A new year means an update on our ongoing goal to use more eco-friendly things on a daily basis.
The first time I mentioned sustainability at home, there were already a few changes we had made and I am glad to say we kept up with it and even added more items to the list.

Just like I mentioned in that previous post, I am not here to give you a lesson on what you should or shouldn't do for the planet. The following are small efforts, I know I am not perfect when it comes to zero waste. 
I do believe that rather than berating people on what they are not doing, applauding the small efforts each of us are making is much more useful. Even little steps are helpful.

So, rather than going into a long speech about zero waste, here are the few changes we made since my first post about sustainability at home:

Goodbye 2019, bonjour 2020!

At last, 2019 is over.
​In my first blog post of 2019, I remember writing about how excited I was for a fresh new year. Well, guess what? About a month and a half in, I exclaimed ‘phew, what a year, I’m done with it!’ 
I guess this is why I set myself goals rather than resolutions. I know that evidently some of the goals will extend longer than a year and I will not feel the pressure of having them absolutely achieved by 31st December.

So, rather than focusing on what went wrong last year, let me tell you about goals that did work. Because it was not all that bad, 2019 did have a good ending after all.

Do you know what would be great to have on Christmas morning? A big slice of hazelnut praline challah bread with a cup of tea or coffee before getting organised to cook the day's feast.
Something delicious that can be made ahead and enjoyed before tackling a big list of food preparation tasks? I am all for it.

​It has gotten much colder lately. This, to me, is the perfect season for hygge (a Danish word that means “a mood of coziness and comfortable conviviality with feelings of wellness and contentment”). And what better hyggelig moment than a weekend afternoon spent curled up on the couch wrapped in a fluffy and warm blanket with a good book and a steaming cup of tea accompanied by a plate of delicious biscuits. And lately, not just any biscuits but chocolate and tonka sablés bretons for me.

It’s blackberry and hazelnut madeleines season! Well, it’s really just blackberry season but think about all the delicious things you can make with this delicious berry: jams, desserts, fruit salads, savoury sauces, etc. I have shared a few recipes using this wonderful fruit on the blog before such as this blackberry fruit salad or this blackberry and almond chantilly roulade.

Today's post is just a little photography walk of the Belfast Botanic Gardens, and more particularly inside the Palm House and Tropical Ravine.
All images taken from a slow day when I needed some fresh air and greenery, took my camera with me, walked towards Queen's University and ended up at the botanic gardens.

If all you want is a walk around, this is a perfect place to breathe and relax right in the city. On a dry day, bring a book and/or a picnic, sit on the grass or on one of the benches or picnic tables and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.