juliakayschafer

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Ebook - Kitchen Alchemy: my favourite zero waste cosmetics and cleaning products

kitchen-alchemy-ebook-vol-1Download

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COVID safe Masks

My cute pineapple mask. In Queensland we have been relatively lucky when it comes to the whole COVID 19 thing. Up until recently masks were only worn by the high risk category people, or people with a cold, the sniffles or a cough totally unrelated to COVID but just as a matter of precaution. Over the last couple of weeks however because of a spike in locally acquired cases, the Chief Health…

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Dukah! Ahhhhh.

All that I had going though my head while making Dukah the other day was “Walk like an Egyptian” Was that the Bangles? I reckon it was. Love that song lol! So the way this came about is that Benny (husband) and I like to go out to breakfast on the weekend… not every weekend but some. We kinda order the same stuff I make at home but it always tastes so much more special. So I dissected the…

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Smaller Waste for 2021 - a Podcast

Smaller Waste for 2021 – a Podcast

So this year I decided it was time to take the big leap (well really not such a big leap) into Podcasting and will put up a new Episode weekly on Monday. Let me introduce to you “Smaller Waste for 2021” which is available on all these amazing Podcast Hosts: Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3ccVYyVRdQHmA9tL0pcNra Google…

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What does your tee shirt truly cost?

What does your tee shirt truly cost?

You know I love an op shop bargain and just last week I went to buy a couple of recycled tee shirts to replace the ones I have worn to death. I tend to do that with clothes and shoes, when I find something I like and it’s comfortable I wear it until it gives out. Then I dispose of it in a conscious manner (worm farm, recycling or pass on to a charity) and hop down to the op shop to replace it. I…

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Recycled Running Shoes

Shoe production globally has reached 2.2 billion per year, and that makes for a lot of waste…. But when your little toe pokes out the side of your runners you know its time to get some new ones regardless.  After two years of daily exercise and caretaking responsibilities in the apartments we manage, my pair of Asics have finally given in.  Both pinky toes poke out the sides and where my big toes…

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Sustainable Camping

I haven’t told you about our newest addition to the family.  Well she has been with us about 12 months now but she still feels like she’s new to us.  No I didn’t have another baby in my fifties like so many famous people, we bought a retro camper!  She’s a genuine 1970’s model Sun Lover camper, with pull out beds at either end and a wind up top.  Christened “Little Miss Sunshine” by her previous…

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Save Hundreds by Making Your Own Gifts - DIY #1 Cactus Garden

Save Hundreds by Making Your Own Gifts – DIY #1 Cactus Garden

My husband and I have a running joke, whenever we walk into an Interior Design Store and see the semi industrial decor items, I usually say “Oooo I like that!”, he says “I can make that!”, and then we have a laugh. Not because he cant make it but because he usually doesn’t have the time or the inclination to do so. But more and more recently as we go to parties and occasions requiring presents I…

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The Swiss Army Wife

The Swiss Army Wife

Ladies and gentlemen TV Direct presents our new, improved, multi tool “The Wife”.  She chops, slices, dices, measures, mops and makes dinner all in one versatile package, but wait there’s more, let us introduce to you the next generation multitool “The Mother”, not only does she chop, slice and dice, measure, shake and bake, she also looks after kids and a husband while holding down a job. 

B…

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MAKE YOUR OWN PROPAGATION POT

MAKE YOUR OWN PROPAGATION POT

I love to grow something from cuttings. Its both rewarding and inexpensive! But sometimes when I put the cuttings in a glass of water on the kitchen bench they develop a great root system but when I transfer them to a pot they die off. But now I have found a system that works effectively and looks good in the process, and I’m happy to share this with you. If you prefer to see my demonstration on…

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Preserving the Harvest

I hope from wherever you are reading this that you are doing well. In our country we are easing restrictions and going back to work but it is a slow process for the tourism and hospitality industry that our lovely Gold Coast relies upon. I’ve been one of the lucky ones who has still been working through the crisis but I want you to know that I post because I want to offer you suggestions of…

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SUSTAINABLE ISOLATION PART 7 - CRAFT SOMETHING

SUSTAINABLE ISOLATION PART 7 – CRAFT SOMETHING

Macrame – for years a word that alluded to owls made of stiff, brown, jute with wooden beads for eyes, staring at you from the 80’s wallpapered lounge room OR suspended gardens of potted ivy, geraniums or maidenhair fern garnishing the posts holding up the 70’s carport. Today however macrame has come of age, become contemporary and been taken to a new level with all manner of homewares being…

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SUSTAINABLE ISOLATION PART 6 - WRITE SOMETHING

SUSTAINABLE ISOLATION PART 6 – WRITE SOMETHING

I don’t know about YOU but clearly, given I am a blogger, I love to write. This blog started out as a book (see my ABOUT ME page) and morphed into this blog which also lead to my Youtube Channel and Facebook page etc etc. I’m also a Toastmaster(the best way to learn Public Speaking and Leadership skills for very little coin) which requires me to write 800-1000 word speeches when I’m on the…

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SUSTAINABLE ISOLATION PART 5 - ACHIEVE SOMETHING

SUSTAINABLE ISOLATION PART 5 – ACHIEVE SOMETHING

So your stuck at home self isolating, or perhaps you are working from home or have a home based business and there are sooooo many distractions. I had a uniform manufacturing business I ran from home for eight years, I GET IT!!! There’s the refrigerator which is alwayscalling you, the washing which needs doing, right now, not at the end of your work day, right now! There’s the garden to be…

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SUSTAINABLE ISOLATION PART 4 - SEW SOMETHING

SUSTAINABLE ISOLATION PART 4 – SEW SOMETHING

This morning was chiiiiilllllly! Here in South East Queensland we are heading into Winter and with that comes the switch from BBQs and salads to the good old hearty comfort foods; casseroles, soups and stews, big steaming bowls of porridge and pasta. And I know its a first world problem but when you snuggle up on the couch with your piping hot meal, you tend to get piping hot fingers as well!…

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SUSTAINABLE ISOLATION PART 3 - CLEAN SOMETHING

SUSTAINABLE ISOLATION PART 3 – CLEAN SOMETHING

Have you noticed how having more time on your hands has had a heap of benefits? I have pruned my wardrobe, tidied the dreaded third drawer down in the kitchen, pulled out all the Tupperware and re-stacked it so I can find lids for each piece and the random lids I sent to the recycling bin, and I’ve been cleaning; blinds, curtains, windows, screens and of course the bathrooms which is a weekly…

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SUSTAINABLE ISOLATION PART 2 - MAKE SOMETHING

SUSTAINABLE ISOLATION PART 2 – MAKE SOMETHING

I’ve been wanting for ages to update you with my EASIEST method yet for making beeswax wraps. Back in 2016 I made my first beeswax wrap by grating wax and ironing it onto some pre-washed cotton fabric. What a mess! And grating wax is HARD and the wax is almost impossible to remove from your grater. Well since then I have experimented with melting wax on an oven tray and dipping the fabric into…