http://www.mainstreamgreen.co.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.mainstreamgreen.co.nz en-us Sat, 14 Mar 2026 00:29:19 +1300 Rocketspark http://www.mainstreamgreen.co.nz/blog/post/148848/sick-of-doing-your-bit/ As I stood at the entrance to Kmart, my friend glanced at me with a wry smile."You hate this, don't you?" she said.The look on my face said it all."Do you ever get sick of doing your bit?" she asked.It's true. When I set foot in a shopping mall and the scale of our hyper-consumption smacks me in the face, I always have a moment. A moment where I feel like me doing my bit and encouraging others to do theirs is like trying to lasso lightning with a friendship bracelet. That the problem is too big,... Mon, 14 Jul 2025 10:45:32 +1200 http://www.mainstreamgreen.co.nz/blog/#post148848 http://www.mainstreamgreen.co.nz/blog/post/143736/adventures-in-simple/ Simple, simplicity, simpler, simplify…I freakin’ love the word and what it stands for.I started my Living Lightly journey to be more sustainable, but I kept going because I got hooked on the simplicity that came with it.But in a world that glorifies busyness and more, simplifying can feel like swimming against the tide. It’s easy to assume ‘simple’ means less— but I’ve found it’s actually about making space for more of what truly matters.That’s where my adventures in ... Thu, 03 Apr 2025 19:10:22 +1300 http://www.mainstreamgreen.co.nz/blog/#post143736 http://www.mainstreamgreen.co.nz/blog/post/140994/enoughness/ Despite the red squiggly protests of my spell-check, 'enoughness' is absolutely a real word, and it’s a mindset that I am 100% here for. In a world that constantly whispers (or shouts) “more, more, more,” it’s wild that embracing enoughness can feel like swimming against the tide or even a bit radical.Enoughness is all about realising and appreciating what you already have, instead of always chasing after more. It's about being content with what’s enough for you, without the pressure t... Wed, 22 Jan 2025 13:30:01 +1300 http://www.mainstreamgreen.co.nz/blog/#post140994 http://www.mainstreamgreen.co.nz/blog/post/74474/christmas-zhuzh/ Decorations, baubles, seasonal accessorising, festive home fashion...whatever you want to call it, it's totally a thing. A thing where we're surrounded by temptation and can end up buying a whole lot of stuff that we don't really need and only use for a really short amount of time. When I put my mind (and my Pinterest account) to it, I was amazed at what I could rustle up with things that I already had at home. But if DIY really isn't your thing - I've got your back...... Thu, 07 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.mainstreamgreen.co.nz/blog/#post74474 http://www.mainstreamgreen.co.nz/blog/post/74662/stick-it-in-a-jar/ Every year I choose a simple gift to make in bulk.It's always something that I can knock out in an hour or two and it often involves a jar (or a bottle).Jars because:#1 I always have a stash of them in the kitchen and it's good to reuse things#2 It's super easy to make things look awesome. This year, I rustled up 10 different gifts in jars to show you how easy it is - you're welcome. All 10 jars are filled with things I foraged from home or that I could source package-free from my local bulk sto... Thu, 07 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.mainstreamgreen.co.nz/blog/#post74662 http://www.mainstreamgreen.co.nz/blog/post/74954/its-a-wrap/ I'm not sure that I've ever purchased new wrapping paper.Growing up, my Mother always saved the wrapping paper from presents we received - and her hall cupboard is still a treasure trove of paper, gift bags and bows. It's a habit that has stuck with me, and I always reuse what I have and get creative with other things I can forage around the house.  You may not feel like you're going to save the world by re-purposing your  gift wrap, but CARE Australia found that in Australia alone, th... Thu, 07 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.mainstreamgreen.co.nz/blog/#post74954 http://www.mainstreamgreen.co.nz/blog/post/102073/conversations-about-the-big-things/ The other day my nine-year-old walked in the door, put down her school bag, looked at me and asked “is all of this flooding our fault Mum?”I knew it was a significant parenting moment. One where I couldn’t just rattle off some half-arsed answer as I continued to wash the dishes.While I feel like I navigated the conversation ok, it got me thinking… Climate Change is such a big deal, and as its impacts become more visceral and real in our everyday lives, how the hell do we talk to our kids... Mon, 17 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.mainstreamgreen.co.nz/blog/#post102073 http://www.mainstreamgreen.co.nz/blog/post/102080/different-mediums/ At 11.31pm one recent Friday evening, I sent my friend Brydie an email.The flooding in Auckland had just happened and my mind was in overdrive.What else could I be doing to engage people around climate action?Brydie writes incredible poetry and other amazing creative stuff.Maybe using the medium of art would engage more people or get them thinking in a different way?So I sent her my ramblings and she magicked them into something new and beautiful.... Mon, 20 Mar 2023 15:13:27 +1300 http://www.mainstreamgreen.co.nz/blog/#post102080 http://www.mainstreamgreen.co.nz/blog/post/94731/hop-on-hop-off/ My kids totally dig their scooters as a way to get around.We use them heaps for trips to school, around the neighbourhood and into town.   I’m a big fan of scooting because:- It’s faster than walking and the kids love it- If needed I can jump on and ride or throw one scooter over each shoulder and carry them- They’re easy to hop on and off if the kids want to stop and pick up a stick or check out a butterfly- They’re super compact and easy to store- Second-hand scooters are pretty ... Thu, 24 Nov 2022 14:46:55 +1300 http://www.mainstreamgreen.co.nz/blog/#post94731 http://www.mainstreamgreen.co.nz/blog/post/93874/hauling-croissants/ I've fallen in love with riding my bike.I use it for a lot of my short trips around town, and here's why I'm in to it:- It's faster than taking the car - yep for real. I'm often passing traffic and I don't have to find a park. - It's great incidental exercise and my calf definition is 42% better*- When you're on a bike you're automatically friends with all other cyclists. Even the lycra-clad pelotons will give me a wave when we pass each other (ok when they pass me)- With a solid basket and some... Wed, 09 Nov 2022 13:42:42 +1300 http://www.mainstreamgreen.co.nz/blog/#post93874