20 Gorgeous Gifts for Mother’s Day

April 23, 2018 · 4 Comments

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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20 Awesome Christmas Gifts for Kids

November 22, 2017 · 11 Comments

20 Awesome Christmas Gifts for Kids

I had so much fun browsing for kids’ gifts and choosing the perfect things for this year’s gift guide. I hope you love it too and get some inspiration and ideas.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about what to look for when choosing safe, non-toxic toys for your kids. Be very careful of toxins in plastics and lead in paints, in particular. Cheap toys are often made with inferior, toxic materials in countries with poor quality control. We all know kids like to put everything in their mouth, so it’s really important to find good quality, safe gifts and toys.

Here are 20 ideas to get you started!

♥ Kids’ Gratitude Journal

One of our very own natural new age mums, Rebecca Ernest, has created this brilliant journal just for kids. It’s a beautiful gift that can teach gratitude, mindfulness, self-belief, resilience and kindness in a fun and positive way.

Each page is different in design, content and layout with 365 spaces for gratitude entries with lots of prompts, positive affirmations, animal totem cards, spaces to draw, fun worksheets to do and heaps more.

Rebecca has created a truly thoughtful, quality journal. I love the spiral binding as this makes it so much easier to use and long-lasting. Find it here.

♥ Outdoor Adventure Pack

This cute pack from New Zealand company, Seedling, encourages adventure and exploration. Included is a wooden slide whistle, a wooden nature bingo game with chalk and a colour-your-own canvas satchel with markers.

Brilliant quality, ethically made and using recycled material where possible, this kit get kids out into nature and sparks imaginative play.

Get it from Meg at Sustainababy here.

♥ At My Family Table

I am so in love with this book!! I am a long-time fan of the beautiful Mandy Dos Santos, nutritionist at Little People Nutrition and mum of three. She has outdone herself with her amazing new book called ‘At My Family Table‘.

It’s a children’s story book which follows four multicultural families sharing their favourite meal around the table. Although each family is unique in appearance, family make-up and foods they eat, they all enjoy that special time around the family table eating, chatting and connecting. The family table is a place to nourish our bodies and our hearts and this book beautifully highlights that in all it’s forms.

‘At My Family Table’ is a quality hard cover book with matte pages illustrated using pencil and water colour by Kancy Ho. Get it straight from Mandy at her website here.

♥ Kinderboard

I know, I may have mentioned this a couple of times, but I think the Kinderboard is just so brilliant! These beautiful beech wood boards are a traditional Danish toy that provides hours of imaginative play. You can balance on it, rock it, push it, spin it, slide on it, use it as a stool, as a house for toys or curl up on it and rest.

Get it online here.

♥ Organic Sashiko Birds Baby Set

This beautiful bloomer and headband set is made from certified organic cotton by a clever Perth mum – Marie Helene from Organic Minikins. The sets are available in different prints or you can request a custom order in sizes from newborn to 12 months. I just love the beautiful colour and design of this Sashiko Birds set – something you don’t often see marketed for babies!

Get them here.

♥ Bamboo Rocking Horse

A lovely first Christmas gift, this bamboo rocking horse will become a treasured family heirloom. Made from renewable and sustainable bamboo and with a natural finish, it will match in with any decor.

Get it here.

♥ Pixipop Bunny Lunchbox

If you need an insulated lunchbox, these new ones from So Young are PVC free & phthalate free. Made of durable raw uncoated linen, it come with a leak proof insert for easier cleaning, bag strap and a cool flying bunny graphic on front cover. I love that these are machine washable too!

Get it here.

♥ Star Wars Reusable Cups

For the Star Wars fan *cough* nerd in your family (yep, I have two!), these Star Wars Keep Cups are the ticket. Use them for hot or cold drinks and ditch the single use cups. They come in a variety of Star Wars characters and help you fight the war on waste!

Get them here.

♥ Beneco’s Makeup

This is such an affordable brand for teenagers just getting into makeup or for kids that want to play. Perfect for experimenting without breaking the bank. My 16yo daughter is a fan of this brand and I’m happy she isn’t using something cheap and toxic.

Check it out here.

♥ Wooden Laptop Stand

This is the perfect idea for kids and teens who like to put their laptops on their laps! Keeping devices away from the body as much as possible is a much safer way to use them. It also improves the airflow around the device so it doesn’t get too hot.

Joe, the ‘Woodmeester’ from Melbourne, designs and hand makes these ergonomic stands from re-claimed solid pine. He will even imprint a name on it for you too. See the little wooden toy laptop on there with the chalkboard? He makes those for the younger kids! So cool.

Find them here.

♥ Lhami Teen Skincare Kit

Natalie at Lhami has a teenager and he told her what to put in this skincare kit! It’s getting great feedback from kids with troubled skin. I love the gender-neutral, unobtrusive packaging that doesn’t scream, “I’ve got acne!”

You get five natural, hand-made products and a cute toiletries bag and it’s 40% off! Get it from Natalie here.

♥ Macrame and Crystal DIY Kit

Macrame is so hot right now and this kit has everything the kids need to make a wall hanging for themselves! Included is 100% Australian cotton cord, a Tasmanian oak dowel, a beautiful crystal (you can choose), easy to follow instructions and a meditation to help you get the creative juices flowing!

The kits are made by a very creative mama, Katrina from the Gold Coast in Queensland. Find them here.

Under $20 for the stockings…..

♥ Happily Made Monkeys

These cute monkeys start at just $12 and are a perfect stocking stuffer! Veronica, a mum from Melbourne, supports women in developing countries with her Happily Made Monkeys’ business. The monkeys come in a range of colours are hand-made ethically in Cambodia. The hands are magnetic so you can have lots of fun hanging them around!

Get the monkeys here.

♥ Dindi Soap Animals

Handcrafted by a mum in the mountains of Victoria, these animal soaps are made from all natural ingredients and no palm oil!

Get them here.

Gift wrapping?

Christmas is one of the worst time for excess waste. We can make a difference by choosing eco-friendly gift wrap ideas.

Where to shop?

Biome Eco Store for all things good for the planet

Emporio Organico for a huge range of eco and luxe gifts

Flora and Fauna for all things natural and cruelty-free

Lemon Canary for all things candles, new age, crystals, oils and perfumes

Australian Geographic Shop for educational and nature gifts

Etsy for all things handmade, unique and beautiful

Dymocks for books, books and more books

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My Top 20 Mother’s Day Gifts

April 24, 2017 · 5 Comments

My Top 20 Mother’s Day Gifts

Mother’s Day is on Sunday May the 14th this year, so you only have a few more weeks to get organised.

If you have been wondering what on earth you are going to get your mum (or put on a wishlist for yourself), take a look at my top twenty gifts. I have hand-picked some amazing products to show you at a range of prices. They are either eco-friendly, recycled, natural, fair-trade, healthy or organic.

Let me know what you think!

♥ Prana Chai Gift Box

You have not really tasted chai tea until you have tried Prana’s chai tea. Trust me on this, I have tried a lot of chai tea! Prana Chai is hand made and blended in Melbourne from all natural ingredients and uses 100% Australian quality honey blended by hand with tea and whole spices. You make it on the stovetop by gently infusing it with your choice of milk and straining. Heaven!!

Their Mother’s Day gift box includes all you need to make a real chai – a cute little stainless steel stovetop pot, a strainer, a gorgeous Robert Gordon hug mug and a bag of Prana Chai tea. Plus a bonus gift until May 14th is a packet of Vanilla and Almond Porridge from The Wild (you can also make a chai porridge…. umm hello yes please).

Even better, the box is on sale with over$67 worth of goodies for just $42. Winning!

Get the Prana Chai Mother’s Day box online straight from the guys at Prana here.

♥ EverEscents Hair Care Pack

Julia and her husband Luke have been handcrafting their organic hair care range, EverEscents for over 10 years from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. They have some gorgeous gift packs for Mother’s Day which include an organic shampoo, conditioner and treatment. There are seven different varieties to choose from including the Bergamot range pictured and they all come in a lovely gift box or bag.

EverEscents is a premium salon quality, vegan range made with only the best possible ingredients including plant extracts and essential oils.

Check out their rave reviews and get the packs on sale here.

♥ Botica Bliss Bath Tea and Clay Mask

My friend Rebecca has bundled together her divine bath teas and clay masks for a budget-friendly Mother’s Day gift. For just $14, mum can feel like she’s having a day spa at home! You can also mix and match the various blends to get one that’s just perfect. All Botica Bliss products are 100% natural, vegan, cruelty free and handmade on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. Get them here.

♥ Earthing Oz Yoga Mat

Do yoga and earth at the same time? Genius.

Laura at Earthing Oz has this new ‘Grounded Yoga Mat’ which is made from 100% eco friendly, recyclable materials. It is anti-skid and odourless. You just plug it into a power point with the switch off and do your thing – yoga, stretching or just relax.

Laura is giving us all a 10% discount on the Yoga Mat! Just use the code: SPECIAL here.

♥ Life Changing Food

The hottest cookbook for mums this Mother’s Day!! The gorgeous Jo Whitton from Quirky Cooking and chef, Fouad Kassab have joined forces to bring you this epic whole food cookbook. All recipes are gluten free and designed to be easy, nourishing, gut-friendly and full of flavour.

Life Changing Food is full of stunning photos and lots of tips and personal stories from Jo and Foo. Most of the recipes also include thermomix instructions.

Only available online here.

♥ Lhami Essential Oil Box

Natalie is a beautiful natural new age mum from the central coast of NSW and her Lhami range is one of my favourites. I adore this oils gift set she has on sale – a handmade wooden gift box with four of her signature 100% pure essential oil blends. They are Clarity, Relax, Refresh and Calm so you have a blend for every occasion. They are also delightful to use as a perfume.

Get it online from Natalie here.

♥ Papaya Coin Purse

These sweet little zip up purses are made from durable oil-cloth material and features Papaya artwork, contrast lining, zipper closure and lotus charm.

Get it online here.

♥ Bambu Bread Board

Anyone who makes their own bread can tell you how annoying all those crumbs are when you cut it! Well this Bambu bread board solves all your problems. Made from 100% organic, sustainably harvested bamboo, it has a pull out tray that catches the crumbs.

Get it here.

♥ Positivi-tea Hand Made Tea Cup

Made in Noosa, these beautiful tea cups are hand thrown on a potter’s wheel using fine white stoneware and a lead free glaze. Perfect for mums who love tea and puns!

Get it online here.

♥ Macrame and Crystal Wall Hanging

Flashback to the seventies! Macrame is cool again. I adore this wall hanging that’s been hand made on the Gold Coast. Featuring cotton cord that is 100% Australian grown and made and infused with a Tibetan quartz crystal, it hangs on a piece of hand collected driftwood.

The hangings are made to order and charged with high frequency Reiki and blessings. Divine!

Get it online here.

♥ Mad Millie Coconut Yoghurt Kit

Make up to 8 litres of your own coconut yoghurt with this Mad Millie kit. It’s a bit tricky to get right, but this kit makes it easy and will save you lots of dollars by making it yourself.

Get them online here.

♥ Lavender Heat Bag

These heat packs are made from natural cotton, organic lavender and wheat. The safe alternative to a hot water bottle to keep you snuggly this winter, help you sleep and soothe any aches and pains.

Get them online here.

♥ Mindfulness for Mothers Book

This beautiful book by Rebecca Ryan is designed to help mums create a sense of balance, awareness and calm for themselves and their children. It includes simple meditation exercises from 10-second tension breakers to 30 minute restorative sessions.

Get it online here.

♥ Cedar and Stone Perfume Powders

These adorable little pots of all natural, vegan perfume powder are from Aussie brand, Cedar and Stone. Pop the scented powder on your acupressure or pulse points for instant calm. They are made with pure essential oils and sandalwood powder in a portable little pot, perfect for your handbag. Available in Meditation, Dharma and Nirvana.

Get them online here.

♥ Pana Chocolate Gift Box

What you thought I was going to do a gift guide without chocolate??

Luckily Pana chocolate is healthy! Handmade in Melbourne, it’s organic, raw, vegan and delicious. Included in the recycled gift box (with free gift tag) are four varieties. All of their chocolate is gluten free, soy free, dairy free and refined sugar free. Yummo.

Get it online here.

Thinking of perfume this year?

Don’t gas your mum with nasty, toxic stuff! Choose something all natural from this list of the best natural perfumes.

Where to shop?

I love my partner stores – all run by amazing, ethical, passionate women making a difference.

Biome Eco Stores for all things good for the planet

Emporio Organico for a huge range of eco and lux gifts

Flora and Fauna for everything natural that is vegan and animal-cruelty free

Beautiful Because for the best range of natural beauty

Don’t forget to wrap your gift using something eco-friendly!

(parts of this post are sponsored)

Last minute gift ideas (without going to the shops)

December 20, 2016 · 1 Comment

Last minute gift ideas (without going to the shops)

Okay if you have been slack and left it right to the last-minute, you still have some options without braving that Christmas Eve dash to the shops.

You just need ten minutes online and you are sorted. These ideas work well for all sorts of occasions.

Bless the internet!

♥ Gift Vouchers

Most online stores have gift vouchers and will email them to you so you can print them out or forward on to your recipient. I think gift vouchers are actually a pretty good choice when you are unsure about what to buy. There are a lot of unwanted gifts that end up in landfill!

Here are some of my favourite places that offer gift vouchers:

Beautiful Because – all natural one-stop beauty shop

Flora and Fauna – vegan beauty, body, gifts and home

Biome Eco Store – natural, eco and fair trade

Emporio Organico – luxe skincare, makeup and health products

Twenty 8 – aromatherapy and skincare

Lemon Canary – candles, new age rituals, crystals, perfumes, mists and more

Australian Geographic – nature and science gifts

Hello Charlie – everything organic baby and kids

Dymocks – Aussie owned family book store

Earthing Oz – radiation protection and earthing products

Etsy – handmade goodness

Adrenaline – for all sorts of fun experiences

♥ Subscriptions

The gift that keeps on giving every month. I often buy a magazine subscription as a gift. It takes less than five minutes to do and it’s easy to set it up to get them sent to your loved ones address. If you are not sure what magazine they would prefer, you can also get a gift card. Too easy.

These are some of my faves:

Nature and Health

Wellbeing Magazine

Australian Yoga Life

♥ Ebooks

So easy! Most ebooks have instant download as soon as you pay. Just forward on the link with a nice Christmas message. Done.

Some of my favourites:

Supercharged Food for Kids

Well Nourished recipe books

Like Chocolate for Women

♥ Oxfam Unwrapped

We love giving Oxfam Unwrapped cards. Gift your loved ones with a goat, a duck, clean water, wells and more. Check it out here.

What are your last minute gift ideas? Are you all organized or do you still have some to do?

8 Eco-friendly Gift Wrap Ideas

December 5, 2016 · 18 Comments

8 Eco-friendly Gift Wrap Ideas

One thing that always manages to freak out my eco-sensibilities is gift wrapping. It’s really only used for such a short amount of time and then it’s in the bin!!

This is an area where we can all make a big impact and use some eco-friendly alternatives, especially at Christmas time when we are wrapping up lots of gifts.

Are you up for the challenge to reduce your paper waste??

First things first, hunt around the house to find stuff you already have that could be used. Save ribbons, twine, tags, cards, gift bags and paper throughout the year. Okay, I may be a bit lame but I actually have a dedicated box for all of these goodies I want to re-use!

Check out these eco-friendly gift wrapping ideas.

♥ Santa Sacks

A few years ago, I got my friend to make up some santa sacks for hubby and I. The kids already had one each they had been given when they were little. They are so funky and it has cut our paper wastage enormously! On Christmas morning, we take it in turns to each take one gift out of the sack at a time.

You can often find people selling santa sacks at the markets or check out Etsy. You can extend this idea to birthdays and make or buy a ‘birthday sack’ to use every year. We have a few cute fabric bags we keep for birthdays.

You will never have to wrap another gift again. Just take 3o seconds to put gifts in a bag. Done!

♥ Fabric

Wrap gifts in something reusable and useful, like a scarf, tea towel or doilies. Kookery shows you how to do it step by step. If you want to go extra eco-hero, choose items from the op-shop.

If you want to get really fancy, check out how to do Furoshiki (the art of Japanese fabric wrapping) or just use a square of fabric or hessian for a really rustic look.

♥ Upcycled Paper

You can upcycle old maps, sewing patterns, newspaper, brown paper, sheet music, old calendars, magazines, comics or kids’ artwork. You could also cover a cardboard box with any of these and use every year as a personalised Christmas or birthday box! What about getting the kids to make their own?

Check out this gorgeous idea from Laura at Bugs and Fishes pictured above. Tres chic!

♥ Reusable Shopping Bags

I buy these a lot for gift giving. It’s really double the love as the reusable shopping bags will (hopefully) be used again and again. I particularly like these Loki fold up bags (pictured) that come in a beautiful range of arty prints, but also check out the op shops and stores selling calico bags too.

♥ Reusables from 4 My Earth

The snack pockets, wraps and food bags from 4 My Earth also make an excellent eco-friendly gift wrap. They can then be used in lunch boxes, for food storage, as a toiletries bag and so many other things. We have so many of these and we love them!

♥ Jars, pots, tins and baskets

Really, anything you can think of can be used to hold gifts. Head to the op shop and see what you can find. Pretty them up with ribbon, paint, twine and a few embellishments. Pinterest has loads of ideas for you.

♥ Recycled Wrap

If you really love to use wrapping paper, choose one which is eco-friendly and recycled like the gorgeous ones at Earth Greetings.

♥ The Trimmings

There are so many eco-friendly things you can use to trim gifts. I always save gorgeous ribbon and twine for reuse. Head outdoors and find some leaves, lavender stems, feathers, gum nuts, twigs, flowers, herbs, pine cones or shells.

If you are crafty you could make some paper flowers or bows or upcycle Christmas ornaments. I really love these crochet decorations on Etsy – divine! I have even seen cute things like pencils, vintage cutlery, bamboo cutlery, photos, brooches, earrings and clothes pegs used to trim gifts.

Gift tags can be as easy as upcycled cards from last year, cut down into shape or a piece of cardboard decorated with stamping or washi tape. I also adore these handmade clay tags from Brisbane artist Kylie Johnson.

Ended up with wrapping paper?

If you do end up with wrapping paper, recycle everything you can, keep it for next year or upcycle it into something new. Keep in mind that you can’t recycle plastic or foil wrapping paper so avoid that at all costs!

What other tips do you have? Share with us!

10 Cool Gifts for Father’s Day

August 16, 2016 · 48 Comments

10 Cool Gifts for Father’s Day

With Father’s Day only a few weeks away, I have once again scoured the internet and brought you the best of the best! Natural, organic, fair-trade, recycled… all the things I love.

What are you getting your Dad?

♥ Aromantik Merchants of Menace

This amazing fragrance has a cult following! With all natural ingredients, this musky scent will have people asking Dad what he is wearing. Get it here.

♥ Man Brew by Skin Juice

If you want to get Dad into some natural but still manly skincare, you can’t go past Man Brew by cool Aussie company Skin Juice! Specially formulated for males, it contains a face cleanser and moisturiser, using all natural ingredients (including turmeric and charcoal!) Get it here.

♥ Guitar Pick Pouch

Never lose another guitar pick again! This cute pouch comes with a clip so you can pop it on your key ring, bags or guitar case. Actually, you don’t even have to use it for guitar picks, you could put anything in there! Handmade in Australia from recycled leather. Get it here.

♥ Solidteknics Iron Pans

These wrought iron pots and pans are taking Australia by storm! If Dad likes cooking, he will love these Aussie-made pans. They are great quality, toxin free and non-stick once seasoned. Check out the range here.

♥ Home Brew Kit

Get Dad this Home Brew Kit so he can make craft beer at home! The kits have top quality ingredients and reusable equipment. Get it here.

♥ Memo Drink Bottle

Seriously, how has nobody ever thought of this before?? A practical, stylish and eco-friendly way to drink water on the go. Designed slimline to fit into pockets, bags and folders. Get them in a5 or a6 size here.

♥ Seed and Bean Chocolate Gift Box

Delicious!! These organic, fair-trade, vegan chocolates are guaranteed to make any Dad happy. This little gift box has four extra dark flavours – Lemon and Cardamom, Mandarin and Ginger, Sicilian Hazelnut and Chilli Lime. Get them here.

♥ Wooden Stuff Stand

Got a dad that is hard to buy for? I reckon this gift is a winner! Beautifully hand made and hand stained, this wooden stand is perfect for Dad to charge his phone and store his bits and pieces. Get it here.

Update: To help with shipping costs, Andrew the creator will give you the same shipping costs for two stands as for one. He will also 10% of your order and give you free initials. Just mention NNAM when you get in touch.

Need more ideas??

My top 15 Father’s Day Gifts

Father’s Day Gift Ideas

Cool Ideas for Father’s Day