It's estimated that we can save about £500 a year by switching to making our own lunches instead of just grabbing a sandwich at a shop and by adopting a few simple tips it'll even save you time at lunch to relax instead of having to dash to the shops.
Making your own lunch has a number of benefits:
- Reducing packaging thrown in the bin
- Reducing containers thrown away by using a lunchbox
- Cutting your food bill
- More time to relax at lunchtime instead of waiting in line at a shop
- Easier to eat healthily
The easiest way to making quick lunches is to use leftovers from the night before. Things like pasta, bolognese/chilli are perfect either cold or reheated the next day. If you've got access to a microwave at work it becomes even easier, meaning you can reheat practically any meal. If you're going for this option just make more than you usually would and chill some down and keep it in the fridge overnight.
The other option is to make big batches of a meal and freeze them in single portions ready to defrost overnight and grab the next day. Soups are perfect for this - you can use vegetables that you're not going to eat before their Use By or throw together a meat stew (see my recipe for a chicken & veg stew here). Freeze it in individual portions, defrost overnight and heat in the microwave in the morning. Pop in a thermos and you're good to go!
This idea can also be used to replace things that you would usually buy from shops - for example you can make your own sausage rolls to put in the kids' lunches or to take to work as a snack. You'll be greatly reducing the fat and salt content with very little effort on your behalf.
Sausage Roll Recipe
You'll need sausages (as many as you like) and some ready-rolled pastry (or you can roll out your own pastry to cut costs further).
Cook the sausages as normal, then roll them up in the pastry. Follow the cooking instructions for the pastry (usually bake in the oven for 15-20 mins) then allow to cool. They'll keep in the fridge for 3-4 days or you can freeze them to last up to 6 months.
Using a lunch box will cut down on huge amount of packaging that get thrown in the bin every day. And what's more, using tupperware for your lunch means you can buy things like raisins, nuts etc in bulk - saving money and packaging - and only take the amount you need each day to work.
So why not start making your own lunch? You could always test it for a week or two to see how easy it is, or even just do it a few times a week to cut down your food bill.
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Time for an update...
In my post about Green Living I made a resolution to pick up some new habits that are good for the environment. It's been about 6 weeks now, so I thought I'd look back at what they were and if I've been able to keep going with them!
1. Start some good water habits.
I can safely say I managed to keep this one going! I turn the tap off while washing my hands and brushing my teeth, plus sneak it off while Tom's brushing his teeth too! I'm a ninja. ;)
5. Banish stand-by.
I'm not 100% successful with this one, I will admit to leaving my night lights (some pretty butterfly fairy lights) on longer than necessary in the morning sometimes. But I've also started turning the microwave off when no one is looking, so it's swings and roundabouts here!
11. Make a meal plan to avoid waste.
At first I was pretty rubbish at this - through bad planning we ended up going away and not using up everything before we went. But I've slowly got much better at it and now we make a weekly meal plan before doing the Asda shop and it's working well!
16. Carry a reusable bag.
I will admit to being absolutely rubbish at this. Each time I remember to take them, it then takes me a week or so to remember to put them back in the car and another week to remember to take them into the shop! Slap on the wrist and a 'Must Try Harder' for me on this one.
27. Head for the local library.
I'm not sure whether to say I've succeeded or not on this one.. I haven't gone to the library yet but I have been borrowing books from friends which is pretty much the same concept. I'm running out of borrowed books, so maybe now is the time to get started on this one in earnest. :)
Those were all the ones I comitted to at first. Since I've managed to keep 1 and 11 going I'll pick up two more habits as a replacement. I think I'll go with...
3. Start refilling, not replacing.
I'm running out of certain herbs and I've just used up the last of my homemade strawberry jam, so time to get reusing those jars! It'll be interesting to see just how much of what we buy can be refilled instead.
8. Clear out old stuff.
Bit sneaky of me on this one as I've been doing it a lot already, but I'm still certain I have loads that I don't need so I'll be going through the cupboards to get rid of more. It's all been going to the charity shop so I'm reusing too! (At least someone else is..)
So there we go. I've not done too badly - I give myself 7/10 for effort! Did you pick up any of these habits? Are you going to now? If you want to check out the list of 30 to choose from follow this link.
1. Start some good water habits.
I can safely say I managed to keep this one going! I turn the tap off while washing my hands and brushing my teeth, plus sneak it off while Tom's brushing his teeth too! I'm a ninja. ;)
5. Banish stand-by.
I'm not 100% successful with this one, I will admit to leaving my night lights (some pretty butterfly fairy lights) on longer than necessary in the morning sometimes. But I've also started turning the microwave off when no one is looking, so it's swings and roundabouts here!
11. Make a meal plan to avoid waste.
At first I was pretty rubbish at this - through bad planning we ended up going away and not using up everything before we went. But I've slowly got much better at it and now we make a weekly meal plan before doing the Asda shop and it's working well!
16. Carry a reusable bag.
I will admit to being absolutely rubbish at this. Each time I remember to take them, it then takes me a week or so to remember to put them back in the car and another week to remember to take them into the shop! Slap on the wrist and a 'Must Try Harder' for me on this one.
27. Head for the local library.
I'm not sure whether to say I've succeeded or not on this one.. I haven't gone to the library yet but I have been borrowing books from friends which is pretty much the same concept. I'm running out of borrowed books, so maybe now is the time to get started on this one in earnest. :)
Those were all the ones I comitted to at first. Since I've managed to keep 1 and 11 going I'll pick up two more habits as a replacement. I think I'll go with...
3. Start refilling, not replacing.
I'm running out of certain herbs and I've just used up the last of my homemade strawberry jam, so time to get reusing those jars! It'll be interesting to see just how much of what we buy can be refilled instead.
8. Clear out old stuff.
Bit sneaky of me on this one as I've been doing it a lot already, but I'm still certain I have loads that I don't need so I'll be going through the cupboards to get rid of more. It's all been going to the charity shop so I'm reusing too! (At least someone else is..)
So there we go. I've not done too badly - I give myself 7/10 for effort! Did you pick up any of these habits? Are you going to now? If you want to check out the list of 30 to choose from follow this link.
Posted by
Ami Marshall
Guest Blog from Annie: Sharing Love for the Bunnies!
Hello,
Whilst I may have chosen a rather light hearted title, todays post is about a serious matter that means a lot to me and should do to all you other beauty lovers out there.
As we all know, there is a lot of animal testing that goes on in the world of beauty. Both with finished products but also with the ingredients that they are made with. This is wrong. Why should a rabbit, mouse, guinea pig or any other creature be harmed due to the human desire to look beautiful? I care for two incredibly well loved pets; Florence who is my little roborovski hamster and Lolly who is my uber grumpy kitty (she doesn't like having things poked in her eyes, I know, I've had to give her eye drops in the past). Would you ever allow someone to try out their new mascara or facial peel on a pet? Of course not, so why is it ok for those things to be tested on any other animal?
This has been the general opinion for many years now. During the 80's and 90's animal testing in cosmetics was a wide spread practice and as it happened behind closed doors, many buyers had any clue about what was happening. When it finally came to light there was a complete public outcry and huge numbers of people approached Members of Parliament demanding laws be passed to put an end to the cruelty. This led to some cosmetic companies adopting their own voluntary code and publishing their own set of animal testing policies. However, because this wasn't a necessary step many companies still tested their products and ingredients on animals, and the animal cruelty stayed as wide spread as ever.
Then, in 1993 finally the people had victory. A legislation was passed by the European Government to control the use of animals in cosmetic testing. This legislation bans the act of testing both ingredients and finished cosmetic products on animals, as well as banning the sale in Europe of cosmetic products that have been tested on animals.
So why has this not happened?
When the original legislation was passed, companies wire given a five year period to prepare for the ban to be put into place on 1st January 1998. However, some of the biggest players in the cosmetics industry repeatedly lobby for the implementation date to be moved back again and again. Whenever the date draws near they petition again for another delay to the starting date. This has now been happening for 30 years.
What can We Do?
The current implementation of this legislation is due in 2013 and there is currently a request for yet another delay, this time of 10 years, being considered by the European Government. To stop this request being granted to the money obsessed, heartless companies who do not already protect animals of their own accord, what we need to do is let our government know that we all feel just as strongly about this as we did 30 years ago when the fight began. To do this, all you have to do is sign the petition to show that you are against animal testing for cosmetics.
You can find the petition *here*. Please sign and show your support. The law has already been passed, all we have to do is raise our voices and enforce it.
Will you be signing?
Annie x
Ami's View:
I think it's a little disgusting that this has been allowed to go on for so long, with the public being in the dark about it all. We trusted the government to follow through with their promises and once again we've been let down because someone with money didn't want it to happen. I know we should be used to it by now, but we are the only voices those poor animals have and it's our job to keep shouting for them until someone listens. Lush have joined up with Human Society International to start a worldwide campaign to put an end to animal testing once and for all. Some of you may have heard about this publicity stunt that shocked Regent Street shoppers the other day, where a woman was subjected to hideous tests in the front window of the Lush shop - recreating what happens to animals all over the world.
If being told about the cruel conditions animals are kept in wasn't enough, the videos and pictures of the event surely are. Please visit the link from Annie's blog and sign the petition right now.
I have and I hope you will too.
And finally, a huge thank you to Annie for letting me share her blog. Annie is a beauty blogger who gives brilliant reviews about products, shares her beauty tips and always has something interesting to say! To check out some of her other posts, click here.
Whilst I may have chosen a rather light hearted title, todays post is about a serious matter that means a lot to me and should do to all you other beauty lovers out there.
As we all know, there is a lot of animal testing that goes on in the world of beauty. Both with finished products but also with the ingredients that they are made with. This is wrong. Why should a rabbit, mouse, guinea pig or any other creature be harmed due to the human desire to look beautiful? I care for two incredibly well loved pets; Florence who is my little roborovski hamster and Lolly who is my uber grumpy kitty (she doesn't like having things poked in her eyes, I know, I've had to give her eye drops in the past). Would you ever allow someone to try out their new mascara or facial peel on a pet? Of course not, so why is it ok for those things to be tested on any other animal?
This has been the general opinion for many years now. During the 80's and 90's animal testing in cosmetics was a wide spread practice and as it happened behind closed doors, many buyers had any clue about what was happening. When it finally came to light there was a complete public outcry and huge numbers of people approached Members of Parliament demanding laws be passed to put an end to the cruelty. This led to some cosmetic companies adopting their own voluntary code and publishing their own set of animal testing policies. However, because this wasn't a necessary step many companies still tested their products and ingredients on animals, and the animal cruelty stayed as wide spread as ever.
Then, in 1993 finally the people had victory. A legislation was passed by the European Government to control the use of animals in cosmetic testing. This legislation bans the act of testing both ingredients and finished cosmetic products on animals, as well as banning the sale in Europe of cosmetic products that have been tested on animals.
So why has this not happened?
When the original legislation was passed, companies wire given a five year period to prepare for the ban to be put into place on 1st January 1998. However, some of the biggest players in the cosmetics industry repeatedly lobby for the implementation date to be moved back again and again. Whenever the date draws near they petition again for another delay to the starting date. This has now been happening for 30 years.
What can We Do?
The current implementation of this legislation is due in 2013 and there is currently a request for yet another delay, this time of 10 years, being considered by the European Government. To stop this request being granted to the money obsessed, heartless companies who do not already protect animals of their own accord, what we need to do is let our government know that we all feel just as strongly about this as we did 30 years ago when the fight began. To do this, all you have to do is sign the petition to show that you are against animal testing for cosmetics.
You can find the petition *here*. Please sign and show your support. The law has already been passed, all we have to do is raise our voices and enforce it.
Will you be signing?
Annie x
Ami's View:
I think it's a little disgusting that this has been allowed to go on for so long, with the public being in the dark about it all. We trusted the government to follow through with their promises and once again we've been let down because someone with money didn't want it to happen. I know we should be used to it by now, but we are the only voices those poor animals have and it's our job to keep shouting for them until someone listens. Lush have joined up with Human Society International to start a worldwide campaign to put an end to animal testing once and for all. Some of you may have heard about this publicity stunt that shocked Regent Street shoppers the other day, where a woman was subjected to hideous tests in the front window of the Lush shop - recreating what happens to animals all over the world.
If being told about the cruel conditions animals are kept in wasn't enough, the videos and pictures of the event surely are. Please visit the link from Annie's blog and sign the petition right now.
I have and I hope you will too.
And finally, a huge thank you to Annie for letting me share her blog. Annie is a beauty blogger who gives brilliant reviews about products, shares her beauty tips and always has something interesting to say! To check out some of her other posts, click here.
Posted by
Ami Marshall
Products to grab in a beauty crisis!
I'd like to create a little scenario for you. Some of you may have experienced this or maybe just had nightmares about it! You're getting ready for a girls night out - the girls will all be over soon and you're getting ready in a rush. (Some of you may leave plenty of time to get ready, but this is already sounding like me!) You still need to paint your nails, shave your legs, wash your hair... the list is endless!
First things first, you need to do your hair. The weather hasn't been kind lately and it's getting a little frizzy, but you've run out of your favourite de-frizzing product! Don't despair though, just head to the kitchen. Get a tiny bit of olive oil and comb it through the frizz - don't worry about the oil slick effect, because now you're going to wash your hair as normal.
As you hop in the shower, you spot another product is empty - this time it's your shaving cream. Now you're going to be even later while you think of an outfit to cover those hairy legs! OR you get your pennies' worth out of that bottle of conditioner. Use it to soften the hairs on your legs and you can shave without cutting your legs to pieces.
Hair washed and legs smooth, it's time to style your hair and do your make-up. As you look in the mirror you realise your roots are showing and there's no time to do anything about it. Assuming you're a brunette, I have a solution for you! (Sorry blondes..) Rifle through your make-up bag for a matte eye-shadow in a colour as close to your hair as possible. Apply the shadow to your roots with a finger and the contrast will be less obvious.
To make matters worse, your skin is looking dry and you've got spots glaring back at you. Instead of bursting into tears and telling the girls you're not going, it's time to put on a mask. I don't mean force a smile -you're heading to the kitchen once more, this time to pull out a pack of lemon flavoured jelly cubes. (I'm not crazy, trust me on this one..) Dissolve the cubes over a warm heat and once it's melted let it cool and apply it to your face like a normal face mask. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes, then wash it off and reach for a tub of Sudocrem. (seriously, I'm not crazy!) The formula that makes it good at healing nappy rash conveniently makes it a good anti-blemish cream too! Moisturise your skin lightly with it and it'll fight the spots for you while you move on to more important things.
Time to paint your nails, only you're out of nail varnish remover and the stuff you've got on looks awful. (I did warn you this was a nightmare scenario!) This time you're heading to the medicine cabinet for that bottle of insect repellent that was useless on holiday last year. Now you've got a use for it! Paint a layer of clear nail varnish over your nails, followed by a coat of the insect repellent. Now give it a good rub and the nail varnish should come off no problem, leaving you free to paint them again. :)
To finish things off you've spotted one final nightmare - you're out of blusher. Reach for any pinky shade of lipstick and use your finger to blend a teeny bit over the apple of your cheek.
The last thing you need to do is take a deep breath and pour yourself a glass of wine just as the girls arrive! What could have become a disastrous evening has instead turned into a learning experience of all the wonderful and unexpected beauty products hiding in your house!
You may not keep these products in your house, but my advice is to get in at least a few of the more obvious ones! Jelly is always a good snack, so that should come as standard! And Sudocrem really has so many uses I'm going to pop out and get some myself - it's even good to put on new tattoos, not that I have any!
Do you know any other unconventional products that serve beauty purposes? Or will you be trying any of these out? Let me know in a comment. :)
First things first, you need to do your hair. The weather hasn't been kind lately and it's getting a little frizzy, but you've run out of your favourite de-frizzing product! Don't despair though, just head to the kitchen. Get a tiny bit of olive oil and comb it through the frizz - don't worry about the oil slick effect, because now you're going to wash your hair as normal.
As you hop in the shower, you spot another product is empty - this time it's your shaving cream. Now you're going to be even later while you think of an outfit to cover those hairy legs! OR you get your pennies' worth out of that bottle of conditioner. Use it to soften the hairs on your legs and you can shave without cutting your legs to pieces.
Hair washed and legs smooth, it's time to style your hair and do your make-up. As you look in the mirror you realise your roots are showing and there's no time to do anything about it. Assuming you're a brunette, I have a solution for you! (Sorry blondes..) Rifle through your make-up bag for a matte eye-shadow in a colour as close to your hair as possible. Apply the shadow to your roots with a finger and the contrast will be less obvious.
To make matters worse, your skin is looking dry and you've got spots glaring back at you. Instead of bursting into tears and telling the girls you're not going, it's time to put on a mask. I don't mean force a smile -you're heading to the kitchen once more, this time to pull out a pack of lemon flavoured jelly cubes. (I'm not crazy, trust me on this one..) Dissolve the cubes over a warm heat and once it's melted let it cool and apply it to your face like a normal face mask. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes, then wash it off and reach for a tub of Sudocrem. (seriously, I'm not crazy!) The formula that makes it good at healing nappy rash conveniently makes it a good anti-blemish cream too! Moisturise your skin lightly with it and it'll fight the spots for you while you move on to more important things.
Time to paint your nails, only you're out of nail varnish remover and the stuff you've got on looks awful. (I did warn you this was a nightmare scenario!) This time you're heading to the medicine cabinet for that bottle of insect repellent that was useless on holiday last year. Now you've got a use for it! Paint a layer of clear nail varnish over your nails, followed by a coat of the insect repellent. Now give it a good rub and the nail varnish should come off no problem, leaving you free to paint them again. :)
To finish things off you've spotted one final nightmare - you're out of blusher. Reach for any pinky shade of lipstick and use your finger to blend a teeny bit over the apple of your cheek.
The last thing you need to do is take a deep breath and pour yourself a glass of wine just as the girls arrive! What could have become a disastrous evening has instead turned into a learning experience of all the wonderful and unexpected beauty products hiding in your house!
You may not keep these products in your house, but my advice is to get in at least a few of the more obvious ones! Jelly is always a good snack, so that should come as standard! And Sudocrem really has so many uses I'm going to pop out and get some myself - it's even good to put on new tattoos, not that I have any!
Do you know any other unconventional products that serve beauty purposes? Or will you be trying any of these out? Let me know in a comment. :)
Posted by
Ami Marshall
News!
Hello all you lovely people that read my blog!
I have to say a HUGE sorry to all of you for not posting in a while, but I have a very good reason I promise! I had surgery last Thursday which I only found out the date for last Sunday - not much notice at all! So I spent all of last week trying to get stuff ready for that and I didn't have time to prepare any blogs for you while I was out of action.
The surgery went well and I'm slowly recovering - I'll be so much better when the anaesthetic finally wears off as that's making me feel pretty sick! I'm pretty much housebound at the moment because I'm not allowed to drive, so after the weekend I'm sure I'll be back to writing some blogs for you. :) I've got an idea for my first one already!
So am I forgiven? (): )
I have to say a HUGE sorry to all of you for not posting in a while, but I have a very good reason I promise! I had surgery last Thursday which I only found out the date for last Sunday - not much notice at all! So I spent all of last week trying to get stuff ready for that and I didn't have time to prepare any blogs for you while I was out of action.
The surgery went well and I'm slowly recovering - I'll be so much better when the anaesthetic finally wears off as that's making me feel pretty sick! I'm pretty much housebound at the moment because I'm not allowed to drive, so after the weekend I'm sure I'll be back to writing some blogs for you. :) I've got an idea for my first one already!
So am I forgiven? (): )
Posted by
Ami Marshall
Unique Uses For Tea
Tea is fab. It's universally known as the cure for any and all emotional upsets, brilliant in social situations and amazingly good for your health at the same time. Tea is Nature's Gift to us and nearly every culture on the planet acknowledges the benefits in some way or another. The only downside to tea (and it pains me to admit there is one...) is that it's a one-use only thing. Once you've made your tea the bag gets thrown in the bin. But not anymore! After a bit of research I've found that you can re-use tea bags, and we're not talking use the same bag for another cup (I won't stop you doing that though)! You can give your tea bag a second life before composting it by using one of the tricks below...
Soothe swollen and puffy eyes and reduce bags by putting used tea bags in cold water, then using them as a compress on your eyes. They will slowly reduce redness, swelling and the bags that develop under your eyes, as well as releasing loads of brilliant nutrients into your skin.
Flavour your meat at a barbeque by marinading it with your tea bags. It sounds odd but it's worth a try.
Cleaning your house, especially the floors, becomes a lot easier if you've got a cold batch of tea to help you out. It's especially good at removing grease and grime, although make sure to rinse it off after so it doesn't stain!
Stop your shoes smelling by placing an un-used tea bag in each shoe. This isn't really a re-use, but it's still better for the environment that any aerosol that claims to do the same. The tea leaves actually absorb the odour, much like it would water! This idea can be used pretty much anywhere that you want to smell more fresh.
Stop your feet smelling by soaking them in a tea bath for 20 minutes each day. Tea bags are astringent and will fight the odour-causing bacteria on your feet.
To cure sunburn or acne add a few used tea bags to your bath! Acne will be helped with a warm tea, but to cure sunburn make a cold batch of tea and just wash the affected areas with it unless you're feeling extra brave! It will take a few applications, but eventually you'll benefit from its' soothing effects.
Fertilize your plants by removing the bag and mixing the tea leaves into the soil. This is an organic solution and the leaves will also help retain moisture in the soil.
Get artistic and use the tea as a dye. You can paint with it or even dye fabrics. The beauty of being artistic is you get to be inventive with what you use them for!
Stop itching by applying a used tea bag to a rash or insect bite.
Stop bleeding gums by biting down on a used tea bag. The tannins in the tea will constrict the blood vessels and soothe the swelling, stopping them from bleeding. This can also be used to stop bleeding when you pull a tooth out.
Heal bruises faster by putting a used tea bag on them. The tannins once again constrict the tiny broken capillaries and stop them from bruising as badly.
Revive and add shine to your hair by rinsing it with a cup of tea. Be careful though, it will temporarily dye lighter hair so only use this one if you already have dark hair.
Dye light hair darker by rinsing it with tea each time you shower. It'll add a subtle change in colour rather than the bold differences of hair dye.
Tone your face with a tea bag! It's astringent properties mean it will cut through the grease on your face and leave your skin clean. Wipe off with a clean towel after though - you don't want it to stain your skin!
Do you have any other uses for tea? Or are you going to try one of these? Let me know in a comment below. :)
Flavour your meat at a barbeque by marinading it with your tea bags. It sounds odd but it's worth a try.
Cleaning your house, especially the floors, becomes a lot easier if you've got a cold batch of tea to help you out. It's especially good at removing grease and grime, although make sure to rinse it off after so it doesn't stain!
Stop your shoes smelling by placing an un-used tea bag in each shoe. This isn't really a re-use, but it's still better for the environment that any aerosol that claims to do the same. The tea leaves actually absorb the odour, much like it would water! This idea can be used pretty much anywhere that you want to smell more fresh.
Stop your feet smelling by soaking them in a tea bath for 20 minutes each day. Tea bags are astringent and will fight the odour-causing bacteria on your feet.
To cure sunburn or acne add a few used tea bags to your bath! Acne will be helped with a warm tea, but to cure sunburn make a cold batch of tea and just wash the affected areas with it unless you're feeling extra brave! It will take a few applications, but eventually you'll benefit from its' soothing effects.
Fertilize your plants by removing the bag and mixing the tea leaves into the soil. This is an organic solution and the leaves will also help retain moisture in the soil.
Get artistic and use the tea as a dye. You can paint with it or even dye fabrics. The beauty of being artistic is you get to be inventive with what you use them for!
Stop itching by applying a used tea bag to a rash or insect bite.
Stop bleeding gums by biting down on a used tea bag. The tannins in the tea will constrict the blood vessels and soothe the swelling, stopping them from bleeding. This can also be used to stop bleeding when you pull a tooth out.
Heal bruises faster by putting a used tea bag on them. The tannins once again constrict the tiny broken capillaries and stop them from bruising as badly.
Revive and add shine to your hair by rinsing it with a cup of tea. Be careful though, it will temporarily dye lighter hair so only use this one if you already have dark hair.
Dye light hair darker by rinsing it with tea each time you shower. It'll add a subtle change in colour rather than the bold differences of hair dye.
Tone your face with a tea bag! It's astringent properties mean it will cut through the grease on your face and leave your skin clean. Wipe off with a clean towel after though - you don't want it to stain your skin!
Do you have any other uses for tea? Or are you going to try one of these? Let me know in a comment below. :)
Posted by
Ami Marshall
20 Uses for Lemon Juice
I've mentioned lemon juice in an earlier blog as a great cleaning solution, but it's useful for so many other things I thought I'd dedicate a blog to this wonderful fruit! It's applications go from as a beauty product to cleaning to medicinal. Basically, always keep a lemon or two handy!
Beauty Uses
To brighten nails. Squeeze a fresh lemon into a bowl and soak your nails in the juice for a few minutes. They'll appear brighter (especially if a little yellowed from too long under nail varnish) and with regular treatment will become stronger too. Add some olive oil to the mix for an extra boost to your nails' strength.
As a deodorant. Sounds mad, but rubbing citric acid on your underarms reportedly kills the bacteria responsible for causing BO. You could use this as an eco-friendly way to ditch deodorant altogether, but I think I'll save it for emergencies only!
To lighten age spots or freckles. This isn't a proven theory, but apparently rubbing lemon juice on your age spots or freckles once a day for many, many weeks will slowly lighten them. You'd have to really hate them to be this dedicated though.
To get rid of dandruff. It won't cure the causes of dandruff, but it will get rid of any flakes present in your hair which is useful if you're going out. Rub lemon juice into your scalp and leave for 10 minutes, then wash your hair as normal.
To highlight your hair (requires a sunny day). Mix 1/2 cup of lemon juice with 1/2 cup of water in a spray bottle and spray to the hair you want highlighted - either small sections or all over for a lightened effect. Then sit in the sun for an hour or two and let it work its magic!
To prevent spots. Lemon juice is quite astringent so it will get rid of excess oils and tighten your pores. Just apply it to your skin using a cotton ball like you would any other facial treatment. Mix a little bit with salt for an all-natural exfoliator. (Be careful if you have dry skin as this could dry it out further. Be sure to moisturise well afterwards.)
Practical Uses
As an insect deterrent. Insects are extremely sensitive to smell, so spraying a little lemon juice anywhere they might get into your home (around windows, under doors, cracks in floorboards etc.) will make them think twice about coming in! Adding lemon juice to your floor cleaner will double the effect.
As a food preservative. Fruit and veg will take longer to turn brown if a little lemon juice is sprinkled over them. You can also perk up droopy lettuce by soaking it in a water & lemon mix for an hour.
To eliminate bad smells. Rubbing lemon juice on surfaces that have come into contact with garlic, fish, or even yucky stuff you find in your bin, will act as a deodoriser. You can also add it to the water of any smelly vegetables you're cooking to stop them making the house smell, or even just simmer a water/lemon juice mix on the hob to freshen things up.
To clean glass. Use straight lemon juice on a sponge for tough marks, or a water & lemon mix in a spray bottle for your average clean. Lemon juice gets off even the toughest marks on windows and if you use newspaper to dry them off after you'll be left wondering if the window is even still there!
To remove stains. Almost any stain can be removed with lemon juice. Hardy fabrics will respond best to having pure lemon juice rubbed into the stain while delicates will respond better with being soaked in lemon juice for a little while and then being washed as directed.
To clean the toilet. When mixed with household borax (not the insecticide variety) to make a paste, lemon juice can remove even the toughest rust stains. Rub the paste onto the stains using a sponge or toilet brush, leave for 2 hours and wash off.
As a metal polisher. Cut a lemon in half, dip it in salt and rub it on metal to make it gleam!
As a rice de-sticker. A little squeeze of lemon juice into the water when you're cooking rice will stop it sticking to the pan so easily, making washing up a lot faster.
To brighten your washing. Lemon doesn't just remove stains, it will also brighten your whites! Add 1/4 cup of lemon juice to your washing machine and it'll work its magic. For even better effects, hang the washing out to dry in the sun afterwards.
Medicinal Uses
To relieve heartburn caused by too little acid. Not to be confused with too much acid, or the results will be pretty painful! If you're experiencing heartburn due to weak stomach acids drinking a little lemon juice & water solution will relieve your discomfort. If you're not sure what's causing the heartburn, best to avoid this one.
To soothe a sore throat. Put 1tsp lemon juice into 1/8 cup of water and gargle to kill off nasty bacteria and reduce swelling in your throat. Hot water with lemon and honey will also have a soothing effect and is good for the immune system too.
As a metabolism booster. A lot of advice about using this tip comes from starvation diets, which is a big no-no in my book. BUT lemon is full of Vitamin C which is a fab antioxidant and water keeps you hydrated, so as long as you're drinking it AND eating I don't see any harm in adding this tip to your daily intake.
To soothe itchy skin. Undiluted lemon juice applied to an itchy rash (such as poison ivy) will soothe the skin and also stop the rash from spreading.
As a hangover cure. Not strictly medicinal as hangovers are self-inflicted, but we'll put it here anyway. If you can face it, lemon juice mixed in hot water will rehydrate you, replace the Vitamin C you've lost in the binge and even balance your body's pH levels back to normal. That's pretty cool if you ask me!
So there you have it, 20 uses for lemon juice that aren't simply drinking it! Although that's good for you too - it's absolutely packed with antioxidants. I can personally vouch for it as a cleaning solution and I'll be trying it out on my nails sometime soon so will update you on that when I have!
Beauty Uses
To brighten nails. Squeeze a fresh lemon into a bowl and soak your nails in the juice for a few minutes. They'll appear brighter (especially if a little yellowed from too long under nail varnish) and with regular treatment will become stronger too. Add some olive oil to the mix for an extra boost to your nails' strength.
As a deodorant. Sounds mad, but rubbing citric acid on your underarms reportedly kills the bacteria responsible for causing BO. You could use this as an eco-friendly way to ditch deodorant altogether, but I think I'll save it for emergencies only!
To lighten age spots or freckles. This isn't a proven theory, but apparently rubbing lemon juice on your age spots or freckles once a day for many, many weeks will slowly lighten them. You'd have to really hate them to be this dedicated though.
To get rid of dandruff. It won't cure the causes of dandruff, but it will get rid of any flakes present in your hair which is useful if you're going out. Rub lemon juice into your scalp and leave for 10 minutes, then wash your hair as normal.
To highlight your hair (requires a sunny day). Mix 1/2 cup of lemon juice with 1/2 cup of water in a spray bottle and spray to the hair you want highlighted - either small sections or all over for a lightened effect. Then sit in the sun for an hour or two and let it work its magic!
To prevent spots. Lemon juice is quite astringent so it will get rid of excess oils and tighten your pores. Just apply it to your skin using a cotton ball like you would any other facial treatment. Mix a little bit with salt for an all-natural exfoliator. (Be careful if you have dry skin as this could dry it out further. Be sure to moisturise well afterwards.)
Practical Uses
As an insect deterrent. Insects are extremely sensitive to smell, so spraying a little lemon juice anywhere they might get into your home (around windows, under doors, cracks in floorboards etc.) will make them think twice about coming in! Adding lemon juice to your floor cleaner will double the effect.
As a food preservative. Fruit and veg will take longer to turn brown if a little lemon juice is sprinkled over them. You can also perk up droopy lettuce by soaking it in a water & lemon mix for an hour.
To eliminate bad smells. Rubbing lemon juice on surfaces that have come into contact with garlic, fish, or even yucky stuff you find in your bin, will act as a deodoriser. You can also add it to the water of any smelly vegetables you're cooking to stop them making the house smell, or even just simmer a water/lemon juice mix on the hob to freshen things up.
To clean glass. Use straight lemon juice on a sponge for tough marks, or a water & lemon mix in a spray bottle for your average clean. Lemon juice gets off even the toughest marks on windows and if you use newspaper to dry them off after you'll be left wondering if the window is even still there!
To remove stains. Almost any stain can be removed with lemon juice. Hardy fabrics will respond best to having pure lemon juice rubbed into the stain while delicates will respond better with being soaked in lemon juice for a little while and then being washed as directed.
To clean the toilet. When mixed with household borax (not the insecticide variety) to make a paste, lemon juice can remove even the toughest rust stains. Rub the paste onto the stains using a sponge or toilet brush, leave for 2 hours and wash off.
As a metal polisher. Cut a lemon in half, dip it in salt and rub it on metal to make it gleam!
As a rice de-sticker. A little squeeze of lemon juice into the water when you're cooking rice will stop it sticking to the pan so easily, making washing up a lot faster.
To brighten your washing. Lemon doesn't just remove stains, it will also brighten your whites! Add 1/4 cup of lemon juice to your washing machine and it'll work its magic. For even better effects, hang the washing out to dry in the sun afterwards.
Medicinal Uses
To relieve heartburn caused by too little acid. Not to be confused with too much acid, or the results will be pretty painful! If you're experiencing heartburn due to weak stomach acids drinking a little lemon juice & water solution will relieve your discomfort. If you're not sure what's causing the heartburn, best to avoid this one.
To soothe a sore throat. Put 1tsp lemon juice into 1/8 cup of water and gargle to kill off nasty bacteria and reduce swelling in your throat. Hot water with lemon and honey will also have a soothing effect and is good for the immune system too.
As a metabolism booster. A lot of advice about using this tip comes from starvation diets, which is a big no-no in my book. BUT lemon is full of Vitamin C which is a fab antioxidant and water keeps you hydrated, so as long as you're drinking it AND eating I don't see any harm in adding this tip to your daily intake.
To soothe itchy skin. Undiluted lemon juice applied to an itchy rash (such as poison ivy) will soothe the skin and also stop the rash from spreading.
As a hangover cure. Not strictly medicinal as hangovers are self-inflicted, but we'll put it here anyway. If you can face it, lemon juice mixed in hot water will rehydrate you, replace the Vitamin C you've lost in the binge and even balance your body's pH levels back to normal. That's pretty cool if you ask me!
So there you have it, 20 uses for lemon juice that aren't simply drinking it! Although that's good for you too - it's absolutely packed with antioxidants. I can personally vouch for it as a cleaning solution and I'll be trying it out on my nails sometime soon so will update you on that when I have!
Posted by
Ami Marshall
Home Heartburn Remedies
I'm pretty glad I scheduled a sorry post just in case for thursday! We had a lovely day taking my godson Adam to the zoo, then a relaxed evening having a takeaway with Kerri, Lewis and Adam. While it was a fantastic day, it did mean that we didn't leave Kent until about 8pm and didn't arrive home in Bristol until gone midnight so I certainly wasn't about to write a blog! My camera died almost as soon as we got to the zoo (typically) so there are only a few photos of that, but there are some nice ones from the wedding that I will share with you once the camera is charged. :) Yesterday I was pretty much a zombie thanks to a late night and early start, but now I'm all recovered and ready to write a blog for you!
Today I thought I'd dedicate my blog to my partner Tom, but probably not in the way he expected! He suffers heartburn really badly and it can even disrupt his sleep at night, so I've looked up some home rememdies for heartburn and I will try to convince him to try some of them to see if I can help him out.
Heartburn is caused by acid from your stomach refluxing and coming back up your esophagus, creating a burning sensation in the chest and sometimes throat. It has a number of causes, from spicy foods and fizzy drinks to not chewing properly when you eat or over-eating. It's fairly simple to counteract if it's only a mild problem, but if you suffer chronic heartburn it's best to go see your doctor.
Here's a run down of home remedies that might give you relief from heartburn: (Please note this does not constitute as medical advice, simply things other people have tried and found to help. None of these remedies should be taken in the place of medical advice from your doctor.)
Keep your head up. Elevating your upper body while you sleep will reduce the effects of heartburn as gravity keeps the acid from refluxing as easily. Great for if you're asleep (or trying to be) and can't take something for it.
Don't sleep on a full stomach. Similarly, you shouldn't lie down too soon after eating as it will be easier for the food/acid to reflux. Stay upright for at least 1 hour and 2-3 hours if possible, as that's how long it will take for the food to pass through your stomach.
Watch what you're drinking - bad stuff. Caffeine, alcohol and fizzy drinks are all known to increase heartburn. Cut out each one individually to see if any of them are causing your problems. You should also avoid drinking during meal times, as this bloats your stomach which makes heartburn more likely. Instead drink after a meal, when you know you're not full up.
Watch what you're drinking - good stuff! Fruit juices such as mango, papaya, guava and pear will all help to soothe heartburn. Or if you have a juicer (and some odd taste buds..) stick cabbage or raw potatoes through it and drink that. Buttermilk is also good for heartburn, but don't get it confused with normal milk which will do the opposite!
Eat soothing foods. Try nibbling on some blanched almonds or plain brown rice, both of which won't need any extra stomach acid to digest. Alternatively, Soda Crackers are brilliant as they are easily digested and actually absorb some of the excess acid. Apples are also brilliant for cooling down the effects of heartburn - they can be eaten as they come or made into desserts for something a little more interesting.
Get spicy! I don't mean grab a chilli or curry, I mean look in your spice rack. Cardamom, Cinnamon, Ginger and Sage will all help heartburn, either by soothing the effects or preventing the causes.
Make your own antacid. 1/2 teaspoon of Bicarbonate of Soda in half a glass of water will soothe your heartburn in no time. Warning! If you're on a salt-restricted diet, do not use baking soda. OR Mix 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp honey and 1 cup warm water together and drink.
Chew properly and don't overeat. If your stomach is full to the brim with large chunks of barely chewed food, it'll push the food back up to make space for digesting. Instead chew your food properly before swallowing it and make sure to only eat what you need rather than filling up completely. Eating slower will mean your stomach will have more time to let you know it's full.
And finally... De-stress! Stress can cause excess acid secretion, so try to keep the stress to a minimum if you regularly suffer heartburn.
If none of these tips help, consult your doctor as something more serious could be causing the problem. I'll grab Tom soon and see if he'll be my guinea pig. If he will, I'll let you know which of these methods work best for you. :)
Do you have any heartburn tips I haven't mentioned? Or if you've tried one of these, how did it go?
Today I thought I'd dedicate my blog to my partner Tom, but probably not in the way he expected! He suffers heartburn really badly and it can even disrupt his sleep at night, so I've looked up some home rememdies for heartburn and I will try to convince him to try some of them to see if I can help him out.
Heartburn is caused by acid from your stomach refluxing and coming back up your esophagus, creating a burning sensation in the chest and sometimes throat. It has a number of causes, from spicy foods and fizzy drinks to not chewing properly when you eat or over-eating. It's fairly simple to counteract if it's only a mild problem, but if you suffer chronic heartburn it's best to go see your doctor.
Here's a run down of home remedies that might give you relief from heartburn: (Please note this does not constitute as medical advice, simply things other people have tried and found to help. None of these remedies should be taken in the place of medical advice from your doctor.)
Keep your head up. Elevating your upper body while you sleep will reduce the effects of heartburn as gravity keeps the acid from refluxing as easily. Great for if you're asleep (or trying to be) and can't take something for it.
Don't sleep on a full stomach. Similarly, you shouldn't lie down too soon after eating as it will be easier for the food/acid to reflux. Stay upright for at least 1 hour and 2-3 hours if possible, as that's how long it will take for the food to pass through your stomach.
Watch what you're drinking - bad stuff. Caffeine, alcohol and fizzy drinks are all known to increase heartburn. Cut out each one individually to see if any of them are causing your problems. You should also avoid drinking during meal times, as this bloats your stomach which makes heartburn more likely. Instead drink after a meal, when you know you're not full up.
Watch what you're drinking - good stuff! Fruit juices such as mango, papaya, guava and pear will all help to soothe heartburn. Or if you have a juicer (and some odd taste buds..) stick cabbage or raw potatoes through it and drink that. Buttermilk is also good for heartburn, but don't get it confused with normal milk which will do the opposite!
Eat soothing foods. Try nibbling on some blanched almonds or plain brown rice, both of which won't need any extra stomach acid to digest. Alternatively, Soda Crackers are brilliant as they are easily digested and actually absorb some of the excess acid. Apples are also brilliant for cooling down the effects of heartburn - they can be eaten as they come or made into desserts for something a little more interesting.
Get spicy! I don't mean grab a chilli or curry, I mean look in your spice rack. Cardamom, Cinnamon, Ginger and Sage will all help heartburn, either by soothing the effects or preventing the causes.
Make your own antacid. 1/2 teaspoon of Bicarbonate of Soda in half a glass of water will soothe your heartburn in no time. Warning! If you're on a salt-restricted diet, do not use baking soda. OR Mix 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp honey and 1 cup warm water together and drink.
Chew properly and don't overeat. If your stomach is full to the brim with large chunks of barely chewed food, it'll push the food back up to make space for digesting. Instead chew your food properly before swallowing it and make sure to only eat what you need rather than filling up completely. Eating slower will mean your stomach will have more time to let you know it's full.
And finally... De-stress! Stress can cause excess acid secretion, so try to keep the stress to a minimum if you regularly suffer heartburn.
If none of these tips help, consult your doctor as something more serious could be causing the problem. I'll grab Tom soon and see if he'll be my guinea pig. If he will, I'll let you know which of these methods work best for you. :)
Do you have any heartburn tips I haven't mentioned? Or if you've tried one of these, how did it go?
Posted by
Ami Marshall
Sorry!
If you're reading this, I either haven't got back from Kent yet or I'm just too tired to write a blog. Please don't be mad, I've had an action packed day and then a 3 hour drive home! I promise to write tomorrow with an account of my time away and maybe a photo or two. :)
Posted by
Ami Marshall
Renewable Energy & You - Part Two.
Picking up where the last blog left off, here I'll be telling you about Feed-In Tariffs (FITs) and the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) available from the government when you produce your own energy. You can even get paid for energy you use yourself, so not only will you make savings but also a profit.
I'll also touch on some of the grants available to make these changes to your home. There used to be thousands of pounds available to anyone who wanted to switch to renewable energy. The grants have slowly diminished, but there is still money to be grabbed if you know where to look.
Feed-In Tariffs
If you have any of the electricity generating technologies described in yesterdays' post, you may be eligible for payments from your energy provider. The 'Big 6' energy companies are required by law to make these payments, but smaller providers aren't so if you're with one of these check if they have 'opted in' to the scheme. The technology and its installer must be certified under the Microgeneration Certification scheme, so be very careful when choosing who will do the work.
How FITs work.
1. Electricity is generated by your solar panels (or other generator) and your energy provider pays you for each unit you generate.
2. You use that electricity in your home, saving money as you're not importing it from the grid.
3. You export any excess electricity back to the grid, at which point you receive further payment for each unit.
4. If you're not generating enough electricity for your needs, you import electricity from the grid at your usual tariff price.
Benefits.
Generation Tariffs are paid for every unit of electricity you produce, whether it's used in your home or exported back to the grid. The price per unit you will receive can range from 9p/unit up to 28p/unit depending on the type of technology providing it.
Export Tariffs are paid at an extra 3.2p/KWh for every unit that gets exported back to the grid.
Energy Bill Savings will be made, as you don't have to import as much electricity from the grid. The lower your energy usage, the more you could save as you'll generate a higher percentage of your own electricity.
Your average solar energy system with a size of 3kWp could save you around £670/year when these benefits are combined.
Renewable Heat Incentive
This is a much newer incentive that the government is still working on, so details are still unclear on the eventual tariffs that will be paid out, however Phase One has already been introduced. Phase One is called the Renewable Heat Premium Payment and is a grant available to anyone who wishes to install appropriate sized renewable heat systems. Phase Two of the scheme will deal with the tariffs paid to those who have these systems, however as details are not finalised being eligible for the RHPP grant does not mean you will be eligible for the payment tariffs when they're eventually brought in.
Benefits will be much the same as the FIT benefits, in that you'll be paid for the heat you generate and save on your heating bills by using your own heat. However since you can't export the heat anywhere there will be no export tariffs.
Grants
There are three main sources you can get grants from; the government, energy suppliers and your local council.
The government has different schemes available for households on particular benefits and for people over a certain age. These schemes are for making your home more energy efficient; upgrading the boiler, insulating the loft etc. There are also other schemes available for cavity wall insulation.
The Carbon Emission Reduction Target (CERT) means energy suppliers with a certain number of customers in the country are required to reach targets for improving home energy efficiency. To reach these targets the companies make a variety of options available to put in energy efficiency measures, from free low-flow shower heads to significantly reduced boilers. An added bonus is that you don't have to get these improvements from your own energy supplier - you can get them from any of the suppliers that are required to provide them.
Your local council can also provide energy-saving grants for local residents to make energy efficient improvements to their home.
For information on all these sources check out this website.
I'll also touch on some of the grants available to make these changes to your home. There used to be thousands of pounds available to anyone who wanted to switch to renewable energy. The grants have slowly diminished, but there is still money to be grabbed if you know where to look.
Feed-In Tariffs
If you have any of the electricity generating technologies described in yesterdays' post, you may be eligible for payments from your energy provider. The 'Big 6' energy companies are required by law to make these payments, but smaller providers aren't so if you're with one of these check if they have 'opted in' to the scheme. The technology and its installer must be certified under the Microgeneration Certification scheme, so be very careful when choosing who will do the work.
How FITs work.
1. Electricity is generated by your solar panels (or other generator) and your energy provider pays you for each unit you generate.
2. You use that electricity in your home, saving money as you're not importing it from the grid.
3. You export any excess electricity back to the grid, at which point you receive further payment for each unit.
4. If you're not generating enough electricity for your needs, you import electricity from the grid at your usual tariff price.
Benefits.
Generation Tariffs are paid for every unit of electricity you produce, whether it's used in your home or exported back to the grid. The price per unit you will receive can range from 9p/unit up to 28p/unit depending on the type of technology providing it.
Export Tariffs are paid at an extra 3.2p/KWh for every unit that gets exported back to the grid.
Energy Bill Savings will be made, as you don't have to import as much electricity from the grid. The lower your energy usage, the more you could save as you'll generate a higher percentage of your own electricity.
Your average solar energy system with a size of 3kWp could save you around £670/year when these benefits are combined.
Renewable Heat Incentive
This is a much newer incentive that the government is still working on, so details are still unclear on the eventual tariffs that will be paid out, however Phase One has already been introduced. Phase One is called the Renewable Heat Premium Payment and is a grant available to anyone who wishes to install appropriate sized renewable heat systems. Phase Two of the scheme will deal with the tariffs paid to those who have these systems, however as details are not finalised being eligible for the RHPP grant does not mean you will be eligible for the payment tariffs when they're eventually brought in.
Benefits will be much the same as the FIT benefits, in that you'll be paid for the heat you generate and save on your heating bills by using your own heat. However since you can't export the heat anywhere there will be no export tariffs.
Grants
There are three main sources you can get grants from; the government, energy suppliers and your local council.
The government has different schemes available for households on particular benefits and for people over a certain age. These schemes are for making your home more energy efficient; upgrading the boiler, insulating the loft etc. There are also other schemes available for cavity wall insulation.
The Carbon Emission Reduction Target (CERT) means energy suppliers with a certain number of customers in the country are required to reach targets for improving home energy efficiency. To reach these targets the companies make a variety of options available to put in energy efficiency measures, from free low-flow shower heads to significantly reduced boilers. An added bonus is that you don't have to get these improvements from your own energy supplier - you can get them from any of the suppliers that are required to provide them.
Your local council can also provide energy-saving grants for local residents to make energy efficient improvements to their home.
For information on all these sources check out this website.
Posted by
Ami Marshall
Renewable Energy & You - Part One.
As promised in this post, this blog is dedicated to giving you a little more information about generating your own energy. There are a number of options, from something small like a single solar panel on the roof to something big like a wind turbine in the back garden. A brilliant website to give you all the information you need can be found here and a lot of the information in this blog is what I've learned from reading their site.
First of all, what are your options? I'll give you a brief description of each type of renewable energy source available. Some of them generate electricity, some heat and some both. A combination of the two will save you the most money on your bills after the initial outlay. For more information on them you'll need to go to the website above.
Solar Panels (PV)
Solar photovoltaics is the posh word for the solar panels that are beginning to be more common these days. They're fitted to your roof (preferrably south facing) and turn sunlight into electricity. They can even do their thing on a cloudy day, although to a lesser extent of course.
Costs: approx. £10,000 for your average system, but can be as low as £3,000 for a small system. More info here.
Wind Turbines
Wind turbines use... you guessed it, the wind! They can be used in even the smallest areas; you can get roof-mounted turbines which is perfect if you don't have a garden. The average wind turbine should easily provide enough energy to keep your lights on and run your electrical appliances.
Costs: roof mounted systems start from £2,000. Pole mounted systems are between £15,000 and £22,500. More info here.
Hydro-electricity
If you have running water going through your garden, such as a stream, you can harness the energy with a hydropower system. The water turns a turbine, which in turn runs a generator that generates electricity.
Costs: Your average hydropower system will cost £25,000. Some sites more, some sites less. More info here.
Wood-fuelled Heating
Wood fuelled heating can get quite complicated as there are a number of fuel types and burner types that can be used in different combinations depending on your needs. It's most simple definition though is some kind of wood burner being used to heat a single room OR a wood burner hooked up to your central heating to lower the costs of heating your house.
Costs: are far too variable for me to put here I'm afraid. Check out more info here.
Solar Water Heating
Much like solar electricity, a solar water heating system uses the sun to heat water. Your normal boiler can then be used to boost the temperature of this water. The savings you make will come from the lower amount of time your boiler takes to heat the water.
Costs: Your average system costs around £4,800. Savings vary - more during summer and less during winter.
Ground Source Heat Pumps
GSHPs are buried approximately 2m underground in your garden and absorb heat from the ground. These are good all-year solutions as that deep in the ground the temperature doesn't vary a lot. The heat absorbed is then compressed and used to heat your house or water. It works best with underfloor heating as the water doesn't need to be as hot as in radiators.
Costs: Installing a system ranges from £9,000 to £17,000 and has a small running cost. You need to consider what type of system you are replacing to work out if you will make savings or not. More info here.
Air Source Heat Pumps
ASHPs work in the same way Ground Source pumps do, only they extract heat from the air rather than the ground. They can extract heat from temperatures as low as -15C so they still work all year, however they are slightly less efficient than their Ground Source counterparts.
Costs: £6,000 to £10,000 with a small running cost. You need to consider what type of system you are replacing to work out if you will make savings or not. More info here.
Micro CHP (Combined Heat & Power)
This technology generates heat and power, although electricity is a much lower bi-product of the heat that is generated. (A ratio of about 6:1) A typical system will produce 1kW of electricity once fully warmed up and it's output over the year will vary on how long it is running.
Costs: Since this is fairly new to the market, costs aren't available yet. More info here.
So there you have the different types of renewable energy available for you. Follow the links provided to see if each type is suitable to your home. Since this blog has plenty of food for thought, I'll cover the potential savings and even earnings in another blog for you.
Are you considering using a renewable energy source? Do you already have a system in place? Let me know your thoughts in the comments. :)
First of all, what are your options? I'll give you a brief description of each type of renewable energy source available. Some of them generate electricity, some heat and some both. A combination of the two will save you the most money on your bills after the initial outlay. For more information on them you'll need to go to the website above.
Solar Panels (PV)
Solar photovoltaics is the posh word for the solar panels that are beginning to be more common these days. They're fitted to your roof (preferrably south facing) and turn sunlight into electricity. They can even do their thing on a cloudy day, although to a lesser extent of course.
Costs: approx. £10,000 for your average system, but can be as low as £3,000 for a small system. More info here.
Wind Turbines
Wind turbines use... you guessed it, the wind! They can be used in even the smallest areas; you can get roof-mounted turbines which is perfect if you don't have a garden. The average wind turbine should easily provide enough energy to keep your lights on and run your electrical appliances.
Costs: roof mounted systems start from £2,000. Pole mounted systems are between £15,000 and £22,500. More info here.
Hydro-electricity
If you have running water going through your garden, such as a stream, you can harness the energy with a hydropower system. The water turns a turbine, which in turn runs a generator that generates electricity.
Costs: Your average hydropower system will cost £25,000. Some sites more, some sites less. More info here.
Wood-fuelled Heating
Wood fuelled heating can get quite complicated as there are a number of fuel types and burner types that can be used in different combinations depending on your needs. It's most simple definition though is some kind of wood burner being used to heat a single room OR a wood burner hooked up to your central heating to lower the costs of heating your house.
Costs: are far too variable for me to put here I'm afraid. Check out more info here.
Solar Water Heating
Much like solar electricity, a solar water heating system uses the sun to heat water. Your normal boiler can then be used to boost the temperature of this water. The savings you make will come from the lower amount of time your boiler takes to heat the water.
Costs: Your average system costs around £4,800. Savings vary - more during summer and less during winter.
Ground Source Heat Pumps
GSHPs are buried approximately 2m underground in your garden and absorb heat from the ground. These are good all-year solutions as that deep in the ground the temperature doesn't vary a lot. The heat absorbed is then compressed and used to heat your house or water. It works best with underfloor heating as the water doesn't need to be as hot as in radiators.
Costs: Installing a system ranges from £9,000 to £17,000 and has a small running cost. You need to consider what type of system you are replacing to work out if you will make savings or not. More info here.
Air Source Heat Pumps
ASHPs work in the same way Ground Source pumps do, only they extract heat from the air rather than the ground. They can extract heat from temperatures as low as -15C so they still work all year, however they are slightly less efficient than their Ground Source counterparts.
Costs: £6,000 to £10,000 with a small running cost. You need to consider what type of system you are replacing to work out if you will make savings or not. More info here.
Micro CHP (Combined Heat & Power)
This technology generates heat and power, although electricity is a much lower bi-product of the heat that is generated. (A ratio of about 6:1) A typical system will produce 1kW of electricity once fully warmed up and it's output over the year will vary on how long it is running.
Costs: Since this is fairly new to the market, costs aren't available yet. More info here.
So there you have the different types of renewable energy available for you. Follow the links provided to see if each type is suitable to your home. Since this blog has plenty of food for thought, I'll cover the potential savings and even earnings in another blog for you.
Are you considering using a renewable energy source? Do you already have a system in place? Let me know your thoughts in the comments. :)
Posted by
Ami Marshall
Going Away
Hello lovely readers!
I'm going to be away for the next few days, travelling to Kent with Tom for the wedding of two of my best friends. I've scheduled some blogs for you to read that will still pop up each day, so you should still visit to see what I've got for you. :)
I'm really looking forward to the time away as both Tom and I have been a bit ill lately and really stressed out with work so it's going to be lovely to just get to spend some time together without having to do anything! I'm also pretty excited to explore Kent a little and see what they have to offer me in the way of interesting shops. We may even visit the zoo while we're there, which will be a lovely treat.
One last thing, I'd like to thank everyone who has visited this blog, as I've now reached over 1000 views! Which is absolutely incredible considering it's only been 1 month and 2 days since I started putting my ramblings on the internet.
Enjoy the blogs I've planned and I'll be back on Thursday!
I'm going to be away for the next few days, travelling to Kent with Tom for the wedding of two of my best friends. I've scheduled some blogs for you to read that will still pop up each day, so you should still visit to see what I've got for you. :)
I'm really looking forward to the time away as both Tom and I have been a bit ill lately and really stressed out with work so it's going to be lovely to just get to spend some time together without having to do anything! I'm also pretty excited to explore Kent a little and see what they have to offer me in the way of interesting shops. We may even visit the zoo while we're there, which will be a lovely treat.
One last thing, I'd like to thank everyone who has visited this blog, as I've now reached over 1000 views! Which is absolutely incredible considering it's only been 1 month and 2 days since I started putting my ramblings on the internet.
Enjoy the blogs I've planned and I'll be back on Thursday!
Posted by
Ami Marshall
Making your own Water Butt
The summer is approaching and already the warnings about drought have started. Hose pipe bans are inevitable and any avid gardeners are going to have expensive water bills. Although its difficult to believe that we're going to run low on water when it's been raining non-stop all day (and a lot of the weekend!) now is the perfect time to be thinking about this. Making your own water butt will collect all the rain that's falling now and save it for the dry months approaching when you'll really need it.
There are commercial water butts available, but these tend to be quite expensive. It's much cheaper and also better for the environment to make your own as you can recycle materials. The best material to use is plastic - it's waterproof, you can get large containers and since plastic isn't biodegradable you'll be saving it from landfill and repurposing it instead. A temporary solution is to use a wooden container with a pond liner or polythene bag inside, however the bag could split or the wood could break under the water pressure so it's not good as a long-term water butt.
The best containers are old plastic food bins that can be picked up on internet auction sites pretty easily. They're perfect because they come with a lid that makes them child friendly and pet safe, as well as less likely for mosquitos to breed in them. There are also a variety of sizes available, from 70 to 200 litres. When you aquire one of these containers you need to get it steam cleaned to prevent any residual bacteria from growing fungi.
There are two ways to access the water; through the top of the butt or by fitting a special tap lower in the wall that is sealed by aquatic sealant. If you go for the latter option, be sure to choose a sealant that doesn't contain fungicides which will contaminate the water. Tap kits are available in most garden centres. Getting water from the top is quicker and easier than a tap, but when water levels get lower this becomes more difficult. It also leaves a higher chance of mosquitos breeding.
Some of the other options that work well are old oil drums, although they can be expensive to get, and old oak barrels which are aesthetically pleasing and can be sourced from dedicated suppliers. With the oak barrel you will need to install a wooden water spigot instead of a tap, making sure to use the fungicide free aquatic sealant.
Whatever option you go for, you'll be ensuring you have water for your plants throughout the summer months and smug in the knowledge that you're helping the environment. The more water butts you have the better off you will be and if you place them around the garden you'll maximise your chances of catching the rain water while simultaneously reducing the distance you need to carry a heavy watering can!
So what do you think? Will you be making a water butt while the rain is here?
There are commercial water butts available, but these tend to be quite expensive. It's much cheaper and also better for the environment to make your own as you can recycle materials. The best material to use is plastic - it's waterproof, you can get large containers and since plastic isn't biodegradable you'll be saving it from landfill and repurposing it instead. A temporary solution is to use a wooden container with a pond liner or polythene bag inside, however the bag could split or the wood could break under the water pressure so it's not good as a long-term water butt.
The best containers are old plastic food bins that can be picked up on internet auction sites pretty easily. They're perfect because they come with a lid that makes them child friendly and pet safe, as well as less likely for mosquitos to breed in them. There are also a variety of sizes available, from 70 to 200 litres. When you aquire one of these containers you need to get it steam cleaned to prevent any residual bacteria from growing fungi.
There are two ways to access the water; through the top of the butt or by fitting a special tap lower in the wall that is sealed by aquatic sealant. If you go for the latter option, be sure to choose a sealant that doesn't contain fungicides which will contaminate the water. Tap kits are available in most garden centres. Getting water from the top is quicker and easier than a tap, but when water levels get lower this becomes more difficult. It also leaves a higher chance of mosquitos breeding.
Some of the other options that work well are old oil drums, although they can be expensive to get, and old oak barrels which are aesthetically pleasing and can be sourced from dedicated suppliers. With the oak barrel you will need to install a wooden water spigot instead of a tap, making sure to use the fungicide free aquatic sealant.
Whatever option you go for, you'll be ensuring you have water for your plants throughout the summer months and smug in the knowledge that you're helping the environment. The more water butts you have the better off you will be and if you place them around the garden you'll maximise your chances of catching the rain water while simultaneously reducing the distance you need to carry a heavy watering can!
So what do you think? Will you be making a water butt while the rain is here?
Posted by
Ami Marshall
Happy Easter!
Just a quick post to say Happy Easter to everyone. :)
Remember to keep the plastic inserts from your easter eggs - they'll make great moulds for making your own eggs next year! Plus the coloured foil will be perfect for crafts so don't waste those either. The box can be recycled, so really you have no excuses for anything going in the bin! ;)
Remember to keep the plastic inserts from your easter eggs - they'll make great moulds for making your own eggs next year! Plus the coloured foil will be perfect for crafts so don't waste those either. The box can be recycled, so really you have no excuses for anything going in the bin! ;)
One Month, 900 Views!
Just a quick little post to say that after one month of writing this blog I have reached 900 views! That's just incredible! Thank you so much to everyone who has read and commented on the blog, it's amazing that so many of you have read my ramblings!
I'll be looking back at my attempts from this month and doing a progress report soon, so keep checking back. :) I might even throw in a treat as a thank you for your support. <3
I'll be looking back at my attempts from this month and doing a progress report soon, so keep checking back. :) I might even throw in a treat as a thank you for your support. <3
Posted by
Ami Marshall
Cut your bills to pay for your luxuries!
At the moment we're cutting back on the luxuries so we can afford our bills. Now it's time to cut back on our bills to afford our luxuries!
My easter present from mum was a little unusual this year, but I love it. She got me Ideal Home magazine, which is full of really expensive design ideas that I will be copying for half the price, and interesting articles that led me to todays blog.
They have a wonderful article on Oliver Heath - a TV presenter who completely remodeled his house to be as eco friendly as possible. I'm not suggesting you go to quite the effort he has, spending £440,00 to buy the house and a further £130,000 in refubishment (!) but there are steps you can take that don't empty your bank account. Oliver estimates that it will take just 10 years to make back the refurbishment money with the savings he will make, which is incredible. If he can make back £130,000 in 10 years then we're all capable of making some pretty hefty savings ourselves with the right steps.
You need to start with the most obvious thing: changing your habits. Being green is a lifetime goal, not an instant save. Think of each habit you change as saving you 5p every time you remember. Add in just 1 habit a day and you'll only save £18.25 a year, but add 3 habits a day and you've saved £54.75!
Do you leave the door open when you take the bin out? Or leave lights on in various rooms even when no one is in them? How about leaving the shower running for 5 minutes to 'warm up' while you're getting ready? I'm not suggesting you lock yourself out of the house, sit in the dark and take a cold shower in the morning. That would be my worst nightmare! But pull the door almost closed, flick the light off when you'll be out for more than a few minutes and only leave your shower running the 30 seconds it needs to warm up before getting in.
Other ideas include keeping the doors in your house closed, only boil the water you need, switch things off instead of standby, don't leave things plugged in if you're not using them. All of these suggestions don't sound like they add up to much, but over the course of a year you'd be surprised.
Next you move on to simple solutions; conserve your heat and save water. A quick run down shows what you can do and how much you will save per year:
Seal drafts around doors, windows and loft hatches: £55
Insulate your hot water cylinder with a 75mm jacket: £40
Switch an old boiler to an A-rated condensing boiler: £100-£300
Fit a low-flow shower head: £90 (based on water-meter bills for a household of 4)
Swap incandescent lightbulbs to fluorescents: £55+ over the bulbs' life.
Swap a 70W halogen bulb with a 6W LED light: £70 over its' life.
It doesn't sound like much, less than £5/year saved on a lightbulb. But think of the bigger picture; most people will have 10-20 bulbs in their house as a conservative figure. That's £50-£100/year!
Insulate your loft to 270mm thick insulation and you can save £175/year. Add cavity wall insulation into the equation and you'll add a further £135/year. (based on a 3-bed semi detached house)
The final and biggest step is to start generating your own energy. This is where it gets a little complicated, so I'll be devoting another blog to that one!
So there you have it, some quick and painless steps to make your house more energy efficient. What habits will you be changing? Write them in comments below and we'll all try them together!
My easter present from mum was a little unusual this year, but I love it. She got me Ideal Home magazine, which is full of really expensive design ideas that I will be copying for half the price, and interesting articles that led me to todays blog.
They have a wonderful article on Oliver Heath - a TV presenter who completely remodeled his house to be as eco friendly as possible. I'm not suggesting you go to quite the effort he has, spending £440,00 to buy the house and a further £130,000 in refubishment (!) but there are steps you can take that don't empty your bank account. Oliver estimates that it will take just 10 years to make back the refurbishment money with the savings he will make, which is incredible. If he can make back £130,000 in 10 years then we're all capable of making some pretty hefty savings ourselves with the right steps.
You need to start with the most obvious thing: changing your habits. Being green is a lifetime goal, not an instant save. Think of each habit you change as saving you 5p every time you remember. Add in just 1 habit a day and you'll only save £18.25 a year, but add 3 habits a day and you've saved £54.75!
Do you leave the door open when you take the bin out? Or leave lights on in various rooms even when no one is in them? How about leaving the shower running for 5 minutes to 'warm up' while you're getting ready? I'm not suggesting you lock yourself out of the house, sit in the dark and take a cold shower in the morning. That would be my worst nightmare! But pull the door almost closed, flick the light off when you'll be out for more than a few minutes and only leave your shower running the 30 seconds it needs to warm up before getting in.
Other ideas include keeping the doors in your house closed, only boil the water you need, switch things off instead of standby, don't leave things plugged in if you're not using them. All of these suggestions don't sound like they add up to much, but over the course of a year you'd be surprised.
Next you move on to simple solutions; conserve your heat and save water. A quick run down shows what you can do and how much you will save per year:
Seal drafts around doors, windows and loft hatches: £55
Insulate your hot water cylinder with a 75mm jacket: £40
Switch an old boiler to an A-rated condensing boiler: £100-£300
Fit a low-flow shower head: £90 (based on water-meter bills for a household of 4)
Swap incandescent lightbulbs to fluorescents: £55+ over the bulbs' life.
Swap a 70W halogen bulb with a 6W LED light: £70 over its' life.
It doesn't sound like much, less than £5/year saved on a lightbulb. But think of the bigger picture; most people will have 10-20 bulbs in their house as a conservative figure. That's £50-£100/year!
Insulate your loft to 270mm thick insulation and you can save £175/year. Add cavity wall insulation into the equation and you'll add a further £135/year. (based on a 3-bed semi detached house)
The final and biggest step is to start generating your own energy. This is where it gets a little complicated, so I'll be devoting another blog to that one!
So there you have it, some quick and painless steps to make your house more energy efficient. What habits will you be changing? Write them in comments below and we'll all try them together!
Broken tea cup into a tea light holder!
Just a quick post today as inspiration is yet to strike! This morning I broke one of our mini cups at the coffee shop. Although I'd much rather have the tea cup back, I noticed that it had broken perfectly to create a tea light holder. A quick check with one of our candles proves I'm right, so this weekend I will be painting it and bringing it back to the shop as a Sorry Present! Watch this space for the new and improved version, but so far this is how it looks:
There were a few other pieces that broke off and I'm going to see what I can do about re-purposing those too.
Any ideas what I could make? They're two triangular(ish) pieces of china.
There were a few other pieces that broke off and I'm going to see what I can do about re-purposing those too.
Any ideas what I could make? They're two triangular(ish) pieces of china.
Posted by
Ami Marshall
How-To: Make Cheese Scones!
Since visiting Marks & Spencer on Mother's Day I have had a craving for cheese scones. They had them on sale in the cafe, I don't just get random cravings when I'm there! I wondered how to make them a few times, but didn't really bother to look into it as I was having too much fun with making muffins.
At work we've been raising money for The Stroke Association throughout March (raised £85 in total - woo!). They sent us a fundraising pack but until now I haven't opened it - useful I know. Inside they had all the usual advice on planning events, information about the charity etc. but they also had some recipes in there to sell at the Tea Party they recommended throwing. Imagine my delight when I saw that one of the recipes was cheese scones!
Lately I've had a bad stomach, the only symptom being really bad pain in my stomach at all times. It's annoying, but I've been trying to get on with life as best I could. This afternoon at work it got a bit much and since I had no more appointments I headed home for some R&R. And that brings us to todays post, so you can guess what I've done with the extra time!
Here's the recipe so you can make your own:
Ingredients:
225g self raising flour (I used ordinary flour and 3tsp baking powder)
55g unsalted butter
100g grated mature cheddar cheese
150ml milk
1/4tsp mustard powder (I skipped this step)
Pinch of salt and pepper
Method:
1. Preheat your oven to 200C (220C for non-fan ovens) and cover a baking tray with greaseproof paper.
2. Sift the flour into a bowl with the salt, pepper, mustard powder and butter. Then use your hands to mix it all together.
3. Add the milk and 75g of the cheese and continue mixing it all with your hands until it becomes a soft dough.
You might have to add a little more flour or milk, depending on whether it's too sticky or not sticky enough. Eventually you will end up with a nice, soft dough that looks like this.
4. Put the dough onto a floured surface and knead it before patting it out into a 2cm thick circle.
5. Use a 5cm cutter (I used a glass) to cut the scone shapes and place them on the baking tray.
6. Knead and re-shape the remaining dough until it's all used up.
7. Brush the tops of the scones with milk and sprinkle the remaining 25g of cheese over the top of them.
8. Pop in the oven for 12-15 minutes or until they've risen and gone golden. Once done, take them out and leave to cool.
And voila! Now you have cheese scones and a room full of friends! (Trust me, once the smell starts spreading through the house people will love you!)
Are you going to have a go? Let me know what you think. :)
At work we've been raising money for The Stroke Association throughout March (raised £85 in total - woo!). They sent us a fundraising pack but until now I haven't opened it - useful I know. Inside they had all the usual advice on planning events, information about the charity etc. but they also had some recipes in there to sell at the Tea Party they recommended throwing. Imagine my delight when I saw that one of the recipes was cheese scones!
Lately I've had a bad stomach, the only symptom being really bad pain in my stomach at all times. It's annoying, but I've been trying to get on with life as best I could. This afternoon at work it got a bit much and since I had no more appointments I headed home for some R&R. And that brings us to todays post, so you can guess what I've done with the extra time!
Here's the recipe so you can make your own:
Ingredients:
225g self raising flour (I used ordinary flour and 3tsp baking powder)
55g unsalted butter
100g grated mature cheddar cheese
150ml milk
1/4tsp mustard powder (I skipped this step)
Pinch of salt and pepper
Method:
1. Preheat your oven to 200C (220C for non-fan ovens) and cover a baking tray with greaseproof paper.
2. Sift the flour into a bowl with the salt, pepper, mustard powder and butter. Then use your hands to mix it all together.
3. Add the milk and 75g of the cheese and continue mixing it all with your hands until it becomes a soft dough.
You might have to add a little more flour or milk, depending on whether it's too sticky or not sticky enough. Eventually you will end up with a nice, soft dough that looks like this.
4. Put the dough onto a floured surface and knead it before patting it out into a 2cm thick circle.
5. Use a 5cm cutter (I used a glass) to cut the scone shapes and place them on the baking tray.
6. Knead and re-shape the remaining dough until it's all used up.
7. Brush the tops of the scones with milk and sprinkle the remaining 25g of cheese over the top of them.
8. Pop in the oven for 12-15 minutes or until they've risen and gone golden. Once done, take them out and leave to cool.
And voila! Now you have cheese scones and a room full of friends! (Trust me, once the smell starts spreading through the house people will love you!)
Are you going to have a go? Let me know what you think. :)
Posted by
Ami Marshall
Bee Busy This Summer
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| Don't worry, it's not real! |
I'm probably the last person anyone would expect to want to help bees, but even I have to admit they do us good. About 1/3 of the food we eat has made it to our plates thanks to pollination from bees, across the EU they're responsible for pollinating almost 84% of our crops. So as long as they do their thing far away from me I'm happy for them to do it!
Sadly, the worlds' population of bees are dying out and Britain is losing them the fastest. We could be a bee-free country by 2018 and as much as I'd enjoy my summers more without them, we do really need them. It's estimated that the British Agriculture Industry could lose as much as £440 million a year without them, not to mention the devastation to our eco-systems.
Neonicotinoids (Neonics for short) are largely to blame for the disappearing bees - they're 7,000 times stronger than DDT (banned in Britain in 1984) and studies have shown that they damage human health as well as killing off all insects that ingest them. For more information on bees and why they're disappearing, check the links at the bottom of this blog.
But this post would be useless if I just told you the sad story that bees are facing. Now it's time to tell you what you can do to help them out! And if you're anything like me, you'll be relieved to know you can help the little pests out without getting up close and personal. I can even feel your sigh of relief from here! So here's the run down of things you can do:
Buy local honey.
By creating a demand for it, you're ensuring that the investment goes in to keeping local bees. You're also getting honey that isn't full of preservatives and hasn't been flown hundreds of miles to get to you. So you can give anyone buying foreign honey a smug look as you pat yourself on the back for being kind to your body AND the environment!
Wash out empty jars of foreign honey.
If you've gone for the cheaper option of buying foreign honey (which in the economic climate is understandable) do your local bees a favour and wash out every last remenant before putting the jars out for recycling. Local bees will be attracted to the remaining honey in the pot, which contains foreign bacteria that is harmful to our native bees.
Plant Bee Friendly Flowers.
Even if you only have a small plot of land, you can use it to encourage bees to visit and pollinate. There are plenty of bee friendly plants to choose from, for a list of them click here.
Adopt a bee hive.
You can help out bee hives without going anywhere near them by adopting a beehive. The British Beekeepers Association will use the money to fund research into best ways to keep bees and for training new bee keepers.
Buy Bee-Friendly products.
Neal's Yard do a fabulous Bee Lovely Hand Cream and donate £1 from each sale to help save the bees. It's a win-win situation - the bees get saved and you get soft hands! If you want to buy this product and live in the Bristol area get in touch and I can order it for you. :)
If you want to help the bees and you don't mind getting a little more hands on, The British Beekeepers Association run all kinds of courses in bee keeping. You can even lend your garden out to a bee keeper if you have the space. I for one, will be sticking to the distance methods of helping them out!
That's all I have to say on the subject, but you can find plenty more information about bees by clicking these links:
The British Beekeepers Association
Neal's Yard Bee Lovely Hand Cream - Scroll to the bottom of the page and they have lots of handy information links for you to follow.
So what are you going to do to save the bees?
Posted by
Ami Marshall
Post Twenty-One: Icing Flowers and Egg Shells
Good Afternoon lovely readers!
I apologise for my absence over the weekend, but as my wonderful partner Tom pointed out I have to have some down time, and I spent that time pretty well! The strawberry & vanilla muffins turned out brilliantly - getting compliments from everyone who has tried one (or two, or three..) so I'm pretty pleased with that result. Plus I learned a new skill, courtesy of my friend Rachel who is pretty amazing at cake making! I give you...
...an icing flower! The method is pretty simple and one day I'll get around to doing a How-To Guide but for now you'll just have to admire our efforts and be jealous. ;)
As for the egg shells, I've found a lovely picture of an old egg carton and egg shells turned into a mini garden, with an article on how to make your own. The article can be found here.
I'm loving the idea of a mini garden right now and I'm wishing I hadn't thrown the eggs in the bin after making muffins at the weekend! Luckily I still have the carton left, so I'm sure I'll find another use for that somewhere along the line.
How was your weekend? Did you get out in the garden with the lovely weather, or cook up some delicious treats?
I apologise for my absence over the weekend, but as my wonderful partner Tom pointed out I have to have some down time, and I spent that time pretty well! The strawberry & vanilla muffins turned out brilliantly - getting compliments from everyone who has tried one (or two, or three..) so I'm pretty pleased with that result. Plus I learned a new skill, courtesy of my friend Rachel who is pretty amazing at cake making! I give you...
...an icing flower! The method is pretty simple and one day I'll get around to doing a How-To Guide but for now you'll just have to admire our efforts and be jealous. ;)
As for the egg shells, I've found a lovely picture of an old egg carton and egg shells turned into a mini garden, with an article on how to make your own. The article can be found here.
I'm loving the idea of a mini garden right now and I'm wishing I hadn't thrown the eggs in the bin after making muffins at the weekend! Luckily I still have the carton left, so I'm sure I'll find another use for that somewhere along the line.
How was your weekend? Did you get out in the garden with the lovely weather, or cook up some delicious treats?
Posted by
Ami Marshall
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