Monday 14 May 2012

Soviet-Inspired Homewares: Goods from Mother Russia


There's something Russian in the air because everywhere we look we're seeing Soviet Homewares...or more specifically, babushka-related fun. 

One Homeware in particular that's stolen our heart  is the Drink Up Babushka Carafe by Fred (http://www.todae.com.au/Drink-Up-Babushka-Carafe). This hand-blown glass carafe holds 750mL and is the perfect little friend for your fridge. Click here for this and more of Todae's Homewares Online.

You'll even find Soviet chic on the runway with Alice McCall's latest Spring/Summer collection. It's all floral embroidery, braided hair and severe stares. Take a gander at some of the delights from her collection aptly titled 'Babooshka': click
Still not enough Ruski for you? How about some Soviet propaganda posters to liven your walls? A bit of gold on your ceilings and Furniture a la Tsarskoe Selo? 
For pre-Soviet palatial inspiration, Tsarskoe Selo in St Petersburg, Russia is your go-to. The Summer residence of the Romanov tsars, it is one of the most opulent imperial estates with 300 hectares of grand architecture, parks and ponds to see. If you've got a few (million) coins spare, get inspired!
Nosta rovia,
Grace

Monday 7 May 2012

Tips for a Greener Home


Was one of your New Year’s resolutions to make life a little greener ?  Was another to save money?  Well, the good news is that there are thousands of home eco-friendly products on the market today that promise to put a few bucks back into your pocket and leave you with a clean conscience.  Here we highlight some of the best products and methods that are the easiest to assimilate into everyday life.
1.       Energy-saving - Unfortunately, electricity is not getting cheaper anytime soon so incorporating a few changes into your home electricity usage can return heaps on utility bills. Replace lights with LEDs or other low voltage lighting.  A significant percentage of home electricity usage comes from devices running on standby so install timers which automatically turn off devices when not in use. 
2.       Sustainable and safe materials-  Choose  materials that are safer for the environment and the user.  These could include bamboo serving bowls or silicone utensils for in the kitchen to natural soy-based candles for anywhere in the home.   Natural cleaning and laundry liquids are safer and often aren’t too much more expensive than traditional chemical-based cleaners.
3.       Recycling and composting- Sure many of us know how to separate our metal, glass and plastic into the appropriate bins.   However, many ignore or are naïve of the benefits of discarded food.  Composting bins like the ones produced by the company Bokashi turn food waste into nutrient-rich material to  feed your home garden.
4.       Water-saving devices- Water is a precious resource and in some places, an expensive one.   Turn water off when not in use and replace old showerheads and taps with high-efficiency models to trim your water bill.
5.       Get the family involved- Finally, the key to achieving an eco-friendly home is getting the whole family on board.  Make “being green” fun for your kids with eco-friendly products that engage and educate like the range of kits from Green Science.  Encourage and reward children in incorporating green practices around the house and keep sustainability alive for generations to come.


Sunday 6 May 2012

Portable BBQ: Outdoor Living On the Go


Nothing says 'Outdoor Living' like a barbeque.  Whether you're Camping in the outback with some Hand Powered Products or  Composting in the backyard, charring a sausage or veggie patty within an inch of its life just makes the experience that much better.
If you're in the market for a new, lightweight coal grill to take to your local park or patio, check out the Notebook Stainless Grill.  It's a perfect excuse to gather your family and friends for a feast.
Mother's Day is right around the corner, so why not treat Mum to some outdoor dining? Perhaps a twilight snack lit up with fairy lights?
While you're grilling, you could try relaxing in a hammock. Here's a do-it-yourself guide using only a sheet or curtain and some rope.
You could even try out a few new recipes for Mum. Just have a gander at these delicious treats. Grilled octopus perhaps?
Or for that perfect BBQ corn on the cob- preheat the grill and brush the corn with olive oil. Cook for ten minutes, turning frequently, until golden brown. Then season with salt and pepper. It's that simple!
Happy grilling,
Grace

Monday 30 April 2012

Clever Gifts: Eco Products That'll Light Your Fire


We love giving Eco Friendly Products as gifts, especially if those same gifts have a card included! What Eco Product could we possibly be talking about? None other than Todae's Candle CardOoh, atmospheric!

Make your own candle with the sheet of beeswax and cotton wick provided. Just pop the cotton wick in the middle and roll up the beeswax to create a long-burning night light. Check out Todae's Eco Store for these, other gifts and Energy Saving Products.

Need some creative decorating ideas for your new creation?

Twilight picnic? A bottle of wine, a couple of candles and a view - what more could you want?

Romantic nook? Add a few candles to your bedside table and paper lanterns for extra ambience.

Outdoor cinema? Next summer, string up an old white sheet, borrow a projector, grab some cushions, add candlelight - DIY moonlight cinema!

Candlelit garden? Simply line the outside of an empty jam jar with coloured crepe paper and drop a tea-light in. Repeat several (hundred) times and let the festivities begin!

Enjoy, friends!

Grace

Monday 16 April 2012

Homewares with Hmph: How to Give Your Kitchen Some Heat

Homewares don't have to be hum-drum. There are many clever ways to make your kitchen that bit more inviting and exciting.
Ever thought of having a few framed photographs? We're inspired by this little nook and its gallery-like feel: http://pinterest.com/pin/287034176220899547/
Do you have a counter that could double as a breakfast bar? Think about adding a few stools. Take a wander down to your local op shop or antique store and pick up some Furniture. Maybe something like this: http://pinterest.com/pin/277041814546940041/
But if you're feeling extra crafty, you could even re-use a wooden crate or make your own chair from scratch. Ana White has your step-by-step guide to making a modern bar stool: http://ana-white.com/2010/09/simple-modern-bar-stools.html
Is a vintage Kelvinator in the budget? Or could you just jazz up your fridge by converting it into a giant chalkboard? Pretty wow, right?
Now, here's a Homeware with fighting spirit that won't cost the earth - Ninja Star Magnets by Outliving. For this and other homely treats, check out Todae's Homewares Online.
Wishing you many kitchen adventures,
Grace

Thursday 12 April 2012

Neoflam Cookware


Neoflam's slogan really sums up its mission – ‘cookware for healthy living’. The Neoflam brand is an international kitchenware company focused on innovations in technology combined with contemporary design to create top-of-the-line products. Neoflam’s flagship products include die-cast aluminium cookware with ceramic-based Ecolon non-stick coating, vacuum-storage food containers, and cutting boards and knives infused with antimicrobial Microban technology, as well as bamboo cutting boards with natural antimicrobial properties. 

Beginning in Korea in 1991, the Neoflam brand has become a multinational company, establishing itself in the US in 2001 and achieving growth through distribution by online stores and home shopping networks. What sets the Neoflam range apart is its focus on environmentally-friendly technology and manufacturing: its die-cast aluminium cookware provides greater heat conductivity and contains none of the harmful toxins that can be present in traditional cookware with PTFE-based non-stick coating. Neoflam’s bold design sensibility and innovative technology makes a perfect addition to your home or a thoughtful Earth-friendly gift.




Silicone Zone

Introudcing Silicone Zone, pioneers in the natural benefits of silicone!

Silicone Zone is a brand that embodies innovation, quality and value. Their goal is to infuse homeware and kitchenware with art, making your experience with everyday products enjoyable as well as efficient. Aesthetic value does not impede on functionality in the Silicone Zone brand, where revolutionary technology is constantly being sourced and integrated into products designed for quality cooking and baking, as well as kitchen tools and accessories. Silicone Zone’s products exude excellence, and are renowned winners of the prestigious Red Dot Design Award. The basis of their success comes from their masterful craftsmanship of the material silicone, which is praised for its durability, flexibility and toxic-free qualities. Silicone is the perfect eco-friendly material for cookware, as it is a natural substance, higher in density than most petroleum based plastics and can withstand extremely high temperatures. By combining these outstanding characteristics with the delightful and energetic designers at Silicone Zone, your kitchen can now be transformed into modern, futuristic, yet professional workplace.

Until next time

Tuesday 10 April 2012

Non-Polluting Picnics: Eco Products for Parties

Autumn is upon us. So with the last vestiges of warmth threatening to flee, let's take advantage of the sunshine and picnic!  But with picnics come waste and we want to  know which Eco Products can help us minimise our environmental impact.

Plastic plates and cutlery may be convenient, but being non-biodegradable means added waste to landfill.  So we've had our eye on some more Eco Friendly Products like Bioplates Large and Small plates, available from Todae's Eco Store.  They're made from the frond of the Areca Nut Palm, which falls naturally from the tree, meaning no trees are cut down and it's made from completely natural materials.

Likewise, Greenwaves Biodegradable Cutlery is 100% natural.  Made from compostable cornstarch, you won't have to worry about polluting our earth for the sake of a slice of quiche.  Win! Alternatively, you could just take your old dinnerware, hope it doesn't break and hand-wash it after.  Pinterest shows us how -

* Beach picnic with some old ceramic dishes, throw pillows and a gorgeous spread. You know, just a normal Sunday afternoon.

* Picnic with a chandelier. Hope those light bulbs are Energy Saving!

* Car bonnet picnic. More proof that not all picnics need to take place on a grassy  knoll.

Wishing you fun in the sun,

Grace

As Fun As They Are Eco-ally Re-Usable

Re-Usable fits into the category of Eco Friendly Eco Products. Some of the things we waste on a regular basis are the wraps, foils and plastic cups we use to contain our food and drinks every day. It’s something that I personally feel the worst about throwing away. I try to use my plastic sandwich wraps more than once, but half way through day two it becomes so repulsive that I’m put off eating the sandwich all together.

So, I’ve lived my life not knowing that there was any decent way to solve this issue, until more recently. Todae.com has hit the nail on the head once again, making my idea of a re-useable wrap look like rubbish in comparison to what it has in store. The Re-Usable Sandwich Wrap and Pockets are eco-friendly materials designed in the form of an envelope for your food to fit perfectly into whilst remaining fresh for however long your day might be. 

Another plus is that every time to purchase a wrap or pocket, 4MyEarth Fabrics will donate 15 cents of that money to Save the Children and Keep Australia Beautiful. In other words, this is really a win-win situation. You get your forever-lasting sandwich wrap and a pat on the back for doing so.
More eco-friendly win-wins can be found on the Kitchen, Catering, Picnic component of the Todae online store.   

Monday 26 March 2012

Eco Friendly Friends

Megan: Oh crap, my annoyingly eco-friendly friend, Julie, has come to the rescue right before I can take a bite out of this delicious-looking meat pie. Good thing she’s here, I was just about to enjoy myself… Maybe if I walk fast enough I can turn the corner before she looks up from her phone and sees me. Oh wait, I’m sorry, I mean her recycled timber-covered iphone. Give me a break for once. Actually, it looks kind of cool… Okay, here goes… Don’t look at me, don’t look at me, don’t loo--

Julie: Megan!

Megan: Dammit. Julie! Hey…

Julie: Oh my god, Megan, I’m so glad I bumped into you.

Megan: Oh, well, I’d say the same but—

Julie: Don’t even waste your breath, you look exhausted. Feeling’s mutual, I’m sure! Anyway, the reason I’m so glad is because I have something I’ve been meaning to give you! You mentioned you were having trouble drying your clothes sufficiently?

Megan: Yeah, like, ages ago. I’m surprised you remember.

Julie: Well, I have something for you that might help. Eco dryer balls!!

Megan: Oh, here we go.

Julie: They’re these two balls that you put in your machine to soften/dry your laundry – and without any chemicals. They’re so much faster than the softeners that use electricity, and they’re so much cheaper. But for you it’s for free, because I already bought it.    

Megan: Gosh, Julie. Thanks, this is actually great… Where did you find it?

Julie: This Australian online store called todae. I found the store at http://www.greenfinder.com.au/. Hey, I actually bought this iphone case from todae!

Megan: Oh yeah? I was just admiring it. Well, thanks so much for your help. Dammit, I hate it when she’s right AND tasteful.  

Sunday 25 March 2012

M Cups Review

Looking for something fancy to measure your ingredients with? The Fred M Cups are Matryoshkas made to measure! The M Cups come in a set of 6 dry-measure cups, nicely designed as the traditional Russian matryoshkas. The M Cups measure 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 3/4 and 1 full cup! Another good thing about these lovely cups that they are built from heavy-duty, food-safe, long-life engineering plastics. Also useful, easy to store and ofcourse, quite charming.

The M Cups are available in the colour red or white; I got myself a white version yesterday and I really like them. They fit so well between all my other kitchenware! If you want to got hand on 6 of these measuring matryoshkas, I bought them at Todae Lifestyle Store.


Tuesday 20 March 2012

Homewares to Make the Office Homely

Is your desk at work bringing you down? Is it more a prison than a place of employment? Bring a bit of personality to your work with a heartwarming Homeware. We think the Pen Grass Stand from Todae is a bit of alright, bringing the outside in.  While there are many other Homewares Online to delight your desk,  we got to thinking about how other creative kids have made their offices more outdoorsy. 

It was hard to go past the Musee du Quai Branly in Paris with its vertical garden designed by botanist turned vertical landscape designer Patrick Blanc. But this organic architecture is hardly unique and luckily you don't have to go all the way to Paris to find it.

Greenhouse St Georges Terrace in Perth's CBD is a cafe/bar/ restaurant all about sustainability with the exterior of the building  "...clad in corrugated iron covered by a vertical garden with about 4000 terracotta pots filled with ivy and strawberry plants."

Not only that but their Furniture includes chairs made from old road signs, bar stools and tables made from recycled wooden palettes and light shades made from reclaimed fencing wire. Clever.

Wishing you a greener workplace,

Grace

Sunday 18 March 2012

Keep Cups Review

Hi everyone. A couple of days ago, I was drinking my coffee out of  my regular coffee cup. Since I am getting more and more interested in eco-products, the idea of getting a eco-friendly coffee cup popped up in my mind. After some research, I found a nice looking coffee cup which is also environmentally friendly!


Let me introduce you to the Keep cup; the Keep cup is a funky and environmentally friendly reusable coffee cup made from polypropylene. The plug is a polyethylene polymer called TPU and the thermal band is made from silicone, which is safe food grade plastic, which makes the Keep cup a nice green alternative for the regular coffee cups! 


I bought it a couple of days ago and I even experienced more benefits; it is at a takeaway size, are lightweight, easy to carry and are dishwasher safe, microwaveable and splash proof! A lot of benefits in just one small cup, the Keep cup is a product to stay if you ask me! If you also want to try out this amazing product, you can buy it on this website: click!

Outdoor Living for the Birds

There's a world of eco treasures out there to delight you, but we've found one that will make you smile and see in the dark when you're next Camping.  Meet our Eco LED Penguin Torch (...in my head he's called Albert). 

But what does our Albert really have in common with penguins? We figure...
* Penguins don't fly. Neither does Albert...unless thrown.
* Penguins have short legs and no knees. Sadly, Albert has no knees either.
* Penguins are mostly black and white in colour. Funnily enough, so is Albert.
* Penguins use sign language to communicate with each other. Albert can flap his wings (and create light!) which has to be some form of sign language, right?

So how can we help our penguin friends?  Today, penguins face a number of threats including the destruction of their nesting habitats, introduced predators such as dogs, rats and foxes (which eat their eggs and young) and competition with fishermen for fish and shrimp. Yet the biggest threat to penguins is climate change
Now here's where Albert can help! Being one of our clever Hand Powered Products, Albert can lessen your dependence on batteries (when you choose to use dynamo power to work him).

Wishing you a de-LIGHT-FULL day,
(Yep, went there)

Grace

Wednesday 14 March 2012

What Eco Products are having the most positive impact?

 When considering which Eco Friendly Products to invest in, the sheer quantity and range of Energy Saving Products and the like can be a little overwhelming.

But the thing is even changing one of your habits can have a hugely positive effect on our wee planet.  Take coffee cups for example.  In the US alone, 23 billion disposable coffee cups were used in 2010. That's the equivalent of 8.5 thousand Olympic-sized swimming pools worth of waste.  So by switching to reusable cups, like the Hookturn Re-usable Coffee Cup, you'd be giving our trees a much needed break.

But what is actually so harmful about disposable coffee cups? Why is it that every Eco Store seems to be spruiking them so hard?

It comes down to a few major factors:
* They're made of bleached paper.  Recycled paper is too leaky and flimsy to hold liquid. So that means a lot of trees are needed to meet the demand. In the US in 2010, 9.4 million trees were cut down to make cups.
* You can't recycle them. In order to stop the paper cups from leaking and to help them retain heat, the cups are coated with a plastic resin called polyethylene. Once it ends up in landfill, it decomposes and releases the greenhouse gas, methane, into the atmosphere.
* Resource intensive manufacturing. To manufacture paper- trees need to be cut down, wood turned into chips then the chips need to be washed and processed.  All up it requires a lot of energy, water and trees i.e. not so good for the planet.

For more coffee cup facts, check out:

Wishing you a guilt-free caffeine kick,

Grace

Bamboo Homewares - are you in touch with your inner panda?

At Todae.com.au, we love our Homewares and our planet. We've had our eye on the Bamboo Bath Towels ever since we discovered what a eco-friendly resource we have in bamboo. 

Not only does it leave cotton in the dust with its silky feel and hypoallergenic qualities, bamboo thrives without chemical pesticides and is completely bio-degradable.

As if it that wasn't enough, this clever little evergreen manages to grow all year round at a super speedy rate. Plus it doesn't need much water, which is perfect for our Aussie climate.  No need for replanting - after the stalks are cut off, the plant continues growing and is ready again for harvest in three to four short years.

The pandas may be onto something. Sure, you may not want to eat 9 - 20 kilos of bamboo a day, but you can enjoy it in your towels and Furniture.  For more, handy creations, check out our range of HomewaresOnline.

And if all this bamboo talk has got you pondering pandas, learn more about them and see what conservation efforts World Wildlife Fund are making by clicking here.

Hope you're having a pand-tastic (ugh...sorry) day,

Grace

Kitchenware: Not So Fantastic in Plastic

Ever wondered the best way to get the necessary items for your kitchen without treating it to an overdose on plastic?  If you’re like me, and you’ve suddenly become increasingly aware of the effect simple ordinary kitchenware has on your own backyard then it might help to know that there are easy alternatives.

First, though, if you’re wondering ‘wait a second, what affect does a simple glad wrapped sandwich have on the environment?’ Your basic kitchenware items like glad wrap or sandwich bags are not biodegradable, and contain highly dangerous chemicals that seep out whilst in the rubbish tip.  Enter: the biodegradable garbage bag! Something as simple as switching your garbage bags to ones that will easily, and naturally break down in the environment later on will make a HUGE difference to the amount plastic you’re wasting. Think about it, how often do you change your garbage bag a week? Well, if it’s two times a week you’re saving more than 96 bags of unnecessary waste a year! Another brilliant alternative is stainless steel Tupperware. Stainless steel Tupperware is an easy alternative to traditional plastic Tupperware. Not only do you instantly have a microwaveable safe container to whip out of the fridge, and use, but you’re also significantly cutting down on your plastic waste. If you’re thinking, well, I can’t exactly pick up biodegradable garbage bags at my local store. Yeah, you’re right, but there is a huge variety of eco friendly products online. The best way to get a hold of these is to look at kitchenware online. The best, and most innovative green items, I find, can be found via kitchenware direct sites.


- Jemma

Tuesday 21 February 2012

Ninjabread Cookie Cutters Review

Just bought the Ninjabread Cookie Cutters and I really love them! The Cookie Cutters are loads of fun for your kids as they get to cook their very own team of ninjas! Let them enjoy making their own cookies with the funny design from the Ninjabread Cookie Cutters, I am sure that your kids will love them. While using them, I experienced that it was very easy to use the Cookie Cutters, even the kids had no difficulties while making their favorite cookie! Made from rugged food-safe ABS plastic, it is not difficult to clean them; you just need to use some water and soap and they will look brand new again.

Sunday 19 February 2012

Deals Direct Online - Deal Aggregators

Well often today we see ourselves hopping online and looking for a bargain and deals direct to you. Today there are a million deals sites out there offering a myriad of deals every single day. From your Groupon style daily deals sites to your average online store with their daily deal offering. 
It can be hard to find the best deals so we now see the deal aggregators becoming more and more common and useful. A great site is http://www.allthedeals.com.au/ where you can find all the daily deals from all the big daily deals websites. Instead of receiving 1 million emails you will receive 1 with all the deals you like. Simple as that.
Finding more deals can be fun and I am always on the lookout. With Google you can type in what you’re looking for and go from there! But the question does rise, do we need all this stuff? And I am not sure that we do! Despite this as savvy customers we are more sensitive to price and always want a bargain. Whatever we buy, we love hitting that buy now button.

Monday 6 February 2012

Scanpan

Everyday I go into my kitchen and whip something up for dinner and give little thought to the bits and pieces I am using - or my kitchenware. That was until I got myself some Scanpan cookware and realised what a massive difference it makes.

Some pots, pans and knives now adorn my kitchen with the marking Scanpan and cooking and cleaning is much easier now. I never thought spending a little bit more money than Woolworths kitchenware would be worth it but I am glad I did.

I feel a little bit more Masterchef now with my shiny cookware and love gonig home to create a taste sensation for dinner. So my advice is go out and get yourself some good cookware and see the difference.