Effective @ Home

A Day Made of Glass

2011-10-26T06:32:00.000+11:00

Lemon and Poppyseed Shortbread

2008-08-19T22:10:00.000+10:00

This recipe is easy and tastes great. I have a lemon tree that produces excessively so I'm always looking for recipes to use lemons. I love poppyseeds too!

Lemon and Poppyseed Shortbread

200g butter, chpped
2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
3/4 cup icing sugar mixture
1 1/2 tablesoons poppyseeds
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Beat butter, rind and sugar in a medium bowl until light and fluffy. Add flour, seeds and juice. Press into slice tray. Bake in oven for 35 minutes at about 180degrees.

cut in pan, cool, dust with icing sugar if you like.

Yum!

Feng Shui Courses

2007-08-03T20:51:00.000+10:00

I began my study of Feng Shui with Roger Green in the 90's. He is one of the most engaging teachers I have ever had and I thought some readers may be interested in studying Feng Shui, or any number of the courses Roger conducts. He has learning centres all over the world now. I'm not surprised as he is a knowledgeable person who has much to share.

Feng Shui Seminars with Roger Green are life changing. I am not alone in my high opinion of him. There is a page of testimonies and as I read them, I couldn't have said it better myself.

Inspiring Simplicity

2007-07-18T18:13:00.000+10:00

I read this remarkable story today on Newsvine. The headline reads Woman content living in 84-sq. ft. dream home. When you go to the story, be sure to watch the video of her home. This kind of simplicity is inspiring. I know, with my current family situation, it is impossible to live like that, yet know we as a family could do better at simplifying.
This woman has built her home from recycled materials as well, adding to the environmental saving. Her heating and cooling costs are minimal. Most of all it seems she would have more abundance in other areas.

Creamy Pumpkin Soup

2007-07-05T09:39:00.000+10:00

This is one of my favourite recipes, given to me by an awesome mother of 6 children. She is an elegant woman who lives her life fully. She is one of my role models. I first met her as a student in secondary school when she was my teacher. When I began teaching, she was there and we have become friends. Her friendship is one I treasure as it is enriching. She has created an excellent life for herself and her family. I think it's really valuable to have women in your life, who live the kind of life you aspire to. She has a beautiful home and is a great entertainer. She travels and dresses beautifully. Anyway, back to the soup......

Creamy Pumpkin Soup (serves 6)
1 onion chopped
1 potato chopped
1 red capsicum shopped
700 g pumpkin chopped
2 chicken stock cubes
4 cups of water
tblsp sherry (optional)
250g cream cheese
butter and cream if so desired

Cook onion in saucepan with butter until soft, add potato, pumpkin, stock cubes and water. Cook 40 minutes. Puree. Add cheese and sherry. Don't boil. Add a dollop of cream when serving.

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This recipe works. Last time I used it was when I had to take a dish to feed a mob of teenagers. I don't feel too confident cooking, by the time I organised what I was going to bring, all the dishes I have confidence with, were already taken. This soup popped into my head and it was a surprising hit with everyone.

I didn't stick to the recipe because I didn't have some of the things I needed. I rarely use potato as the others in my home loathe and despise it, so I just put more pumpkin in it. I never add the cream, I find the cheese does enough, yet it could perhaps tone down the richness. I use vegetable stock powder. It has an extra golden colour from the red capsicum. It tastes divine. Add some crusty bread and you have a delicious meal.

Soup:Creamy Broccoli Soup

2007-06-20T20:02:00.000+10:00

I am not a big cook, but winter makes life easier when you can chop up a pile of veggies and have some great full flavoured warming soup. My work mate Maureen, gave me these fantastic recipes which I will share with you. I've tried them all and they are great.

Creamy Broccoli Soup (serves 4)
1 tablespoon butter
1 onion chopped
clove garlic crushed
2 cups chicken stock
1 tablespoon rice
375g broccoli, trimmed and chopped
1 tbsp parsley
1/2 cup milk
1 tbsp lemon juice
4 tbsps cream

Method
Place onion, butter and garlic in a saucepan and stir for 5 minutes. Add stock, rice, broccoli and parsley. Simmer until veges are tender. Puree. Reheat and blind in milk, lemon juice, cream and season.

This is yummy and contains a lot of healthy ingredients plus some decadent ones.

Dipping into the Blogpond

2007-06-16T07:29:00.000+10:00

The last couple of weeks I have been focusing on Australian blogs for my research and reading. Perhaps in the coldness of winter, even with my new heater :-), its hard to read about picnics and sunshine. A great resource 'Dipping into the Blogpond' has highlighted a couple of interesting links for homemakers.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
e-Cycled isn't really a blog, but rather more like a forum where you can list stuff you don't want, yet may be useful to others. It's like a free ebay. The listings are organised into states.
We really need to get better and more organised as a society, at this.

Do it Yourself Community
Refurber is a do it yourself online group. Community members post advice about their experiences in wide variety of projects. You can join and ask for advice and give it.

Warmth Makes Winter Bearable

2007-06-10T20:39:00.000+10:00

Why didn't I get the warm maker 4 years ago when I moved here. I knew it was inevitable. It has made such a difference. The home seems more hospitable and friendly and I am not walking around with 10 layers of clothing on, yet still a cold nose.

The split system is doing a great job and all is warm and well in my world. My home is tidy. I threw a few things out this weekend. I am getting better and better at this.

Melbourne Mind Spirit and Body Festival

2007-06-08T20:23:00.000+10:00

This long weekend is the Melbourne Mind, Spirit and Body Festival. It will be held at the Exhibition Centre in Melbourne and offers free events and seminars as well as a wide range of exhibitors. From past experience, I have found the festival to offer a wide range from nurturing and pampering products and services for the body and home to latest nutritional information and products.

Check out the extensive list of products on show. Something for everyone!

I have spent time at this festival when I was learning about aromatherapy. The aromatherapist I was working with at the time had a stall there and I totally enjoyed the experience.

Magical Bird

2007-06-07T20:38:00.000+10:00

One of the new readers of this blog, has just introduced me to a beautiful bird and an interesting blog. The Kerala Articles:Lady Gouldian Finch. Colourful birds are great feng shui for your home and this article talks about how to keep one in captivity. I am not really a lover of birds in cages, yet reading this article and the dangers to this bird in the wild, has given me a reason to question my belief. Better in cages in loving homes, than extinct!
The symbol of this blog is the wheel of life, a buddhist symbol. Enjoy and thanks Biby Cletus for dropping by.

A Warm Home

2007-06-07T20:19:00.000+10:00

Tomorrow I get my reverse cycle air conditioner installed and not before time. It has been so cold lately. I have had to light a fire each night and if I get home late, it's almost time to go to bed before the house warms up to be comfortable enough to exist in. I am not a cold person. I think I must be like a reptile and if I don't have warmth, I can't move. So I am looking forward to the luxury of push button warmth!

Most Unusual Buildings

2007-06-01T20:15:00.000+10:00

How bizarre are these buildings on this site. I'm particularly baffled by the Dancing House. How on earth must the rooms look inside?

Domestic Appreciation

2007-05-29T20:51:00.000+10:00

My sister cooked risotto for me and I came home from work to a house smelling of food and it was divine. I love domestic surprises like that. My son had taken the clothes off the line for me and it was raining and as I drove home from work I wondered what to cook and dismayed that my washing was getting wet.

Tonight I feel especially blessed because I went to a 'Courage to Care' talk today. The man who spoke to us talked about his early childhood hiding out in the homes of people who were courageous and caring enough to hide a Jewish family in world war 2 Europe. I felt an enormous appreciation for my home and the freedom I have. I felt blessed by the security I feel in knowing my family can be home each night in the relative luxury we enjoy. Not every person on the planet has this abundance so we who do, can at least appreciate it.

Split System

2007-05-29T19:34:00.000+10:00

I have purchased the split system air conditioner. We have had fires every summer around here and the air quality has been poor. One of the people who live in our home is susceptible to asthma, so I felt the air cleaning qualities of the reverse cycle air conditioner, worth the difference. I guess gas heating feels stifling to me sometimes. I just want to get the chill off the air.

I found the airwell reverse cycle air conditioner met the most of my criteria. So it's purchased and awaiting installation. I can't wait!

Energy Labelling

2007-05-29T11:25:00.000+10:00

In my quest to find the best rating I have come across this site:
Energy Labelling. What I find frustrating is that it links to the company site, rather than to the product specs. I guess it would take a lot more time to set up, but wouldn't that be great.

It would also be great to save me more time, if it then linked to retailers so I could shop for price as well. Maybe one day, in a perfect world.

De-clutter - so I did!

2007-05-27T18:46:00.000+10:00

My favourite column in The Weekend Australian is written by Ruth Ostrow. This weeks article The de-clutter bug really describes the process well. I was surprised to read there are full time businesses out there doing this now.
When I had a business in the 90's I had a client who paid me to declutter. I enjoyed it.
I have spent this weekend cleaning out a linen cupboard. It was a big mess and now it is restored to order. The blankets are in plastic zip up cubes I bought for a bargain at Aldi, the spare mattresses are rolled up and the sheet sets are matched with doona covers and contained in there own cubes. I feel quite pleased with this improvement. I also had to release quite a few threadbare sheets to the rag cupboard and other assorted shabby linen items to the bin. I have given some things too good to throw out or recycle as rags, but too ugly to ever dream of using again, to the op-shop. It always feels good.

Gas Vs Split Cycle Heating

2007-05-27T09:33:00.000+10:00

I had in mind to buy a reverse cycle electric heater. The Rinnai Australia website has this handy study: Heating ...the real facts. It asks 9 questions and makes comparisons. It seems quite fair and reasonable.

One of the features of the reverse-cycle air conditioners I was quite interested in was the ionizer. My partner gets asthma and what I have read about ionization sounds good. I love that feel of fresh air near a waterfall, so I know it would be good to have in your home.

Sustainability Victoria is giving rebates for people switching from wood, electric, LPG or oil as their main form of heating to high efficiency gas heaters. This made me reconsider whether I should get a gas heater.

To Heat My Home - The Dilema

2007-05-21T20:11:00.001+10:00

I'm currently researching heating for my home.

I have a wood heater right now. I have discussed this with the environmental person who came to our school from CERES and he said that as long as I burned the wood at a high temperature and didn't let it slowly burn, it wouldn't pollute the atmosphere so much. I do this, yet still feel the smoke can't be good. It is quite effective way to warm up the house though and I recommend it to others if your home is insulated and if everything is in good working order.

The issues I have though are getting wood, which I am always concerned about where it has come from and the time it takes to get the fire going.

I am searching for an economical and environmentally friendly way to heat my home.

Paisley

2007-05-21T19:20:00.000+10:00

I like spirals and I love Paisley(wikipedia link). According to wikipedia, the tear shaped motif with lacey intricate patterns coming from it originated in Persia, yet takes it's name from a town in Scotland, Paisley(wikipedia link).
There are lots of beautiful examples on Google images for Paisley pattern.

I really love Paisleys that are intricate and complex. I prefer blues and purples and pastel colours. I have a faded paisley doona cover that I will not part with. It improves as it fades. I just hope it doesn't become threadbare.

I have lots of paisley cushions and some paisley clothes.

Herb Spirals

2007-05-19T19:53:00.000+10:00

How to Make a Herb Spiral:Gardening Tips and Ideas
I love spirals and what better than a herbal spiral. Check out this awesome website, showing how to make a spiral garden containing herbs.

Simple Abundance

2007-05-19T09:16:00.000+10:00

This book by Sarah Ban Breathnach is one of the best books that I've read about homemaking. The author celebrates the many facets of becoming authentic. It is a joy to read and probably best enjoyed by women as it speaks to the feminine.
The idea of simplicity and a less material focus is appealing to me.

Peeling the Paper

2007-05-07T21:30:00.000+10:00

Off to the Shed's post yesterday talked about the joys of removing wallpaper. I have been in my home for 4 years. The first year I took the paper, a washed out regency stripe in white and floral pastels from my bedroom walls. When I finished the job I removed the vinyl layer of paper from the upstairs bedrooms and now, almost 3 years later I am getting back to it to get the paper and glue off to paint these rooms.

It is not working out as easy as I had hoped. I didn't get the kettle type wallpaper remover that Owen mentions in his post. I think I will go looking for one.

Dishwasher Less

2007-05-06T11:18:00.000+10:00

Life without my dishwasher is different. I am sure it is sucking time from my life, yet can't seem to see what is paying for that. Perhaps my sanity! My dishwasher stopped working over a week ago. The error tune kept playing and I kept rearranging things for a few days. I then took out all the filters and cleaned them. Next was checking UNDER THE SINK (Blah!) that all the plugs and tubes were doing their things. It all looked ok.

I listened to a mechanical whirring sound at a certain stage of the cycle several times and then just emptied it and Handwashed the damn dishes.

I have continued to do this since then. I guess I'll have to get someone to look at it or replace it eventually.

The dishes are much cleaner though and I think I use less. Maybe I'll just live without it for a while.

My Rate and Me

2007-05-04T20:07:00.000+10:00

I am advertising for MyRate and will get affiliate fee for doing so. I wouldn't do this unless I was totally satisfied with this company. I got my home loan with MyRate over the Christmas period and I found the process easy and stress free. I was delighted at the lack of hidden costs and sneaky practices that I have experienced in the past. I can recommend this loan to anyone with a free conscience that I am genuinely doing you a favour.

The other thing I love about this loan, is that it is carbon neutral. See the website for details.

It has saved me a lot of interest and I am way ahead with my payments already. I hope for the same for you. Interest is such a frustration and the high cost of housing wherever you are purchasing your home, worries me about the likelihood of my children ever being able to afford their own home. Save where you can.

Effective Homes Channel

2007-04-29T12:06:00.000+10:00

There's a whole new selection of DIY video's on the new look Effective Homes channel. Check them out today and remember to check out any new projects for some advice.

Feedback to Save Energy

2007-04-20T07:55:00.000+10:00

Information Asthetics:(free)energy monitoring device reports of a new tool being freely distributed to households in the UK to give them information about their energy consumption. This is a great tool.

If users can have accurate feedback about their consumption and the costs associated with it, I believe this would be a very effective tool at cutting back. We use power, water and things generally without thinking about the costs in most circumstances. Many people respond to accurate feedback. Think of dieting, many diets recommend keeping a journal of everything you eat so you can become more conscious about your total consumption. I hope more feedback can be created for homes.

Do It Yourself Home Improvement, Repair, and Remodeling Information at DoItYourself.com

2007-03-02T22:03:00.000+11:00

Do It Yourself Home Improvement, Repair, and Remodeling Information at DoItYourself.com

This site could guide you in your next project

Optical Brighteners

2007-01-27T09:01:00.000+11:00

You might want to avoid these because according to Mystic Medusa, they can create skin rashes. See her post 'Neptune Made Me Break Out' dated 26/1/07 for more information. The wikipedia entry on Optical Brighteners contains information about what products are using this.
Having a clean home ought to benefit our health and not impair it!

Projects

2007-01-26T08:05:00.000+11:00

Before christmas I completed a home project. It was a bit of a rush, because it is usually such a busy time but I was so determined. I removed the built in cupboards in my walk-in wardrobe and replaced them. I then reinstalled them into my laundry. I now have more order in both these spaces. I have been measuring and thinking and planning this project for a long time now.

I suffered the frustrations, such as having the wrong sized screws and drill bits and all those little details that rise up to make it a challenge for you. It is so satisfying when it is complete though.

I read this post something tangible from a blog I have been enjoying lately: The Table. I identify with many of the things Ruby Charms writes about.

Museum Posters Make Great Prints

2006-12-22T21:22:00.000+11:00

Recycle great art and decorate at Better Walls. My favourite is the video section. This is a great idea and I hope to see some Australian Galleries take it up.

We all want to support museums, don't we?

House Cleaning Video

2006-12-15T10:45:00.000+11:00

Quick Bread Recipe

2006-11-18T09:23:00.000+11:00

It's Not About Your Stuff is my latest find in the good home blogs quest. This article linked to in the title, is a recipe for making bread quickly and it sounds great. The thing I loved about this post was there is a quick instructional video with it. Now I have to admit, I haven't tried it out for myself yet, it is another intention, but I still thought I would share it.
Check out the blog too, I have really enjoyed reading it.

Feng Shui Video

2006-11-06T19:00:00.000+11:00

Brief and interesting look at the Bagua

Way of Design from an Oriental Perspective

2006-10-19T19:59:00.000+10:00

I was stumbling today through interior design sites when I came across the above title. It looks quite interesting and I will check it out over time. I did notice that so many Interior Design sites have an 'enter' page. I really dislike them. They take ages to load and really offer nothing but a barrier to information. What do others think?

Spirals

2006-10-10T20:04:00.000+10:00

This magnificent page showing 150 different spiral images, that I found on the weekend must have triggered something in my brain. If you love spirals as I do, spend some time looking through the different images.
My fabulous son gave this wonderful shell pictured here from his last trip to QLD. It's broken on the bottom and has holes in it and when he gave it to me he said he thought of me when he found it. Receiving it as a gift, I didn't say, 'But it's broken!', I just did as all 'good enough' mothers do and said 'thanks'. Tonight I was playing with my shell and viewed it for the first time from this angle. It's such a beautiful spiral. I have bluetacked it to my desk so I can see the spiral view at all times.
I finally understand the gift.

Prefab homes in Australia

2006-10-04T18:01:00.000+10:00

We stayed in a prefab house at Port Albert. I have read about or rather looked at the great pictures of prefabs at that fantastic site Inhabitat.
I was a little disappointed about some of the design flaws in the home we stayed in but the workmanship and the versatility quite interests me. I am going to be looking into these and feel I would like to have a prefab home one day.
Kentucky Napier is the company and we stayed next door to the one featured on this site: 'The Ultimate Boathouse'. The unit we stayed in was much smaller than this one but still had a sunny light feel.
The sunscreen blinds were fantastic. They let a lot of light in and rolled up right out of the way when not required to provide insulation or slight shade. I loved them.

Beige

2006-09-18T20:34:00.000+10:00

I found a new blog today and I know it will be interesting because the first article I read was called 'No More Beige'. At my wedding the best man told a joke about beige that was something like this, no, I'm hopeless at telling jokes, go to the link! It was a little different and instead of a mother it was naturally a wife. It was a pretty appropriate joke at the time.
So I disaggree with the first post. It's a good sign. The blog, 'Simply Green' looks worth keeping an eye on.

decor8: Reader space

2006-09-07T21:30:00.000+10:00

Gennines Mexican Retreat in the Hills as featured in the blog decor8 is divine. I love the natural look and light spaces. It looks warm, yet still orderly and clean. A very successful creation.

Neat Living: Clutter Clearing

2006-09-05T19:14:00.000+10:00

I found this great blog today and the article that I needed the most was this one: Clutter Clearing Pays Off Big Time

And the thing is you don't have to believe in it for it to work.
Energy exists whether you believe in it or not. And if you change the energy around you - you change your life. What keeps me motivated and inspired helping people clear out and making fresh starts is seeing how it truly changes and improves their lives, even they don't believe or are skeptical. (I actually get a kind of high from it - It's so true that whatever you give comes back to you!)

I know this to be true and I just have to make time to have this.

Decoration + Design Exhibition 2007

2006-09-05T18:55:00.000+10:00

For seminars and exhibits from the interior decorating and soft furnishings industry, don't miss this exhibition in Sydney and Melbourne.

Inhabitiat:Green Building 101:Ecopower

2006-09-04T21:23:00.000+10:00

Inhabitat has the best articles about living gently.

2006-08-29T19:51:00.000+10:00

Technorati Profile

Honk if You're Flawed - Thumbsucker

2006-08-26T19:26:00.000+10:00

I watched this movie this afternoon. It was amazing and wonderful and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is rich with the stuff of life. You must watch it if you are a parent of a teenager.

I wrote about this angst of parenting in my other blog last week some time. There are always concerns but usually things are never as bad as you imagine they will be.

House Plants for Health

2006-08-24T07:06:00.000+10:00

These plants have also added beauty. I have noticed better air quality and freshness in the space I have put plants.

GREEN BUILDING 101: Energy & Atmosphere - Part 1

2006-08-09T18:44:00.000+10:00

Inhabitat » Blog Archive » GREEN BUILDING 101: Energy & Atmosphere - Part 1

Another great article from Habitat

GREEN BUILDING 101: Indoor Environmental Quality

2006-08-05T20:35:00.000+10:00

Inhabitat » Blog Archive » GREEN BUILDING 101: Indoor Environmental Quality

This is a great article, it is so important for our health to pay attention to what we breathe. Here is the introduction:

"Feeling good in our homes or offices isn’t just a matter of having a beautiful space. No matter how fabulous your furnishings, a poorly designed indoor environment can literally make you sick. Building green means considering not only the environmental impact of materials and construction, but also the physical and psychological health of the occupants.

The next phase of our series covers Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) — one of the criteria of the USGBC’s LEED-H rating system. IEQ addresses the subtle issues that influence how we feel in a space. It’s not some airy-fairy concept; these are scientifically proven facts. Companies that make the move to green buildings have employees with lower turnover rates, fewer sick days and higher productivity; schools demonstrate higher test scores, lower absenteeism and heightened academic enthusiasm among students. At home, of course, these factors are vital, since the way we feel at home affects every area of our lives.

Some can argue that it is not only desirable, but also a fundamental human right to live and work in spaces with healthy indoor environments. Buildings enhance people’s lives when they permit ample air circulation, maintain clean air and comfortable temperatures, and allow individuals to have a sense of control over their own indoor experience."

Do read it all.

Numerology for Homes

2006-08-02T18:08:00.000+10:00

If you go the link in the title of this post, you will get to a site which has a free numerology report. If you click on the tab at the top of the page with Numerology on it, it will take you to the numerology page, which has an address analyser. There are also a number of other tools on this page for reflection and self and home analysis.
I find when I am focusing on my home, tools like feng shui, numerology, crystals and aromatherapy to be helpful to quite inexpensively create a space to support me. My home is an extension of myself. I enjoy arranging and playing with its features to shift and adjust my energy or patterns in my life.

LIGHT-SENSITIVE WALLPAPER

2006-08-01T19:43:00.000+10:00

I am currently peeling wallpaper from the upstairs bedrooms. I completed my own bedroom shortly after moving to our house about 3 years ago (my hasn't time flown!). If only this wallpaperInhabitat » Blog Archive » LIGHT-SENSITIVE WALLPAPER had been on the walls instead of the awful regency stripe that was there.
When I saw this post I had all sorts of day dreams about what types of shapes you could line up and come home to at night. It would be a palette to create with every day.
How cool.

Moms Think Peer-to-Peer

2006-06-17T15:06:00.000+10:00

Micro Persuasion: Moms Think Peer-to-Peer

Of course the mum's are checking out what their kids are doing. It's effective. You can learn a lot about them and their friends. Take my advice though, don't ever mention it to them. It's as offensive as reading their diaries. No matter how proud you are they are good writers!

Who am I in relation to home?

2006-06-12T11:14:00.000+10:00

My experience with homes has been as a-
person blessed with living in many homes throughout my life.
business person in the soft furnishings industry.
mother,wife, both stay at home and working.
youth worker working with homeless youth.
messy untidy person.
control freaky neat person.
consultant in interiors.
student of feng shui.
avid reader of any book associated with home.
lover of the concept of home.

Highly Effective Homes

2006-06-12T11:07:00.000+10:00

Homes are such an important part of life. We already know this. When a home is not working effectively it has a huge impact. This blogs intention is:
To raise consciousness and awareness about the power of home in your life.
To provide excellent information about how to create a beautiful home that works with ease.
To share ways to have a sustainable home that is manageable in terms of time as well as cost to individual and planet.
To share best practice in home related topics such as cleaning, organisation, decorating, recycling, cooking, family and entertaining.