Easy ways to save water and reduce your water bill

July 31, 2018 · 2 Comments

Easy ways to save water and reduce your water bill

My last water bill was a bit of a shocker!

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

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

♥ Buy a water-saving shower head

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

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

♥ Check for leaks

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

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

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

♥ Half flush only

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

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

♥ If it’s brown..

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

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

♥ Bottle in the cistern

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

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

♥ Shorter showers

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

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

♥ Water-saving mode

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

♥ Full loads only

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

♥ Fill the sink

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

♥ Wash your clothes less

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

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

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

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

How to cleanse your crystals

February 14, 2018 · 2 Comments

How to cleanse your crystals

Did you know that crystals need to be ‘cleansed’ regularly in order to get the most benefit from them?

Now when I say cleanse, don’t mean cleaning physically with soap and water, I mean cleansing on an energetic level.

Why would you cleanse crystals?

Crystals work with energy. They pick up and absorb the energy around them, both positive and negative.

In order to keep the crystals energised and working in the best way possible for you, they should be cleansed.

You should always cleanse any new crystals you get to clear away any old or negative energy and start afresh.

Cleanse your crystals regularly, depending on how often you use them and how you use them. If you use them for healing or meditation or guidance, cleanse before and after.

Use your intuition to choose a cleansing method – whatever feels right for you and the crystal you want to cleanse.

How do you cleanse crystals?

♥ Moonlight

Simply leave your crystals overnight outside under the moonlight, preferably a full moon. This is the safest method and suitable for all crystals and crystal jewellery.

♥ Sunlight

Place your crystals outside in the sun. Leave from dawn until dusk or just a few hours at noon. Some crystals may fade over time with this method.

♥ Running Water

Hold your crystals in your hand (or in a porous bag) under running water. Fresh or sea water is best, but tap water is also okay if it’s all you have. Porous crystals should not be cleansed with water in case they get damaged.

♥ Salt

You can cleanse your crystals in salt water (fresh seawater or a water and sea salt solution) for a few hours. Alternatively, pop your crystals in a bowl of plain salt overnight. Make sure you use a glass or ceramic bowl, not metal. This method is not recommended for crystals that are porous or have metal or water.

♥ Visualisation

You can simply visualise all negative energy flowing out from the crystal and then visualising the crystal filling with clean and clear light.

♥ Other crystals

Some crystals are good at cleansing other crystals. Choose amethyst, clear quartz, carnelian or selenite crystals that have been cleansed and are bigger than the crystal you want cleansed. Crystal geodes or clusters are great for this.

♥ Earth cleansing

Bury your crystals in the earth (either outside or in a pot plant). Leave for two or three days and then uncover. Make sure you mark where you buried them!

♥ Smudge

You can smudge crystals using sage or a smudge stick. Hold it while you smudge around all sides of the crystal. Find out how to smudge here.

You can also use incense, but make sure it’s a natural one, not one made with nasty toxins!

♥ Sound

Sound has a lovely vibration which can be used to cleanse crystals. Use a singing bowl, gong, bells, cymbals, drums, a tuning fork or just your voice. Get the crystals as close as you can to the sound or pass through the sound wave too.

What do you use to cleanse your crystals? Let us know!

Need some more crystals?

Have a look at these crystal beauties.

Want to learn more about crystals?

The Crystal Bible by Judy Hall

Crystals by Rachelle Charman

Sources: The Book of Crystals, Judy Hall

Is your kettle harming your health?

February 12, 2013 · 41 Comments

Well the Universe was truly giving me a nudge a few weeks ago, when not one, but two of my favourite Facebook pages (www.livelightlynow.com and Alexx Stuart) both mentioned the dangers of having plastic kettles.

Like Tracy at Live Lightly Now, this had totally escaped me! I have no idea how. I lecture the hubby and kids constantly about never putting hot things in plastic and here I was boiling it up every day for my morning cuppa. Eghads!

“Plastic water bottles release the toxic chemical bisphenol A at a rate 55 times greater when filled with boiling water than when filled with room temperature water, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and published in the journal Toxicology Letters.” Natural News

Now, I don’t know if my plastic kettle had any BPA in it, but really, I am not comfortable with any plastic being heated.

Alexx had already done her research and found the glass Breville Kettle (pictured) to be a good one. I had a quick scurry around the shops (more like a mad panic, trying not to think of all the toxins I had ingested over gosh knows how many years!) and this one looked good to me too. Many of the stainless and glass kettles still had plastic inserts as the gauge. This one only has plastic on the lid, which you can easily flick up to pour out your water. A totally stainless steel kettle would also do the job.

Crisis averted!

So, what are you adding to your daily cuppa? Is this something that worries you?

You might also like to read why I am ditching the plastic storage.

Detox – 10 easy things you can do to give your body a boost!

October 8, 2012 · 22 Comments

I am not a fan of radical detox programs. I think they can be dangerous to your health, not to mention really difficult to do!

The body is pretty good at detoxifying itself, but there are some things you can do to give it a helping hand.

As we have been holidaying for two weeks, we have at times overindulged in food, eaten out more than often and been a little lax!

So, this week, I am giving my body a boost with some easy, achievable things that really make a difference.

1. Inliven. I take it every day. When I am detoxing or when I am sick, I take it twice a day. Inliven is a certified organic probiotic superfood powder. Go here for some more information.

2. Lemon Coconut Drink. I have blogged before about having a hot lemon and water drink in the mornings. It is fabulous ! Now I have been adding some coconut oil to it. I have been doing this for a few weeks and I love it. I squeeze half an organic lemon into a cup and add a tablespoon of extra virgin organic coconut oil. Then I half fill it with hot, filtered water (to melt the coconut oil). Then I top it up with filtered water and drink! The added benefit is that your lips are moisturized at the same time. (see photo above)

3. Dry Skin Brushing. This is simply something that everyone should do daily! Read the blog post I did about it here.

4. Water. It’s no secret! Your body needs lots and lots of filtered water for all it’s systems to function at their peak. 30ml per kg of your body weight is the amount I drink per day. I make up a big batch of fruity flavoured water to make it more appealing. My beverage of choice when I go out is sparkling mineral water with lime. It’s really good! I don’t drink alcohol, so that is one less thing I have to detox from. If you do, then take a week off. You can do it!

5. Epsom Salt Bath. I usually have at least one of these a week. They are incredibly relaxing and will draw toxins out of your body. Add about two cups to your bath and soak for at least 20 minutes to get the full benefit. Go here for some more info. Try this beautiful Epzen brand which also contains detoxing essential oils.

6. Limit Caffeine. I did so enjoy lots of chai tea on holiday! But, my body is really sensitive to caffeine, so I need to limit myself to one or two a day and before noon.

7. Eat good stuff. I do eat good stuff regularly, but this week, I am focusing on eating only organic and only unprocessed foods. I am also using natural sweeteners, cutting out all wheat, limiting dairy and meat and focusing on lots of fresh fruit and vegetables.

8. Exercise. I am walking and practicing yoga every day! Some good detoxing yoga poses are here. My favourite is ‘legs up the wall’ which I do all the time!

9. Rest. I am focusing on going to bed early, keeping my life simple and stress free and spending time meditating.

10. Enlist professional help. There are many practitioners who offer therapies that can assist with detoxing. This week I am going to get a lymphatic drainage massage.

Unfortunately, my body is not liking the green smoothies at the moment, but they are a fabulous way to give your body a nutrition boost! My favourite recipe is my Pineapple Mint Green Tea smoothie.

I am also wearing “detox and cleanse” motivational jewellery from Sanctus Stones. I am blogging about this soon, so stay tuned!

So, that’s my plan! Do you need to give your body a bit of a helping hand? What is your favourite way to ‘detox’?

Fruity Flavoured Water

June 7, 2012 · 17 Comments

We all know how important drinking water is, right?

If you are not properly hydrated, it will cause all sorts of problems from headaches to fatigue!

Our water intake can sometimes slow down in winter, because we don’t feel as thirsty. But, this is really a time to make sure you are drinking enough. The heating in your home or office will dehydrate you more than usual. Drinking lots of water will also combat the dry winter skin!

I like drinking water with stuff in it. It tastes really lovely and makes it a bit more interesting.

Basically, you just add whatever you like to your filtered water, using a wide mouth jar or jug. You can squeeze or muddle your ingredients if you want an intenser flavour. Chill it for a couple of hours to get the flavours going. Keep it in the fridge so it stays nice and fresh.

It looks really impressive when guests come over too. You can even freeze fruit or mint in ice-cube trays to serve with it.

The one I have made up at the moment is orange, mint and cucumber – very refreshing!

You can put it in whatever you like. Try some of these other ideas:

lemons

limes

ginger

grapefruit

strawberries

raspberries (any berries really!)

pineapple

green apple

lemongrass

rosemary

basil

watermelon

anything you like!

We also like to make up herbal tea and chill it for a refreshing iced tea.

Did you know?

A rough guide to how much you should drink each day is 30ml per kg of your body weight. Another way to make sure you are drinking enough is to check the colour of your urine. Clear urine (apart from the first wee of the day!) means you are on the right track.

Do you drink enough water? How do you make sure you get enough?

Share your tips!