Decorating with Vintage Finds

Vintage Suitcase - Guest Room Supplies
The next time you have people staying, why not try this cute way of storing towels? Fold them into a small vintage suitcase or vanity case and all of a sudden your room will look very 'boutique hotel-ish.' I also like Country Living's suggestion of adding some supplies for guests such as dried fruit and herbal tea.

Brass Bucket Sink
Using an old brass bucket as a vegetable sink adds such a rustic and charming touch to the kitchen. I'm on the look out for vintage brass buckets now!

Vintage Mirrors
Stick to using vintage mirrors in the same colour and style for an eclectic but sophisticated look.


Image Credits: Country Living
Guest room - Janis Nicolay
Brass sink - Keith Scott Morton
Vintage mirrors - Ellen McDermott

Vintage Vegan Ballet Flats

Who could resist staring at their shoes all day if they were bejewelled with sequins and bows? Too pretty!

Purchase at It's Julie Miller (Etsy) - $20

Organic Cotton Pullover

Loving these loose, slouchy organic pullovers from She-bible. Would suit lazy days or yoga days. There are pockets too. Perfection!

Purchase Alex Pullover at She-bible for $105 (made in San Francisco with 100% organic cotton). Available in charcoal, lake, sand, vanilla and black.

Organic Container Gardening

I've started planting things and I'm almost too excited about it (as shown by the amount of hay used on the lettuce pots above). Because I am struggling to find organic fruit and vegetables where I live, I figured I better start growing them myself. Not having a garden is no longer an excuse when I can plant everything in pots (terracotta pots made in Italy, no less). We've planted some organic broccoli, kale, spinach, lettuce and basil. That's a good start and that's a lot of green leafy stuff!

It's only been one week and my gardening optimism has not waned. I continually carry the pots around to the sunniest spots outside the house and shoo away ominous looking insects with rosemary twigs!

Hopefully, I will be showing you luscious-looking vegetables in a few months time and raving about how good they taste. If I don't mention container gardening again on this blog then it will be safe to assume that it has not gone well and my plants did not end up resembling anything remotely edible! I better go. There's one of those pesky white cabbage butterflies near my broccoli!

About a Cat

Did I mention our new rental place came with a cat? I'd never looked after or been around cats before but this little one has my heart. I'm now that girl that takes copious, cute pictures of 'their' cat and then shares them with people, on their blog.

Vintage Moschino Jacket - Rokit (£85)

I have tried to put a green spin on today's post. I present to you a vintage Moschino Cheap & Chic jacket, complete with a cat in the pocket. I do think someone could pull this look off. It's probably not me though. I'll stick with my rental cat, Miss Custard Powder (nickname I have given her because that is the name on the cardboard food box she loves to sleep in).

Who hasn't had a day when they felt like this?

'Tis a funny world. The cat world. All the fickleness, preening and purring. If anyone has a cat or has 'cat whisperer' abilities and wants to share some tips with me, that would be great because I know next to nothing!

Check Out - Fancy Fine Vintage

Multi-coloured stripe crop top - $48

I've fallen for the vintage fashion on offer at Etsy shop, Fancy Fine Vintage. It's all very Zooey Deschanel. Girly and swirly with a nod to the sixties. Here are a few of my favourite pieces.

Embroidered dress - $68

Red blazer - $18

Ruffle trim cardigan - $42

Cream beaded top - $35

images: Fancy Fine Vintage

Sparkly Vintage Tops

Spun Sugar Vintage - details below

For moments when you want a little sparkle in your wardrobe and life, here are a few pretty tops to peruse...

Vintage Sequin Knit Blouse - Vonlenska Vintage (Etsy) $31

Vintage 1980s Silk Beaded Top - Twisted Moss (Etsy) $36

First image: 1960s Top - Spun Sugar Vintage (Etsy) $28

Six Vegetarian Barley Recipes

Squash & Barley Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette - BBC Good Food

I've been vegan for several years now and I was vegetarian before that but I still haven't tried cooking with barley. You think I would have mastered several stunning barley-bountiful dishes by now and yet I have not! I think these recipes will inspire me to start cooking with this 'low glycemic-index grain' that contains, 'calcium, phosphorus and B vitamins' (according to Dr Weil). I've got my eye on the salad above that is speckled with capers, olives, pumpkin seeds and basil.

Indian Winter Soup - BBC Good Food
It's summer here in New Zealand but I still want to make this with seasonal vegetables on the next blustery day.

Barley Soup with Greens, Fennel, Lemon and Dill - Epicurious
(Bon Appetit - Anna Thomas, photo by Stephen Lewis)
This can be easily veganised by omitting the feta.

Wild Rice and Barley Salad - Whole Foods Market
This salad looks easy to whip together and I like the inclusion of dried apricots and tarragon.

Barley with Apricots, Hazelnuts, Chocolate and Honey
- Whole Living
For a sweeter, vegan barley bite, switch milk to your favourite non-dairy kind and use a good quality dark chocolate (non-dairy).

Warm Barley Cereal with Dried Cherries - Whole Living
I've mentioned this one before but had to include it here. How could I not? There's almond milk and ground flax meal. I'd just use a more natural sweetener like honey or maple syrup along with any seasonal fruit.

Shop EtsyVeg

Organic Cotton Hat and Bootie Set - Caramel Diezel ($38)

If you love shopping for handmade goodies on Etsy but want to find the best vegetarian and vegan products, you must check out EtsyVeg. Their Marketplace makes it ultra easy to find just what you are looking for. Fashion, beauty, homewares. It's all there and it's all animal friendly!

Here are a few lovely things that caught my eye but there is much, much more to check out from the talented and conscientious Etsy sellers who are all vegetarian or vegan. Pop over to the EtsyVeg blog for more information or try searching for pieces labelled, 'EtsyVeg Team' the next time you are shopping on Etsy.

Thank you Heather (Etsy shop - Aktie9) for introducing me to the EtsyVeg team and a big thank you to all the EtsyVeg sellers who are making it so fun and easy for us all to shop for vegetarian and vegan products to suit our lifestyles. Keep up the good work!

Vintage Sewing Machine - Arksendeavours ($110)

Organic Cotton Forest Friends Pin Set - Vegan Craftastic ($6)

Upcycled Tire Tube Wallet - Derek Howlett Dot Com ($12)

Vintage Cake Carrier Tin - Mothrasue ($30)

Recycled Fabric Lunch Roll - Au Claire De La Lune ($20)

Handmade Pottery Bowl - Clay N Fiber ($12)

Eco Friendly Mini Cards + Coin Envelopes - Deep Fried ($7.50)

Recycled Skirts from Rokit

Mustard and Black Basket Weave Skirt - £25

Have you spotted the range of recycled skirts over at Rokit? They're handmade in London using 'original vintage clothing and textiles' and they all look sublime. Playful and perfect for any season!

Candy Floss Pink Skirt - £20


Pale Grey Skirt - £20


Black and White Circle Skirt - £20


Olive Brocade Skirt - £20

Available at Rokit

Eat Healthily When Travelling - Breakfast

Is it wrong to love your homemade granola so much that you travel with it? When I travelled from London to San Francisco, I took a glass jar filled with granola along with a petite kilner jar and my own spoon. Most mornings I would fill this little jar in the photo and chomp away happily knowing I was eating something healthy, organic and filling. I actually ate this on its own but it would be easy enough to add your own non-dairy milk, yogurt or fruit. Eating breakfast out every morning can be pricey so I think this is an affordable way to travel and stay healthy!

Hemp Cargo Pants by Stewart + Brown

If you are on the lookout for a few casual pieces of clothing that are ultra stylish, comfortable and ethical, check out these two pieces from Stewart + Brown. The cargo pants are made in the USA with 55% hemp and 45% cotton surplus. I'm loving them in 'cargo green' but you can also get them in black. The organic cotton Capri Tank top is slouchy yet sleek and available in white, black sand and dust storm (also made in USA).

Marla Cargo Pants - Stewart + Brown ($189)
Capri Dart Tank - Stewart + Brown ($78)

Fair Trade Country Throws

I dream of one day having an armoire overflowing with cute, country throws and quilts. Ideally, they would all be organic and made fair trade but I think I've found the next best thing. These two, wood block printed throws were made fair trade in India (by Aspiration International) with 100% cotton and no polyester in sight. They are deliciously soft!

We purchased our throws instore at Trade Aid (which is one of my new favourite shops in New Zealand) but you can also buy these and other bedding online at Trade Aid.

Tweaking Vegan Muffin Recipes

Ah, baking without eggs, butter, milk, refined sugars and baking powder. I can almost hear Nigella scoffing and saying, 'why bother?' But bother I do and bake on, I will!

I made these apple and blueberry vegan muffins last week and now they are all gone (even the ones I froze). Granted, I was the only one that ate them and my health food palate is used to the wholegrain spelt flour and apple juice that I used. Other palates may think these muffins taste too healthy.

I still need to perfect the recipe but these worked out pretty well. Considering these little things were devoid of many, many things, I am proud that they rose at all and came out resembling muffins!

As soon as I master the muffin recipe, I will be sure to share it here. Until then, the baking and tasting continues...