Love List ~ October 2017

October 8, 2017 · 2 Comments

I haven’t done a LOVE LIST in forever.

Actually it’s been nearly a year to the day since I did the last one!

I had a bit of a break from posting this year while I was getting my health sorted out. Now that I am feeling a bit better, I am trying to keep up with posting once a week. Remember the days when I used to smash out three a week!?

Anyhooooo…. I have had so many things in that time that I have been wanting to share with you, so it’s a bumper edition this time around. I hope you enjoy it!

♥ Antipodes Juliet Cleanser

Antipodes is a gorgeous NZ natural skincare brand. This is the first time I have tried anything in the range and I love the cleanser so much. It’s a breeze to use and it leaves my skin feeling soft, clean and fresh. It combines exfoliating action into the gel cleanser so you are doing two steps in one!

My daughter who has blemish prone skin keeps stealing it too. I love that it’s in a big 200g size so it lasts longer and it’s affordable too.

Check it out here.

♥ Kinderfeets Kinderboard

How awesome is this!!! I need an adult one.

These stunning Scandinavian Kinderfeets balance boards are made from eco-friendly beech wood. They were created to help children develop a sense of balance, stimulate their vestibular system and gain a deeper awareness of their body and body parts. It can help improve mental focus and functional strength.

You can rock it. Balance on it. Push it. Spin it. Flip it and slide. Nap, relax and read on it. Use it as a play house for toys or as a bench seat. Let the kid’s imagination run wild with it!

Brilliant for kids with sensory processing disorders, on the spectrum or with special needs. These have been selling out around Australia so be quick if you are interested!

Find out more here.

♥ Mellow Deodorant Paste

The awesome peeps at Happy Skincare have released another in their Woohoo range of natural deodorant pastes. This one is a bicarb-free, essential-oil free version. It’s perfect for all you sensitive souls who react!

In their typically generous fashion, Aaron and Phoebe are giving away their new product whenever you order something over $50!

Check it out here.

♥ Lemon Canary Tea

With Pukka being taken over by Unilever (check out our convo on Facebook about it), many people are now looking for alternatives. Personally, I love buying things from small businesses that handmake their products – there is just that extra love and passion that goes into it.

I recently bought the sample pack of all the teas from Lemon Canary to see what they were like and I am not disappointed!!! Jasmin has hand-crafted an organic, loose leaf range of blends including Love, Mystic, Happy, Meditate (awesome chai), Grateful, Summer, Winter, Dinner Party and Australiana. The packaging is so gorgeous and they would make perfect gifts.

Check them out here.

♥ Tuff Stuff Stain Removing Soap

I bought some of this stain removing soap about 18 months ago at an expo and was wondering how I was going to get another one. Luckily Julie at Flora and Fauna is now selling them!

They are amazing! You just wet it and rub it on the stain – the mesh bag helps to get right into the stain as a scrubber and the stains just wash out. It even worked on a pair of my daughter’s work jeans that had some really black and greasy patches. Julie mentions that a lot of people are using it for nappies and reusable cloth pads. The Tuff Stuff is a great price and lasts ages.

Check it out here.

♥ Eco by Sonya Rosehip Sunscreen

Do you hate the ghost look when using sunscreen?? My hubby often walks around looking like something out of the Walking Dead much to the embarrassment of the teens. 😀

Sonya Driver from Eco by Sonya has a new sunscreen out that solves that problem. This non-zinc, non-greasy formula rubs in clear but sill has broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection, a SPF30 and a water resistant rating of 3 hours.

Find it here.

♥ Lilypad Reusable Covers

The lovely girls at Biome sent me out one of these to try and I love it!! It’s a BPA free, food-grade silicone cover (inspired by lily pads!). You can convert any bowl you own to an air-tight sealed container for the fridge. It fits onto any smooth rim bowl or pot including glass, ceramic, wood, stainless and more.

You can even put it in the oven or microwave if you want to and you could even use it as a splatter guard. Whack it in the top shelf of the dishwasher when you are done. So brilliant.

Check it out here.

♥ Free Gut Health Video Series

Cyndi O’Meara from Changing Habits has teamed up with Kirsty Wirth from Kultured Wellness to bring us a free four part information series on gut health. I am in the midst of my own gut healing adventure and I am starting to discover that bad gut health is the the cause of so many health issues. It’s not just poor digestion, it’s fatigue, brain fog, mental health and more. It all comes back to the gut!

I have registered and got my spot and can’t wait to learn more from these amazing ladies. When you sign up, they also give you a free ebook with healing gut recipes. Winning.

Check it out here.

♥ Aroma Leather Bracelet

This is on my Christmas wish list!! They are a leather and stainless steel aroma diffusing bracelet. A stylish and safe way to wear aromatherapy oils without touching your skin. There is a felt pad in the stainless steel locket bit that you put a few drops of oil on.

Find out more here.

♥ Low Carb Healthy Fat Cookbook

I’m not a Pete Evans fan in particular, but I do like his recipes! Having to do months of gut repair and a strict diet, I was getting really bored with it but some new recipes have really helped keep me motivated. You definitely don’t have to be attempting to lose weight or be on a low carb diet to enjoy this book. The recipes are just simple, family friendly type food (that just happens to be low carb and high fat).

I have made a few things already and everyone has been impressed. I usually pop the photos on Instagram if you are interested – but be warned, I don’t do fancy styling or anything, I just take a quick photo before we eat!

Check the book out here.

That will probably be my last love list for the year now as I gear up for my Christmas Gift Guides – which really are a love list with more of a gift giving focus. Let me know if you have something that would be perfect for a Christmas gift!

The Big List of Healthier Fundraisers

August 4, 2016 · 11 Comments

The Big List of Healthier Fundraisers

If you have school children you might be like me and dread those chocolate boxes coming home!

Chocolate, cakes, slices, pies, lamingtons, more chocolate.

Hands up. Who ends up eating copious amounts of crap food because you feel obliged?

Yep. Annoying. I usually just donate money and say – don’t give me the goods!

When Australia is in the grip of an obesity crisis and schools are slowly implementing healthy food policies, it seems archaic that these fundraisers are still around.

I think it’s also confusing for kids and sends mixed messages – you can’t buy chocolate in the tuckshop or bring it to school but you can take home a box and sell it!

You can imagine my horror when my daughter came home from school once with a huge box of chocolates and then left them in the car at soccer practice in 30 plus degree weather.

The chocolates weren’t they only thing having a melt down!

I couldn’t send them back now, so between her and her brother the chocolates were frozen and consumed and paid for. Yikes!

However, there are some better fundraisers around. I have researched and asked mums for their tips and here it is.

I have tried to feature healthy, organic, sustainable, ethical or eco-friendly fundraisers (hey, this is the Natural New Age Mum website after all!)

I have also featured fundraisers that are available Australia wide instead of being limited by geography. You might also be able to find some awesome local companies that supply fresh fruit boxes or mango trays in your local area that will participate in a fundraiser.

So, here is The Big List of Healthier Fundraisers!

♥ Zero Waste Fundraising

Biome Eco Stores have two fund-raising options – a zero waste box or online shopping where your school can earn 5% of online sales with a special code.

Find out more here.

♥ Lunchbox Recipe Book

My gorgeous friends Anita and Micheline have written this fabulous cook book, Sandwich Free, Packet Free Lunchboxes. It’s full of easy, tasty recipes and ideas for a healthy lunchbox. Earn up to $10 per book and get FREE shipping.

Find out more here.

♥ Eco Store Soaps

The Eco Store have a fabulous fundraising program featuring their natural soaps! Get a box of two types of soap and get back $1 per bar!

Find out more.

♥ 4 My Earth

Julia at 4 My Earth has a range of reusable wraps, food covers, food pockets and more that you can encourage your school to be litter free and raise money.

Head here to enquire.

♥ Chooktopia

Fundraise with compost bins and worm farms! Legendary.

Find out more.

♥ Educational Toys

Educational Experience Fundraising specialize in fundraising and have a huge range of good quality, educational toys and games.

Check out the website.

♥ Gingerbread Folk

Yummy Aussie made gingerbread that has no artificial stuff. The kids will love it. The gingerbread houses sell really well at Christmas time.

Check out more info at the website.

♥ Smencils

Eco-friendly pens, pencils and coloured pencils. All packed and ready to go in tubs of 50, Smencils are made from recycled materials and are non-toxic.

Find out more.

♥ Fair Trade Soap Nuts

The Fair Trade Fundrasing website has a few products you can raise funds with, but I love the soap nuts!

Find out more.

♥ Foost

Awesome kid friendly products like apple slinky machines, smoothie bike and kid safe knives.

Find out more here.

♥ Life Cykel Boxes

The Life Cykel boxes offer a sustainable and educational fundraiser. You can choose from two grow your own boxes – mushroom or microgreens. Find out more here.

♥ Sinchies

Sinchies are reusable pouches that save you money and save the environment! Make healthy whole food at home and pop it into a pouch. No more expensive and wasteful packaged snacks.

Check it out here.

♥ Stickybeaks

Stickybeaks have a range of products including reusable lunch ordering sacks for the tuckshop. You can make up to 77% profit!

Find out more here.

♥ Munchbox

Munchbox Australia have a great fundraising program where your school or group gets a commission on every lunchbox sold, plus free gifts! These lunch boxes are leaf-proof and Aussie made.

Find out more here.

What has your school done for fundraisers?

How do you convince people to choose an healthier option? I would love to know your thoughts.

If you have a healthy fundraiser or know of one that I haven’t listed, please email details to me: sonia (at) naturalnewagemum.com so I can add it to the list!

I hope you find The Big List of Healthier Fundraisers useful. Let me know!

The Love List {April 2014}

April 30, 2014 · 10 Comments

It’s already the end of another month. April was a month of chocolate, family fun, holidays and Anzac marches.

Here are some of my favourite things from this month and a round up of the best bargains out there!

♥ This month I discovered funky online store Lovage (totally love the name too!)

Lovage is an online boutique that sells premium quality natural/organic cosmetics. Their tagline is ‘beauty sans la beast’ ! The girls at Lovage want to provide community members with toxic-free beauty products that actually deliver on the skincare goodness promise.

With top brands like Vanessa Megan, Ere Perez, Evohe and Laviol, Lovage covers all beauty needs from skincare, bodycare, haircare and makeup. You can also get free shipping on orders over $150. It’s pretty much a one-stop natural beauty shop!

While you are there, check out the blog with some interesting articles on natural beauty.

The lovely Heidi from Lovage is offering all of you an exclusive deal! Receive 10% off on your purchase if you spend $50 or more at Lovage. Just use the code NNAM10. Offer expires June 1, 2014.

♥ The sneak peek for the new movie, Overfed and Undernourished came out and it resonated with me. Actually, it made me sad but hopeful all at the same time. Watch it here and tell me what you think. I am so looking forward to this movie being out and spreading the word on healthy living!

♥ My new favourite cookbook – My Darling Lemon Thyme by chef, mum and blogger, Emma Galloway. I made her Pecan Maple Tart for Easter and it was divine. Emma’s recipes are gluten free, vegetarian and real, whole foods all the way. There are so many recipes I want to make, I don’t know where to begin. Loving it, big time (and yes, I do sing ‘my darling clementine’ every time I get the book out!) You can get it online with free shipping.

♥ Melissa at Frugal and Thriving has my favourite blog post this month. It’s 10 ways to ditch disposables in the kitchen. I particularly love this idea of knitting kitchen cloths. They really do work well!

♥ Actually, I had two favourite blog posts this month. Kirri White Coaching has this awesome post about giving yourself permission to feel lost while you are finding yourself. Kirri has such a great understanding of women and practical advice to help navigate life.

♥ What do you do with your old yoga mat when it gets worse for wear? You don’t throw it away! LovEarth Yoga mats gives us some ideas on how we can reincarnate it!! Very cool. I would have never thought of doing this.

♥ I got another delivery from the lovely ladies at TOM Organic this month. This is the only brand I use now. They are an Aussie company and use only certified organic cotton. As the TOM team so eloquently put it – no more chemical and bleaches near your lady bits! They have recently also released their maternity and pad range.

You *can* now get the range from Woolworths for convenience, but if you want to avoid the supermarkets and get bulk prices, go straight to their online store. The lovely Aimee has a special deal just for you! Get a massive 20% off any purchase from their online store! Just use the code: NATMUM. Ends May 31st.

♥ The lovely Aaron and Phoebe at Happy Skincare are giving away a Sweet Dreams Foot Softening Treatment with their 3 Step System. Hurry ends May 11. A perfect Mother’s Day gift!

♥ Sarah at the Raw Food Store has a great special on the Southern Cross pottery water filters this week. As well as filtering out a lot of nasties, these ones also filter out fluroide.

♥ Happy Tummies has a special on food pouches. Get 10 for $9.95.

♥ Yard Games are having a massive sale with up to 80% off! They stock a great range of outdoor, backyard and educational games for kids.

♥ There are also a heap of great deals and discount codes on my Mother’s Day Gift Guide post. Hurry, they are only for a short time and exclusive to NNAM readers!!

What took your fancy this month? Anything exciting we should know about?

*Some of this post is sponsored*