larissaswayze, Author at Of Houses and Trees

Eco-Friendly Dance Supplies

A dancer wearing grey clothing on a stage with a black background.

I consider myself a pretty passionate person. And if you’ve been reading Of Houses and Trees for any length of time, you’d probably agree that when it comes to sustainability and preserving our beautiful planet – I’m all in.

But I’m passionate about more than making the world a greener place. Literature and the art of writing. Listening to and composing music. Creating interior spaces that tell a story. And – for as long as I can remember – dance.

I consider myself very fortunate to be able to work not only as a freelance writer, but also as a dance teacher, and that in the past (and hopefully again in the near future) I’ve had the opportunity to perform as a professional dance artist.

As you can imagine, I get pretty damn excited when I get to combine the things I’m passionate about – such as writing, dancing AND sustainability. It creates a lovechild of sorts. This blog post is one such lovechild.

5 Simple and Unusual Uses for Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil essential oil has long been used to treat acne, cure infections and soothe bug bites. But did you know it can also be used to clean glasses?

If you aren’t already into essential oils, then I highly recommend giving them a try. Essential oils are all natural and thus so much more earth (and health!) friendly than other scented products. They can replace air deodorizers, cleaning supplies, medicinal supplies and more.

I think everyone who uses essential oils has a favourite – and mine is tea tree oil (melaleuca alternifolia). Tea tree oil essential oil has such a clean, fresh smell reminiscent of tree bark and dirt and rain. Maybe others would describe it differently, but it smells like nature to me. And when I wash my face with my tea tree oil soap and breathe in the scent of the earthy suds… oh man. Heaven. In my nostrils.

There are a ton of online resources listing things you can do with tea tree oil. Make cleaning supplies, treat acne, cure infections, soothe bug bites… But instead of reiterating those, I wanted to share a few more unusual tea tree essential oil uses. Most of these uses I just stumbled upon and did no research before trying. But they worked wonders for me! Maybe they will for you too?

How to Make Asian Coleslaw in Under 60 Seconds

This easy asian coleslaw can be assembled in less than 60 seconds with cabbage slaw, soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, sesame seeds and almonds.

This is one of my favourite fast salad recipes and it really does take less than 60 seconds to make (well, after you assemble the ingredients that is). I even filmed a video to prove it! In honour of this recipe’s no-fuss attitude (can coleslaw have an attitude?), I will jump right in… after I quickly tell you why coleslaw is so good for you.

Of course, regular mayo-laden coleslaw is definitely not good for you (to make it healthier – and vegan – sub in Vegenaise!). But the main ingredient of any coleslaw – the slaw itself – is packed full of nutritiousness in the form of raw, shredded cabbage.

Eco-Friendly Craft Supplies for Kids

Craft supplies for kids are usually non-toxic, but that doesn't mean they're earth-friendly. Here are few non-toxic AND eco-friendly craft supplies.

Ever since my eldest daughter could hold a crayon (without eating it), she’s been a crafter. Colouring, stickering, cutting, glueing – she does it all and loves it all. So, of course I’m always on the hunt for the most eco-friendly craft supplies I can find. You’d think it would be easy – after all, most kid’s craft supplies are non-toxic. But just because something is non-toxic to humans doesn’t mean it’s environmentally friendly. I’ve rounded up a few of the greenest craft supplies I could find. All of these products are made from natural materials or recycled content or both!

Let the crafting begin!

How to Print a Pinterest Board – ON A MAC AND A PC!

A laptop with a Pinterest board on the screen and a piece of paper with the same images from the board printed on it.

Design boards just seem to scratch several of my itches all at once. My love for beautiful spaces, furniture, patterns and colours. My love for seeking out inspiration. My love for creating order in a world full of chaos.

Aside from helping to suppress said chaos with pictures of (eco-friendly!) console tables and fabric swatches, design boards also come in super handy when planning out the design and decor of a room. I mostly use photo editing software to create them, but not everyone has access to such a program nor the know-how and time to work with one. Enter Pinterest – everyone’s favourite online inspo gathering tool.

5 Harmful Products to Stop Buying Right Now

These five unsustainable products are harmful to both humans and the environment and aren't even necessary when there are so many awesome alternatives.

We can all do with a little less stuff, am I right? So, this year, one of my resolutions is to stop buying unsustainable products. These five common items are harmful to both humans and the environment and aren’t even necessary when awesome alternatives are readily available. These days, there are so many environmentally sustainable products and methods out there, ranging from those used by our grandparents (cleaning with vinegar!) to those we can thank new advancements in technology for (period panties… for real!).

Here are five harmful, unsustainable products I’m not going to buy this year. Join me in the boycott!

5 Ways to Incorporate Nature Inspired Holiday Decor This Christmas

Once again, it’s only days until Christmas and I’m just now posting my holiday home tour for the year. I started out the season quite organized and had most of my decorations up at the end of November. I also had almost all of my Christmas shopping done. But then December happened and… I don’t actually know what happened. Illness, appointments, work deadlines, misbehaving children all mixed in with the hoopla of the holidays created a perfect storm of insanity and now here we are. The eve of Christmas Eve already. But hey, that’s okay. Wabi-sabi – the Japanese art of imperfection – is going to be big in 2018.

Easy Vegan Cinnamon Twists Recipe – Dairy Free and Egg Free!

Baked cinnamon twists on a blue platter with greenery nearby.

When I was a kid, my mom’s cinnamon twists were the envy of all my friends. Every year as the holidays approached, my mom would pack these tasty bundles of cinnamon doughy-ness in my lunch and my classmates would just have to have ’em. They would offer me items from their lunch in exchange for just one cinnamon twist and – being the (somewhat) generous person I was as a child, I would share (sometimes).

Lucky for you, now that I’m all grown I no longer feel the urge to bogart the cinnamon twists and am happily sharing my mom’s cinnamon twists recipe with the whole internet. One catch though – I’ve made them dairy and egg free! If you’re vegan – this is great news. If you’re not – don’t worry, you won’t know the difference.

Easy Winter Craft Ideas: DIY Mason Jar Snow Globes

A handmade mason jar snow globe sitting on a tree slice.

Oh mason jars, will your versatility ever end? Years ago while searching for winter craft ideas I saw a project similar to this on Pinterest and knew I had to make my own version one day. I mean, miniature trees inside a jar? Kind of precious, right? Plus – you know I have to point out – that if you reuse old jars from things like homemade jam, pickles, etc, paired with foraged twigs, then what you have is an eco-friendly Christmas craft!

So, if you’re on the lookout for winter art and craft activities – here’s what you’ll need to make your own mason jar “snow” globe.

Author: larissaswayze