Stop.

This morning, as I watered the blooming paperwhites on my windowsill, I took a moment to bend down and give them a sniff. The warmth of the sun beaming through the glass onto my face, combined with the powerful perfume of the flowers and the noises in the street below, pushed an incredible feeling of peace over me. 

With the constant internet searching, social media-checking, texting, lives we lead today, it is so hard to pause for a second, feel your breath, hear the sounds around you, and just be. 

I urge you all to stop and smell the roses this week. 

DIY: infusions

I know it's only Wednesday but I've got happy hour on the brain. So for this week's DIY project I am making Ginger Infused Vodka. Okay… I really started the infusing about a month ago but I am choosing to write about it today….

Infusing alcohol is insanely easy, fairly inexpensive, and deliciously rewarding! 

Step one -- What do I want my vodka to taste like? This can be the hardest part of the whole process! I've found it helpful to think about the ingredients that were in cocktails I have enjoyed in the past (in this case a ginger-y Pimm's Cup came to mind). Dry ingredients work best, so if you are choosing a fruit, make sure you pick one that you can find dried or that has a peel (i.e. citrus). 

Step two -- Purchase ingredients. When it comes to choosing the vodka, I am of the opinion that there is no need to splurge on a high quality brand (although I would go for organic or local if you can afford it). There is, however, some argument for getting a higher proof vodka (100 and above instead of 80) for reasons of stronger flavor and faster extraction. I haven't seen much of a difference but it probably depends on what you are infusing. Note: many liquor stores will not have the higher proof vodkas out on the shelves so you will have to ask for them. 

Step three -- Infusing. For a 1.75 liter of vodka I used a medium-sized piece of fresh ginger. Just combine the vodka and sliced ginger (with skin on), give it a quick stir, and store it in a dry, dark location. It's best to do the infusing in a glass container that has a tight seal. You can let it sit for 2 weeks to a month, depending on how strong you want the flavor to be, making sure to shake it every 2-3 days. The infusing time varies greatly depending on what you are using so make sure to do you research (there are recipes for almost any combo you can imagine online). Fresh herbs should only be left in for a few days, where dried fruits, spices, or nuts can infuse for several weeks. 

Step four -- Strain and enjoy. Filter out the ginger with a fine mesh strainer or a paper coffee filter. Store in the freezer or give as a gift!

I've also dabbled with mission fig, basil, cinnamon, anise,  and basmati rice -- all to delicious success.

Winter Ginger Fizz: 

   2oz ginger infused vodka

   2tbsp rosemary simple syrup 

   Club soda

Boil equal parts water and sugar until sugar is dissolved and infuse rosemary sprigs in heated liquid for about 15minutes (with heat off) for rosemary simple syrup. Combine syrup and vodka in a cocktail shaker, shake it up, and serve toped off with some club soda. 

Grow your own: watering tiny succulents and cacti

I can't remember where I learned this but it has worked pretty well for me: the best way to water succulents, cacti, or other non-water-loving plants (particularly ones in small containers) is by placing them in a dish with a few centimeters of water. 

This, of course, will only work if there is a hole in the bottom of your container. I prefer this method to just splashing some water on top of the soil because it allows my plants to leisurely drink the amount of water they actually need (instead of guessing and over/under watering). 

Just cover a plate or tray with about half an inch of water and place your plants on the plate - I usually let them sit for 30 minutes to an hour. 

Don't have any tiny succulents? You should! Succulents are some of the easiest plants to keep as long as they can get some indirect sunlight -- in fact the best thing you can do is pretty much neglect them until you suddenly remember they need water. The biggest killer of succulents (aside from no sunlight) is over watering! Plus, the tiny ones are about as cute as plants can get. 

Holiday Flowers and Plants usually has a nice selection. Or, if you don't feel like venturing to the Flower District you can even order them on Etsy!

Glass is the new black

One of my goals for 2014 (ehem new year's resolutions…) is to continue to switch out my plastic goods with glass, metal, wood, etc.

My first act to meet said goal was the purchase of a new set of glass food storage containers. This set is made by Pyrex but there are plenty of brand/material options out there. Check out reusit to find what type of food storage vessels suit your soul.

A few tips: I chose glass because I like to be able to stick it right in the microwave but stainless steel is great too. Also -- if your containers do have plastic lids, be sure to not fill the food so high that it touches the plastic when the lid is on. That would just defeat the whole not-getting-plastic-all-up-in-my-food thing now wouldn't it?

So long plastic take-out container clutter! 

New beginnings

Paperwhites sprout up on my windowsill

The new year is a great excuse to take a look at your day-to-day habits and really think about the longterm lifestyle changes you wish to achieve -- as tacky as new year's resolutions sometimes seem.

This year I am giving myself a list of goals and I resolve to make a real effort to stick to them.

1. Compost -- I resolve to save my food scrapes and bring them to my local greenmarket each week to be recycled. 
2. mEAT local -- I resolve to only eat meat, fish, and dairy products from producers that pasture-raise their animals without all the icky hormones, chemicals, etc. This means no ordering from restaurants unless I know the source!
3. DIY -- I resolve to take on a DIY project once a week. 
4. Cook with friends -- now that I have gotten pretty good at making most of my own meals at home, I resolve to cook more with friends. It's easy to get lazy when we're all together but the few times we have cooked food instead of ordering, it has always been fun, rewarding, and less expensive.  
5.  Go glass -- slowly but surely I resolve to switch almost entirely from plastic to glass, ceramic, or metal. 

Most recently, I acquired a glass water pitcher (with kishu charcoal filter) and a set of glass straws. 

Let's do this 2014!

What are some of your goals?

To tree or not to tree

The holidays are all about tradition and traditions are definitely not always sustainable. One of my favorite holiday pastimes is going to a fir farm, picking out a perfect Christmas tree, and driving it home to decorate with the whole family. 

There are no fir farms in a city. 

So where does one get a Christmas tree you might ask? Why street corners of course! This has made me wonder about the environmental impact of my prized holiday custom. Where do these mysterious street-corner-trees come from? Where do they go when they are stuck back on the curb a few weeks later? With over 33 million Christmas trees sold each season, there must be something un-green about it all…

Here are options for reversing some of the negative impacts of Christmas tree consumption:

• Go organic – most tree farms use pesticides. Do your research to see if you can find an organic Christmas tree distributor in your neighborhood. Green Promise has a list of some.
• Treecycle – think twice before you put your tree out with the rest of the trash. Find out how you can guarantee your tree will be recycled rather than put in a landfill.
• Potted trees – buy a potted tree that can be replanted after Christmas. This isn’t exactly a viable option for urban dwellers but if you live in the burbs and can access a nursery, this is a great guilt-free way to get your x-mas tree fix.

I’m not even going to mention the fake-no-pine-smell-tree option…

So, what if you can’t utilize any of these alternatives due to your location or finances? I’m of the opinion that we can reward ourselves from time to time when we make sacrifices and changes in other areas of our lives. Maybe if I compost all year long, it’s ok to have a Christmas tree. The worst crime, in my eyes, would be to hide from the facts. Educate yourself so you can have the power to make these decisions. 

Happy Holidays y'all!

Green thumbs up: Buffalo Exchange

With spring (hopefully) right around the corner you have probably started to think about floral shirts, flip flops, and flowy dresses. You may also be thinking about cleaning out your closet to make room for some new said flowy, flippy, florally items. 

Buffalo Exchange is the perfect stop for all your purging an splurging desires!

I have really been trying to think about where the things I buy come from, whether it be a carrot or a new pair of shoes, but being consciously mindful of your clothing origins can prove to be difficult and expensive. 

Shopping for used or vintage clothes at Buffalo Exchange can take a little bit of the guilt out paying low prices for fashion. You can sell your items there for cash or trade and donate the (sometimes many) pieces they don't wish to buy. 

As much as I would like to only buy organic cotton dresses hand sewn in Brooklyn, sometimes a gently used, cute,  $15 Free People top is enough to get me excited. And yes, trying to sell your prized possessions to Buffalo Exchange "buyers" can sometimes feel like this...