If your child is struggling with school, feeling stressed, is anxious or worried, magnesium can help. It's nature's calmer and can help reduce worry and stress - naturally.
It also helps improve sleep, is essential for healthy teeth and bones, helps reduce depression and anxiety, helps our hearts function optimally, helps reduce cramps and growing pains, and much, much more.
In fact, it's needed for hundreds of cellular functions in our body. It's estimated that almost all of us are deficient in this essential nutrient. Hence the importance of supplementing.
Here are just some of the benefits that come with regularly using magnesium.
Tips for using topical magnesium.
Browse our products here: www.ekohub.co.nz
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Here are 15 ideas.
1. Bulk buy
2. Compost
3. Eat left overs
4. Freeze
5. Plan meals
6. Use reusable containers/jars
7. Compostable dish cloths
8. Reuse tin foil and baking papet
9. Refill dish wash liquid
10. Use dish wash soap bars
11. Freeze or dry herbs
12. Loose leaf tea
13. Chop and freeze fruit
14. Reuse shopping bags
15. Preserve food
We would love to know what other ideas you have for reducing waste in your kitchen.
]]>A huge amount of waste gets produced on occasions such as these. Wrapping paper gets purchased, it is carefully and beautifully wrapped around the present, and then within seconds, it gets destroyed and biffed in the rubbish bin.
Here are 5 alternatives to making gift wrapping, that little bit more sustainable.
1. Fabric: You can use off-cuts or larger pieces that you or someone else may have lying around. Not only do the gifts look beautiful, but the fabric can also then be re-used again. You can find loads of wrapping ideas online, particularly if you look up Japanese cloth wrapping. Scarves also make for beautiful wrapping.
2. Paper bags: Paper bags are commonly found in supermarkets. Obviously, it is best to have your reusable bag with you at all times, but we know that there are those unexpected trips to the supermarket where the bags are needed (and also through home delivery). The paper bags can be kept and used for present wrapping. Either pop the goods in the bag or remove the handles and wrap the bag around and secure with some string. I don't know about you, but we LOVE the look of a simple brown gift. You could even add a little flower on the top to add some extra cuteness.
3. Tea towel: We love this idea, and the tea towel itself makes for a lovely gift. This works best for smaller items of course. Wrap up the items and secure the tea towel with some ribbon or string. We once made some delicious bread and wrapped them in tea towels for Christmas presents. It was a hit!
4. Reuse gift paper: I can still remember my mother saving all of the gift paper when I was young. She would collect it all, iron it flat, and store it in the cupboard for the next occasion. I have often saved and reused paper, and recently my daughter came home with a pile of wrapping paper that she collected from a Christmas party.
5. Kids art: Kids are often drawing, sketching and colouring. Why not use some of these for wrapping presents. It looks neat and adds a lovely personal touch.
]]>As well as giving them away to family and friends, stocking up a local Pataka / food pantry, or popping them in the freezer, you can also make delicious relish. It's great with cheese,
We’ve adapted this recipe from the team at The Maunu Garden Project.
Relish recipe
Makes about 5 1/2 cups. If you have more tomatoes to use up, you can double the recipe.
Approx 2kg of tomatoes (any red type, washed and free of greenery, no need to peel them)
2 brown onions - chopped
2 teaspoon Chilli flakes (optional – put in as much or as little as you want to suit your taste)
1 Tbsp curry powder
1 Cup Malt or white vinegar ~ put a couple of Tbsp to one side
1 Tbsp Salt
1 Tbsp Black pepper
1 Cup raw or white sugar
2 Tbsp corn flour
Chop up tomatoes and onions
You don’t need to drain the tomatoes – just place them straight into a large pot with onions
Add spices, vinegar (less 2 tablespoons), salt & pepper
Bring to a boil and boil for about 15 minutes
Stir in sugar until dissolved
Boil gently for another 1.5 hours
Mix cornflour with remaining vinegar and add to the mix to thicken
Cook on low heat for another 45 minutes – 1 hour
Remove from heat, pour into sterilised jars or bottles and seal with lids.
Allow to cool and store in a cool, dark place.
Once opened, store the relish in the fridge.
Bottle / jar preparation
1. Wash thoroughly in hot soapy water, rinse and drain.
2. Heat using the oven, boiling water, dishwasher or microwave.
Place on oven racks, with space between them and heat at 120C for 10-15 minutes.
Or put them through a hot cycle in your dishwasher.
Or place jars and lids in a deep saucepan over high heat on the stove top. Cover with cold water. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to medium and boil for 10 minutes.
If the jars are damp, allow them to air-dry or pat dry with a clean tea towel.
Or wet the glass jars and cook on high for 60 seconds in microwave. To sterilise metal seals or lids, pop them in boiling water in a container on the benchtop for 5 minutes then remove and dry.
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It is packed full of good fats and fibre. Keeps the belly full (you don't need a lot) and it just tastes super yummy.
We often change the ingredients. We never make it exactly as the time before. We just use what ever we have at home in regards to seeds. If we don't have enough of one, we add more if the other. We also add a bit more salt than what is in the original recipe.
Ingredients
This last batch has added poppy and sesame seeds on top.
However we make it, it never fails to please.
1 1/2 cups raw pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup psyllium husks (whole)
1 cup raw sunflower seeds
1/2 cup flax seeds
1/2 cup chia seeds
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 tablespoon maple syrup or pinch powdered stevia (we have used erythritol, agave, & no sweetner at all on different occasions)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 cups warm filtered water
Method
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and line a loaf pan with parchment paper or grease it up.
In a food processor/blender, blend 1 cup of the pumpkin seeds until it resembles course flour.
In a bowl, add the course pumpkin, remaining pumpkin seeds and all other dry ingredients.
Add water, stir well, add into the loaf tin and use your hands to press down and make it even.
Bake for around 45 mins.
We tend to turn the oven off at that point and just let it sit in the warm over for a further 30 mins or so. Sometimes we have taken it out and it has appeared a bit soggy but if we leave it in the cooling oven it appears to make a difference.
The original recipe we used was from: https://withfoodandlove.com/keto-bread/
Here's some ideas to reduce food wastage.
Storage options.
Re-use containers to store food in. If you have some food that you may not use up quickly enough, freeze it to use another day. Ie. Banana
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When helium balloons are released into the atmosphere, as they reach a certain height they pop into this shape that looks a lot like a jellyfish. Regular balloons are an issue as well.
If they end up in the ocean, they won’t biodegrade and can be eaten by sealife or birds who mistake them for food. Even though balloons represent only 2 percent of all plastics ingested by seabirds, they are responsible for 42 percent of plastic-related deaths.
So if you or your kids do have balloons (especially helium ones), please don't let them go and make sure they are disposed of properly into the rubbish once they are done. Even better, ditch the balloons altogether and go for another option.
Fortunately, there are eco-friendlier alternatives to balloons. Here are a few ideas:
Sources:
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So we’ve put together some of our favourite ways to use this versatile product.
So first off, what exactly is Liquid Castile Soap?
Made from all plants, it’s all natural and a great all-rounder to have in your home. It is safe, natural and makes the perfect cleaner for your home, body, children and pets.
Traditionally castile soap was a hard white soap made from olive oil. These days it means a vegetable based soap.
Most castile soap today is actually a blend of olive oil, coconut oil, castor oil, or any other commonly used vegetable oil. Castile soap can be made as either a hard bar soap or a liquid soap. Some brands are made with palm oil*, so that’s something to watch out for.
We stock Conscious Liquid Castile Soap which is made from 50/50 blend of olive and coconut oils.
This beautifully blended soap is:
It doesn’t bubble and suds up like a detergent would, but we love it because it does such a great job and can be used in so many ways. Here’s some of our favourite ways to use it:
Around the home
All purpose cleaning spray. A little castile soap, mixed with warm water, and some drops of your favourite essential oil mixed in a spray bottle makes for a fabulous all-purpose cleaner. Make sure to put the water in the bottle first to avoid a soapy mess. You can use it on your counters in your bathroom and kitchen, your sinks, stovetops, even your toilets.
Shower scrub. Mix 2-3 tablespoons of castile soap with 1/4 cup baking soda for a non-toxic shower scrub.
Handwashing dishes. Keep a bottle of castile soap next to your sink for just this purpose. A little dab for dirty dinner dishes. Or if you want another option, mix ¼ cup of liquid castile soap into empty dishwashing liquid bottle, fill up with water, gently mix and use as needed.
Floor cleaner. Mix 2 tablespoons of castile soap in a bucket with warm water and mop away!
Laundry. 1 tablespoon into a bucket of warm water for pre-wash or hand washing delicates. Add 1/3—1/2 cup of soap for a large load in a normal washer. Add ½ cup white vinegar to the rinse cycle.
Toilet. Dilute 1 part castile soap with 4 parts water in a squirt bottle. Add 6-10 drops of tea tree oil (or your oil of choice). Squirt the toilet bowl thoroughly and sprinkle baking soda through the bowl. Scrub with toilet brush, let it sit for 10 minutes and then flush.
For your body
Body wash and shampoo. If you're low-maintenance guy or gal, you'll be happy to know that you can use castile soap as an all-in-one in the shower, both for your hair and your body.
Body wash: Mix ¼ cup castile soap with ¾ cup of water into pump soap bottle. Use one squirt on a wet washcloth, applied to a wet body. Or use 1-2 teaspoons in your hand as you would any body wash.
Shampoo: Simply use ½ tablespoon in your hand and work it into wet hair. Or mix ½ tablespoon in ½ cup of water. (Note some people find that it may leave their hair dry and tangled, so you may need to follow up with a conditioner).
Hand soap refill. 1/4 cup castile soap with 3/4 cup water into a hand soap bottle.
Shaving. Use a small amount, neat. As you would shaving foam.
Outside & in the garden
Car Wash. Add ¼ cup into a bucket of hot water and wash the car with it. Rinse thoroughly
]]>Number 1 rule - always wash your hands well before touching your menstrual cup.
Cleaning it before use
When you first get your cup it needs to be properly sterilised. The best ways to sterilize your cup are the following:
Or
Once your cup is sterilised place it in your cotton storage bag or a clean, dry container like a glass jar or plastic box.
Cleaning your cup while you have your period
If you’re out and about
Notes
*Don’t use a menstrual cup for more than 12 hours at a time – it needs to be emptied and washed at least twice a day i.e. at least every 12 hours, but ideally every 4 to 8 hours
Cleaning your menstrual cup AFTER your period:
Note
Image credit: My Cup NZ
Disclaimer: The information presented here has been written to the best of our knowledge. However, the information is not intended to be comprehensive or to provide medical advice to you or for your pet. While all care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information, no responsibility or liability is accepted. All health ailments, conditions or concerns should be treated by a qualified health professional.
Household staples such as baking soda and vinegar are amazing cleaners and don’t cost much. Here are two simple recipes to try:
General cleaner
Ingredients
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water
Rind from 1 lemon
2 x Rosemary sprigs
Shake and then strain off the liquid and pour into a spray bottle.
Use as a general cleaner around the house.
If you are impatient you can skip the lemon rind and rosemary and add 10 drops of your favourite essential oils instead, but the enzymes from the lemon especially help break down stains.
Cream cleanser
Ingredients
100gm Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)
20gm Liquid Castile Soap
Approx. 15 drops lemon or orange essential oil (or your choice of essential oil)
How to make
Use to clean the bathroom, kitchen benches or any surfaces that need a bit of elbow grease.
As with all cleaning products, we recommend you keep these out of reach of animals and children.
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Here are some tips on reducing plastics:
Make your own
What products do you buy that you could make at home? Dips and spreads such as hummus can be easily (and cheaply) made at home. Check out our homemade cottage cheese recipe for inspiration .
A yoghurt maker can be a great investment and you can pick them up cheaply second-hand. Ditto a bread-maker.
You can also make your own cakes, pizza bases, muffins, biscuits, muesli bars, muesli, sauces; jams, chutneys and more. You don’t have to do it all, but even one lot of baking a week, or making a bulk load of tomato sauce when tomatoes are in season can make a big difference.
Don’t go single
Don’t by single-serve packets for school lunches. Buy bulk or a larger packet (eg chips or biscuits) and you can decant into smaller containers.
Plastic free lunches
Use reusable beeswax food wraps, instead of plastic food wrap and snack bags. Rather than using plastic wrap for food storage, use a plate or bowl to cover food or pop it into a reusable container and into the fridge.
Go glass
Buy products such as milk in glass bottles or skin care products in glass jars. Even if it’s not every time, but each glass bottle you buy is one less single-use plastic bottle going to land-fill.
Keep it loose
Put your produce items directly in your shopping trolley and then straight into a reusable shopping bag at the checkout. Or use your own cloth bags for fruit, veggies and some bulk items.
Buy in bulk
Shops such as Bin Inn (who are handily a couple of doors along from us) will let you take your own jars, bags or containers to buy in bulk.
BYO containers
Even the supermarkets are getting on board with this and you can use your own containers in the meat and deli sections.
Buy local
Shop at markets with loose produce or in paper bags. Bakeries often have paper bags for bread vs plastic.
Fruit & veggie shops generally have loose produce. Even if they have bagged lettuce or spinach, ask if you can use your own container or bag as they may have bulk stock and can let you use your own.
Plastic-free post
If you are sending parcels, rather than reaching for a pre-paid post bag you can reuse an old one (turn it inside out or put a new label over the top of the old one). Or wrap items in reused bubble wrap (if fragile) and newspaper and add a label.
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No matter if you make your own or buy them, regular use and washing will wear your beeswax food covers out over time. But the great thing about beeswax wraps is that with a bit of TLC they should last a really, really long time and are almost endlessly reusable.
So if your beeswax wraps have seen better days and are flaking, creased or cracked here are a few ways to revitalise them.
Pop them in the oven
Pop them on a baking tray, best lined with parchment or baking paper (you can keep this and reuse it for next time you refresh your beeswax wraps) or use a silicon baking mat.
Getting ironing
Rather than using the oven, you can use your iron to refresh your beeswax wraps.
Couple of tips:
Make sure the iron is not on a steam setting
Keep the iron moving, don’t leave it sitting in one spot for too long.
So there you have it - two quick, easy ways to refresh your beeswax wraps.
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We suggest giving your tootsies some TLC:
1. Soak your feet in a bucket of warm water for 10 minutes (or more).
2. Use a pumice stone or loofah to give your feet a scrub and remove the dead, thickened skin.
3. Gently dry your feet.
4. Apply moisturiser to your heels.
5. Put on socks – this helps lock in the moisturiser and really let it soak in. If you can, wear them overnight.
Ongoing care
Disclaimer: The information presented here has been written to the best of our knowledge. However, the information is not intended to be comprehensive or to provide medical advice to you. While all care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information, no responsibility or liability is accepted. All health ailments, conditions or concerns should be treated by a qualified health professional.
1. Celery
Celery is one of the easiest foods to grow from leftover scraps. Place the base of a bunch of celery with cut stalks facing upright in a small bowl or container in a sunny spot. Fill with water and change every other day for about 1 week. Gently mist the plant every other day. Tiny yellow leaves at the centre of the base will thicken and turn dark green.
After a week, plant the celery in the garden leaving the new leaves uncovered. Keep it well watered. Harvest as needed.
2. Potatoes
You don’t even need seed potatoes – did you know you can grow potatoes from potato peelings? All you need are the bits with the ‘eyes’ on them. Cut those into 4-5cm pieces or pieces with 2-3 eyes on each piece. Avoid any with green skin, rotten areas, or mould.
Leave them in a dry place for 1-2 days to let them dry out. Plant them out – eyes facing up - in soil about 15cm deep. Water regularly. You should see your potatoes sprouting in a few weeks and harvest them about 10 weeks after the foliage has died back.
You can also use potatoes that have sprouted and cut them in half, but the great thing about peels is they are generally a waste product.
3. Cabbage, Lettuce and Bok Choy
Cabbage, Lettuce and Bok Choy are all pretty easy to grow using leftover leaves or stalks. Place them in a bowl with a bit of water in the bottom. Keep it somewhere warm with good sunlight, change the water every other day, and mist the leaves with water a couple of times a week.
Once you see regrowth after about 1 week, transfer the plant to soil the garden or a pot. Keep them well watered (lettuce goes bitter and ‘bolts’ to seed if it dries out, so water daily). You can pick the outer leaves from lettuces as they grow, or harvest when fully grown.
Cabbages take about 10 weeks to be ready to harvest.
Bok Choy takes 4-6 weeks, but you can pick leaves to use as they grow.
4. Basil, Coriander & Lemongrass
Basil, coriander and lemongrass can regrow roots. Simply place the herb stems in water in a sunny spot and change the water every other day.
Once they have plenty of roots (about one week for basil and coriander, three weeks for lemongrass), plant them in the garden. New shoots will come up in a few weeks. In a few months you’ll have a fully grown plant.
Harvest leaves as needed but be sure not to strip a stem of all its leaves at one time.
Lemongrass is great to grow in a pot. This helps contain it as it can get very large in the garden. And it also needs to stay warm year-round, so you can move it to a sunny spot for winter. Once Lemongrass is about 30cm high you can harvest what you need, just be careful not to disturb the roots of the plant.
5. Fresh ginger
Just pull a piece of ginger from your fresh ginger (especially if it has growth nodules or eyes on it) and plat in potting mix with the largest buds facing up.
Ginger will grow new shoots and roots. Plant it where it doesn’t get direct sunlight. When it’s ready to harvest, pull up the entire plant, including the roots. Remove a piece of the root and replant again. Note: ginger can get large and sprawling, so to keep it contained it is best grown in a large pot.
6. Onions
Chop off the onion bottom with all the roots still intact. The more of a bottom you leave on, the better. Try for 4-5cm of attached "meat". Allow to dry for a few hours, then place it into soil with the roots down and they will regrow in about 3 weeks. Once roots appear, remove the old onion, separate plants as needed by slicing between plants and leaving a portion of the roots attached and plant out into the garden. Cut leaves down to 1/3 of the size to allow the bulb to develop. Harvest when fully grown.
7. Pumpkins, Squash, Capsicum and Tomatoes
Save the seeds from your pumpkins and squash, capsicums and tomatoes. Rinse the seeds, spread them on a flat surface in a sunny spot to dry completely and store until you are ready to grow your own.
Or if you have tomatoes that are going off or have already sprouted, you can plant them out directly into soil.
8. Carrot
It’s not just the carrot that you can eat, the sprouts at the top are edible too.
Place carrot tops in a bowl, cut side down. Fill the bowl with enough water to cover the top halfway. Place on a sunny windowsill and change the water daily.
Once they have sprouted shoots, plant the tops out carefully – don’t cover the shoots. You can then harvest the greens either as baby greens or let them grow fully and harvest them and add to a salad or stir-fry as you like.
9. Spring onion
These are super easy to re-grow. Simply cut off at the top of the white stalk and place the bottom part with the roots in a jar with some water. In a couple of weeks, you can have new spring onion to use. Ideally, once the green shoots have emerged, plant into soil to keep it growing stronger.
10. Fruit
If you are really feeling committed, you can save the seeds or pips from most fruit and grow them – but it will take several years to reap the rewards. Avocados, apples, lemons, peaches, plums, and nectarines are just some of the fruit you can grow from seed.
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Diatomaceous Earth (DE) has a range of uses in and around the house. Here are just a few.
I researched what was out there and decided on Modibodi Sensual Hi-Waist Bikini pants to start out with. They look like normal undies, with a slightly thicker crotch and are comfy to wear. They are not like wearing a pad or having a surfboard down there!
These days I use mine either on their own, or in conjunction with a cup on a heavy day if I’m busy and don’t want that ‘is anything leaking’ stress (even though nothing is!). And they are my go to for overnight. They’re also good if you are spotting instead of a liner.
I’ve worn mine horse riding with no issues. They are seriously comfy and easy to wear and there’s no more waste! In fact, their lighter flow range are barely noticeable that they aren’t just normal undies.
How long they last will really depend on how heavy your flow is. On my (regular) heaviest day I would wear them on their own for up to 8 hours at a stretch (or over night) before I felt I needed to change them. The blood really does absorb quickly and you can’t see much blood on top. On lighter days there is no issue. I think I’ve had one incident of leaking after an unexpected super heavy period, but to be honest, I think anything would have struggled to cope!
If you have lots of clots they obviously won’t soak into the lining, so that’s something to consider. You can either wipe them away with toilet paper when you go to the loo, or use something else on those really heavy days.
And those crampy days are much easier with period pants. I had noticed a big reduction after swapping to a cup from tampons, but ditching the cup on those days for period pants has helped again.
Modibodi have moisture-wicking technology to get rid of sweat, discharge, and menstrual fluids, getting rid of any odour as a result. However, on heavy days I have found there is a slight ‘period’ odor by the end of the day which is only noticeable when I go to the loo. I guess years of using tampons means we don't really connect with the 'full experience' of periods, which will include a smell. It doesn't worry or gross me out, it's just something to mention as if you are a super smell sensitive person, this is something to take into consideration.
When it comes to clean up, you don’t soak them, just give them a rinse in fresh water and pop them in the wash. The only downside I’ve found is that they can take longer in winter to dry (so need to be pegged either side), which is another reason why I stocked up on more. Before mine was worn, washed immediately and then back in use as soon as it was dry.
My period pants are now a staple in my monthly menstrual routine (I have 5 pairs now). They are great for those who currently use pads and want a more environmentally friendly option. Or if you want to give your body a break from tampons or cups, especially overnight. If you are a tampon or cup user, they may take a bit of getting used to, but is worth persevering and finding the scenario that works for you. You might only use them on your lighter days only. It really comes down to personal choice and what works for you and your body.
They are a bit of an investment, but they have totally been worth it. So much so I’ve just invested in 4 more pairs for myself and bought some for a friends pre-teen daughter too because I wish I'd had these available when I was younger.
- Liz
We stock Danu period pants in our shop. These are proudly plastic free and ethically made in New Zealand.
Photo thanks to Modibodi
]]>Whether it’s near or far, Kiwis love to travel and get out an explore world. When you’re at home it’s relatively easy, but when you travel and your routine gets thrown out the window, it can be harder to practice eco-friendly habits.
So here are 15 tips we’ve picked up along the way to help you be an eco-friendlier traveler.
1) Take a reusable water bottle. Aluminum or BPA-free plastic bottles are great. In some places where the tap water isn’t safe to drink you can buy big bottles of water and decant it into your reusable one. A 1.5l bottle of water replaces up to 6 smaller bottles.
2) Eat in and choose places with real plates, cutlery and glasses. Eating local produce is a great way to cut food miles. And if you have leftovers, ask the restaurant what they do with them (for example some places may feed local dogs with leftover meat) or you can take them with you – chances are there will be a local organisation who can use them or a hungry person on the street who will be more than happy to take them off your hands.
3) Refuse straws. If you are going somewhere where they don’t speak English, there are some great translation apps available, so download one before you go and practice the statement. Or load it onto your phone (take a photo) and show it to your server when you order. If you really love straws, then take your own reusable ones with you (just don’t leave them behind).
4) Pick up rubbish. It may only be one piece. It may feel like you are totally wasting your time in the face of all the litter around you, but that is one less piece that will end up in the waterways. And who knows who you might inspire with your actions.
5) Take a reusable shopping bag. These are usually light-weight and easy to roll up and tuck somewhere handy. You can use them not just for groceries, but for any shopping you do.
6) If you’re a coffee drinker, take a reusable coffee mug. If you are going somewhere where the coffee isn’t that great you can always take your own coffee plunger (stainless steel is great) and if necessary, take your own ground coffee too.
7) BYO shampoo, conditioner and soap - shampoo and conditioner bars are perfect because they won't leak! Hotel toiletries are handy if you have forgotten yours, but they are also very wasteful. If you do use them take any leftover leftover soap, shampoo, or toothpaste with you. These are great to have in your toilet bag for your next trip, and it saves unused portions being thrown away. You can also reuse the bottles.
8) Travel like a local. In many cities and countries public transport is a great, cheap and efficient way to get around. Even better, it helps cut down on emissions from cars and private transport. Even better, if you can walk between places it’s a great way to get some exercise, cut your carbon emissions and see more of where you are staying.
9) Turn off the lights and air conditioning when you leave the room. Don’t get fresh towels until you need them – you don’t wash your towels every day at home, so why do it when you travel? Hanging your towels up after use is a sign that you would like to use them again.
10) Get your room serviced every few days or once for your visit. This cuts down on both the cleaning products and chemicals used in your room, as well as electricity used for washing and vacuuming. To do this just hang the “Do Not Disturb” sign on your hotel room door.
11) Ladies, a menstrual cup is a great option to use over disposable sanitary items. Hot water and soap are all you need to keep it safe, but if you are stuck somewhere without running water or the water is a bit dodgy you can use bottled water to rinse it). Or you can make a vinegar / water solution to take with you and spray it or rinse it with that.
12) Support businesses and accommodation who hire locals and use local produce and products.
13) Return maps, brochures, and other tourist info once you’re finished with them so that someone else can use them.
14) If you are snorkeling or swimming near coral reef areas ensure your sunscreen isn’t going to harm these areas. Many sunscreens are causing coral to bleach and die.
15) And of course, before you head off make sure you unplug or switch off everything at home that doesn’t need to be on (such as TVs, alarm clocks, phone chargers, microwave, etc.). Even if you’re not using something, just having it plugged in seeps energy from the grid, so unplugging doesn’t just help save electricity, it also helps save you money on your power bills.
Remember, whatever actions you do take help, add up to make a big difference.
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Some of you have read about my upbringing and how we grew up completely sustainable. Tonight, my mum and I reminisced back to when we had a restaurant many years ago.
My mum and dad wanted to make a living while still being close to my brother and me. They started a restaurant on our own land in Parua Bay, Whangarei.
They had a building. They had built this from scratch and with their own love & labor. Initially, the building was designed as garaging and upstairs, as a flat for when our friends and family came to visit from Germany.
Mum and dad did not have a lot of money. They were rich in lifestyle from living off their own land, but they did not have a big cash flow.
They decided that they would try their hand at running a cafe/restaurant. Many hours went into this project as they did everything they could on their own.
Everything they needed, started from scratch. The oven that was used to cook meals was $15 from an auction. Plates and cutlery were brought second hand. My dad-built tables, my mum upholstered secondhand chairs.
The space was beautiful. It was rustic and unique. It took a good year before mum finally upgraded to a full-blown fancy gas cooker.
They were a success right from the start. My mum cooked German inspired meals. My dad (RIP daddy) was the handsome waiter. My dad would sit down with customers while they were eating. He would drink a beer with them and talk about life.
My brother and I would play outside, and when I was old enough, I would help serve food.
It got mum and I talking tonight, about how what we are doing with Eko Hub, is just what they did years ago.
Starting from scratch. Using what you have, take knowledge where you can. Starting small does not equal less success.
I am so incredibly proud of what we have done and the way we have done it. I said to my mum, that I think my dad would have been so proud of what we have achieved.
I am grateful to my parents for teaching me and appreciating that money is not everything, and success is what you make of it.
Use what you have, take knowledge where you can. Starting small does not equal less success.
Jane ❤️
My children are learning about reducing waste. They are growing up learning about how to minimise our environmental impact to help protect our land, oceans and animals.
They are learning about nutrition and how to keep themselves healthy. They are learning how to cook and bake which helps to avoid unnecessary waste (and any nasties from packaged items).
They are learning about natural remedies. They know that if they get a wasp sting, we apply onion (works a treat!), they know that when they have a cold, we make honey and lemon drinks. We use herbs from the garden such as Thyme. There are so many amazing natural remedies that can be used.
Children thrive on learning. Take the time to teach them and they will grow up with knowledge that will allow them to make good decisions.
It is really hard these days to try and live a waste free lifestyle. We are nowhere near perfect. But we are also not striving to be perfect. We are working on doing the best we can, in each situation.
Teaching children about health and the environment is important. They may not always agree at the time, or want to stricktly ofollow it, but never the less, they are learning about it. And this will stay with them.
Moments like these, where my daughter brings home a poem that she had written about reducing waste, made me feel extremely proud!
Jane
My parents (Susanne and Theo) were born in Germany. They decided to sail a small Yacht around the world. After about 2 years of sailing, they came to NZ. They instantly fell in love with the nature and the people. They decided to make this their home.
They brought 54 acres of land out of Whangarei. For 2 years they lived in a small shed with no electricity. When they found out I was on the way, they added a room to the shed and then continued to build a house themselves.
My brother was born 4 years after me. We grew up in nature. We would explore the land and the bush. We would go swimming in the creek, we paddled a dingy in our dam, and we climbed trees.
We lived a complete sustainable lifestyle. We lived off our land. Everything was made from scratch, the way nature intended it. The vegetable garden was huge. Every meal included fresh produce, meat came from our land, eggs came from our chickens. We didn't often have medication. When we had a cold, we would have lemon, orange and honey drinks. When we had an earache, we would get a couple of drops of onion juice in our ears 🤷
Grocery shopping was only for a small amount of canned food and flour etc that was used to make our own bread. Mum and Dad made home brewed beer and mum made homemade salami (even the red wine for the salami was homemade).
Once we got a bit older, Mum and Dad built (yes, built it all themselves) a restaurant on our land (Morepork cafe).
The restaurant over looked the water and native bush.
I feel so proud to have been brought up in in such an environment. My parents did everything they could to ensure that we had an amazing up-bringing. As the years passed, we somehow lost that connection of how we had once lived. Only in the recent years, have we really begun finding our way back to our roots and trying to live as sustainably as possible.
My Dad passed away years ago.
I know that he would be so proud of us, and he would have been a great part of our Eko hub tribe ❤️
Jane
Today one year ago, we opened our doors at Eko Hub in Whangarei.
It has been a crazy and beautiful journey for us. We are Susanne and Jane. A mother/daughter team who have a passion for all things natural and making a change.
We wanted to provide a space where people can visit, learn about making their own products, find alternatives to single use plastic, and to join us on our own journey of trying to live a more sustainable lifestyle.
We are so proud of what we have achieved and are excited to see what the next year brings.
Thank you to all of our family and friends who have put up with listening to our crazy ideas, been patient with us while we had no social life, and who have given us endless support.
Thank you to our beautiful employee/friend Nina, we appreciate you more than words can say.
Thank you to each and every one of you for standing by us and appreciating what we are trying to do. We wouldn't be where we are without you.
Susanne & Jane
Now I have to admit, I was a little sceptical before trying a safety razor. This was not due to thinking that it wouldn't work as well, but due to the fact that I was a tad nervous to shave with an exposed blade. After having used a safety razor now for a couple of years or so, I thought that I would share some tips and info.
1) Lather up.
It is important to make sure that your skin is wet and well lathered. Instead of using a gel or foam in a plastic bottle, just use a shaving bar, shampoo bar or body bar.
2) Find your angle.
Hold the razor at a 30 degree angle. Plastic razors have a head that pivots whereas the safety razor heads don't move. Keep it at an angle and don't apply pressure. The weight of the razor is enough to help glide at the right pressure.
3) Don't be in a hurry.
Take your time. It can take a few go's to get the feel of using a safety razor. They are heavier and the edge of the blade is more exposed, meaning that it is easier to Nick your skin. I started off super slow but soon became more confident.
4) Keep it clean and dry.
I always ensure that I clean my razor after use and then I store it in a jar. Keep it in a dry place in-between uses to prevent any rust forming over time.
So what are the pro's??
Plastic cartridge razors have 3 - 4 blades running over your skin at a time. This can cause irritation. Safety razors have one blade and the edge is more exposed which allows the hair to be cut better and you are left with a closer shave. I have noticed that my skin is no longer dry after shaving as it used to be.
Safety razors are more affordable. It may seem daunting to buy one at first as the cost is higher than that of a plastic razor. At Eko Hub, we have safety razors that cost $39.99.
The blades are $5 for a pack of 5. If you are using the razor daily, you would look at replacing the blade approx weekly. If you don't use it often, you can go for a good 2 - 3 weeks before changing. Just trust your judgement in when you think it needs replacing.
Safety razors are better in reducing environmental impact as they are designed to last for years and years. I collect my blades in a jar and when it becomes full (which will take a long time due to being small and slim), I will then take them to scrap metal.
What are the con's??
It definitely takes some time in finding the right technique. Not gonna lie, I had a few nicks on my skin when I first started, but nothing that a bit of toilet paper and kawakawa balm didn't sort. Its a bit more time consuming the first while, which can be annoying if you are in a hurry.
So do I want to keep using a safety razor?
I sure do. I am really happy with mine and will continue to use it. A much closer shave, affordable and many plastic razors which I know longer have to buy. Win 👍
Would I recommend one? Absolutely I would.
Would love to hear if you have tried one before. What are your thoughts??
Jane ❤️
Our skin is our largest organ and what we put on it is absorbed into our body.
The best form of sun protection is to avoid prolonged sun exposure. Cover up, and when you do apply sunscreen, check the ingredients first and opt for one made with natural/organic ingredients (like Earth's Kitchen, which you can learn all about why we love it here or buy it directly here.
There are two forms of sunscreen available out there - chemical and mineral sunscreen.
So what’s the difference between natural and chemical sunscreen?
The ingredients in chemical sunscreens can cause sensitivity for some skins, but more alarmingly, its active ingredients such as oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate and octinoxate can be absorbed by the body and can be found in places sunscreen chemicals have no business being. In particular, oxybenzone is a known hormone disruptor and kills our coral reefs.
Also, many sunscreens don't actually live up to the claims they make. In 2019, Consumer NZ found that 9 out of 20 sunscreens didn't provide the sun protection claimed. These included some big-name brands.
So what about mineral sunscreens then?
Mineral sunscreens are proven to be less likely to cause skin sensitivity or be absorbed into the body where they can do damage.
But, like anything, not all natural sunscreens are created equally.
While the active ingredients might still be zinc or titanium dioxide, it always pays to read the label and check that they aren’t mixed with other chemical nasties such as petrochemicals, sodium lauryl sulphates (SLS) or genetically modified ingredients.
Your skin is your largest organ and what you put on it can be absorbed into the body. Just as you watch what you eat, it’s important to think about what goes into your body via your skin.
Sunscreen is hurting our oceans
But sunscreen isn't just hurting us, it's also impacting our oceans. Many sunscreens are made with ingredients such as Oxybenzone and Octinoxate. These ingredients are not only harmful for us, but also detrimental and damaging to our oceans. These ingredients are often found in sunscreen and some cosmetics. They enter our waterways through our sinks when we wash our hands or shower, by applying them at the beach - and of course when we swim.
It is estimated that up to14,000 tonnes of sunscreen enters our oceans each year. The harmful ingredients create havoc in the underwater world. They bleach, damage and kill off the coral. Coral reef's are a sanctuary, protection and feeding ground for marine life.
Palau and Hawaii have already passed a bill to ban these two ingredients in sunscreen. In Palau it is said to take effect in 2020, and Hawaii in 2021.
How often should I apply sunscreen?
Natural or mineral sunscreens are effective from the moment they’re applied to the skin, unlike chemical sunscreens, which require at least 20 minutes to become effective.
This doesn’t mean you should set and forget though. We recommend reapplying sunscreen every 2 hours during sun exposure and immediately after swimming, sweating excessively or rubbing against surfaces that may disrupt your sunscreen barrier (like wiping yourself with a towel).
As always, try to minimise extended sun exposure, especially between 10am and 2pm, when the sun is at its strongest.
As you can probably tell, we are incredibly fussy about what sunscreen we stock, and Earth's Kitchen is the only one that passes our rigorous screening process. We are very proud to be stocking a world first for sunscreen that's made right here in Northland!
You can buy it in store or online.
Magnesium is best applied or taken at night. It is said that if you take magnesium as a supplement, not all of it is absorbed by your body, and some people find that it can cause them to have stomach upset. We like to use it topically. It is absorbed through the skin by-passing the digestive system, going straight to the areas that need it.
If you are taking a supplement, just after dinner is a good time to take it.
If you are using it topically, it’s best applied to your feet at night.
If you have areas of cramp or tight muscles, you can use it directly on those areas.
Some people feel itchy or tingling when they apply topical magnesium. If you don't like the feeling of it, we recommend applying it to the soles of your feet.
It’s recommended that women get 320mg a day of magnesium and 400mg a day for men. Some researchers think these levels are actually too low and 500mg a day may be needed for optimal health. And people who exercise a lot or are really deficient may need even more.
Foods such as spinach, asparagus, figs, avocado, banana, nuts and seeds, chickpeas, black beans, kidney beans, fatty fish such as salmon, and dark chocolate are high in magnesium. However, much of our soils are magnesium deficient, which means fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds grown in those areas will not have adequate levels.
For many, it may be helpful using/taking magnesium daily to help boost magneaium levels.
]]>In 2012, after my second child was born and my hormones were fluctuating, I spent a month in a psychiatric therapy hospital in Germany. My panic attacks were debilitating, and I was unable to cope. I have learnt a lot from my experiences and continue to constantly learn as I go. Here are some of my tips that I have found beneficial in my healing process.
1) Ground yourself with nature.
Nature has the ability to bring you back to reality and see true beauty. It provides a sense of connectedness and immerses you in a beautiful and peaceful environment. Go for a walk on the beach, take off your shoes and feel the sand between your toes. Go for a walk through the bush or a park. Look at the trees. Feel the rough bark and the smooth leaves. Sit down for a moment and just focus on listening to all the sounds that nature brings. If you can’t get to the water or park, just take off your shoes and stand in the grass. Instantly, you will feel more grounded and relaxed. Often when we feel depressed or anxious, we hide away in- doors as the outside world can appear intimidating. We need to catch some sunlight and much needed vitamin D to maintain our health and wellness.
2) Check your hormones.
Hormone imbalances are not given enough attention in my opinion. Many of us simply blame our hormones for our moods and period cramps, yet we fail to understand to what extent hormones can affect our overall wellbeing. From what I have experienced, hormone imbalance causes an array of symptoms including sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression and severe PMS.
Environmental toxins and an unbalanced lifestyle can account for a range of symptoms as a result of the hormones being off balance. Exercising, reducing stress and eating a healthy balanced diet allows the body to keep balanced. I strongly urge you to investigate hormonal health, you will be surprised just how much it can affect your overall wellbeing. A good place to start is to see your doctor. They will be able to order a blood test to investigate your hormone levels. I would suggest looking into Progesterone, testosterone, estrogen, cortisol levels and thyroid function.
3) Magnesium
I once read an article that stated, ‘Magnesium is the original chill pill’. There is a reason why my doctor suggested I start taking magnesium for my anxiety. Magnesium is an essential mineral which is needed for the body in many ways. Magnesium has many amazing benefits and one, is its ability to help reduce the stress hormones reaching the brain.
Pretty cool huh?
However, it is hard to sustain the body’s own Magnesium source as there are so many factors contributing to the rapid use of our Magnesium stores. When someone is unwell, or experiencing prolonged stress and anxiety, Magnesium is used up rapidly. Our ancestors used to regularly get their Magnesium intake through their foods and water supply. These days however, almost everything seems contaminated. Fluoridated water and chemically sprayed soil and plants, means that there is a huge decline in the availability of Magnesium through natural sources. The food’s that naturally hold the most magnesium are legumes, whole grains, green vegetables, seeds and nuts.
Here are some symptoms of magnesium deficiency, just to name a few:
Anxiety, depression, dizziness, poor memory, confusion, nausea, high blood pressure, respiratory issues, calcium and potassium deficiency, muscle cramps and twitching, difficulty swallowing.
So many health problems can be linked with Magnesium deficiency. Magnesium is also known as a wonderful pain reliever for sore muscles and is a very effective sleep aid. Many people opt to take magnesium supplements to boost their magnesium levels. Magnesium supplements can be taken in oral form, spray, cream or through adding Epsom salts in the bath.
The best way to take in magnesium is through the skin. The skin is the largest organ in the body and allows minerals to absorb straight through into the blood stream. Often, if our gut health isn’t the best, many essential nutrients are lost in the digestive tract. Magnesium is considered safe and effective; however, it always pays to speak to your doctor or naturopath first before starting any new medication/supplement.
Zinc is also a good supplement to take alongside Magnesium.
4) Look at your stress levels.
We all seem to be so very busy. We focus so much on being good parents, being there for our friends and being good at our jobs. We often forget to look after ourselves.
Making time to care for ourselves is crucial in maintaining our overall wellness. Find things that make you feel happy and remember to laugh as much as you can!!! Life can be crazy and sometimes we need to press pause for a moment and reduce some of our stress.
Not all stress is bad, however. There are times when stress is welcomed. Sometimes we need that extra kick of adrenaline to perform at our best. For example, when we are about to sit an exam, do a presentation or when we are in fact threatened and need to have all energy on board to make a speedy escape from danger. The problem these days, however, is that we have so many stressors in our lives which we can indeed have no more control over. The stressors which I find to be the most prevalent include Work stress, personal relationships and financial stress. So how do we keep our stress down? We need to firstly figure out what our main stressors are. What are the things that make you sick with worry and cause you sleepless nights? By firstly evaluating what your stressors are, is the first step in being able to start working on reducing your stress.
5) Accept your panic attacks/anxiety.
I know this is easier said than done but we need to learn to accept our anxiety and accept our panic attacks. I know that we want it to disappear as quickly as possible because quite frankly, it sucks to be anxious. I have times where I get angry about having panic attacks. I get angry because I hate the fact that I can’t control them.
They don’t care for time, day or situation. They just visit unannounced. I used to tense up and fear, the fear when I felt them coming. I would be away with the fairies and probably behaved as if I had more than a few screws loose. Over the past years, I have learnt to just accept when the attacks come. I find that if I am sitting with someone, I just quietly say to them “Oh I’m having a panic attack”. I find that this helps take the power away from the attack. If I just let it come and stay as calm as I can, it loses power. I like to think that every time I do this, it loses a bit more of its strength.
When we have panic attacks, our body switches on the flight or fight response. We instinctually tense up and get ready to run. What we need to learn, is to do the complete opposite. We need to relax, calm ourselves, breathe and stay where we are. We need to show our body and mind that we are indeed safe and that we do not acquire the extra adrenaline. If you have positive thoughts, and say positive phrases in your head, you can get through the attacks.
Here's an idea of how to handle a panic attack:
- Acknowledge. Embrace that you can feel it coming. - Breathe. Focus on taking deep breathes in which make your belly rise.
- Relax. Try to relax all your muscles.
- Positive reassurance. Think to yourself, “I know I am safe” "This will not harm me” “The moment will pass”
“I am strong”.
- Be proud. Give yourself some credit for accepting these feelings. You have got this!!
Although this is the best way to reduce the panic in the long run, sometimes you may feel as though you are unable to let it be in that moment. Another strategy is to focus on your reality and describe the environment around you. You could focus on looking at a tree for example. In your mind start describing every small detail. Imagine you are describing the tree to a person who has never seen a tree before, look at every colour, shape and texture. This can be a good distraction and can help focus your mind away from the panic attack.
6) Healthy nutrition-healthy mind.
This category has made the top of my list lately. The more I learn about the negative effects that processed food has on our overall health and wellbeing, the more I begin to move more on to ‘real food’. It is quite terrifying once you discover what is in our food these days. The thing is, over the years we have moved away from eating actual food. We are eating products that resemble food. Everything is catered to appear convenient and affordable. What is even more astounding, is that low fat products are now being compared as being healthier than avocados. How did that happen? The thing to remember is that when you see the words ‘low fat’ you may as well be reading ‘chemical shit storm’ or ‘low fat, double the sugar’. When companies remove the fat, the food loses its flavour. So, in order to make the food tasty for the palate, large amount of sugar is added along with a concoction of other nasties. This makes it taste better. It is so wrong. I find it really disturbing when I see adverts for these ‘food like products’ being targeted at children. We get brain washed in to thinking that these so-called healthy products are healthy.
People often wonder why they are unable to lose weight. They believe that they are doing good by eating only low-fat foods or products labelled no added sugar. Cool. No sugar. Let’s just add some aspartame in for flavour and convince people that it is healthy. Nope. Artificial sugar also has huge negative effects on the body. We need to just focus on eating as much real food as possible. Fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and fermented foods.
Now just to point out, I am a self-proclaimed chocoholic. Although I enjoy chocolate and may weigh more than I should, I am more content than I ever was. Our meals at home are mainly made from scratch and are healthy. I know that my family and I are eating well for the majority of the time. The chocolate is a treat. It’s all about balance.
Exercise is also a very important aspect of maintaining balance and wellbeing. You don’t have to go to the gym or lift heavy weights, you can begin with walking. Exercise is crucial in reducing your stress levels, improving concentration, and managing your mood.
Nordic walking was a regular part of our therapy regime in the clinic. Exercise reduces the stress hormones and increases endorphins which are our ‘feel good’ hormones.
Gut healing
There is a strong correlation between gut health and the mind. These days we are faced with poor nutrition, with large amounts of sugar and processed foods being consumed. We have also increased our use of antibiotics. Both these factors, along with toxic environments and stress, alter the micro bacteria in our gut and can inhibit our happiness and brain function. The small intestine holds many nerves just like the brain. When our gut health is compromised, we end up with less of the good hormones which affect our mood and behaviour. There are ways to promote gut healing naturally.
- Take probiotics
- Eat fermented foods such as kombucha and sauerkraut
- Cut out processed foods including sugar
- Reduce your stress
- Drink more water
- Check for food allergies/sensitivities
7) Relax your muscles with your mind.
This is my go-to relaxation technique. It uses no bodily strength. It uses the mind to relax each muscle which allows the entire body to rest. I have based this on the well- known progressive muscle relaxation technique which involves tensing every part of your body and then releasing to relax. Personally, I have mastered the art of just releasing muscles through the mind, but it is up to you however you feel it works best. I prefer to do this when I am lying down with my eyes closed.
Begin with your head. Imagine your brain as a tight rosebud. Now picture that bud opening into a beautiful open rose.
Next, think of your eyes. Imagine relaxing every nerve in and around your eye. Feel how your eyes widen although they are closed.
Focus on your mouth. Notice how clenched your teeth are and how pursed your lips feel. Now imagine slowly releasing them. Relax your tongue and let it rest in the roof of your mouth.
Move to your shoulders. We often don’t realise how much weight we are mentally carrying on our shoulders. Feel how tense they are. Now slowly drop your shoulders. Allow them to move away from your head. Feel the length increase between your shoulders and chin.
Feel your chest rise. Focus on your breaths. Allow yourself to take deep breaths in through your nose. Feel your tummy rise as the air goes in. Breathe out and imagine your chest cavity opening and the muscles relaxing.
Think about your arms, your hands, your fingers. Our hands are often held in a fist. Imagine releasing that fist and allowing your fingers to open.
Focus on your stomach. Your solar plexus. We store a whirlwind of emotions here. Imagine relaxing your stomach and slowing down the tornado of emotions.
Allow yourself to release any tension.
Think of your hips. Think of your pelvis. Imagine that they are sinking into the bed. Feel the area relax.
Picture your legs, your knees, your feet. Let them feel heavy. Feel all the muscles in your legs relax. Focus on your feet. They allow us to walk every day. Allow them to lay still and rest.
8) Share your fears.
Mental illness used to be somewhat of a taboo subject, hence why many people carry the fear of not sharing their experiences with others. These days it has become not only more accepted to speak out about it, but also more common. I found that once I openly started to talk about my panic and anxiety, others were very receptive and disclosed their own struggles. I was amazed by the number of friends and relatives who also had struggled with some form of mental illness. The people in your life can be a huge wave of support if you allow them to be. The more you openly talk about it, the more you accept it and begin working through the issues. Your experience may also ultimately allow someone else to accept their own anxiety. If you are unable to talk to people you know, look at counselling or therapy. Many therapists are trained to specifically work with mental illness and can provide you with tips and strategies to not only figure out the root cause but to help you along the road of recovery. From what I have experienced, you may not find a suitable therapist first time around. Don’t give up.
9) Write.
I find that when I notice my mind beginning to wonder to the realm of negativity, I like to write. I often just scribble some positive affirmations or write down words to describe myself. Have a journal ready and make it a priority to write how you are feeling, or to write positive saying and words. The more positivity you focus on, the more your mind will draw. I began writing things down years ago and before I knew it, I had written an entire book. I am not suggesting that you need to write that much, however from my experience, writing was by far, my best form of therapy.
10) Realise your worth.
People don't often realise just how amazing they are. It takes so much courage, strength and determination to manage anxiety. It is real. It is raw. And it can affect our lives in more ways than one. We are kick ass warriors and we need to keep remembering that. I have good day's and I have bad days. It hasn't stopped me living my life and following my dreams. The journey can sometimes just be a little more complicated.
Show anxiety who's boss. We don't need to allow anxiety to define who we are. I don't. I have learnt that this is a part of me. I may always have anxiety, who knows, but I am always determined to not allow it to change who I am. I am me. I am Jane. I am a mother, a friend, a nurse, a partner, a business owner, a daughter, and an all-round good person. I have learnt to accept that this is where I am now, and this is where I am meant to be.
Sending you love, strength and positivity.
Jane
]]>For the base:
150g/5.25oz raw pecans (we didn't have pecans so used sunflower seeds)
150g/5.25oz raw almonds
100g/3.5oz pitted dates
1 tbsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp coconut oil
For the caramel filling:
250g dates 150g peanut butter or almond butter
3 tbsp coconut oil
6 tbsp water large pinch of sea salt
250g dark chocolate
Method:
Add nuts to the processor and pulse until they become finely chopped and almost flour like. Add the dates and coconut oil to the processor, and process until the mixture comes together. Tip the mixture into a 9-inch spring form tin and press the base down firmly. Pop it in the fridge while you make the date caramel.
Tip the dates, peanut butter, coconut oil and water into the processor (I don't bother to rinse it), and process until thick and smooth. Spread the caramel filling onto the base in an even layer, and sprinkle with sea salt. Pop the tart back into fridge while you make the chocolate topping Melt the chocolate either with the double boiler method (see notes), or in 30 second increments stirring between each interval, in the microwave.
Spread the chocolate on top of the salted caramel layer and put in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to set Carefully run a knife around the edge of the spring form tin, and then release the tart from the tin. Cut into slices (I recommend using a knife warmed in hot water or your lovely choc topping will crack!).
Recipe and info used from www.emmaslittlekitchen.com ❤👍