Based on one of our most commented blog post that was written just under a year ago, we talk about the decision we’ve made not to have children.

Now, this decision didn’t just happen overnight and certainly wasn’t one that we took lightly, however, the further we go on this journey of life, the more certain we are that we don’t want children.

We discuss the way that we used to talk about having children one day many years ago, how we used to view people that didn’t want to have children and talk about the many reasons we have decided not to have children. [continue reading…]

I had an incredibly fortunate upbringing.

My parents weren’t wealthy by any means, but we weren’t poor either. I never had to worry about food, shelter, love, stability.

Beyond that, I basically lived in one house from 5 years old till I left home at 22. That’s 17 years in the same house, same suburb, same friends, same local shops, same basketball hoops.

I know every corner of our family home. And it feels like I have a lifetime of experiences and memories associated with that place. It’s where I had first birthday parties, sleepovers, where I learned to rollerblade, scooter, it’s where I played UNO with my late father, it’s where we argued as a family, fought over who was going to use the shower, Christmas lunches, introduced Maša to the family, you get the picture. [continue reading…]

There’s something really comforting about eating desserts out of a cup, mug, glass or small bowl. Especially when they’re creamy, soft, and not too overpowering in flavour, this is what this rose, and pistachio rice pudding offers. With the added pistachio crunch on top, you can enjoy it for breakfast, dessert or even a snack.

The best part is that you can make a batch and keep it in the fridge. You can pack it for an afternoon snack or treat for work, school or road trip. I can’t believe it has taken me so long to start experimenting with rice puddings! [continue reading…]

So you’ve recently become vegan, and you’re pissed, upset, disgusted. In other words, you have a case of Vystopia. The emotions you feel are overwhelming, and you can’t help but tell people who are not vegan what’s happening.

You do it on social media. You do it in person. Hey, you may even do it in public.

But is this approach of communication effective in trying to get people to be more open and compassionate?

That’s what we explore in this conversation. The dynamic of communicating the vegan message versus being passive and discrete. We call them the ‘push’ and the ‘pull’ approach. [continue reading…]

Dear younger Michael,

Finish your damn food!

And before you respond, I don’t want to hear your weak-ass excuses.

I’ve heard it all before.

You were served too much food, or you didn’t expect the meal to be so filling.

You don’t like the taste of what’s in front of you.

The waiter got your order wrong.

Whatever the reason, it’s still not good enough. [continue reading…]

I’ve been wanting to share this recipe for quite a while now and the time has finally come. Anna is my mum’s best friend and she’s a great cook. An Italian woman, she makes all the classics that make you want to drool. I used to love these eggplant patties before I became vegan. I haven’t had them since becoming vegan and have wanted to recreate them in a way that will still be satisfying.

I got the original recipe from Anna a few months ago and have played around with the ingredients to make it work as a vegan recipe. I’m really happy with how they’ve turned out! They’re so easy to make and can be a great recipe to have when you need some freezer-friendly options. Just thaw them out and pop them in the oven for 5-10 minutes on either side. Alternatively, fry them lightly on some oil. [continue reading…]

We often think of quitting as a failure, but we see quitting as a necessary process of finding happiness.

In this conversation, we break down some examples of how quitting has helped us to live with intentionality. We have certainly had our fair share of quitting jobs and changing careers as well as so many other commitments like sport and friendships. But in that time, we have asked ourselves many questions to determine why we should stay or quit in that commitment. 

For us, it’s scarier to stay in the certainty of something that we are not happy with than to quit and venture the unknown. [continue reading…]

All I want to feel is simplicity. I want it because it feels extraordinary.

When I reach simplicity, I feel calmer, happier and more focused. If you too have experienced simplicity in your life, then you know what I mean.

But. Simplicity is freaking elusive.

It’s much harder to achieve than we think. Because its rival, complexity, keeps creeping back into our lives.

We need the courage to pursue simplicity. It often requires saying no to opportunities, relationships, features, products, materials, tools. You get the point.

Simplicity, also makes you question whether what you have is enough. This is perhaps the biggest demon. But just having enough, while it might seem boring or risky, is practical. It’s when we desire excess that things start to get complicated. [continue reading…]

You know what, we should all be juicing more often. There’s really no reason not to, and there are SO many health benefits to it. We’ve had a cold-pressed juicer for around six years now. It was a gift from my mum, a prolific juicer herself. She has a cold-pressed vegetable (mainly) juice at least once a day using organic produce.

There are some important things to note when juicing at home or when buying juice out. Unfortunately most of the places where you buy juice when out will have a fairly standard commercial juicer that makes a really loud noise and throws the pulp from the produce in all sorts of directions when being pressed through the juicer. There’s a difference between normal juicers and cold-pressed juicers. I learned this a while ago and to this day will only ever use a cold-pressed juicer for one reason. All the vitamins and minerals in the produce you juice stay intact. Unlike other juicers that have a system which uses heat. When heat is used in the process of juicing, it begins to kill some of the vitamins that you would get in a raw vegetable for instance. [continue reading…]