Rhubarb is here in Michigan and TODAY is the perfect day to make this slightly sweet, definitely sour, shrub that feels like the essence of spring in a bottle! What’s a shrub, you ask? A shrub is your basic simple syrup plus vinegar. The vinegar gives it an interesting complexity and cuts down on the sweetness. This rhubarb shrub makes a really nice and simple spring cocktail when you mix it with ice, gin, and soda water. I recommend adding a sprig of thyme for extra spring freshness.
Looking for a weekend getaway? Thinking about how to make travel more sustainable, in general? Here are a few tips to explore Chicago, Illinois in a more sustainable way. Chicago has made significant strides in recent years toward becoming an eco-friendly city. City officials have been prioritizing sustainability and environmental initiatives for decades, and you’ll find that an eco-friendly trip to Chicago is very doable.
A few years ago, I sewed a bunch of reusable cloth gift bags in cheerful Christmas patterns and they continue to bring me such joy! I love wrapping presents in these gorgeous bags. I love giving them to people (and am so honored when friends and family want to keep the bag in addition to the gift… in fact, you’ll regularly find me sneaking around and gathering my bags up after gift opening is over at our family gatherings). I love reusing them year after year! AND they’re super easy to make! I swear, they’re a great project for beginner sewers because it doesn’t matter the size, shape, or even if they’re particularly square. The process is three simple steps: cut, sew, enjoy!
Are you on Team Natural or Team Artificial when it comes to Christmas trees? Have you ever wondered which is more sustainable? Most of us firmly believe that one is “better” than the other, but there’s a really interesting debate about the sustainability aspects of this tradition. Here are a few pros and cons to consider when choosing the type of tree you use to celebrate the holidays.
Did you know you can harvest a Christmas tree from the National Forest? You can! And in Michigan, the permit is only $5, making this a more affordable alternative to many traditional Christmas tree farms in addition to an amazing family adventure. This is one of my FAVORITE family holiday traditions! We love the adventure of hunting for our Christmas tree in the natural woods! We pack hot chocolate and marshmallows, and make an afternoon out of it!
Let talk about Food Waste: Did you know that if global food waste could be represented as a country, it’s carbon emissions would be the third largest in the world (behind China and the USA). The resources needed to produce the food that becomes lost or wasted has a carbon […]
A few years ago, I bought a bunch of flannel fabric in adorable holiday prints and sewed up a bunch of reusable gift bags. This year, I’m honored that my tutorial was selected to be included in the winter edition of the Simple Living Collection! The Collection is a digital bundle of resources to help you settle into a slow and intentional life, reconnecting with each other and nature, and embracing this magical wintery time of rest. There are 70+ tutorials, recipes, ebooks, stories and other activities from more than 50 contributors, just like me. It’s on sale for $25 until Monday, December 13th.
It’s tomato season! It’s tomato season! IT’S TOMATO SEASON!!!! I’m celebrating with a roundup of my favorite recipes for eating them fresh and preserving them for later.
I know I’m late to the countertop mushroom kit party, but I’m making up for it with my unbridled enthusiasm… I LOVE growing mushrooms! Here’s my favorite recipe to make with my homegrown oyster mushrooms.
We’ve owned a Tesla Model S for just over a year. We spent months researching the best all-electric plug-in vehicle and finally decided to spend our hard earned money on a car aligned with our values. Our biggest concern during all those weeks of research? ROAD TRIPS! How much extra […]