Tips for Avoiding Fatigue and Burnout

May 17, 2021 · Leave a Comment

Tips for Avoiding Fatigue and Burnout

By Iwa Brown, Naturopath, BHSc (Nat)

Burnt out women, particularly mums is something that is becoming so prevalent in our society nowadays, that we must ask ourselves – how did it come to this? We are so busy working, running households, and providing to our families in so many different ways, putting everyone else’s needs ahead of our own, that we end up leaving our own cup empty. Here are my tips for avoiding fatigue and burnout, from a naturopath’s point of view!

We know that when we start putting ourselves higher on our priority list, that we start to feel better. We can then do a better job at looking after everyone else than we can when we are tired and burnt out. Even though prioritizing ourselves tends to come with some level of guilt, we instinctively know that we must take steps, no matter how small, to regain ourselves back.

The fast pace of modern day life means that most of us spend much of our time in sympathetic nervous system (fight and flight) activation, with constantly elevated cortisol and adrenaline (stress hormone) levels. Eventually our adrenal glands have had enough, and we burn out. Operating at this level for any length of time is not sustainable, and your body will tell you loud and clear when it has had enough!

When we decide we want to start prioritizing ourselves, it’s easier to just start with one thing at a time to work on and focus on that, before we move onto the next thing. So what are some steps we can take in order to start working through and avoiding further fatigue and burnout? Read on!

Spend time in nature and breathe

There is nothing quite like spending some time in nature, breathing in the fresh air deeply, and enjoying the sounds of nature. Most cities have a range of walking tracks within relatively short driving distance, to suit a range of fitness levels. A quick internet search yields some great information to help you plan your next bush walk! Otherwise, a walk along a river or creek, or along the beach is another great option.

Gentle exercise such as walking is excellent for activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which reduces our cortisol levels. In addition, time in nature helps to produce higher levels of neurotransmitters that make us feel good.

One thing to note is that if you are the type of person who prefers intensive exercise, this type of exercise can drive cortisol up further. Listen to your body to make sure you don’t overdo it.

Relax before meals

People can often really underestimate how much of an impact stress can have on digestion. When we are stressed, meaning our cortisol is elevated, and we are in sympathetic nervous system (fight and flight) activation, our digestion shuts down and digestive secretions are not produced. This is because we need to relax and activate our parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest) in order to allow our body to digest the food we eat.

When we relax, take a few deep breaths and ensure we are not feeling stressed when we sit down for a meal, our digestive system starts to prepare for digestion by producing stomach acid, bile, and digestive enzymes. Without these, we feel full very quickly, we may become bloated, get reflux, or other digestive symptoms, and we are not giving our body the chance to digest the food we eat. In the long term, chronic stress can therefore lead to nutrient deficiencies. We also need adequate stomach acid to break down proteins to liberate amino acids, which are required for our mental health and other functions in our body, as well as other nutrients and minerals our body needs for optimal health.

In addition to the above, fluids should never be consumed in large amounts with meals. A few sips of water are fine with a meal, but drinking larger amounts of fluids will impede digestion by further diluting the stomach acid required to adequately digest our food. Aim to not drink too many fluids around 20-30 minutes either side of a meal and ensure you are staying adequately hydrated away from meals.

The importance of sleep

We must remember that we need cortisol for survival – it is not our enemy. Our cortisol should be at its highest levels in the morning when we wake up – this is what gets us out of bed in the morning, and gives us energy to get through the day. Conversely, our melatonin (sleep hormone) levels should be lowest in the morning when the cortisol is high, and then cortisol should drop through the day as melatonin rises later in the day to prepare us for sleep. Our body is this incredible and fined tuned system that keeps all of this under control, but problems arise when this cycle is dysregulated (hypothalamic pituitary adrenal or HPA axis dysregulation), and this can happen for many reasons, but stress is always a big factor here.

When our HPA axis is in balance, we sleep soundly and for adequate periods without waking in the night, we feel refreshed when we wake up in the morning and we have consistently good energy levels through the day and then falling asleep easily at the end of the day.

Sleep hygiene is super important here – aim to not have any screen time an hour before bedtime. Have a cup of chamomile or lavender tea, diffuse some calming essential oils if you wish, dim the lights and make a conscious effort to relax as you prepare yourself for sleep.

Book in with a naturopath

If you’re feeling like you’ve made a whole lot of changes but need some extra help, naturopathy is an excellent modality to assist you with making that extra progress to get you to where you want to be. Combining individualized prescriptions that include a combination of herbal medicine, nutritional supplements, in addition to dietary and lifestyle changes, works incredibly well to help people to get their energy and life back.

One step at a time

I hope these tips for avoiding fatigue and burnout have been helpful! Remember – don’t become overwhelmed by all the things you want to do to start feeling better. Progress is what we are aiming for, not perfection. Lots of small steps over time add up to incredible progress.

You are worth it!

About Iwa:

Iwa Brown is a naturopath and herbalist, who founded Magnolia Naturopathy to make naturopathic care more accessible to people all over Australia. Iwa (pron. Eva) assists her clients with a variety of health complaints, including children’s health, women’s health, nervous system support, immune support and of course digestive health. Naturopathic treatment addresses health from a holistic perspective, by treating the whole person.

As a special offer for readers of Natural New Age Mum, Iwa is offering 20% off your initial consultation until the end of June 2021, when you book online using the code: NNAM20 !!

Follow Iwa:

Magnolia Naturopathy website

Magnolia Naturopathy Facebook

Magnolia Naturopathy Instagram

Would you like to feature on Natural New Age Mum? Get in touch: sonia @ naturalnewagemum.com

Think with your heart!

April 23, 2021 · Leave a Comment

by Anna Kovacs

Think with your heart not your head.

It’s a statement that is likely to make most people baulk. It’s not logical, it’s full of fancy, it will lead to disaster.

What if I said to you that the wisest part of you is your heart? It’s the wisest place that ensures you make perfectly aligned choices.

Whilst undergoing yet another process of ‘crap clearing’ in my life, I kept butting my head against the brick wall of no change. It’s funny how sometimes you so desperately want circumstances in your life to change and the only thing that seems to happen is that they stay firmly entrenched. The constant loop thinking and repeated experiences were another Groundhog Day.

As much as you can repeat positive thoughts over and over to instigate change, there is one ‘brain’ that needs to not just accept, but adopt with such a solid way of being within desired change, and that is the heart.

The Law of Attraction works wonderfully well, but there is a proviso. It will work if and when you have done the work of clearing the limitations that have kept you in a place where you do not feel free to be you.

Think about the statement ‘my heart’s not in it’.

You can mutter affirmations morning, noon and night but these will come to naught if the heart has not made up its mind that an idea, a plan, a life that is so very worth investigating and pursuing. It leads the mind and the rest of you (along with possibly other people) into that way of thinking and being. The heart has let go of all the baggage that has kept it in one very firm and comfortably uncomfortable spot.

We live in a society which gives status, credibility and a certain amount of infallibility to that which arises from the logical mind. This is not the infinite wisdom stemming from consciousness. It’s that small mind, the mind which stems from the ego.

It’s kept you small, it’s kept you compliant, acceptable and according to this ego mind, it’s kept you very safe. Nothing to see here other than a ‘normal’ person doing ‘normal’ things, living a ‘normal’ life. No emotional nonsense to get in the way of logic.

It appears to me that truth, beauty, integrity and authenticity arise from the choices that are made from the divine heart. From this place fear is replaced with divine love, and appropriate choices for the individual are made. These choices do not come from a place of logic, rather they emerge as a knowing. It’s a sense that comes from a place deep within and it is filled with a wisdom that defies logic.

Take a step into a brave new world and quieten your mind chatter for a while.

Then invite your ego mind to take your divine heart’s hand and allow and trust that the heart will lead you to the place you were always meant to be. You can visualise this if it helps! Be aware too, that there is a difference between what appears to be heart made choices that are ego driven.

You will find that those made from the wise, divinely guided heart have a quieter, more steadfast feel to them.

Do you think from your heart? Share with us your experiences!

About Anna:

Anna is the owner of Golden Spiral and is located in Canberra where she works with those whose energy levels suck and who need that bit of help with stress and overwhelm management.

She is a Reiki and Seichim Master, and has postgraduate qualifications from Australia’s first Buddhist-based tertiary institution. Anna is also a Bach Flower Remedies Therapist, a Colour Therapist, qualified Massage Therapist, a holistic Life Transformed Coach and is now venturing into Sound Therapy.

Anna works with both face to face and on line. Anna is also mum to her two adult children, and also has a grand-dog and grand-horse.

Follow Anna:

www.annagoldenspiral.com

Ph: 0413 723 928

Email: anna@annagoldenspiral.com

Facebook: Anna Gold Spiral

Instagram: Anna Golden Spiral

How to find time for yourself when you are a busy mum

September 20, 2018 · 6 Comments

How to find time for yourself when you are a busy mum

We had a brilliant conversation in our Natural New Age Mums’ Facebook group the other day (email me to join!)

It was all about how to find time for yourself when you are a busy mum, how we find opportunities for self-care, how we ‘fill our bucket’ and try to maintain a healthy balance.

I guess the main message is this : you are important, your health, happiness and well-being is important. We don’t have to sacrifice all that to be a good mum. In fact, we are better mums when we do take time out to take care of ourselves.

Don’t forget that by taking time out for ourselves, we role model to our children all sorts of messages about self-worth, self-care, health and wellness and that joy and fun are important!

As someone who has been through burn out, I can’t stress how important it is to really find time to take care of yourself. If there is a piece of advice I could give to mums with small kids, it would be to entrench the habit of self-care early on.

If you get to the point of overwhelm, that’s too late! You might think you are doing okay but the stress can creep up on you slowly until one day you burn out. It’s so much better to incorporate self-care into your daily and weekly routine as a preventative strategy.

Here are some tips and advice from me (and some of my awesome community).

♥ Get Organised

A little time spent getting organised, setting up routines, minimising clutter and making up meal plans means you can use your time more efficiently and have some time left over for yourself. If you are constantly chasing your tail you will just get more overwhelmed and stressed!

♥ Make a List

I often have had unexpected kid-free time and panicked, wondering what exactly I should do to make the most of this precious time? Put things on your list that take from as little as five minutes up to two days so you always have a variety of things to choose from.

What exactly is it that you enjoy doing, what things make you happy, fulfilled and balanced? Are there activities that make you feel refreshed and re-energised?

What one person would think of as self-care or me-time can look totally different to someone else’s and your own definition can change from day to day as well! One day you might need brunch with a friend, another day you might need some quiet time reading a book. Even doing laundry might be just what you need to feel better that day. There are no rules!

♥ Focus on what really matters

Once you have kids, your time is not your own anymore! It helps to really focus on the important things in your life- like your health and happiness and your family – and allocate your time there. Don’t waste time doing things you hate, spending time with people you hate, doing things out of obligation or getting caught up in other people’s drama.

♥ Outsource

You can get back some of your time by letting someone else do some of your things. If there is something you really hate doing or never have time for, then try to outsource it. Mowing the lawn, washing the car, ironing! All these things can be outsourced. If the budget is tight, outsource to your kids or partner.

♥ Just Say No

Your health and happiness has to come first, so if you really don’t want to do something or you simply just know it will just add to your overwhelm, just say no. You don’t have to explain or make up excuses, you can simply say, “‘No, that’s not going to work for me.”

♥ Ask For Help

I know this seems so obvious, but are we good at asking for help? When things are getting crazy and you can’t cope anymore, reach out. It really does take a village to raise a child, so don’t be afraid to ask when things are getting tough.

♥ Share the childcare

As mums, we are often the ones doing the primary amount of childcare. It’s okay to share that! Your kids can still be happy when spending time with other people. In fact, it’s good for them to find a little independence.

Make a list of who can share the childcare with you. It might be your partner, parents, family, friends or a daycare centre. You might consider hiring an au pair or even a teenager to come over and watch the kids while you exercise or nap!

♥ Find joy in five minutes

Self-care doesn’t have to be a day-spa, a massage or a weekend away with the girls (although, hello, that’s awesome too). Self-care can also can look like regular, small amounts of time to do something relaxing or fun. Finding time to add in a yoga class every week can seem overwhelming, so start small.

Take five or ten minutes to sit and have a cup of tea, do some colouring, meditate, stand outside with your face in the sun, take a quick aromatherapy shower or do some stretches. This is where your list comes in handy!

♥ Use waiting time

If you have periods of time when you have to wait while the kids are at their activities, make use of it. Put the seat back in your car and meditate, sit on the grass to soak up the earth’s energy or do a brisk walk around the oval.

♥ Get up earlier

If it works for you, get up half an hour early and use that quiet time to do something for yourself. Have a cup of tea out in the garden, do some journalling or meet a friend for a walk.

♥ Schedule it in and prioritise

Schedule in your self-care. You might put a monthly catch up with friends, a fortnightly date with your partner and weekly solo hours in your diary.

When my kids were toddlers, I used to pop them in casual day-care for three hours once a week. It was such a sanity-saver. Set up a regular few hours every week where someone else takes the kids. Maybe Saturday mornings can become your time to spend on yourself. Stick to it and make it happen.

♥ Get to the park

Get out of the house and down to the park. You can do some exercise, read a book or just soak up the sun while the kids play. Sometimes just being outside can make you feel so much better and of course, earthing and fresh air also helps!

♥ Make use of play rooms

Make use of places that have child-minding or play rooms. My gym had free child-minding so it was was a great incentive to take an hour out of my day to look after myself – mentally and physically. IKEA has free child-minding and a cafe so you can grab a drink and a sit-down or do a spot of shopping in peace.

♥ Lower your standards

If you are a bit of a perfectionist, becoming a mum has never been a better time to let go. Accept that you are never going to have a show-room house – at least until the kids move it!

Soften and allow things to be less than perfect. It’s totally okay to have mess, to feed your kids muesli for dinner and wear wrinkly clothes. We are often our own harshest critics. Be okay with the imperfect messiness of motherhood.

♥ Go to bed early

Use that half an hour before you fall asleep to fill your cup and recharge. Give yourself a lush body scrub, do a guided meditation or just read a book. While social media can be great, it can also zap our energy and lead to anxiety. Create space in your life that is screen-free.

♥ Ditch the guilt

Self-care is not selfish! Don’t feel guilty about taking time for yourself or leaving the kids with someone else for a bit. It’s healthy for both mums and kids to spend a little time apart. And seriously, don’t ever feel guilty about using the TV as a babysitter sometimes.

Reframe how you talk about your self-care. “Mum is going out with friends to have a fun time!” Make it upbeat and positive. Leaving kids with their dad is not babysitting – it’s parenting!

♥ Encourage independence

It’s perfectly okay to tell the kids you are having quiet time and to not interrupt you (easier said than done, I know!) It’s a gentle way to introduce independence and show them that our needs are important too.

♥ Take advantage of nap times

Nap time isn’t always the best time to race around and do chores! Use it to have a nap yourself or do something you enjoy. The cleaning will be there later. If the kids fall asleep in the car, pop a meditation app on and lie back and enjoy the serenity!

♥ Single mums

Hats off to all the single mums. You are amazing! Self-care is even more important for you. The budget can be tight, so you might like to set up a bartering system with a group of friends. Swap childcare, make extra food and share it, ask for help. If you don’t have a network, find one – check out Meet Up to find people in your area.

♥ Working mums

Use your travel time and your lunch break (you are taking a lunch break aren’t you!!??) to squeeze in self-care. It might look like listening to your favourite podcast in the car or going for a walk in the park in your lunch break.

Resources:

The Art of Self Love

Buddhism for Mothers

Like Chocolate for Women

I hope these tips give you some ideas on how to find time for yourself when you are a busy mum.

I would love to hear from you! What are your tips and strategies for carving out time for yourself?

Share with us in the comments.

10 more must-have books for natural, new age mums

July 26, 2018 · 3 Comments

10 more must-have books for natural, new age mums

If you have been around here for a while, you will know I am a massive bookworm!

I’ve already shared with you some of my most favourite books for natural new age mums, so I thought it was well past the time to share some more.

♥ Low Tox Life

I know many of you are also fans of my friend Alexx Stuart and her blog, Lox Tox Life. Well, now she has all her amazing info in a book. Alexx gathers information from top experts and the latest science to share with us how toxins affects our body, mind, home and food.

Easy to read, interesting and non-judgemental, this book will inspire you to start living a healthier, happier life for your family and the planet. Perfect for beginner’s to a natural lifestyle!

Get it here.

♥ A Zero Waste Life in Thirty Days

Anita Vandyke helps us navigate giving up plastic in thirty days with small, achievable steps. Learn from the expert who walks the talk!

Get it here.

♥ The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying

This book is a game changer. If you are struggling under piles of stuff, you need the KonMari method! Marie Kondo’s book has sold over 1.5 million copies so you know it’s resonating with people. Clearing clutter brings calm, clean energy and opens up space for new things to come into your life.

Get it here.

♥ Gut

With more and more information coming through about how important our gut health is to our overall physical and mental health, it’s something we really need to make sure we are on top of! My own personal experience with improving gut health has been the number one thing that has made me feel well again.

This book by scientist Giulia Enders breaks down all the information you need to know about your gut into an easy to read and interesting format. There are even cartoons!

Get it here.

♥ Slow

Aussie blogger Brooke McAlary shares her story about how to find pleasure and value in a simpler life. There are practical tips and rituals from decluttering to de-owning, messiness to mindfulness.

Get it here.

♥ The 8 Human Talents

Hubby and I came across this book years ago through a yoga teacher and we still love it and use it all the time. The exercises and meditations are simple and practical but have deep healing benefits.

Get it here.

♥ Life Changing Food

This book is one of my all-time favourite cook books! It really is life-changing, with real food recipes that will help you heal and thrive. The famous grain-free dough and healthy chocolate have legions of fans all over Australia.

Get it here.

♥ The Case Against Fragrance

You might recognise Kate Grenville’s name from her award-winning novels, (huge fan here!). From her own personal experience of reacting badly to second-hand fragrance, Kate investigated further and researched the science of scent and the power of the fragrance industry.

Get it here.

♥ Eat Real Food

David Gillespie is one of Australia’s leading educators in sensible nutrition advice. In this book, he talks about diets, why we are getting fatter and the solution.

Get it here.

♥ Anatomy of the Spirit

There are so many ‘aha’ moments in this book, you can’t help but see the world differently after you read it.

Get it here.

It was a very hard task choosing my next favourite top ten books, so look out for another instalment! In the mean time, let me know what books have been life-changing for you.

Love List ~ June 18

June 21, 2018 · Leave a Comment

Love List ~ June 18

In this edition of the Love List, I have six amazing products for you to check out. What have you discovered lately that you are loving? Let me know.

♥ Handshine Handwash

Aussie mums, Alisa and Danni from 123 Nourish Me have done it again with another amazing product made from quality organic ingredients. This time it’s hand wash called Handshine. But, it’s not just a hand wash, you can also use it as a shampoo, body wash and bubble bath.

We are loving it! It leaves skin nourished and soft and the pink grapefruit and organic apple make it smell delicious. 123 Nourish Me is fast becoming my favourite brand for not only their hard-working, effective products, but for their uncompromising quality and ethics.

Check it out here.

♥ Hippie Mamas Book

“Hippie in City” Rita Balshaw has just released a new book all about holistic pregnancy, birth, babies and beyond.

Hippie Mamas has a wealth of information about how to take care of yourself and your babies with aromatherapy, nutrition, herbs, natural remedies and self-care. There are loads of recipes for nourishing food and DIY beauty and health remedies that I can’t wait to try.

With beautiful illustrations and an easy-to-read format, Rita’s beautiful book is a fantastic resource for all mums and would make a really thoughtful and useful gift for a baby shower or blessingway.

You might even find Natural New Age Mum listed in the resource section! 😉

Get it here (on sale at the moment!)

♥ Mystic Essential Oil Candle

I am a huge fan of beautiful online store, Lemon Canary!

It’s actually quite hard to find good quality candles that are made with just pure essential oils and not fragrance oils. Fiona, a natural new age mum from the Gold Coast, has an exquisite range of 100% pure essential oils blends that she hand crafts into gorgeous high vibrational products like these candles, massage oils, soaps and mists.

I am loving the MYSTIC blend at the moment but well, I can’t really pick a favourite! All of the essential oil range is blended with lots of thought and love to create something quite special. You can also get LOVE, MEDITATE, DREAM, GRATEFUL and HAPPY!

Find them here.

♥ Note to Self Cards

Some of you know that my friendship with Alisha at Naughty Naturopath Mum stretches back many years now. She is a very special soul with a huge heart and I have often been the recipient of her wise, gentle and loving advice. Somehow, she always knows just what to say!

Well, all of you can now benefit from her wisdom because she’s just released a beautiful set of cards, Note to Self. These cards are like having Alisha as your personal life coach, friend and cheerleader all in a little box!

You can use them as oracle cards to give you guidance. Shuffle the cards while thinking of a problem or something you need help with and pull a card you feel drawn to. The front of the cards has a short message and on the back of the card is the sentiment explained in more detail.

Get them from Alisha here.

♥ Good Fat Mayo

This mayonnaise is the answer to all my mayonnaise problems. I love mayo and I love making it myself at home but it does take a little time to organise (the eggs and ingredients need to be at room temperature) and it doesn’t last very long in the fridge. Not great for spontaneously needing mayo!

Most mayonnaise you buy from the supermarket contains toxic seed oils, usually canola and usually contains a whole host of other weird things you don’t want to be eating either.

Good Fat Mayo is made with olive oil, free range eggs and all natural ingredients and it’s packaged in a glass jar. Woohoo!

Get it here.

♥ Elate Universal Creme

Are you a bit of a low-maintenance/minimalist person like me when it comes to makeup? Or maybe you just don’t have time to spend putting it on in the mornings? Well, the Universal Creme is our new best friend.

You can use this creme as a blush or lipstick and even on your eyes. It comes in five different colours so you can choose one that suits your skin tone. I love that it’s packaged in a reusable (and funky) bamboo container that you can get refills for. Zero-waste, plastic-free beauty!

Seriously, how has nobody thought of this before!?

Elate make a whole range of lush cosmetics that are vegan, cruelty-free and of course made from all natural, quality ingredients.

Check it out here.

DIY Fruit Beauty Treatments

May 10, 2018 · Leave a Comment

DIY Fruit Beauty Treatments

You can’t get much more natural or cheaper than using fresh fruit for beauty treatments.

I have always had a fascination experimenting with homemade beauty treatments and can remember as a teenager always rubbing strawberries into my teeth! It’s a lot of fun and a great activity to do with older kids and teens.

Your skin is your largest organ and whatever you put on it, quickly gets absorbed into the bloodstream, so make sure you are using good quality ingredients. Organic or pesticide-free fruit is best if you can get it.

Mother Nature really does provide us with extraordinary bounty. Here are a few very simple ways you can incorporate fruit into your beauty routine.

♥ Super Strawberry Smile

Mash up a couple of strawberries and use a toothbrush to apply to teeth or just grab a strawberry by the stalk and rub it all over your teeth. The malic acid in the strawberries will give you nice white teeth. You can add a little bicarbonate of soda if you want as well.

♥ Banana Depuffer

Mash a little banana and place under the eyes. Leave for ten to fifteen minutes and then rinse off gently. The potassium in the banana will help reduce puffiness.

♥ Paw Paw Exfoliating Face Mask

Puree pawpaw (or papaya) and apply to your face. Leave for 10-15 mins and then rinse well. Paw paw has an enzyme called papain that will remove dead skin cells.

♥ Grapefruit Tootsie Scrub

Mix together equal quantities of grapefruit juice, coconut oil and sea salt. Soak feet first in a warm water and epsom salts foot bath to soften the skin. Massage the scrub really well into the feet and then rinse off.

♥ Avocado Hair Mask

Mash 1 avocado and mix with 1 egg yolk. Massage into the hair well and leave for as long as you can – at least 30 minutes. Rinse with cool water and shampoo if needed.

♥ Lemon Elbow Scrub

Don’t throw away those squeezed lemon halves! Pop an elbow in each one and massage. It will lighten the skin and exfoliate!

Want more?

Homemade Beauty by Annie Strole

If you like the idea of fruit in your skincare, but don’t want to DIY, try Skin Juice!

You might also like to read: The Best Australian Natural Skin Care Brands

Have you done DIY Fruit Beauty Treatments? Let us know what works!

A beginner’s guide to crystal face rollers

April 9, 2018 · 2 Comments

A beginner’s guide to crystal face rollers

Crystal face rollers are very popular at the moment! Like a lot of things, we have rediscovered that ancient and all-natural traditional techniques are often the best.

What are they?

Crystal face rollers are a beauty tool made from crystals. Most commonly you will see them as jade, amethyst or rose quartz, shaped into rollers on a handle. They have been used for centuries in China as an anti-ageing beauty tool.

What are the benefits?

Using a crystal roller is basically giving your face a gorgeous massage every time you use it! As well as the roller benefits, you also get the benefits of the crystal too.

♥ Improves blood circulation to the face

♥ Releases tension in facial muscles

♥ Assists detoxification

♥ Improves lymphatic drainage

♥ Helps to decrease puffiness

♥ Helps to reduce wrinkles

♥ Helps the skin absorb serums and oils

♥ Increases cellular turnover for brighter skin

How do you use it?

Store your crystal roller in the fridge or freezer if you need extra help with de-puffing your face and under-eye bags.

Only use the crystal roller on freshly-washed skin. You can use it with a serum or facial oil applied first. The roller will help the serum or oil penetrate deeply into the skin. I love the Erica Brooke Precious Face Oil – it’s just beautiful.

On your neck area, roll in downward strokes. Move up to your face, starting in the centre and roll upwards and outwards. Use the small end of the roller for smaller areas like between your eyebrows, under the eyes and the lip area.

There are no hard and fast rules on how long to roll for so just do what feels right to you. A few minutes every night sets up a consistent practice to get results.

You can use the crystal roller anywhere on your body too. It’s quite addictive once you get going because it just feels so nice!

Give it a good clean with a mild soap and water regularly. You can also pop it outside under a full moon to energetically cleanse the crystal too.

What did I think?

I’ve been using the gorgeous amethyst roller for a few weeks now. It feels amazingly luxurious to use and I notice that I do store tension in my face, so that daily massaging really helped relax me.

I confess I am not really into using loads of beauty products and spending a lot of time on routines. However I found the few minutes using the roller to be a very nice daily ritual. I feel like it’s a little bit of self-care and self-love that I probably needed!

My face does look plumper and smoother after using the roller but I’ll check back and give you an update after using for a few more months.

Nina Weston, beautician and natural beauty expert at Beautiful Because says
“I have used a roller for the last few years, not only for the skin care benefits but the relaxing holistic ritual it provides. The ayurvedic treatment originates from Chinese medicine and helps stimulate blood flow and collagen production for plumper, fresher skin. Have a relaxing mini facial every day!”

Where do you get them from?

Find them online at Beautiful Because here.

PS. You can get 15% off your next order when you join the new loyalty program!

Have you used one? What do you think?

How to wash curly hair, naturally!

February 19, 2018 · 20 Comments

How to wash curly hair, naturally!

I have had curly hair all my life and only last year did I find out how to wash and care for it properly. All those wasted years when I could have had really good hair!

Anyway, I am now spreading the word to all my fellow curlies. It’s all about ‘squish to condish and plopping!’

I follow the technique taught to me by my curl-specialist hairdresser. Yes, it’s a thing! Find someone trained in cutting and caring for curls – it makes the world of difference. I then modified this technique over time to a more basic version for someone who works at home and doesn’t need to look fancy every day.

Us curly-headed people need to use the right products and the right method to keep our curls hydrated, defined and fizz free. There is a real art to it.

The first time I had my hair cut and washed this way I could not believe how good it looked!

What products to use:

If you have curly hair, it’s recommended to avoid sulphates, silicones, parabens and synthetic fragrance. Actually, I would encourage everyone to avoid those ingredients, not just curlies!

There are some great curly-specific products on the market but I struggled to find ones that were affordable and not full of nasty chemicals. Call me crazy, but I don’t want to spend $50 on a shampoo that’s bad for my health and the planet!

My curly genes are strong and I also have two curly-haired kids (that’s my gorgeous girl in the photo), so I need to buy something safe for all of us to use that isn’t going to break the budget.

I recently tried out some of ecostore’s newly formulated shampoo and a conditioner for dry, damaged and coloured hair and was pleasantly surprised to find it worked a treat on our curly hair even thought it’s not specifically designed for curly hair!

Here’s what I like…

♥ Free of the sulphates, silicones, parabens and synthetic fragrance that are no-no for curls

♥ Is affordable (under $11 and sometimes on sale for even less)

♥ Is naturally derived (plant and mineral based)

♥ Has no nasty chemicals

♥ Uses renewable sugar-cane plastic packaging that can be recycled

♥ Has a concentrated formula so you only need to use a tiny bit

♥ Is not tested on animals

♥ Is free from genetically engineered products

♥ Has sustainable and ethical company practices

♥ Is easy to find (most Woolworths stores have it!)

Ecostore is a brand I have always used and trusted. Founded in New Zealand by Malcolm and Melanie Rands, they are experts in natural, low-toxin products. They have complete transparency and list every ingredient in every product on the labels and on the website.

So as well as having good hair, you can do good every day for your health, your family and for the environment.

How to wash curly hair:

♥ First off, never brush your hair. Throw that brush away. I wish someone had told me that when I was a kid and used to brush my hair one hundred times and wondered why I always looked like a frizzy mess!

♥ Shampoo by gently massaging the scalp with fingertips and then scrunching the shampoo through the hair from the bottom up. Don’t rub the hair and mess up the curls. Rinse well, gently.

♥ Condition by emulsifying some conditioner with water in your hands and then applying to hair using a combing type action, in sections. Gently squeeze the conditioner into small sections of your hair at a time, while adding little trickles of water. Add more conditioner as you go. After it feels slippery all over (like cooked noodles), squish-scrunch your hair from the bottom up in small handfuls. This is called ‘squish to condish’ and should sound like you are walking in wet shoes.

♥ Rinse out gently- don’t have the shower on full spray, just trickling. Leave some of the conditioner still in your hair (I know this was freaking me out but I got used to it!)

♥ While your hair is still soaking wet, add some leave-in conditioner that you have emulsified in your hands. Use the same scrunch-squishing method to apply.

♥ Without rinsing or touching the hair, jump out of the shower and flip your hair upside down over a micro-fibre hair turban and then tie it up (this is called ‘plopping’ – it’s the technical term, I am not making that up!)

♥ After leaving it in the turban for about half an hour, take it out and gently adjust the hair so it’s sitting how you want it and then let it air-dry. It’s really important you don’t touch your hair while it’s drying. The more you fiddle with it, the more frizz you will get.

♥ When it’s completely dry, smooth out any fly-aways with more emulsified leave-in conditioner ( I only bother if I am going out in public!)

♥ I am very low-maintenance so this is enough for me. But if you want to get fancy, you can add some hair gel or styling products after the leave-in conditioner as well. And you can also use a hair dryer on a diffuser on a very low setting to dry it quicker.

So, if you have curly hair and have not discovered the right products and the right method, give it a go!

Have a play around, ‘squish to condish’ and see what works best for your hair. Try out the ecostore shampoo and conditioner and let me know what you think.

If your curls are dry and in bad condition, it can take a while to nurture them back to good health, so keep persevering. Be gentle with those curls and embrace them.

Let me know how you go and if you have any questions, leave me a comment below!

PS Find out more about ecostore here.

( this post is sponsored)

Love List Sept 16

October 7, 2016 · 2 Comments

Love List Sept 16

I know I am a bit late with the September Love List as we are already into October! I have been on a little holiday and just chose to drop everything and relax for five days. Bliss!

Anyway, here is what made my Love List this month…..

♥ Turmeric Chai Latte

My gorgeous friend Simone from Nourishing Hub sent me some of her latest addiction to try out. Now I will have to make a confession here and say that I have not gotten into the ‘golden milk’ craze as the thought of turmeric in milk was grossing me out.

But after my initial hesitancy I am now left wondering what took me so long. This stuff is delicious! It tastes like a chai latte with a very subtle hint of turmeric. It doesn’t taste ‘savoury’ like I thought it would. I can easily see myself having one of these every night after dinner. You could also use the powder in bliss balls, raw desserts and on bircher or in smoothies too.

Golden Grind is vegan, sugar-free, nut free, gluten-free, dairy free and preservative free, handcrafted in Melbourne. It only contains turmeric, cinnamon, ginger and black pepper. I didn’t feel the need to add any sweetener as the cinnamon seemed to be make it sweet enough. Yum.

Check it out here.

♥ Real Food Essentials Course

I have been a big fan of Kristin from Mamacino for years. She is an amazing whole foods cook, blogger and mum of three. Now she is sharing all her secrets of how she does it! The Real Food Essentials eCourse is a step by step, practical guide to saving time, money and your sanity by organising your whole food kitchen. You get 12 emails over three weeks so you can go at your own pace and then at the end of the course, Kris gives you an ebook with all the information in it.

It’s such an affordable price at $39! Find out more here.

♥ Stainless Steel Kids’ Plate

I get a lot of mums asking what is the safest, non-toxic and non-breakable plate they can use for their kids. The Onyx stainless steel plate is finally back in stock and I’m so excited to show you. It’s so affordable at just $7.95 and it’s virtually indestructible! The divided bits are perfect for toddlers or kids with sensory issues and don’t like food touching.

Get in online here.

♥ The Light Between Us

I am always fascinated by what happens in our afterlife. This book from Laura Lynne Jackson was so interesting. She is a psychic medium (and ex-teacher!) and shares insights about her gift of connecting with those who have passed over. There are some really beautiful stories about people she has read for. I found it of great comfort and lessened my fear of dying significantly. I would recommend it for anyone having trouble with the grieving process. Have you read it?

Check it out here.

♥ Global Knife Set

I did some chef training at Uni and the first thing you learn is that you need a darn good knife set. It really makes so much difference in preparing food. I love the Globals – they are so light to use and all stamped out from one piece of stainless steel so you don’t get breakage at the handle. There is also an amazing 10 year guarantee. If they look familiar, they are the knives used on Masterchef!

You can get them for less than half price and FREE shipping here.

♥ Painful Teeth Tissue Salts

I am shouting from the roof tops about these amazing tissue salts. I have been using the Schuessler range for years for various things and always found them to be good. However I just had to share how great the Painful Teeth ones are.

Without regaling you with all the gory details, I had some teeth issues that left me in agonising pain for weeks. While the severe stages needed pain killers, I found that these tissue salts really helped take the edge off, lessened my need for as many pain killers and have been fabulous as an ongoing solution as needed. Apparently they are also good for teething babies.

Find out more here.

♥ Wooly Mates

Natural new age mum, Anna is the brains behind these amazing Wooly Mates dryer balls. Since moving to Brisbane where there is often non-stop rain I have had to buy a dryer. These wool balls go in with your clothes and lessen the time needed to dry as well as softening your clothes and reducing wrinkles. It’s a great way to cut down your electricity usage and ease the eco-guilt a bit! I am a fan.

Check them out here.

As always, such a mixed bag! Hope you found something useful in my love list this month.

Amazing Oils Magnesium Moisturiser

September 22, 2016 · 12 Comments

Amazing Oils Magnesium Moisturiser

This moisturiser is my new best friend.

Let me start by saying that I have tried out lots and lots of natural skincare.

However, nothing I have tried has ever had this much noticeable improvement on my skin.

I don’t want to get overly dramatic and gushy here, but wow. Really…. wow.

Okay, so let me tell you all about it!

I have been a big fan of the Harold family and their all Aussie owned and made Amazing Oils business for a few years now. The magnesium products are truly great quality and as most people are deficient in magnesium, they get good results for a wide range of ailments.

This month they have released their new magnesium moisturiser – the first ever organic skincare range based on magnesium. I was super keen to test this out! It comes in a 100g tub and the ingredients are: shea butter, coconut oil, hazelnut oil, magnesium chloride (22%), apricot oil, glycerine and vitamin E.

Very simple, all natural ingredients which have a very mild, slightly coconut smell. They have perfected the formula so that it is stable and doesn’t separate which often happens with products containing coconut oil.

How do you use it?

I have been trialling it for around six weeks now and this is how I prefer to use it for my skin. I get a pea sized amount of the moisturiser, rub it into my hands to melt and then massage all over my face until it’s all absorbed. It takes a while to sink in so keep massaging well.

I find if I use too much, it sits on top of my skin and is a bit oily and I have to keep massaging in half an hour or so afterwards. A small amount, massaged in well is fine. I prefer to use it regularly at night but if I am at home through the day, it’s okay for day time use as well. If I am going out and wearing make up, I prefer to use something a bit lighter on my skin.

For the first few days, it was a little itchy but nothing too bad. This settled down and now I have only experienced the itchiness if I have just exfoliated my skin. If you get stinging after using magnesium, this article explains why.

After a few weeks of use, I had a few breakouts around my chin, which may or may not be related to the moisturiser but I suspect that the magnesium has a bit of a detoxing effect. I just used the Ugly Bits Stick on them though and they were gone overnight. (PS here are my thoughts on the Ugly Bits Stick).

What I have noticed?

After about four weeks of use, I got a few compliments on my skin! Wow, that hasn’t happened for a long, long time. After having some health problems, I often look very tired and washed out, with a bit of a dullness.

To be honest, I hadn’t really noticed as I don’t spend a lot of time looking at myself in the mirror and our bathroom lighting is pretty bad. I have never really been one to worry about wrinkles and stuff. I do cover up blemishes with a bit of make up if I am going out but that’s about it!

Anyway, I went out to the car in the full sunshine and checked it out in the car mirror! Yep, I could see and feel some differences. And more so in the last two weeks.

♥ softer and plumper more hydrated skin

♥ a reduction in fine lines, particularly around my eyes

♥ a softening of the acne scarring on my cheeks

♥ a lightening of the pigmentation, particularly on my cheek bones that has been there since having kids

♥ overall the skin tone has improved and is more consistent and smoother

♥ would it be lame to say dewy? 😀 No, really I think my skin has a really nice glow about it now

That’s after six weeks of use. I am pretty darn impressed.

When I looked into why it works, this is what I found out. The magnesium blend balances the PH of your skin, the magnesium lightly exfoliates and detoxes dead skin cells which is what helps with spots, blemishes, wrinkles and pigmentation. When you use it daily, it promotes new cell production which gives you that nice glow.

The Harold family at Amazing Oils recommend that you can use this moisturiser in three ways.

♥ As a rich overnight facial repair treatment.

♥ To soothe skin conditions like psoriasis, dermatitis, acne, eczema and rashes. So you can use it all over the body – not just your face like I did!

♥ To gently boost your magnesium levels.

If you use it twice a day, it should last 4-6 months. Remember you only need to use a teeny bit!

Want to try it?

I am so keen on using this as my nightly moisturiser now to see what else happens! I am also going to get my hubby and mum onto it as well. Luckily the lovely Harold family are giving us a discount code to use so you can all try it out and see what difference it makes to your skin.

Use the code: NNAM for 10% off the entire Amazing Oils shop until the 5th of October 2016!

Check out the goodies at the website here.

Have you tried it? What did you think?

(this post is sponsored)