Weathering the Storm

Autumn has come to an end, but a season of change in my life is just beginning. As I begin to embrace the season of giving, I can’t help but feel that I’m only just rejoining the business of life.

I’m writing this piece today to help anyone who feels as though a big black raincloud is following them around with no end in sight. I promise you it is, the storm will pass. I want to share what helped me get through a recent tough time.

Keep Busy

I heard a lovely story from a friend recently. While at work, she got chatting to an older woman. My friend said that this woman looked no older than 70. When she revealed that she was 91, my friend asked, “Have you any secrets for staying youthful?” To which she replied, “Just keep busy!” She had been a nurse for over 50 years. Wonderful advice.

Pamper Time

Looking after ourselves on the outside is so important. It makes me feel refreshed, polished and confident. Taking time to eat well and use my favourite body butter on a cold, rainy evening makes the world of difference to how I feel. This time might feel like a luxury, but it’s imperative we look after ourselves and feel our best. That way, we can take on the world!

Nature

Watching the seasons change in Autumn always reminds me that everything in life has a time. It’s invigorating to be out and about in life. I love listening to the birds chirp and sing, watch the clouds float by, feel the sunshine on my face, breathe in crisp and silky air and observe the beauty of the leaves as they change. Such beauty is a good for the soul.

Escapism

There’s nothing better than cuddling up under a cosy blanket with fairylights on all around and watching a great show. For this, I turn to Netflix. With a TV show, you can forget your troubles and get lost in a new world. Some of my favourites: When Calls The Heart, Full House, Pride and Prejudice, Stranger Things, Gilmore Girls, Dirk Gently’s Hollistic Detective Agency, Unbreakable Kimmy Scmidt, Gavin & Stacey, Emma and Daughters of Destiny.

Whatever you are going through, it won’t last. Tough times never do. Your luck will turn around, your heart will heal and time will pass. I believe in the mystery of the universe or whatever this beautiful journey we are all on is. I think sometimes, having a little faith also helps us along. So for now, do what you can to get through each day and look after yourself and your loved ones.

Until next time… ♥

Autumnal Goodbyes

The air is fresh and crisp and the leaves are golden and falling softly. Change is in the air. Autumn has brought many challenges, but in nature I have found solace.

I’m sharing some peaceful moments that I have captured during this picturesque season in the hopes that they will bring you calm.

Until next time… ♥

 

Beauty, not cruelty

Aligning my values with my actions through using my purchasing power to support cruelty-free and vegan brands satisfies my beauty obsession in an ethical way.

I prefer to support brands that are certified Cruelty-free and Vegan, however if needs be I will also support BUAV approved brands with labeling that states the product is suitable for vegans. These are my non-negotiable requirements when shopping for products and natural ingredients along with sustainable packaging are also focal points when on the hunt for the next miracle cream or magic foundation.

I really believe in the power of conscious consumerism to shift the focus of capitalism toward a model that is ethical and sustainable for our Earth and all the creatures on it. I don’t believe anyone who says it doesn’t matter – every product bought has an impact. Am I supporting a business with a transparent supply chain and values that align with my own? Have they taken the time and effort to seek certain certifications so that I can rest assured no innocent beings were used or hurt in the making of what I will use? These are some of the questions I ask myself before I buy.

Some of my favorite places to shop a wide variety of cruelty-free, vegan and natural beauty products online are Ecco Verde, Feel Unique, Superdrug and Marks and Spencer. Personally, I use a lot of PHB Ethical Beauty and B Cosmetics products for my skincare. Inika, Benecos, Rosie for Autograph, Lily Lolo and E.L.F fill my makeup bag. I find Faith in Nature, Dr Bronner’s and Superdrug own brand great for general skincare as well as most of Marks and Spencer’s own brand beauty products. There are so many wonderful brands out there that support a kinder way of living. There are many I plan on trying. Sienna Byron Bay and Flora1761 for nail polish, Biofficina Toscana for hair and skincare, MuLondon for luxurious skincare and Provida Organics, 100% Pure and Everyday Minerals for makeup. Etsy is also a wonderful place to find cruelty-free and vegan gems that are usually homemade and easily found through a quick search on the site.

Sure, I wouldn’t run in Boots anymore and pick up a concealer without a moment’s thought, but that’s the thrill of the chase. I can plan my purchase and research exactly what I will be putting on my body. Our skin is our largest organ, so when I think of things that way it reminds me that researching the ingredients in each product before I buy is so important. I want to know what I will effectively be consuming.

This extra time for thought and reflection also gives me chance to consider if I really want and need a specific beauty product. For years, I bought any new product I could get my hands on that my favorite Beauty Guru’s on Youtube were loving. Most of the items didn’t work for me, I rarely used them more than a couple of times and certainly never used them up. I was wasting not just my own money, but the resources it took to create these items and I didn’t even consider the fact there could be an innocent creature being used and abused just so I could wear a new eye shadow a handful of times. I don’t buy into it anymore.

Now I still love all things beauty. It makes me feel fab and helps me put my best foot forward every day. I love that special time I have in the morning to myself to put my makeup on and the relaxing process of taking care of my skin at night. My beauty regime is an everyday part of my life and I love it. The thought I put behind each product I use now makes my beauty time even more special, because beauty should never mean cruelty.

I would love to know what are your fave vegan and cruelty-free brands and products?

Until next time… ♥

Living Simply with Social Media

For a while now, I have been seeking ways to simplify my life so that I can focus on my loved ones and doing things that add the most value to my life. I just want to keep to myself, seek adventure, stay inspired, be kind, happy, healthy, and weather the ups and downs of life with grace. I have been better able to do these things through embracing simplicity and the joys that a simple, meaningful life can bring.

On this quest, I recently decided to re-evaluate my online presence and whether certain social media platforms in particular, serve me well. I want to feel inspired, and follow accounts that encourage me to create. So with that in mind, I have culled the content that I am seeing on the platforms I remain active on, so that I don’t feel that all too familiar feeling of digital overwhelm.

I decided to deactivate my Facebook account. At first, I decided to stay away for 30 days thanks to the inspiration of Mary Blossoms. It really worked, at first I still had that touch memory and would find myself absent-mindedly clicking onto the site. However, once this abated, I found that I felt much calmer and more at peace.

For me, Facebook is a platform on which I constantly compared myself to others and found out far too much about people I don’t really know or care about. I can understand how it is a wonderful platform for keeping in touch and sharing memories with family and friends, but I never could strike that balance.

Cleaning up my online presence has made the time I spend in the virtual world so much more enjoyable and valuable. I can fully focus on watching an informative Ted Talk on Youtube, searching for a delicious vegan recipe on Pinterest, or finally creating, through starting my own blog, all without feeling distracted. Life is full of enough stress, we all deserve to spend our precious time on this Earth happy and present.

I hope that my experience will help if you too are thinking about or in the process of simplifying your social media presence. And please remember:

Image: Rose Hill Designs by Heather Stillufsen

Until next time… ♥

Loving Your Wardrobe

If you’re anything like me, shopping is a favorite pastime. Be it for stress relief, boredom therapy, bonding or relaxation purposes, I enjoy nothing more than experiencing the different aromas and sights of a wander through a few of my favorite shopping centres in my free time.

In the past however, no matter how many purchases I made during these trips, I still never had anything to wear! Over the past few years, I had embraced simplicity in every aspect of my life, apart from my wardrobe that is. Filled to the brim with mismatched items, I never felt fully happy with the outfits I put together. That’s different now.

One day, I stumbled across The True Cost on Netflix. I like to think I care about the world around me and all the creatures upon it. But as I watched this documentary, I realised that I had been very blind about the human hands that made the clothes I wore every day. Previously, I had only considered if the garment I marveled at on it’s hanger, was a bargain and would look good on me. I was so removed from the people involved in the work that went into making it. From those who grew and created the raw materials, to the factory workers who made it’s different parts, to the impact that various dyes and materials have on people and our beautiful planet, I had never once given the chain of production any thought.

I did more research. Over this past summer, I fell down a rabbit hole of exploring the impact that fast fashion is having on our world and the importance of engaging in slow fashion and conscious consumerism. I highly recommend visiting My Green Closet on Youtube for inspiration. Although I cannot afford to buy every piece in my wardrobe from a sustainable, ethical brand (as much as I would love to), I now focus on looking after my small, functional wardrobe.

My answer to fast fashion? Love your wardrobe. Simplify. Look after the pieces you have. Think carefully about where and what you give your hard earned money to. Invest in staple items. Curate your style carefully. Donate what is no longer of use to you. Discard the idea that you have to constantly consume. Treat yourself to items that you will love for more than a season. You deserve pieces that will carry you through different times in your life and provide comfort and style. You deserve to know how they were made and who made them.

I still love the experience of shopping. Be it the lovely day out it can bring with a loved one, or the time alone it can provide. But I think very carefully before I purchase. I give away countless hours of my life to earn money, so I’m not throwing it away on the latest trend or on a piece that will not last a few washes. The human hands who make my clothes deserve an intentional being who loves and respects every inch of their hard work. I also consider the environmental impact that my clothes have both during their production and the care that this garment will need once bought. It’s definitely a more thoughtful shopping experience I have these days, and I’m so thankful for that.

What do you think about fast fashion and the slow fashion movement? I’m so new to it, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Until next time… ♥

Magnesium Oil: Magic in a bottle

If you too are now singing Message in a Bottle, can we be friends?

I have had a really positive experience using magnesium oil over the past few months. It’s a great mineral to supplement if you are feeling as though you need a little boost. I hope that this post will help you if you are looking for a bit more information on the subject to get you started.

With depleted soil quality these days, our bodies have a harder time absorbing minerals that are key for optimal cell function. Magnesium is one such mineral. It’s ions are involved in over 300 reactions that regulate health and wellness within the human body. Magnesium ions help bones to break down the food that we eat into energy. One of many amazing tricks up their sleeves! Magnesium ions are also helpers in bodily processes such as the synthesis of essential molecules like DNA, RNA and chromosomes.

Magnesium also makes up a large portion of our bodies structural bases and thus plays a large part in nutrient reactions and interactions. It helps to achieve absorption and balance in the body, while regulating blood sugar and aiding calcium absorption. So it’s a busy mineral!

It can be found naturally in spinach, chard, yogurt (vegan, obvs), almonds, avocado, figs, dark chocolate, pumpkin seeds, banana and chia. However, most of us, are still deficient. Women should be aiming for well over 300mg per day and men 400mg. Most of us fall short of the mark by about 100mg. A deficiency of magnesium can lead to inflammation, which in turn, can lead to all sorts of health problems.

The benefits you can reap from giving your body an adequate amount of magnesium are pretty endless, but here’s a few: increased energy, weight loss, calms nerves, beats sugar cravings, relieves muscle aches and spasms, helps with sleep, aids digestion, helps with PMS symptoms, can prevent migraines, reduces stress-related skin irritations, aids in physiological and neurological processes when the body is under stress, reduces skin oiliness, decreases hypertension, regulates diabetes, combats inflammation… it’s essential.

There are some different types of Magnesium that you might want to consider when deciding what is best for you:

Magnesium chloride is most commonly suspended in water to give us magnesium oil. It’s detoxifying, aids metabolism and kidney function and nourishes and soothes skin.

Magnesium citrate is not reccommended for use. It interferes with ceruboplasmin (a major copper-carrying protein in the blood) and can cause disregulation and health problems.

Magnesium glycinate is relaxing has a good absorption rate and eases nerve pain.

Magnesium malate support ATP production, energising, fights fibromyalgia and muscle pain.

Magnesium oxide is good in small doses throughout the day and also has a good absorption rate.

Magnesium carbonate aids in alleviating depression, brain injuries, anxiety and PTSD.

Magesium lysinate supports gastric health.

Magnesium aspartate promotes cellular energy.

Magnesium L threonate promotes mental sharpness and cognitive health.

Personally, I decided that magnesium chloride was the best fit for me. Transdermal magnesium oil is recommended for supplementation due to it’s high absorption rate. 6-8 sprays per day delivers 100mg of magnesium directly. As the magnesium molecules are quite big, it can sting and tingle when you first apply, but that soon goes away after continued use. I recommend applying after a shower on clean skin, before you moisturise, on your belly, or any areas such as legs and feet that may be aching after a long day (but not after you have shaved – it BUUURNS!) I also noticed that when I initially started using it on my belly, I broke out in spots on my upper stomach and chest area. However, that has cleared up with continued use and for me, the benefits far outweigh a little breakout. I have more energy and feel happier, my eczema is much more manageable, a few sprays brought down the swelling on a foot injury, and that time of month has become less of an emotional roller coaster. It’s also a relaxing evening routine, to spay a few drops on my belly and know that I’m helping my body stay happy and healthy.

The best source of magnesium chloride is from the ancient Zechstein Sea in Northern Europe, where it is mined, untouched by modern day pollutants. I use a vegan friendly brand called BetterYou and their Original Magnesium Oil. I purchased it in a local health food shop, but you can also get it here. I will only purchase brands that make the effort to label their products as vegan friendly, so if this is not an issue for you I am sure there are many other wonderful brands out there.

So, that’s as far as I’ve gotten with magnesium oil for now. I hope that this will help you if you’re deciding whether of not to supplement this magical mineral!

Until next time… ♥