Paper based printables offer a wide range of creative possibilities and are the easiest to produce and sell. Many of the following  ideas can be created using home printing equipment. Online printing costs have drastically reduced as printing technology has advanced, giving cartoonists  the  opportunity to have their art professionally printed at a cost that […]

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Cooking wings in the Instant Pot yields fall-off-the-bone chicken in just 5 minutes and renders off some of the fat. Glazed with a sweet-spicy blend of antioxidant-rich pomegranate juice, honey and Sriracha instead of traditional hot sauce, these are a delicious (and healthier) alternative to deep-fried wings (1).

Active time: 10 minutes | Total time: 40 minutes

Pressure Cooker Hot Wings

Ingredients

• 2 lb (900g) chicken wings (assortment of drums and flats)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 cup (125ml) 100% pomegranate juice
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 2 tsp honey
• 1 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp Sriracha
• 1 1/2 tsp cornstarch
• Cooking spray

Directions

Pour 1 cup of water into an electric pressure cooker. Place a steaming basket in the pot. Toss the wings with the garlic, salt, and pepper and place them in the steaming basket. Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes. Quick-release the pressure and ensure the wings have reached an internal temperature of 165°F.

While the pot comes to pressure, make the glaze. In a small saucepan, whisk together the pomegranate juice, mustard, honey, vinegar, and Sriracha. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low. In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with 2 tsp water and add to the pan. Cook until thickened and bubbly, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat.

Place an oven rack 4 inches below the broiler element and preheat the oven to broil. Line a baking sheet with foil and coat lightly with cooking spray. Toss the wings in the pomegranate mixture and arrange them on the prepared baking sheet in an even layer. Pour any remaining sauce over the wings. Broil until browned and crispy, about 5 minutes. Flip the wings and broil for an additional 3 minutes, or until browned on the second side. Serve immediately.

Serves: 8 | Serving Size: 2-3 wings

Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 236; Total Fat: 15g; Saturated Fat: 4g; Monounsaturated Fat: 6g; Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g; Cholesterol: 125mg; Sodium: 273mg; Carbohydrate: 5g; Dietary Fiber: 0g; Sugar: 4g; Protein: 20g

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin D: 1%; Calcium: 2%; Iron: 3%; Potassium: 260mg; Vitamin A: 4%; Vitamin C: 1%

Originally published February 2019; Updated May 2026

The post Pressure Cooker Hot Wings appeared first on MyFitnessPal Blog.

In today’s visually-driven world, effective educational signage goes beyond mere information delivery; it’s an art form that communicates messages, captures attention, and leaves a lasting impact. The fusion of graphic and cartoon art within signage has opened exciting avenues for artists, designers, and businesses to stand out in a crowded marketplace. Here is how you can […]

The post Use Graphic And Cartoon Art To Enhance Your Educational Signage Skills appeared first on .

One load of laundry can release up to 1.5 million tiny plastic fibers into the water that drains out of your washing machine. Most water treatment plants can’t catch fibers that small, so they end up in rivers, lakes, and the ocean. Scientists now think laundry is responsible for about 35% of the small plastic pieces found in the sea.

That changes what “zero-waste” cleaning actually means today. The plastic detergent bottle is the obvious problem. The hidden problems, including shedding fibers, plastic films sold as “eco-friendly,” mystery fragrance chemicals, and contaminants you’ll never see on a label, are the bigger concern. But here’s the good news: most of the simple ingredients people have used for generations still work, and a few small upgrades make the rest of your routine a lot cleaner.

Cleaning Your Home

Most chemicals in store-bought cleaners haven’t been fully tested for long-term health effects. The EPA’s Safer Choice program certifies products made without ingredients linked to cancer, hormone problems, or harm to wildlife. About 2,000 products carry the label. Almost lost in a 2025 budget cut, the program survived but with fewer staff. Words like “natural” and “green” on packaging aren’t regulated and don’t really mean anything, so look for the Safer Choice label or check the EWG Guide to Healthy Cleaning before trusting a brand.

Making your own cleaners gives you control, cuts packaging, and saves money. The basic kit is short: baking soda for scrubbing, white vinegar for windows and mineral stains, lemon juice for cutting boards, 3% hydrogen peroxide (in a dark bottle) for stains and germs, and castile soap for general cleaning. A spray bottle of half vinegar, half water cleans most surfaces. Reuse jars and spray bottles instead of buying new ones.

One important update: older recipes, including earlier versions of this article, used borax as a staple ingredient. Newer research has changed that advice. Europe added borax to its list of substances of very high concern in 2010 because high doses caused reproductive problems in animals, and California lists it as a reproductive toxin under Proposition 65. Borax isn’t banned in the U.S., but the Environmental Working Group recommends skipping it in homemade cleaners. Plenty of borax-free recipes work just as well.

About killing germs: the popular advice to spray vinegar, then hydrogen peroxide, came from a 1996 study on beef tissue, not on home surfaces. Vinegar at normal household strength doesn’t reliably kill many germs, including norovirus and several drug-resistant bacteria, and it isn’t EPA-registered as a disinfectant. For everyday cleaning, vinegar is fine. When real germ-killing matters, when cleaning up after handling raw meat or during a stomach flu outbreak, use 3% hydrogen peroxide alone or an EPA-registered disinfectant.

Never mix peroxide and vinegar in the same bottle and don’t mix bleach with vinegar or any acid; the gases created when these are mixed is dangerous.

Laundry

The laundry room in a great place to start your zero-waste journey.

Microfibers. Synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, and fleece shed tiny plastic threads every time you wash them. France passed a law requiring built-in filters on all new washing machines, which took effect January 1, 2025. California passed a similar law in 2023, but the governor vetoed it. Oregon, New York, and several other states have filter bills moving through their legislatures. Until U.S. machines come with filters, you can use a microfiber-catching laundry bag like Guppyfriend or a Cora Ball, or attach an external filter from Filtrol or PlanetCare to your drain hose. These catch up to 90% of fibers.

“Plastic-free” laundry sheets and pods. Most laundry sheets use a film made from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA or PVOH), which dissolves in water. The cleaning industry says PVA breaks down completely in wastewater treatment, but a 2021 study estimated that about 75% of it passes through treatment plants intact and persists in the environment. The science is debated, but the labels aren’t: if you see polyvinyl alcohol, PVOH, or PVA on the package, the dissolving film is a synthetic plastic. Powdered detergent in cardboard, concentrated liquid in glass, or PVA-free sheet brands are alternatives that avoid this question.

A hidden carcinogen called 1,4-dioxane. This chemical isn’t added to detergent on purpose — it’s a leftover from how certain ingredients are made. Because it’s a contaminant rather than an ingredient, manufacturers don’t have to list it. Independent testing has found it in most conventional detergents. New York finalized rules in September 2024 limiting it to 1 part per million, and the EPA officially called it an unreasonable health risk in November 2024. To avoid it, skip detergents listing SLES (sodium laureth sulfate), “PEG” anything, or ingredients with “-eth-” in the name.

Skip dryer sheets. A University of Washington study found dryer vents emit more than 25 different volatile chemicals when scented detergent and dryer sheets are used together. Seven are classified as hazardous air pollutants. Wool dryer balls reduce drying time and static without coating clothes in chemicals. For scent, put a few drops of essential oil on a damp washcloth and toss it in.

Wash cold. About 90% of the energy a washing machine uses goes to heating water. Switching from warm to cold cycles saves about 3.2 kWh per load, roughly the same as running your fridge for 10 months over a year’s worth of laundry. Cold water also makes clothes last longer and shed fewer microfibers. Modern detergents are designed to clean in cold water. Replace fabric softener with half a cup of white vinegar in the rinse cycle. If you’re shopping for a new dryer, heat-pump dryers use 20–60% less energy than conventional ones.

What You Can Do Today

• Wash in cold water on shorter cycles. Saves energy, money, and reduces microfiber shedding.
• Use a microfiber-catching laundry bag, ball, or external filter.
• Skip dryer sheets and fabric softener. Use wool dryer balls and vinegar instead.
• Read ingredient lists. Avoid SLES and PEG compounds in detergent. Skip products with PVA in their dissolvable film if microplastics matter to you.
• Make your own cleaners with baking soda, vinegar, peroxide, and castile soap. Skip borax.
• Look for the EPA Safer Choice label on store-bought products.
• Never mix bleach with vinegar or any other acid.
• Support state and federal microfiber filter laws so this stops being a consumer-level problem.

Related Reading

• 7 Steps to a Zero-Waste Lifestyle
• How to Safely Dispose of Cleaning Products
• The 30-Day Zero-Waste Challenge: Simple Daily Actions for Beginners

Featured image by Monfocus from Pixabay 

Editor’s note: Originally authored by Sarah Lozanova on May 18, 2016, this article was substantially updated in May 2026.

The post Zero-Waste Cleaning and Laundry Tips appeared first on Earth911.

I remember when I was a little girl, my older brother had a wood burning set. I was fascinated by all the cool designs he used to create, but I only tried it once back then. He showed me how to do it, and that was that. I made one and never did it again…... Go To project

The post Wood Burning Nature Designs appeared first on Crafts by Amanda.

Little-known fact: I started my career as an event planner for a catering company. It was actually the perfect first job for me, combining my passions for food, design, and gathering people together. (The downsides included insane hours and high-stress clients, but it was a good experience for 22-year-old me.)

Though I’ve long been out of the event planning biz, I still love to host a party. But instead of the champagne towers and elaborate dessert bars of my past life, today my ideal type of gathering is a casual, kick-your-shoes-off affair, preferably outside in the sunshine. After all, everything tastes better al fresco!

Casa Zuma

Linen Table Throw

$80 at Casa Zuma

That said, anyone who’s ever invited people for a casual backyard dinner knows: an outdoor party comes with its own set of challenges. Blazing sun, pesky mosquitoes, maintaining food temperatures (and keeping the flies away) are details that can make or break the festivities. My background in catering, combined with the countless parties I’ve thrown through the years, has taught me some invaluable lessons that I employ to make my own gatherings feel (almost) effortless.

So today, we’re rounding up the most frequently asked questions I get about how to host a summer party. I hope that you’ll be inspired to find the next open evening on your calendar (yep, weeknights work, too!), shoot a few texts to some friends, and grab some snacks to whip up a simple, delicious spread.

Read on for a handful of my tried-and-true secrets, menus, inspiration, and planning advice you need to host in style all season long.

Casa Zuma

Everything Chopping Board

$225 at Casa Zuma

Casa Zuma

Hand-Thrown Antipasto Bowls, Set of 3

$56 at Casa Zuma

All your summer entertaining questions, answered

Q: What’s the best way to invite people to a casual summer party?

A: Three words: keep it chill. An invitation sets the tone, so for a simple outdoor party, don’t overthink it! In my opinion, a group text or email is the way to go. And I’ve found that when I make things really easy on myself, I’m naturally inclined to invite friends over more frequently. In addition to arrival time, I like to let people know the approximate time we’ll be eating so we’re not firing up the grill multiple times over the course of an evening (i.e., “come at 4 to swim, burgers at 6!”)

It’s also helpful to provide a loose dress code so people know what to expect. Swimsuits? Shorts? Summer dresses? Since summer parties can have drastically different dress expectations, everyone will appreciate a few clues as to what they should wear.

Canyon Dinner Plate, Set of 4

$140 at Casa Zuma

Canyon Salad Plate, Set of 4

$125 at Casa Zuma

Q: What are some simple menu ideas? I feel like I’m always stuck in the kitchen while everyone else is outside having fun.

A: I have a few strategies to keep the menu simple—the one I choose will depend on the type of party and who’s coming. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Snacks for dinner. Summer is the perfect time to curate a delicious spread of store-bought staples with a few artisanal treats. Assemble a snacking board full of delicious cheeses, olives, crudités, dips, dried fruit, nuts—really, your options are endless. Green goddess dressing is downright addictive, and the perfect accompaniment for any type of seasonal veggies.

Casa Zuma

Canyon Serving Platter

$85 at Casa Zuma

Cocina Salt & Spice Tray

$249 at Casa Zuma

Semi-homemade feast. The goal is to relax and hang out with your guests, so no matter how experienced a party thrower you are, it’s great to have a few hacks up your sleeve. To save tons of time, try a “semi-homemade” approach. Buy the main course from a fave spot (like a roast chicken from the deli, or bagels from your favorite bakery) and fill in with homemade sides and salads that can be made in advance and will make it feel like you cooked it all.

Throw it on the grill. Rule #1 when planning a menu: you don’t want to include anything that will have you cranking out food like a short-order cook when guests are there. Which is where the grill really comes in handy. I like to have my proteins already marinated or seasoned before guests show up so that all that’s left to do is throw them on the grill. Often, I’ll also grill the veggie sides to keep things really easy on myself—and keep clean-up to a minimum!

Hand Crafted Wood Salad Bowl

$125 at Casa Zuma

Sabre Ivory Flatware

$68 at Casa Zuma

Q: How can you speed up grilling clean-up?

A: Grilling is one of the most low-maintenance ways to cook for a group—with a little know-how. Here are my tips for grilling clean-up that save tons of time:

• Oil the Grill Grates: Before grilling, oil the grates to prevent food from sticking. Use a brush or paper towel dipped in oil.
• Pre-Clean the Grill: While the grill is heating up, use a grill brush to scrape off any residue from previous cooking sessions.
• Marinate in Bags: Marinate meat and vegetables in resealable plastic bags. This reduces the number of dishes you need to clean. Then I use tongs to transfer them straight from the bag to the grill, so the only dish that’s actually getting used is what you’re serving it on.
• Clean While Warm: After cooking, while the grill is still warm (but not hot), use a brush to remove any remaining food particles.

Recycled Glass Petite Goblets, Set of 4

$78 at Casa Zuma

Recycled Stemless Wine Glass, Set of 4

$64 at Casa Zuma

Q: What should I serve to drink that won’t leave me refilling glasses all night?

A: I sound like a broken record, but the key is to keep it as simple as possible—less time spent bartending means more time sipping cocktails yourself! For just about any summer occasion, you can get away with 3 drinks and call it a day:

A fun batched cocktail. Sangria, margaritas, punch—pre-mix a big pitcher, then let guests help themselves. A few favorite pitcher drinks? This Mezcal Paloma and this Strawberry Rosé Sangria are about as summery as they come. Aperol Spritz is a summer cocktail beloved by all, perfect for an Italian menu. Or, try a Blood Orange Margarita for a delicious twist on a classic.

Sharing Platter

$74 at Casa Zuma

Sabre Serving Utensils

$156 at Casa Zuma

A rosé or a white wine. This is a perfect thing for guests to contribute when they ask what they can bring to the party.

Flavor-infused water. Fill a large carafe with water and add fruit or herbs for a festive touch. Bonus points for providing a fun non-alcoholic option like sparkling lemonade or iced tea.

A good rule of thumb is to plan for 1 1/2 drinks per person per hour. And at an outdoor summer party, always have more water and ice than you think you’ll need.

Q: What if it’s super hot on the day of my party?

A: Again, have way more water at the ready than you think you’ll need! And—sunscreen is a non-negotiable. Do your guests a favor and have some sunscreen available for them to reapply as needed (browse our favorite clean options). I love the look of outdoor umbrellas, and I typically scatter 2 or 3 around a party space for lifesaving shade.

Sharing Bowl

$76 at Casa Zuma

Q: What are some good outdoor activities to keep the vibes high?

A: Go all in on the carefree vibes of summer and plan some classic party games and activities to make your gathering unforgettable. A few of my faves:

• Yard games like bocce ball, croquet, and cornhole are great for encouraging people to let loose and have a good time together.
• Music is crucial to the vibe, so don’t leave this to chance. My favorite for hanging out and eating dinner is the Daybreak playlist from Casa Zuma. And you can always turn up the beat as the night goes on and see if an impromptu dance party breaks out.

Q: How can I cut the small talk and have engaging conversations?

A: You’re speaking my love language—good conversation is the key to any gathering! We put together a list of conversation starters to inspire thoughtful and engaging chats. Keep a few of these in your back pocket and you’ll step into every interaction with confidence (and curiosity!) And I guarantee, the party will never get boring.

Hosting is a practice, and gathering with loved ones is an opportunity to savor the sweetness of the season. We only get so many summers in our lifetime, after all, and squeezing every bit of joy out of it is well worthwhile. So light the candles, chill a few bottles of wine, and let the season do what it does best: bring people together.

This post was last updated on June 12, 2026, to include new insights.

The post All Your Summer Entertaining Questions, Answered appeared first on Camille Styles.

Whether it’s a busy weekday or a lazy weekend, there’s never a bad time for a warm, comforting breakfast. With an emphasis on the word ‘quick,’ it’s time to lean on the Instant Pot. It’s a convenient kitchen gadget you’ll want in your cooking lineup, if it’s not already there.

Today, we’re using it for oatmeal — hearty, whole-grain bowls ready in 8 minutes of pressure cooking, plus 5 minutes of natural release, while you’re getting ready for work.  (Read: No stirring, burning or standing at the stove!)

The steps are simple: combine liquids and oats, seal the pot, and cook — then serve immediately with your favorite toppings or portion into jars and refrigerate for the entire week.

A few notes: For best results, a low-fat or non-dairy milk works well — high-fat milks like coconut milk may separate during cooking. You’ll also need less liquid than you would on the stovetop — in the Instant Pot, liquid is absorbed rather than evaporated, so go easy to avoid oatmeal soup.

Active time: 10 minutes | Total time: 20 minutes

Pressure Cooker Oats

 Ingredients

• 2 cups (160g) old-fashioned oats
• 2 cups (480g) water, divided
• 2 cups nonfat milk (almond, hemp, coconut and soy also work)
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• 1 tbsp flaxseeds
• 1 tbsp hemp seeds
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp maple syrup (optional)

Directions
Insert the steamer rack inside the inner pot of your Instant Pot and add 1 cup of water. In a 4-cup heat-safe bowl, combine the oats, remaining 1 cup water, milk, salt, maple syrup, and seeds, and stir to combine.

Place the bowl on top of the steaming rack and secure the lid on the Instant Pot. Set the valve to “sealed” and cook on high pressure for 8 minutes.

After cooking is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes, then carefully release any remaining pressure by turning the valve to vent using a wooden spoon.

Carefully remove the bowl from the Instant Pot. Serve the oatmeal with your favorite toppings, or allow to cool completely before transferring to airtight containers and refrigerating for up to 5 days.

Serves: 4 | Serving Size: 1 cup

Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 246; Total Fat: 6g; Saturated Fat: 1g; Monounsaturated Fat: 1g; Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g; Cholesterol: 4mg; Sodium: 343g; Carbohydrate: 39g; Dietary Fiber: 6g; Sugar: 10g; Protein: 11g

Nutrition Bonus: Iron 13%; Calcium 19%; Potassium 416mg

Originally published October 2018; Updated May 2026

The post Pressure Cooker Oats appeared first on MyFitnessPal Blog.

Whether you need some extra cash, want to explore a new field, or desire more time at home with family, these top ten side hustles help you to meet your goals in a new way. With a little help from AI, I’ll go down the list of top-paying roles that you might not realize exist. As an ambitious entrepreneur, influencer, and mom, I find these positions exciting as they are opportunities to explore where your unique talents can make you an extra buck. Let’s get started.

1. Freelance Software Development

The highest-paying side hustles tend to require more than one online course. Skilled professionals in software development can make anywhere from $60 to $150 per hour. This profession demands some serious coding education and background. According to Forbes, the top coding “bootcamps” in 2025 include: Bloom Institute of Technology Full-Stack Web Development; American Graphics Institute Web Development Certificate; 4Geeks Academy Full-Stack Developer; Nucamp Back-End, SQL and DevOps Developer With Python; Coding Temple Software Engineering Bootcamp; Noble Desktop Front End Web Development; and the General Assembly Software Engineering Bootcamp. It might sound a little intimidating, but according to one report, 83% of bootcamp graduates found employment in a job that used the skills they learned in a bootcamp.

2. Consulting in Business, Marketing, or Finance

This side hustle is perfect for those with vetted knowledge in business, marketing, or finance, and for professionals ready to create their own schedule. Your level of experience will dictate how much you can make, but statistics show that it can be anywhere from $75 to $200 an hour. Corporate experience is a must. Define your niche and keep learning every chance you get. Build analytical and soft skills, and ensure your website is easy to navigate, thorough, and reflects both your personality and expertise. It’s not enough to be an authority in your industry; to find clients, you must find ways to demonstrate that authority to the world. Focus on networking through social media and in-person events, and watch as your wealth of knowledge helps companies to grow.

3. Copywriting/Direct Response Writing

Yes, in the age of ChatGPT, human writers are more important than ever. It is difficult for most to sit down and write a manual or book, let alone an email. The authentic written word is seeing a surge in e-commerce and beyond. Writers can make $50 to $150 an hour by doing something increasingly uncommon: Writing as a human for other humans. The best place to begin, if you have the natural talent, is by creating a profile on freelance sites such as Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer. Be ready for a sharp learning curve while you slowly build your clientele.

4. Online Tutoring

SAT, GRE, MCAT, coding, math, you name it–if you have a strong background in any of the subjects that young people and adults need to get ahead in life, you can begin to tutor online. The entire spectrum of education has changed in recent years, and online schooling is common and preferred by many. You can expect to make $50 to $120 an hour helping others’ educational dreams come true. What is more exciting than sharing what you know with curious minds? One-on-one coaching can be life-changing for others–and also helps with your electric bill.

5. Video Editing and Motion Graphics

There are now 69 million creators on YouTube. While these creators’ passion may be sharing, their downfall is editing their content. Great video editing and motion graphics are crucial for influencers who want the next viral video. It’s also fun to be a part of a creative vision and use your talent to help make a YouTube or TikTok star. A skilled editor can make $50 to $100 an hour. There are several courses online that can teach you content creation and video editing, but if you have your vision set on a career, film school is the best way to get the skills you need to turn a side hustle into a lifestyle.

6. UX/UI Design Freelance Work

I’m not going to lie, I had no idea what this was. Here’s AI’s definition: “UX, or User Experience, focuses on the overall journey and feeling a user has with a product, emphasizing research, planning, and testing to ensure it's logical and enjoyable. UI, or User Interface, is the visual and interactive part of that experience—the screens, buttons, icons, and layout a user directly interacts with.” Well…the long story short is that you can make $60 to $120 an hour. There are multiple bootcamps online to get you started in this side hustle, but if you’re already familiar with Figma, Adobe, XD, etc., then skip the bootcamps and start making some extra cash with the genius your momma gave ya.

7. Virtual Assistant

Our friendly AI told us that the end of this list contains “mid-paying” positions. That doesn’t make them any less important! A virtual assistant is responsible for calendar management, emails, and the general loose ends of someone’s busy schedule. A skilled and organized candidate can receive $25 to $50 an hour in this role. I’m not saying that your life will turn into “Two Weeks Notice” or “The Proposal,” but be prepared to be highly involved in another person’s fast-paced existence. This job will usually have you working for business owners, CEOs, and top-level creators. You’re in for an adventure.

8. Social Media Management

Social media management includes: “The strategic process of planning, creating, publishing, and analyzing content to maintain and optimize a brand's online presence across social media platforms.” If you can successfully achieve this, you’re a smart cookie. For $20 to $50 an hour, you’ll experience the ins and outs of helping small businesses, content creators, and other creatives manage their output and see how it’s landing. This requires a broad skillset combined with practical experience in monitoring social media metrics. When your vision aligns with someone else’s, their brand comes to life (and then you can splurge at a restaurant).

9. Selling Online Products

Although this one is referred to as “passive” income, there’s nothing passive about it. Some of the real heroes on this earth sell stuff on Etsy. Have you seen what beautiful human creativity can be found there? This category also includes self-publishing, selling original music, and any creative venture under the sun. This side hustle is incredible because not only does it allow you to pursue your artistic passions, but it also lets you learn the ropes of becoming an entrepreneur while making cash off your creative drive.

10. Real Estate Photography/Drone Footage

I appreciate that AI suggested this side hustle, but I want to take it a step further. Real estate photography can earn you $50 to $200 per job, but you may also want to consider wedding, event, and family photography. If you’re a budding artist, feel free to get your feet wet in these high-demand fields.

With all of these top side hustles, let your passion guide you. Work at your local grocery store as you pay the bills and pursue your talent at painting. Do what you need to do while you study coding, singing, crafting, or cooking. Turn that long-time interest into a side hustle. Get a bit more cash flow. Then watch as your passion becomes your career.

This painting was something I made last summer. I have quite a collection of saved project ideas and inspiration, and one of them was a field of round flowers. I had recently invested in a dehydrator, so I though, why not? I had saved the container (crate, box, ?) that a neon sign came in... Go To project

The post Field of Lime Flowers appeared first on Crafts by Amanda.

At first glance, Camilla Marcus is a study in contrasts. She takes her work seriously, yet brings a sense of playfulness to everything she does. She can pull off a dinner party for 100, but might not plan the menu until that morning, letting the farmers market be her guide. Her vegetable-forward cooking is deeply nourishing—and she’s never one to turn down a midday glass of wine.

But nothing about Camilla feels inconsistent. She’s so rooted in who she is that all of her layers come together as a beautifully aligned life—one that reflects the passionate approach she brings to her work as a regenerative chef, founder of west~bourne, and mother of four in Los Angeles.

To celebrate the launch of her cookbook My Regenerative Kitchen, Camilla joined me for a backyard lunch under the trees with a few friends. We cooked vibrant, plant-based dishes from the book—tartines, a crunchy fennel salad, and the most stunning rose chocolate bark—poured natural wine, and soaked up her perspective on what it actually means to cook in a way that nurtures both our bodies and the earth.

Her philosophy, in her own words: “What’s good for our soil is always better for our health.”

What I love most about how Camilla thinks about food is the sense of liberation in it. She writes about improvisational cooking the way musicians talk about jazz—not knowing exactly where the notes will lead is the point. The farmers market becomes her guide, and “not being in control” becomes both liberating and inspiring rather than stressful. I left our lunch genuinely rethinking the relationship between spontaneity and nourishment.

Her book makes a compelling case that our everyday choices—the ingredients we buy, how we prep them, what we do with what’s left—are actually the most accessible entry points into climate action. Not through deprivation or a complete overhaul, but through small, cumulative shifts that start to feel natural over time.

Camilla Marcus’s Tips for a Zero-Waste Kitchen

Break up with paper towels. Keep a stack of washable kitchen towels within reach—you’ll be surprised how quickly you stop missing the paper.

Reimagine your pantry. Swap plastic wrap for beeswax alternatives. Use glass jars and metal tins for everything from flours to preserves.

Go reusable with storage. Stasher silicone bags replace Ziploc. Camilla also freezes stocks, sauces, and leftover wine in silicone molds for future meals.

Use the whole vegetable. No stalk left behind. Fennel fronds become garnish, stalks go into stock, and most produce doesn’t need peeling.

Rethink “scraps.” Before you toss it, ask: Can this add flavor to a broth or sauce? Onion peels, herb stems, cheese rinds—all fair game. Compost what you truly can’t cook.

Clean green. Look for nontoxic brands like Koala Eco, Branch Basics, and Grove Collaborative.

Start composting. A countertop bin (Camilla loves the Bamboozle) is a low-barrier start. Composting emits 20x fewer greenhouse gases than landfilling food waste.

Adapted from My Regenerative Kitchen

All of this—the swaps, the scraps, the compost bin—sounds like discipline. But sitting in the backyard that afternoon, none of it felt that way. It felt like the most natural extension of how Camilla moves through the world: paying attention, wasting nothing, finding pleasure in the process. The menu below is where we started. Where you take it is entirely up to you.

The Whole Stalk or Bulb Salad

A salad that earns its name. Every part of the fennel shows up here—fronds, stalks, bulb—and the result is crunchy and bright.

Get the Recipe

Tartines with Heirloom Tomato, Blue Cheese, and Golden Beets

The tartines came together the way Camilla cooks everything—intuitively, with whatever looked best at the market. Proof that the simplest things, made with good ingredients, don’t need much else.

Get the Recipe

Spring Pea Gazpacho

Cold, verdant, and soooo fresh—this is the soup that makes you want to drink your vegetables. (Without giving you V8 vibes.)

Get the Recipe

Dark Chocolate Bark with Bee Pollen, Rose Petals, and Pink Salt

The bark that ended our lunch on the highest possible note. It’s as stunning to look at as it is to eat—and it comes together faster than you’d think.

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Cartoons have long been a beloved art form, capturing imaginations with vibrant characters, playful worlds, and expressive storytelling. Though traditionally created on a flat surface, skilled cartoonists have developed techniques to make their characters seem to “pop” off the page. By adding depth, dimension, and realism through the strategic use of shading, artists can elevate […]

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Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda needs no further explanation. It's a challenging landscape to navigate, and numerous animals inhabit it. But its most famous residents are the mountain gorillas.

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