Practical Ways to Reuse Brown Paper Bags

I’ve been keeping all the brown bags that come with our purchases these days. As you know, paper and even recycled paper takes energy, resources and time to produce so best make the most out of them before putting them in the green bin. If you keep the bags clean and fold them neatly, they’ll be good for reuse a second time or perhaps even a third or a fourth before becoming worn out completely.

A few practical ways to reuse paper bags:

You could donate your pile to a local trader who accepts recycled packaging.  In the Philippines, Zero Basics and CommonRoom  accept used bags of any type, so long as they are clean.

Bring them to your nearby grocer or sari-sari store and suggest that they be reused.

Find ways to reuse them in your home. As I don’t have extra budget to buy planter covers, brown paper bags work well for keeping plastic pots or noodle-cups-turned-planters out of sight, sort of Uashmama inspired 😂

Soiled paper bags can be used to line trash bins in place of plastic bags.

Here’s a smart suggestion from Jana of ZeroBasics, “Brown bags and newspapers can be donated to animal shelters and organizations too. Those are always used as wiwi pads or cat litter or cage/carrier liners.” 🙂

Do you have other suggestions? Thanks for reading.

Good Reasons Why I Shop for Secondhand Clothes

I live in a town where you are likely to see a secondhand (ukayukay) shop at almost every street and corner, and for someone who has decided to avoid supporting fast fashion, buying used clothes is a good option. Do you have this thing for vintage or do you buy secondhand clothes?  I personally like to shop for secondhand clothes and here are a few good reasons why I do:


1. Brand new is expensive and breaks my budget.

2. There are tons of choices of secondhand clothes and if you know what you're looking for, you'll find that many are still in very good condition.

3. Shopping secondhand is one way to keep unwanted clothing from ending up in landfill.

4. Clothes from the past years are generally finely crafted from quality fabrics, and are made to last for years.

5. You are bound to find vintage pieces that are unique or in limited edition and beats those poorly-crafted, generically-designed mass-produced garments any time.

6. It's a nice feeling when you find a piece you love at a bargain of a price!

7. I can save money and buy the things I NEED from local, independent, small-time creatives who are not doing business purely for the money, but mostly for the passion to create consciously, to do something of value for others, and with as less impact as possible to our planet & the livings things in it.



If you're someone who loves clothes and styling, please consider buying preloved or vintage clothing instead of new. Or if you do decide that you want to purchase something new for your wardrobe, please please consider the brands you buy from. You can use the @goodonyou_app  (this is not a sponsored post) to easily check a brand for its impact on the planet, the people and animals. It's a free app and shows ratings on fashion brands worldwide so if you have a favourite brand, pls do take a moment to see its values or find ethical brands that you can support. And if you live in the Philippines, do you happen to know a local label that produces clothes ethically or is committed to sustainability? Kindly please share in your comment, thanks.

Gorgeous Green House Tours: Picky Sister Vintage

Today, we are touring the gorgeous green tiny apartment all the way from Gothenburg, Sweden. This is the home of Lovisa  who runs a small vintage shop outside her 312 sq. ft. apartment and online and it's called Picky Sister Vintage.

It's obvious from her interior styling that she is drawn to vintage things. Her home and shop has that unmistakable bohemian vibe made all the more irresistible by the addition of her plant collection.  Just looking at her  vintage collectibles is making me swoon. Wish we were neighbours so I could come by her shop often to admire her goodies and perhaps bring home one or two ever so often. Well, in this interview, Lovisa  talks about her favourite plants as well as some personal tips on how manages to keep her plants happy.

Could you please tell us a bit about you and how your passion for plants began?
I moved back to my hometown Gothenburg on the west coast of Sweden six years ago after traveling and living in different places for the better part of my 20's. When I finally got my current apartment some years ago, it was the first place that was just mine. This sparked my interest in interior design, and the whole plant thing sort of came along with it.

I love spaces that are completely filled with plants, but in my home I want to have a balance between them and the rest of my things. I see plants as a great way to complement my favorite decor pieces or vignettes, and I feel that any nook without a plant just isn't complete! 😊

I also like to incorporate plants when I style the items for my little vintage shop, because they have a way of making everything look better.



When did you start collecting houseplants?
3-4 years ago.

What is/are your favorite houseplants, and why?
My string of pearls is very dear to me. It's one of the plants I've managed to keep alive longer and it just looks beautiful. I also have a weak spot for my silver vine - they are easy to care for and grow like crazy.




Which room in your home has the most plants?
My combined bed/living room is bigger than my kitchen so I have more room for plants in there.

Do you have a particular routine in caring for your plants?
I'm trying to be better at having a routine, like checking on them every Sunday and watering the ones that need it, but I'm honestly not too good at it. For some I notice when they look thirsty, at which point I just give them some water. For most though I water them whenever I realize it's been too long.

In your experience, what has been the most challenging plant to care for?
Ferns, for sure. I've given up on having them at home. Fiddle leaf figs don't do well in my dark apartment either (among with most plants that require a lot of light)

What plant is or are still in your wishlist?
I would love to have a huge Birds of paradise plant, but I don't have the room or the light it requires.






Where do you usually shop for plants or what are your favorite plantshops to visit?
I usually go to one of the bigger plant shops in town as their selection is greater, but occasionally I buy a plant or two from a flower shop or interior design place.





What tips can you give those who want to start caring for plants at home?
My main advice is to do research on what each plant needs to thrive - amount of water and how often, nutrients, light conditions, etc. When you look this up a good thing to consider is the conditions you have in your home, like humidity and that different spaces get different kinds of light. A plant that normally requires water once a week will need less in a darker apartment and/or spot.

I don't even want to think about all the plants I've killed over the years, which has often been due to over watering, just because I didn't realize the recommendations didn't really apply to Swedish conditions and my dark apartment... The difference in the amount of light my plants get in summer compared to winter is huge, and now I've learned to cut down on the amount of water significantly when the darker season starts.












Hope you enjoyed the read and these snapshots from Lovisa's  apartment. I'll have to say, plants and vintage planters are the perfect combo!  Oh, and notice how healthy and green her plants are? Do you have some of her plants, too? Which are your favorites and which plants are still in your wishlist? I am simply in love with her succulent collection, especially the tall succs and her wild-looking trailing plants!

Gorgeous Green House Tours: Plantbaby Studio

Happy to start off my 2018 blogging year with “Gorgeous Green House Tours” featuring Plantbaby Studio aka The Jungleloft. Owner and designer Jenny Morris is the lovely plantlady behind the shop where you can buy vintage-inspired, beaded and macrame plant hangers, vintage planters and accessories. Jenny also teaches macrame workshops right from her 800 sq foot Jungleloft in Toronto’s West End. If you follow her on Instagram, no doubt you're just as enamored as I am with her plantfilled apartment.

In this interview, Jenny shares her passion for plants, her favourites, some plant care tips. and of course, plantiful photos.


Could you please tell us a bit about you and how your passion for plants began?
I inherited my first plant from my landlord when I moved into my first single apartment. It was dying and I felt instantly drawn to revive it, and I have managed to keep in alive...!

Then I got a job as a creative office assistant where one of my jobs was to take care of hundreds of plants! I really enjoyed the process of tending to them, and I've always loved interior design and the role plants play in a space. The essential element of any great room, in my opinion, is lots of greenery! Bringing the outdoors in is always where I start when decorating a new space and now I create and sell plant accessories to make them look even better in your home.




When did you start collecting houseplants?
I really started collecting plants about 4 years ago. It's been fun to watch some of my plants grow up with me.

What is/are your favorite houseplants, and why? 
I am a little too in love with my fiddle leaf fig. It turns out the Instagram world loves it too! You can see it all over my feed (especially here, here and here!) I raised this plant from a small bush into a 5 foot tree. It's beautiful, modern and easy to care for when you give it what it really wants (light!!)



Which room/s in your home has the most plants?
I live in a loft in Toronto so it's one large room! I mainly pile all my plants beside my two large windows (South facing light!) where they are the happiest. When it comes to plants, you have to collaborate. Design magazines will tell you to put your plants on nightstands, beside couches, at the front of the door. But if that's not where the best light is, your plant will not thrive. You have to work together.

Do you have a particular routine in caring for your plants?
I am constantly checking up on my plants. If I notice one looking a bit sad, I'll stick my finger in the soil to check if it needs water. I know my plants are ready to water when I stick my finger in the soil about an inch and it's a touch moist but almost dry. I always water from the bottom (make sure to get a pot with a hole in the bottom!). The amount you water will depend on a few factors, but I do the finger test every week or so, and always check on my plant babies before taking a trip and I give them all a good soak about once a week.




In your experience, what has been the most challenging/difficult plant to care for?
I used to think I'd never meet a plant I didn't like until I brought home a Burro's Tail (a trailing succulent plant). I hate this plant! Every time I go near it, the succulents fall right off. I can't even breathe around it without it falling to pieces. I need a plant I can rough around a bit!

What plant/s is or are still in your wishlist?
A monstera!

Do you have pets and how do you keep them safe from plants which be harmful for them?
I sadly don't have any pets! But I do sell hanging planters in my store and recommend them for anyone with pets who can't stay away!




Where do you usually shop for plants or what are your favorite plantshops to visit?
I get most of my plants from small greenhouses outside of the city.

What tips can you give those who want to start caring for plants at home?
Start small and listen to your plants - they will inform you of what they need by the way they look and the how their soil feels. Bring a small plant home and put it on a stool or table near a window and make sure all of your pots have a drainage hole.

I find bigger plants are actually much easier to care for - they are hardier and less likely to suddenly die. But I recommend starting with a small cheap plant so you can learn how to read its cues. My first plant was a philodendron, which is a great place to start. You can read this instagram post I wrote for plant care tips.







Don't you just love Jenny's plant hangers and vintage planters? Her loft is pretty amazing, too, I must say! I adore everything about it - the high ceiling, big windows, brick walls, wooden floors, that mustard sofa. And of course, her beautiful plants all looking so green and healthy! How I wish I can come over and attend one of her macrame classes.

Which plants do you recognise from these photos, and which ones do you have at home? Hope you enjoyed this feature! Would love to read your comments :)

My Favourite Plantshelfies on Instagram

#plantfamily, #plantgang, #plantclub, #plantshelfie - regardless of what hashtag you call it, plants in shelves never fail to attract attention. And I'm sure, not just amongst plantlovers! Even when you're the person who is not very passionate about plants, it's pretty hard not to be captivated by an image featuring a collection of beautiful plants grouped together. No wonder the #plantshelfie tag already has over 14,000 posts on Instagram, and counting!

Well, I do love plantshelfie photos and part of my to-do-list is to take more photos of my plantfamily. I love floating shelves but as we are not allowed to drill holes on the walls of our apartment(how sad!), I couldn't help but swoon over interiors that have these, especially when plants fill up the ledges. So, this post is dedicated to my favorite plantshelfies found on IG:

Four layers of plants in terra cotta pots by @folia_folia

The minimalist's take on the #plantshelfie and the fireplace shelfie both by @the_plantroom

the bohemian-inspired plantshelfie by @plantbabystudio

Leaf-cuteness overload on a two-layer of shelf by @workhardplanthard. (NOTE TO SELF: I really want a letter board)

White + rust is definitely a good combo for a plantshelfie. So is a mix of leaves in all-shapes. And seriously, who hasn't seen this fabulous Pileafamily shelfie? Both by @houtje.touwtje

Loving this plant tribe or should I say suculentclub in a wicker shelf by @tribeandus

How adorable are these vines on these metal wire shelves by @coldknees

Cacti family looking comfy on the shelves by @_forthehome / Photography by @57thphotography_

Stunning display of leaves in beautiful soft light from one of my ultimate interior crushes on IG by @arapisarda

Which one of these plantshelfie photos is your favourite and which accounts do you follow on Instagram? Do you have a plantshelfie shot not included here? Please feel free to share on your comment.

Gorgeous Green House Tours: Mee's Homejungle

I'm starting off a brand new segment on my blog called "Gorgeous Green House Tours" which, you guessed it right, will be featuring the beautiful green, "plantiful" homes of plantlovers from across the globe.

Today, presenting the plantiful house of Miriam Schmid from Lucerne, Switzerland. How I wish our home had as many glass windows as her house does!

Mee began to collect plants only 6 months ago but her plantfamily is surely growing big and strong. She had 91 plants when I asked her to do this interview and by the end of the week, she has a total of 96 houseplants in her care! Her instagram account showcases snapshots of her stunning indoor jungle filled predominantly with large plants and vines - all looking so healthy and lush! So without further ado, I'm inviting you to step inside Mee's homejungle and learn a bit more about her love for plants.




Could you please tell us a bit about you and how your passion for plants began?
I moved a year and a half ago from the city to the house I live in now. I have never had a garden before but I started gardening as soon as I moved to this new home and it quickly became a passion. I love plants for different reasons. I am fascinated with what nature does. Plants have the power to change the energy in a room. Plants can make you feel calm, and yet give you so much power. I am fascinated with every plant I meet. Each one has a different shape, colour, pattern, and structure. Seeing them grow makes me happy. Plants are a miracle of nature.




What is your favorite houseplant, and why?
My big Monstera Deliciosa. it is so big and gives me the real feeling of a jungle. It is very easy to care for.

Which room in your home has the most plants?
My living room.




Do you have a particular routine in caring for your plants?
Every morning before I go to work, I spray mist them for humidity. In the evening I water my plants if necessary and mist again.

In your experience, what has been the most challenging/difficult plant to care for?
The Alocasia Macrorrhiza. The leaves turn yellow very easily if you overwater.

What plant is still in your wishlist?
Oxalis triangularis. Have to wait till springtime. Can not find this here now in my City.




Where do you usually shop for plants or what are your favorite plantshops to visit?
Luckily, I can buy my plants at a wholsaler - Beck AG in Lucerne, which is in the same building where I work. They have a huge selection of plants and I get them at low prices. Sometimes I also see nice plants at Hornbach.

What tips can you give those who want to start caring for plants at home?
It is good to have a lot of windows. Plants need light. And I think it is the love that makes everything grow. You have to invest time to care for themand make sure that you have someone who takes care of your plants when you go on holidays. Finally, you have to do some research from books or the internet to know the needs of each plant.




Mee's plant collection includes:
Hoya carnosa tricolor, Begonia Rex, Fittonia, Euphorbia Leuconeura, Lepismium Bolivianum, Calathea Warscewiczii, Ficus Lyrata, Alocasia Stingray, Aeschynanthus Twister, Hemionitis Arifolia, Maranta, Zamioculcas, Pflanze Fatsiajaponica, Begonia Maculata, Peperomia Carperata Rosso. Aloe Vera, and Succulents.

Do you recognize any other plants in these photos? Do you have these plants at home too? Which ones are your favorites and which plants are somewhat of a challenge to take care of for you? Would love to read your comments :)

Inspiring Ideas on Bringing Plants to Your Work Space

If you love plants as much as i do, then I'm sure you are constantly on the look out for new and better ways to incorporate greenery in your space.  And because I spend most of my weekdays working online from home, it's very important for me to make my work space organized, clean and inspiring. As you can guess, bringing in plants to this space is a must for me.

Well, I'm still in the process of creating my "ideal" work station. For instance, I need to find the right chair to lessen the stigma of sitting for long hours. Not that having the "proper chair" is an excuse not to stand up and take breaks. But still, I do need to get myself a new chair that won't strain my back and won't break my budget. (Any suggestions?)

My  current work station is far from complete, so I like to gather ideas on decorating and organizing. Needless to say, I am attracted to botanical-inspired interiors. So whether you work from your home office like me, or a studio, or in a real office setting, I hope you'll enjoy taking a look at these interior design ideas on bringing in plants to a work space.











Photos:  Casahaus |  OldBreandNew | The Future Kept | Femkeppastjin via MyDomaine | Elledecor.se | MargotHupert | Decor8 | HistoriasDeCasa | Pinterest | Notey |
Which one is your favorite?