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.

Honey, honey….. what’s the best honey?

June 7, 2018 · 6 Comments

Honey, honey….. what’s the best honey?

We were having a chat about honey in our Natural New Age Mum Facebook group the other day (email me to join!) and some of you weren’t aware of what honey is best to buy and which are best to avoid.

So, here I am today to share some information about honey with you!

Honey is a an original ‘superfood’. It can help with gut health, colds and flu, sore throats, wound healing and more. It’s high in vitamins, minerals, enzymes and antioxidants and has natural anti-viral and anti-fungal properties.

What’s the best honey to buy?

Ideally, the best type of honey 100% raw, unfiltered, unpasteurised, local honey.

♥ Check that the honey you are buying is 100% honey. Unfortunately some of the honey you find in the supermarket can be mixed with plant sugars or high fructose corn syrup and even water! You are looking for 100% pure honey on the label, not just ‘pure honey’.

♥ Local honey can give relief to sufferers of seasonal allergies. Because the bees are collecting nectar from the local plants that are troubling you, ingesting the honey can work in a homeopathic way and help you build up a tolerance.

Some supermarket brands supplement their honey with imported honey which does not always have the same stringent quality controls that we have. According to Choice Australia, imported honey is no longer tested for added antibiotics.

Of course there are other benefits of buying local – supporting your local beekeeper and the local economy, reducing food miles and the chance to reduce packaging by taking your own containers. We want to keep Aussie beekeepers in business and not forced out of the market with cheap overseas imports.

♥ Honey that is ‘raw’ means that it hasn’t been heat-treated or pasteurised. Heating honey over 35-45º celsius (the natural temperature of a hive) compromises the beautiful assortment of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and probiotics that are naturally present in honey.

♥ Unfiltered honey means just that – it hasn’t been filtered. The filtering process can remove bee pollen from the honey. Bee pollen is a powerhouse of nutrients and something we want to keep and consume. Filtering is a different process to ‘straining’ where the large chunks of beeswax are strained out but the pollen remains.

Where do you find good honey?

You should be able to find raw, local honey at your local markets. You might be lucky enough to find a beekeeper selling honey directly so you can ask lots of questions about their processes.

Most local health food store or green grocers sell it too. Some places may even allow you to buy your honey in bulk or to use your own jar to refill, which is a great eco-friendly option.

According to Simon Mulvany from Save the Bees, the brands to avoid are: Capilano, Allowrie, Barnes, Wescobee and Macro (Woolworths house brand).

If you can’t get something local and want to buy one online, Kitsa at Emporio Organico recommends this brand.

What about organic?

Honey is one thing I don’t really worry too much about buying organic.

If you think about it, it’s pretty impossible to guarantee that honey is going to be organic anyway! As bees fly several kilometres from their hive, they could be collecting nectar from anywhere.

I am more concerned about making sure the beekeeper doesn’t use any toxic chemicals in their processes. An organic certification also costs a lot of money and small beekeepers may produce a mostly organic product but lack the financial resources to become certified.

What about baking?

If you use raw honey as a sweetener in baking, it does lose it’s goodness.

I still use raw honey in recipes occasionally when I want that honey flavour. That’s mostly because I still want to buy honey locally and support my local bee keeper and I don’t want to use imported or weird adulterated honey!

Maple syrup is a great substitute for honey in your cakes and biscuits and tolerates heating.

What about Manuka honey?

Manuka honey is amazing and very useful for many ailments due to it’s antibiotic properties. It is more a medicinal product rather than something you slather on your toast with gay abandon though! The price reflects this, so look at it is a healing remedy and use sparingly as needed.

The higher the MGO level or UMF level, the higher the bioactivity level. Check out Berringa Australia Super Manuka.

Why does it crystallise?

Over time you might find that your honey will crystallise, solidify and turn opaque. This just means that the enzymes are still active and you have a good honey!

Pop your jar in some warm water and it will liquefy again for ease of use.

Try my home-made Honey Cough Syrup!

I would love to know what honey you use – give your local beekeeper a shout out in the comments.

“Well,” said Pooh, “what I like best,” and then he had to stop and think. Because although eating honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn’t know what it was called.” ~ Winnie The Pooh

Resources and further reading:

Save the Bees Australia

Honey Lady

Introducing… Culture Clean, probiotic cleaning sprays!

May 31, 2018 · Leave a Comment

Introducing… Culture Clean, probiotic cleaning sprays!

You might know my friend (health coach and bone broth goddess) Micheline Andrews from her amazing work with bone broth! Well, she has just released a new range of cleaning products that also hark back to traditional ways.

Micheline is using her Nan’s original secret recipe to make a range of fermented cleaning products called Culture Clean. I thought that probiotic cleaners were a new thing, but once again the old fashioned, natural remedies prove how amazing they really are.

What is Culture Clean?

Culture Clean is a range of cleaning products that are naturally fermented. Harnessing the power of probiotics, Mich makes the sprays all by hand at her home in Tasmania. There are two products in the range at the moment – an all purpose spray and a mould spray.

Unlike some probiotic cleaning products on the market, Culture Clean grows the culture in the cleaning product (see the photo below). Probiotics are not just added into to a mixture. The whole process takes four weeks and results in a powerful cleaning solution full of beautiful, live cultures.

The sprays are non-toxic, vegan, plant based, cruelty free, palm oil free and totally safe to use around children and pets. They are also completely safe for the environment and our water ways. The sprays coincidentally also act as an ant-repellant!

I love that Mich packages Culture Clean in reusable and recyclable amber glass bottles too. My package arrived very well packed with upcycled materials.

It’s perfect for people who are sensitive to chemicals and aromas as it’s made from all natural plant ingredients and there are no nasty toxins. The sprays have a very mild, citrusy scent that you hardly notice.

Why fermented?

We all know we need probiotics in our diet for good gut health and optimal wellness, but what about probiotics for our homes?

Chemical cleaning products and even essential oils will kill everything – good and bad bacteria, leaving the surfaces in our home sterile. Unfortunately that doesn’t help us fight infections and bugs – we need good bacteria and probiotics for that.

Culture Clean fights the harmful bacteria with the probiotics and introduces the good bacteria to our homes. Rather than living in a sanitised environment, we can create a more natural environment in our homes that helps maintain our good health.

What did we think?

I will admit I was rather skeptical about how this product would work. Sorry for doubting you Mich!

My whole family tried out the Culture Clean products (because I make my family clean too!) and all of us were really impressed at how they worked. It’s a very simple spray and wipe. It cut through the grease and grime with one application and left surfaces squeaky clean.

We found it worked equally as well in the kitchen and in the bathroom. I would tell you about how well it went in the kids’ toilet but that would be gross, so you will just have to take my word for it!!

You don’t need to rinse the spray – it’s streak free and leaves no residue. I love that the smell is very mild too – it makes cleaning a much nicer experience.

The sprays come in big 500ml glass bottles so they last forever and they are very affordable too. If you get five, Mich gives you a really good discount, so it’s worthwhile to share with friends and family.

I love that the product is hand-made in small batches by an Aussie mum. Slow living and traditional methods and remedies really appeal to me these days. There’s also a lot of love that goes into every bottle. You don’t get that with Spray and Wipe!! 😉

Want to try it?

At this stage, Mich is selling Culture Clean directly to the public from her website and at her local Tassie markets. But feel free to chat to your local health food store and let them know about Culture Clean.

If you want to give Culture Clean a try for yourself, Mich is kindly giving us all free shipping!!

Use the code: NNAM until 14th of June here.

Follow Culture Clean

Website

Facebook

Instagram

(this post is sponsored)

How to negotiate the plastic bag ban (like a boss)

May 25, 2018 · 4 Comments

How to negotiate the plastic bag ban (like a boss)

It’s such a massive win for the planet that single-use plastic shopping bags are going to be banned in QLD, WA and Victoria in the next few months!

Plastic bags cause lot of trouble with our sea life and of course plastic never breaks down so we are just constantly adding to landfill.

Major supermarkets are phasing out those horrible grey plastic bags but are introducing thicker plastic bags at a cost of 15c each. Instead of using that option, I think it’s such a great opportunity to make a real difference and start using more eco-friendly bags.

I can remember my grandparents using boxes, paper bags and food wrapped in brown paper, so it’s not that many generations ago that we all got by perfectly well without plastic.

Some of you have already been using your own shopping bags for years – go you!

If you haven’t, take the next few weeks to get prepared. Here are some tips to get you ready for ban the bag!

What exactly is being banned?

Check with your state government websites for more specific information but basically single-use, lightweight, plastic shopping bags less than 35 microns in thickness are banned. You will still be able to get thicker plastic shopping bags, nappy bags, dog-poo bags, bin liners and plastic produce bags.

Choose a better quality bag

The best sort of bag for the environment is one that can be reused many times and will then break down naturally at the end of it’s life.

I broke up with green bags some time ago as they are also made of plastic. Your most eco-friendly option are bags made from natural, biodegradable materials like plant fibres, cotton and jute.

In my handbag, I keep a fold up lightweight bag that I have had for over ten years! It’s still going strong.

For the weekly shop, I use an eclectic mix of jute bags, cotton bags and smaller fabric produce bags. Most have been sourced from op shops, some have upcycled from old pillowcases and some have been purchased.

I find them really sturdy and easy to use and you can fit a lot more into each bag. So instead of 2o plastic bags, I might only have four or five fabric bags.

I make sure I wash them every few weeks in a hot wash with a few drops of eucyalptus oil. This keeps them clean and hygienic. Trust me, the checkout operators will thank you for not giving them a dose of E.Coli !

This organic cotton shopping bag from Green Essentials is a great size and has several different compartments and reinforced stitching for extra durability. Get it here.

Find other alternatives

Do you even need a bag? We seem to have just been in the habit of accepting things in a plastic bag.

Pop your shopping in your handbag, backpack or pram or carry things with your hands. This is where taking the kids shopping can come in handy!

You could also use cardboard boxes too – many places will give you one. Are you a farmers’ market shopper? Invest in a gorgeous big basket or cart.

These shopping baskets with leather handles are so stylish and durable! Find them here.

DIY bags

If you are handy, you can make your own bags! Sew yourself fabric shopping bags – there are loads of free patterns on the internet! You could also upcycle old pillowcases or t-shirts.

How do you remember your bags?

The secret to remembering your bags is just making it a habit.

After unpacking my shopping, I fold the bags up and put them in one larger bag and then pop them by the door to go back in the car. It really does become part of your routine and I very rarely forget them. I am still working on getting the rest of the family into a regular habit though!

You can also set up little reminders like writing ‘bags’ on your shopping list, leaving the bags near your car keys, leaving the bags on the front seat of your car, writing yourself reminder notes or set phone alerts. Find something that works for you.

If you do forget your bags, have a look around for a Boomerang Bag– you can borrow a reusable one!

What about lining my bin?

I know! A lot of people do use their single use plastic grocery bags for lining their bin. You can still buy bin liners but you can also see it as an opportunity to do something different.

You can just put rubbish straight into your bin and then wash after use. Wrap anything really gross in newspaper!

You can use newspaper to line your bin.

Starting a compost bin will help you get rid of a lot of the smellier garbage. You can get these awesome compostable plastic bags for food waste that will completely break down in your compost.

You could also use any plastic bags you end up with – produce bags, the thicker shopping bags or even bread bags!

Of course, recycling reduces a lot of rubbish we put in the regular bin as well. Did you know you can recycle soft, crushable plastics now?

Some savings for you:

20% off Envirosax reusable bags here.

40% off White Magic market carts here.

What do you use? I would love to know how you navigate plastic-free shopping!

Warm Beetroot and Purple Carrot Salad

May 16, 2018 · Leave a Comment

I love getting a local fruit and veggie box every week. We have been eating more in season and trying more interesting ingredients.

Our last box had beetroot, red onions, purple carrots and rocket so I made a beautiful warm Autumn salad with them. It was so delicious I thought I would share it with all of you!

The salad will feed about four to six people as a side or two to three as a meal.

Warm Beetroot and Purple Carrot Salad

Vegetarian, gluten free, nut free, egg free

What you need:

3 small beetroot, peeled and cut into thick wedges

2 purple carrots, peeled and cut into thick batons

2 small red onions, peeled and cut into thick wedges

1/2 cup cooked French lentils

100g soft feta cheese

1 cup spinach

2 cups rocket

Dressing:

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon orange juice

1/2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1/2 teaspoon seed mustard

finely grated rind of half an orange

1/2 small garlic clove, grated

pink salt and pepper

How to do it:

Pop the beetroot, carrot and onion into a large baking dish. Add a good drizzle of olive oil and salt and pepper. Roast in a hot oven – 200°C for 30-40mins or until cooked through. Don’t let the onion break up into small pieces, or it will burn!

Wash spinach and rocket and spread out on a platter.

Arrange the warm vegetables, lentils and feta on top.

Make the dressing by putting all the dressing ingredients in a small jar and shaking well.

Drizzle the dressing over the top of the salad evenly.

Enjoy!

Now that I have a vegan and vegetarian in the house, I have started bulk cooking legumes again. It’s so easy to do – just soak them overnight and then cook the next day and freeze in glass jars! You can even cook them in the slow cooker.

Do you cook warm salads? What are your favourite combinations?

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!

Tips and safety for using the slow cooker

May 4, 2018 · 9 Comments

Tips and safety for using the slow cooker

How good is the slow cooker? We use ours all the time.

It’s so handy to be able to throw something in to the slow cooker in the morning and come home to a beautiful hot meal. We often think of using slow cookers in winter but they are great to use in summer too because they don’t heat up the house.

It’s brilliant for families who eat at different times for dinner. You can keep everything warm and just dish out portions as needed.

Slow cookers are a pretty easy way to cook but there are a few tips that can help you get the most out of your appliance. Let me know if you have any other tips to share in the comments!

Tips for cooking in the slow cooker:

♥ Stack the denser vegetables and meat on the bottom of the slow cooker and the lighter vegetables on top.

♥ Resist the urge to open the lid, you lose cooking time every time you peek!

♥ Browning meat first is totally optional, but it will add to the flavour. Do it if you have time and can be bothered washing another pan. Don’t forget to deglaze the pan with some liquid and add it to your slow cooker to get all that extra flavour.

♥ The general rule is four hours on high or eight hours on low for most meals. I prefer low and slow and try to cook things longer for better flavour.

♥ Slow cookers need a lot less liquid, so if you are adapting a favourite recipe, cut the liquid down by about a third. Remember that your veges will release a lot of liquid too.

♥ If you want your liquid to thicken in the slow cooker, coat meat in flour and brown in a frypan first. If you want to thicken at the end of cooking time, just make a paste of cornflour and water and add to the slow cooker, stirring in well. Leave it on high heat for ten to fifteen minutes or until it’s the thickness you want. You can also just take the lid off and turn the heat up to high to reduce the liquid too.

♥ Don’t overfill the slow cooker! Leave room for air flow to get consistent cooking.

♥ Always add cream, coconut cream, yoghurt or milk towards the end of the cooking time. Too much cooking makes these curdle.

♥ Lean meat tends to dry out so stick to meat with some fat or tougher cuts. For example, chicken thighs work better than chicken breasts. The cheaper cuts of meat like neck chops and chuck steak work perfectly in the slow cooker.

♥ Slow cookers are perfect for cooking roasts! I pop a few large slices of onion on the bottom of the pot and then add a good splash of water. Your roast will be beautifully tender.

♥ Slow cookers are also great for making your own bone broth. You can leave it on overnight and not worry about it burning dry!

♥ Hard herbs like rosemary and thyme will take the long slow cooking of a slow-cooker but soft herbs like parsley and basil are best added just at the end of cooking time and stirred through.

♥ Make sure your food is defrosted before it goes in the slow cooker or you could risk bacteria growing.

♥ Slow cookers are very forgiving for beginner cooks and it’s pretty hard to stuff up a meal! As long as there is enough liquid, most meals will be okay well past the eight hour mark.

♥ Meat, vegetables, liquid and some seasonings are all that is needed to make a yummy meal. Experiment with different combinations.

♥ Don’t limit yourself to stews and braises, you can cook all sorts of things in your slow cooker from porridge to cakes and it makes the best sweet potatoes! We often cook bulk amounts of (pre-soaked) chickpeas and beans in the slow cooker too.

♥ Most slow cooker inserts should go in the dishwasher. If not, you can get rid of baked-on food with bicarb and vinegar.

Slow cooker or crockpot? Same thing! Crockpot is just a brand name for a slow cooker.

Slow cooker safety:

Slow cooker safety is an issue that has come up lately and some of you are a bit worried.

Personally, I would not use a slow cooker with a non-stick surface and anything with Teflon is a definite no from me. Even if they proclaim to be safe, I am still very wary of the chemicals they use to make it non-stick! Check out my post about non-toxic cookware to find out more.

There is also some concern about lead in the ceramic glaze of slow cookers. For this reason, I would avoid really old slow cookers, stick to quality brands, ring the manufacturer and ask about your brand or invest in a slow cooker with a stainless steel or glass insert.

There are recommendations to avoid cookware made in China as they have less regulation around lead safety. I would definitely avoid cheap slow cookers!

You can buy also lead testing kits at hardware stores to check your current slow cooker to make sure it’s safe.

KitchenAid and Cuisinart have both stated that their slow cookers do not contain lead. I recommend both brands. Having worked in a kitchen store, these are top performers! You can get both on sale here.

Slow cooker recipes:

Check out my bumper list of 20 Wholefood Slow Cooker Recipe

20 Gorgeous Gifts for Mother’s Day

I really didn’t think I could outdo last year’s Mother’s Day gift guide. It had so many beautiful gift ideas and you all loved it. But, I think this year I have just surpassed it. Just.

What’s so wonderful is that more people are finding the value in good quality, ethical, hand-made products instead of cheap stuff that ends up in landfill.

I also love supporting Aussie small businesses that are going against the grain and following their passion to create and provide us with unique and beautiful things.

I have been able to get some discount codes on a lot of these gifts for you and really appreciate working with these generous businesses to show you their wares.

I hope you enjoy it. Let me know what you think!

♥ Waterfall Bamboo Cardigan

This stylish light-weight cardigan is so versatile. You can wear it in all different ways and it’s perfect for breastfeeding and maternity wear too. The waterfall cut is flattering for all body shapes and ideal for a minimalist wardrobe. You can even wear it back to front!

The cardy is ethically made from bamboo with a tiny bit of spandex so it’s super soft and comfortable to wear. Available in Indigo, Taupe and Black here.

Want to win one for Mother’s Day? Corryn is giving away five cardigans! Enter here.

♥ EverEscents Organic Hair Care Pack

EverEscents have some beautiful Mother’s Day gift packs for your mum! Each one has an organic shampoo, conditioner and hair treatment in a cute gift box and there are seven different varieties to suit every hair type.

Julia and her team at EverEscents has been handcrafting premium organic hair products on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland for over ten years. They are made with the high quality ingredients including plant extracts and pure essential oils. All EverEscents products are vegan friendly, cruelty fee and carbon neutral.

Check them out online here.

♥ MG Naturals Green Beauty Kit

Kailah at MG Naturals makes safe, nourishing, all natural makeup and her Green Beauty Kit is perfect for a Mother’s Day gift. You get a foundation, mineral powder, kabuki brush, concealer and a lip glaze.

As well as being natural and toxin free, MG Naturals makeup is vegan, organic, cruelty free and titanium dioxide free. It’s designed to be soothing, hydrating and nourishing and help your skin instead of harming.

I love this makeup – it feels beautiful on and you forget you are wearing it and it’s very affordable too.

Kailah gives you free shipping when you spend over $95 and 10% off subscriber’s first orders. Check it out online here.

♥ Ecology Skincare Pamper Pack

Crystal from Ecology Skincare has some gorgeous pamper packs for Mother’s Day this year. Use this pack like a mini day-spa experience at home!

Start by removing makeup with the Microfibre Makeup Removal Cloth, relax in a hot bath with the Replenishing Mineral Bath Salts, gentle cleanse your face with the Facial Konjac Sponge and finish off by massaging the Replenishing Day and Night Cream all over your face and body. Heaven!

Everything is packaged in a beautiful gift box and at a discounted price. Get the pamper packs from Crystal here.

♥ Camel Wood Bagel Diffuser

Simmi The Aromatherapist is my go-to person for all things aromatherapy. She has decades of experience in the industry and a beautiful connection and deep understanding of oils. Her bagel diffusers are a gorgeous gift for mums that love their essential oils.

There are a few different styles to choose from – dark wood, black, white and my favourite – this light camel wood colour. They are super stylish and are a feature piece of decor in themselves. The diffuser uses ultrasonic waves to diffuse oils, not heat and it shuts off as soon as the water runs out, so it’s super safe. Make sure you also check out her beautifully blended pure essential oils too.

Simmi is kindly offering all of us a free sample of her Love blend of essential oils (a very exquisite experience with pure rose oil) with every bagel diffuser. Just use the code: FREELOVE here.

♥ UFO Drum

For a really unique gift for Mum, check out these UFO drums from music therapist, Allison Davies.

Not just for making beautiful music, the UFO drums also have therapeutic benefits of meditation, mindfulness, relaxation, self-expression and vibrational realignment. The UFO drum is a modern tonal tank steel drum from the same family of instruments as the Tibetan bowls and bells.

You can play it with your hands or mallets. Each petal of the drum is specially tuned so that it will always sound harmonious. So even non-musical people can play it without any learning or practice!!

They are travel-friendly and light weight and available in three different version, each tuned to different musical keys – Full Moon, Sunrise and Sunset. Each drum comes with a carry bag, mallets and a soft stand.

Alli is so kindly giving us all an exclusive 10% discount and FREE shipping in Australia. Use the code: NNAMUFO until the 13th of May here.

♥ A Once Courageous Heart

Kylie Johnson is a hugely popular Brisbane artist and poet. I have one of her poetry books and it’s just divine.

A Once Courageous Heart features poems which are both whimsical and profound in their exploration of love, loss and hope, and all that it is to be human.

The book features a beautiful fabric cover and is printed on 100% recyclable unbleached paper. Truly something for a mindful moment with a cup of tea.

Get 10% off until the 13th of May with the code: NNAM-MUM10 here.

Update: Currently out of stock at Biome Eco Stores, but you can purchase directly from Kylie here.

♥ Moisturising Body Bar from Lhami

I love these body bars from Natalie at Lhami for a gift that’s a bit different. It’s like bar of soap but it’s moisturiser! Cool, huh?

These lush body bars melt on contact with the skin and double as a massage bar and deodorant! Intensely nourishing, it has a base of shea butter, coconut butter and jojoba oil. There are two fragrances which feature 100% pure essential oils – Lime and Patchouli or May Chang. It also comes packaged without plastic in a reusable tin!

Get 10% off the body bars with the code: NNAM until the 13th of May here.

♥ Drop Scale

Technology that helps you cook! The new Drop Scale is taking Australia by storm. Connecting via bluetooth to your iPhone or iPad, this ingenious little scale makes cooking easier and fun.

Follow step by step instructions and weigh your ingredients as you go. It’s almost like having your mum on hand to help you cook because it will also give you suggestion for substitutions and scale the recipe according to how much of an ingredient you have.

There are hundreds of step-by-step easy, one-bowl recipes to access via the Drop Scale App (which is free!). You actually need to watch the video to really see how cool this scale is.

Mandy is kindly giving us all a massive 25% discount and free shipping until the 13th of May with the code: NNAM here.

♥ Urban Culinary Flowers Kit

How cool is this – a kit to make edible flowers! Of course you don’t have to eat them, you can just enjoy their beauty, but it’s so fun.

The kit comes with pots, labels, seed disks and an instruction and recipe booklet to grow cornflower, lavender, nasturtium, violas and dianthus.

Get it online here.

♥ SOLIDteknics Bigga Skillet

The amazing Aussie cookware that everyone is drooling over now has a 36cm bigga skillet. This deep pan is brilliant for things like curry, spaghetti, roasts, deep dish pizza, paella – the list goes on and you can even cook a cake in it!

These pans are designed to last for many generations, are made from seamless wrought iron and are non-toxic and non-stick.

Get 10% off the whole range until the 13th of May using the code: NNAM-MUM10 here.

♥ Bee House

If your mum is a nature lover, she is going to adore this hand-made bee house!

These bee houses are special in so many ways. They are hand-made in Brisbane using recycled pallets and weed bamboo by a local Men’s Shed.

The bee house helps native bees find a safe, secure place to hang out and raise their young. Hang it outside in a sheltered spot and wait for the bees to come.

Get a 10% discount until the 13th of May with the code: NNAM-MUM10 here.

♥ Her Gypsy Heart Perfume

Her Gypsy Heart roll-on organic perfume has a delicious floral scent with notes of rose, neroli and jasmine. It features pure essential oils and nourishing plant-based oils in a glass roller bottle. Heavenly!

Get it online here. For FREE shipping when you spend over $50, use the code: FREESHIP

♥ Jane’s Addiction Chocolates

You honestly didn’t think I wouldn’t have chocolates somewhere on this gift guide, did you? I am so excited about these gorgeous handmade chocolates from Jane’s Addiction. They are really something very special and exquisite.

Jane (a natural, new age mum from Perth) lovingly hand-makes organic, raw, vegan chocolate and infuses them with flower essences! Her special Nourish and Nurture gift box is for mums who are always giving to others and deserve some special love.

Each chocolate has a soft, raw caramel centre infused with essences of Goddess Grasstree, Leafless orchid and Pink Everlasting flower, all topped with edible 24k gold leaf. Divine!

Jane will post all over Australia with a cold pack so your choccies arrive in perfect condition. Check them out here and shoot Jane a Facebook message to order.

♥ Everlasting Lotus and Quartz Necklace

This gorgeous sterling silver lotus necklace has a clear quartz crystal and an extendable chain. Clear quartz is a powerful healing stone that protects against negativity, attunes to your higher self, and relieves pain.

Just one of the many beautiful and affordable pieces at Midsummer Star.

Use the code: TAKE10 for 10% off here and check out the sale category too.

♥ Macrame Mandala

I might have a slight obsession with mandalas and macrame so when I saw this I was instantly in love! It’s hand-made by Jessica at Wild Clove Co, an Aussie mum from Adelaide.

Jessica only uses 100% natural, unbleached organic cotton. This beautiful mandala wall hanging would look great in the bedroom, lounge or workspace. Get it online here.

♥ Recipes for Life’s Seasons Cook Book

I am a huge fan of the lovely Martyna Angell. Her recipes are delicious, healthy and wholesome. She has released a brand new cookbook – Recipe for Life’s Seasons just in time for Mother’s Day.

Martyna focuses on bio–individualism and all recipes emphasise seasonal whole foods with a focus on fresh fruit and vegetables. Get it here.

♥ Meditate Aromatherapy Candle

Fiona at Lemon Canary on the Gold Coast makes the most amazing aromatherapy candles. I love these one of a kind vintage jars she sources – imagine the history! Fiona has a whole range of candles and products with just 100% pure essential oils (I recommend those instead of the fragrance oils).

The Meditate blend is one of my favourites and has a luscious blend of cedarwood, lavender, lemon, frankincense & rosemary. Available in all different sizes and in other gorgeous blends as well. Also check out the gorgeous hampers.

There is FREE shipping in May with the code: LOVEYOUMUM here.

Under $13♥ Heart Tea Infuser

This gorgeous heart-shaped infuser from Mama Body Tea is great for mums who love their tea. I only ever use loose leaf tea now because so many tea bags contain plastic. It tastes better too!

Also check out the lush Mama Body Tea loose leaf blends. Get the infuser online here.

♥ Lil’ Bit Bee Flower Seed Bombs

Perfect for the nature lover, these seed bombs are balls of organic matter with flower seeds. Throw them anywhere you would like some colourful flowers to come up!

There are 6 seed bombs in a linen drawstring bag that will bloom into a stunning mix of organic annuals. They are designed to provide bees with a healthy habitat so they can collect pollen and nectar for the hive.

Get 10% off until the 13th of May with the code: NNAM-MUM10 here.

♥ Rustic Wooden Heart Frame

How gorgeous is this heart photo frame from Mes Homewares? It’s made of wood and cut rustically for a natural look.

Get it online here.

Want more?

Don’t give mum toxic perfumes that will harm her health! There are so many beautiful natural perfumes to choose from.

Check out some of my favourite books for Mum this Mothers’ Day.

See past year’s Mothers’ Day gift guides here.

Need some wrap?

Check out my eco-friendly gift wrap ideas.

Where to shop:

Biome Eco Store for all things good for the planet

Emporio Organico for a beautiful range of eco and luxe gifts

Flora and Fauna for all things natural, vegan and cruelty-free

The Clean Collective for non-toxic products for the family, baby and pregnancy

Lemon Canary for beautiful gifts like candles, crystals, oils and perfumes

Etsy for all things handmade, unique and beautiful

Midsummer Star for boho style silver jewellery

Dymocks for books, books and more books

Mother’s Day deals:

Get 10% off storewide at Biome Eco Store with the code: NNAM-MUM10 here. Expires 13th May.

Get 10% off all the Mother’s Day gifts at Flora and Fauna, use the code: LOVEMUM here. Expires 12th May.

Get 20% off Vapor Beauty with the code: LOVEMUM20 here.

Get 30% off Dear Addison jewellery with the code: DEAR30 here.

Get 30% off Pastiche jewellery with the code: MUM30 here.

Get 30% off and FREE shipping for KitchenAid stand mixers here.

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How to have an aromatherapy bath, safely!

April 17, 2018 · 2 Comments

How to have an aromatherapy bath, safely!

Did you know that it’s very easy to burn yourself with essential oils in the bath?

I know because I did it!

And it was very, very painful.

Last year, I had a bad flu and in my haziness, thought a nice aromatherapy bath would help. I must have been really out of it because I got badly burned. I think I used too many drops of essential oils and I didn’t mix it really thoroughly with the magnesium flakes like I normally do.

After a few minutes in the bath, I had a terrible burning pain up and down the back of my body. It took quite a few hours, a tub of coconut oil and cold towels draped all over me for the pain to go away. It was excruciating and I was in a lot of distress.

Since then, I found out that the method I was using (mixing into magnesium flakes) wasn’t even recommended as a safe option !! I am so, so careful now about how I take an aromatherapy bath.

Baths are a great way to get the benefits of essential oils. As well as absorbing the oils into your skin, you are also inhaling the beautiful vapours of the oils while relaxing and taking time out. I try to have a magnesium aromatherapy bath at least once a week to keep my stress levels in check.

Here’s the safety issue with essential oils and baths : “Essential oils are not water soluble, and so pouring them directly into a bath will result in a film of undiluted essential oils sitting on top, waiting patiently for your tender flesh to enter the water.” Robert Tisserand

So, to use essential oils safely in a bath, they need to be diluted and dispersed. We don’t want them neat on our skin in a hot bath as the hot water can make the skin even more hypersensitive to the oils.

After reading up on this topic so as not to burn myself again, I came across a few different things that you can use to dilute and disperse the oils in the bath. I think that the easiest way is to use a foaming product like shampoo, liquid soap or castile soap. You add 5-10 drops of essential oils to 1 tablespoon of foaming product and mix well really well. I do this in a small bowl I keep in the bathroom. I always use this castile soap because it has no weird ingredients and it’s unscented so I can add my own blend of oils for the results I want.

You can use a carrier oil like fractioned coconut oil or vegetable oil instead of a foaming product if you thoroughly mix the essential oils in with it. However, this method just dilutes the essential oils to a safe, non-burny level when in contact with your skin. They do not disperse the oil through the water like a foaming product does and they will still sit on top of the water.

It’s recommended not to use water soluble bases like milk, epsom salts, bicarbonate of soda, witch hazel, glycerine or aloe vera. These products are not considered safe because they simply dissolve in your bath water and leave the essential oils undiluted and at risk of coming into direct contact with your skin.

So, you still want a magnesium bath with oils? Simple. Just make sure you mix your essential oils with your foaming product really well. Then add to your bath with the magnesium flakes.

In my research into aromatherapy bath safety, I came across another point of view from The School of Aromatic Studies. I think she does make some good points but as with everything, I always err on the side of caution and considering my terrible burn experience with the oils, I am going with Robert Tisserand on this one. Also remember that children are extra sensitive, so take extra care.

Here are some gorgeous essential oil blends that are great for aromatherapy baths:

For Sleep: Slumber, Siesta or Sleepyhead

For Sickness: Immune Boost or Wellness Warrior

For Relaxing: Serenity or Calm

For Reviving: Upbeat or Energy and Vitality

For Lovers: Romance and Intimacy

I also use magnesium chloride flakes in my baths for relaxation and detoxing.

Do you take aromatherapy baths?

‘There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won’t cure, but I don’t know many of them.’ Sylvia Plath

Sources: Robert Tisserand, Tisserand Institute.

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?