Oils are Essential

Recently, I have been cooking with a lot of olive oil. It makes a such difference in taste, and it does a great job of oiling the my cast iron pans and creating a beautiful crust when I am cooking meat. Oils are a part of everyday living, we use them to oil our pans, to bake cakes, to moisturize our skin and hair, and also to clean our houses.

While cleaning on a Saturday Morning I decided to try to clean using essential oils. I had grown weary of cleaning with harsh chemicals that I had to wear dish gloves to clean, and the caustic chemicals that would bother my throat and nose.  So I put some peppermint oil and water in a bottle sprayer and started to clean the house. I was surprised that the oil was so effective in cleaning my windows, picking up dirt and for mopping up the floor. Soon my whole house smelled like a peppermint dream, and was sparkling  clean. And I felt  boost of endorphin's, maybe from the exercise of cleaning but also from the wonderful and invigorating smell of peppermint.

I am totally sold on using essential oils for cleaning, and am looking forward to trying other oils to clean as well. It is so easy to be organic and sustainable at home, it just takes small adjustments to be successful.
What is your favorite green way to clean?


Peppermint Cleaning solution5-10 drops of Peppermint Oil into a spray water bottle
Add water about half way full

Adding Style to Everyday Life

Sometimes life can become mundane, and the simple patterns of life repeat and repeat. An easy way to break the pattern of monotony is to add fabric accents to your home.

I could be adding new curtains, a rug, window treatments, table centerpieces or, a new outfit to wear out on the town. My favorite designer Yetunde Sarumi often gives me inspiration on how to add elegance to my home. Her company YS (Yetunde Sarumi) uses unique fabrics from West Africa to create stunning clothes that stand out and make an impact.

Drawing inspiration from her amazing collection, I used a piece of long fabric to create a curtain between the washroom and the mudroom. Every time I look at this personally curated curtain I am inspired to look for other ways to add simple elegance to my home.

Who knew, how easy it could be to create a warm and welcoming home.

                                       Picture of the curated curtain