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The Plastic-Free Christmas Gift Guide for Kids

November 9, 2018 · 1 Comment

The Plastic-Free Christmas Gift Guide for Kids

So many of us are really making an effort to avoid plastic in all areas of our lives. Plastic isn’t always the safest material for our kids to play with either but the good news is that there are so many brilliant options.

I always try to choose quality over quantity. Things that are made with good materials, fair-trade, sustainable and durable so they have a long life and not quickly discarded to land-fill.

With that in mind, here are some of my top picks for plastic-free gifts for kids this Christmas.

 

♥ Gratitude Journal

Natural, new age mum, Rebecca has created a gorgeous gratitude journal just for kids! It’s beautiful quality with thick, art paper and a sturdy spiral binding.

As well as prompts for gratitude, there are short stories, affirmations, word searches, animal oracle cards and so much more.

Gratitude is such an empowering tool for a happy and mindful life and this journal is a gentle, positive way to share it with your kids.

Get the Gratitude Journal for Kids here.

 

♥ Insect Hotel

The wooden insect hotel is designed to stay outside in your garden and attract pollinating bees and bugs. The hotel gives insects a safe place to sleep and encourages buzzing friends.

Get the wooden insect hotel here.

♥ Bamboo Balance Kinderboard

The best-selling balance boards now come in 100% bamboo that is FSC certified and sustainably sourced.

The Kinderboard helps children develop a sense of balance, stimulate their vestibular system, and gain a deeper awareness of their body and body parts. You can rock it. Balance on it. Push it. Spin it. Flip it and slide. Sit on it or use it like a foot stool.

These sturdy boards keep energetic children engaged in creative play for hours.  The possibilities are endless and truly up to them!

Get the Bamboo Balance Board here.

♥ Rainbow Play Silks

These rainbow play silks are beautifully simple to encourage imaginative play. The silks are a large square and hand-dyed with vibrant colours using non-toxic, eco-friendly dyes.

Kids can use them as a cape, a fairy skirt, butterfly wings, as water under a boat, as fire or wind – anything their imagination comes up with. I want one for myself!

Get the Rainbow Play Silk here.

♥ Wooden Teether and Rattle

This teether and rattle is made with uncoated beech hard wood which is totally safe, biodegradable and splinter-proof. Etched with beautiful words, it’s a really sweet little gift for babies.

Get the wooden teether and rattle here.

♥ Kindness Angel

I’m so in love with this Kindness Angel. It’s something a bit different – sort of a cross between advent and elf on the shelf but with a beautiful intention of being kind and thoughtful.

The wooden Kindness Angel comes with cards suggesting small acts of kindness you could do in the days leading up to Christmas. It’s such a beautiful way to encourage our kids to think of others over the festive season.

Get the Kindness Angel Kit here.  

♥ Organic Cotton Wombat Pyjamas

So adorable!! Available in sharks or wombats, these PJs from Gather and Moss are made in Australia. They use GOTS certified organic cotton that is super safe and comfy.

Each set also comes with a set of flash cards so the kids can learn about the endangered animal featured on the pyjamas.

Get Organic Cotton Kids’ Pyjamas here.

♥ Personalised Bamboo Accessories Holder

Melbourne mum, Tina from Little Birdy makes the cutest laser cut gifts from sustainable bamboo. She has all sorts of things from door plaques to Christmas decorations but I really love this pretty accessories holder that you can personalise with your child’s name.

Check out the Bamboo Accessories Holder here.

 

♥ Crystal Affirmation Kit

Kids of all ages seem to love crystals so this gift will be a winner. Beautifully designed by Brisbane mum Amie from Growing Kind, the kit comes with eight crystals and eight affirmation cards in a drawstring bag.

Get the Crystal Affirmation Kit here.

 

♥ Koji Crochet Penguin

With so many mass-produced toys, it’s really lovely to find something hand-made. This crochet penguin is made by disadvantaged women in Vietnam and provides them with an income.

It’s so cute and perfect for a stocking stuffer.

Get Koji Crochet Penguin here.

♥ Planet Finska Copacabana Game

Get the kids off the screens and playing outside! Planet Finska are an Aussie company famous for their old-fashioned, good-quality wooden games that are designed to last a lifetime.

This copacabana game (also called frescobol) is a beach paddle game, famously played in Brazil and something a bit different!

Get the Planet Finska Copacabana Game here.

♥ Sienna Natural Nail Polish

My teenager loves Sienna nail polishes! Hand-made in Byron Bay by a small, ethical business, they are committed to producing safe and non-toxic nail products with an ethical and environmental focus. There is a huge range of beautiful colours to choose from.

Get Sienna Natural Nail Polish here.

 

Wrap

Christmas is such a wasteful time of year with so much packaging going to landfill. Check out my eco-friendly wrapping ideas to inspire you to have a more sustainable Christmas.

 

Want more?

How to choose safe, non-toxic toys for kids

My Top 20 Christmas Gift Ideas 2018

20 Awesome Christmas Gifts for Kids

10 Must-Have Books for Christmas

Stocking Stuffer, Secret Santa Gifts under $30

10 Teacher Gifts under $30

All my gift guides

The Plastic-Free Christmas Gift Guide for Kids

(parts of this article are sponsored)

   

Filed In: FAMILY / Tagged: Christmas, Christmas gift guide, plastic free, plastic free Christmas, plastic free gifts, Xmas

My top 20 gift ideas for Christmas

November 5, 2018 · 2 Comments

My top 20 gift ideas for Christmas

It doesn’t feel that long ago that I was showing my favourite gifts for Christmas last year! I hope you love this year’s top 20 picks for Christmas as much as I do. Let me know what you think.

A huge shout out to my incredible sponsors and affiliate partners for giving us all some very nice discount codes to help with the Christmas shopping budget. Thank you!

Keep an eye out in the next few days for my kid’s Christmas gift guide too.

♥ Creation Diamond® Pendant

Anna and LJ are gorgeous sisters from Love is Your Compass and this year they have added a stunning pendant to their offerings. The Creation Diamond® is a sacred tool for harnessing intention as a daily ritual.

Consciously set an intention for the day, intuitively select a crystal to support that intention and then wear it close to your heart in the pendant that symbolises your diamond-shaped energy field. The Creation Diamond® pendant and chain is sterling silver and presented with your choice of three crystals in a gorgeous linen bag and gift box.

Get the the Creation Diamond® pendant here.

♥ MG Naturals Lipstick

If you are after a truly natural, high quality lipstick, Kailah at MG Naturals has you covered! These lippies are organic, vegan and specially formulated to be vibrantly pigmented & super nourishing for your lips.

All of the MG Naturals lipsticks contain absolutely no dyes or colourants and are made with pure mineral pigments – no added micas or titanium dioxide. Hand-crafted and poured in small batches to ensure purity and quality, there are six luscious shades to choose from.

Get MG Naturals Lipstick here.

♥ Loving Herself Whole Book

Loving Herself Whole by natural, new age mum Laura Gillett is a gorgeous little gift book for anyone wanting to connect further with their own spiritual journey.

The book is a collection of guided messages and insights into spiritual awakening, collected from Laura’s personal journals over the past decade. Laura has opened her heart and shared this wisdom with the intention of inspiring women, mothers, wives and daughters going through their own transformation.

It’s heartfelt, wise and poetic and both my daughter and I resonated strongly with many of the messages. A special, special gift.

Get Loving Herself Whole book here.

♥ EverEscents Organic Hair Care Pack

EverEscents have some great hair care gift packs for Christmas! There are seven variations to choose from to suit your hair type and all contain an organic shampoo, conditioner and deep treatment.

EverEscents have been making their salon quality certified organic products for over ten years on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. They use only the absolute best natural ingredients including plant extracts and pure essential oils and everything is vegan friendly, cruelty fee and carbon neutral.

Get EverEscents Organic Hair Care Pack here.

♥ Shakti Head Pillow

I love my Shakti Mat! They are a perfect gift for the hard to buy for person. Shakti Mats now have a pillow which is designed for the head, neck and shoulders area but you can also use it under your legs or in the lower back area as well if you want! Use the pillow lying down, sitting in a chair or on the couch and with or without the shakti mat.

Ethically hand-made with organic cotton and recyclable non-toxic plastic, the Shakti Head Pillow works using acupressure points. It’s an easy, inexpensive way to relieve stress, release tight, sore muscles, increase circulation and improve sleep!

Get the Shakti Head Pillow here.

♥ Amazing Face Trio

Amazing Oils has just released their new range of skincare, Amazing Face Trio! I am a huge fan of their amazing magnesium moisturiser (it’s got new packaging) so I was keen to try out the new products.

I have been trialling them for a few weeks and I am hooked. It’s been formulated with top quality organic, bio-active ingredients like quandong, lilly pilly and kakadu plum (that also smell sublime!) The three-step system leaves my skin feeling so fresh, hydrated and soft and you only need to use the tiniest bit, so it’s very affordable.

The Amazing Face Trio pack includes a Face Off cleansing gel, Skin Food brightening serum and No More Bags eye cream. There are absolutely no nasties, sulphate or parabens and the range is cruelty free and made in Australia.

Get the Amazing Face Trio here.

♥ Wonderbag

The Wonderbag is the ultimate in eco-friendly cooking and makes a very unique gift. The Wonderbag slow cooks your food, electricity free!

All you do is bring your food to a boil, pop the pot into the Wonderbag, seal it up and let it do its thing. The heat-retention design will keep it slow-cooking for up eight hours, although most things only need one to two hours to cook.

It’s much safer than leaving appliances on all day and it will save you between 30 and 80% of the energy you usually use in cooking. I love that it’s portable too – perfect to take with you on picnics and barbeques.

When you are not using it to slow cook, you can also use it to keep food warm, cook rice, make yoghurt and proof bread and it’s insulation makes it a perfect cooler bag for drinks and food too.

Western Australian mum, Lisa, is the Aussie stockist of Wonderbag and has four beautiful designs to choose from. I do love the ocean blue though!

Get the Wonderbag here.

♥ Milk and Love Christmas Gift Box

Brisbane mum, Corryn from Milk and Love, has curated these gorgeous gift boxes ready for Christmas. They are great for new mums but anyone would love them!

Milk and Love is a gorgeous boutique store specialising in natural products for pregnancy, breastfeeding and babies.

There are a three Christmas boxes to choose from or you can create your own. This one featured includes a deluxe Turkish beach towel, a healing bath soak, coconut body butter, a beautiful journal, stainless steel reusable coffee cup and a reusable shopping bag.

Get Milk and Love Christmas Gift Boxes here.

♥ Waters Co Water Filter

I’ve had my Waters Co Water Filter for over five years now and I love it! As well as re-mineralising and ionising ordinary tap water, they filter out chlorine, chemicals, heavy metals, fluoride & bacteria.

The water tastes incredibly pure and fresh and it’s much more eco-friendly than buying bottled water!

Get your Waters Co Water Filter here.  

♥ Glass Hand Drip Coffee Maker

I have seen these coffee makers in all the cool cafes! They would make an awesome gift for the coffee lover.

Made from glass and stainless steel, the hand drip coffee maker produces a beautiful eco-friendly coffee. The functional design includes a polished wood collar (with twine tie), stainless steel micro mesh filter and glass body.

Get the Glass Hand Drip Coffee Maker here.  For 10% off use the code: NNAM-XMAS until the 18th of November!

 

♥ Soul Glass Water Bottle

Being eco-friendly has never been so stylish. I love all of the Soul Bottle prints but this gorgeous purple lotus, Just Breath is my favourite.

Completely plastic free, made from recycled glass and beautifully designed, these bottles are leak proof, vegan and carbon neutral too!

Get Soul Glass Water Bottles here.

♥ Vintage Jar Aromatherapy Candles

These candles are made with recycled, one of a kind vintage jars and filled with pure soy wax and 100% pure organic essential oils. Choose your size and essential oil blend and Gold Coast mum, Fiona will hand-pour it for you.

Get Vintage Jar Aromatherapy Candles here. FREE shipping on all orders over $50!

Bokashi composter australia

♥ Bokashi Composter

With an increased awareness of reducing the waste we send to landfill, many of us are thinking about practical solutions. Bokashi One are a small compact composting system you can use in the kitchen.

The Bokashi is great as an introduction to composting or if you have a lack of space for a big composting system. You get a Bokashi One Bucket and Bokashi One Mix which work together to transform your food waste into useful compost and liquid fertilizer, without the yucky smell!

Get the Bokashi Composter here. 

♥ Sol Aromatherapy Diffuser

I love the glass and bamboo style of this aromatherapy diffuser. It has minimal plastic parts and will diffuse your essential oils without heat or chemicals.

Use it for fragrance, aromatherapy, humidifying, and negative air ionising for a continuous eight hours.

Get the Sol Aromatherapy Diffuser here.  For 10% off until the 18th of November, use the code: NNAM-XMAS

♥ The Wild Offering Oracle Cards

With 52 beautifully illustrated cards, this oracle deck helps you to see yourself in a new light – the Divine Light of Self Love. Each card focuses on a different situation such as ambition, money, regrets, solitude, ageing, travel and truth.   

You choose how to use the cards: as an oracle where the Divine guides you to a specific card; to carry or put on an altar as a reminder to reflect on an issue; or in any way you are drawn.

Get The Wild Offering Oracle Cards here. 

♥ The Art of Self Love

This beautiful book by aromatherapist and mum, Kim Morrison shows you how to fall in love with taking care of yourself; mind, body and soul.

Kim draws on her own life experiences and wisdom to give us a step-by-step guide to help navigate the struggles of life with courage, grace, strength, and dignity.

Get The Art of Self Love here.

♥ Organic Cotton Straw Pouch

Keep your reusable straws and cutlery handy in this hand-made organic cotton pouch. I love this phases of the moon print by Amy Jade Creations. There is also a matching hanky!

Get the Organic Cotton Straw Pouch here. 

 

 

 

Wrap

Christmas is such a wasteful time of year with so much packaging going to landfill. Check out my eco-friendly wrapping ideas to inspire you to have a more sustainable Christmas.

 

Want more?

20 Awesome Christmas Gifts for Kids

10 Must-Have Books for Christmas

Stocking Stuffer, Secret Santa Gifts under $30

10 Teacher Gifts under $30

How to choose safe, non-toxic toys for kids

The Best Natural Perfumes

All my gift guides

 

{this post contains sponsored content}

   

Filed In: FAMILY / Tagged: Christmas, Christmas gift guide, Christmas gifts, Christmas present

Love List ~ October 18

October 18, 2018 · Leave a Comment

Love List ~ October 18

I haven’t done a Love List in ages and I quickly realised the year was slipping by very fast! There are so many awesome things and some exciting news that I want to share with you.

Check out what my made my latest Love List!

 

♥ Amazing Oils Baby Calm Gel

I have been using Amazing Oils magnesium products for years! I absolutely love how well they work and of course I love supporting a family-owned Aussie business.

Amazing Oils has just released a roll-on magnesium gel specifically for babies and small kids. Magnesium Chloride can help kids with sleep, irritability, restlessness and growing pains.

The roll-on makes it easy to apply and gently massage into their feet and lower legs before bed-time. You could also keep it in your handbag for when you are out and about too!

Check out the Baby Calm Gel here.

 

♥ Waters Co Water Filter

I have had my Waters Co Water Filter for over five years now and I absolutely love it! I am so excited to share that I have just teamed up with this amazing Aussie company as an ambassador.

I will be talking more about Waters Co in coming articles, but I wanted to let you know the news and give you the heads up about a great sale they are having. You can save up to $100 on a water filter right now!

Get Waters Co Water Filters here.

 

♥ Shine From Within

This gorgeous new book from Amanda Rootsey is a beautiful resource for teenage girls. Amanda runs Shine from Within workshops on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland and has put all of her brilliant advice into a book!

Shine From Within helps girls navigate their teen years with a positive, fresh take on self-image and overall wellbeing. Amanda’s relatable and down to earth approach in this book will appeal to teen girls looking for some gentle ‘big sister’ guidance.

Get Shine from Within here.

 

♥ Berry Yum Biotics Bar

I had every intention of taking some beautiful photos of these bars, but the teenagers demolished the lot before I had a chance. Two thumbs up from everyone here!

Nutra Organics whole food bars are one of the very few packaged snacks I am happy to give to my family to eat. The ingredients are brilliant and they are only $2.65 a bar!

With real raspberries and blueberries for flavour, they are certified organic, all natural, vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free and they taste soooo good! Keep in mind that they are still a treat food but one that has better quality ingredients packed with vitamins, minerals and probiotics.

Get Berry Yum Biotics Bars here.

 

♥ Patch Organic Strips

Finally! Band-aids that are not plastic! Aussie-owned company, Patch, has made these awesome  hypoallergenic, biodegradable organic strips. And packaged in a plastic-free, re-usable cardboard tube. Genius.

Made with 100% organic bamboo fibre, they come in plain or enriched with wound-healing aloe vera, coconut oil or activated charcoal. These bandages are completely natural and safe unlike regular band-aids which have toxins that can irritate the skin.

Get Patch Bandages here.

 

♥ Stainless Steel Pegs

These stainless steel pegs have a lifetime warranty! In an age when everything is disposable, it’s nice to see more ‘purchase for life’ products becoming available.

Guaranteed to never rust, break or lose their spring, they are made from high quality stainless steel in a clever one piece design. I love that they eliminate the waste that comes from plastic pegs that perish and disintegrate.

Get Stainless Steel Pegs here.  For 10% off your first order, use the code: NNAM10

 

♥ The Mad Food Science Program™

I am sure you have already heard of the brilliant work that my friends Bel and Israel Smith at The Root Cause are doing around Australia with The Mad Food Science Program. The big news is that they now have 12 certified instructors around Australia to deliver the program to even more kids.

They have had huge success with getting kids to eat more fruit and vegetables through their ground-breaking, interactive school incursions featuring fun science experiments. If your school hasn’t experienced the Mad Food Science Program yet, enquire about how you can make it happen.

I am 100% behind these guys – they are really make a difference to our kids’ health and I could not be prouder!!

Find out how to get the Mad Food Science Program in your school here.

 

You might like to check some of my other Love Lists here.

 

(parts of this post are sponsored)

   

Filed In: HOME

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.

 

 

   

Filed In: SELF / Tagged: finding time for yourself, me time, mom time, motherhood, mum time, self care

Healthy Chocolate Birthday Cake

September 4, 2018 · 12 Comments

This recipe is the our easy, go-to, never-fail birthday cake base. We have been making it for years and everyone always loves it.

Making a birthday cake can sometimes feel daunting but trust me, this is so, so easy! My kids make it all the time themselves without any worries.

Birthday cakes are so expensive these days and the weird additives in them makes a homemade one much more appealing! You don’t have to get fancy with toppings (unless you want to!)

Just some thick cream (so you don’t have to whip it) and some strawberries is all you need.

Quick, easy and so good! Best of all, it’s made with love.

What more could you want for your birthday?

Healthy Chocolate Birthday Cake

Vital Stats: nut-free, vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free options

Okay, so this is what you need:

3/4 cup self-raising flour (for gluten free, I use the self-raising Orgran brand)
1/2 teaspoon bi-carb soda
1/2 cup cacao powder
1/2 cup rapadura or coconut sugar
1 cup or 200g organic natural yoghurt (for dairy-free, use coconut yoghurt)
2 organic eggs
1 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil

Okay, so this is how you do it:

Preheat oven to 180 degrees celsius and line a round cake tin with toxin-free baking paper.

Sift together the flour, cacao and bicarb. In a separate bowl, whisk the remaining ingredients together.

Gently combine the wet and dry ingredients. Pour batter into the cake tin.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until an inserted skewer comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

Hot tips:

This recipe is easy to double and bake in a lamington tin if you need to feed a crowd. It also freezes really well, so make it in advance if you are pressed for time.

This cake is not very sweet because that’s how we like our cakes! If you want it to be a bit sweeter, add 1/4 cup more sugar or don’t even worry if you are going to add a sweet icing.

We just usually top it with double cream (choose one without additives) and fresh fruit but if you need a healthy icing, check out these ideas.

Let me know if you make my Healthy Chocolate Birthday Cake! I love hearing from you. 🙂

 

 

   

Filed In: FOOD / Tagged: birthday cake, chocolate cake, dairy-free, gluten-free, gluten-free cake, healthy birthday cake, healthy cake, refined sugar-free, Sonia's chocolate yoghurt cake

My Top 15 Father’s Day Gift Ideas

August 16, 2018 · 1 Comment

My Top 15 Father’s Day Gift Ideas

Father’s Day in Australia is the 2nd of September this year. I have got 15 gift ideas for your Dad that are eco-friendly, ethical, organic, healthy, natural and well… pretty much just awesome!

With thanks to my amazing sponsors and affiliate partners, there are also some brilliant discount codes and shipping offers exclusively to you!

♥ Byron Bay Gifts Hamper

Byron Bay Gifts is an online store that has a gorgeous range of gifts and boxed hampers, including this one for Dads. Zoe is passionate about showcasing ethical, organic, natural or hand-made products produced by amazing people in the Byron Bay region.

Everything is of the highest quality and beautifully packaged and you can add a personalised message to the gift card. This hamper is a combination of local treats and organic body products – sweet & salty peanuts, beef jerky, handmade soap and biccies. Zoe has made it easy to add in extra gifts like socks or goodies like wine, chocolate and olives to each box too.

Get the Gift Ideas For Men hamper here. Check out Zoe’s FREE shipping offers.

♥ Black Shakti Mat

We love our Shakti Mat here! I got one for my Dad at Christmas and he also loves it.

So what is a Shakti Mat? It’s a hand-made acupressure mat with an organic cotton cover and 6000 spikes or points, that you lie on, sit on or stand on. It’s a bit like having a personal masseuse on hand, anytime you need it.

The idea is that it works on your acupressure points to not only relax you, but also boost circulation, calm down the nervous system and release endorphins. Benefits can include pain relief, better sleep, more energy and less stress. Bliss!

Get the Shakti Mat here.

♥ Gaia Men’s Skincare

The males in our house rate Gaia as one of their favourite skincare ranges! It often makes an appearance around here for gift giving because it’s such great quality while still being very affordable.

Gaia is made from natural and organic ingredients with plant extracts and it’s very gentle on sensitive skin. The range is free from soap and sulphates, petrochemicals, artificial fragrance, propylene glycol and paraben preservatives. Gaia uses lush essential oils of patchouli, spearmint and lime for a fresh manly scent that is all natural.

Get Gaia Men’s Range here. Use the exclusive code NNAM18 to receive 20% off your order until Dec 31, 2018.

♥ Crio Bru

Crio Bru is one of the gifts we give that is always well received! Crio Bru is like ground coffee but it’s ground cocoa beans. It comes in a variety of different flavours, but all are delicious and complex and it’s the perfect coffee alternative. There are also amazing health benefits of Crio Bru and it will suit most diets because the ingredients are simply just roasted cocoa beans.

You can brew it up on the stove, in a plunger or in travel plungers or even in your thermomix. Mandy has all the accessories to make up a gorgeous gift pack up and you can add a personal note too. My top pick is the Bodum travel plunger and a taster set so Dad can try all the varieties out!

Shop Crio Bru here. Use the exclusive code: DAD10 to get 10% off everything storewide until the 2nd of September.

♥ Pet Poo Composter

This really is the gift for the Dad who has everything. I bet your Dad doesn’t have a pet poo composter!! This is quirky gift giving at it’s best! But it really is such an ingenious idea to convert waste into something useful.

The EnsoPet Poo Composter kit has everything you need to start composting any pet poo in an easy and hygienic way. As well as keeping your back yard poo-free and preventing it ending up in land fill, it returns carbon to the soil and helps rebuild the soil on a microbial level. Dog not included. 😀

Get the EnsoPet Poo Composter from Sustainahome here.  Use the code: NEWBIE  to get free shipping with your first order at Sustainahome.

♥ Lhami Men’s Cologne

Natalie is an Aussie mum who hand-makes luscious natural skincare with beautiful essential oils. Her Men’s Cologne is 100% natural with no nasty toxins or synthetic fragrance.

This cologne has fresh citrus top notes and a blend of sandalwood and peppery spice base notes. The beautiful Buddahwood adds in a real leather and tobacco note to the fragrance.

Get Lhami Men’s Cologne here. With any purchase from Lhami’s men’s range until Father’s Day, you get exclusive FREE shipping with the code: DAD

♥ Zero-Waste Safety Razor

We swapped over to these zero-waste safety razors at Christmas and haven’t looked back! With no plastic parts at all, these stainless steel razors reduce so much single-use waste.

I thought they would be tricky to use, but it’s really easy to load the blades and the heavier razor actually gives such a close and precise shave. They will last forever and you can recycle the blades too.

Get zero-waste safety razors here. For an exclusive 10% off all razors until midnight 26th of August use the code: NNAM-RAZOR10

♥ Conscious Step Socks

Socks for Father’s Day are not lame when they are eco-friendly, fair trade, social-good socks! Made with high quality organic cotton, these socks do good with every pair you buy.

The company partners with organisations that plant trees, feed kids, give water and many other social causes. Beautifully gift-boxed in packs of three or just buy a single pair for the cause you want to support.

Get Conscious Step Socks here. Spend over $50 and get FREE shipping with the code: FREESHIP

♥ Recyled Tyre Wallet

How cool! Felvarrom hand-make innovative and functional wallets, wet bags, belts and accessories from old bike inner tubes. An awesome eco-friendly idea that will be an interesting talking point.

Get the recycled tyre wallet here.

♥ WeWood Watches

Made from 100% recycled and reclaimed wood, all WeWood Watches are free from artificial and toxic materials and are splash-proof too. A tree is planted for every watch sold!

Get WeWood Watches here.

♥ Solidteknics Wok

Dads that loves cooking will be stoked with anything from the amazing Solidteknics range, including this big 30cm wok. Made from wrought iron, the pans are non-stick, Aussie engineered and made and will last many generations.

Get the Solidteknics Wok and Pans here with free shipping.

♥ Cedar and Stone Beard Oil

The beard trend is not going anywhere soon, so make sure Dad is taking good care of his facial hair! This beard oil from Cedar and Stone will condition and soften without leaving a weird greasy feel.

Cedar and Stone are a gorgeous skincare range that is 100% plant-based and hand-made at the Gold Coast.

Get the Cedar and Stone natural beard oil here.

♥ Ginger Beer Kit

This is a fun project to do with the family! These Mad Millie ginger beer kits have everything you need to make fresh, additive-free, waste-free ginger beer at home.  It makes 6 large bottles of both alcoholic and non alcoholic ginger beer.

Get the Mad Millie Ginger Beer Kit here.

♥ Fatherhood by William McInnes

I am such a huge fan of William McInnes and his work – he’s the quintessential Aussie bloke! His new book, Fatherhood is full of stories, laughs, tales and memories about being a Dad.

Get Fatherhood by William McInnes here.

♥ Loving Earth Chocolate Almonds

Under $10, these double-coated chocolate almonds are amazingly good. I highly advise getting a sneaky box for yourself as well.

These activated almonds have a double layer coating of salted caramel and coconut mylk chocolate. It’s the perfect combination of salty, sweet & crunchy and they are also gluten-free, dairy- free, organic, vegan and fair trade.

Get Loving Earth Chocolate Almonds here.

 

Where to shop?

Have a browse at some of my favourite online stores that have a huge range of Father’s Day Gifts:

Flora and Fauna

Biome Eco Store

Emporio Organico

 

PIN ME!

 

 

(parts of this article are sponsored)

   

Filed In: HOME / Tagged: eco gift, fair trade gift, Father's day, Father's Day gifts, gift guides, gifts for him, gifts for men, natural gift, organic gift

The Ultimate Guide to Natural Deodorants

August 9, 2018 · 4 Comments

The Ultimate Guide to Natural Deodorants

When natural deodorants first came out, they were a bit hit and miss. Mostly consisting of salt water or crystal sticks, they just didn’t cut it when living in a sub-tropical climate. It was so frustrating (and smelly!)

Thankfully these days, there are natural deodorants that actually work and are just as good (I’m going to say better) than conventional deodorants. We are now spoilt for choice with many clever people making great natural deodorants that are way better for our health.

So here it is : The Ultimate Guide to Natural Deodorants! I hope you find it interesting and a great resource to refer back to.

 

Deodorant or Antiperspirant?

Here’s the thing with natural deodorants – they are not antiperspirants. Antiperspirants work by  blocking our sweat glands to stop us sweating (usually with aluminium!!). Deodorants stop the odour, not the sweating.

Sweating is good! It’s a natural body process to help us stay cool and eliminate toxins. It’s not the sweat that smells – it’s the bacteria under our arms that makes us smell whiffy.

So, a deodorant to keep the smelly bacteria under control but still lets our body eliminate toxins naturally is the ideal.

 

Why use a natural deodorant?

Conventional deodorants contain some very nasty toxins that are applied close to two of your body’s major lymph glands!  As mentioned, anything that is an antiperspirant will also block your sweat glands.

Here are some toxins that can be found in conventional deodorants and what The Chemical Maze has to say about them:

Aluminium – linked to breast cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. “Strong evidence of human neurotoxicity”.

Parabens – a hormone disruptor (find out more here). “Suspected endocrine disruption”.

Propylene Glycol – “Suspected respiratory, immuno and neurotoxicity”.

Phthalates – ” Suspected endocrine, liver, kidney, reproductive, developmental, immuno and neurotoxicity”

Triclosan – “Allergic reactions, sense organ and immunotoxicity”

Fragrance – “Allergic reactions, asthma, suspected immuno and neurotoxicity”

All of these chemicals are suggested by The Chemical Maze to be best avoided.

There have been some studies that linked antiperspirants /deodorants with breast cancer. However more recent studies say we need more information and the results are not conclusive.

You know my stance on these things – if there is a doubt, err on the side of caution! Logically, it doesn’t make sense to interfere with your body’s natural processes, so embrace the sweat and go natural to kill the smell.

 

Tips for Using a Natural Deodorant

You should always apply deodorant to very dry, clean skin that has no soap residue. Washing and drying thoroughly keeps bacteria at bay and helps the natural deodorant to do its job more effectively. Some people even swear by exfoliating your pits regularly with a face cloth, so that’s something to try!

Some deodorants will sting if applied to freshly shaved skin, so leave the shaving or waxing to night time when you don’t have to use deodorant.

On really, really hot days when you are doing a lot of physical activity, then you may need a second application. If you need to reapply, give your skin a bit of a wash and dry first, if you can, to help the deodorant work better.

 

Pit Detoxing

Unfortunately first time users of natural deodorants often give up because they don’t realise their pits are detoxing from using conventional deodorant.

It can take up to two weeks for your pits to detox and get healthy! You might experience redness, itchiness, rashes or strong odour. If your pits don’t settle down after two weeks or so, you may need to try a different brand. Earth Purities make a product specifically for detoxing your pits, called Detox-A-PIt. Its designed to help draw out the toxins and heavy metals and correct the imbalances in the bacteria that cause the odour and irritation.

I haven’t used this one so I can’t comment on the effectiveness but it is an option for you to consider if you are having real trouble with switching to a natural deodorant. Check out some more info about how it works and some feedback here.

Get Earth Purities pit detox paste here.

 

What is the best natural deodorant?

I can’t really tell you that!

We are all so unique in our chemical makeup, our diet, our daily activity level and our climate, so it’s really a very personal thing as to which one will work the best for you.

However, I do have a list of awesome natural deodorants for you. I have tried so many over the years and these are my favourites. I tend to switch it up and use different ones all the time. I also test them out on two smelly teens and the husband!

I prefer to support Aussie small businesses and ethical, passionate people who love what they do. So it’s no surprise that those amazing people’s products made it onto my list.

 

Top 3 Deodorant Pastes

 

♥ Erica Brooke Deodorant Cremes

Handmade in Brisbane by a natural new age mum, Erica Brooke deodorant cremes are simply luscious. The deodorants are beautifully soft to apply, like a smooth and creamy moisturiser.

Erica makes them with all natural, organic, ethical ingredients including shea butter, coconut oil and pure essential oils. The deodorant cremes also come in unscented, double-strength and bicarb-free versions so there is something to suit everyone!  I love that they are packed in glass for a plastic-free, recyclable option.

Get Erica Brooke Natural Deodorant Paste here. Use the code: NNAMLOVE for 10% off everything storewide.

 

♥ The Physic Garden Deodorant Pastes

Charelle is a naturopath from Melbourne who creates natural deodorants and balms using medicinal & magical herbs.  As well as being naturopathically formulated and handmade with love in small batches, the deodorants are completely natural and made with organic and sustainable ingredients.

Featuring soothing herbs and pure essential oils, there are three versions of the pastes. Relax Me has a soft floral scent, Revitalise Me is fresh and citrusy and Sensitive is scent-free and bicarb-free. I have been trialling all three of the deodorant pastes for a couple of weeks now and I am a huge fan. They work beautifully all day with one application and I do love a floral scent, so the Relax Me version is my absolute favourite.

Charelle has a real passion for the environment and sustainability and uses no plastic at all. The deodorants come in either glass jars or aluminium tins and they are palm oil-free, vegan and certified cruelty-free. So much to love about The Physic Garden!

Get The Physic Garden Natural Deodorant Paste here.

 

♥ Woohoo Deodorant Paste

Hand-made in Newcastle by the quirky couple from Happy Skincare, Woohoo is one of our family’s favourites.

There are three great options – Urban, Wild and Mellow and a new one coming soon!  Aaron and Phoebe have just released the option of aluminium tins for all of their deodorants if you don’t want to get the recyclable plastic tubs. They all come with a small spatula for hygienic application.

Vegan, cruelty free, all natural and made with organic ingredients, the deodorants are great performers and are specially formulated to be pH friendly and gentle on skin. They are guaranteed to work and last around five months, so they are great value for money!

Get Woohoo Deodorant Paste here.  Use the code: NNAM to get 10% off your first order and if you get two full sizes, you get FREE shipping.

 

 

Top 3 Roll-On Deodorants

Roll-ons have the benefit of being quick and easy to apply and being more ‘mainstream’ looking for those having trouble changing over the a natural option.

 

♥ Fresca Natural Deodorant

Fresca Natural deodorants have been around for over 6 years and are real industry leaders with stacks of rave reviews and awards. Elda Kingston, a Perth mum, still hand-makes all the deodorants herself even with over 200 stockists worldwide.

I love these deodorants for their hard-working staying power. Made with all natural, food-grade ingredients, Fresca Natural are cruelty free, vegan and contain no palm oil. They are fast and easy to use with a quick-drying, non-sticky feel.

My favourite is the Wild Lavender scent – it’s an absolutely gorgeous blend of lavender, patchouli and geranium essential oils.  Elda makes seven varieties to choose from, including unscented and more ‘manly’ scents like Wooden Spice for the blokes.

Get Fresca Natural Deodorants here.  Elda will give you FREE shipping when you get two or more products!

 

♥ A Bit Hippy Natural Cream Deodorant

A Bit Hippy is one of my favourite brands for affordable, hard-working beauty products. The deodorant is no exception! At under $8, it’s a great natural option that is bicarb-free, easy to use and effective at keeping the B.O at bay.

The A Bit Hippy deodorant cream has a very subtle, fresh unisex scent and is vegan, cruelty-free and made in Australia. A Bit Hippy offer a 100% customer satisfaction and money back guarantee if the deodorant doesn’t work for you. You can’t go wrong!

Get A Bit Hippy natural roll-on deodorant here.

 

♥ Wunder Arms

A new offering from 123 Nourish Me, Wunder Arms is a great little roll on. I love a pun, so it makes me smile whenever I use it! The scent is fresh, subtle and slightly floral but not too much so that blokes couldn’t use it.

It’s certified organic, contains low bi-carb and pure essential oils, Aussie bush flowers and bush fruit extracts. As usual, amazing Aussie mums Alisa and Danni only use the highest quality ingredients in their products and they are very particular, so you can be assured that you are getting only the best.

Get Wunder Arms Organic Deodorant here.

 

Want a Spray?

♥ Lhami Coconut and Lime Spray Deodorant

Some people just love a spray deodorant! Aussie mum, Natalie from beautiful Aussie skincare company, Lhami hand-makes this one.

It’s an aluminium & alcohol free natural spray deodorant with soothing chamomile & aloe vera. Pure oils of coconut, patchouli & lime all have effective deodorising properties  and smell great.

Get Lhami Natural Spray Deodorant here.

 

Got Teenagers?

Obviously, teenagers can use any of the deodorants I have recommended. My daughter’s favourite is Erica Brooke and she is slightly obsessed and won’t use anything else.

Boys however can be a little bit harder to please, because there is the ‘cool factor’ to consider. That’s where 808 Dude comes in.

♥ 808 Dude

Aussie mum, Carolyn could not find a natural deodorant for her teenage son, so she made one! 808 Dude is an organic, all-natural, roll-on deodorant in a woody, uplifting scent.

I love the cool packaging and the affordable price. My teenage son gives this one the thumbs up for it’s staying power too.

Get 808 Dude natural roll on deodorant here.

 

Sensitive?

Some people react badly to sodium bicarbonate (bicarb) and/or essential oils in natural deodorants. If you are one of those people, try Woohoo Mellow or The Physic Garden Sensitive which contain no essential oils or bicarbonate of soda. Go back up the page to see the special offers for these.

 

Really Smelly?

If you do a lot of physical activity or exercise, my recommendations are the unisex Woohoo Wild and Erica Brooke’s Double Strength. Go back up the page to see the special offers for these.

 

Like to DIY?

Check out these DIY natural deodorant recipes and get all the ingredients and the containers you will need as well. You could have a deodorant making night with a few friends – what fun!

 

I told you this article was going to be epic! Thanks so much for reading this far. I know making the switch to natural deodorants isn’t always easy but give it a go. The health benefits of ditching those nasty toxins are really worth it.

Let me know if you have any questions or want to know more about natural deodorants. 

 

Save me to Pinterest!

 

 

(parts of this article contain sponsored content)

   

Filed In: HEALTH / Tagged: deodorant, natural beauty, natural deodorant, pit detox

Easy ways to save water and reduce your water bill

July 31, 2018 · 2 Comments

Easy ways to save water and reduce your water bill

My last water bill was a bit of a shocker!

Once I started researching, I realised there were some really easy things we could do straight away to help reduce our water consumption. So, now I am sharing them with you!

Here are some really easy ways to save water and reduce your water bill.

 

♥ Buy a water-saving shower head

Now that we have moved house and are renting for a while, I realised we had old shower heads that were not water conservation friendly!!

You can buy a basic water-saving shower head quite inexpensively at your local hardware store and they are usually easy to install. You can also get tap aerators that go on the end of your taps if you still have old-style water-wasting ones.

 

♥ Check for leaks

When I asked for help in our NNAM Facebook group (email me if you want to join us), heaps of you told me to check for leaks. It’s so simple to do!

Just turn off all your taps and appliances, take the meter reading, wait one hour and then take the reading again. Obviously don’t use any taps or toilets in that hour! If the meter has ticked over, you might have a leak.

To check for leaks in your toilet, add a few drops of food colouring (hey, this is how you can use up any toxic stuff still lurking in the pantry!!) to the cistern after you flush. Any leaks will show up in the toilet bowl.

♥ Half flush only

Yes, I did! While hubby and I are motivated to save water and get that bill down, the teenagers in the house need a little reminding. You really only need to use half a flush, not a full flush.

Old fashioned single flush toilets use 12 litres of water per flush, so it’s worth replacing them if you can.

 

♥ If it’s brown..

We are also practising the old ‘if it’s brown flush it down, if it’s yellow let it mellow’ trick. Not when we have visitors though!!

Just be careful not to let too much paper build up because it can clog the toilet. There’s definitely a sweet spot when it’s just the right time to flush.

 

♥ Bottle in the cistern

I’m still talking loos! The idea of putting a brick in the cistern to save water (I am sure we did that when I was a kid!) is not recommended. Bits of the brick can disintegrate and cause problems (thank you Google).

So, the better option is to use a plastic bottle (another great recycle idea for milk bottles) filled with a few rocks and water. You pop it in the cistern (away from any of the mechanisms) to reduce the amount of water in each flush. So far it seems to be working well!

 

♥ Shorter showers

I know, this should seem obvious right? I think it’s because the negative ions from water makes us feel so good we want to stay under there!

We are making a better effort at turning off the shower for shampooing and shaving and making shower time short and sweet. You can put a timer in there if your kids really need a reminder – make it a fun game!

 

♥ Water-saving mode

Most new dishwashers and washing machines these days will have a water-saving or eco option. If you are in the market for a new appliance, check its water efficiency rating and go for the best you can afford – it will save you money over time.

 

♥ Full loads only

Wait until you have a full load in the dishwasher and washing machine before you use it. If you need something straight away, it’s much more eco-friendly and efficient to wash by hand.

 

♥ Fill the sink

Fill the sink with water when you are cooking or cleaning. Use it as much as you can for rinsing instead of having the tap running.

 

♥ Wash your clothes less

It’s not always easy living in Queensland, because we do get sweaty! But just getting as much wear out of clothes as we can before we wash them really helps.

Wearing pyjamas, jeans, jumpers etc multiple times, sponging off small stains, hanging up and airing clothes instead of washing are all things we can do. Do a sniff test and stain inspection before throwing stuff in the laundry basket.

 

I hope this has given you some inspiration on easy ways to save water and reduce your water bill.  I would love to know your water saving tips! Leave us a comment below.

 

You might also like to read: 10 Easy Ways to Be an Eco-Warrior

 

   

Filed In: HOME / Tagged: conservation, water, water-saving

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.

 

 

   

Filed In: SELF

10 ways to repurpose old clothes

July 18, 2018 · Leave a Comment

10 ways to repurpose old clothes

 

Fast fashion seems to be the buzz word at the moment. It’s great that people are becoming more aware of the environmental repercussions of buying poor-quality, cheap clothing that just doesn’t last.

We buy the majority of our clothes from op shops in an effort to be more sustainable. Reusing what’s already been produced and buying nothing new really helps the war on waste.

If your unwanted clothing is still in good condition, donate it to an op shop, post it online to sell or give away or organise a clothes swap with friends. One man’s trash (or questionable fashion choice) is another man’s treasure!

What do you do if your clothes have stains, holes and tears?

Don’t bin them! Put them aside in a dedicated storage place and upcycle them into something new or repurpose in another way.

Take the buttons off old clothes and store them in a jar for repairs or make something crafty with them.

Here are 10 ways to repurpose old clothes.

 

♥ Make a shopping bag

It’s ridiculously easy and requires no sewing to convert old t-shirts into shopping bags. With the plastic bag ban in place this is a zero-cost option for you. Find the tutorial here.

 

♥ Cleaning cloths

Cut up your old clothes into squares and use them for cleaning cloths. You will never have to buy another cloth or paper towel again! Some fabrics work better than others – old t-shirts, socks, flannelette pyjamas, nappies, towels and any natural fabric are great for cleaning. Other fabrics might work better as painting or garage rags. Experiment!

 

♥ Make a headband

Most fabrics will convert easily into a headband. Cut off strips of fabric and tie them anyway you like! If you want to get a bit more fancy, check out this tutorial for a beautiful celtic cross band made from a t-shirt.

 

♥ Make a doggy coat

If you are a little more advanced with sewing skills and a machine, you can turn a flannelette shirt into a dog coat! Find the tutorial and pattern here.

 

♥ Save them for dirty jobs or pyjamas

I know this seems really obvious but I am often surprised that some people don’t have ‘old clothes’! Maybe I got it from my mum, but I always change out of my ‘going out clothes’, hang them up and change into my ‘old clothes’ when I get home.

I use old house clothes as dual purpose for pyjamas – who cares if they have holes in them or have a spaghetti stain you just can’t get out? I then have ‘old old clothes’ which are used for painting, gardening and heavy duty cleaning. I’d love to know what system you have!

 

♥ Make storage buckets

With a no-sewing and sewing tutorial these storage buckets from old jeans are so cute! Find how to to make them here.

 

♥ Make pot holders

How cute are these pot holders made from old t-shirts?? You could use them for coasters or trivets too. Get the tutorial here.

 

♥ Make a rag rug

There are so many different ways to make a rug from old clothing and fabric. I like this easy version which involves braiding strips and sewing together.

 

♥ Make a cushion

That favourite, old, snuggly jumper can become a favourite, snuggly cushion! You could even make them a bit larger and use as a pet bed.

 

♥ Reshape and restyle

I’m so impressed by people that can restyle old clothing into something new! This top is a no-sew, funky one-shoulder number that was made from a boring boxy mens t-shirt. Pinterest has so many amazing ideas and it’s something fun you can do with the kids and teens too!

 

♥ Make a plant hanger

This is your bonus tip! There are so many great tutorials online to make a macrame plant hanger from t-shirt yarn. T-shirt yarn is simply cut up strips of old t-shirts. You can use the yarn for so many things around the house!! Check out how to make this hanger here.

 

I’d love to hear from you. Do you repurpose? What do you make? 

 

   

Filed In: HOME

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