Archive for the ‘Lifestyle’ Category
Monday, February 6th, 2012
Never did you see such beauty on two wheels! It might be the simplicity of design and dreamy colours that first draw your attention to Bowery Lane Bicycles, but behind their pretty frames is a very unique philosophy. 99% of bikes sold in the US are imported from overseas, which makes Bowery Lane one of a very small handful of companies that manufacture locally. Every bicycle is handmade in New York City using locally-sourced materials and solar-powered machinery, and encouraging people to explore bike riding as an alternative mode of transport is more important to Bowery Lane than just providing customers with a new accessory. Lucky for us budding cyclists here in Australia, the bikes are now available for purchase on Monkey See. So how did Bowery Lane get started and just how do they differ from your run-of-the-mill bike company? We asked Bowery Lane co-founder Sean Naughton to give us the goss… (more…)
Posted by Emily Lush in Environment, Lifestyle | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012
Feeling that summer heat? A glass of icy goodness might be just what the doctor ordered! Smoothies are an old favourite but don’t have to be packed with fat, artificial colours and faux flavours (bubblegum flavoured milk? Eek). Smoothie recipes are easy to invent and adapt depending on what’s in season and what you have in the fridge. If you need a helping hand, there are some great websites out there with tips and tricks for creating healthy smoothies made from raw, organic and vitamin-rich ingredients. This recipe for Chocolate Avocado Smoothies comes courtesy of smoothie extraordinaire Amanda Niehaus, author of Easy Peasy Organic. As we say here at Peppermint, it would be unhealthy not to drink one of these. Promise us you’ll try the popsicles too!
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Posted by tess curran in Food, Lifestyle | 1 Comment »
Thursday, January 19th, 2012
Ah, that age old question – paper or plastic? We are paper lovers through and through, but wouldn’t it be nice to have the best of both worlds? These gorgeous paper bags made from cultivated timber and hand-sewn in Tuscany are thick, sturdy and hold their shape, making them perfect for use over and over again. Believe it or not, you can even wash them! When they aren’t filled with delicious produce, craft supplies or growing herbs inside, you can store them flat and save on kitchen cupboard space too. The bags are available to purchase in Australia on Hard To Find. They’ve got clever, stylish storage solutions in the bag!
Posted by Emily Lush in Lifestyle | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, January 17th, 2012
Remember the days when you could wander down the road and borrow a cup of sugar from a neighbour? Or maybe you don’t! Now we’re more likely to “borrow” our neighbours’ wifi connections than baking goods or barbeques. If you want to get back in touch with your local community and the good old spirit of giving, Vege Mates is here to help with forums and threads dedicated to swapping knowledge (recipes, gardening tips), material items (vintage and antiques) and, if you’re close enough, even edible goods. Anybody with a garden full of homegrown veggies is a mate of mine!
Posted by Emily Lush in Food, Lifestyle, Vintage | No Comments »
Friday, January 13th, 2012
Okay minties, it’s time we let you in on a little office secret of ours. If you ever wondered what keeps our brains firing away and fingers pumping the keyboards all day, we have to confess that it’s munching on our Harvest Boxes! These little parcels made from recycled cardboard are small enough to sit on your work desk and are conveniently delivered straight to your door. Every box comes with four individual packs, each containing a unique mix of fruit, nuts, seeds, crackers and sweet treats. You can even rate your favourite mixes online (which is something we do in our spare time, we swear). So good that you’d be nuts to pass them up…
Posted by Emily Lush in Food, Lifestyle | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 10th, 2012
Some of you may have read – and consequently, been concerned by – the article on Food Miles that we published in our Spring ’11 issue a few months back…. Well, the good news is that we’ve found Sharing Abundance – a local food system that can get you directly involved in picking that orange for yourself without having to digest the horrifying round-the-world-trip equivalent of transport time. Co-ordinated locally, you can volunteer your time, your tree or both and join your neighbours in harvesting fruit that would otherwise be left to waste in the corner of a backyard. Check it out and get involved in your local community! {Image from here}
Posted by Kate Bensen in Lifestyle, Organic | 1 Comment »
Monday, January 9th, 2012
While the girls on the site kind of look like they stepped straight out of an American Apparel ad (and then removed their pants), we’re nonetheless loving the range of raw, vegan and gluten-free dessert recipes in new, user-generated project The Lookbook Cookbook. Combining food and fashion in a, let’s just say, interesting way, the project is currently calling all models, photographers, fashionistas and foodies to creatively contribute yummy dessert recipes which will then be published on the site. We’re kind of getting the vibe that it’s not so much about what your recipe involves but instead how few items of clothing you can strip down to while simultaneously eating cake, but we’re not going to discriminate – after all, any site which offers raw Carob Truffles, organic Peanut Butter Brittle and gluten free Peppermint Pancakes AND Peppermint Fudge can’t help but get our tastebuds excited.
Posted by tess curran in Lifestyle, Organic | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012
Three friends banded their love for good food, photography and illustration to produce what we fondly know as The Hungry Girls’ Cookbook. Volume 3 in the eclectic series has just been released and we say it’s as pretty as three peas in a pod! On its pages rest a delicious collection of 12 recipes inspired by a range of exotic destinations (including Italy, the Middle East and South-East Asia), each accompanied by cute illustrations and positively mouth-melting photographs. This is more than your regular recipe book, it’s a little work of art.
Posted by Daniela Sunde-Brown in Lifestyle | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 19th, 2011
Nicole Golland, former chef and mother of three, found she was sending envelope after envelope to school filled with notes and money and wanted a more sustainable solution. So what’s an enterprising mum to do? Start her own business of course, making reusable envelopes from organic cotton produced through a fair trade organisation in India. After sending her children to school with the new product, the requests for more starting flooding in, and Lopees Envelopes took off. (more…)
Posted by Kelley Sheenan in Fair Trade, Lifestyle, Organic | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, October 12th, 2011
Spring has sprung and it’s time to clear that wintery musk from our wardrobes. We all know a clothing swap fosters the opportunity to make someone’s old threads your latest fashion ‘steal’, while keeping your eco conscience at ease. Next Tuesday the 18th of October marks the date for the annual QUT Fashion SWAP. The event will feature live music, entertainment and a fashion parade. Take along up to five items ready for a different wardrobe, and come away with a new bounty for yours.
Posted by Daniela Sunde-Brown in Events, Fashion, Lifestyle | No Comments »
