Ups and downs and Valentine's treats

I have been recently thinking about ups and downs of my efforts to live green. Particularly about downs, as ups are usually posted around here or so taken for granted as a part of my life.

Down No 1- Composting problem. I was planning last Summer to have the worm compost on my balcony, but since I ended up spending most of the days in Summer at my parents house, it was not neccessary. However, during Fall and Winter I spend most of my days in the city and there is this problem of not being able to compost properly. As for those who complain that they can't recycle paper or plastics, that's just excuses, because there are containers around, you just have to want to recycle. And be intelligent to want it. But in Riga there are no composting facilities. So at the moment, I still freeze parts of our food remains like carrot and pumpkin leftowers from juicing and potatoe peels etc on our balcony. Then I take them to my mom's worm compost as "food". But I have to tell you, it is not very comfortable. And you have to follow the weather that the bags don't defrost before you carry them away. It is really a down for me. I wish we had houses like some innovative places in Denmark that has all the biodegradeable matter going down the shaft to the facility that turns it into the heating energy for the same building. That would be wonderful, right?

Down No 2- I still use our car a lot, especially in winter. I mean, a lot. As little one is getting heavier most of the walks are occuring in quite close area, so for the rest I try to plan running my errands all combined as much as possible. I can't wait for Em to start walking longer distances. And spring to return on streets so we can use the pushchair and bicycle again properly. Sling is great, but during longer walks due to thicker clothing- not very comfy. I agree that I could use more public transport. But sometimes price and comfort of being able to carry all the stuff I'm getting or having already (including Emily) comes first and if I calculate my trips, car sometimes is less. At the moment I put up with this down and I try to use less car, as little as possible actually. While I don't have better options at the hand, I am trying to plan better and better my trips, drive eco friendly and look ahead to have a slow drive.

OK, I think two downs is enough for a day like this. It's time to talk about something positive and maybe tasty? It is the Valentine's in the end!

I love chocolates. I truly love good chocolate in every possible form. But I find "surprising" your loved one with box of chocolates that usually is neither orgainc, nor eco friendly in it's packaging, is a little boring, it doesn's carry any surprises if I tell the truth. Unless they're made by your own two hands and placed in a nice reused box..
So why not surprise your loved ones with some other treats? Something you can make yourself. Something that doesn't come wrapped in paper, but home made and served straight up for a moment of indulgence?

This Valentine's my plan is as follows- put the little love angel to sleep and then enjoy some home made masala chai ice cream and raspberry- coconut milk smoothy with my husband. We don't do gifts on Valentine's day, not only because it's not green, but it's also less intimate and much more commercial then. We plan some quality time together instead, the treats and experiences we can give to each other rather than buy in store.. like a special bath or a massage with some ayurvedic oils at home.. some edible treats is what I have on my part tonight.

Very yummy Masala Chai Ice Cream-

the base is the same as I have posted before - the Custard base (Fatty Milk- Cream- Sugar- Egg Yolk- Vanilla Bean). Depending on the amount you are making and how strong you want the taste, pour couple of spoons of boiling water over couple of spoons of Masala Chai. Even though I am a fan of loose teas, this time I'd suggest to have teabags, it's easier to extract the strong flavors in very little water for ice cream. Leave them to soak and get all the flavor, then squeeze the goodness right into the custard base. Check the taste and add more extrac or base if needed. For more fluffy ice cream, fold in some whipped cream in all that and put it in a tray with a lid that closes well. Off we go to the freezer! Or outside it you have proper minus degrees.. Stir few times in the freezing process. Serve with pomegranate and cinnamon stick. My suggestion though is to prepare the ice cream well in advance next year! 

For a Raspberry- Coconut smoothy 

you'll need a can of coconut milk, two cups of frozen raspberries (preferrably picked in wild during the Summer), honey or agave syrup to taste and some water if you prefer the smoothy to be more runny. You might want to add some banana or other berries like blueberries to all that as well. It's filling, yet light (important if you have any activities planned), and taste is awesome. Blend it all together, serve in a beautiful glass and enjoy the moment! 





Happy and Green Valentine's!

Spring meditation

As Winter for me starts with the first snow, the Waiting-For-Spring Season starts right on my birthday!

Here on green carpet you can already feel the changes in the air despite the snowy roofs and ground.. birds know and they're chirping and whistling it out loud... and the way air smells.. 

And I feel.. I feel I need some invigorating, vivid energy in me.. it's dreaming somewhere in me, so I'm going in there to look for it, to awaken it... 

I close my eyes sitting on my yoga mat after few Sun Salutations and Pranayama exercises, straighten my body, calm my breath.. I open the door within me and it takes me to my Sanctuary, my beautiful secret garden.. It has all four seasons within it to feel, it has eternal fire, water, air, earth in it's center.. I thank them for balance in my life..
Sun is shining bright and warm and then I sit on that white birch bench in the Spring garden.. See how the drop of water from the melting snow of birch branches is falling on a spot of dark, rich ground.. See within the ground, how it travels soaking through the soil that smells so bittersweet.. Be the drop of water yourself, feel yourself both traveling and receiving the moistening gift.. It carries all the warmth and energy of sun to a little seed deep in the ground.. Be the tiny seed that awaits to be awakened, feel how the little drop brings you back from your long winter sleep with an explosion of energy that shoots through every cell of your body... It's time to grow, to reach for the sunlight and pure air up there.. Reach up with your whole body.. See how green burgeon begins to sprout up, it grows brighter in color and stronger in stem.. Be the little sprout and feel the vivid juice traveling through your body, enjoy and explore the urge to grow multiplying your energy.. Grow through the soil and see the bright and warm sun, let the rays caress your new green leaves... Breathe in the pure and refreshing air that smells so crystal clear and invigorating.. Look how the tiny plant forms a white bud and opens it in the sunshine releasing beauty of nature and sweet smell that resembles true happiness.. Harvest the energy from your surroundings, collect the Spring energy and be that little flower- bloom and enjoy it!
I look at the little flower and bow in Namaste in gratitude for the lesson of insistent and vivid reaching towards your fulfillment and opportunity to bloom and bring happiness to myself and everyone around me..
I take a long breath leaving my Sanctuary energized for the day to come, joyful to be where I am and to do what I plan.. I'm full of Spring sensations and even here, in my room, the smells and freshness of the coming Season are present and surrounds me and my sleeping baby...
The new day has begun..

I hope you will find your own Sanctuary and enjoy at least few slow living moments that we all need to be content in our lives!

Life so far... and review- Yantra mat!

I apologize for leaving you all for so long, it's been happy and sad times on green carpet in the countryside.. And busy times as well... As they say- thief takes only as much as he can carry, but fire takes it all.. that's for one of our family businesses- our loved guest house that was beautiful and full of fond memories.. But we're all fine and buried ourselves in other things like my little one that takes lot's of time and attention now and gives plenty of happiness to everyone :)

The month before a birthday is usually the one we feel 'blue', tired, empty, exhausted... But now it has passed, it's a night before my birth 26 years ago, when my mom was happily eating ice cream in a cafe with friends.. but  what she didn't  know that I was there in her bump, busy to prepare to greet this world next day, already full of energy.. That's how I feel tonight! So I'm returning to my beloved blog world as well!!!

To get through cold and tiring February I've tried to re-start my yoga practice. I signed up to yoga class for mom's with babies. Ehh, the idea is beautiful, but the teacher is very.. hmm.. unqualified would be understatement.. disappointing.. Well, since I know what to do and how to do it, I'll just use rest of the classes as a place to have time for yoga with my little one by my side. But it was as a good kick for me to do it more at home again, feel fantastic again!

My new best buy- Yantra Mat! MMMMMMMmmmmmmmmm! Soooo goood! It truly is.. I do feel more relaxed, and I especially love it for my feet during this cold time when walking barefoot outside for more natural acupressure is impossible. It takes away the heavy feeling in feet and legs after the long day. I also like to lay down on it while watching TV in the evening.. and roll it as a pillow for my neck.. mmm, lovely! The very green people would resist since it has plastic spikes, but I think if you take care of it properly it will last 'forever'. And I share it with my mom and every one who visits us and wants to try, so it's greener, like- 'yantra-mat-pooling', hehe.. It's easy to take care of it, take it with you when going somewhere and great for people who have less time to relax otherwise or no time to go to massages!

About the rest of the life- I've been busy also with some DIY stuff like painting the my old vintage bed for my baby with no-VOC paint, knitting some quick warming items while we had the freezing -25C, squeezing vitamin juices, sewing new bed sheets for the little one and cooking more spicy jellos for my fans :) I'll probably share all of it in coming posts!

Ahh, I've also been shopping. To be greener on the items I needed- I was online shopping and had my friends delivering!

Yesterday I enjoyed my birthday party, which was incredibly nice thanks to all my dear relatives and friends. Their presence and lovely words made me so happy! And this year I've been particularly happy for every single gift I received, no useless staff or clutter at all, only wonderful experiences, new DIY and hobby items, knowledge increasing books (one on raw food!!!!- not going raw yet, but will be welcomed and wonderful addition to our diet), 'wearable things' that I adore and even lovely pieces for my princess.. Ahhh, what a lovely, lovely year this is to be! Thank you, thank you, thank you my dearest, I love you all and I am thankful for you being in my world!

I wish happy, green and DIY (my) birthday to everyone!!!