Small steps that make a difference. A smile from a neighbor, Ocean laundry detergent in everyday life, or a solid shampoo bar instead of plastic bottles. Here I share how small choices in everyday life can matter – for the environment and for ourselves.
Hello and welcome! How lovely that you’ve found your way to my blog today. I want to share a quiet morning, a flower that lit up my day, and my small steps toward a more sustainable lifestyle.
A Quiet Morning
It’s just after five. The cat has been let out, my coffee is beside me, and the only light in the room comes from the computer screen. I love this early morning moment when everyone else is still asleep. It gives me the chance to enjoy the silence, to be here on the blog, and to rest in my own thoughts.
Today I only have one planned meeting on the schedule. The rest of the day is open – and that feels good.
My cat, always the first one out at dawn, starting the day with me.
A Flower That Lit Up the Day
Yesterday I went to the flower shop. My neighbor across the street had a birthday, and I wanted to surprise her with a small flower. When I knocked on her door and handed it over, her smile changed everything about my day.
It’s strange how small gestures can create big ripples. A flower, a smile – and suddenly the day feels brighter. We should all do more of those little things for each other. They give as much to the giver as to the receiver.
Nature around us always brings surprises – sometimes all it takes is to look up. Photo by my husband Tommy Nilsson.
Memories from the Swedish Fair
On the same trip, I stopped by our small local pet and nature shop in the village. They sell the laundry detergent my sister and I once discovered at the Swedish Household Fair many years ago.
Back then it was new – environmentally friendly from the start and especially good for people with allergies. As far as I know, the company is still based in Kungsbacka, and their products remain sustainable and safe. Perhaps a little more expensive, but so worth it.
Ocean Products – Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent from Sweden
Ocean is a Swedish brand producing environmentally friendly products for laundry, cleaning, and hygiene. They are biodegradable, made in Sweden, and free from phosphates, zeolites, and animal testing. Many of their products are labeled Bra Miljöval (Good Environmental Choice) and Svanen (the Nordic Swan), and recommended by the Asthma and Allergy Association.
One example is Ocean Dubbeldryg, one of the most concentrated detergents in the world. It lasts for over 600 washes and reduces climate impact by up to 80% compared to regular detergents. For me, it feels good to know that something as ordinary as laundry can also be an active environmental choice.
Small Steps That Make a Difference
Those of you who have followed me for a while know that I often carry an environmental mindset with me. I may not contribute much in the bigger picture, but I do what I can.
A long time ago, I stopped buying disposable napkins and sewed our own cloth napkins to use at home. We walk – we don’t drive – regularly down to the recycling station in our village to drop off our waste. And this summer, we collected rainwater in barrels and buckets to water the greenhouse through a solar-powered drip system.
Ocean laundry detergent is part of that. It gives me a smile – not only because it’s good for the environment, but also because it reminds me of that day with my sister at the fair, when we tasted samples, discovered new products, and enjoyed ourselves.
Even what looks wild and simple has its place in nature’s balance. Photo by Tommy Nilsson.
Solid Shampoo Bars Instead of Plastic Bottles
Another small step I’ve taken is using solid shampoo bars. At first, I bought them simply to avoid all the plastic bottles. But I’ve discovered that my hair actually feels cleaner when I wash it with these bars.
And I can promise you – there are truly fewer plastic bottles when you stop buying liquid shampoo. A shampoo bar lasts for several months, around 90 washes. My hair also stays clean longer, so I only wash it twice a week.
It’s not a huge thing, but it’s something. And it’s exactly in these small steps that I find a way to contribute – right here at home.
Reflection
It’s easy to underestimate small steps. But perhaps that’s exactly where we can begin – with a smile, a cloth napkin, or an eco-friendly laundry detergent. When we see the value in the small, we also feel part of something bigger.
Between the Lines – My Voice
Between the lines is my longing for simplicity. I want to live close to what feels genuine – nature, care, and the stillness of early mornings. For me, these small choices are a way to create meaning in daily life, both for myself and for the people around me.
AHA – Between the Lines
AHA! What seems small – a flower, an eco-friendly choice – can actually be big steps. Not only for the environment, but also for your own inner well-being.
Yesterday has already settled into history, tomorrow is waiting ahead. But right now – in my small choices for the environment and everyday life – this is where life happens. – Carina Ikonen Nilsson
Hello and a warm welcome, both to those of you visiting for the first time and to those who return again and again! I am always both surprised and happy to see readers from all over the world – from Ireland, the USA, and so many places I hardly dared to dream of. Imagine that my small corner of Sweden can reach your heart across the globe.
Thank you, most humbly, for reading here with me. It means more than you know.
When Piles Come to Life
Today I want to write about something completely different than international readers – those piles we all gather at home.
I have one of those piles. It started with a printer. The printer and I already had a shaky relationship, and eventually my husband grew tired of hearing me talk to it. He said he knew where to find one of those new machines that actually worked.
Although I muttered that the old one wasn’t that old, and that it had been expensive enough that it should work, we went to NetOnNet and bought a new printer. The old printer ended up in the basement, right on the floor. We were going to throw it away “later.”
The Kitchen Faucet in LVL²
Then, as always, more things joined the pile. In the spring, when we took our motorhome LVL² out, the kitchen faucet broke. We bought a new one, and the broken faucet also moved to the basement. Not a big pile yet – but still, a pile.
Broken Pots and Forgotten Things
Last year we bought a new battery for our motorhome. The old one got a spot in the garden, waiting for recycling. And that plastic box where I tried to grow leeks? The sun cracked it, and it stayed where it was.
Broken pots, an old garden stool, and everything else slowly joined the pile. Eventually, when we walked past, it felt almost alive.
My husband thought it looked sad when you came down the street and saw our pile of junk. So we moved it to the other side of the patio, so it wouldn’t be as visible.
From Pile to Relief
Yesterday, the recycling station in the village was open. It rained heavily. The pile stayed put, and I gave up hope that we would ever deal with it.
However, today a small miracle happened. My husband said:
“Let’s take care of this now.”
At first, I wasn’t very eager. However, because he had the energy, I didn’t want to be the one to hold back.
First, we took the usual recycling: milk cartons, plastic, and glass. Then, the plastic pots went, along with my broken garden chair. After that, the printer went to Elgiganten’s electronics recycling, and the faucet joined the scrap metal. Finally, since we were in Uddevalla anyway, we returned our summer cans and bottles – two large bags, which gave us 230 kronor back.
The Joy of Order and Lightness
When we came home again, it was as if the air was lighter. The pile was gone. The garden felt bigger. And I got such an energy boost that I took out the grass trimmer and tidied all the edges where the pile had been.
The grass that had grown around the pile was trimmed away – as if it had never existed. My husband heard me from the basement, came up, and mowed the lawn. Even Lillfia caught the feeling and asked if she could help.
Reflection: Why Do We Always Wait?
Now I’m sitting under the pavilion, writing. My body feels lighter, and so does my mind. And yet, I wonder: Why do we always wait until “later”?
For me, it looks like this:
First, I say, “We’ll do it later.”
Then, the pile grows.
Then comes the shame and the quiet anxiety.
Finally, we do it – and then it feels like Christmas morning.
There is a certain reward in that final feeling – the relief and the energy when it’s all done. But I don’t know if it’s worth all the quiet nagging before. Maybe that’s just how life works sometimes. And maybe, I’m not the only one.
Between the Lines – My Voice
Between the lines, this isn’t just about trash or a pile in the garden. It’s about holding on to things – and feelings – longer than we need to, and about the freedom that comes when we finally let go.
I write this to remind myself – and maybe you – that it is in the small actions that the greatest relief and joy can be found. When the pile is gone, life feels a little bigger.
Questions for You
Do you also have a pile waiting for attention?
How does it feel when you finally finish something you’ve postponed for too long?
Do you think the relief is stronger because we waited too long?
Here’s a reminder of my friend’s YouTube channel – her sweet educational videos for children about animals, nature, and the small things that spark curiosity.
Live today, right now. Yesterday is among the memories of old piles, and tomorrow waits in the distance. Maybe new piles will come – but it all depends on what we do in the present. Right now is where life unfolds and where we can finally breathe. – Carina Ikonen Nilsson
AHA – Between the Lines
Behind this story of a disappearing pile lives a lesson about life itself. It is about the weight of what we hold on to, and the unexpected freedom that comes when we let go – of things, of clutter, and sometimes of the emotions that keep us stuck. I share this because life is often lighter than we dare to believe, and because even a cleared pile can make room for new energy, hope, and a deep breath in the present moment.
This post is about the stillness of returning home, about small everyday adventures, about letting berries take up space in the kitchen – and dreams take up space in the mind. The scent of blackcurrant juice, a spoonful of marmalade – and the feeling of being right where I’m supposed to be.
We Came Home Yesterday
Before that, though, we made a stop at Fribo in Sollebrunn with our LVL^2. We’ve bought both trailers and vehicles there before. This time, we were just browsing – and we made that clear, even though the friendly salesman was more than ready to sell us a motorhome.
Afterwards, we swung by Dollarstore – but unfortunately, the silver tarps were out of stock. However, Biltema had what we needed – well, almost everything except car parts and silver tarps. Fortunately, I found some fabric boxes that will help organize our clothes in the motorhome.
The idea is to keep them neatly folded under one of the beds. That way, they’re easy to find – and it feels more like home.
At home, we don’t keep clothes under the beds. But in the motorhome, the under-bed storage is large and mostly unused. It’s like we’ve just thrown stuff in there because we could. Therefore, it’s time for the lazy part of me to wake up and get a little more organized.
When Everyday Life Meets Berry Joy
Once we got home, our oldest son had picked blackcurrants from our bush. Meanwhile, my husband was cooking dinner, and I was out in the garden, watering plants and tending to our very thirsty flowers.
After dinner, I made juice – and honestly, it turned out really good. Since I don’t like wasting anything, I used what was left in the straining cloth and turned it into marmalade. I have a feeling it’ll go perfectly with some creamy brie.
In addition, I harvested some tomatoes from the greenhouse.
Recipe: Blackcurrant Juice & Marmalade
Ingredients (approx. 1 liter finished juice):
1 kg blackcurrants (I used 2.5 kg)
5 dl water
6–7 dl granulated sugar per liter of strained juice
Equipment:
Large pot
Straining cloth or fine sieve
Bottles/jars with tight-fitting lids
(Optional: Sodium benzoate)
How to make the juice:
Clean the berries – remove leaves and any bad berries, no need to trim stems.
Boil with water – simmer for 10–15 minutes until the berries burst.
Strain – let it drip through a cloth (don’t press if you want clear juice).
Measure juice & boil with sugar – 6–7 dl sugar per liter of juice.
Skim the surface – remove any foam.
Bottle while hot – pour into warm, clean bottles and seal immediately.
Marmalade from the Berry Pulp:
I reheated the strained pulp with sugar and boiled it down until it thickened into marmalade. Then I poured it into jars – and I’ll also freeze some in small portions. Perfect for a cheese board!
Tip: Do You Need Preservatives?
No, if you:
Freeze the juice
Bottle it hot in sterilized bottles
Pasteurize it (80°C for 20 minutes)
Yes, if you:
Want to store it at room temperature for a long time
Don’t plan to freeze it → Then use sodium benzoate (1/5 tsp per liter)
As for me, I chose to freeze the juice – I prefer to avoid additives in our food.
And Life Continues…
Even though it was lovely to be away with our LVL^2, it also felt great to come home. My own bed. My own shower.
While my husband tackled the laundry, I stood over the stove with the berries. Today, there are two more loads waiting. First, I’ll check the weather app – then decide whether to hang them outside or inside. Actually, who am I kidding – they’re already spinning in the machine.
Later today, we might take a walk in the woods and see if our old mushroom spots are still around. A little nature is always a good idea.
What about you?
What are you doing with your berries this year? Have you found a good way to organize your motorhome cabinets? I’d love to hear your tips!
Reflection – Between the Lines
This post speaks of small transitions: from motorhome life to home routines, from window shopping to jam making, from fabric storage to berry bushes.
Sometimes, the most ordinary tasks turn into little treasures. I move between dreaming and doing – and find meaning in the rhythm of everyday life.
Between watering plants and stirring marmalade, there’s gratitude, softness, and a kind of doing that quietly heals the inside. Even if I don’t always realize it in the moment – it’s there.
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Yesterday has already settled into history, tomorrow is waiting up ahead. But right now – this is where life happens. Right now, I can enjoy my blackcurrant juice. – Carina Ikonen Nilsson
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