My Dear RM,
​
I'm in utter disbelief that believe you joined our family a year ago today. As cliche as it sounds, it really feels like yesterday that Dr Joe placed you in my arms and said we had a little girl. A girl. What a surprise that was! I'd wanted a boy so desperately, and didn't think I would be a good mom to a girl. You changed all that in an instant. You wouldn't remember this, but after I double checked you were indeed a girl, I kissed your little vernix covered head and whispered, "We've been waiting for you." 

I loved growing you inside me, bringing you into this world and laying eyes on you for the first time. That's the moment my life really began, when all the "things" fell away and I was finally granted my one wish of becoming a Mom. Meeting you was the most incredible, awe inspiring moment of my entire life. I wish we had it on film to show you one day, but alas, we were a bit preoccupied, and rightly so. 

I'd heard so many horror stories about becoming a mom, ranging from the birth, to the lack of sleep, the list goes on really. It made me a little nervous I must admit.
Your birth was incredible. The lack of sleep was rough, but it didn't last forever. 

​We moved from Melbourne to Brisbane when you were only 8 weeks old. We emptied our entire house, put everything in storage, rented out our properties and moved to Brisbane. Still not sure how we pulled it off, but you were an absolute angel.

I was worried that I wouldn't cope well in Brissy when your Daddy traveled for work because I didn't have Kiki, Poppa, Nana, or Opa here to help me. But boy did we manage.  You and I didn't just survive, we thrived and had so much fun. Sadly, you'll never remember the times we shared, but trust me when I tell you that we lived it up! We had breakfast in our jammies on the floor every morning, we swam in the pool, shared our dinner together outside while watching the airplanes and the fruit bats swoop through the sky. I loved nursing you, and still nurse you to this day. We cuddled every day, danced to country music and played on the floor for hours and hours.

​Being your mama was easy. I want you to know that. 

It's been an honor and a privilege to be here with you every day. It's something that I will never take for granted. I know these are the good ole days, and I wouldn't trade fame or fortune if it meant being away from you. 

Tonight I was washing up after dinner and you looked at me from across the room, beaming a cheeky smile of pure joy that I swear could warm me on a cold winter night. The way you look at me melts away all my insecurities.  I wish I could see myself through your eyes little one. You make me feel like a hero and inspire me every.single.day.

​Life before seems like a distant memory. Your Dad and I love you more than life itself.

Year one down, and so many more beautiful memories to make. I want you to know that you will always be my greatest love story of all time. ​

​Love Always,
Your Mama ​

​I've hated my hair for years. That's not an over-exaggeration if you're wondering. I mean I've literally hated my hair for over two decades. 

It's been a source of contention for me for as long as I can remember. It's fine, stringy and has zero volume. It's always been that way. I was mildly anxious after having my daughter because all the moms I knew said you lose hair by the fist full after having a baby. Thankfully that hasn't happen....... yet.

When I was a young girl, I used to obsessively brush and pull it back into such a tight ponytail that it practically gave me a brow lift. If there were any bumps or parts that weren't completely smooth, I'd have to start all over until it was perfect. This was such a mundane waste of my time as I have a pretty wacky cowlick. Makes me shake my head to think about all those insecure teenage years worrying about my hair. I wish I knew then what I know now. 

In the middle of 2017, our family transitioned to chemical free body care, which included body wash, skin and hair care. I wanted to eliminate as many unnecessary chemicals as possible, so shampoo was the first in the trash bin because they can harbor some pretty nasty chemicals like SLS, SLES and parabens. 

I personally found the switch to natural shampoo incredibly difficult. I almost gave up on a number of occasions and wore hats off and on for an entire month. I did homemade apple cider vinegar rinses and tried, in desperation, to be patient as all the GUNK and processed chemicals exited my scalp and hair. A lot of people go through the same process when switching to a natural deodorant... these things take time. After all, we have been bathing ourselves in these chemicals since, well, the time we were bathed by our parents as babies. 

I found a shampoo bar from Beauty and Bee's, a company based in Tasmania that's fantastic. I have dark hair, so I use the rosemary and mint bar which costs about $14 and lasts ages. Once I had finally "reset" my hair, I was surprised to find that it was thicker and fuller than I'd ever imagined. Living in Brisbane, I never brow it dry, and my hair now air dries and falls naturally into beachy waves. I'd finally hit the jackpot.

_ ​So what's next you ask?​ _

Washing your hair daily strips the hair of its natural oils (and also wastes a lot of water). Even though I loved my new do, it was time to stretch out the hair with less "poo." I would wash my hair every second or third day to let it accumulate healthy, natural oils. Sometimes this made me look like a grease ball, and obviously that isn't a look I wanted to attempt to rock. So what's a girl to do if she doesn't want to wash her hair frequently and also wants to be eco-conscious?

Thankfully, Black Chicken Remedies just released their own brand new product of dry shampoo, and it's out of this world good. Per Black Chicken style, it's all natural and toxin free, helping my family to continue our low-tox lifestyle. The rosemary and clary sage essential oils make the powder smell delicious and also help to stimulate hair growth (yes please)! The bamboo powder adds volume and texture while the diatomaceous earth helps to nourish your hair and scalp. 

For those of you who are wondering, what about me, I'm a brunette. No dramas love. I'm a brunette too, and the powder absorbs well, leaving no trace of white residue.
​
​If you too are looking for something to implement into your daily routine, give this a whirl. It's fantastic for the busy mama, the person running late to work, or if you're headed out and about after a quick gym sesh. It's versatile, clean, and will make you feel good.... and I think you'll love it. 
​
EMK x

To read more or purchase, click here. 

It happens to the best of us! Sometimes we just get run down. Other times we get run down, and then we get run over, and steam rolled. . . resulting in crazy fatigue and what seems like an inability to function in day to day life. Anyone else been there? I sure have.

That was me last week. I was so far gone that I decided to go see the doctor. I got my slips for blood work, and then we chatted about uncomplicated fatigue management for middle aged adults (insert all the wide eyed emojis here- oh, and the one with the lady smacking herself in the face). 

While I waited for the blood results to come, I decided to effectively do some research on things to help me get a pep back in my step.

Firstly, fatigue is a symptom, not a condition. It manifests differently for people, but it's typically a result of a combination of factors such as social, lifestyle and general wellbeing issues.    

​Here are a few things to ask yourself, in the comfort of your own home, to see if you might find the root cause of your tiredness.  

I learned that 1.5 MILLION Australians head into the doctor's office for fatigue annually. 1 in 5 people typically feel tired, while 1 in 10 seem to have prolonged fatigue. The best news is that most of the time fatigue can get better with a few simple lifestyle changes.

Here's a short list that I compiled to help you if you're feeling "flat" or struggling with fatigue: ​

2. Move ya body:
Exercising regularly can help to improve energy levels and lessen feelings of mental and physical fatigue. True story. Boosting endorphins if easy to do, free and will help to carry you through your day. Try walking to work or skipping that Uber if possible. Ask someone in HR at work if they would be interested in offering their employees some corporate yoga during lunch or after work.

If you need some guidance to get your sweat on, look up local studios nearby that you can visit right before, or immediately after work. If you're struggling with fatigue, you'll most likely get home from work and then talk yourself out of leaving the house again. If time is of the essence, there are fantastic websites such as YogaGlo that offer free trails and you can do the classes from the comfort of your own living room.  

3. Social media detox:
Take time away from social media. Have you ever noticed how often you check your phone when you're bored, lonely or depressed? It's scary to think that we've been hardwired by apps to look for positive affirmation from a screen the size of our palm. Even the way in which Instagram pushes notifications is strategic to make you feel a certain way, building an addiction to the little red bubble. I try to limit my social media time because I find that it's really easy to get caught up in the game of comparisons. I wrote more about this in a blog post here, touching on how checking social media first thing in the morning was a sure fire way for me to start the day feeling flat and unmotivated. Just like with the 3pm coffee craving, try to put the phone down when you feel the urge to check your number of likes or scroll mindlessly while at work or on your commute.

4. Head out to go in:
Head outside, to heal within. Try mediation, earthing, floating or yoga. There is a lot to be said for getting out in nature, listening to the birds or letting your toes kiss the sand. Plan your week and spread out your tasks, being realistic about what you can achieve each day. Be sure to include some of this "you" time. It might be as simple as eating your lunch outside on a bench during your lunch break.

5. Bye - Bye blue light:
Blue light (like that of your phone screen), inhibits the production of the hormone melatonin which helps facilitate sleep. During the day, blue wavelengths are beneficial because they help to boost attention, mood and reaction times. However, at night exposure to this blue light will throw off your circadian rhythm, which is your body's biological clock.

Try to make your bedtime routine sacred. Aim to have no screen time 30 minutes before bed, working your way up to an hour or more. If you think this sounds impossible, try to fill in this time as effortlessly as you can. For instance, after you turn off the tele or put your phone away for the night, start your evening ritual. I take shower, brush my hair, floss and brush my teeth, moisturize, wash my face and gua sha which takes about 30 minutes. Then I crawl into bed and read a book to help get my eyes tired and help me to wind down. Getting more sleep is the best way to help fight fatigue.

Hope this helps you guys. Fighting that flat feeling is no fun, but these little tweeks to my routine helped to make a difference. 
​
EMK x

Below is a GOOGLE TALK with the author himself.
This seminar was recorded in October, 2017.

I wanted to share this video with you because I think it's a nice way to "wet your appetite" for the book. I know that a lot of you don't like reading or can't find the time to do so..... so sharing this video is a nice way to learn a bit about the book in the event that you can't crack it open for whatever reason.

If you can spare 54 minutes while folding laundry or cooking dinner, I think you'll be glad you did. (His incredibly awkward opening is worth the view alone- hilarious!)

If you'd like to join our Facebook community, click here. I will be sharing live videos, chapter synopsis and other bits and bobs worth sharing. 

Our FB group is a hub of education for the busy man, woman, or teen looking for easy to understand information about health and wellbeing on the ready.

Enjoy!

​Erica x