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Balanced Toni

5 low waste swaps I’ve actually loved (and 2 I don’t recommend)

April 27, 2021

Here are five low waste swaps I've personally made and loved (and two I don't recommend). These are items that are important to me in my everyday life and that I don't see myself letting go of for a long, long time.
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My top four books as of late

June 21, 2021

Books have been a great escape for me during the pandemic, a way to forget about the mess of 2020-2021 and take a break from everything. In a way, the pandemic has helped me get back into reading properly again! In university, I lost my spark ...
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Hello world!

April 13, 2021

Follow my blog with Bloglovin So, this is where it all begins: I’m crossing over to the blogosphere. What a day to be alive. I’ve been writing about sustainability on Instagram for a couple of years now and I really enjoy it, but as ...
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Hello, I’m Antonia

I’m a sustainability enthusiast, outdoor dweller and e-mobility specialist living in Helsinki, Finland. I write about living a simple sustainable lifestyle here on Balanced Toni.

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low waste swaps

5 low waste swaps I’ve actually loved (and 2 I don’t recommend)

Stamped From The Beginning

My top four books as of late

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balancedtoni

Antonia | Sustainable living 🌱
Örö, Finland 💙 . . . #localtravel #ecotravel Örö, Finland 💙

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#localtravel #ecotravel #ecoliving #sailinginstagram #oceansunset #saaristoelämää #skärgården #visitörö #finnishparks
Finally, it’s time to harvest 💙 #harvesting Finally, it’s time to harvest 💙

#harvesting #gardentherapy #summerharvest #fallharvest #autumnharvest #growyourownfood #ecoblogger #sustainableliving #ecokitchen #zerowastekitchen #omanpihansatoa #sadonkorjuu #skördetid #humanswhogrowfood
I RENTED a dress for the first time 🎉 and I was I RENTED a dress for the first time 🎉 and I was super happy with it! 

I attended my friends’ wedding this weekend in a sustainable outfit: rented dress via @theatelje and secondhand heels via @vestiaireco (+the bag is my own that I’ve had for 7 years).

I love exploring new ways to dress sustainably, and renting occasion wear was a definite hit; I’ll be doing this many times in the future. I was also so happy to see two of my beautiful friends in rented dresses 😍 

Have you tried renting occasion wear? 💫 

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.#occasionwear #sustainablefashion #lovedclotheslast #renteddress #ecofriendlyliving #slowfashionstyle #weddingguest #consciousfashion #vestiairecollective
A month of sailing in five seconds 🌊🦭⛵️ A month of sailing in five seconds 🌊🦭⛵️

#sailstagram #vindö #vindöyachts #vindöyachtclub #vindö32 #tinyhomes #100syytämatkaillasuomessa #summer2022 #ecotravel #ecotraveller #carbonneutraltravel
One of the beautiful sunsets we saw during our one One of the beautiful sunsets we saw during our one month on the ocean 🌊 

The Finnish archipelago really is something completely unique, and gives you the most incredible nature experiences. I feel so privileged to get to explore it by boat. 

Today is the last day of the trip, and we’re sailing back to Helsinki. 

#saaristomeri #skärgårdshavet #sailingtrip #sunsetcaptures #lovelife #100syytämatkaillasuomessa #outdoorfinland #finland4seasons #finnishnature #visitörö
Finally, bilberry season is here🫐 And the start Finally, bilberry season is here🫐 And the start of late summer/autumn foraging + harvest!

Berries and mushrooms are in season starting now, and I love both. Can’t wait to pick chanterelles and black currants. Every year, it feels like the most amazing gift from Mother Nature 💙

What’s your favourite thing to forage/harvest? 🌲

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#hortoilu #luontoon #mustikkamaa #blåbär #smultronställe #foragingforfood #forageandharvest #summerharvest #wildberries #wildmushroom #wildfood #sustainableliving #ecofriendlyliving
That post-sauna feeling 💙 #localtravel #trave That post-sauna feeling 💙 

#localtravel #travelgreen #ecotravel #sailingtrip #saunatime #saunalife #bastubad #skärgården #100syytämatkaillasuomessa #saaristo #saaristomerenkansallispuisto #finnishparks #sjöellerhavnåhavhej #finlandssvensk #seglingsglädje #pidäsaaristosiistinä
Never too old to jump around on the cliffs. Even Never too old to jump around on the cliffs. 

Evening walk in Archipelago National Park, Finland💙🌊

#saaristomeri #skärgårdshavetsnationalpark #skärgård #pidäsaaristosiistinä #saaristomerenkansallispuisto #nationalparks #finnishparks #100syytämatkaillasuomessa #outdoorfinland #outdoors #reelsofinstagram #hållskärgårdensiisti #oneplanet #ecofriendlyliving #localtravel #greentravel
An evening in the archipelago 🌊 . . . . #phot An evening in the archipelago 🌊

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#photodump #sunsetsofinstagram #visitfinland #pidäsaaristosiistinä #hållskärgårdensiisti #skärgården #saaristo #archipelago #outdoorfinland #localtravel #sustainabletravel #ecoliving #sailingtrip
Slow down, you’re doing fine 💙 #summerevenin Slow down, you’re doing fine 💙

#summerevenings #vindöyachts #vindö #vindöyachtclub #classicboat #skärgården #sommarkväll #saaristo #hållskärgårdensiisti
Warm summer evenings with good friends and wine 💙 For a minute, they make you forget how upside down the world is. 

(Pic by no other than the best @biancasoderlund 📸)

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#kalliohelsinki #kallio #berghäll #myhelsinki #winesday #orangewine #helsinkiofficial #supportyourlocal #indiecinema #ecoblogger #ecoliving
Counting down the days! 🌊 One week until we tak Counting down the days! 🌊 One week until we take off with our Vindö 32, s/y Spumante, and then we’ll have almost five weeks on the ocean. 

This is how we’ll spend our summer vacation - sailing around the Finnish archipelago, taking it day by day and disconnecting from stress and must-do’s. My favourite way to travel 💙

This year, we haven’t had the chance to go on any weekend sailing trips so I really hope we don’t forget something substantial at home when we leave… 

Now it’s time to prep, pack and buy food (just for the first few days), and then the ocean awaits!
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#vindöyachts #vindö #vindöyachtclub #sailingboat #classicsailing #saaristo #skärgården #sustainableliving #sustainabletravel #greentravel #localtravel #localtourist #100syytämatkaillasuomessa #suomenkesä #slowtravel #sailingtrip
Happy World Ocean Day! 🌊🐟 Or is it happy, wh Happy World Ocean Day! 🌊🐟 Or is it happy, when you think about how poorly we treat our oceans? 🥲

Less than 8% of our absolutely vital blue planet is protected, and this is of course nowhere near enough. We need the ocean for oxygen production, biodiversity and for some, giving protein rich food.

With 90% of big fish populations depleted, and 50% of coral reefs destroyed, we’re going in a very bad direction. It is high time that we reestablish our relationship between human and ocean, and rethink our role in the ecosystem.

I feel as if at least here in Finland we tend to think that we’re already doing so much positive for nature and that we’re not part of the issue, but the Baltic Sea is actually one of the most polluted in the world. NASA has found 7 out of the 10 largest oceanic dead zones in the world in the Baltic Sea. Finland stands for about 8% of the yearly emissions around the Baltic Sea.

So what can we do? 
1. Sign the #protect30x30 petition, demanding that we protect at least 30% of the ocean by 2030 (link in bio) 💧The UN Ocean Conference will take place in June/July, and we need to show the leaders how important this is!
2. Write to our local politicians and demand more actions to protect the oceans. And vote for politicians who care!
3. Spread the word! We need eveyone to understand the severity of the state of the ocean 🌊 
4. If we can, donate. There are many different foundations and campaigns, choose one that you believe in. Maybe @worldoceanday 
@johnnurmisensaatio or 
@theoceancleanup ? 🐳
5. Look at our daily life and habits, is there anything we could start or stop doing that would help? Like eating less fish, opting for preloved clothes and gadgets and traveling less. All of these help the ocean in some way. 

There are MANY ways to make a positive impact on our oceans, and as you can see, many of them require very little. So lets #protectourhome and do something for #WorldOceansDay 💙
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#unoceanconference2022 #30x30 #oceanclimateaction #climateactionnow #itämeri #savetheoceans #blueplanet #planetfriendly #consiousliving #ecofriendly #oceanprotection #rewildourplanet #protecttheocean #ecoblogger #lowimpactlifestyle
Edible plants to forage right now! 🌱 Went for Edible plants to forage right now! 🌱 

Went for a quick walk around the garden, and these were just a few of the edible plants I came across! 

- Pansies - the flowers are edible and super pretty, for example in a salad, to top a cake or decorating a smoothie bowl.
- Lilac blossoms - same use as the pansies above, or then you can make lilac syrup, lemonade or tea. Another option is mixing it with sugar to make lilac sugar. 
- Spruce shoots - tangy and delicious, these can be used in salads, in pesto, in drinks (or to flavour vodka!), and you can dry them to then make spruce tea or your own green powder. 
- Dandelion buds, flowers, leaves and roots - all parts of the plant are edible except the stalk which has a bitter taste. You can make ”capers” of the buds, ”coffee” from the roots, throw the leaves in a salad or pesto or even smoothie, and syrup or tea of the flowers. A truly versatile little plant! 
- Birch leaves - the leaves of the birch tree are edible at the end of spring/beginning of summer, when they’re still soft. The softest, newest leaves can be thrown in a salad, and the ones that you pick a bit later can be used to make birch lemonade! Dried leaves can be used for tea or then made into green powder to boost a smoothie!
- Orpine - leaves and flowers can be eaten. The young leaves are delicious in themselves, thrown in a salad, smoothie or similar. The older leaves can be quickly fried and then used in dishes. The flowers can be pickled.

Have you tried any of these wild plants? 🌱

(NB! PLEASE don’t consume plants that you’re not a 100% sure of, in worst case they can be poisonous.)

#foraging #wildfood #wildfoodlove #hortoilu #foragedfood #forager #naturesfood #forestfood #zerowastekitchen #gardenersworld #pollinatorgarden #ecofriendlyliving #sustainablefood #sustainableliving #growyourownfood #gardenersofinstagram
Did you know that spruce shoots are edible? 😋 Did you know that spruce shoots are edible? 😋

At the end of spring/start of summer, you can see the light green shoots of the spruce trees emerging. They should be picked while soft, otherwise the taste is wooden.

Spruce shoots taste a bit tangy, a bit foresty and super fresh! If you’ve had wood sorrel, you can expect a bit of that. 

We use the shoots to make spruce pesto (if it feels too intense, you can put half shoots and half basil or even spinach), to boost a green smoothie, and as a first this year - pickled! Another option is to dry the shoots first, then use to make spruce tea 🍵We’ve also used it to flavour kombucha. The possibilities are endless! 🙊

Have you tried spruce shoots? What did you think? 🌱

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#hortoilu #foraging #foragingforfood #foragedfood #spruceshoots #granskott #matfrångrunden #outdoorfood #ecofriendlyliving #greenlifestyle #wildfood #naturesmedicine #lowwastehome
’Tis the season for wildflowers! 🌼 (swipe to ’Tis the season for wildflowers! 🌼
(swipe to see what they’re looking like right now)

Wildflowers are fantastic not only in nature, but in your garden too! First of all: they look amazing. The variety in shape, size and colour create the most beautiful fields 💙 

Secondly, and more importantly, by adding endemic species of flowers to your garden, you support the local ecosystem and the pollinators.

Some species of pollinators depend on just one or two host species, for food, shelter and places to breed. By planting flowers that are endemic to the area, you support these oh-so-important buzzing friends of ours. 

Wildflowers are also much easier to take care of than many imported species - requiring less work, less water, less time. In my future garden, I want wild flowers in abundance ❤️

If you decide to plant wildflowers (and you should), make sure to check which species are right for your area. Living in Finland, we used seeds from @suomenniittysiemen and they’ve been great.

Ps. Don’t pick wildflowers from nature, they are a hugely important part of the ecosystem and will do more good where they are than in a vase 🥲

#wildflowers #vildblommor #endemicspecies #ecosystemrestoration #protecttheplanet #sommarblommor #niittykukkia #luonnonkukat #ecoblogger #sustainableliving #rewilding #lowimpactlifestyle #pelastapörriäinen #pollinatorswelcome #pollinatorgarden #kukkaniitty
Hello June 💙✨ #sustainableswimwear #econyl # Hello June 💙✨

#sustainableswimwear #econyl #hallaxhalla #summertime #firstofjune #sustainablefashion #lowimpactliving #sustainableliving #consciouslifestyle #saaristo #skärgården #suomensuvi #sommarkväll
One (wo)man’s trash is another (wo)man’s treas One (wo)man’s trash is another (wo)man’s treasure? 🌱

This is your sign to make pancakes with these ”weeds” from your garden! 

You’ll need:
- 3 eggs
- 5 dl milk of choice (I use oat)
- 3 dl flour of choice (I use wheat)
- 1 Tbs of oil
- 1 tsp of salt
- 1 litre of young ground elder and nettle leaves

1. Mix all ingredients except for the leaves
2. Blanch leaves
3. Add leaves to batter and mix
4. Fry in a little oil

We usually eat them with lingonberry and scrambled eggs! The dish can be easily veganised by using your favourite vegan pancake batter and just adding in the ”weeds” 🤗

I find it odd that so many of the super useful plants we have in our gardens are seen in such negative light. Like who decided what was a weed or not? 🥲 

Ground elder and nettle are often pulled as weeds, when in reality, you can do so much with both! 💚

Recipe inspiration from @marthaforbundet 

#foraging #foragingforfood #weedsareflowerstoo #growyourownfood #foodfromthegarden #recipeoftheday #pancakerecipe #ecoblogger #lowwasteliving #sustainableliving
Happy World Bee Day! 🐝 As you probably know, b Happy World Bee Day! 🐝

As you probably know, bees are absolutely crucial to our food supply. What we easily forget is that native bees (not just honey bees) play a huge part in pollinating the flowers that turn into our food. Without the bees, we are screwed!

Native bees are sensitive to changes in habitat. The huge changes we humans have made to the natural world have had a detrimental effect on our pollinator friends. So, we need to help them out!

An easy way to help native bees in your own garden (or balcony!) is to open up a little bee hotel. This gives the bees a place to lay their eggs. A small step for us, but a potentially lifesaving step for the bees ❤️🐝

#worldbeeday #beehotel #nativebees #honeybees #beesofinstagram #pollinatorgarden #pollinatorswelcome #räddabina #pollinatorweek #pelastapörriäinen #savethebees #ecofriendlyliving #sustainablelifestyle #ecoblogger
Where has this spring gone? I feel like March was Where has this spring gone? I feel like March was yesterday! Let’s catch up. 

I’ve been a bit quiet on here lately because two of my favourite people in the world got married and I was in the wedding party. It was the loveliest weekend ever ❤️ then I had a corona-scare. Not corona this time either, I’m seriously starting to think I’m immune 🙈😄 (I don’t really think that though, I promise) But now I’m recovering from a fever and cough. 

Being sick at home, I read a lot of news, and now I’m once again feeling very anxious about the war in Ukraine, and experiencing more climate anxiety than usual. Reading the news too often has honestly been horrible for my mental health 🥶 I have to be more mindful about how I consume media. And find a way in which it feels like I do my part. Maybe monthly donations? I’m not sure. 

At the same time as I’m thinking about war and climate change, we’ve stepped up a gear in planning our own wedding. Weird contrast! But the wedding is creeping closer no matter the situation in the world, and we need to get everything sorted in time. It’s a good distraction from everything at least!

Wishing you all a lovely end of the week ❤️ 

#lifeupdate #springtime #weddingplanningtime #sustainablewedding #ecoblogger #weddingseason2022 #sustainableliving #summeriscoming #selfiemood #secondhandclothes #labdiamond
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