TOP TIPS TO NOT WASTE YOUR FOOD

Not that brownies would go to waste in my house, Jamie Oliver

I hate throwing away food. I get the guilts when I have to pitch a poor, saggy ol' capsicum or bendy carrot in the bin. Am I alone in this? I've developed a bit of a hobby out of not wasting food - and I bring you my top tips.

This isn't about saving food because there are starving kids in Africa. I'm pretty sure that shoving down the last bit of your dinner even though you're bursting at the seams, isn't going to help a starving child. It's not as though you can send them your cold broccoli in the post. That's what I used to tell my parents, anyway.

This is more about saving your money. According to foodwise.com, the average Australian throws out 20% of the food they buy, or $1036 annually. That's a nice chunk of a holiday!

And there's the environment to think of, too: a huge amount of energy goes into food production and agriculture, so it makes sense that the less food we waste, the less of a toll we place on the environment.

So here we go - my tips for saving food (slash, coin).

1. Meal Planning

Meal Planner from Kikki K

Meal planning means you can shop with a list and buy only what you need, rather than casually picking up random things that you may not end up using.

I plan out a week's worth of dinners before I go shopping. I've even started listing accompanying vegetables on the meal plan so we don't end up with a crisper full of limp veg at the end of the week.

Kikki K sell all kinds of meal planners, though there are lots of free printable templates on the net, too.

2. Freeze, freeze, freeze!

Jamie has some great tips for loving your freezer...

I'm a freezer fanatic! I often make double (sometimes triple) quantities of meals that can be frozen. I love having a freezer full of homemade meals at the ready - who doesn't love a night off from kitchen duties?

I also use the freezer to store everything from toaster bread (standard) through to packets of grated cheese, and half-quantities of leftover sauces, tomato paste, coconut milk, etc. that would otherwise go off in the fridge. I sometimes also store veggies to make into soup, if they're about to go bad.

3. Portion Control

This is about knowing how much to cook when it comes to dry ingredients such as rice, pasta and potatoes. Figure out the portions that your family needs, so you have a reference point. I now know that if we're having rice, I should cook about 3/4 cup dry rice for my husband and I. I figured this out after several times making enough rice and mash to feed the neighbourhood.

4. Smoothies

Lush smoothie recipes from Eternal Lifestyle

Excess fruit that's nearing the end of its life can be chopped and frozen and made into smoothies or juices another day.

5. Whatever-you-like Nights
Sometimes I'll throw a 'Whatever You Like Night' onto the menu plan. When I was little I remember my Mum occasionally announcing that it was 'Whatever You Like Night'. Most likely, she was just having a don't-feel-like-cooking night - TOTALLY ACCEPTABLE. On those nights, it's every man for himself to make a meal out of whatever's available (Weetbix, or tinned spaghetti on toast are totally acceptable meal options). It's a good way to not waste food if there's a possibility you might be out. It's also a good way to use up some pantry items (or just as an excuse for a lazy one).

6. Grow Your Own

Endless inspo for kitchen herb gardens

I HATE how you have to buy masses of herbs when you only need a tiny bit for a recipe (like, I need one sprig, not a bushel). Growing a few pots of herbs is a great idea. I've had success growing herbs from seeds, including parsley, basil, coriander, mint, rosemary and also shallots and lettuce.

7. Shop When You're Full and Happy

It's true what they say about shopping when you're hungry! It's amazing what slips into my shopping trolley when my appetite is raging - everything seems like a sensible idea. Croissants? Treat yo'self. Mi Goren noodles? Bung 'em in. Fruit Loops? Haven't had them in 20 years; yes, we definitely need those. It's usually a good idea to do the weekly shop after you've had a satisfying meal - you're more likely to stick to your list and will be less tempted by junky throw-ins (not completed un-tempted!).

8. Stocktake Your Fridge

Whoever thought the internet was so abuzz with tidy fridge fanatics?!

Is your fridge a creepy graveyard featuring jars of sauce from 1995 and leftover stir-fry from three months ago? You should probably clean your fridge. Then, continue to check what you've already got before you do the weekly shop. While you're making your shopping list, check the fridge for items that spoil, which you can use in the coming week. And most importantly, check the fruit bowl and crisper.

I have really geeked out at our place lately, and started putting little star stickers on the remaining veg before I go shopping, so that I know which stuff we have to use up before we eat the new, fresh stuff. Totally nerdy, but there's been a noticeable decrease in crisper casualties.

Also, it's a good idea to schedule the meals that use the most fresh ingredients at the start of your menu plan, leaving the frozen meals or things with fewer perishables for later in the week.

Our fridge always has plenty of 'white space' - by which I mean - it's adequately stocked, but we can clearly see everything that's in the fridge. If you have a bursting-at-the-seams fridge, it might be time to have a proper stocktake and chuck-out session so that you can actually see what you're working with week-to-week.

I hope these tips can help you to save your food and your moolah. Happy shopping!

GOING PLASTIC-FREE

After visiting Thailand last year I was inspired to reduce my plastic consumption. We visited the island of Koh Lipe, where plastic water bottles have been banned. Instead, the island's hotels and merchants only sell 'Trash Hero' metal water bottles. Across the island, hotels and eateries provide free stations for refilling your bottle with purified water. This is such an inspiring initiative, especially considering the revenue that the island could be making from the sale of plastic water bottles.

This is the type of sacrifice and action that we all need to take, to make a dent in the problem of plastic waste.

Because, really, if a small, second-world tourist destination in Thailand can rally the whole island, any excuse we come up with is pretty weak.

You know what plastic does? It friggen sucks, that's what.

Plastic doesn't break down in the environment - EVER! 'What about recycling?', I hear you ask. Props for sorting your garbage, but unfortunately, most plastics are only good for one round of recycling, into a lower-grade product at best. After that, it's off to join the rest of the plastics in landfill, where they'll stay - forever. By comparison, glass and metal are not degraded in the recycling process and can be re-purposed over and over again.

Every bit of plastic that you've ever used still exists. Think about that. Mind blown?

What doesn't go to landfill ends up in waterways. It's estimated that 100 million sea mammals die each year from consuming plastic. And that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050. :(

Image Source

Read on (or skip to the tips) because there's some easy (dare I say, super fun) things you can do that won't require you to grow dreadlocks or knit your own underpants, etc.

You have to do something, though. If not you, than who? Because it's not going to be the ignorant dumbhead buying the 24-pack of plastic water bottles every week.

Yes, there are occasions I find myself at the supermarket without a calico bag in which to place my packaged shit. It takes time to retrain old habits, after all. Make your decision to change though, and gradually you'll become more conscious about your preparation, and your choices. I actually find it a pretty fun game now to look for alternatives (woot!). And I feel pretty swish about myself when I do.

Here are my top tips for reducing your plastic footprint:

1. Look for non-plastic packaging at the supermarket. Buy sugar and flour in paper, not plastic. Grab your OJ in a cardboard carton. Your oats in a box. Seek out condiments in glass. A super fun game for the savvy shopper ;) It could also be a fun game for the kids (if you want to be at the supermarket for 5 hours). 

2. Gather your veggies sans plastic bags. There's no need to put each individual piece of fruit in a bag. I put mine straight in the trolley, but you could bring BYO box, too. Choose veggies that aren't wrapped in plastic. Bananas don't need to be wrapped in plastic! THEY ALREADY HAVE A WRAPPER. Opt for a whole tomato, rather than a punnet of baby toms in plastic. You get the idea.

3. Collect yourself some cute calico bags. You have permission to leave your green Woolies bags at home when you go shopping for clothes. In fact, please don't tote those around like makeshift handbags. Much daggy. Very faux pas. Keep a calico number in your car and what-not for spur-of-the moment shopping adventures. 

4. Revamp your takeaway beverage habit with a reusable cup, like KeepCup. Better yet, save your pennies, invest in a mug, and make use of your office coffee machine.

5. Bake homemade cookies and save the planet at the same time! Nuff said.

6. Explore the wonderful world of cloth nappies. I can hear the mamas laughing through my screen, but I'm still going to try these out if and when the time come for me to be a mama bear. Google 'eco nappies', 'cloth nappies' or 'bamboo nappies' - the options seem to be endless, and some of them are pretty stylin'. Have a go at saving disposables for trips out of the house - every stinky nappy counts (it kind of hits home when you realise that the plastic from the nappies you wore as a baby, still exist.)

7. Get back to basics with beauty. From bamboo/charcoal toothbrushes to Lush shampoo bars, there are many ways we can pare back the cosmetics cupboard. A jar of coconut oil is a versatile bathroom staple that can be used for hair treatments, lip balm and an in-shower moisturiser. Try replacing bottles of shower gel with a bar of dreamy charcoal soap (my fave here). Give my homemade lemongrass sugar scrub a birl. 

8. Re-usable containers are your go-to for storing leftovers. Reach for your Pyrex or Tupperware before the cling film or snap bags. 

9. Peruse the supermarket for eco laundry items. It's a plastic nightmare in those aisles, but if you look carefully, there's usually at least one (often only one!) non-plastic packaged version. Think laundry detergent and dishwasher powder. If stuck, another option is to buy in bulk or in concentrated forms.

10. Put down the bottle of Fiji Water. I repeat, put down the bottle. That pretty label may look eco-friendly, but oh, it's not. The simplest tip of all: get a reusable water bottle, and refill it from the tap. When you want to treat yo'self to a soft drink, try the options in aluminium or glass.

11. Look for plastic-free alternatives such as icecream in boxes, wrapped in paper, rather than in a plastic tub.

12. Invest in quality-made products that last such as wooden/steel garden tools and ceramics, rather than plastics that crack and have to be replaced.

13. Rethink gifts for children. Kids get given a LOT of stuff, often in the form of plastic. For tactile/educational toys, look at alternative options made from wood and textiles. Books are always a wonderful idea, as is something they can use outside. Get creative and help them make a cubby out of a cardboard box (they'll love it) or take them on an outing as a present, like a trip to the movies.

14. Go plastic-free when entertaining crowds. If your party calls for disposable dinnerware, choose cardboard or bamboo plates and festive paper straws over plastic. 

15. Be a creative gift giver. Before you get to the checkout, try to think about the practicality of the stuff you buy. Maybe the gift of an experience would be well received? It's hard to go wrong with a voucher for the movies, a nice restaurant or spa! 

Thanks for reading, and happy converting! Do you have any other ideas for going plastic free? I'd love to hear your suggestions in the comments below. X

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SALLY SPATHIPHYLLUM // THE BEST AIR PURIFYING INDOOR PLANT

Zen Your Desk ebook from Anita Byrne at Employment Insight. Grab a copy here.

Whether its been my desk at work, or now, at home, I'm all about pimping my work space. Lately, it's also been about creating a space of positivity, calm, creativity, zen - all those crazy things. I almost always have a tealight and essential oil burning; also present are your more kookster items like my lumps of rose quartz and amethyst crystals - but that's a story for another day.

Last Thursday morning I decided to do something I never do and walked around the corner to treat myself with a coffee to get in the mood for job applications. Well, I have been known to be sensitive to coffee but this cup made me high as a kite from 10 til 5. Not pleasant. I couldn't sit still so I went for a drive and literally chased a rainbow all the way to Bunnings, and bought myself a plant for the "office".

Possibly the most amazing rainbow I have ever seen - it was a full arc, and a double, against a stormy steel-grey sky. And, errr, the Maccas/Bunnings carpark.

Actually, the plant wasn't an impromptu purchase. I'd received the aforementioned  'Zen Your Desk' guide and it got me thinking about the benefits of having indoor plants, including clearing the air and filling it with freshness, removing indoor pollutants and chemical toxins, softening the surrounding space, and of course, having that connection to nature. At one of my past office jobs I went so far as to bring a plant to work from home. People may think you're cray, but who cares? I think it's cray to be stuck inside all day.

According to this handy chart from the NASA Clean Air Study (yeah, bitches: NASA) the Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) ticks all the boxes when it comes to air purification. I cross-referenced with this pictorial guide to air purifying indoor plants and discovered that the Peace Lily is also extremely easy to care for, requiring very little light or water. Perfect for the office, and perfect for not having to ask your boyfriend to keep the greenery alive while you're out of town.

Sally Spathiphyllum now has pride of place in the corner of the office. Air quality aside, she really is a mood lifter! If you're in the market for some indoor plant therapy, I picked up Sally for $15 at Bunnings and she had plenty of luscious sisters. Peace out. x

EARTH HOUR

Earth Hour... what a perfect excuse to mix things up this Saturday night. If the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Eiffel Tower, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Tower of Pisa and Times Square, among others, can switch their lights off for an hour in recognition of our commitment to the globe, so should we, I say.

I'm *not* disappointed that I'm going to be out at a wedding tomorrow night, just a fraction disappointed I won't get to participate in a little something like this: with your lover or with a group of friends: lights out, comfies on, candles lit, wine in hand, pizza present, board games/spooky stories at the ready... or just get out under the stars.

It might look a little something like this... x

one. queen b pure beeswax candles two. peter alexander chunky knit pom pom socks three. dr. mcgillicuddy's schnapps four. p i z z a five. s c r a b b l e six. 100% 'stansborough grey' eco-friendly wool knit blanket seven. f o r t u n e c o o k i e s eight. banrock station cabernet nine. c o o k i e s

I LOVE PILLOW

 

How dreamy are these cushions from Ourlieu? The Australian-owned company uses 100% organic cotton, recycled plastics for the cushion inserts, and even prints their swing tags using recycled stock and soy based inks. So you can have your nanna nap, and feel pretty darn good about it, too. They also happen to have a pretty cool newsletter.

TOTING THE TIPPLE

Here's the first page proof of my article that will be in the June edition of Living + Lifestyle. This is a new mag which at the moment comes as a supplement with Modern Home and Country Home Ideas magazines. Pretty excited about this, being my first published article! I might post the remainder once the mag is  officially out. =)

WE'VE GOLDEN SOIL

The vegie patch has been alive and kicking for a couple of years now. I don't need to pay too much attention to it but it had reached that scraggly stage when the plants grow out. For instance, that big green bush in the back left corner is Italian parsley. Little garnish for your spag bol anyone?!

Yesterday we spent a couple of hours topping up the soil, tidying, repotting and planting new seeds. The garden fairies – of which I have two – literally, helped us out yesterday with a mild and cloudy day, perfect for a bit of garden work.

First thing on the agenda was a trip to Condell Park Pet and Saddlery Supplies. We picked up 8 bags of regular potting soil and 2 bags of mixed fertiliser (mushroom and banana leaf compost and cow poops). I turned the soil with the pitchfork, working carefully around the couple of plants I kept in situ.

Look at the size of this fatso! The garden was absolutely teaming with huge healthy earthworms, just like him.

I relined the garden edges with the newspaper to help stop the grass from coming through the bricks. 

Salvaged a few things for lunch. 

Replanting marigold seeds. Having some flowers like these in the garden is supposed to attract insects away from the other plants. I just like having some pretty flowers in the garden. I had some snapdragons last time.

Spinach seeds. I love seeing what the seeds look like when you open the little packets, they're all so different. 

Here's the end result of the day's work. A tomato plant had recently sprung up by itself  behind the compost bin in the corner. The plants that choose their own growing spaces, no matter how inconvenient for us, always seem to be the happiest ones, so we moved the compost and made some space for it.

One day I would like to just "plant" some of our vegetable compost and see what surprises grow up out of the soil! 

For the past few crops I've waited til the plants were at the end of their productive stage before replanting the seeds, but this time I'd like to do what you're meant to do, and remove half of each section and replant some seeds so there's a constant supply. In this relatively small space, and using a few extra pots, we have twenty staples:

lettuce

spinach

oregano

sage

red chili

curly parsley

flat-leaf parsley

coriander

dill

mini capsicums

shallots

chives

tomatoes

strawberries

rosemary

basil

mint

peas

string beans

broad beans

I just love going to the garden to pick a couple of spring onions and a couple of basil leaves for recipes, without having to buy an entire bunch that costs $2.50 but lasts less than a week. We pick what we need, it's fresh, pesticide free, and grown under the supervision of two glow-in-the-dark fairies. What more could you really want.

ALL DRINKS GREEN

Good things come in green packages. Particularly when it comes to beverages.

When we were kids my brother and I were a little bit obsessed with green cordial. Lemon and orange were the run of the mill el' boringo flavours - but on the rare occasion when we persuaded our mum into buying Coola - we seriously felt like the luckiest kids on the block. It still makes me a little bit excited.

Being just a little bit older now, I'm free to purchase whatever beverages I choose, even the naughty ones that make you a little bit silly. I was reading Women's Health this afternoon and came across a little snippet on wines of the eco-green variety. Not quite Coola - but I wouldn't knock 'em back.

Sanctuary Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc - the first wine on sale in Australia to feature Planet Ark's Carbon Reduction Label.

Plinky-plonk from the One Planet range is packaged in recyclable material and are rated Carbon Neutral and No CO2 by the Carbon Reduction Institute. Fill her up, I say.

Banrock Station wines are made from sustainable grape varieties and profits go towards conservation projects. So if you have nothing to drink to, you can always cheers the orangutans. =)

SANCTUARY, ONE PLANET, BANROCK STATION,

I'm lovin' it

Browsing the Facebook news feed the other night, I read that a younger acquaintance from country NSW made a trip through the Golden Arches with her friends.

So what?

Each one armed with their own plates and cutlery from home, they entered the franchise and requested their meals sans-packaging, in a gesture against the fast food industry's extortionate use of packaging.

"The awesome feeling you get when you take bowls and cutlery to Maccas in an attempt to be eco friendly :) To my surprise it tasted way better in a bowl."

I'm inspired.

NO ONE WEARS PLASTIC ANYMORE.

If a green bag and a plastic bag were in a fight together, the plastic bag would be a quivering mess in the corner of the ring. If you still have doubts...

Enter: Celebrities Who Love Calico.

 

 Hugh Jackman loves his eco-friendly man bag. I like Hugh Jackman's eco-friendly-bag-carrying-device.

Jessica Biel wouldn't be caught dead in plastic. And her bag is very self-assured.

Julia Roberts – either brings her own bags, or buys a whole new set every week. At least they're not plastic.

 No, you are not. Plastic bags are totes embarrassing (see what I did there?). No one wears plastic anymore.

HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?

I thought I would post some pics of my vegetable garden progress, since I have been going on and on about it for ages.

So here is a look at what we had to begin with. A patch of grass by the fence. You can dig garden beds into the ground or build a raised bed. I decided on a combination of both. I ended up digging about 25cm into the ground. That was more hard work than it may seem and involved many wheelbarrow trips, but I did it over a number of months whenever the inspiration struck, so it wasn't a chore.

I saw on Better Homes & Gardens that if you build a raised bed directly on top of lawn, you can lay down newspaper which stops the grass coming through, or kills it, or something along those lines. Although I dug up the grass, I still didn't want it growing through from under my brick border so I used the newspaper trick.

This was a tedious little exercise. At first I tried to lay out the soaked newspaper inside the bed, but it kept falling in on itself.

Anyway, you can see the border that I built with some old bricks which I found around the side of the house. Originally I was planning on using railway sleepers but Bunnings don't cut them to size as the wood is too damp. Anyway I ended up saving over $100 by using these bricks, which I painted a nice shade of yellow to brighten them up.

Here is my second and more successful attempt at the newspaper thing. After giving the newspaper sheets a good soaking on the lawn I laid two sheets of newspaper so that the top sheet draped over the top of the border and therefore couldn't collapse inside. After filling the bed with soil I just tucked the newspaper down and covered it with dirt.

I can't remember the exact proportions, but I think it was about 5 parts organic soil to 1 part manure and 1 part compost. Times about three, because it took endless bags to fill this bed. This part was fun though.

As you can see this is one of my more glamorous hobbies!

Here's the finished fairy garden. I bought the wire borders from Bunnings for ten bucks each - a necessity as my dog Hannah had taken the garden 'bed' a little too literally and I'd caught her laying in the middle a couple of times, sunning herself. I made the little vegetable labels myself (which I posted in a blog a few weeks ago). The pavers in the middle were under two dollars each from Bunnings, and are of course in place for ease of gardening and access. The fairies along the fence were a freebie from work - they're actually glow-in-the-dark fairies, so they keep an eye on things when the sun goes down.

After sewing my seeds I scattered some plant food, along with some snail defender at the sign of the first shoots.

And here is the latest photo, taken this morning. As you can see the shoots are coming up nicely, especially after a fantastic dose of rain all yesterday. Growing at the moment we have carrots, parsley, shallots, lettuce, basil, oregano, coriander, dill, onions and marigolds (which ward off certain bugs). I will be planting peas and beans along the wire by the fence. It looks as though I planted a few too many carrots and lettuces and when they all come up at once I'll have enough to feed the entire street. Next time, half rows planted at intervals will be a better idea - but it's all about learning.

We were a little bit worried that I had picked a bad spot for a garden as it's close to the house, which, at this time of year, obscures the sunlight completely by 2pm. If I had planned it better I would have picked a spot that receives more sunlight. In spite of that, the seedlings are soldiering on nicely I think I can say at this stage that the vegetable garden project has been a success! 

Harassing people into picking up rubbish since '09

Clean Up Australia Day - Sunday 7th March

Sign up online, and put aside an hour or two on Sunday to give our country some TLC.

Think of it as a hunt - in preparation for the Easter Bunny.

The Power is Yours

 

Clean Up Australia Day / Sunday 7th March 2010

Being proactive to reduce the rubbish on our landscape and in our waterways reduces hazards to wild animals - many of which are already threatened. We wouldn't like it if a stranger came and threw rubbish all over our home and made us sick - this is their home, let's show some respect.

It is our home too. Clean Up is one way to take care of the aesthetic aspects of the land, from which we take much pride and enjoyment. The land gives us life, so give some back.

cleanupauastraliaday.org

cleanuptheworld.org

Secret Creek

 
Two weeks ago I boarded a coach with a group of fellow uni students for a 3-day Ecology field trip at the Blue Mountains. One of the highlights of our trip was a night visit to Secret Creek.

Secret Creek is located a short distance from the centre of Lithgow. If you're interested in an outing with a difference, I would highly recommend this experience.

Secret Creek is a tranquil idyll set amongst the trees. The sanctuary was set up in 2004 as an endangered species breeding program. Ten acres of bushland house an array of endangered native species.

Upon our arrival we were ushered into an old logged cabin, which, once the owner's house, has been converted in a restaurant. Stunning food and great service to match.

After choosing from the menu we were taken on a dusk tour to meet the free-range residents, who were busy going about their nocturnal business. From potoroos to  curlews (I fell in love with a curlew- we shared a moment) and spotted quolls (below) - it was such an amazing experience to see these strange creatures for the first time. If you visit, consider adding a guided walk for the cost of $15.

Trevor - the owner and breeder at Secret Creek - is doing a tremendous job with the program he initiated after his previous life as a miner of 20 years. A friendly, personable, delicious and inspirational experience - stamp this one on your To Do list!

Come on baby, light my fire

When choosing candles, it's on good authority that Cupid would always opt for Beeswax. The mainstream alternative to Beeswax is Paraffin. Queen B is an Australian stockist of beeswax candles and explains, 'Paraffin is a petro-chemical by-product which emits a toxic smoke when burned. To make this waxy sludge more 'palatable' it is then bleached (which creates dioxins), processed and then texturised using carcinogenic chemicals.' 

Not so much the stuff of romance then...

Todae stock these creative card & beeswax sets. Some might say, they are the bees knees! (The pajamas of the cat, even.) The card comes with a flat sheet of beeswax inside so the lovers can roll up their own natural beeswax candle together. Think Patrick Swaze, Demi Moore & the pottery wheel in Ghost. It's all about making 'together time' for art and craft, people. Romance: On.

Chocolate makes the world go round

What Miss or Mister could dare call themselves your Valentine without coming forward with the good stuff? For chocoholics of the Earth Goddess variety, again, it's about packaging, thinking local and being aware of the company's ethics. Fair Trade is a good place to start.

To be Fair Trade certified, a company must guarantee that suppliers don't use child or slave labour and that workers are paid a fair living wage. Often, Fair Trade certification also involves environmentally sustainable production and harvest practices.

Haigh's chocolate, made in Australia, will you be my Valentine? There's a great Haigh's store on the corner of the Strand Arcade in Sydney. Haigh's is an original signatory to the National Packaging Covenant - an industry initiative to reduce the environmental effects of packaging on the environment. Amongst other practices, they harvest rainwater which is filtered and used to produce steam for indirect cooking processes.

If that, and the amaaaazing chocolate, is not enough, Haigh's are also heavily involved in wildlife conservation and awareness - most notably for Australia's native Bilby - which can be captured in-store in delicious cocoa form.

And look -  here is a bunch of chocolate Murray Cod swimming towards your boyfriend. (Towards, away from, potato, potarto.)

Flowers? Check. Chocolate? Check. Next you'll want to think about mood lighting. Tomorrow.