Category Archives: Thoughts

How did I do on only 10L of water a day?

March 23, 2016Acqua for Life, charity water, Giorgio Armani, poverty, waterDebbie

Here’s the challenge! 22 March is World Water Day.

22/03: I have 10L of water in this beautiful Giorgio Armani jerry can, to last me the.whole.day. If you look at the stats on how much water we use doing simple mindless things EVER-DAY, you’ll see why I’m panicking slightly.

The eco flush option on a toilet uses up to 4L, the usual flush uses about 9L.
The average 8 minute shower uses 65L (WHAAAT).
Brushing teeth uses 5L per minute (if you let the water flow).
Having a bath? That’s a tidy 60 -120L.
Washing machine uses between 40 – 170L (depending on machine and load).
Dishwashing machine 20 – 50L.
Washing your hands? Anwhere from 3 – 10L depending on how much you enjoy a good hand scrub I guess…
…(and this is a drop in the ocean, pun intended, when compared to any outdoor watering!)

Many stats I researched are different and it’s hard to nail down exactly what you use, but OH MAN, given a jerry can of 10L immediately puts it into perspective.

Here’s a brief breakdown of my day with 10L:

7am – got up and changed a groooooss nappy and washed my hands. OOPS! Where is my jerry can?? Surely that was about a 1L of water I used there – without thinking. Get in the game Debbie. The day hasn’t even started and you’re down to 9L.

(My littlie’s bed linen was dirty and so I put it next to the washing machine but didn’t dare turn it on, I was too terrified. Sure, I could have (should have) spot cleaned it, but I had to hurry off to work. Linen remained dirty.)

Mid Morning – flushing the toilet, drinking water and hand washing. And I’m on 4L left. Oh great. I couldn’t not flush for the sake of the rest of the office and I washed my hand under a drip-drip-dripping tap. Water must be drunk. I’m pregnant, as us preggies need our water.

Lunch: I bought soup from Woolies for lunch so didn’t have to cook. Fortunately I’m also not enjoying all that much coffee/tea this pregnancy and so the kettle remained empty all day. Another trip to the toilet (at home), I left un-flushed. Gross and all, but it was just a no.1 and did you see I had 4L left? Another drip-drip-drip hand wash and I’m on about 3.7L

Afternoon: Back to filling up my water jug, I’m down to 2.7L. Right, so judging by my remains, I don’t have enough to shower (definitely not bath!) and I can’t even give my lemon tree some loving. My lemon tree I’m hand raising gets regular loving. We popped over to a friends place for an Easter Egg hunt and 2 glasses of water were consumed. I’m now at 2.2L.

Evening: Another portion of Woolies soup and warm Ciabatta bread. (No water needed for the cooking process – which sounds great – but it just highlighted my privileged position of popping to the shop and buying my pre-made food). The rest of my water was used on tooth-brushing, hand washing, toilet flushing and prenatal pill popping. and voia la – I did it!

Easy enough right? Not.in.the.slightest.

HERE’S WHAT I DIDN’T DO:

I didn’t cook, bake, boil, steam or make one hot beverage. I didn’t make kombucha, smoothies, ice lollies or juices (which usually all have some portion of water in them). I didn’t shower or bath. I didn’t wash clothes OR dishes. I didn’t always flush the toilet. I didn’t drink nearly as much as I usually do, or would have liked. I didn’t wash my face, shave my legs, or pop my feet in a spa bath. I certainly didn’t water any plants or switch the garden system on.

23/03: And so, this morning while the washing machine was on, and I was having a nice hot un-rushed and guilt-free shower, I was made to think about the millions (MILLIONS) that go without clean, easy accessible and always available water. It is a GIFT that we SO easily take for granted. I dare you to try live on 10L of water in 1 day and, boy oh boy, will it open your eyes to how unlimited water is such a normal part of our lives, and how quickly we forget its value.

What can we do? BE AWARE of your waster usage. Don’t be ignorant. Look at starting a campaign or donating a monthly amount to an organization such as Charity Water. You can also read more about Giorgio Armani’s partnership with the UNICEF Top Project here.

Go on, give the 1 day 10L challenge a try. I promise, you’ll be changed.

A good time or a good story

March 4, 2016Bainskloof, cape town, family, memories, silence, thoughts, weekendDebbie

This post is nothing other than a rambling that I started this morning while dropping my toddler off at school (and I’m posting it here for the sake of it being stored in some archive which the kids and I can read at a later stage). Can I even call our toddler a toddler? I feel like with the smart-ness of his specs and his un-be-liev-a-ble memory, I can’t actually call him that anymore.

A great life motto we picked up from a dear friend in Vancouver when something doesn’t go QUITE like we planned is this: It’s either a good time or a good story. Store that gem in your brain files.

So while dropping off my post-toddler toddler at play school this morning, our past weekend experience popped up in conversation. You know the one about the flea infestation, the buying of 4 doom foggers, the family camp out in the kitchen and the vomiting? No? Oh well – brace yourselves.

OUR GOOD STORY:

Our family was DESPERATE (read: des-per-ate for more effect) for a weekend away. There is WAY too much going on in our lives and the Bainskloof family cottage was our light at the end of the tunnel. Change of jobs (involving some shenanigans by the ex-company which we are VERY glad is an EX), on-going building renovations, constant drilling and noise, and and and… called for some very much needed time.out. The week leading up to Bainskloof started with vomiting from the youngest, then conveniently passed to eldest (post-toddler toddler) which then settled, and juuuust when we thought we’d dealt with it, nope, it came right back. Great. Then hubby started, and let’s just say the next few days were a blur of all things we dont like to admit we have. Let’s just call it gastro-esque.

I’d been in emergency at hospital that week myself at 5:45am one morning (long story, it’s all good) and so listen, with the family barely holding on by a thread, as Thursday night/Friday morning approached, we had our eyes on the prize – a weekend at Bains. Just us, no noise, only sunsets, braais, hammock sleeping, the river… bliss. Did I say no noise?

So, even with hubby and I both functioning around 50% of normal capacity, we did it. We packed the car to.the.brim. Food, clothes, nappies, camp cot, bedding, pillows, linen, swimming cossies, bikes, toys, books, balls, running stuff, mozzie repellent, fan to keep mozzies away (I HATE mozzies), sunscreen, medical aid kit, not enough warm clothes, our kitchen sink – you name it, we’d packed it. We loaded the family in the car, handed them some milk tart to stuff in their faces and off we set for the 1hr15min drive which only took us 2hr30min on a Friday leaving at 2pm. Yup. We should’ve known things were going south. But let’s stay positive.

We ARRIVE. Hallelujah. Let’s all get out the car and kiss the dusty, dry Bainskloof ground.

Here’s where I’ll speed up the weekend for the sake of you all reading the longest post ever.

Drop bags/beds/linen in cottage. Find flea on smallest child. Think nothing of it (other than I hadn’t seen one since we had a dog). Find flea on post-toddler toddler, think “that’s strange”. Find flea/s on myself. OH SH*T, the cottage is infested with FLEAS. Hubby and I look at each other in despair. Hubby frantically removes bags/beds/linen from cottage. No energy in reserve tank for this. Big undies need indeed be worn (if they’re not flea infested already). *Sigh.

What do we do? With one Doom fogger on hand we fog the place and decide to leave that night after sunset. We thought we’d hit the river, have a braai, leave after dark with sleeping kids in the car. Then we decide we don’t actually WANT to go home (besides the fact that we’ve mustered all our energy to just GET THERE). Decide to check out some chalets across the road for the night. Decide to not pay R400 to sleep for 6 hours. Neighbour offers flea-free mattresses. We gratefully accept. We camp out on the floor of the kitchen (a separate flea-free dwelling) – a family sleepover. The things kids’ dreams are made of. Kids are LOVING it. There are only about 5 things to do at Bains: braai (and eat), go throw stones and swim in the river, melt marshies, watch the sunset and sleep. We’ve done them all. Kids think we’re winning.

After another session of Doom fogging (apparently one wasn’t enough for the buggers – the greenie in me screaming inwardly at the thought) and proper ventilating, we managed to move back in the following night and enjoy the rest of our weekend, along with some projectile vomiting from both kids (ahhh good, seems we brought the bug with us) and more than our fair share of necessary nappy changes on the youngest. Gross. Both kids poopy and vomity and refusing to eat their boerewors rolls, but desperate as desperate gets for s’mores. Do your kids also not swallow over-chewed meat? Mine neither. Do you also try enforce the no dessert without dinner rule? Us too. Makes for a good time. S’mores consumed, then vomited, then time for bed. No bathing, no teeth brushing (and certainly no flossing), barely a change of clothes was had – how we roll in survival mode.

Sunday morning brought with it more joy and happiness (and less projectile anything). Lots of cuddling in the hammock, story reading and counting gum tree pip/seed things. Post-toddler toddler content as. Pancakes, milo (bad idea in retrospect) and left over marshmallows filled the morning with delight. My phone had died the Friday night (and we’d brought the wrong charger) so the entire weekend was phone free (and this post clearly photo free). Something I struggle to force myself to do, but when it’s forced upon me, it’s FAN-TASTIC.

So just when you think your day is going bad… ask yourself? Did you have a flea infestation and two vomming children with you?

TAKE AWAYS

On the bright side, let’s think about what we learnt:

– all jobs are better with a friend (such as cleaning vom or shoving the post-toddler toddler to your spouses side of the bed).
– s’mores solve a lot of things
– Bainskloof has the most incredible sunsets
– watching our kids throw stones into the river and splash about makes it so worth it
– the smell of a wood braai out in nature releases happy hormones I’m sure
– the thought of how content our kids are in silence and with no toys
– getting away from noise really does clear your head
– the EXPERIENCE is (almost) ALWAYS worth the effort.

Your turn! Tell me your good story…

No, we don’t have a jungle gym

February 18, 2016boys, DIY, homemade, toys, woodenDebbie

I must be failing as a parent because I get asked (almost DAILY) why we don’t have a jungle gym, a trampoline OR a dog. My poor kids – so deprived. Dare I tell them we’ve just FILLED IN the pool allowing us to do some renovations… I think I’ll keep that to myself.

Meet Blue Route, Clayden’s first pet – a caterpillar.

So when the 3.5 year old waddles in with his “Hey mom, why don’t we have a jungle gym, a trampoline OR a dog?” I answer with “Because you have a real live construction site in your backyard. Do any of your friends have THAT?” (Truth be told, his friend Alex at school also has a construction site for a backyard but he doesn’t know that). “Also”, I often continue, “you go to school on a FARM with a ga-zillion animals and have an overwhelming array of climbing, jungle gyming, bouncing, riding, sliding, playing, messing and creative equipment. Sooooo there.”

While yes, the time will come for us to acquire such developmentally essential apparatus, now is not that time (and when that time does come I’m fairly sure hubby will come up with his own plan on how we’re going to build it ourselves – he’s like that). Our kids are not starved for these things, and so they shall wait. But it does beg the question, (as their birthdays are not far off…) the big one around… TOYS.

So I referred to Wellness Mama, my trusty role model on all things natural and thought through. Here are some of the things she has suggested (which do not include garden play equipment or live animals).

1. Basic Wooden Natural Toys

“By far my favorite toys, especially for little ones. I love finding handmade wooden toys at farmers markets or on Etsy. My boys especially love the handmade wooden swords, shields and knives from Frost Lane on Etsy.”

I love Hape, Melissa and Doug and other wooden varieties often available at Toy Kingdom. I really do try my best to buy higher quality non-plastic toys, but in reality, it’s not always that easy.

2. Blocks

“I’m a huge fan of toys that encourage creative play. Legos are one of the only plastic toys we have, and I make the exception because they encourage hours of imaginative play. For little kids, plain wooden blocks are a great thing to have on hand.”

For my friend Beth’s baby shower in Vancouver, hubby and I cut and sanded 52 small wooden blocks and, as an activity, had all her shower guests paint them with a letter of the alphabet, and then I varnished them with a toxic free varnish. We made 2 sets, one for her, and one for us. Heaps of fun (and nostalgia). Jenga is also a goodie as the kids get older.

3. Dress Up

“We have a variety of play silks that the children use for dress up and imaginative play, as well as many homemade costumes. I’ve found that these encourage hours of creative play at our home. Melissa and Doug also makes a great line of dress up costumes.”

My oldest doesn’t LOVE dressing up, but we do try encourage it from time to time. The best is when he is a shepherd or king for the family nativity play at my in-laws every year and we use towels, dish clothes, rope and old pieces of this and that to get the 12 cousins dressed their part. Good memories.

4. Wooden Trains

“A huge favorite at our house. I’ve found some great wooden trains and tracks on Craigslist and at yard sales and we also have this set.”

Yes!

5. Craft Bins

“I love having pre-made activity and craft bins that I can pull out and do with the kids. I’ve chronicled many of our favorites on this Pinterest board. We also have a wooden tabletop easel for drawing and painting.”

An easel with new drawing stuff! That’s a good present idea for this year.

6. Musical Instruments

“This one isn’t for the feint of heart. Seriously. If you have more than one child, musical instruments can quickly turn a room of otherwise quiet children into a rock band that rivals a crowded stadium in sound levels. Instruments are, however, really fun for children.”

You can find a lovely arrange of plastic-free instruments.

7. Bow & Arrows and Slingshots

“Such are the things boyhood is made of. Carved wooden slingshots are a favorite with my boys and they love shooting wooden bow and arrows at the trees in the backyard.”

Yikes – I’m not sure if I’m ready for bows and arrows quite yet – but I’m sure we’ll get there. Right now, all they could possibly do is cause harm and instill terror in me.

How about you? Any gems that you’ve found (that isn’t cheap plasticy nonsense)? Share share, please!

Oh my gosh – a TREE HOUSE! Now, hubby, let’s get on that!!

Meet Janet

February 3, 2016artisan, cape town, homemade, Janet Ceramics, Local, thoughtsDebbie

Half way through last year I joined the VOB Running Club in Constantia. Because I only ever used to run when I had entered a race, I knew my personal discipline needed some accountability and, determined to get fit and stay fit, this was it.

On only my second evening with the club, I met this lovely friendly face (when discussing where to put our keys before the run – you know, a newbie), and her name was Janet. Turned out, she was also brand new and it was her second evening with the club as well. Being the ‘chatter’ that I am while running, we fast became good running friends.

As luck would have it, a few of us had all joined the club at a similar time and really enjoyed running together. As you do with new friends, the discussion went from family, to work, to life, and which race we were all working towards. Janet was an artist. How cool?

WAIT a minute. This beautiful humble soul was not just an artist – she was a really accomplished ceramicist, an artisan, with her own company, Janet Ceramics, located right around the corner from us in Constantia. She was not only selling her ceramics locally, but also overseas and on Yuppiechef. I get really impressed with this kind of stuff.

The more I learn about her, the more amazed I am. I love that these local gems are all around us, and are producing beautiful one-of-a-kind art for us to enjoy. Step aside @home and Le Creuset, this stuff is what we are looking for. There is a deep appreciation for not just working with your hands (and hearts) but for artisans who take simple and often underrated raw materials and raise them up and make something beautiful with them. There is a story, there is meaning and there is deep beauty in that.

LET’S MEET

Her Story

Janet has learned to live a life, listening to her heart and convictions.

As a child she always enjoyed art and ceramics. Her earliest memories of joy was paint being mixed and slopped into a bottle and on the brush in pre-school. She continued with art into high school and registered Janet Ceramics in 2013, after quitting a corporate job in property lending the year before. After a month long sabbatical (which included a 10 day mountain bike trek in the Himalayas), she was changed, and inspired by living an extra-ordinary life – the first step was telling herself the truth that her childhood dream was to be an artist, and that it was time to follow that dream.

Her purpose is to live a life she loves and in doing so inspire others to do the same. Check out the Life a Life you Love Collection here.

The theme of Ubuntu runs deep within her and her artwork (which we love, since we named our second son along the same lines).

Ubuntu (/uː ˈ b ʊ n t uː /oo-buun-too; Zulu/Xhosa pronunciation: [ùɓúntʼú]) is a Nguni Bantu term roughly translating to “human kindness.” It is an idea from the Southern African region which means literally “human-ness,” and is often translated as “humanity towards others,” but is often used in a more philosophical sense to mean “the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity”.[2]

And now… two of Janet’s beautiful artisan pieces are available in Woolworths (Cape Town – Cavendish Square, Willowbridge, Durban – Gateway, Johannesburg – Eastgate, Sandton, Benmore Gardens, Design Quarter).

You see? Are you not fully impressed too? Check them (and their stories) out here…

Have a happy heart – the Heart Shaped Dish

‘Have you ever noticed how if you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, weigh in a few kg’s more than usual, or how running late for your first meeting, can so easily dictate the way in which the rest of the day pans out.

I know myself that I have fallen prey to the spiraling drama of mishaps and things just not going your way. As much as it is your choice to continue in this regard, it’s also your choice to stop and create something different.

If it’s love you want, give it and create it; if it’s respect you want, give it and create it.

The Heart Shaped Dish is designed as a daily reminder that it’s your choice to create whatever you wish for yourself and your experience of life.’

The Mouse Cheese Platter

Start with what you hope for

‘Have you ever found yourself stuck in a corner, unfulfilled, and spending more time running an elaborate commentary on the status quo than on a plan to work towards what you want? I remember paging through the words of Dr Spencer Johnsons, award winning book, Who Moved My Cheese, and bursting into fits of laughter as I identified with the mouse named Haw. At this point in my life I had never really taken time to think about what I wanted and it was easier to talk about the current circumstance than to risk setting new goal posts that I could possibly miss.

The key here is to recognize that your cheese, a metaphor for what you want to have in life, is a transient thing. As life unravels, and we experience new encounters, what we want may change or shift in priority. For me, laughing every day has moved to number one, whereas meaningful work and financial abundance is now a product of a light, energised and joyful existence.

The Cheese Plate in my ceramic range is designed as a daily reminder to ask yourself what it is that you want. Previously you may have enjoyed Camembert and fig preserve, but that may no longer give you satisfaction. Remember, there is a whole larder of cheeses to choose from and the variety of combinations is limited by your imagination.’

Keen to follow her journey? She has numerous other gorgeous items on her website – please check them out. You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or find your nearest Janet Ceramics stockist here.

Well done my friend.

xxx

Picture credits: www.janetlightbody.com and www.yuppiechef.com

My three things

January 26, 2016faith, new years resolutions, thoughtsDebbie

A friend recently challenged me on a New Years resolution kinda question (or should I say series of questions):

Her challenges were:

1) What do you want to grow in?

2) What do you want more of?

3) What do you want to let go of?

And, for the sake of transparency, and to encourage you all in your own thinking… Here are my answers.

What do I want to grow in? I want to grow in the knowledge and understanding what it means to have faith and trust in God. For me personally, I need to take myself out of the drivers seat and attempt to grasp the hugeness of who God is and what it means to just trust. Trust.

What comes with that is an understanding that I am not on my own, and that at any time, I can ask for help and wisdom.

Also… Minimalism.

What do I want to let go of? I want to do my best to let go of the need to control. To control my family, my future, my picture perfect image of my life should look like (or at least what I imagine it to be). I think this need to control is more exhausting than I realize and while I love order and neat and tidy, I need to relax and just be.

I also need to let go of my obsession with my phone. I really do. This obsession with checking apps mindlessly must GO.

What do I want more of? I want more of a life rhythm. I am a typical number 7 on the enneagram. Outgoing, Adventurer, GO GO GO, experience, experience, experience. But with two little people at home, a new year with a new house, building renovations and and and, this spontaneous wild at heart never-say-no girl, must learn to sloooooow doooown. I need more of a groove, of a rhythm.

Everyday when I pick up my 3.5yr old from play school he asks me where we’re going. To which I reply ‘home’. And he’s always disappointed. As it turns out, the constant trips (post school) to the grocery store, aquarium, ice cream place, smoothie shop etc. has encouraged a little person with rather high expectations for an adventure every day.

“Sorry buddy, it’s home for peanut butter sarmies. Let’s go.”

We’re well and truly into 2016. What are your new life goals, personal challenges or dare I say ‘resolutions’?

Picture Credit: shawellnessclinic.com

Gratitude Jar

January 10, 2016family, gratitude, gratitude jar, health, new year, positivity, thankfulnessDebbie

The Gratitude Jar. Every year I say I’m going to make one, and every year I don’t. Alright, in fairness, I only saw this idea on Pinterest a couple years ago but I’m choosing this year to be intentional about gratitude and so, here goes.

The idea is to get (make/decorate) a jar, try and write down something that you’re grateful for each day, put it in there, and read through them at the end of the year (New Years Eve). So before the happy thought or moment slips past, grab a post-it and pen, scribble it down (a memory, a thought, an emotion related to something, a moment you wish to hold onto) and pop it in the jar.

(Or you could get something a little more fancy like this – read more here).

Cliche ahead – but isn’t life made up of the small stuff? The chilli poppers your hubby bought on the way home from work, the smell of fresh clean linen, that extra long coffee and laugh-till-you-cry with a close friend, a song that inspires you, a surprise delivery of your favourite flowers, or when your toddler potty trains himself… (WHAT am I talking about? That’s NO small thing!!).

We are so so busy nowadays that it is easy to forget about the beauty and depth in these seemingly small things. Sure, jot down your trip to Thailand or your new convertible, but I think reading back, it’s going to be the new puppy who was added to the family, the look in your kids’ eyes at Christmas, your fave new recipe or the all-nighter spent playing Monopoly Deal with your besties that will bring the smile to your face on Dec 31.

If you like reading some science behind it all, an article written by the Huffington Post concluded that regarding gratitude research, this is what has been found…

– A daily gratitude intervention (self-guided exercises) with young adults resulted in higher reported levels of the positive states of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, attentiveness and energy compared to a focus on hassles or a downward social comparison.

– In an experimental comparison, those who kept gratitude journals on a weekly basis exercised more regularly, reported fewer physical symptoms, felt better about their lives as a whole, and were more optimistic about the upcoming week compared to those who recorded hassles or neutral life events (Emmons and McCullough, 2003)

– Participants who kept gratitude lists were more likely to have made progress toward important personal goals (academic, interpersonal and health-based) over a two-month period compared to subjects in the other experimental conditions.

– Grateful people report higher levels of positive emotions, life satisfaction, vitality, optimism and lower levels of depression and stress. The disposition toward gratitude appears to enhance pleasant feeling states more than it diminishes unpleasant emotions. Grateful people do not deny or ignore the negative aspects of life.

Interesting huh? And so let’s hold onto these memories a little longer. The benefit of gratitude to the human spirit/soul is invaluable. Let’s live with thankful hearts and flex our gratitude muscle this year…

In the midst of less

January 6, 2016Becoming Minimalist, Consumerism, family, Freedom, health, Joshua Becker, Minimalism, Owning LessDebbie

Two days ago, a friend of mine was robbed. Badly. Her house completely cleared out by criminals. I wanted to vomit listening to her talk about how quickly, silently and professionally it happened. Poof. Gone.

And now she has the tedious task of trying to itemise everything that was stolen and claim from insurance. Please, I can barely remember what I have in my handbag and I stare into it everyday – how on EARTH are you supposed to remember what was in that bag in the back cupboard. Spare linen, towels, Christmas decorations, that old tennis racquet?

Yes, she recognises that it is only stuff and that her family is safe. Yes, she is feeling the overwhelming emotions of how invasive and personally uncomfortable this kind of intrusion is, and yes, she has cried about the loss of her grandmothers wedding ring and her exceptionally sentimental items which are now probably on the black market. And yes, this is NOT okay.

We are privileged to own these things. Most of the world is much poorer than we are. And so, how can one not understand that there are less fortunate people everywhere desperate to steal and sell something to provide for his/her family, or replace their contents that were destroyed in a shack fire. I’m not using this post to open the ‘white privilege’ can – just to acknowledge the other stories so often not heard. This still does NOT make it okay. (It just raises lots of questions which I’m not going to ask here or now).

And so to avoid further (and very real) fear of trying to protect every THING we own with exorbitant insurance costs, anxiously double checking locked doors, paranoid we are being watched and targeted, feeling obsessive-compulsive about a strange noise in the night or whether we pulled our phone from its car charger when we left the car, how can we distance ourselves from this often very real way of thinking and living in South Africa.

I remember in Vancouver, feeling like everything was temporary. It was a great way to live. We drove an old 1997 Honda Accord called Seymour (see-more) because all we wanted it for, was to get from A-B and that is what it did. And if I scraped the wheel rim on the pavement – well whahh – no big deal. We swapped clothes and baby paraphernalia between friends and while we like nice stuff (and bought nice stuff) we didn’t need to accumulate because we couldn’t keep it forever. We value respecting each others things (ask my kids how I shout at them when they throw books) and know full well the result of buying cheap, buying twice. So we are not necessarily regulars at the Chinese shops, nor Woolworths, and yes, we do have some very lovely things I would be very upset if they were ever stolen. But we were able to fit all of our early contents into 14 boxes that sailed from Vancouver to SA, and this made life (and certain decisions) much simpler and happier. There’s something very healthy about living with little. And my minimalist friend Joshua Becker hits the nail on the head for me OFTEN.

In no way am I saying that my friend is materialistic or a hoarder. In fact I think she is one of the few who are not. This incident has simply made me think about my own life, and my own stuff and the importance I place on them, the value I expect them to add to my life and whether that is right or not. Also, it’s making me wonder how much less worry-filled my life can be, by intentionally owning fewer things. And I’m inspired and deeply challenged by this thought.

I’ve read about those people who buy nothing but food and regular household needs for a year. No new clothes, no coffees out, no spontaneous splurging. They challenge themselves to not go out and spend (and appreciate what they have and make the best of it). While I’m not one of those, I’m intrigued by them and cannot deny that they must experience an unbelievably extraordinary year.

Besides, stuff creates dust and mess. And nobody needs more of that.

Healthy skincare resolutions we all should make

January 4, 2016natural skincare, new years resolutions, skin health, skincare, The Little Green Box - Eco SkincareDebbie

Thanks to Peta at The Little Green Box, we have some really practical and simple skincare advice for the new year.

Get your beauty sleep – aim for 7-8 hours at least. After all it is called “beauty sleep” for a reason.

Don’t forget about your neck – the neck is often forgotten when applying moisturisers and can show a significant amount of aging. So don’t stop your skincare routine at the chin.

Commit to wearing sunblock everyday – it’s never too late (or too early) to commit to protecting your skin every day. Choose a sunblock that contains UVA and UVB protection in a lightweight formula. Try Kalahari a SPF 40 (R240/60ml) OR our Natural Lab SPF 30 (R180/50ml) (available at The Little Green Box).

Another sunscreen range I love is the oh-lief Sunscreen range. Read more about happy honest sunscreen here.

Schedule a facial – It’s best to get a facial every month or two for best results, but if that’s not possible, aim for at least one with the change of each season. You skin renews itself every 28 days and thus needs the care monthly. If you are on a budget try an Express facial rather than skipping your facial.

Why not swap out that one brunch, or one extra item of clothing a month and use that money to pamper your skin?

Don’t pick blemishes – picking leads to inflammation and scarring. Let Mother Nature do her job and heal it.

Assess the products you are using – toss products that are older than two years or products that have changed colour and consistency. Aim to use products that are free of petrochemicals, parabens, synthetic fragrances or colourants, alcohol, sodium laureth sulphate and PEGS. All these ingredients are dangerous to long term health.

YES YES YES!!!! And drink lots of water.

Keen to sign up for more green and honest advice? Please email Peta at littlegreenboxskincare@gmail.com to be added to her mailing list.

Picture credit: www.onefinedae.com

Green-up your Summer

December 30, 2015cape town, glass, Greenkid, happy skin, Lifefactory, natural mosquito repellent, natural sunscreen, oh-lief, pure beginnings, Summer, Sun Smart, Zoku Quick Pop MakerDebbie

Sorry for the rest of you Northern Hemispherians… It is summer time here in the Cape. Good and proper. Today boasts a scorching 38 degrees in Cape Town and woweeee we can feel it.

I’ll keep this brief – because there is pool splashing, ice lolly making, braaing and chilled rose to be drinking.

Here are some of my all time fave green-ish goodies for summer this year:

Zoku Quick Pop Maker. I bought the duo quick pop maker as our family Christmas Pressie this year, and after one use, it felt like it had paid for itself (not really, it cost us R550, but we were thoroughly impressed). We juice up fresh fruits (and veggies) and pour them in, wait 10 min for them to freeze and voia-la. Healthy homemade ice lollies your kids will LOVE. (You do get the slow pop maker as shown below, but the quick pop has that instant gratification effect which is great – ermmm… especially with kids.) I’m yet to try the mojito, margarita and strawberry daiquiri quick pop recipe for once the kids have gone to bed. A win for all family members.

2. oh-lief Sunscreen. The sun is hot. HOT HOT HOT and being burnt is not okay. I’ve always loathed slapping chemical sunscreen on my kids and so this local, natural and mineral sunscreen goes with me everywhere. For the Beauty of It blog agrees with me on this one… Read more about it here.

3. We need a mozzie repellent. Every summer, I send my husband to my in-laws to get their industrial sized standing fan and it blows hurricane type winds over us all night. I can’t handle mozzies. With a fan on they can’t land on you – I win. HA. We also recently made my youngest (who gets chowed) a mozzie net which has been amazing, but you need to have some alternative solutions on hand – enter Pure Beginnings 100% Natural Insect Repellent (R45) and oh-lief’s Natural Olive Insect Balm. (R69.50)

4. Smartsun Wristbands are intelligent UV wristbands originating from the UK, which change colour depending on whether or not you need to reapply sun protection. These are especially handy for when you are outdoors for long periods of time and might be a little distracted by the blissfulness that is summer to keep a timer on when to next top up on your (or your families) sunscreen.

‘Perfect for kids and adults alike whether you’re on holiday, at the beach or enjoying outdoor activities and sports, Smartsun allows you to enjoy the warm weather by indicating the optimum time to top up your SPF.’ Smart huh?

Each band is one wear only, and starts out as yellow, changing to beige and then pink to alert you when it is time to top up on sun lotion, or when it is time to avoid the sun for the rest of the day.

They’re available in packs of 5 for R99.95 from Clicks stores.

5. Glass Drinking Bottles. I wrote a blog post about how much I loved glass here but everything gets warm in the summer and so having your drinks in glass bottles prevents that chemical leeching and festering from plastic everythings… I don’t know the exact science behind what happens to the chemical process in the plastic, but I don’t like it. So I simply stay away.

For my family, I use Lifefactory and Greenkid bottles. The glass is hardened and never has one broken. They are amazing. And you don’t lose them easily either because they’re quite novel and if you spend a bit of money on them, then you tend to take better care of them. You can buy Greenkid bottles here. They go for around R140 for the glass bottle and R60 for a colourful silicone sleeve.

I carry this bad boy around with me everywhere.

5 small changes, resulting in a happier, healthier and greener summer. Do you make any specific greener changes as different seasons approach? Tell!

Picture credit: For the Beauty of It (oh-lief sunscreen picture).

No more tampons – EVER

December 21, 2015M Power Cup, menstrual cups, South Africa, sustainable living, tamponsDebbie

Right, so ladies. This is about to get gory-ly honest.

Periods. We all have them. Often. Having said that over the past 4 years I’ve had about 3 of them. Between pregnant with #1, breastfeeding up a storm, body back into baby making mode, pregnant with #2, breastfeeding and then BHAM. Here we are.

So, thinking back I must have started turning a darker shade of (eco)green in Vancouver because I went out on a limb and bought myself a Diva Cup Menstrual Cup before I even got my period back after #2 and it sat, unopened, for more than a year. Then one fateful day, it happened. Aunt Flo came back.

Finally I got to try my new menstrual cup I’d heard so much about (both with positive and negative reviews). I must be honest, I was quite excited. I’m not sure how I personally got around the mental shift of moving from something you throw away to something you clean and reuse but I did. And I was keen to give it a go. (BTW, there are VERY funny blog posts about womens experiences with these things. Often crude, and with complete oversharing – but very funny nonetheless.)

The fact is, menstrual cups have been around for 80 years (and there are lots of them!!), but the truth about them has been lost in the frenzy of disposable tampons and pads. Like anything new, menstrual cups may take some getting used to as the experience of wearing them is a totally different mindset to the idea of using tampons. Even women who are used to wearing pads as their preferred method of period care (because they cannot wear tampons or are not comfortable with internal feminine hygiene products) are finding great success with menstrual cups (apparently – according to the Diva Cup people).

LET’S START AT THE BEGINNING shall we?

What is it?

The menstrual cup is a cup (most often made from 100% medical grade silicone) and is inserted into the vagina during menses and collects, rather than absorbs, menstrual blood. At regular intervals, it is removed and the contents are disposed of. The cup is then washed or wiped clean and reinserted. The cup usually lasts for around 5 years. It is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution to pads and tampons.

Why?

Why not? There is an overwhelming amount of information as to why the move from pads/tampons is not only important, but should be seriously considered. Here are but a few:

The cup can hold up to three times more fluid than the average tampon or pad.
It poses no risk of toxic shock syndrome or vaginal dryness (problems associated with tampons).
It is reusable, significantly reducing waste and therefore eco friendly.
Convenient, cost effective, reliable and comfortable.
Needs to be changed less frequently than even the highest absorbency tampons and can be worn overnight.
Odourless and entirely invisible with no strings.
Ideal for an active lifestyle and for active sports such as running, gym, yoga and swimming.
Antibacterial, entirely non-absorbent and is not associated with TSS or with other infections like cystitis (inflammation of the bladder, associated with sanitary pads) or candida (thrush).
Bio-compatible i.e. not harmful to living tissue.

If you want to know the VERY detailed step-by-step as to how it works (the “fold it like this, and insert it this way” type stuff) – take a peek here.

But what is it like… REALLY?

I asked three friends who I know use the cup, to give me their honest opinions on it. Here is what they had to say:

LIKES:

You can leave it in for 12 hours, don’t risk TSS and it’s safer for your body
Just like a tampon you can’t feel the menstrual cup at all if correctly inserted
Leak-proof. Even when using for 12 hours, no one had experienced a leak
Saves you money
You never have the mishap of running out of tampons
You get to know your body
ECO-FRIENDLY

DISLIKES:

It’s not for those who are screamish about blood
The cup can stain a little (which can be quite gross), but you can give it a good clean by scrubbing it with a toothbrush
After the majority of her period has passed, one friend said she felt a little sensitive after using it, so switched to tampons/pads for the remainder of her period
It takes a few goes to get used to putting it in correctly but once you get the hang of it, it’s easy.

One friend added: “Make sure you put it away when it’s not being used as it can be mistaken for other things, and you can find yourself in an awkward conversation”.

Another friend said: “I LOVE my menstrual cup!! I found out about them around a year ago! As someone who has always tried my best to care for this planet I cannot avoid the massive waste produced by sanitary products as a women goes through something like 9000 tampons (and R12 500) in a life time, as opposed to maybe 4 menstrual cups. So for me it’s really a no brainier”.

“For myself, the shift from tampons to the menstrual cup was super easy. I know that’s not always the case with other women. I know some women would be grossed out by it, but I haven’t found it gross or weird at all. It’s my body and my blood, no more icky than a cut in my arm”.

My opinion? I love it. No really. I do. Having had babies naturally and having trained as a birth doula, I’m very comfortable with ‘bodily fluids’. And so this doesn’t gross me out at all. Yes, it takes some time to get used to, and yes, I can fully appreciate that the collection and disposal of blood can seem gory and is not for everyone but it has revolutionized the way I see my body, my cycle and how to manage it the best way I can see possible. (That sounds heavy – ‘revolutionized’ – but, it kinda has).

Are you willing to give it a GO? Well, LUCKY YOU!

We’ve got one up for grabs, to the value of R325.

The Mpower Cup was established by Glenda Tutt in 2008 in Cape Town, South Africa. Not only did she start this business with a vision for a better life for herself and her son, but with the success of Mpower Cup, she has changed the lives of many around her. As her business grows, so do her dreams, and her biggest dream yet is to supply sustainable sanitary ware to impoverished women who do not have access to it or cannot afford it. This is a huge need in our country and Mpower Cup has identified this as a cause they cannot ignore, with the goal of supplying a sustainable solution to menstrual management each and every month to women all across South Africa. Read more about this inspiring Karabo Initiative on her website.

To win one of these Mpower Menstrual Cups for yourself – here is what you need to do:

Enter here:

Give us some love on FB at Our Greenish Life‘s page

EXTRA Entries:

Share this competition on Facebook for an extra entry.
Tag a friend for another entry
Use the line on social media platforms: Enter to win a Mpower Cup Menstrual Cup with @OurGreenishLife here https://wp.me/p6hdsr-nY

Thanks for entering. Good Luck!

Contact Glenda Tutt at Mpower Cup
(t) 079 898 5188
(e) glenda@mpowercup.co.za
Web: www.mpowercup.co.za

Terms and Conditions

The competition runs from 21 December – Thursday, 31 December 2015.
This competition is open to Cape Town residents only.
The winner will be chosen randomly and contacted via email.
Winner will be announced on the Our Greenish Life website and social media channels on or around Thursday, 31 December 2015.

Featured picture credit: https://www.aliexpress.com/popular/menstrual-cup.html

This competition is closed, and was won by Kimberley O’Sullivan.