10 ways to live more sustainably.

Recently I re-found a document called "75 Ways to Live More Sustainably in 2013". Thankfully it doesn't only apply to 2013 and has some good tips for more sustainable living...

We are constantly trying to live a clean and sustainable life, for us and for our environment. From the list, lots of things we do well, others are stupid, and others we want to work on. Let me share 10 with you:

1. Start reading the labels on your food. This is how we shop (when we go to the shops), we don't read the nutritional information, but the ingredients list. What is actually in the food. We don't buy food if we don't know what it is or the list is super long.
2. Switch to reusable grocery bags when you shop. If you're not already doing this, then I think you should. Sure, the grocery bags can be good for some bins as bin liners, but half the the time they have holes in them and can't be used. Save landfill!
3. Buy second hand... everything. Buying everything second hand is difficult, but you might as well try. We try to source as many of our homewares second hand but I'm sure there's heaps more we could be getting. I'd recommend, if not buying second hand, then buy local and support local businesses. Often their practices are more ethical.
4. Start composting. We do the best we can. I wrote about our composting solution here, but since then we have also added a tumble composter because we had too much to compost (there's so many things you can compost). But before composting, try using some of those scraps... make bone broth or green scraps pesto or reinvent meals to use some of those old looking veggies.
5. Adjust your thermostat. Keep your house cooler in winter and warmer in the summer. We have air con but try not to use it too often. Instead we close our blinds in the late afternoon to keep the sun out or the heat in. And we close the doors to the rooms we're not in to keep the heat in or open the windows and doors in the summer. We also have blankets nearby for cold nights. 
6. Eat less meat. This means we will be able to afford to buy better quality meat from animals that have been treated humanely. I don't do this as well as I should. I go through phases. I really believe that animals that have been treated well serve our bodies better when we eat them. We try to buy organic/free range but I want to be better. The price difference should be worth it!
7. Share the good news. I enjoy telling people about Jesus, but this point is actually about sharing about sustainable living. Here I am sharing with you. I want to be better though. Often I don't feel like I am well enough informed... but the more I talk about it the more I grow and learn. I'm just sharing what I know and hope to see change cause maybe you haven't thought about it!
8. Try natural remedies first before heading to the doctor. I try to find the source of the problem. I no longer (well, very rarely) treat headaches with panadol instead with rest, water or a massage. Our bodies aren't meant to ache, so find out why they do and change that instead. I also use essential oils, food and other goodies to help my ailments.
9. Become a nudist. This is our announcement that we are saving water and energy from washing; money and sweatshops from not needing to purchase clothes; and getting more Vitamin D, naturally. What a brilliant idea... JOKES! I think instead we might just wash less (on cold and line dry), purchase ethically made clothes that we need, and enjoy the sun when I can.
10. Reduce, reuse, recycle. I have so many ideas for this. But do it. Start thinking outside of the box. I make my own dips that I store and serve in old glass jars. I make my own cards from brochures, envelopes and magazines and give others wrapping paper that has been used before. Think about what you can reuse.

I hope these tips and thoughts have been helpful and have given you an idea of what you can do to live a life better for the planet, your body, and your wallet.

our master bedroom and entrance.

This week I assembled my new "bedside table". It's the sweetest bedside table that you ever did see. It meant that my room required some rearranging and photoshoot – obviously!

I am constantly doing things around the home: rearranging, doing up old furniture, changing things... so things don't stay the same for too long and things aren't always in their place. We are currently sanding back and potentially reupholstering the chair in our room (it was swapped out for the chair in our baby's room) so that isn't included.

I realised that I haven't shown you photos of my home, so now is a good opportunity. Who knows what it will look like when you come to visit...

And because our room is just by the front door, I've included some parts of our entrance. Because I'd love to show you around my home.

This is my new bedside table. My mum thinks it will be good for holding lots of books but mightn't be stable enough for a cup of tea. Luckily I have a cloth (aka muslin wrap) to wipe up any spills!

Pillowcase by Gorman x Walala, Doona by Kip & Co, Organic Muslin Wrap by Pure Baby, Cradle by Seed Organic, Flower Crown by Floristik.

Our entrance has a few features: 

As you walk in the front door you can see an original artwork I painted at the Belinda Marshall workshop. Keep your eyes peeled for a review on the workshop soon, but if you want to see some of her work and learn about the artist, check out this post.

We also have our very scary guard deer, which I made from a flat pack, given to me as a housewarming gift. I love him.

Opposite these is an old writing desk, full of character, and topped with an Australian made wooden bowl (used to store our keys), an ampersand, and a bit of greenery – because I NEED greenery throughout my home!

Pot by Jones & Co.

If you then peek into our room, this is what you'll see.

Yes, a beautiful screen printed artwork. This amazing Rachel Castle Tree tea towel (intended as art) was a combined housewarming and birthday gift from a very special friend. I love it in my room – it's often the first thing I see when I wake up. It has such beautiful colours.

It is now surrounded by my old and way-too-practical bedside table and lamp (not within arms reach of my bed) with beautiful cards, a photo of me and my husband and a natural candle on it.

Artwork by Castle and Things, Heart Card by Blacklist, Bunny Card by Maud n Lil, Candle by Natural Tranquility, Pewter Frame by Via Rustica.

Here are the sides of our beds.

We have matching frames above our used to be matching bedside tables: mine filled with dried flowers from my wedding bouquet backed with linen, and Rod's with an artwork we bought on our honeymoon in Hawaii.

Our Gorman pillowcases are beautiful and complement our reversible Kip and Co bedspread perfectly (when it's on its plain side!). I love the character, shapes and colours of the pillowcases, whereas Rod prefers the simplicity of the blue lines. Thankfully they're also reversible so they work well for us.

After the ultrasound of our baby, there were two stand out pictures of her. This one on Rod's bedside table was his favourite so I got it printed and framed for him. You can see just how beautiful she is! I love seeing her next to his bed and how much he loves her already!

Can't wait to have our baby girl in her bassinet, right next to our bed, wrapped up safe and with her mum and dad.

Looking forward to showing you more of our home as it comes together. It's always felt like home but it's slowly becoming more ours and I'm enjoying that!

hello, walk all over me.

We have just moved to Melbourne.

We have just moved from a two bedroom apartment on the Pacific Highway in Sydney, to a four bedroom house on the outskirts of Melbourne. There are horses and cattle one minute from my house. We are living in a new development, which is still being developed; hence the horses.

I am in the middle of suburbia, and I'm loving it. I think it's going to make me even more of a housewife than I already am!

When upsizing, there are lots of things to buy. And we don't like to just buy anything. My husband likes to look in all shops selling a certain thing to compare quality, price and aesthetics, then go back and (generally) buy the first one he's seen.

Today, after looking in Freedom, Kmart and Bunnings for a doormat, and not finding the perfect one, I thought I'd look online and write you a blog post to share some ace doormats. This is what I found:

Bloomingville Doormat from Proforma Store $89 (dog not included)

Black Stripes Doormat from Doormats by French Knot $69.95

Hello Bubble Vinyl Backed Doormat from Doormats by French Knot $49.95

Bloomingville Doormat from Amara $93

Bloomingville Doormat from Amara $60

Who knew doormats were so expensive...

Now to convince my husband that one of these is the one...

cooktop.

Sometimes the smallest thing can make the biggest difference.

I wrote this post a long time ago and am only publishing it now... I still think it's good to share :)

We got a new cooktop in our kitchen. Our kitchen is fine but this has made it so much nicer! I'm so happy about it.





It's amazing how much the old cooktop affected me. I think seeing it, and my inability to clean it, made me feel embarrassed and imagined what people thought of us. I'm sure no one cared, but I did. The new one allows me to enjoy being in the kitchen.

While we were installing it, we had to take the oven out. As it was out, I saw the original brick wall and immediately fell in love with it. I love the industrial look - dreaming of buying an old warehouse - and am hoping we can pull down our splashback and have bricks instead. I wrote about this look in my post about The Block.

Now I can only imagine the difference this change would make to our kitchen.

Do little things, they can make big changes! You mightn't be able to change your cooktop but go and smile at someone, throw out that thing you bought to please someone else, go for a walk, buy some new pyjamas, call an old friend... You never know the impact a small thing might have.

aleida pullar.

Aleida Pullar is a lovely lady who sells the most beautiful ceramics. I met her at Avoca Beachside Markets (a long time ago) where my mum and I immediately fell in love and bought each other pieces for Christmas and birthdays. There's something special about buying products directly from the makers.

I am in love with what she creates: their originality and uniqueness. Each piece is handmade and so every piece is different.

Not only does she work with ceramics but also linen. I am in love! I love linen in itself but what she creates is amazing! Hand drawn linen inspired by nature: fish, flowers, shells, spots, landscapes.

Follow her on facebook: Aleida Pullar: Studio Latitude 33 and instagram @aleidapullar. You'll see me there – I 'like' almost everything she puts up!

Images taken from aleidapullar.com and her Instagram page.

the block elimination rooms.

So last year I went a little crazy on blogging The Block. This year, I'm not going to watch it or blog it as religiously... some of you are probably very thankful!

But I can't help give some thoughts and record some of the rooms I love. My posts will showcase some of my favourite parts; be it a whole room, a piece of furniture or a colour. As I don't know what I'll love I don't know how often these posts will occur, but I'm sure The Block will still be a feature of Thearle Girl.

In case you're not up with The Block Triple Threat, six couples were placed in the elimination rounds to end up with three couples who will actually go through to the show. This meant there have been three elimination rounds. Round 1: bedroom (24 hours). Round 2: living and dining (48 hours). Round 3: bathroom (72 hours).

Here are a couple of things I have loved so far.

Brooke and Aimee's bedroom definitely wasn't my favourite but I fell in love with their soft blue wall and bed.

I like some of the details of Luke and Ebony's room, like the timber skirts and frame, the built-in headboard, and mint features. Also impressed with the blue wall, the same colours as our bedroom!

They say first impressions count, and that is true of Josh and Charlotte. I could see they would be good from when we first met them in Scotty's HQ. They didn't let me down with their living and dining room. My favourite features are definitely the exposed brick wall and timber shelves. I think I'm in love... again. That cascading plant on the shelves just puts the icing on the cake. That wall is a winner... and that proved to be true with the judge's as well.

I am so impressed with the use of colour by Ebony and Luke. I LOVE the pink wall. This photo looks a little overwhelmingly pastel but with slightly different styling, I think the pink would sing even more! I have requested a pink wall in our living room but unfortunately was turned back by my husband. Disappointing.

I wasn't totally in love with Tim and Anastasia's room but it was good! My fave part was the rug though. Often I don't like rugs or am impartial to them, but I actually really like this one.

I love Jess and Ayden's beautiful storage area, using the height of the room and lovely timber, but was a little worried by the candle next to the towels!

Josh and Charlotte's bathroom was very simple, and I liked it. I especially like their large format tiles and custom shaving cabinet which was recessed into the wall.

I'm very impressed with the elimination rooms and am looking forward to seeing what they create in their actual apartments. Good luck to Charlotte and Josho (for the win), Tim and Anastasia, and Jess and Ayden (for the lols!).

copper crush.

I have a crush on copper, especially in the homewares department. If you do too, here are a few ways to add touches of copper to your home.

1. Copper vases, from $50, Have You Met Miss Jones.

2. Eden Bed, from $699, Incy Interiors.

3. Tall copper Form bowls, $92/pair, Tom Dixon.

4. Copper Pantina Planter, $20, Leif.

5. Arthur copper round mirror, $349, Urban Couture.

6. A set of 1930s measuring cups, $165 for similar, Lara Copper.

7. Menu Copper and Concrete Candleholder, $110, Urban Couture.

8. Copper tape, from $3 for similar, Etsy.

Some very achievable ways of getting touches of copper into your home!

And if you love a bit of DIY, check out this Copper Edge Mirror – very easy and looks good too!

the block : terraces.

Excited to see the finished apartments tonight. It was a massive week trying to complete the terraces – it looked like a lot of work but I'm sure they'll look great!

michael and carlene : their area is beautiful. I love the exposed brick walls and the timber cladding as well as a mixture between the formal dining/kitchen area and the playful astroturf/cafe bench seating. It's really beautiful and well done. It's simple but beautiful. The outdoor shower upstairs is beautiful and makes it feel so tropical and luxurious and it brings an amazing element to the main bedroom.

chris and jenna : once again, I'm so disappointed for them that they weren't able to finish. They are the least confident and have the biggest area so I'm not surprised, but it is always heartbreaking when couples don't finish. What they have done is so beautiful and really pared back. I think they've done an amazing job! I love that table (I love a massive table) and the ivy up the steel walls is great, and will keep on improving! The rooftop terrace is a weird shape and hard to use well, and it's a shame they weren't able to execute that well.

karstan and max : they have branched out a bit this week and I love it. It's simple and nothing much but I love the timber and pops of colour. The greenery looks great and brings life to their apartment. I love the Pop & Scott pots; they bring a bit of fun and colour in. They've done really well – I wish the rest their apartment was more like the terrace!

shannon and simon : my first impression is that it's boring. It's very simple, which is often good, but I think it may be too simple: black and timber and a lot of space. I love their bench seating going into their kitchen and the wooden wall mural. I don't know why they didn't build in their barbeque or a put in a bigger table. I think the floating pots look cool but are a bit freaky. I think overall they are missing something unfortunately but it's a good base.

darren and deanne : their terrace is so busy! We have gone from super simple boys to full on Ds. I think the hanging plants are cool but I don't love those fairy lights hanging down from them. I like the choice of cushions (even though there are many). I love the mezzanine verandah – it is incredible – maybe the best part! I was unsure about there not being an outdoor eating area, but now I really love having an outdoor living area.

They've all done really well! The terraces have really brought life into their apartments. Great job and very cool apartments!!

the block : ensuites.

Excited to see the final interior room for this season! I think they'll be great, as their second bathroom and final interior week.

michael and carlene : Their room looks beautiful. I love their style: "simple, stylish and sophisticated." I really love the touches of wood and the unassuming marble tiles and black tapware. I think the glass pendants work really well, if they were timber I think it would have been too much. I think they've done really well and I really like their styling!

chris and jenna : They've done really well! I love the exposed copper pipe, the large scale grey tiles and their pendants. I'm not a massive fan of the 3D tiles and it's such a shame they didn't get to finish. So disappointed for them, again!



karstan and max : I didn't love their last bathroom with all the glossy black tiles and once again, not loving them but I much prefer the smaller tiles around the vanity and mirror. And the matte white double vanity is very cool – the rest is not doing heaps for me.



simon and shannon : The boys were very excited for the judges to see their room; I love seeing their love and confidence for their room! The wooden bath is beautiful, especially under the window with amazing styling! Their matte vanity is beautiful and I love the huge mirror. It's very simple and stunning!



darren and deanne : They always do beautiful rooms. I really love the mini grey hexagonal tiles (as always) and it's clever how they have put the double shower right at the windows to engage the outside world. Not loving their styling but overall it's a great bathroom.



Looking forward to seeing their finished apartments next week!

the block : living and dining.

It was great to get a sneak peak into these rooms during the challenge earlier in the week, so I'm particularly excited to see the finished products.

michael and carlene : That exposed brick wall is stunning and works so well with the artwork on it! I love the couch – that colour was a great decision! I was very nervous about the bookshelf wall but it works really well and yes, it was styled amazingly (one day, one day) but is it too busy? The idea of the dining table being a practical size for the space but also being able to be extended to fit more people is amazing – good looking and practical is what I'm about and so I'm so happy when people think about both! As usual, I think their space is great (but why does everyone love that rug?)!

chris and jenna : I love that they have included the entrance area – something so important in the practicality of a home. I thought their study area was really good, but I agree that it mightn't be the best choice at the front door. Their dining table is stunning but the chairs aren't a great choice; aesthetically and functionally. So glad they were bold with their choice of couch – it looks great – and I love the wooden slats at the front door! The TV as a focal point in a room is a pet peeve of mine but I don't think it deserved the criticism it got. It's a shame that the finishes weren't up to scratch but overall, I think they've done a really beautiful job.

max and karstan : The room is simple but comfortable. I, however, don't love the carpet 'rug' or the choice of couches but the living area works really well as a whole. I love their wooden coffee table and the wooden features in the TV unit – really beautiful! I really like their custom dining table and feature light and their room is made by the beautiful natural light. Overall it works well but personally I would change some of the details. I'm glad it's less clinical this week!

simon and shannon : I was so excited to see their room and I love it! That wooden wall is stunning and the Blacklist studio installment is definitely a work of art, which I think is great but it's very risky! Their Brent Rosenberg artwork is also stunning (the same artist as in their butler's pantry). It looks amazing with that sideboard – potentially my favourite part of the room! The way they use the greenery with the wood always wins me over! Some harsh but very fair comments from the judges about the rug and clothesline in the living room.

darren and deanne : First of all, I love their David Bromley artwork – it's a stand out piece and being oversized works so well! Their dining table is beautiful (can you tell I like timber?!) but I'm not in love with the chairs or pendants. I like the idea of the sitting area at the bottom of the stairs, but I do think it's a bit busy. The room overall doesn't give me much; I can't really work out why, but I do think they're going to do well as there will be an emotional attachment to the panelling and flooring – smart move!

I can't believe the inside of their apartments are almost done – only one more room!

the block : kitchens.

The much anticipated (for some) kitchen week is here. From the previews, they didn't look as impressive as they were built up to be, but they are great!

michael and carlene : I love the garden that they've put in under the stairs – I always love a bit of greenery (and a bit of colour)! And their whole kitchen is stunning: the wood, the black, the white. It's very simple and very beautiful. I love the textured subway tiles (which don't steal too much attention) and the shelves and laptop area. I would love this kitchen in my house! Love it.

chris and jenna : That is a very large kitchen! It has a lovely feel. I think it works really well with the light timber and the black. The space is amazing and, despite my apprehensions, the copper sinks work really well. The only thing I don't really love are the cushioned stools (which are easily changed). The bar isn't my style and I didn't love those artworks near it. I agree that that area would work much better as a study, but I'm sure some people would love a bar in their home.

karstan and max : Their kitchen is so different and is really unexpected. I like their breakfast bar adjoining their bench. The size is massive but nothing really stands out. I can't really work out what I think... I don't think it's doing it for me. The TV is a great idea! I don't love all of the cupboards in the butler's pantry – I think it would be so much more practical to have open shelves, a sink and more appliances.

shannon and simon : The polished concrete floor makes me so jealous!! It's so beautiful! I love the giant benchtop overlooking the street with the cooktop but I'm not sure how practical it all is with their placement of the sink, fridge, cooktop and oven. It's such a great idea having the breakfast bar looking out over the terrace and the bi-fold windows. I personally think the kitchen with the black benchtop and grey cupboards is a bit dark. I think the kitchen is great but looks a little narrow and pokey and impractical.

darren and deanne : I love the parquetry flooring and I think it will work well throughout their apartment. The kitchen is very monochrome. It's all quite classic and beautiful, but once again, not my style. I think the marble is beautiful but very busy – I would have chosen a simpler marble. The butler's pantry is practical and works well (and I love the boiling and filtered water tap!).