my flights as I'm not too sure how to go about offsetting my portion of vehicle travel, or whether I have to offset the whole lot ie $62.75]

*Car travel 3 peeps
*Staying in the area we want to hang avoided any car/taxi travel as most things were within walking distance. Tho we did take the bus twice!
*Eating organic. An abundance of choice in Surry Hills, so that's where we stayed!

yes that's Anne Hathaway, she too paid a visit to Collector Store (tho not @ the same time as moi!)

Easy Money

2011-02-27T21:26:00.009+11:00

I scream, you scream, we all scream not for ice cream but for some extra cash in the kitty!

The Garage Sale Trail launched yesterday in Sydney, home to the first ever Garage Sale Trail. Last year Bondi brought out their goods and went all out to impress, so much so, for 2011 they're taking it National!

On April 10 2011, all over Australia peeps will be holding garage sales to celebrate community, sustainability and creativity, and all in the name of good old fashion fun!

The Garage Sale Trail isn't just about buying and selling, it's also about getting out and about, meeting your neighbours and celebrating what's special about our community.

So have you registered your garage sale? Do it NOW @ http://www.garagesaletrail.com.au/

And follow them on Twitter @garagesaletrail, I suspect there will be many more surprises to come!

February Wrap Up

2011-02-27T21:16:00.006+11:00

It's been a pretty crazy month or so. While slowing down, I ended up being immersed 24/7 in a world of sustainability and environmentalism. I have been on a mission, Mission: Safe Climate. A mission joined by the likes of David Suzuki, Michael Reynolds, aka Garbage Warrior, Charlie Pickering, Julia Zemiro, Adam Bandt, Clive Hamilton, Anna Rose, Catherine Deveny, and the list just goes on....

It's been super amazing and to top it off, I did get to meet not just one but two internationally renowned environmentalists. Booyah! Just gives me more ammo to continue the mission.

A long overdue post - Garden Love

2011-02-26T16:50:00.011+11:00

[the cooking area is made from recycled tiles and bricks that has been carefully carved to perfection]

My first friend at primary school is still a dear friend of mine. Believe it or not, I still remember how we met. We were in the same prep class and we were sitting on the floor during quiet time. She asked me what my name was and I asked her what her name was. Her name was Emma. I had never come across an Emma and I went home telling mum I had a new friend called Amen, as going to a catholic school I was exposed to a lot of amens and at that time to me Emma sounded a lot like amen.

Twenty-six years later, Emma and I are still friends. While we live and work in different circles, we always make the time to catch over Christmas and New Year and for each other's birthdays.

So at the start of the year, I headed over to Em and Mick's new digs. They've been renovating for a while as they work full-time. However, the love and dedication they have put into their home has been worth the wait.

What I love about their house, is Mick the green thumb and hands on type of guy that he is, has created a garden haven that steers clear of any nonna/nonno resemblance. Tasteful, modern and very inviting. It just goes to show how fulfilling something can be when you put love into it.

Inspiration comes from Terra Nostra in Campagnia, Italy. Terra Nostra I am told was an adventure they had in Italy where they were invited to a feast of home grown produce and locally farmed meats. Everything about Terra Nostra was about self-sufficiency, a concept that always gets me spellbound.

On Board with Green Renters

2011-01-22T11:01:00.005+11:00

What is or Who are Green Renters?

Green Renters is an online source for people who strive to lead a sustainable and ecological existence within the confines of rental property. They run workshops, stalls, presentations and panels with a host of tips, advice and home made goodies.

With housing affordability sky rocketing, more and more people are forced to rent or even moved back to their childhood homes. Along with this movement is also an increased demand for "greener" living as we experience unforeseen climate chaos. So, what may have started out as a side project has lead to exciting developments, with Green Renters only just recently becoming incorporated. What does this mean for this little green chick? Well one of the main requirements for an incorporated organization is there must be a board. Do you see where this is heading? Yes, green chick is now a board member of an incorporated organization. I've never sat on any boards and it does seem quite a mature thing to do, so I am quite excited about it. With their purpose, their mission, encapsulating elements of what Green Chic is about, I continue to see great things for 2011.

Green Food Generation

2011-01-15T19:21:00.006+11:00

They say money is the root of all evil, yet it is money that makes the world go round. Go figure.

One of many of the problems I think exist in this world is that we value things not according to what we truly like but rather we base it on the expected value influenced the false belief of celebrity status.

Recently, I was given a book as a result of a tweet (power of twitter, hey?). I was slightly shocked that a person I have never met was so willing to give me their copy. Being someone who can't simply accept a person's act of kindest, I offered an exchange. It would seem for them, they valued baked goodies higher than holding onto this book. No mula was exchanged and we both were left pleased with our new items.

I absolutely adore this type of act and I think twitter maybe just be the way we can exchange goods/services to reduce our carbon footprint. Rather than our collection of useless items taking up space or going into landfill, it is found a home. It is more than just an exchange, the added value comes from learning the history of how the item came into possession. But I guess that's sibjective as while I value knowing, others may not.

What is this book? Green Food Generation - a culinary adventure by Haydon Wood. It's a book that has selected restaurants around Australia who are conscious on how their operations affect the environment. Quite a wordy book but the images will keep you going. Receipes you will find but whether they are nice and simple, one has yet to test. For I, great to know whereever I travel in Australia I'll be able to find quality wholesome food, but will I really travel with this book, probably not. I'll just note down the restaurants and pass it on!

Thanks GreenRenters for getting in touch. The whole experience has been more than just a book.

The good news, the bad news...

2011-01-08T11:40:00.004+11:00

So I have some bad news but it's mostly good news. Shall we start with the bad, lets. The bad news is, I'm way busy. The good news is, I'm way busy doing something I luv. Finally, green chick has got her groove back, metaphorically speaking. It's been two years of sacrifices but totally worth it cause I now feel like I'm finally cruising. I'm on a road that has my name all over it!

The news? Well as I write this blog entry, I write it wearing the media/comms coordinator hat for the Sustainable Living Festival. How crazy is that. The role kinda fell into my hands and here I am working with an awesome brunch of people, passionate, intelligent and so chilled. When it's right, it's right as when it's hot, it's hot. Not only do I get to take the reigns of the role, I also get to work on all areas of the festival while expanding my sustainability knowledge. Double win! The program for this 16 day festival is freaking amazing. Three words: David Suzuki Awesomeness.

As I just mentioned, it's taken me two years to get to this place. Finding oneself is a hard thing to do when you have all these outside influences and social norms to fight against in order to think truly for oneself. Amazingly I feel I have grown to be a better person. For every challenge and experience I have faced, I have been able to take something away from it. Sometimes it's been about learning the truth about oneself and other times it's been about coming across people with qualities you don't ever want to have. Surrounding yourself with people you respect as oppose to people you think you should know will guide you into the person you want to be. And everyone is different.

So first week into 2011, all is RAD.

While I don't want to get too ahead of myself, I must say exciting times they are at Green Chic. Thank you sincerely for taking this journey with me and I hope you are inspired to live the dream. No matter what the dream is, it can work but you need to take that risk and be true in what you do. Let instinct and karma guide you.

"If you think you're too small to have an impact,
try going to bed with a mosquito"
- Anita Roddick (The Body Shop)

So long 2010, Hello 2011

2010-12-30T09:20:00.007+11:00

It's been nine months since I started this blog and while the blog was a way to document my "green" journey, much rewards have also been reaped. I truly recommend one to start a blog, with not the purpose of selling oneself but as an outlet where you can note your thoughts and share your discoveries. Whoever then comes across your blog, well that's just a bonus!

I was watching an interview with the The Script on Video Hits one Sunday morning, and was touched by the thought behind their new track 'For the first time'.

"Staying in is the new going out, when you don't have money you tend to connect to the things that are important to you, your friends, your family, you realize god we haven't done this in ages, you want to get out you know like twister or an old cheap bottle of wine and have fun in your own home, and we thought it's a great message for people to realize that although times are hard, there is a beautiful upside, you may have nothing, but in losing everything you realize that you're finding each other..." - The Script

...drinking old cheap bottles of wine
Sit and talking up all night
Doing things we haven't for a while
We're smiling but we're close to tears
Even after all these years
We just now got the feeling that we're meeting
For the first time...

While what one achieves is subjective, for myself I feel the changes I have made have been an achievement but I also know there is much more to be achieved. I look forward to 2011 and leave you with this gift from author of "The Art of Being Minimalist" Everett Bogue (click on the below image for the gift!)

This is my new year's resolution/2011 challenge. To be a testament to Mr Bogue's theory.

Ho eco Ho - Christmas 2010

2010-12-26T10:16:00.009+11:00

While most of us hit the shops for the Boxing Day sales, I sit here and blog. I no longer have the urge to hit the sales and how better do I feel? Much better, as I am now in control of what I want and no longer am I tempted by the must buy now illusion. I buy when I want to and because I like it, and not because it's cheap or I want to be liked.

Moving forward, it's been refreshing to hear people making their own crafty goods to give as presents this Christmas but sadly I'm no craft whiz, I even have trouble cutting a straight line!

So for me this Christmas I did spend but I spent cautiously. For my 2 besties, one is London and the other thank heavenly in Melbourne, this is what I got them.

Being based in London, I purchased Em's gift from Eco Age, a UK eco online store. Previously I had pruchased from Love Eco, another UK eco online store but after coming across Eco Age I was bewitched. Eco Age has a glamour edge, with Colin Firth's other half being the creative director of this full-service one-stop-shop where people can find beauty, design, inspiration, ideas, advice, and apply concrete solutions for green living. For the team at Eco Age, the ECO answer is compelling: improvement without compromise.

What did I get Em? Well with London experiencing one of the coldest Winter since the 60s, a blanket made from recycled wool seemed quite appropriate.

For Ness in Melbourne, having known her for 20 years, we've given each other all sorts of gifts! Ness, a senior associate and has been working crazy hours these days. The poor thing, she can no longer can tell the difference between a weekday to a weekend, much less have time to do the grocery shopping. So I thought this year I would give her a hamper of wonderful local produce and organic delights! Should she need a quick feed or a sugar hit, she can be sure it's all good in all aspects. It had to be specially made, as Ness is allergic to nuts and seeds. One discovery I made during product selection was that Green & Black organic chocolate also comes in a gift pack/box. I like it, I like it a lot.

Happy Holidays y'all! Here's to great food, great friends and time with the family.

More Less More Music download 18 #mlmmusic

2010-12-20T17:59:00.006+11:00

what is #mlmmusic?

Crazy times are these when we fight our way through the crowds to uphold tradition and wrap up the year. In constrast, I give you the soothing sounds of The Beautiful Girls that will weather any storm and let you take that much needed breather.

Download Triple J Live Music Podcast

"My mind is an echo chamber"

plus their 'like a version' track

here

Design a Space VS Major retailers

2010-12-16T16:05:00.011+11:00

Why hello Summer, so glad you could join us? Do you hear the sarcasm? Should you be surprised? While the planet's heating up, we're also seeing abnormal weather patterns. Summer should have started 3 weeks ago but all we've experienced are flash floods and the occasional balmy nights. Nonetheless, my annual ritual to find the perfect Summer sandal was still on. I do luv Melissa shoes but being made from plastic it ain't so great in Summer. So I went on the search.

While wondering down Melbourne's famous laneways, I came cross Design a Space , a retail space whose aim is to provide high profile space for emerging Australian designers. I luv how it gives a platform for creative talent to showcase their passion the way they choose to, without succumbing to the pressures of major players. This is where I found my Summer sandals.

Admittedly, there's nothing really sustainable about these Jaci Bailey sandals, except that they're made from a natural fibre and that they will be my forever Summer shoes until they die (fingers crossed they last, well they ought to given the price I paid for them!). But I have this belief, that by supporting local designers who assumingly are small businesses, they are in a position to create and function sustainably. The catch 22 is that they might not have the funds to do so. But that's the challenge. To say it cost more to operate sustainably is a cop-out. As I see it, while large corporations have the money to implement a sustainable policy, the sad facts are that (1) it's rarely communicated to be truly effective, (2) it's a marketing grimick so as to keep up with the Jones and (3) employees don't care as at the end of the day they're just a name on the payroll. A small business on the hand, are in a stronger position to make a change and to see it through. Changing culture is difficult especially in a large context but changing it in a small controlled environment is promising. If you start your business "right" in the inital stages, you create a culture where there is an understanding on how it should be run. In larger organizations, what I've seen and this is not primarily on sustainability but with daily operations is the culture of "if it ain't broken, don't fix it". If it's already difficult to change this attitude for greater efficiency, imagine the challenge it must be to change attitude for sustainability.

Hence, I have faith in small businesses than in large corporations.

More Less More Music download 17 #mlmmusic

2010-12-14T16:17:00.003+11:00

what is #mlmmusic?

Remember Beck and his "Loser" song? Well, described as a pop art collage of musical styles, this multi-instrumentalist has put a spin on Lykke Li's "Get Some" by giving it some Beck love.
Yes Beck has turned DJ. But then I play records, does that make me a DJ?!?!!

Listen and like it, then download it here

A Do Good Saturday in Melbourne

2010-12-12T07:38:00.005+11:00

Saturday kicked off with brunch at Friends of Mine in Richmond. Without even tasting or viewing the menu, I could tell this place was a winner from the all bums on seat and buzz that echoed out to the faithful patrons loitering at the entrance and outside. Not only will you be charmed by the service (seriously everyone who works there has a twinkle in their eye - maitre d, wait staff and the boys in the kitchen), the organic domination and food quality, will make all your troubles go away at least momentarily. While I didn´t go the organic lamb (ooo the possibility to eat meat again...), I did pick Melbourne´s top 5 eggless breakies... the infamous smashed avocado, thyme buttered mushies and fetta on wholegrain or gluten free toast. Made perfect with an organic OJ to wash it down!

Next stop - Moral Fair Ground Fair@Square Festival. Following the success of their inaugural festival in 2009, it was imminent a second festival would follow. It was simply awesome to see the choices I had made throughout the year were the right choices and to also discover and learn what other amazing things were out there. You see the Fair@Square is a festival that celebrates and promotes ethical, socially rssponsible and environmentally aware businesses and services, so I´m sure they would have done the research as to who can or can´t participate.

Old friends who made the cut - Peppermint Magazine (Australia´s only environmentally conscious fashion magazine), Simple Phoebe, the Environmental Toothbrush, KeepCup, Savers, Fourth Daughter and Kitchen Wench who sources her ingredients from farmers markets or she grows her own.

New friends -
Gideon 100% Australian handmade sneakers from Kangaroo & Cane Toad leathers with 100% profit going to the Noffs Street University. I must say I do prefer leather over pvc. A natural fiber and a quality material that lasts. With Cane Toads and Kangaroos considered feral animals that causes. catastrophic damage and threaten our landscape, agriculture and industries, as long as they´re not farmed or are farmed humanly, this is the kind of leather I want.

"We just came back from the US ... We met with Kelly Cutrone (a fashion industry representative) who looks after Vivienne Westwood, Sass & Bide ... She loved the whole idea and took us out to dinner with the associate editor of Oprah magazine,"
- Mr Noffs co-director of Gideon.

Now that´s one step closer to Oprah than most of us got!

People & Planet raises funds for 37 Australian social-justice and environmental organizations, supporting the work of those organizations by promoting a just, sustainable world. The calendar I purchased is made from monza recycled paper (55% recycled and 45% Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified sustainably-harvested fibre. I particularly like the below image as although it´s shocking to see how a single person can carry so much weight, it´s also a powerful image that gives truth and hope to the saying ¨when thereś a will thereś a way¨. You can check out other images via their website where you can buy the diary/calendar or a limited edition print.

Traditional Healthcare Not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating sustainable healthcare facilities in remote areas of the world. I was attracted to the concept, creating a natural/herbal sustainably built medical clinic teaching people how to take care of themselves and their families through the use of holistic medicine and doing it sustainably so that rather than have them rely on the clinic as a go to place for an instant fix, people can learn how to grow their own herbs and develop skills that can be passed on in the future, thus they become self reliant, which is the name of the game when we talk about sustainability. I´ve been told it will cost $60k to set up and have it functioning. So if anyone out there who is considering buying a car but is also needing to make amends with the world, this could be it! Think about it, you can make such a massive impact on an entire community and it´s future or you could purchase a vehicle that heats up the earth and shortens a possible future. After having a peruse through the proposal, I am intrigued with the research conducted. *$20K has so far been raised.

So if you do have a spare moment today (Sunday) do pop over to Federation Square and open your eyes to a world of possibilities!

More Less More Music download 16 #mlmmusic

2010-12-07T17:23:00.004+11:00

what is #mlmmusic?

I have a slight crush on Myles Mayo... a lad from SA who seems to know how to string a few chords. Cute song, catchy too! Clip, eh but I still like it and I hope you do too!

Download "how you done me wrong" here

For a bonus track, head over to Triple J Unearth

More Less More Music download 15 #mlmmusic

2010-11-30T15:36:00.010+11:00

what is #mlmmusic?

Triple J had their J Awards yesterday at rock sweat, grunge out Ding Dong lounge.

"The J Award consistently recognises the very best musical talent that Australia has on offer, each year celebrating the outstanding musical output of our homegrown artists."

Who took out Australian Album of the Year?
The boys who I blogged about in More Less More Music down 10 #mlmusic!
Since you would already have the free legit download from that post, I will in this post give you a download from a group also nominated in the same category;

BAG RAIDERS!

Up against tough competition and while they didn't take home the J Award, this dynamic duo could still go home wearing the crown for Number 1 best DJs in NSW. They also take out the number 5 spot nationally, which is pretty damn good!

With much respect going out to Triple J and Bag Raiders,
download Triple J's Disco Remix courtesy of Bag Raiders
here

Lighting up Off Grid

2010-11-27T11:36:00.016+11:00

I am indifferent when it comes to IKEA. While I'm not a fan of uniform looks, IKEA does know a thing or two about style and design. They are at the end of the day Swedish and we do like em' Swedes! I guess if you can give your room/pad a touch of your own personality without it screaming 'brought to you by IKEA' then that's fine. While I still prefer second-hand/upcycled furnishings over IKEA, there are times when IKEA is the easiest point of call. Foruntately, they do recognize they have a responsibility beyond home furnishing, which you can read here.

So, the other day whilst running an errand and I came across IKEA Sunnan Solar Powered Lamps. Not only was I sold on price $19.95 but I was also sold on knowing that for every IKEA Sunnan lamp purchased worldwide, another is donated to UNICEF and Save the Children to enable children in homes without electricity to do their homework.

It's really simple to use. Take it out of package, leave it outside for 9hrs, bring it in and use it! A 9hr charge should last you 3hrs. I have one in my bedroom and surprisingly I have not had the need to charge it everyday. Quite impressive that I think I might just get myself another for the other side of the bed and make my bedroom completely offgrid when it comes to lighting. Can be done, especially now that we're in daylight savings time!

"In June 2010, it is one year since the SUNNAN solar lamp campaign started. So far, around 500,000 lamps have been sold. The two best selling SUNNAN countries are Japan and Italy followed by Germany, Switzerland and France. In FY11, IKEA hopes to sell one million SUNNAN lamps worldwide in order to enable the same amount of lamp donations to UNICEF and Save the Children."

So come on Australia! Start lighting up with an IKEA Sunnan!

More Less More Music download 14 #mlmmusic

2010-11-23T14:52:00.005+11:00

what is #mlmmusic?

I am just luvin the Jezabels. How much so? Another post of em' so but with a new download of course (previous entry - More Less More Music download 4 #mlmmusic)! If you haven't already downloaded one if not all of their EPs yet, here's another download to entice and convince you that this group is not to be ignored. Actually with a gig at most of this Summer's music festivals, you'll be a fool to not know who the Jezabels are.

For a short time only, download it from itunes here

Young Blood not True Blood

2010-11-22T16:57:00.005+11:00

A beauty product review...

So at the start of the year I posted about the pressed mineral foundation I use which goes by the name Mineralogie. While I was happy with the product, I had run out and they had sold out, so it was time to find a backup.

Wondering through DJs I came across Australian brand Natio. Being so out of touch (as I tend to avoid big department stores), I was not aware they brought out a mineral pressed power. Scored. But on use, I realized it was just that, a power not a pressed mineral foundation, thus there was no coverage at all. So rather than waste a perfectly good product, I went on the search for something to complement this buy. Introducing Invisible Zinc Tinted Day wear, an Australian made tinted mineral moisturizer and sunscreen and winner of Cosmopolitan magazine 2010 Beauty Awards - Judges Choice. Now after having used the product, I now know why the brand have such stunning beauties as brand ambassadors, with the likes of Elle McPherson, and mother and daughter team Jerry Hall and Georgia Jagger. You see the product smells. Seriously, really smells to a point I was so conscious about it I tried to with much awkwardness avoid the obligatory kiss kiss. I am not overreacting as a comment was made. Aaaahhh embarrassment!! But yet not to waste both products I continued use. Whether a smart decision or not, its now at its end. During this time which felt like forever, I did google to find Young Blood, a mineral based cosmetic company offering what I was searching for, a mineral pressed foundation compact. Paraben free but unlike Mineralogie who uses sweet almond oil as a setting agent, Youngblood uses rice starch instead. Fortunately, this one's a winner and with over a hand full of stockist in Victoria, Ill never be without makeup again. Back to normality for this green chick!

Kyneton knocks one out of the ball park

2010-11-16T15:27:00.015+11:00

(Darthmouth Cottage ) (The Vintage Yard Sale)

The weekend past, my girlfriends and I made our way to the Macedon Ranges. Rain, hail ,shine (shine we did not get) didn't stop us, for we were craving some well deserved R&R.

3 Things we luved:

Our accommodation - a cozy country cottage in Woodend
Piper Street, Kyneton
Hanging Rock Sparkling rose` for Budburst Wine Festival

Piper Street Kyneton, absolutely luved. Picture this, a street made up of at least 2 chef hat restaurants, over a handful of quaint breakfast cafes, a Moroccan tapas joint, the much talked about Pizza Verde and my fav, Inner Biscuit, an organic patisserie and cafe. These photos might not do it justice but let me tell you, any place that offers a chocolate pistachio meringue, knows a thing or two about a way to a sweet tooth's heart! Oh and breakfast, apple and brie on sourdough, and cinnamon apple date chutney with feta and rocket bruschetta, were both delightful. Local produce, organic ingredients and coffee, this little green chick had thought she had died and gone to heaven.

I was also enchanted by the Vintage Yard Sale, so much so I now feel my life is close to complete! Everything I desire could be found here from furnishings to clothing to nick nacks. Now I'm thinking this would make a nice addition to my coastal eco-house I foresee myself living and working from in the future...! (one day... oh but when will my one day come?!)

Never thought I would be so eager to say this but, Kyneton anyone, like soonish?

More Less More download 13 #mlmmusic

2010-11-16T13:32:00.007+11:00

what is #mlmmusic?

Crystal Castles are "among the most in-demand pop-music acts since the inception of blog culture. Hailing from Toronto, they have since transcended all forms of modern media, becoming icons of a new age of electronic music with front cover features in NME, Juke, Dazed and Confused, and Guardian Guide."

Do you trust me? If so...

Download "Not In Love (featuring Robert Smith) here

Green Fields, Green Spring, Green Horse of course!

2010-11-10T17:35:00.008+11:00

While there is quite some truth to Marieke Hardy's article, "The Melbourne Cup: It's a truly revolting spectacle", I still embraced 2010 Spring Racing Carnival festivities. You see the premise of Green Chic is about making small changes first, as small changes are found to be easier to retain as oppose to being hit with big changes. But it's also about generating thought and conversation amongst people who are not of similar thinking. And that is the challenge. To change the behaviour and thoughts of climate change sceptics but to do so in a non-confronting manner.

So, my motto for 2010 Spring Racing Carnival was based around the 3R principles - Reuse, Reduce & Recycle. Attending 2 race days Derby and Stakes, I made only 1 purchase and that purchase was an item that will have much reuse (already reused!). That item being a Derby Day"commissioned neckpiece" by Simply Phoebe (a local designer who uses remnant, reclaimed and vintage fabric to create her wares).

Fun times were had, winnings there were and bonuses there was! The bonus was Flemington's Green Fields initiative, an initiative demonstrating their commitment to raising awareness of environmental sustainability.

Flemington Green Fields aims to reduce the environmental impact of the Flemington racecourse by creating tangible results through;

Using 100% GreenPower for all racemeetings held at Flemington during the 2009/10 season
Working with SecondBite, in conjunction with Peter Rowland and their panel of accredited caterers to redistributed unused food from Flemington. During the 2009 Melbourne Cup Carnival 1.485 tonnes was collected providing 3,000 nutritious meals to local charities; food that would otherwise go to landfill
Extending its waste minimization program, recycling 271 tonnes and achieving 54% diversion from landfill (up from 26% in 2008), and setting up recycling stations across Flemington

I wouldn't be surprised if I was the only one at Flemington who happily took a photo of the recycling bins (yes I do get excited over the little things!). But what was also great to see was each marque were given their own personal recycling bins, thus punters had no excuse not to recycle. Nice one VRC!

More Less More Music download 12 #mlmmusic

2010-11-08T18:58:00.013+11:00

what is #mlmmusic?

I tell a lie. I did say I would have more time up my sleeve in November but I have some how managed to drag out the deadline of my report for Melbourne Fringe. I blame it on my masters assessment which is due next week and thus I have decidedly taken it upon myself to make everything due that same day. Mistake? Probably but I am happy to say it's soooo close to completion. Not long now til I give you the marriage of arts and sustainability by yours truly but in the mean time what I can give you is this week's download.

Winners of Triple J 2010 Unearthed High 'Stonefield' with their track Through the Clover.

Quite appropriate to have Stonefield as this week's download, as these darling buds hail from the Macedon Ranges, where I coincidentally will be this coming weekend. But no chance I'll get to see them live as again coincidentally, these sisters will be rocking it out at Queen Vic Market from 1:30pm this Sunday (14th November). And we do like Queen Vic Market, if not for their deli but their stance on sustainability by banning the plastic bag. Luv it!

So if you like the tunes download it here ,
AND
if you really like them, then get yourself over to Queen Vic Market this Sunday and while you're there do grab yourself a Borek from the deli mmm.... Too easy.

More Less More Music download 11 #mlmmusic

2010-11-02T13:41:00.004+11:00

what is #mlmmusic?

It is no surprise why many of us heart Melbourne. And Gypsy and The Cat just adds more weight to our love. From the suburban garage to the cashed up Sony corporation, these local lads ‘serves up a warm blend of melodic pop that is set in grand electronic soundscapes that is influenced by acts ranging from Fleetwood Mac and Jeff Buckley to the innovative electronic sounds of Daft Punk and Justice.’ Nuff said.

Download it here and be Melbourne proud

Hövding means "chieftain" in Swedish

2010-10-29T16:01:00.007+11:00

Hövding

Those crazy Swedes. Yes they do have style, and design must run through their blood but really could this work? Possibly when Winter 2011 hits (no pun intended), I will be more convinced. For now, I''ll just keep on admiring their styling!

More Less More Music download 10 #mlmmusic

2010-10-27T16:08:00.007+11:00

what is #mlmmusic?

While these Perth lads strum their sounds around Europe, they do so knowing they have 5 ARIA nominations to their name; 'Album of the Year', 'Best Group', 'Best Rock Album', 'Breakthrough Artist' and 'Best Cover Art'. Now thatś a big seller and thanks to the guys at Daytrotter you can find out why the Tame Impala sound is ¨one equally informed by The Beatles as it is beat poetry.¨

Download it now
here

Crafty Wears - made in melbourne

2010-10-24T20:52:00.017+11:00

This weekend was dictated by the crafts but in a good way. A week or so ago, I came across Emily Green via The Design Files and was instantly drawn to her colorful brooches. A textile designer by trade, she combines digital prints and resin to create her colorful delights. I am so sold by them that I make my way into town just to catch her at Craft Hatch market, a Craft Victoria initiative, showing casing the works of 25 emerging designers each month. And what a great item to own. For the next day as I made brief appearances in Fitzroy/Richmond/North Melbourne, I kid you not, I was showered with glowing comments over my new brooch. Who would have thought this colorful little pick me up would be such a conversation starter! The only hiccup and my bad, was I kept telling people the designer was Emma Green rather than EMILY Green. If only I had just said Em Green, I would not feel so bad. Oh well.

So the brooch was my Saturday buy. My Sunday buy was another seek out buy. I had met Simply Phoebe at Finders Keepers market a week or so ago. At Finders Keepers Phoebe only had stocks of winter-ish colors left which didn't agree with my bright colors only mission. But all was not lost as she would be at Spring Fling, a North Melbourne Errol Street festival to spruik her wares. Of course I followed and now I am the owner of this neck piece, which is made from recycled material/offcuts (mine I´m told has curtain pieces). Definitely a tick in my sustainability books, thus LUV. Luv so much I no longer need a new outfit for the races rather another neck piece will do me just fine. Reuse (dress & head gear), Recycle (neck piece made from recycled outcuts, and heels from camberwell market) and Reduce (my purchases/consumption), is my motto for Spring Racing Carnivale 2010. Now time to get onto Phoebe to see if she can whip me up the perfect Derby Day piece! Stay tuned.

More Less More Music download 9 #mlmmusic

2010-10-23T09:52:00.005+11:00

what is #mlmmusic?

As always better late than never. Normal programing will return next week as I have some me time up my sleeve again. Though, a report is still in the works but it's not far off from completion.

Anyhoo, so I missed out on Yacht Club Djs at the Corner last week while I wouldn't have had the energy and time, nonetheless I still missed out. So I give you this week's belated download, Yacht Club DJs, fine boys from Ballarat who have gotten down and dirty with Little Red's highly rotated single 'Rock It' and have given it their touch. Enjoy.

Click here to download

More Less More Music download 9 #mlmmusic

2010-10-12T16:47:00.009+11:00

what is #mlmmusic?

I remember the very first Laneway Festival, back in 2004 when it was known as St Jeromes laneway festival. When St Jeromes was a bar, a gig venue and a place where we could grab a trusty toasted sandwich. Held in Caledonian lane, stage at little bourke street end and entry from lonsdale street, businesses opened up their back door for all to roam through. One memory was drifting through the kitchen of the Viet restaurant grabbing a spring roll and then heading upstairs to a lounge area. I believe it was Eskimoe Joe and The Avalanches who brought the laneway it's fame. Ahhh... the memories. So I align this week's track with the release of Laneway's 2011 lineup by giving you Gotye who you can expect to see at Footscray Community Arts Centre, the new location for the Laneway festival, no longer a laneway but a riverbank which seem to work just as well last year.

"Eyes Wide Open" by Gotye (released 12 October 2010)

download it here

Why Why Why???

2010-10-09T14:21:00.007+11:00

One thing I have got to quit doing is asking myself the question WHY ME? While I embrace the whole "everything happens for a reason" aka FATE I can't help but question why sh*t things happen to me during the times I have been eagerly waiting for.

When I ask myself the question Why me? I seem to start questioning everything and start doubting myself which leads to frustration and stress. I am the root of my own stress. So what I need to do is avoid self-doubt and put myself in non-superficial situations. It is then I am at ease. However, what is stressful to one may not be stressful to another. While I am a happy go lucky person, I am only happy go lucky when I am not constrained by time and when there is mutual respect within the environment one is in. Some people thrive on the sense of urgency, I prefer a smooth process where things just falls into place as I find there is some kind of "realness" in it, whereas the other is really just finding quick solutions to inefficiencies. I HATE inefficiencies, it destroys me as life is too precious to be wasted on inefficiencies. Which is why I have changed my path in life. I have new priorities which kind of aligns with Erik Dammann, Norwegian author, environmentalist and founder of The Future in Our Hands organization, idea of wanting "society to arrange things to allow for more part-time work and similar solutions promoting more sustainable consumption." Having received 'The Right Livelihood Award', more commonly known as the "Alternative Nobel Prize", for challenging Western values and lifestyles in order to promote a more responsible attitude to the environment and the third world, Dammann is not just a man of blubbering words.

More Less More Music download 8 #mlmmusic

2010-10-05T14:46:00.007+11:00

what is #mlmmusic?

Jose Gonzales last album was 2007 'In Our Nature'. While tracks from the album still receives much rotation, when word on street had it that "Rope And Summit" was a new track from Jose Gonzales' band Junip, I jumped on it!

If you're liking these Swedish boys, download the tune here

And if you really really like them, see them at the Corner by getting your ticket here

Swiss made SIGG

2010-10-03T19:16:00.010+11:00

A few months ago I blogged about Vapur, the anti-bottle. While the concept is great but for everyday use, not so. I do like my Vapur bottle for the convenience at music festivals and the likes but it does get grotty and I'm not so keen on grot. But the SIGG on the other hand is the BOMB. It was always a desire of mine not to buy into the SIGG brand but now I realize there is a reason why so many peeps choose the SIGG. An aluminimum reusable bottle lined with BPA-free Eco-Care liner and phthalate-free ingredients, it's easy to clean, nice and light and keeps my water fresh. All that I need to quench the thirst.

With my SIGG bottle, I'm in pretty good company!

Hot to Trot

2010-09-28T21:02:00.015+10:00

oh Camberwell Market, how I luv thee...

The term "Slow Fashion" seems to be popping up in conversation these days. While I'm not a fan of the term, I guess it does kinda make sense. "Fast Fashion" aka "Disposal Fashion" is not very becoming for it seems to represent an idea that one must constantly buy for the purpose of keeping up with the Jones. But seriously who gives a toss about what the Jones think. Life's not a dress rehearsal. Everything has potential and beauty. If it brings you joy, then go for it! At the end of the day, it's how you make it work that counts.

So Sunday just past, not only was it sunshine and lollipops, I managed to score a pair of hot glossy heels, a beautiful vintage-sique coin purse and a brunch of lillies, all for $20. With Spring Racing around the corner, I am ready to show off em' pins!

Rules for rewarding buys:

Never bargain unless the seller initiates
If it catches your eye, ask yourself the question why it caught your eye?
Buy it not for a rainy day but for immediate use

More Less More Music download 7 #mlmmusic

2010-09-28T20:01:00.004+10:00

Sunday was a glorious day. Sun was shining and I picked up some gorgeous bargain buys at Camberwell market as I basked in the sun. Post of buys shall come...

The sun takes me to the beach either physically or in a dream-like state. At the beach we sunbathe, we splash around and we surf! And so this week I give you fan favorite, Let's go surfing by San Fran boys, The Drums.

Click here if you want go surfing...!

#visiblecity #mfringe #collcons #shareable

2010-09-23T21:50:00.008+10:00

www.melbournefringe.com.au/visiblecity

More Less More Music download 6 #mlmmusic

2010-09-23T20:12:00.009+10:00

Apologies, apologies apologies. While I did intend to post a new download every Tuesday, with #mfringe festivities kicking off yesterday, I am to put it simply all over the joint. It is majorly exciting so do check it and if you are on twitter, TWEET PLEASE using hashtags #mfringe or #visiblecity.

OK no more blah blah blah, this week I give you John Butler Trio - "Revolution"
click here for free itunes video downloard

The September Issue

2010-09-18T18:29:00.007+10:00

Throughout the world, fashionistas will tell you that The September 2007 issue of Vogue magazine was the single largest issue of a magazine ever published, weighing in at almost five pounds. The phenomenon surrounding it led to the affirmation that "if fashion was a religion, this would be the bible".

While I do not intend to post the single largest entry on this blog, it would however seem Green Chick is nonetheless conquering the month of September in her own little way. It would seem, the gods or rather some higher power has chosen September to be the month where Green Chic makes her mark in a few publications. A feature piece in national magazine Insight on creating an eco-bedroom (giddy front cover mention!), another feature in RMIT student union magazine Catalyst on Melbourne Cycle Chic and guest editor for Melbourne Fringe The Fix Green edition. Though I must say most of the work was done by Fringe Communications team coz they're simple rad, nuff said.

And so I shall now leave you with, thank you thank you thank you and giddy giddy giddy. *happy*

All we need is a Kindness Revolution

2010-09-16T15:29:00.005+10:00

Today I received from Wake Up Sydney my Kindness Cards!

I luv this concept, to reach out to someone with an anonymous act of kindness.

Sadly, the world is an angry place. We all want to be in a happy place and most of the time we are, but sometimes maybe it´s our competitive nature, greed or the demands surroundings us that seems to drive us away from this place. Weŕe so preoccupied in all that we do that we end up losing our patience and also ourselves. The phrase ¨I just don´t have time¨ tends to lingers amongst us and eats into our happy place. What´s amazing is a kind gesture no matter how small, can bring one back to one´s happy place. The kindness of a stranger makes you stop and think as well as puts a smile on your dial. A smile that comes from your heart. And if you really think about it, you´re happy, they´re happy, then two more are added to the happy tally!

While I could do this without the cards, I do like the feeling of being a part of a movement plus the cards are a great way to show support for the Kindness Revolution - ¨encouraging people to do something kind for someone who then passes on the favour to someone else.¨ Jono Fisher Wake Up Sydney

Wake up Melbourne, Kindness Cards have arrived.

More Less More Music download 5 #mlmmusic

2010-09-14T22:31:00.005+10:00

It was such a beautiful day today that I chose to spend it beach-side. The catch is I didn´t spend much time online.

While I´ve not been intentionally selecting solely oz made music (we just happen to bang out some pretty decent sounds) this week I take it international without the added carbon emissions.

In keeping with the I can´t wait for Summer theme, I give you...

Kid Cudi (ft. Rostam Batmanglij & Bethany Cosentino)

¨ALL SUMMER¨

click here for legit free download

Banksy - My Hero

2010-09-11T20:09:00.006+10:00

Metro gallery on High Street Armadale has their hot little hands on two limited-edition Banksy prints and is excepting to build on this with a costly Banksy original from London.

Lucky if youŕe in Melbourne during 27 September - 17 October. Never has there been a show in Australia that has brought together the great street artists from around the world, with the likes of Blek Le Rat, Nick Walker, Swoon, Shepard Fairey and Dface as well as locals such as Ha-Ha.

Banksy -
[synonymous to notority and anonymity]
With a penchant for the absurd, satirical, and bizarre Banksy’s works challenge the viewer to re-evaluate the world around them. Using humour to underpin serious social concerns Banksy critiques the lifestyle of consumerism and gluttony that is symptomatic of the society in which we live.

I love my nephew & he loves me

2010-09-07T17:48:00.004+10:00

Jackson is my nephew and yesterday was his Third Birthday. Happy Birthday my luv!

It may be pretentious of me to say this but I reckon I´m his favourite aunt. Mum reckons it´s because he sees me as his playmate rather than as an adult. I guess she has a point since I am a big kid at heart after all!

Jackson loves Thomas the tank engine, I love green smart living. So we have a conflict. How can I make this little boy happy while staying true to myself? Something´s gotta give right?

Well as it would happen Thomas has a friend called Whiff who hauls freights containing recycled items to Sodor recycling plant. Luv it! Now I can teach Jack about recycling cans, paper and bottles and he gets to add another train to his Thomas collection. A win-win for all!

More Less More Music download 4 #mlmmusic

2010-09-07T17:24:00.005+10:00

It´s that time of week again folks.
This week I give you Sydneysiders The Jezabels. While I´m luvin their latest hit Easy to Love, I haven't come across a free download for this song. However what they do have for us is this widget.

Something different, something cool and that simply sums up The Jezabels. Have a listen. If you like, add the widget to your webpage and/or click here for other tracks, free from their Triple J unearthed page.

Tweaking the norm with blueberries

2010-09-05T16:36:00.014+10:00

Happy Father's Day!

For some reason, it's always been in my family that as the kids get older, we up the ante on how much we spend on gifts for each other. It´s never been a rule or a requirement but I guess my bro and I just had the same thinking that as our salaries increased we would lavish our folks, as kind of a thank you gesture for getting us to where we are today. While my bro continues to strive for pole position in the corporate world, I on the other hand have done a 360, sacrificing the dollar for greater control over my life. While my priorities have changed for the better, so have my savings or lack of. Thus I can no longer lavish one with pricey gifts. Which is kind of great as now I find I put more thought into a gift.

My dad loves blueberries. So for father´s day I thought it would be quite fitting to buy dad a blueberry tree. Inexpensive and personal. Plus it fits in with my green queen ambitions.

A couple of months ago I met Joel from Moondarra Blueberries, during a uni excursion to Slow Food Farmers Market at Abbotsfords Convent. Moondarra Blueberries is an established blueberry plant propagator and producer of quality organic blueberries, with certification from the National Association of Sustainable Agriculture Australia (NASSA). NASAA is accredited with both AQIS and IFOAM.

What´s great about this purchase was not only was it a step in the slow food movement direction but I also found it quite refreshing to chat to the people who actually grow and work with the product. Their excitement became my excitement!

You can find Moondarra Blueberries either online or at various Farmers´ Market through out Melbourne.

And Dad, I´ve been told you should expect clusters of berries from this baby coming January.

Snug as a bug in EDUN

2010-09-01T15:34:00.017+10:00

EDUN is more than just nude spelled backwards.

Most of us are sold on items that are glamorized by celebrities whether they be A grade or D grade celebs. Luckily for me my latest buy has both the celeb and eco cred. Not that I believe in the "if I wear a celeb endorsed product I am living the high life." But I do like to think I’m in pretty good company.

EDUN is not just another celebrity endorsed brand. It is however another one of Bono's do good projects that raises awareness through fashion. But his mission is larger than selling T-shirts, shrunken blazers and slim-cut denim pants with metallic stitching. The collection co-deisgned by Bono’s wife (Ali Hewson) and Rogan (New York clothing designer), is founded on the premise of trade not aid and promotes sustainable communities. By encouraging trade in Africa, it fosters financial growth that helps more Africans become self sufficient and less dependent on aid. Ethical and organic fabrics are used throughout and produced under ethical guidelines.

Each pair of jeans is inscribed:

“We carry the story of the people who make our clothes around with us.”

I do luv Bono, I do luv U2, so naturally I do luv EDUN.

Good music, Rockin fashion, Strong ethics.

More Less More Music download 3 #mlmmusic

2010-08-31T14:55:00.005+10:00

While this clip is over a year old, these Melbourne "unearthed" kids are still fresh, even after hitting the road with the Temper Trap and playing Splendor and are still quite the value for money. We've seen what became of the $15 Presets and Cutcopy gigs at Ding Dong back in the day, so we're thinking Oh Mercy may just be on the same path. Get at em' while you have the chance. Tickets at last week's Toff of Town gig went for the same low price but who knows how long that will last...!

Click here if you want it!

Findng treasure at The Treasury

2010-08-29T20:12:00.008+10:00

Emma Grace - local fashion crusader with an appreciation for sustainability, brings us The Treasury.

¨The Treasury is about sustainable fashion – guiding people away from ‘throw-away culture’ and leading them back towards the way we used to live; where if something broke, you fixed it, and if you got bored of it, you made it into something new.¨

Welcoming us into her studio, she shares her craft and love of design with the unimaginative and proves that fashion and sustainability can live in harmony. For I, it was a case of killing 2 birds. My little box of beloved items that I no longer have any use for, a shame to trash and not really give away worthy, was to be given a new life. In what form? I was not quite sure but I was excited by the unknown.

While pieces I did construct, I had nothing on the other peeps who came loaded with goodies and ideas. De-constructed aluminum can bits, resin icecubes, typepad keys... I shall know for next time. And next time there will be as I am inspired. I´m now thinking a pair of cufflinks for the mister?

Intrigued? Well then, keep an eye out on Emma´s blog or if you want something like NOW, pop over to her website.

Emma also tells me she´ll be exhibiting some of her fine wares during Melbourne Spring Fashion Week at the Green is the New Black exhibition and cocktail night. Now that´s definitely worth a stickybeak!

A good clean - 2009 Green Awards winner

2010-08-28T00:27:00.011+10:00

When you put something out there, people are bound to respond. How one respond does however differ. Positive feedback is generally the norm but then you also get people making contributions from a shared interest.

Our communication tends to circulate amongst our already developed circles but when we branch out what we get is access to another world.

Last month I was forwarded not just once but twice the link to Environmental Toothbrush. Maybe this was a hint I needed to brush my teeth more often?? But since I have yet to meet @ody_who, I figured this couldn't be the case. Unless, @m_zero_ had mentioned something to her, he being the other culprit. Probably not, well better not! You see @m_zer_o is a dude that thinks big, actually make it HUGE. He did what I'm kind of doing with this blog. Live the "green" life but he took it to another level by setting himself the challenge of living a year carbon neutral (check it here). Pretty CRAZY. Good crazy tho not the other crazy... So not surprising he would come across stuff like the environmental toothbrush.

Why the Environmental Toothbrush is so great:

In Australia, over 30 million toothbrushes are used and disposed of by Australians each year, amounting to approximately 1000 tonnes of landfill each year. The plastic they’re made of won’t break down in our lifetime. Nor within the lifetime of our children. Imagine that on a global scale.

The Environmental Toothbrush is a simple solution. Made from bamboo, a natural cellulose fibre, they are 100% biodegradable, environmentally sustainable, and do not pollute the environment. The amazing growth and self-renewing ability of bamboo means that deforestation is not necessary either. Even our packaging is bio-degradable.

Plus it's developed by an actual dentist!

Winner of www.news.com.au 2009 Green Award

More Less More Music download 2 #mlmmusic

2010-08-25T14:34:00.007+10:00

Here goes the weekly free music download segment. For those of you going what da? Well it all stems from this post.

Keeping it short and sweet, this week's free download is Cut Copy's new-ish song "Where I'm Going". It's on my iPhone, is it on yours?!

"The tribal pound of "Where I'm Going," has been described by the band as "the kind of track Brian Wilson would've written if he took ecstasy and hung out in 60's London instead of California.""

Seeing Green...

2010-08-22T13:03:00.009+10:00

Yesterday´s election I saw two things. There are those of us who want to change the world and there are those of us who just don´t care. I tend to fall into the want to change the world group. Unfortunately to change the world I´ve come to realize we can´t rely on anyone but ourselves to do so. Letś face it, politicians are all talk, blah blah blah but where´ś the action?? I am sick of all this talk and all this wasted resources.

But I´m just a girl living in this big big world. Can I really make a change when it comes to climate change? Maybe not a significant change but isn´t any change better than no change at all?

So it makes me so warm and fuzzy when my darling friend Karts gave me this gift. ¨A green bag for a greener world¨. Whether the bag is ethically made or made from organic materials is not the point. Although ideally it would be awesome if it was but the point is that those around me have started to take note and think more seriously about a future ¨green¨ world.

Although I want to change the world, I am also aware that it is not my place to force it upon others to do so. In order for there to be real sustainable uptake, people need to willingly embrace it themselves. All I´m here to do is to give them a little push in what I believe is the right direction!

More music for Less crap for More peeps

2010-08-17T16:52:00.016+10:00

As mentioned a number of times, I am a sucker for challenges. I find completing or more like attempting challenges quite insightful. Not only do you tend to discover hidden truths about yourself but you also tend to come across things you wouldn't have otherwise found had it not been for the challenge.

This challenge is one I am instigating. In order to reduce my consumption and move towards a minimalist lifestyle I have chosen to avoid JB HIFI, whereby I will no longer make anymore CD purchases. *Shock Horror*. It truly is, as friends will tell you, I do have quite a CD collection. Call it my thing. Shamelessly, my first CD was Milli Vanilli but I'd like to think that this shame has lead me to develop a deeper appreciation for music.

Although record labels are slowly reducing their use of plastic CD cases by replacing them with FSC certified paper cases, the CD itself and the accompanying creed that goes along with it is still an accumulation of waste. So the challenge is to reduce this waste. But that doesn't mean the playlist should stop growing. No siree. Thanks to iTunes and Triple J free downloads, I am hit up with enough beats to keep me bopping along.

Now do note, I am all for sharing music amongst friends but I am not down with internet sharing sites, except for those that are legit ie music labels like modular who provide free music downloads. This is simply because it's not fair, thus why our world is so messed up.

To kick start this challenge, in place of a trip to JB, I downloaded Angus and Julia Stone's latest album Down the Way and low and behold in the process came across a free download of Custom King's latest release Sunday which I reckon will be like their Number 1 for 2010.

With this little download bonus, it got me thinking. Time to add a new feature to Green Chic. Since I'll be downloading my music from now on, I reckon I'll also be coming across free music downloads. To encourage you to come along on my journey, I will each week create a blog entry with the clip and link to my favourite free download song for you to decide if you like it and want it, or not! It's works along the lines of the More for Less for More strategy, where emphasis is placed on delivering more value for less cost for more people (Harvard Business Review).

More music for Less crap for More peeps

This week I give you:

"Sunday" - Custom Kings
(click here for free iTunes download)

*I have nothing against JB HIFI as they do have the best service and will continue to be my place of choice for other buys.

"If I think, vote the Greens"

2010-08-14T13:24:00.008+10:00

Itś a week til the election and naturally I will be voting greens.

The Republic of Everyone ¨fake¨ pitch on gruen nation summed it up the best with the tag line, ¨If you think, vote the greens¨. True to these words I am. I do think, I actually have been found guilty of thinking way too much.

I must admit though, I am not a full fledge greens voter. While they have my vote, I am not 100% sold on all their policies. But then again will there ever be a party that meets all our needs and wants? Highly unlikely as let´s be realistic, everyone´s priorities are different and though priorities do change as we grow, at this point in time, the greens are the party that aligns closest to my values.

I vote greens simply for the following reasons:

Making polluters pay. Compensating and retraining displaced workers is a much better use of our tax dollars than paying carbon credits to dirty industries.
Making education free and abolishing university fees. Everyone should be given the opportunity to achieve their full potential no matter what situation they are in.
Making fairer workplaces = No workchoices
Making transport sustainable. Removing GST on public transport, abolishing fringe benefit taxes, and increasing tariffs on imported four wheel vehicles.
Making my vote count and strengthening the voice of minor parties. If we didn’t have preferential voting then those who support a candidate who may appear unlikely to win would have to consider voting for one of the other candidates or otherwise have their vote effectively “wasted”. With the greens in the senate, we are likely to see more constructive negotiation and better outcomes for climate action as they can influence political outcomes by negotiating for good policy, or by obstructing from passing.

I don´t have a problem with preference votes going to labor as I prefer to have a confident leader than one who admits they are not qualified to make comments when probed. Errr hellooo but aren´t you like meant to be leading our country?

i heart Melbourne

2010-08-12T14:45:00.006+10:00

This is my town and I luv it. Thank you to those around me for opening my eyes to a city that continuously amazes... #visiblecity

Thank you Hit & Miss for putting a smile on my face.

Masterclass

2010-08-10T13:48:00.010+10:00

Much of Saturday just passed was spent at uni. Although I whine and moan about waking up early on my free day, I was still glad to have to made it to class. You see it has taken me literally years to truly appreciate the fundamental purpose of university. Unlike my undergrad¨experimentation¨ years, which I do regard as some of my best years, at postgrad level I am surrounded by like-minded and passionate folks all with similar goals. I am so amazed with this group of intellects that I often find myself too awe to even speak. Though I must say there are some who can ramble a bit too much but seeing their passion it´s forgivable.

Although every class is insightful, what made this particular Saturday class special enough to deserve a posting on Green Chic? Well, it´s all got to do with Frank and his family. You see, for class Frank spoke about the localism of our food and the different ways we define local. Is it within 100 miles or is it as his daughter suggest, food that is from the garden? In the case of Frank´s family, consensus would have it being the food that they grow. And wanting to share with us their take on local food, they packaged the seeds harvested from their garden and distributed them among the class. There were loads. Everything about this act of sharing was heartfelt. And now 25 others will have the opportunity to experience their localism. I do hope my seeds do spurt into the mini capsicum it says it will. Would be amazing to show and tell the fruits of my labour but I guess only time will tell.

Sunday giggle

2010-08-01T15:58:00.008+10:00

So I spent the whole weekend in bed to recoup which kinda makes me question the whole concept of work hard, play hard. Cause I really did work hard, so hard it knock the bejesus out of me and thus play hard did not eventuate. Hmmm.... But what I did do is finally organize my taxes, ebay a few goodies, and surf some websites which I've been emailing myself to check out when I *cough* had time...!

... and tis what I found...

Home Truths #10pcs91days

2010-07-31T21:40:00.008+10:00

Today was the last day of my version of GreenByDesign 10 piece challenge and not only was I glad for it to be over, I was actually happy to spend the day ill in bed so that I didn't have to think about what I was going to wear on my last day.

I was over the challenge for a couple of reasons.

Relying on 10 pieces meant constantly doing the washing even when I didn't have much to wash. I would either have to wait til there was enough for a full load or I would have to hand wash the clothes instead. Either way, my favorites started to wear and fade from the constant washing and it became quite an inconvenience.

Life also became dull. As I work in an office environment, most of my pieces had to be work appropriate, which meant clothes had to be pretty basic aka plain. The problem with this was that it would then filter over to my weekends and evenings, thus I could not separate work from my personal life.

What I found from doing this challenge was that I like variety and not having variety surprisingly affected me. I felt I couldn't express myself and I felt restricted. Restriction does not sit well with me. This challenge required me to constantly think about what to wear, when to wear, when to wash, which although doesn't seem like a huge ask, for me it was as I couldn't be my carefree self. I didn't have the luxury to purchase new pieces I came across since I wouldn't be able to wear them, so what was the point.

This challenge did bring about some home truths. I never thought of myself as the vain type but maybe I am just a tad. I definitely don't want to be one of those people who, as Tim Jackson puts it, "spend money we don't have on things we don't need to create impressions that don't last on people we don't care about". But I do in my life want to have choice and I want to spend time thinking about the bigger things rather than wasting it on scheduling my washing and wears. Moderation is the key.

Another challenge, not quite enjoyable but muchly welcomed for now everything I buy will have meaning and appreciation.

¨In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different¨
- Coco Chanel

London Calling: Emma´s Birthday

2010-07-25T09:50:00.012+10:00

Em is one of my besties, who has set up home in ol´ London town. I miss her dearly but London seems to agree with her (maybe not in the colder months, luckily for me she gets aways from the cold by coming home!).

Anyhoo, it was her birthday last week. Now being eco, we bang on about buying local. So what happens when the gift recipient is overseas? Even though the gift is small, sending something from Melbourne to London still contributes to air travel miles, right? So for the convenience as well as expanding the green chic love, I went on the search for UK ethical/environmental online stores. I did come across several but it was Love Eco that appealed to me the most. A UK based online store selling ethical and eco-friendly alternatives that are in touch with modern life and trends.

I have always luved Robert Indiana´s famous LoVE design, so when I saw it printed on a cushion at Love Eco, I knew I had found the gift for Em.

What I also like about Love Eco is they tell you the eco-ness of each item they stock.

The LoVE cushion:

Handmade in the UK.
Cover is made from felt that is made from recycled plastic bottles
Inner cushion is made from recycled fibre filling covered in organic cotton muslin (both also made in the UK).

Thanks so much Becky (@loveeco) founder of Love Eco, for all your communication and help! It was such a pleasure dealing with this lovely being and she was ever so accommodating with my extra requests!

In good company: Copenhagen Cycle Chic

2010-07-25T00:20:00.017+10:00

Yesterday I found myself in the presence of greatness. As part of the State of Design festival Mikael Colville-Andersen, founder of Copenhagen Cycle Chic ["The Sarotrialist on two wheels"] and Copenhagenzie, presented what he believes to be the Four Goals for Promoting Urban Cycling.

Four Goals to Promoting Urban Cycling:

A2B-ism – focusing on the getting from A to B in the most quickest, easiest and efficient way possible.
Apply basis marketing technique – make urban cycling a "hero" brand, where everyone wanting a piece of it.
Stop Ignoring the Bull – Look at the problem, deal with the problem. Restrict movement. Medicate. Castrate. Rather than bubble wrapping the bull, how about trying to tame the bull.
Re-democratisation – re-humanising cycling. Re-creating livable cities rather than creating livable cities.

An hour with this filmmaker, photographer, and urban mobility expert confirmed to me that as like with the problem of climate change, what we need in solving the problem is to first go back to the basics instead of over-glamourising and over-complicating the problem. His four goals does work as proven in Barcelona, Dublin, Paris, Montreal and soon to be Mexico, State of Israel and Sweden. Mikael Colville-Andersen does know what he is talking about.

But can this work in Melbourne? Well we all seem to agree that the Melbourne Bike Share scheme is a total flop. The scheme is not easy nor is it efficient. It is just ill conceived. And what frustrates me the most is that this successful concept has just simply been duplicated without any regard to whether it is Melbourne appropriate. How embarrassing to be known as the only city to have unsuccessful implemented a highly successful concept. I am also not impressed that my tax paying dollars have been wasted on the dumb-asses who consulted on this scheme. I want a refund. However, general consensus for its failure seems to be the existence of our helmet laws. A view also expressed by the audience. The scheme doesn't work because what tourist is going to pack a helmet in their luggage for use only in Australia and New Zealand? But to me this isnt the major issue, though it does seem to be the most obvious. Melbourne, unlike the cities and countries listed above, does not have 30km speed limits for ALL vehicles traveling in the CBD. What it does have are tram lines and lots of angry people aka road rage. Why would I hire a bike, which I will then need to return it to an allocated station when I could buy a tram ticket that gets me to exactly where I need to go? And people who drive. Lets face it, they drive because they are in a rush and when elements like cyclists delay them from getting from A2B, they become angry, thus making the roads unsafe. As a member of the audience stated, the reason her friends don't cycle is because they feel unsafe. It is not because of distance as stated by Anita Curow, Director of Network Improvements at VicRoads. So right was the audience member and so wasted are the taxes that go to VicRoads. Although I can appreciate the audience members position to not wear a helmet when cycling as she feels safer as drivers tend to be more cautious of cyclists without a helmet, I will however continue wearing my helmet. I dont like to but I wear it for my safety because until the people of Melbourne become less angry and less selfish, I need all the protection I can get.

We keep investing in all this infrastructure but how about investing in cycle culture? As Colville-Andersen mentions we need to re-humanize the bicycle. And I totally agree. I recall my trip to Cambodia. You see, Cambodia does not seem to have road rules. So from the airport to my accommodation, we would be driving along one way and then suddenly swerve into oncoming traffic. And these roads are shared with cyclists. So my first two days in Cambodia I completely freaked out as I was expected to cycle to and forth to the orphanage during my month stay. They want me to cycle with these crazy drivers and without a helmet?? Hence the freak out. But after 2 days of piggybacking other cyclists, I realized I had nothing to fear. Cyclists owned the streets. It had nothing to do with the infrastructure, just the numbers, which gave them the power.

So when Melbourne develops a strong cycling culture, I will only then feel safe not to wear my helmet and it will only be then I will rely solely on my bicycle as my main form of transport.

So Ethic fills a void

2010-07-21T14:55:00.011+10:00

Last Sunday I fought the gust of wind and rain to get to the pre-launch of Melbourne’s first ethical fashion store 'So Ethic'. Positioned at the new artisan retail hub known as Rebecca Walk (northern side of the Yarra, under the flinders street train bridge), 'So Ethic' fits right at home.

'So Ethic' is not your regular Oxfam, Off Ya Tree, Ishka kind of store. Owner Bhakti, is out on a mission to prove fashion can be chic whilst overcoming the misconception that ethical fashion is just a rainbow of mix-match threads. Committed to sourcing items solely from designers who are also committed to sustainability, the environment and human rights, one can pick up any item and be well assured it is either natural, organic, recycled, fair trade or artisan/handmade. Shopping has never felt so guilt-free and meaningful. I like it!

People of and visitors to Melbourne, I believe a void has been filled.

Steinan (Iceland) / KateTailyour (UK)

UNIDOT (UK) / COMO NO (France)

Homeless Chic

2010-07-20T13:47:00.007+10:00

Cheng Guosheng aka Brother Sharp has become an internet cult hero.
A homeless man with surprisingly good fashion sense caputured by an amateur photographer.

Just goes to show, you can´t buy style.

Click here for the full story.

Design Made Trade - State of Design festival

2010-07-19T22:29:00.012+10:00

On the weekend I made my way over to the Design Made Trade exhibition, which is a part of the State of Design festival. State of Design festival showcases how design generates innovation, promotes sustainability and adds value to business and society. Promotes sustainability, I like the sound of that! And so true it does.

At the Design Made Trade, I was amazed by how much use there was for paper/cardboard. It was fascinating to see what can be created with recycled paper. From sturdy tables and stools to stall booths, the options were endless. What´s even ideal is having the convenience to flat pack for easy storage or transportation. This is what Change in Design is all about. Using goods that already exist and creating something that agrees/suits our lives now.

What I fell in luv with however was this upcycled table and stool set by BlueBottle3. Picture says it all. So so cute, kinda rustic and perfect for round table feast and discussions! My kinda thing.

Half year house clean

2010-07-19T20:01:00.007+10:00

So my last post was about embarking on a new project called ThreeChics. When this idea was conceived, I had visioned this project to be a record of re-con trips, no biggie, I enjoy roadtrips and off-track adventures. But when things are planned to schedule and deadlines set, that to me is not re-con. I´m a great believer in letting things happen, going with the flow, happy go lucky, so when these elements are threatened, I tend to lose myself and stop appreciating the things I truly care about. Having taken a huge step to rearrange my life by going from full-time to part-time work, I am not willing to now go back to a dog eat dog world. I really do want the slow life, the sea change, alfresco dining and cheap laughs! So I have decided to forgo ThreeChics.

I don´t regret the ARKit habitation experience, it was definitely an experience and any opportunistic platform to push the green agenda is always welcomed. Having kick started the green movement that is the ThreeChics, is an achievement in itself. To continue would mean sacrificing things I value highly, which I´m not willing to do. Plus I´m too old to take on too many projects. I rather just let things happen. As life has shown me, things seriously do happen when you are true to yourself and just let things be.

It´s still exciting times. Melbourne Fringe project is HUGE and I am in so awe to be a part of such an amazing team. And to be pushing the green movement is just tops. But wait there´s more. Look out for eco-chic articles popping up here and there by yours truly.

So all is good on my front. Life is a learning curve, you learn what you like and you learn what you don´t. You learn what is important to you and what´s important to others. But so long as you do things with passion and sincerity, good things will come your way. Don´t you love karma? I know I do!

ARKit #habitation D-day

2010-07-13T13:18:00.007+10:00

I have been working on a project with two others. This project is called ThreeChics, 3 bloggers united to promote the ¨green¨ movement.

We´ve chosen today to launch our project, today being the day we move into ARKit´s EcoStudio as part of the State of Design festival. Lots to do and many to thank!! So shall end it here but before I sign off will leave you with this quote, a quote I hope transpires from our launch and project;

¨Each of us has much more hidden inside us than we have had a chance to explore. Unless we create an environment that enables us to discover the limits of our potential, we will never know what we have inside of us.¨

- Muhammad Yunus Economist and Banker, Dhaka, Bangladesh (Banker to the Poor)

Green By Design 10 piece Challenge

2010-07-11T13:51:00.014+10:00

Yes, another challenge. It seems that I am a sucker for challenges. But what I´m finding is that these challenges are helping me better understand my consumption patterns, which is quite essential if I am to live a sustainable life.

Green By Design Summer Light Challenge is about challenging ourselves to pick ten garments and wear only those garments the entire Summer: 10 pieces for 91 days (accessories and underthings not included, of course). With the motto ¨simplify your fashion equation, identify your signature, consume less, live more¨, I am intrigued.

However, as it is not Summer here in icy cold winter Melbourne, so I have chosen to adapt this challenge accordingly and again complete a trial run before Summer 2011 hits! Yes I do like trial runs as I get to ease myself into it!

So this is how I´m revising the challenge to make it Winter friendly. In addition to the 10 garments I will add 2 thermo wool tops, one dark and one beige, which ought to keep me snugged. The duration of the challenge will also be shorten. I will start tomorrow and continue until the end of month. That means throughout the State of Design Festival you will pretty much be seeing me in the same clothes! I promise you I will do some laundry!

The 10 Garments:

The extras for Winter (the woolies):

Huon Pine - All Australian, All Tasmanian

2010-07-11T12:34:00.004+10:00

Yay, oh no, yay...

Huon Pine is regarded as one of the oldest plants on earth. It is also endemic to Tasmania, meaning it cannot be found in any other place on earth... so itś pretty special.

However due to its incredibly slow growth rate of between 0.3 – 2 mm per year in diameter, the logging of this rain forest species has now ceased, which is a huge relief. So all Huon Pine trees are now fully protected.

So when I popped int the Salvo´s yesterday little did I know I would strike gold, for I came across a Huon Pine shallow bowl. It did kind of sadden me to think this precious timber was no longer seen as a prized possession by the previous owner. But then I rationalized it by thinking that I was meant to ¨save¨ this bowl from the possibility of going to landfill. Hence, the yay, oh no, yay!

There is a sigma attached to Op shops but I like to see op shop buys as a contribution to charity. Although those who can afford new items shouldn´t take away from those who do need to buy used goods at low cost, I think as long as there are items still available to those in need and so long as funds are going to the charity, it is okay. But please correct me if I´m wrong. I also think it can be motivating to demonstrate that there is no shame to wear/use second hand items and that one can still look fabulous when styled accordingly.

*Note: There are still two Huon Pine Timber Mills in Tasmania but they only cut salvaged saw logs from former dam construction sites.

Day 5 LBL Challenge

2010-07-10T17:25:00.013+10:00

Yesterday was the final day of the Live Below the Line trial. Day 5. And it was a tough day because I was feeling tired, I had been without coffee for 5 whole days and I had cake cravings, especially cheesecake.

As kind folks have pointed out, my nutritional intake was questionable. Having jumped into the challenge without planning my meals was my first mistake. What I bought for Monday ended up dictating the rest of the week which would be okay if eating the same meal everyday wasn´t a problem for me. I always knew I loved food but I didn´t know it was the different combinations and the ways in which dishes were constructed that led me to the love.

I think the challenge is difficult when you are fortunate, as there were many times I just wanted to whip out the purse and go screw it. Even though I did succumb on Thursday, I still persisted as I wanted to experience what it would be like to walk in another person´s shoes. To walk in their shoes meant not having that option to say screw it, to walk in their shoes meant being soo cautious with spending and waste (waste nothing) and to walk in their shoes meant accepting that there would be times when you just have to go without. The experience has been such an eye opener for when we are fortunate we tend to take things for granted and we tend to be selfish without knowing it.

Completing the Live Below the Line challenge during August with a brunch of friends would be the way to go. It´s quite difficult to complete the challenge when others around you are not participating. Doing it as a team could even work in your favor. Say in a team of 5, if each took turns in making dinner, not only would you have variety but you would also be preparing dinner only once. Yeah!

Breakfast - mandarine, banana cost = 70 cents

Lunch - 2 slices of bread, pear cost = 33 cents

Dinner - miso soup, 1/16 leek, 50g rice, 1/2 tube silken tofu cost = 85 cents

Day 5 Total cost = $1.88

From the 5 day challenge, my favourite meals have been the fried rice from day 1 and yesterday´s stewed pear on toast. Though may not look so great in the photo, the caramelized pear was yum and it gave me the lift I needed!

The Anti-Bottle

2010-07-08T23:15:00.009+10:00

Although I had an unpleasant day, I still ended it with a grin on my face. For my Anti-Bottle had arrived. Vapur - stands like a bottle but can fold, roll and flatten when empty. This is great news for me! Even though I carry a pretty big bag, I prefer not to carry so much space wasting items. I already have my keepcup, notebook, tupperware containers etc... lots of stuff! So this Vapur is perfect. Bonus, it has a bike clip attached so excellent for festivals, clip it to your belt hoop or for cycling clip it to your basket!

Extra Info

BPA free
Easy to clean
Vapur donates 1% of annual sales to environmental organizations

Day 4 LBL Challenge

2010-07-08T20:38:00.019+10:00

Today I CAVED. I am not proud but I am honest. My excuse is I was at work my stomach was growling and the growls grew louder. I did try to drink hot water to fool my stomach into thinking it was hot soup but obviously that doesn´t work or else everyone would be doing it, right?

Breakfast - 1 slice of bread, banana, tea with 1 sugar cost = 48 cents

So what did I do? Stuck in West Melbourne, not surrounded by shops, off to the office vending machine I went. And out dropped a packet of sour cream & chives Grainwaves. Boy were they good. And the cost? Ouch! Practically my whole budget $1.70.

So I am pretty much over budget but I decided to persist to see how much more I would go over budget by.

As it so happens I had a shocker of a day. Being attacked with words from one person´s ugly jealousy, I felt ill and I couldn´t eat. So maybe I should be thankful for their schizo-ness?? But what I do know is I am thankful for my friends. Lunch? A dose of thankfulness cost = nil

Feeling deflated, I needed a pick me up. So taking in fizzleout´s comment that it´s ok to do portion pricing, I decided I needed my cheese. So off to the supermarket I went to buy Australian home brand pasta, cheap broccoli and a block of parmesan. Add to this what I already have, garlic and olive oil, and ta-da. Broccoli pesto linguine. Cost, yes over budget but not too bad considering everything is local. Cost = $3.44 /2 serves =$1.72

Day 4 Total = $3.90

Not good but also not bad. Whole day under $5 bucks. I do feel a guilty though, which makes me more determined to achieve this challenge in August. Much planning is necessary. And who can I recruit?!

¨Women are more likely than men to be at risk of hunger¨ - UN

If you haven´t noticed, I don´t eat meat. My reason: In an UN report it was found that ¨we grow enough edible grain to provide 50% more than is required for every person in the world¨. Yet world hunger exist. It is from this fact that I choose to live a meat-free life.

How to tie a scarf

2010-07-07T22:14:00.007+10:00

The Live Below the Line Challenge has seem to overtaken my blog. Well that´s my fault cause I thought it would be great to blog about my so call adventures but I was wrong it´s blah like the food. Don´t get me wrong it´s a great challenge but I wish I was more creative when it came to food. I know what I like to order but when given certain constraints it pretty damn difficult. I miss cheese. Didn´t realize I had such a dependency on it.

Anyhoot, returning to normal programming...

I picked up this beauty from the trusty Camberwell market for a buck (that´s half a day´s food cost according to Live Below the Line). I´ve been eyeing off a lot of scarfs lately. Not just because of the Winter cold, where my scarf wraps around my neck blocking out the icy wind but for that fact my hair had gone under the razer blade more than it should have. Yes, I probably should have said something when the stylist hack into my hair but 1. I didn´t want to interupt his craft and 2. the damage was already done. So gone is hair that could be tied up to hair that when tied up looks like bum fluff. I´m still traumatized by the experience, so in seeking comfort and to hide the hair I wear a scarf/bandana. I´ve come across many fine scarfs but this is my latest find. I love the primary colors and circle patterns. Remains me of the fashion label Gorman, which we like as they are the consider pioneers of green fashion.

Why are scarfs so great? They are just so versatile. One scarf, many wears.

My favs:

Buekaroo Knot

Gypsy

And other ways to tie a scarf:

Gypsy

French Twist
Buekaroo Knot
Ascot Wrap
Butterfly Wrap
Rose Knot

Day 3 LBL Challenge

2010-07-07T16:28:00.007+10:00

There seems to be no fruit in the diet and also not much veg. So back to the grocers I go. Luckily for me, my folks live near a grocer shop called Get Fresh that sells Australian fruit & veg super cheap and apparently sometimes they just give it away! I like their philosophy, better to give than to bin it. So again I added the Grocery List.

Wednesday is Hump Day. And I have hit a hump. Two things, the fruit&vege issue and, after 2 days I´m bored. What I´ve realized is that I like variety, variety gets me excited. I thought not caving into my sweet tooth urges was a massive achievement but gone now is the excitement I get from food and that just hurts. I guess I should get excited that I get to eat, right? Hmmm...

I also think I´ve made a mistake, not in regards to doing the challenge but the spending part. I´ve spent more than $10 in groceries but I haven´t spend over $2 a day if I proportion it. So hopefully this is okay. If not please tell me. Or maybe I should just twitter @livebelowline. Aaaah twitter, it´s a love hate relationship.

Didn´t really have time for breakfast this morning so I just grabbed some fruit to eat through out the morning.

Breakfast - pear, banana & mandarine, cost = 88 cents

Lunch - 2 garlic toast, 1 clove garlic, tea with 1 sugar, cost = 47 cents

Dinner - 50g rice, 1 egg, tbl soy, miso soup cost = 85 cents

Day 3 Total cost = $2.17
(oh no but seeing I have 24 cent left from Day 1&2, I choose to use these funds)

Today has been a bad day nutritionally. Should I do the challenge again, one thing I now know is I need to plan and research where best to buy low cost groceries.

Oh I did make an enquiry to @livebelowline asking if free coupons were allowed. The answer ¨it´s really your choice¨. So as much as I like the my choice part, I feel it´s kind of also saying ¨if you must cheat, this is a good way¨. Which is true as people living in poverty don´t have this choice and so using the coupon would defeat the purpose of the challenge.

Day 2 LBL Challenge

2010-07-06T19:56:00.008+10:00

** Grocery list updated **

So Day 2 of Live Below the Line challenge and all is going well. I´m actually excited by the possibilities out there but in the mean time will stick with what I have.

My meal from last night´s dinner was actually quite filling such that I skipped the egg for brekkie. However I can´t just eat plain bread, even if it is multigrain. So to give me that kick start to the day I sprinkled a tea spoon of sugar and gave it a dab of water and into the grill it went.

Breakfast - Sugar toast - 2 slices, tsp sugar cost = 17 cents

Lunch - Monday night´s dinner served 2, second serve of fried rice cost = 90 cents

Dinner - 1/16 leek, miso soup, 1/2 tube silken tofu & 50g rice cost = 85 cent

Day 2 Total cost = $1.92

Day 1 LBL Challenge

2010-07-05T21:12:00.010+10:00

It´s only Monday and boy has it been a pretty busy start to the week. So let´s get to it.

I generally try to buy organic and/or local where possible but in completing the Live Below the Line challenge I had to forgo the organic but I still did try to buy Australian. Not all ended up being a product of Australia as they just don´t exist such as miso soup and dry shiitake mushroom.

The Grocery List

Multi grain bread
Free range eggs
Australian olive oil
Dried shiitake mushrooms
Marukome instant wakame miso soup
Leek
Garlic
Sun rice Doongara clever rice (product of Australia)
Soya sauce
Australian Sugar
Silken Tofu
Tea
Banana
Pear
Mandarin

Breakfast - 2 slices of bread, 1 egg, cost = 57 cents

Lunch - 2 slices of bread, 1 serve of miso soup, cost = 37 cents

Dinner - Fried rice
(1 cup uncooked rice, tbl olive oil, 1 clove garlic, 1/4 leek, 1/4pkt shiitake mushrooms, 1 egg & tbl soy), cost = $1.90/2 serves = 95 cents

DAY 1 Total = $1.84

What I can conclude from Day 1 is that this is going to be one carb loaded week. Luckily for me, I like carbs, so all is good.

Oh by the way, I never had that starving feeling but when it was time for a feed my stomach did let me know. Fortunately for me, they were timed perfectly a grumble at 6am, 1pm and 7pm.

$2 a day challenge

2010-07-04T18:24:00.008+10:00

Live Below the Line Challenge is a campaign teaching Australians how to live below the poverty line. For me, I decided to take on the challenge as I think it will also help me better understand my consumption patterns.

The challenge is to eat for less than $2 a day for 5 days. Fortunately, everything can be proportionated in the calculation. So if you buy a loaf of bread and eat one slice, only the value of that slice is acknowledged in the equation and not the full price of the loaf.

Everyone who I´ve told thinks I´m crazy for doing this but it´s only for five days, which is nothing compared to the 1.4 billions people who faces the same challenge everyday.

Although the actual challenge is set for 2nd to 6th August, I will start trialling it from tomorrow. The sooner I come to the realization, maybe the sooner I can make the change.

Merci Arigato Thanks Peppermint Magazine!

2010-07-03T19:30:00.008+10:00

Peppermint Magazine has made this green chick go from green to pink to majorly dark green! How? It goes a little something like this...

This morning started off with a pleasant surprise. Yes, Peppermint Magazine had been in touch with me but I had a assume they had also been in touch with others as well. Low and behold what I found when I picked up the latest edition of Peppermint Magazine Issue 6, my words starring back at me!

Thank you Peppermint Magazine. You are my lolly pop and sunshine! And you have permanently made me giddy!

Peppermint Magazine is at the forefront of Australian magazine publishing. And this is what I hope the future will be. It embodies all that is good in the world into its magazine while remaining intune with the latest styling and lifestyle trends. Want to know more? Click here or the picture link to the left (which will be up shortly). Subscribe and you too will be pleasantly surprised!

Can´t get enough of reestore

2010-07-03T17:42:00.005+10:00

I cannot stop thinking about these guys. The vision they hold. I wish I could see objects from their lens 24/7. For now I will remain inspired from what they have chosen to share and demand more later...!

Previous occupation: Roll top bath
Current occupation: Chaise sofa
www.reestore.com

Living & Breathing ArKit

2010-06-27T21:33:00.007+10:00

The story of events goes like this...

I was asked by Peppermint Magazine my plans for the future, which I happily divulge was to eventually build a self-sufficient eco-house.

@busichic, @laramcpherson and I start up Three Chics, a site dedicated to our eco-trips throughout regional Victoria

@busichic retweets @ArKit call for habitatants in their EcoStudio during the State of Design Festival #habitation.

Excitedly I enter ArKit´s comp, for it´ll be one step closer to achieving my eco-house, a minuet step but a step nonetheless and I think I´d like a nice eco-recon break.

Get @busichic & @laramcpherson to enter for I think they too would like a nice eco-recon break

Yesterday on Twitter
ARKit #habitation announcement - we are delighted to welcome @laramcpherson @busichic and @cangreenbechic as our inhabitants!

Whoooa... How things just happens when you least expect it!