Economical Winter Heating

Keeping warm without blowing the budget... How can it be done? I had written this post a few weeks ago, but then the air began to feel warmer with the first hint of spring. Suddenly, we find ourselves in the midst of another winter snap and I feel that now is the time to share these helpful tips.

A little while ago I posted a question on my Facebook page, asking 'What are your best tips for keeping warm, whilst keeping heating costs low?'

Answers included:
• Two dressing gowns, ugg boots and a wheat bag with a hot drink lol
• Wheat bag,massive blanket and warm bed socks knitted ones are the best!
• Hot water bottle.. :)

The general theme of adding layers of clothing or blankets with the addition of a small item that can be reheated to provide additional warmth were very useful suggestions, but what about heating the entire home?

• Taking advantage of the Sun's rays is probably the best, most economical heating idea to date. Each morning I open the shutters and blinds on our north, west and eastern facing windows to allow the natural light to spill in and naturally heat our living areas and bedrooms. I make sure to close the blinds and shutters again at sunset to retain the heat.
• Close the door! Keep doors and windows closed when you need to prevent the freezing air from entering your home. This tip is also useful if you have a fire, heater or air-conditioner running and you don't want to waste your money on heating unused guest rooms.
• Door snakes/ draft-stoppers. These underrated items came in very handy when I lived in Armidale during my university years. Not only did they prevent the chilly winter draft from entering my home under the front door, but they also prevented heat loss to the spare rooms and around the window sill (in older homes). Here's a handy tutorial on how to make your own.
• Slippers and socks. Keep your tootsies warm with thick, woollen socks, or knitted ones as suggested by my friend, Candice.
• House orientation. For those who are in the exciting design stages of their family home, the orientation of the home takes into consideration the position of your home in relation to the seasonal variations of the Sun's path and prevailing wind patterns. The yourhome.gov.au site contains helpful information to ensure your home is energy efficient.
• Tea. I was't much of a tea drinker when I was younger but will never pass up the opportunity to gently cradle a steaming hot cup of tea during the autumn and winter months.
• Layers. Think scarves and beanies for outdoor adventures. Tuck singlets into pants (and pants into socks before bed), spare your shorter midriff baring clothes for the warmer months. Sometimes gloves, thick socks and jackets are also required. Try to maintain your warmth from bed to breakfast. If you allow yourself to cool before adding layers, then you may find yourself reaching for the heater or air-conditioner remote sooner and we're trying to avoid overuse of these heaters.
• Wash your clothes in the morning to ensure you make the most of the available warm light to dry your clothes. Clothes dryers are expensive to run. We avoid using one altogether by drying clothes inside on clothes horses on rainy days. Keep the clothes horse by the window or near your internal heat source (but not too close to avoid fire danger).
• The humble oven. I like to bake, especially in the cooler months but why run the oven for one cake? If I play on baking, I try to be organised so that I can bake my cake, then roast my dinner vegetables immediately afterwards to take advantage of the preheated oven. The heat emitted from the oven itself warms our combined kitchen and living areas and who doesn't love the smell of dessert or dinner baking away?
• Lay an extra blanket over your baby's floor mat to keep them warm on the ground as they play.

• If you are clever enough to work out how much electricity you use during daylight hours and you have a home solar system, try to consume as much of your solar power as possible during the daylight hours. Use the oven during the day, set a timer for your washing machine, switch off unused appliances at night. Solar Choice is a useful site to help you to figure out the size of the solar system required to power your home.

Possibly my favourite tip for saving money during the cooler months is by booking your family holiday! Confused yet?

With the money you can save by following these helpful tips, book early bird travel specials and travel during next year's winter. You could avoid heating your house altogether as you splash about in the tropical waters of a pristine island paradise, like we did recently with my younger sister, Crystal.

Please feel free to share this post and your own economical winter heating tips in the comments below.

Bella xx

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The Green Kitchen: Apple Spinach Smoothie

The clock ticks by as if a cog is broken but instead of slowing down, it accelerates. Each time I glance at it, I am aware more time has passed. Five minutes. An hour. Suddenly I'm looking down the barrel at Friday when it was only Monday a few moments ago, wasn't it?

This week has blurred right by me. If I stop to think about all the tasks I have completed or at least started I can somehow account for the lost time but it doesn't seem to make me feel any kind of reassurance. Time is time.

I'm calling it. This is the moment to recharge with a healthy meal on the run. Sure I'm busy and off to work on the next project in a few short hours. Who cares? This girl must eat and what I put into my body, the fuel, the sustenance is what is most important when all other systems are flashing their red warning lights and blaring their alarms.

It's time to nourish.

Apple Spinach Smoothie
Serves 1

1 Red Delicious apple, cored, skin on
1 large handful of baby spinach
1 Tbs unsweetened Greek or natural yoghurt
1/2 cup chilled, unsweetened organic almond milk
1 tsp ground hemp seeds
1 tsp maca root powder
*1/8 tsp Spirulina (optional)
*small handful of ice cubes (optional for a chilled smoothie)

Place all ingredients into a blender, pulse until smooth. Savour on the go.

Be kind to yourself. Drink this. You'll feel better, I promise.

Bella xx

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My Green Kitchen: Cucumber Banana Smoothie

It seems we've been hit with the 'I Quit Sugar' craze that is proving as popular as The Paleo Diet and raw living food. Move over chia seeds, you've had your day in the spotlight (just kidding, I still love you, chia!).

Ever woken up and thought to yourself, 'I want something fresh for breakfast, not too sweet.' ? I had one such morning on Tuesday and this cucumber, green capsicum and banana smoothie was the answer. Stand by to have your preconceptions about smoothies blown out of the blender! Think cool, fresh, and green and you're almost there.

This smoothie will give you the energy to take the beach steps, two at a time.

If you are starting out on the I Quit Sugar diet, it is recommended that you exclude high fructose fruit, such as bananas. I've never gone on a fad diet however, I do prepare gluten-free meals to cater for my gluten intolerance- That's not a 'fad diet' choice, it's a necessity. I try to nourish my body with healthy food and firmly believe that what I eat should be a lifestyle choice, not a 12 week plan or a two week detox. Instead I am mindful of what I eat and make an effort to eat fresh, unprocessed and organic foods, substituting in raw foods here and there. Byron and I exercise several times per week, Coco (our little dog) is the best motivator around for encouraging long runs along the beach. I also happen to live in a region famous for local, organic bananas and as such, I have decided to keep bananas in my meal rotation because they taste so good!

Green Smoothie: Cucumber Banana Smoothie
Serves 2

1 Lebanese cucumber, peeled
1 green capsicum, deseeded
1 ripe banana
1 Tbs hemp powder or hemp oil
1 tsp maca root powder
1/2 tsp spirulina
1 1/2 cups chilled, unsweetened almond milk

Blend until smooth in a high power blender, for a thicker smoothie add 1 to 2 tablespoons of unsweetened natural or Greek yoghurt. You can always opt to exchange the banana for an avocado in this recipe. Doing this will lose some of the natural sugar found in the banana. To sweeten, blend a date, two drops of stevia or some agave nectar to taste. Serve with a slice of fresh cucumber to garnish. Enjoy before a relaxing beach walk. Take the stairs.

The fresh flavour of this smoothie lies in the ingredients. It has almost a savoury quality due to the addition of cucumber and capsicum and from a culinary standpoint, it might seem a little strange for a smoothie to be both sweet and savoury but I urge you to try it anyway. It's delicious!

Bella xx

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Living Green Part I

I know little about succulents, yet somehow I am surrounded by them. What can I tell you about succulents, apart from the obvious: They are beautiful, brightly coloured, and varied in appearance. Some look like flapjacks, aptly named of course. Others look like clusters of two-tone jelly beans, some resemble miniature spiky ornaments, with bold forms and foliage. Many are hardy, drought tolerant plants, that are perfect for long summers and cool winters. They are water-wise plant options for your garden and many varieties are so hardy, they can survive with little help from you.

Our neighbours and us, we share a love for succulents. These images were captured in the children's garden next door, but if you've visited Sea and Salt before, you may have seen some of our own. They adorn pots, courtyards, window sills and peep out from our sandy soil, between rocks in strange places. Selecting unique succulents with brightly coloured pots can give your space a facelift, without blowing the budget.

If you have limited space, maybe you live in an inner-city apartment or perhaps you lack room for a garden, then succulents will provide an eco-friendly option to introduce some green (or red or orange or grey...) life into your home, without breaking the bank account. If you rent your home, simply take your potted plants with you when you leave. Simple living at it's finest.

Plant outdoor garden succulents in autumn or spring, seasons with less rain. Avoid planting outdoors in regions with excessive wet seasons or frosty winters. Potted succulents will require a succulent potting mix, with sand and a sunny position. Suitable pots can range from ornamental glazed pots, popularly reserved for bonsais to urns, backyard-crafted planter boxes, indoor glass vases, buckets, old watering cans or perhaps miniature terracotta pots.

Not sure where to position your succulent? Think windowsill, terrace, pool deck, court yards, garden, front porch, inside your home, on your bedside table, as a coffee table feature... Anywhere they can be protected from extreme heat and cold and have enough sunshine, depending on the requirements of the variety you choose. They make great gifts too and can survive a little tough love if you avoid over-watering.

I love succulents because they remind me of our coastal home. Whenever I have visited this little seaside bungalow over the years, I have always been greeted by the fleshy, plump, spiky forms of these strangely beautiful plants. They're always here and now that we live in this little house, they are ours to admire every day.

Do you have any succulents? What are your best tips for planting and maintaining these gorgeous plants? Perhaps you grow your own from cuttings. Feel free to share your succulent stories below.

Bella xx

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