The Practical Aesthete

After last week’s post, I became a little germ obsessed. I was sorely tempted to go all Howard Hughes and stay indoors wearing Kleenex boxes on my feet. But I resisted, yes I did. I even ventured out to my son Charlie’s Kindergarten to help with reading. Twenty 5-year-olds in one room? There’s a hotbed of bacteria if there ever was one. I smiled, I read, I even High-Fived a few, then I came home and washed my hands. Thoroughly.

This got me thinking. By now, we all know that the most effective way to prevent the spread of germs and catching a cold or flu is by washing your hands. But it occurred to me this week that most people (even grown-ups) don’t really know how to do it properly. Even then I never realised how long you have to wash and that there was a specific way of doing it. Turns out, there is. I’m teaching the boys to do it now. So, in the interest of public safety (and the promotion of general personal Hygiene) SSG brings you the official way to wash your hands:

•  Turn on water (preferably warm).
• Use Liquid Hand Soap according to manufacturer’s instructions. (Cake soap is better for the bath as the wet surface tends to promote a tiny bacteria farm).
• Spread the soap from palm to palm, between fingers and use a nailbrush on the fingertips, fingernails and back of hands. Do this for at least 30 seconds or as long as it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song. Twice. (It seems like forever, but you get used to it).
• Rinse hands and dry thoroughly.

 Done. That took 30 seconds and you just gave yourself a little burst of immunity against the world of germs out there. Who’s a clever boots?

mk

Oh, we all love the idea of being a Houseguest, don’t we? The very idea of escaping your own everyday routine and jumping into somebody else’s seems exciting and even downright glamourous! Of course, households are as varied as their hosts. But there are some basic rules of conduct for guests that are universally recognised as “correct,” if not always adhered to. In all things, SSG is an advocate of Good Manners and Knowing the Rules (even if you have no intention of playing by them). And while the rules of etiquette have shifted somewhat since Emily Post first put pen to paper, knowing the steps to the sometimes tricky dance that exists between Host and Houseguest will ensure a more pleasant experience for all parties concerned (and a likely invitation to be welcomed back again). Lovely. Let’s begin.

Always Have A Plan. A Good Houseguest comes prepared. Knowing what is expected of him is paramount. I’m not suggesting an hourly schedule to be adhered to with military-precision (and if your host issues you with one, feign illness and get out quickly). Just a general plan of activities is all that’s required to allow the GH to arrive at the expected time, with the appropriate clothing, gear and necessary accoutrement to participate comfortably with his Hosts. A good book, mobile phone and relevant local phone numbers for information, taxi or car service (and expected time of departure) are all travel essentials for the GH.

You’re High Maintenance. Admit it! Are you allergic to cats and shellfish? Are you an insomniac, a heavy snorer or strict Vegan? Then come clean and let your Hosts know well in advance of your visit. There’s a good chap.

Always Bring a Gift. This is just standard operating procedure. However, unless you know your Hosts tastes very well, please avoid the temptation to buy something ornamental. You may find the singing trout quite charming but your Hosts may not. Whatever you do, don’t go overboard. Simply reeks of trying too hard! A simple, yet tasteful gift for the Hostess: a lovely book, candles, bath soaps or something for the house will always be appreciated. I usually have something monogrammed if I have time. It shows a certain amount of forward planning and extra thought. If there are children in the house, you will score big points for bringing something small and inexpensive for each of them.

Let’s Dance. Every Household has its own rhythm for day to day life. Your job as GH is to learn it quickly and then do your best to fall in line. The tricky part is that you must discover this information without bombarding your Hosts with questions. If you’d like a lie-in, then simply say so. “I was thinking of sleeping in late tomorrow morning…will I be missing anything if I do?” If you have other plans that do not involve the family (and you should) do let them know in advance if you’re not going to be around for a meal, etc. Of course you’ve asked them when you can take them to lunch/dinner, haven’t you? Well done.

Neatness Counts. There’s nothing worse than a sloppy guest. Yes, you’ve been told to “make yourself at home,” but that doesn’t mean you should! Hanging around the house all day, leaving tea bags in the sink and walking around in the nuddy are not going to endear you to your Hosts. Do try and make an effort to confine your belongings to your room or your bags and always pitch in around the house whenever you can.

American vs. European Style Hosting. There are really only two types of Hosts: American and British. Type A’s (American style hosts) will assume that you came to see them and will do their level best to keep you entertained all day every day. Type B’s (The Brits) will expect to spend meal times and some shared activities with you, but would prefer it if you were somewhat independent and made your own plans for each day. Again, your job is to discover which camp your Host falls into and be prepared to act accordingly. The idea here is to prevent your Hosts from having to play Nanny without giving them the impression that you are simply using them as a hotel. Balance my Dear, in all things, balance. You get the idea.

Staff and Other People in the house. If you are invited to a house that maintains Household Help, you should treat them as you would any other professional. But remember, they are employed my your Hosts, not by you. No fair asking them to do anything extra (like baby-sitting or washing out your negligee) without clearing it through your Hosts first. Call them whatever your Host calls them “Mrs. Smith,” “Jenkins,” or even “Rosie.” Make sure you thank the staff and leave a little tip for each one that you have encountered when you leave. Your own envelopes with the staff member’s name written left in your room (or with your Host) is usually sufficient, but if you can, try to give them out personally.

The Mea Culpa. Oh, Dear. You’ve really done it this time, haven’t you? You’ve drunk too much, gone too far and really stuffed things up this time. If the offense is something minor (a broken glass or tea cup) a simple heartfelt apology and an offer to fix or replace the item is all that’s called for. But, if like me, you regularly stick your foot well and truly in, you need to know the Art of Making the Mea Culpa: the apology letter. Do it as soon as you can. Admit you were at fault and then try and move on. If other guests (or worse, family members) are involved, write one to each of them as well. You may have to suffer a quiet dressing down by your Host. Accept it with good grace and be ready to make a swift departure if you have made yourself persona non grata. The best thing you can do is put your neck down, take the blame and cheerfully accept the fact that you will probably not be invited back again. At least not for a while, you Rascal.

An Elegant Departure. There is an old saying. You know the one. “Guests and Fish began to smell after 3 days.” Try to keep your stay shorter than three days, if possible.

Say Thank You. You would be surprised how many people forget to do this one, vital and yet simple thing. This is one of those rare occasions that calls for an actual written note. On good paper. Keep it short and sweet, but do take time to mention in detail what you most enjoyed about your visit. A more casual email sent later on with photos of your visit would be welcomed by your Hosts.

A Word of Warning: How to Annoy Your Hosts

You may not, under any circumstances do any of the following:

Lecture, Preach or in any way impose your Passionate Philosophy on Anything upon your Hosts. It’s boring and shows a tremendous lack of sophistication and manners. If your Hosts want a debate on religion, politics or be prepared to debate with good humour and then agree to disagree!

Be an Eco-Nazi. If our Hosts like to roar around town in a Hummer, keep the all lights blazing and think “Freecycle” is a type of exercise class, it’s none of your business. You can politely ask where the recycling goes, but if they say “in the garbage,” just smile and put it there.

Shag the one of the other guests or family members. You are not on the Love Boat. Save it for later, Casanova.

mk

So much has been written about the Art of Hosting and Entertaining that it hardly seems necessary to add to the heaving pile by suggesting another article on the subject. But, as the recent and soon to be Host of overnight guests, the subject for me seems relevant and I was surprised to find a void when it came to the new rules for being a Good Green Host.  

Of course there are loads of mentions about organic food and wine and one site actually suggested you ask your guests to adhere to a strict vegan diet, decorate with newspaper and wear only organically produced attire for the duration of their visit. I would too, if the desired effect was never to actually have to see said guests socially ever again!  SSG is never about punitive life lessons on Living Green. Instead, we prefer to pleasantly surprise our guests by living a stealthy, healthy Green Lifestyle and leading by example. Ahem.   

Not surprisingly, Being a Green Host has very little to do with tedious embargos about what you should not do and closer, in fact to the time-worn guidelines of Good Hosting in general. For example: The First and Most Important rule of Hosting is to Make Your Guests Feel Welcome. That will never (and should never change). Take note Dear Reader, that we refrain from saying “At Home” because the very last thing you want is your guests feeling so at home that they feel free to quarrel at dinner and loudly break wind on the sofa. Feeling “welcome” and “at home” are quite different things, aren’t they?

The Invitation and a word about electronic mail: We are a nearly paperless office at Murchison-Hume and SSG is even more so. Having said that; there are occasions that call for the appropriate stationery. A wedding Invitation, for example should always be extended to your guests, but a more casual email invitation for a weekend visit is absolutely appropriate. Normally, a simple telephone call would do the trick, but if the invitation is extended via email, you have the perfect opportunity to include all the niggly details like your address, directions, a loose timetable of events and the appropriate attire for the duration of the visit. This instantly and efficiently pre-empts the inevitable round of calls by guests in order to discover all the above. Make sure you include a telephone number (just in case) and if your guests are over 14 years of age, please use Standard English and appropriate punctuation. No self-respecting adult wants to CU L8er.

Guests: Until the party is underway, usually only the host or hostess knows everyone who is invited. Suggest carpooling for guests who know each other and live in the same area. Carpooling is not only good for the environment, but it also cuts down on the number of designated drivers necessary (always a good thing to my mind). Your guests will offer to bring something. It is absolutely appropriate for you to feel free to take them up on their offer. If you forgot to buy some Organic, Fair Trade Coffee, or need flowers for the table, let them know these would be welcome additions. Not only does it let your guests feel helpful, but it eliminates useless gifts collecting dust in a closet.

Waste Not Want Not: Of course you shop carefully and always try to buy locally grown and organic produce. By all means, buy an extra loaf of bread for freezing and maybe another jar of olive tapenade and a can or two of sardines for late night raids in the kitchen. You are not feeding legions of soldiers! And even if you are, try to stick to “cut and come again” specialties like a whole smoked ham that will keep in the fridge for weeks. Please remember to take into account that well-mannered guests will invite you out for dinner at least once during their stay. My Mother-in-law always makes several spinach and feta pies and a few lasagnes well in advance of a country weekend to be brought out of the freezer at a moment’s notice and my own Mother is a firm believer in Dining Out in town. Both options are infinity preferable to slaving over fresh, easily spoiled food that no one will eat.  

If you do go overboard, please make sure to use your leftovers. There is nothing lovelier than cold Roast Beef sandwiches or yesterday’s vegetable minestrone heated up and passed around with a nice crusty loaf.   

The Prep: In all things, SSG believes in Being Prepared and doing as much as you possibly can in advance, if only to be able to relax and enjoy your guests once they arrive. I can guarantee you that most people would rather sleep on wrinkled sheets and eat a takeaway dinner then be confronted by perfect linens, a 3-course dinner and a frazzled Hostess.

Stick to the basics and try and imagine the visit from your guest’s perspective. Always stay on the firm side of practicality. If the bedside table only has room for a lamp and a small tray for drinking water, don’t sacrifice valuable real estate by adding a vase of flowers as well. Your guests will appreciate the lovely gesture, but I’m sure would be more grateful for the extra room to put their own belongings: a book, a watch or travel alarm clock instead. An empty drawer or a few spare hangers are always appreciated as well if you can manage it.

The “Guestroom”: A dedicated guest room is a luxury, but never let the lack of one stop you from playing the Gracious Host. Shifting the children onto a sofa bed downstairs to make room for your adult guests or making use of a home office to put in a cot or an inflatable air mattress is a lovely idea. If space is especially tight, a lovely single bed can be made by removing all but the bottom cushions of a sofa to create an extra bed and if even that is too small, the bottom cushions on the floor with plenty of plump pillows for extra Head and Foot room will do the trick in a pinch. Sheets and pillows needn’t be matching, or even of the finest quality, but they must be freshly laundered and folded neatly, ready to be put into service once your guests are ready to retire. Do try to refrain from staying up late to play another round of “Nude Cluedo” if your guests are required to sleep on the sofa. You have a room, use it!

The Amenities:  I know they are adorable, but please try to avoid buying (or worse, swiping from hotels) those miniature bottles of shampoo, bubble-bath and conditioner. I believe the whole island of Singapore and most of Dubai is sitting on reclaimed land made almost entirely of those tiny, plastic bottles and disposable nappies. Be wildly generous and let them have the whole bottle or if you must, a small, clearly labelled decanter for each. Clean sheets and towels (two please for the week, plus 1 face towel for each day of the visit) daily food and drink and a friendly, hospitable attitude are all that is really required of you as a Host. If you are attempting more advanced Martha Stewart territory, then you might consider adding a good (florescent) reading lamp; a bottle of drinking water and a glass (to be refreshed each day) some good books and magazines; and even some basic toiletries. Toothpaste, a new toothbrush and razor, cotton buds and some body lotion along with the aforementioned shampoo are all welcome signifiers of a well seasoned Host. SSG likes to offer a spare blanket, plus one firm and one floppy pillow for each bed as well. Who’s snug as a bug?

Everything Old is New Again:  In your Grandmother’s day, a big party or overnight guests would have started with a call to a reliable catering service for extra crystal, flatware and china. Of course paper napkins would have been out of the question and if she didn’t have the correct amount in the linen closet, she would have ordered those as well. I have to tell you, My Dear, she was being “Green” before green even existed. Plastic plates and paper napkins may have become de rigueur in your Mother’s time, but they are hopelessly naff, surprisingly expensive and frankly just plain bad on all fronts. If you don’t have the space or the money to stock up on plain white china practical stemware, find yourself a reliable hospitality service or borrow from your friends. You will be amazed at how much you will cut from your entertaining budget and best of all; you don’t have to do the washing up!  

Entertaining Out of Town Guests: If your guest is merely stopping over on their way to make a connecting flight, then a nice meal, a bath and a bed for the night are more than enough to put you in the Good Host box. But if your guests are visiting from out of town, then like it or not, you’re going to have to make like Julie McCoy and put your Cruise Director’s Cap on. The well prepared Host will have already laid out local maps, important telephone numbers and a city guide to point out the various sights or activities your guests might enjoy. You don’t necessarily have to accompany them on each outing, but make sure you set aside at least one day out of every three to entertain them.   

Your Environment:  The best part of Hosting is that you get to enjoy your friends and family in your own home. This means, of course that your guests are more or less obliged to follow your rules. Don’t be a bore, but now is the perfect time to subtly introduce the many advantages of your Green Lifestyle. Need help in the kitchen? Ask for it! Hand your guests a pair of latex-free gloves and a bamboo spatula and ask them to deposit all the food scraps into the Bokashi bin for composting while you load the dishwasher. They didn’t know you had a compost bin in the house? Exactly.    

For me, the whole point of Green Hosting is that it differs very little from Good Hosting. SSG would like your guests to leave your stylish and comfortable home, positively gobsmacked that you had water saving appliances and solar heating. They would have never known had you not casually mentioned it in passing. Who’s a clever boots, then?

The Last Word/How to Annoy Your Guests: 

1. By endlessly apologising or fretting that your food or accommodation “isn’t good enough.” It’s boring and will force your Guests to endlessly object. Stop it. Now.

2. Force them to adapt to your Rules instantly. You may be up at dawn to vacuum the bookcase or pray to Mecca, but your guests may take awhile to acclimatise to your lifestyle. Let them.

3. Be a “Helicopter Host” by constantly hovering around them, asking what you can get for them, do for them or make for them. Ask them what they’d like to do occasionally, but leave them alone from time to time.

4. Completely ignore them. They came to see you, didn’t they?

5. Stretch them “out of their comfort zone.” It is not your job as Host to educate or awaken their “Inner Athlete,” “Urban Cowboy” or “Spirituality.” If your guests would rather lie around on a Sunday morning and read the papers than Bungee Jump, attend Church, or rustle cattle, then by all means, let them. They didn’t sign up for Bible Camp, did they?

6. Behave yourself. You know what I mean. Yes you do.

mk

There are three things in Modern Life which are inevitable: Death, Taxes and IKEA. Of course there are those rare types that can look you in the eye and swear they’ve never shopped there, but I class them in the same category as those people who say they never watch Television: “Eccentric Weirdos Prone to Lying.”

My own personal history with the Swedish Superstore is longer and more varied than I can comfortably admit. Suffice to say it’s been a Love/Hate relationship for well over a decade now. But I am not alone. Just last year, IKEA handed out over 198 million catalogues. It is printed in over 30 countries, in as many languages and is now read by more people around the world than the Bible (scary, but true). And once it hits the mat, the siren call beckons. What started out as a mild flirtation with storage over breakfast can quickly grow into full blown IKEA-Lust by lunchtime. Before you know it, you’re mentally undressing the sofa and re-doing the entire living room. You know what I mean. Yes, you do.

The irony is: nobody goes to IKEA because they admire the style (well, not really anyway). Oh, they tell themselves that, naturally. The idea of buying clean, Scandinavian style at flat-pack prices seems downright wholesome! You think you’re looking for a bookcase, but what they’re really selling on those feathery pages is the promise of a happier, more organised life. And who doesn’t aspire to that?

Problem is, Possum; once you succumb to the urge to splurge there, you’re forever stuck on the IKEA carousel. Everything just looks better in the store. And by the time you manage to lug it home; decipher the hieroglyphics that are offered in lieu of written instructions; find the missing Allen key and actually manage to get the thing you bought assembled correctly: it’s already out of fashion! Or worse, it’s bright and shiny newness manages to make all the rest of your non-IKEA stuff look a bit, well, shabby. This inevitably leads to another trip to…IKEA! Oh, dear.

Look, I know better than anyone how good they are at problem solving (too good, blast their economical Swedish charm)! But next time you really need something for the house, do yourself (and the environment) the favour by looking around at garage sales, flea markets and eBay before you head out to the I-Store. If you simply can’t find what you need there, you have SSG’s blessing to go, provided you follow these

10 GOLDEN RULES FOR SHOPPING AT IKEA

1. Never, ever go into IKEA “just to look around.” You’ll spend $700 on things you didn’t even know you needed and your spouse will want a divorce.

2. Never go to IKEA on the weekend. See above.

3. Plan your trip like a Military Campaign. Make a list of exactly what you need and stick to it. Do your homework online. Write down the dimensions, finishes and prices for everything you want. Don’t forget the absurd Swedish names (“DICK,” anybody)?

4. Measure everything twice. Make very sure the item(s) you want to buy will fit into the space you have allocated. 

5. Always keep your receipts. The only thing worse than shopping at IKEA is returning things IKEA.

6. Work out in advance how you’re going to get it home. Ingvar Kamprad (IKEA’s Founder) is either the Devil or has struck a lucrative deal with him. Do you really want his minions to know where you live?

7. Have a back-up plan. Despite all your forward planning, something vital to your trip will be out of stock. Be prepared to smile meekly, have some meatballs and make the trip home empty-handed.

8. Never buy decorating accessories (“art” for example) at IKEA. You know why.

9. Go High or Low. Please try to limit your purchases to generic, everyday consumables like light bulbs and candles or big ticket items like tables and sofas. It’s the middle-range goods (cushions and clocks) that scream “I came from IKEA!”

10. Re-sell, Re-purpose or Re-new. Don’t be tempted to drag your tired old IKEA to the curb. Maintain your green credentials by Re-using it. A worn-out chest of drawers can easily be re-purposed into a charming changing table for a friend with a new baby. A filing cabinet can be spray-painted and makes lovely storage in a child’s room or garage. If you really can’t bear the look of it, you’d be surprised how many people will buy second hand IKEA items on eBay. They’re the clever ones.

mk

 Autumn suddenly descended upon Sydney this weekend. So, after Poj and I finished the twice-yearly seasonal wardrobe changeover, I began to think about…my hair.

Early last Spring, in a Vogue-fuelled burst of foolish optimism, I decided it would be fun to cut a fringe into my thick, unruly hair. Just a lark! You know, all very Kate-Moss-channeling-Marianne-Faithful sort of cool. Of course, I should have known better. I know from past experience that fashionable, floppy fringes and frizzy hair are almost always mutually exclusive. But logic and beauty are often strangers and so, as it was so many times before, my experimental, wayward fringe was held firmly back all summer long with nothing more than fierce determination (and some equally fierce hair gel).

No problem! (Me, rationalising). I’ve always liked a chic ponytail! Or a classic chignon! Luckily, these two styles suit me; are relatively easy and best of all do not require any energy from a blow dryer to accomplish. You can’t really get any greener than that now, can you?! (Rationalising again). The only problem with this Evergreen hairstyle is winter. In the cooler months, my wash and go, slicked-back pony and chignon are just plain impractical. I don’t like going out in the morning with wet hair and even if I take the painstaking precaution of drying beforehand, my neck feels cold!

This got me thinking about all my girlfriends (especially, the fluffier, blow-dry types). They may be driving smaller cars and buying organic vegetables, but there is no way they are going to sacrifice THE HAIR. So, it begs the question: How do you maintain your blow-dry without blowing out your carbon footprint? Well, as it turns out, you can’t! OK, not strictly true, but a serious weekend long search for “Green” Blow Dryers all over the City (and the Internet) yielded only two realistic options:

1. Choose a Hair Dryer with Less Wattage. This should be obvious, but after trolling the aisles in virtually every beauty store in Sydney, you would be surprised at the power wattage available out there! Does anybody really need a 3000 watt hair dryer? Why not just hang around the tarmac at the airport and stand behind jets when they take off? Seriously!

2. Choose a hair Dryer with a Ceramic Coil. Ceramics are the new gold standard in hair care appliances because they heat faster and more efficiently, with minimal damage to hair. They’re everywhere. In fact, there’s probably one in your bathroom right now.

Just for the record: I did find two companies (in America) that are about to launch a so-called “Green” Hair Dryer. The only difference between their normal dryers and the “green” versions are…wait for it…less power!!! Really? Oh, and one of them also boasts an “eco-friendly” paint job and “recyclable packaging.” Give me a break!

SSG suggests rather than buying yet another bulky Hair Dryer, you use the one you’ve already got on a medium setting after your hair has partially dried. That’s better for your hair AND the environment.

Better still: embrace your Inner Ballerina and scrape it back into a neat chignon. And buy a scarf, it’s cold out there.

mk

There are few things in life more genuinely thrilling than when you happen to stumble across a soul mate. Not necessarily in the romantic sense, but when you meet someone or in this case, some thing that so fundamentally chimes with everything you believe in, it almost seems like destiny! Pardon me; I’ve come over all school-girl gushy…I am thrilled to find this stylish, sensible and utterly important Blog that stands like a solitary island in a sea of “contemporary” slackishness, bad manners and bad taste.

I openly applaud Cooper Ray for his brave and unapologetic approach to modern day manners, dress and etiquette without a hint of snobbishness, pretention or holier-than-thou attitude. As the Mother of two young “man cubs,” I consider it essential reading for the Modern Male (and everyone else, for that matter)!

Bravo, Mr. Ray. I’m hopping on your float.

mk

In my last post we discussed How to Eat Green. However, SSG lives in the Real World (mostly) and recognises that sometimes it just not practical or economically feasible to buy 100% organic produce all of the time. So, what’s a Green Goddess to do? Focus on just those foods that come with the heaviest burden of pesticides, chemicals, additives and hormones. Whenever possible, deploy your organic spending power to buy organic versions of the following foods (in no particular order).

*The Top 12 Organic Foods To Buy:

1. Meat: Actually, meat generally carries less pesticide residue than plant-based foods. The worry with conventionally raised farm animals is the hormones injected into the animals to make them grow faster. Searching out cuts from Grass-Fed or Free Range animals ensures that you’re eating meat from an animal that was fed a more natural diet (and a more humane life).

2. Milk: Pesticides and other man-made chemicals have been found in human breast milk, so it should come as no surprise that they have been found in dairy products, too. While any residues detected have been rare, and of low concentration, milk is of special concern because it is a staple of a child’s diets. Organic dairies cannot feed their cows with grains grown with pesticides, nor can they use antibiotics or growth hormones like rGBH or rbST. The overall impact of the herd is lessened when you choose organic milk.

3. Coffee: Many of the beans you buy are grown in countries that don’t regulate use of chemicals and pesticides. Buying certified organic coffee ensures you’re not buying beans that have been grown or processed with the use of potentially harmful chemicals.  *Extra Credit: Go a step or two further, and look for the Fair Trade Certified label to ensure that your purchase supports farmers who are paid fairly and treated well. And look for shade-grown varieties, if you can. Then you know the coffee is being grown under the canopy of the rainforest, leaving those ancient trees intact, along with the wildlife — particularly songbirds — that call them home.

4. Peaches: Multiple pesticides are regularly applied to these delicately skinned fruits in conventional orchards. What goes in, stay in. Yuk.
Can’t find organic? Safe alternatives include watermelon, tangerines, oranges and grapefruit.

5. Apples: Like peaches, apples are typically grown with the use of poisons to kill a variety of pests, from fungi to insects. Scrubbing and peeling doesn’t eliminate chemical residue completely so it’s best to buy organic when it comes to apples. Peeling a fruit or vegetable also strips away many of their beneficial nutrients.
Can’t find organic? Safe alternatives include watermelon, bananas and tangerines.

6. Capsicum: Or “Bell Peppers” have thin skins that don’t offer much of a barrier to pesticides. They’re often heavily sprayed with insecticides.
Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include green peas, broccoli and cabbage.

7. Celery: Has no protective skin, which makes it almost impossible to wash off the chemicals that are used on conventional crops.
Can’t find organic? Safe alternatives include broccoli, radishes and onions.

8. Strawberries: If you buy strawberries out of season, they’re most likely imported from countries that use less-stringent regulations for pesticide use.
Can’t find organic? Safe alternatives include blueberries, kiwi and pineapples.

9. Lettuce: Leafy greens are frequently contaminated with what are considered the most potent pesticides used on food.
Can’t find organic? Safe alternatives include cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts.

10. Grapes: Imported grapes run a much greater risk of contamination than those grown domestically. Vineyards can be sprayed with different pesticides during different growth periods of the grape, and no amount of washing or peeling will eliminate contamination because of the grape’s thin skin.
Can’t find organic? Safe alternatives include blueberries, kiwi and raspberries.

11. Potatoes: The ever-popular spud ranks high for pesticide residue. It also gets the double whammy of fungicides added to the soil for growing.
Can’t find organic? Safe alternatives include eggplant, cabbage and earthy mushrooms

12. Tomatoes: A tomato’s easily punctured skin is no match for chemicals that will eventually permeate it.
Can’t find organic? Safe alternatives include green peas, broccoli and asparagus.

*Research compiled by The Daily Green (thedailygreen.com)

mk

Does your idea of “eating locally” involve little more than ordering up from the Thai take-away around the corner? SSG is going to school you on HOW TO EAT GREEN. Put the phone down, please and pay attention.

Make a Shopping List: Green eating starts before you even leave the house. It is always worthwhile to invest a few minutes to make a shopping list. The benefits are twofold:
1. You won’t over-spend (and then feel guilty for having to throw uneaten food away)
2. And secondly, you’ll avoid unnecessary trips back to the shops to buy the things you forgot!

BYOB/Bring Your Own Bag: Less than 1 percent of those daggy plastic bags ever gets recycled. Bringing a chic, sturdy tote wherever you go is one of the simplest earth-friendly changes you can make. And SSG knows where you can get some great ones (ahem).

Shop Organic when you can: You know what? SSG just found out that the reason that all of the Organic Produce in her local supermarket is packaged tightly is because supermarkets spray pesticides all over the store to keep insects at bay. Every night. Plah!

Grow your own: Admittedly more difficult for some urban-dwelling humans. But even we can manage a windowsill garden of fresh herbs from time to time.

Shop in season: You wouldn’t wear white sandals in the middle of winter, would you? Then why you eat a winter watermelon? It’s madness!

Shop local: Eat as much locally produced fresh food as you reasonably can. Buying from local farmers means you’re not only getting the freshest food possible, you’re saving energy. Your tomatoes shouldn’t be racking up air miles.

Cut out the Mystery Meat: Support your local butcher (before he disappears altogether). Unlike your local Supermarket, your local butcher buys from small, independent growers and can probably tell you everything about the meat you’re buying from paddock to plate! Develop a rapport with him and if he’s worthy of the apron, he’ll happily teach you how to get the freshest and most cost effective cuts.

Sustainable Seafood? This one’s a bit trickier. There is currently no organic certification for seafood. But with certain species being fished to near extinction (and others being raised almost exclusively in poorly maintained fisheries) it’s up to you, Nancy Drew! Ask questions. Talk to your local fishmonger about where exactly that salmon came from. Find out if there are healthier and more sustainable options.

I’m hormonal enough, thanks: Choose Organic or “Hormone-Free” milk. Look for milk that has been certified organic or carries the words ‘no artificial hormones.’ Conventional dairies inject cows with synthetic recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH), aka bovine somatotropin (rbST), to boost production. The practice has been implicated in udder infections, requiring more veterinary antibiotic use, and is banned in many countries. Some scientists worry the hormones may affect consumers. Yikes! It’s enough to put you off dairy.

There’s more than just “flavour” in that chicken biscuit! Try to eliminate processed foods. They’re fattening, gross and just plain bad for you. But did you also know that nearly 30 percent of the energy used by the food industry goes into “processing” the food we eat? By cutting back on ready-to-eat foods you could cut your food-related carbon footprint (and probably that muffin top, too) by almost a third. Lovely.

Eat Your Vegetables. At SSG, we are unapologetic omnivores! Having said that, we do recognise that we probably don’t have to eat meat at EVERY meal. Eating a vegetarian option at least once a day will help reduce our carbon footprint (and help maintain our girlish figure).

Tap water is the new Evian! SSG thinks the bottled water industry is the biggest scam ever. How did it happen that we got duped into believing that we have to pay through the nose for something that comes freely through the tap? (Having said that, we do admit to buying the odd bottle out when thirsty)! Whatever happened to public water fountains anyway? You know the drill: Use a water filter at the tap if you are worried about your water supply and get yourself a reusable bottle to take with you. Easy.

What ‘cha got cookin? SSG just threw away all non-stick cookware and so should you! And while the jury still out about whether or not Dioxins and other nasties can leach out of plastic and into food, SSG isn’t taking any chances. The best (and most durable) cookware and food storage is made of stainless steel, clay, ceramic, glass, or cast iron.

Cheers, Big Ears: At SSG, we love our pesticide and preservative free organic juice, coffee and even cocoa. We’re even cautiously trying to find an organic wine we like. When we do, we’ll let you know.

Stop Eating So Much! (Seriously). Diana Vreeland famously said “elegance is refusal.” We’re pretty sure she was talking about overloading on accessories rather than sausages at the breakfast buffet, but the advice still holds true. We all know that obesity rates are climbing at an alarming rate and while there are no figures to accurately gauge how much food developed countries waste per annum, SSG reckons it’s a whole LOT. Next time you are food shopping or out to eat, think about whether or not you really need that second helping of pasta salad or another vanilla slice. A certain amount of restraint is better for the planet and better for your waistline! But you knew that already.

mk

Busy, Busy, Busy. we’re all sooooo busy! Of course you have places to go and people to see and oh my, you’re late already! Yes, we are a very mobile society, but all of this dashing around has fairly significant repercussions on your planet and mine. While SSG is not going to suggest that you become an anti-social, cave-dwelling hermit (heaven forbid!) we do subscribe to the belief that we can all be a bit more sensitive about how we get manage to get from A to B.

Here, we present for your consideration, the second volume of:

The Sustainable Style Guide’s Green Living Checklist: Transportation

1. Size Matters. Obviously the bigger the car, the bigger the engine (and the bigger the carbon footprint you are leaving on the open road, Chief). SSG is not here to lecture you about your automobile’s innards. We are merely pointing out the obvious.

2. Drive Better: If it is impractical to downsize or (even better) switch to a Hybrid car, there are ways of driving more efficiently that can reduce carbon emissions and save you money simultaneously. How’s that for multi-tasking?

3. Don’t “warm up”: Unless your car is brand new, there is really no need to “warm up” your engine. Just turn it on and get going.

4. No Idling. Every moment you spend idling is purely wasteful (not to mention tougher on your engine). Put it in park!

5. Try to avoid “special trips!” Combine your routine shopping trips with other errands, which will save you time and fuel.

6. Drive slow, Homie: Your car will work more efficiently if you obey the speed limit. Enough said.

7. Drive like you had an egg taped to the gas pedal. Try to avoid rapid acceleration and braking. Smooth driving is more efficient (besides, nobody like a lerchy driver)!

8. Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance: Keep your tires properly inflated and balanced. Rotate regularly to extend their lifespan. Get regular tune-ups.

9. Carpool It! SSG realises it’s not always practical to organise a group shopping trip or a regular ride to work. However, minimising solitary trips to places where other people you know are also going (children’s birthday parties and the boy’s weekly cricket match springs to mind). Plus, you get half of your Saturday back! Lovely.

10. Lastly: If you can’t buy an electric car or a hybrid, try making a commitment to walking, biking, or using public transportation.

US President Barack Obama in Fort Myers recently said:

“It’s not just about fixing our old transportation systems, but also imagining new transportation systems. That’s why I’d like to see high speed rail where it can be constructed. I would like for us to invest in mass transit. Because potentially that’s energy efficient and I think a lot more people are open now to thinking regionally in terms of how we plan our transportation infrastructure. The days where we’re just building sprawl forever? Those days are over. I think that Republicans, Democrats… everybody recognizes that that’s not a smart way to design communities. We should be using this money to help spur this kind of innovative thinking when it comes to transportation. That’ll make a big difference.”

 mk

I know, I know. You recycle (mostly) and you’ve changed a couple of incandescent light bulbs over to fluorescent. You’ve done your bit, right? Wrong! We scoured the Internet for the most credible and up-to-date Green Living Tips and filtered them down to create the Quintessential Guide to Going Green, the SSG way. We’ve even broken it down into easy to chew segments so we don’t have to tackle your whole lifestyle all at once. This week, we’re focusing on Energy in the Home. It won’t hurt a bit, I promise. Ready? Here we go… Oh! Feel free to print this out. We did.

The 2009 Sustainable Style Guide’s Green Living Checklist vol 1: Energy at Home

1. Change a Light Bulb. Seriously, it’s that easy. Installing a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) is simply easiest way to save energy and money. Unlike traditional incandescent bulbs, CFLs convert most of the energy they use into light rather than heat. They consume about 75 percent less electricity and last up to 10 times longer (10,000 hours as opposed to 1,500). Replace one 75-watt incandescent bulb with a 25-watt CFL and save up to $83 over the life of the bulb. *SSG Top Tip: Don’t worry about your Living Room being lit like a 7-11. The newer fluorescent lights emit a warmer, more flattering glow! 

2. Flick that switch. Turn off all the lights when they aren’t in use. But you knew that already. *SSG Top Tip: Some countries (including Australia) have a cute little switch to completely cut the flow of electricity at the wall socket. Use it.

 3. Unplug anything that glows. If it has an LED light emitting diode that glows even after you turn it off, it’s still on. Your plasma, phone charger, computer and printer are the most likely culprits. Unplug or turn them off from the wall socket or power strip. *SSG Top Tip: Take your best friend for a spa treatment with the $200 you save per annum!

4. Have dimmer switches installed on all of your over head lights. Better still; use task-specific lighting only where you need it. Nobody looks good under down lights. 

*SSG Top Tip: Try to have a candle-lit dinner once a week. We have a weekly “dinner party” with the kids (i.e. regular Monday night dinner, but with votives) and they love it. It’s fun, energy-saving and frankly, who doesn’t look better in candlelight?

5. Don’t touch that dial! Artificially controlling our indoor environment is one of the biggest energy busters. Most households shell out 50 to 70% of their energy budgets on heating and cooling. For every degree you lower the thermostat, you’ll save between 1 and 3% of your energy bill. Do the same thing in reverse with air conditioning.

*SSG Top Tip: If you feel cold, put another layer on. I wear Ugg boots and wrap up in an Afghani chador all winter long. Nayook of The North Rides Again!

6. Shut it. In the summer, I make like a Venetian (the Italian kind, not the blind) and keep the house dark and shut up during the day and open it up again at night. Perfecto!

7. Do Less Laundry! Only ever do full loads in the washing machine. Anything less than full capacity is a waste of time and energy.

*SSG Top Tip: Bring Sexy Back to the kitchen and wear a cute little apron while cooking or doing the dishes. It protects your clothing and is subversively sexy. Extra points for doing it in High Heels.

8.Wash in Cold Water. Most of the energy consumed by washers goes toward heating. Using cold water in the washing machine and dishwasher is better for your clothes your wallet (and your planet)!

9. Looking for Labels. When it’s time to replace a household appliance, choose a product with an energy rating or 3 stars or more. Energy Star labels guarantee that products are energy-efficient. Energy Star appliances use about 30 percent less energy than the average equivalent. Plus an annual savings of about $570.

10. Hang things out to dry whenever possible. Tumble-drying wastes energy and can ruin the couture. Air dry everything from knickers and knits to his tailored shirts and they’ll look better (and last longer).

11. Go with the (Low) flow. Buy water efficient taps and shower heads. There are some gorgeous ones out there now. You’ll cut your water consumption by hundreds of litres per month and you won’t even notice the difference (until you see the water bill)!

*SSG Top Tip: Make like Doris Day and have a bubble bath once a week (or whenever you shave your legs).

12. Tighten it up! Leaky taps and toilets are more than just annoying, it’s downright wasteful! A dripping tap can waste up to 30 litres a day and a running toilet more than twice that amount. Cut your losses by immediately fixing leaks.

13. Temperature Control. Refrigerators and freezers are among the biggest energy suckers in the house. Make sure yours isn’t set to over-kill. Fridge temperatures should be set between 0 to 5 degrees Centigrade (37 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit) and freezers at around -18 degrees Centigrade (0 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit) respectively.

14. Take your next computer to go. Did you know that lap-tops use considerably less energy to run than the desk top versions? Neither did we, but they do.

Now that wasn’t so bad, was it? Next week, Green Living on the Go…

mk