I’m beyond stoked to share that Live More with Less received not one, but two glowing awards at last nights Australian Business Book Awards! And was in the running as a finalist for Book of the Year.
It’s heartening that Live More with Less struck the right chord. People sure do love the eco guilt relief and realistic sustainable living inspiration this bright yellow book delivers.
Big congrats to all the authors, their publishers, the teams, literary agents and all the good folks to contribute to making brilliant books.
And thanks the Australian Business Books Awards, the reviewers and people behind the scenes.
- Kate
#mediumgreen #sustainableliving #lowwasteliving #bookawards #ecofriendly #climatechange #climateactionnow #ditchecoguilt #livemorewithless
Only two days before I step into the red circle on the @ted stage! I’m equal parts excited and nervous.
There’s an incredible line up of speakers sharing their stories under the theme “Illuminate”. If you’re feeling like a shake up of old ideas or seeking a little inspiration this Friday - there’s just a few tickets left that you can snap up via @tedxcanberra
I’m talking about the power of imperfect climate action. This includes ditching the eco guilt, perfectionism and learning how to live more with less.
Sure, I’ll be onstage, but I’m lucky to have a bunch if brilliant brains to bounce off for planning and preparing for this - including my brilliant Ted X coach Bradley Roche and generous Canberra Ted X team
Business coach Kathy @the_thought_alchemist
PR legend Odette Barry @odetteandco
My incredible literary agent @jacintadimase
My super ace publisher @kellydoustbooks and the incredible team @affirmpress
The visionaries @visibility_co @juliacmaybe
All the incredible sustainability leaders who I learned from researching my book - Live More with Less
And of course my work wife Fleur @thehappyhabitwithfleurchambers and sounding board and husband @sorenluckins
Hope to see you there… and cannot wait to share my take on empathetic climate action!
Kate x
#sustainableliving #mediumgreen #livemorewithless #sustainablelifestyles #ditchecoguilt #imperfection #climateactionnow #climateaction #lowwasteliving #publicspeaking #tedtalk
It’s such a pleasure to see all the pledges the women at the @ausmumpreneur awards made to live more with the less!
From downsizing to a smaller house, to educating kids and curbing their consumerism.
Scroll through for some inspiration!
Which is your fave?
Kate X
I love turning sad food scraps into happy, delicious dishes.
At the end of my weekly food flow, I pull out all the odds, ends and perishing produce and ponder what I can transform it into.
It’s like my own Masterchef mystery box challenge. And just quietly, the most creative and satisfying time in the kitchen.
Today’s focus was using up the zucchini using a recipes by @recipe_tin with the addition of some leftover bacon.
I wanted to have some go to breakfast bars for my kids and package free treats to take to school (sans almonds). I used a simple @wellnourished choc chip muesli bar recipe to make them with the my son stirring the pot and sneaking the choc chips. These muesli bars take 10 mins effort total. The juice is worth the squeeze!
I made a crumble with overly soft pears and those dented apples that made repeat voyages via the lunch box to school but didn’t get eaten. With some frozen mango for fun. (Not pictured). Leftover crumble is becoming a popular dessert or breakfast in my home when cold cereal lacks appeal in winter.
My easiest innovation was the egg cups. A drop of olive oil swirled and a leftover slice of prosciutto or ham lining the muffin mold. Crack in one egg, sprinkle Parmesan or mozzarella. One sage leaf from the garden and some seasoning of choice. 12 mins at 180 in the microwave and my fam has a quick cooked breakfast at hand.
Finally, a scraptastic (as my friend @theurbannanna would say) chicken soup. Leftover chicken pho stock, mixed with some of my own homemade stuff from the freezer. Some leftover roast chicken and whatever veggies I could muster. A weird carrot we grew in our garden. The zucchini leftovers after I grated them for the bake. The last of the beans. Some lovely legumes to add bulk, a bay leaf and some seasoning and this belly warming soup was good to go. I reused some take away containers (for freezing) and glass lock ones for the fridge.
Shall be a tasty and easier week to feed the hungry hoards.
And
I’ve been getting back into the garden this autumn, and I’ve been noticing just how magical composting can be.
I know—magical is a little “woo” for waste—but stay with me!
I recently built a new veggie patch, and you would not believe how fast and furiously the seedlings are growing because I layered the compost beneath them first.
My summer basil has been going bonkers blessed by the good stuff.
Are you compost curious?
Check out my chat with Gardening Australia host and author @hannah_maloney all about it. Her enthusiasm is contagious.
And let me know which kind of composting you’ve tried?
Was it a win or a flop? I’ve had both!
Kate x
WHAT DO YOU WANT THIS MOTHER'S DAY?
If you're like me, you're not after a fancy gift or decadent bunch of blooms.
All you really want is —
- first dibs on the remote control so you can choose what's on tv
- ample snacks so you can stay put on the couch
- a dedicate masseuse to relax those tight shoulders
- a nice (hot!) cuppa
- perhaps a little adoration on the side?
And maybe, this Mother's Day, you'd like to ditch the eco-guilt for good?!
(Click on this link for a solution to that - https://www.sustainablelife.style/book)
Hope you get one or many of the things on this list and have a wonderful, well-deserved celebration this weekend!
Kate x
Why does the vegetarian option always include pumpkin? Especially when it comes to lasagne...
I know there’s a lot of folks who love the orange stuff.
But for those who don’t, this vegetarian lasagne is the best!
In fact, it trumps the meat version in my house while shrinking our food footprint.
Ingredients for this recipe-ish
(Aka not a full recipe, but you’ll get the idea from this video and ingredient list)
Ingredients
fresh lasagne sheets @italian.chef
800g fresh ricotta mixed with zest from one lemon,
2 bottles of tomato sugo (cheat on this)
1 litre of homemade béchamel sauce (this is where the time goes)
Your non pumpkin veg of choice - organic spinach leaves, sliced, seasoned and roasted zucchinis (2kg worth)
And a drizzle of homemade pesto.
Layer it up to become this goodness.
Makes 12 portions and unlimited mmmmms of appreciation.
Let me know what vegetarian ingredient you’re sick of seeing on the menu in the comments!
Kate x
Just look at the kinda company you get to keep when you rock up to writers festivals?
So very cool to be sitting within a stones throw of some of the brightest and most brilliant brains around.
We first explored the power of the podcast with “journalist of the underworld” John Silvester (who knew Chopper back when he had ears), author and Teachers Pet podcaster Hadley Thomas and author, and editor and podcaster @jessiestephens90
The audience loved Silvester’s first-hand tales behind the scenes of criminal investigations and was moved by Hedley’s stories about what it’s like to live through creating real crime podcasts.
But Jessie Stephen’s did us all a big favour by reflecting back why podcasts capture such devoted listeners-
- because the medium allows the audience to imagine and therefore become a part of the story
- people go deeper and engage more than they might read
- and listeners come on the journey with the podcaster and build a much stronger connection.
A slam-dunk analysis indeed 👏🏻
My time @sorrentowritersfestival wrapped with a powerful line up of advocates, activists and charity fundraisers. Grace Tame @tamepunk described the origins of her campaign #letherspeak and her absolute conviction to make children safer in the future.
Who knew that @movember started with Nick Rees and his mates planning a party with novel facial hair? It’s become a global phenomenon raising over $1 billion to support men’s health!
Lyn Swinburne @bcnapinklady shared how isolating it was to be diagnosed with breast cancer in the 90’s, especially for women living in the country who had limited access to treatment. Not only did she create a pioneering supportive organisation for breast cancer sufferers, but she now mentors other organisations doing the same to magnify her tremendous contribution.
The panel urged the audience to consider how they can advocate for a better world. They said there are many quiet ways to do that without needing to
From the joy of cooking to climate apocalypse and global conflict onstage today at the @sorrentowritersfestival at @thecontinentalsorrento
One minute I was feeling inspired about what to serve at the dinner table listening to the delectable dishes envisaged by @juliaostro and (fellow carb-enthusiast and @affirmpress author) @jaclyncrupi…
The next I was inspired to create a micro habitat in a corner of my own backyard with @drkyliesoanes and understanding the need for greater climate resilience with Peter Christoff. Who knew that 366 of our endangered species live within our urban landscapes and how simply we can play a role in creating habitats for them to flourish? (Spotted: Tamara @the_new_joneses asking the tough questions!)
The afternoon was capped off with a rewilding conversation that transported us to the lush, wild gardens created by @jac.semmler who inspired community change from the (literal) grassroots.
And yes if my family sees this, the two books at the top of my Mother’s Day are featured in the @avenuebookstore pop up!
If you’re down the coast and thinking about it - do pop along to the last day of the festival tomorrow 👌🏻
Kate x
I recommend scooting along to the BBC Earth Experience before it closes this weekend.
It’s a spine-tingling visual feast of our planet’s quirkiest creatures.
I took my youngest with me and we flopped in bean bags and travelled across seven awe-inspiring continents.
Narrated by Sir David Attenborough, and supported by Intrepid Travel, this exhibit makes you more motivated than ever to protect our precious planet and the biodiversity that’s at risk if we continue business as usual.
Kate x
Voting closes on Monday 22nd April, there are still a few more days for your support!
As I’m sure you’ve all seen my posts, I have been lucky enough to be nominated to speak at the SXSW conference in October, but I need your help to get there.
The SXSW is super inclusive and creative conference where if I am selected, I will be speaking about how eco-perfection is overrated and how we need to mainstream medium green living to save our world.
I would love if you could please share this with as many people as possible and help me get this message out into the universe.
I’m hanging out in the energy, climate and sustainability section of South by southwest.
Thank you so so much, Kate x
A big thank you to everyone who has already voted for me in the SXSW conference, there are only a couple of days left and I would love your support.
If you help me get the privilege, I’ll be speaking about how eco-perfection is overrated and how we need to mainstream medium green living to save our world.
The link is in my bio, it’s a super quick sign up so you can kindly cast a vote for me by searching my talk “Mainstream Medium Green”
I’m hanging out in the energy, climate and sustainability section of South by southwest.
Thanks very much to any generous folks who cast their vote my way! Kate x
