10 ways to keep faeries happy

Most of us think of faeries as tiny creatures, flitting about on gossamer wings, waving a magic wand, but history and folklore tell a different tale. When belief in faeries was common most people didn't like to mention them by name and so referred to them by other names: the Little People or the Hidden People. They may remain hidden from us but you can attract faeries to your home and garden, and keep the ones who already reside their happy, by doing these ten things.

1. Keep bird feeders full of food and water in your yard.
2. Don’t use pesticides in your garden.
3. Plant bell-shaped flowers in your garden.
4. Switch to earth friendly soap, shampoo, and cleaning supplies.
5. Eat a vegan diet, or only buy humanely treated animals and animal products from organic farms.
6. Donate time or money to environmental or animal-rights charities.
7. Put statues of fairies or gnomes in your garden
8. Hang crystals from your trees, and put them, or other shiny objects, in your yard.
9. Warn the fairies before you mow the grass.
10. Relax or lay in your yard, especially with music in the background.

Notes

• Celebrate toadstools and mushrooms that appear in your yard because that means the fairies have taken up residence in your garden.
• Do not leave candies unattended, though faeries love sugar and would rejoice in a sweet treat like chocolate, it may be harmful to birds, squirrels and other animals who may find their way into your home and garden.
• To see faeries try: wearing your coat turned inside-out; closing your right eye and only looking through the left; wearing a posy of primroses; or carrying a four-leafed clover.

Have you seen a faerie? How did you attract them?

15 Fruits, Veggies and Spices You Can Regrow From Scraps

Various plants that you can regrow from the food you already have! Good for you! Reusing and recycling! Keep a constant supply of green onions, garlic and ginger growing. Grow potatoes and sweet potatoes in your pantry.

1. Apples
2. Avocado 
3. Cabbage- Same technique as celery
4. Carrot Tops
5. Celery 
6. Garlic 
7. Ginger 
8. Green Onions and Green Onions 2
9. Leeks- same technique as green onions
10. Lentils 
11. Pineapple 
12. Potatoes/Sweet Potatoes 
13. Pumpkin 
14. Romaine Lettuce- Same technique as celery
15. Tomatoes

Bonus: Bok Choy

Do you regrow any of your food?

30 Day Minimalist Challenge

Minimalism is a tool that can assist you in finding freedom. Freedom from fear. Freedom from worry. Freedom from overwhelm. Freedom from guilt. Freedom from depression. Freedom from the trappings of the consumer culture we’ve built our lives around. Real freedom.

For the next thirty days I invite you to try one thing from this list until you've completed it. Here is a printable of the checklist below so you can keep track of which you've done.

Here are some great reads on minimalism:

Joshua Fields Millburn's & Ryan Nicodemus's Minimalism Elevator Pitch

Leo Babauta’s Description of Minimalism

Joshua Becker’s Benefits of Minimalism

Courtney Carver’s 25 Reasons You Might Be a Minimalist

Colin Wright’s Minimalism Explained

Do you think you can do every item on the list?

Vegan Thanksgiving

I'm so excited that it is Thanksgiving tomorrow! Thanksgiving may be based in some questionable mythology but I believe in family and friends and I believe in taking the time to appreciate and give thanks for what we have.

Boyfriend's family is coming to visit us and I've never hosted a Thanksgiving dinner before. I honestly had no idea how much works goes into preparing for this special holiday (Thanks Aana, Mom and Aunt Ellen!!!) I wanted to celebrate with the traditional foods but a lot of these are not vegan friendly so I hunted for a new delicious and cruelty-free menu for all the staples. Here's what I'll be making today and tomorrow.

PUMPKIN PIE FILLING

slightly altered via The Spunky Coconut

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups coconut milk (not coconut “beverage”)
• 1.5 cups pumpkin puree
• 3/8 cup maple syrup
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 to 3 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ginger
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 3/8 tsp ground cloves
• 2 tsp pectin
• 2 Tbsp cornstarch (dissolved in 2 Tbsp water)

Instructions

1. Add all of the ingredients, except the pectin and cornstarch to a pot and bring to a simmer.
2. Whisk in the pectin while simmering. Continue whisking for about one minute.
3. If your mixture looks runny after you whisked your pectin for a minute, then add another half a teaspoon of pectin. It should look a little thick after whisking for a minute or so.
4. Pour over crust (frozen vegan pie crust or pre-made graham cracker crust or homemade)
5. Refrigerate till solid. Store in the fridge.

Cashew Gravy

via Food.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cups cashews ( raw or roasted unsalted)
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed ( or more)
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Saute onion in oil until soft and slightly brown. (you can also let onions cook longer and get browner for an even richer flavor).
2. (If you are using raw cashews, add them at this step and let them cook for several minutes to "toast" them).
3. Add garlic and cook another minute longer to slightly brown the garlic.
4. Add flour and stir it around over the heat for a minute.
5. Add 1-2 cups of water a half cup at a time and stir to blend in the flour and thicken. Add more water as it becomes thick.
6. (if you are using roasted cashews add them here).
7. Add more water (another 1-2 cups) so that the broth is soup like and the cashews are completely in the water.
8. Add soy sauce, pepper and salt (if desired) or any additional desired flavorings.
9. Cook until cashews are soft and flavors have melded. I always let this simmer away for about 30 minutes and add more water and soy or spices as needed, but remember that the flavor will change when cashews are blended. When done cooking, you'll want it to be a thin gravy consistency. The cashews will thicken it up when you blend it.

Mashed Potatoes

via Minimalist Baker

Ingredients

• 6-8 medium yukon gold potatoes (if large, cut in half)*
• 1.5 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 5-6 cloves roasted garlic (or sub minced garlic sautéed for 3 minutes in olive oil)*
• 3-4 Tbsp vegan butter (such as Earth Balance), melted/softened
• 1/4 cup fresh chives for topping

Instructions

1. Place potatoes in a large saucepan or pot and cover with water. Bring to a light boil over medium-high heat, add 1 tsp of sea salt, cover and cook for 25-30 minutes or until very tender. They should effortlessly slide off a knife when pierced with a knife.
2. While the potatoes are cooking, chop up your chives and measure your butter.
3. Once tender, drain your potatoes and place them back in the hot pot off the heat for 1 minute to evaporate any additional water. Then transfer to a large mixing bowl.
4. Mash your potatoes using either a potato masher or a hand mixer until fluffy. Note: Be careful using a hand mixer as you can overmix the potatoes and they can become gluey. It’s personally the method I prefer as I don’t own a potato masher. I just make sure not to overmix.
5. Add in butter, garlic, salt, black pepper and stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
6. Lastly top with chives, stir and serve as is or your favorite gravy (or mushroom gravy). Leftovers will keep in the fridge covered for up to a few days.

Notes

• Use organic potatoes if possible, especially since you leave the skin on.
• To roast a head of garlic, simply cup the top off to expose tips, rub with olive oil, wrap in foil and bake for 50 minutes – 1 hour in a 400 degree oven directly on the rack. Cloves should squeeze out easily once cooled. Discard skins/peel.

Roasted Carrots with Sweet Tahini Drizzle

via Nutrition Stripped

Ingredients

• 12 large carrots, whole and tops removed
• 3 tablespoons of tahini
• 3 tablespoons of filtered water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper (to taste)
• juice of a fresh lemon

Instructions

Carrots

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Cut the tops off the whole carrots, wash, dry, and place on a lined baking sheet.
3. Drizzle melted coconut oil onto the carrots and stir with your hands to make sure the carrots are evenly coated.
4. Add fresh black pepper, dash of cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon sea salt.
5. Bake for 45 minutes or until tender (you have a lot of options here, I personally like to keep the carrots a little al dente meaning with a crunch in the center. If you like a softer carrots, bake longer).

Tahini Drizzle

1. In a small mixing bowl combine tahini, maple syrup, ½ teaspoon of sea salt, lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and water until thick and creamy.

Apple Cranberry Fruit Salad

slightly altered via Tastes Better from Scratch

Ingredients

• 1 (12 oz package) fresh cranberries
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 red apples, chopped
• 1 yellow or green apple, chopped
• 1 (15oz) can Mandarin oranges, drained
• 2 large banana, sliced
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• CocoWhip, for topping (non-dairy whipped cream, so yummy)

Instructions

1. In a medium saucepan combine the water and sugar. Add cranberries and cook on medium high, until you start to hear the cranberries pop. Cook for 1 more minute. Remove from heat. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
2. In a large bowl toss apples, mandarin oranges, and banana together. Add a little bit of lemon juice to keep the fruit from browning. Drain most of the juice from the cranberries. Add them to mixture. Toss to combine. Dollop with CocoWhip, if desired.

Quinoa, Sweet Potato and Dried Cranberry Stuffing

slightly altered via With Style and Grace

Ingredients

• 1 cup red quinoa
• 3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1/2 medium red onion, chopped
• 1 garlic clove
• 1/2 [or 1] tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons of cumin
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup pecans, toasted
• 3 tablespoons of parsley, chopped
• salt + pepper to taste

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan, add 1 + 1/2 cups water, quinoa, season with salt and bring to a boil. 
2. Reduce heat, cover and simmer about 15 minutes, until all the water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let cool. 
3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 
4. Cover baking sheet with foil, spray with non-stick, add sweet potatoes and onions - season with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Roast for 20-25 minutes, until soft.
5. Combine sweet potatoes and onions with cooked quinoa. Drizzle with olive oil. Stir in cumin, cranberries, toasted pecans and parsley. Season with salt and pepper. 

There will also be dinner rolls. I bought these pre-made, brown and serve. And a salad of the Olive Garden copycat persuasion (but vegan obvi).

Happy Thanksgiving! What are you eating tomorrow?

15 Ways to Rediscover your Town

I've lived in Portland for almost 2 years now. This amount of time is not nearly long enough to get to know the entire city, but I do have it pretty well figured out for all intents and purposes. When I first moved here I tried to take a different route every time I went somewhere so I would be able to understand the layout a little better. Now that I've settled into my routine I tend to always take the road most travelled. I've decided I want to return to that adventurous spirit I once had and discover (or rediscover) some of those hidden places Portland has to offer. Here are 15 ideas for seeing new places in your own hometown.

1. Buy a map of your town and highlight all the routes you've taken. Next time you go for a walk, bike ride or drive follow a different path to get to your destination.
2. Go to open houses all around town. Let your dream home become a reality (if only for an afternoon) and find new neighborhoods you might not have known about.
3. Look for local theater productions and see a play. You may even see someone you know on stage.
4. Go on a public art tour. Try to find as many murals and sculptures as you can. Mark the ones you find on a map.
5. Rediscover history by reading old newspapers at the library. “Study history, study history. In history lies all the secrets of statecraft.” - Winston Churchill
6. Research your towns sister city and visit it if you can. 
7. Wake up early for the early bird breakfast at your local diner. See who's up and about at that time and experience a different side of your town.
8. Organize a scavenger hunt for you and your friends. With a little research you can discover amazing places you never knew were in town.
9. Take a day to visit the flea markets, craft fairs and antique shops in your town. You'll meet some very interesting people with wonderful stories.
10. Do some research to discover if you town is the setting for any movies, TV shows or books. Then try to find the landmarks.
11. Collect pamphlets from hotel lobbies to discover some activities tourists might do when visiting. You don't have to go out of town to go on vacation.
12. Set your alarm an hour earlier to take an early morning bike ride. Let the trails lead you where they will.
13. Start a walking or running group, take turns leading the route in order to find new trails and sights.
14. Find out if any famous people are from your area. Find the house they grew up in and the places they used to work.
15. Find the highest point in town or take a hot air balloon or helicopter ride to see your town from a new perspective.

Take some time to rediscover where you live. You may be surprised what you find right in your own back yard. Do you have more ideas to add to the list? Tell me in the comments below.

Top 5 Green Actions

Lately I've been noticing that I am easily distracted. I get my mind set on doing something based on what an "expert in the field" is saying only to turn around and hear another "expert" telling me I need to be doing something else. With all the modes of communication available to me it's easy to be bogged down with excessive information. I feel like they are just throwing bits and pieces of stories at me and hoping something will stick.

This is especially true when it comes to living green. There are about a hundred thousand things everyone could be doing to build a better world but it would be impossible for every person to do each of these things. I've narrowed it down to what I believe are the top five things. These are the actions I personally can see myself continuing to do or working toward doing more often.

1. Buying less stuff

We live in a culture where buying and having more stuff and a bigger place to keep it all is marketed as the fastest way to find happiness. I believe this to be wrong. Work on finding happiness within yourself through relationships, hobbies and activities. Collect only things that you actually need, rather than things that are advertised to make you think you want them.

• 12 Weeks of Wellness is a good place to start your journey to healthiness and happiness.
• Try my 30-Day Self Improvement Challenge.

2. Buying products from socially responsible companies

There are certain things you will probably never stop buying and for each person these special items may be different. Be sure that you are purchasing your favorite items from socially and environmentally responsible companies. Follow the links to my guides below for more information:

• Green is the New Black - clothing
• Earth Angel - sustainable makeup and cosmetics
• Greening Your Home: Part 1 - furniture, flooring, wall treatment, building; Part 2 - decorating; and Part 3 - cleaning
• All that Glitters May Not Be Your Best Friend - wearing sustainable bling
• Cleanliness is Next to Godliness - Hair Care 
• The Perfect Ten - manicures, pedicures and nails
• Sustainable Holidays

And be sure that when you do make purchases you bring your reusable bag.

3. Using alternative forms of transportation

The most significant change an individual could make toward reducing their carbon footprint is to cut down on how much they drive. Trains, buses, bikes, carpool. Avoid spending time in a vehicle occupied only by yourself and your imaginary friend. Read more in Getting Around.

4. Eating less meat and more sustainably grown and harvested food

Meat
Recognize the importance of knowing where your food comes from and what is being used to grow or raise it. Find out more, read Buying Food: The Naked Truth about Local and Organic. Decide for yourself whether fish should be on your menu: 

• Can the Ocean Keep Up with the Hunt? - A summary of the video
• Mission Blue - My review on the documentary

5. Conserving energy and water at home

When it comes to conserving energy and water, small adjustments can have a big impact. Protect the environment by conserving energy and water with these 100+ tips. Additionally, check out The Pros and Cons of Wind Power.

Look Beneath the Surface

This award-winning video was published on April 16th, 2012. It was made by the Environmental Protection Agency. Take a moment to watch it and see what is beneath the surface.





The little things we do or do not do can have the biggest impact on our environment. We produce plastic for the sake of convenience and it becomes garbage. Imagine how much of a difference we could make if we reduced this waste simply by recycling or better yet, used reusable packaging and containers.


We can all make a difference and help protect our environment!

-xoxo-