My husband and I were having a chat the other day about stocking stuffers and Christmas. He was a bit stumped for ideas because he never grew up with stockings as a Christmas tradition. 
In America, stockings are A THING. Sometimes they even house the best presents. My family, Mom in particular, always finds the best, most thoughtful stocking stuffers.

I've decided to help you guys out and share a few of my favourite, eco-friendly stocking stuffers, for you, or to gift our loved ones. 

HOT TIP: There are lots of things on this list that would work for your mates, work colleagues, or anyone else you might be needing a gift for. 

3. Ever Eco Bamboo Cutlery 

A great idea for the guy or gal who is always on the go, loves camping, or wants to be more thoughtful about how they eat their take away lunches at work. 

4.  Grant's Bamboo Toothbrush 
I love their ergonomic design and they last so long! They are under $5, made of environmentally sustainable bamboo and are 100% biodegradable. So, when you are done with it, just bury it in your backyard, or use it as a labeled stick in your veggie patch after removing the bristles (like this).

The have kid's options, adult soft and adult medium bristles as well. 

5.  Ever Eco's stainless steel straws
I love these stainless steel straws for everything from drinking water to devouring smoothies on the go. They are super easy to clean and are reusable, keeping single use plastic straws out of landfill and sea creature's precious bodies!

There are tons of options to check out:
Classic 
Bent straws 
Rose Gold 
Bamboo straws 

Well, that's it! What are you hoping to have in your stocking?

EMK x 

I am new to this war.
I’m learning every single day.

I have a longgggg way to go, and I’m building awareness constantly.

That’s the thing about this learning curve and mindfulness on lessening your waste . . . you can’t forget what you've learned, and the only way is forward.

That means there are days when I get frustrated or feel like a failure. Last week, I bought a quarter of a watermelon wrapped in GLAD wrap out of habit. I could have bought an entire watermelon, eating some and making popsicles or watermelon margaritas with the left overs. I was only thinking about the immediate scenario in front of me, and that was a simple snack for my daughter for the next three days.

Is it the end of the world? No.

Is that piece of cling wrap going to exist forever? Yes. 

Sometimes we need to allow ourselves some grace, especially when making changes to a lifestyle you've led your entire adult entire life! Like Alexx Stuart said in her book, Low Tox Life, “At the end of the day this is a bit like learning a new language. You're not going to be fluent in a week."

Ridding yourself of the disassociation with your waste takes time. Changing your shopping habits takes time. 

If you’ve been following along, you’d know that our family recently moved to Sydney, Australia. We are living in council parameters of Canada Bay, and it’s so lovely here. It’s right on the water, super clean and pristine. I was really impressed with the caliber of our neighbors and our surroundings.

Within a few days of arriving I bought a Maze compost bin (smaller version of mine, here). I had recently watched The War On Waste, and learned that food scraps that are placed into landfill emit crazy amounts of methane, which is 28 times more potent that carbon dioxide. Eek.  In Australia alone, 4 million tons of food ends up in landfill, which is enough to fill 8,400 olympic size swimming pools. That would be a methane powerhouse! 

Anyhow, I couldn't believe how quickly we cut our waste down by about 60%. Every night we would add our scraps to the bin, spray them with friendly microbes and use the fermented juices to fertilise our veggie patch and garden. An added bonus is that you can also use the juice to clean the toilets in your home!

​Once my bin was completely chockablock (full) I decided to contact the Canada Bay council because we are not in a position to turn it into mulch or bury it where we are living. I asked them what could be done with my compost and why the green bin wasn't for garden waste AND food scraps (as it is in America and other parts of Australia). 

​This was their response to my email:

(Not going to chat about the email now, too much to say, hah). However, I was pleased to read further and see that the gentleman recommend a website called Share Waste, and also added that I should get in touch with my local community garden because they are always eager for compost. 

If you head to Sharewaste.com you'll see their clever tagline, "Give your waste a second chance." It's free to join, and then you simply choose if you're receiving scraps or looking or seeking a compost location. 

I found a "host" in less than ten minutes and she lived eight minutes from our house. I got my daughter loaded her in the carseat, and then loaded the compost bin in the front seat with an extra baking sheet loaded with fruit and veg cut offs. (No, I did not buckle them in)!

My lovely host (Let's call her Mrs R) mentioned that she was typically home, but that I could leave the scraps in the compost bin at the side gate if no one answered the door. How handy is that?

When we arrived, I almost didn't knock, but I'm SO GLAD that I did. Mrs R answered the door with a big smile and popped her hearing aids in. I pegged her to be in her 70's and I could tell she had a heart of gold. She took an immediately liking to my daughter and said that we should take her over to see the pet quails in her front yard! After that we each took a hand and helped my daughter walk to our car to grab all the food scraps. We slowly, and patiently, made our way around the backyard where we were greeted by a huge pen of hungry chooks (chickens). My daughter was so excited and started pointing and giggling, "Ducks! Ducks!" Not quite right, but it was pretty darn cute. 

Mrs R grabbed the compost and the baking tray and heaved it all into a pile for chooks who proceeded to go nuts, pecking with joy. "They will eat most of that by tomorrow morning, but they won't touch the citrus. Whatever is left will just go into my garden compost." 

I said how cool it was so see my scraps going to a good cause and not into landfill, and I explained to Mrs R that I was new to Share Waste. "I've always cared about the planet, but now I'm learning about how I can actually look after it a bit better." Mrs R smiled and said that was normal and that each season of life will teach us different things. I added that I also wanted a green thumb and dreamed of having my own chooks one day, to which is added, "Yes dear, another season, you'll get there." Ok fairy godmother... whatever you say. 

As we were watching the chooks chow down, Mr R came outside to say g'day and he offered that we stay for a cuppa in the sunshine on the balcony. I thought that sounded glorious, so we all had a seat and soaked up the sunshine. I had a delicious cuppa and they also gave my daughter a snack too which she had while playing in the garden. 

I was deliriously happy sitting there in silence at times, chatting away in others. We talked about their life in Germany, where I lived in Poland, how many kids they had and what life was like in Sydney (we both had recently moved).  

To think that waste brought us together is a funny thing. As I drove away from their house I couldn't help but think that I had made two new friends and made some chooks quite happy too.

P.S. After sharing the company with all my Instagram followers, I got a ton of messages from people about their good Share Waste experiences as well. So many of you had found hosts to take your scraps to, and that means, little by little, we are making a small difference. 

​EMK x 

Added Resources:
Want to get in touch with the Canada Bay council too? You can here.
Prefer to talk to them on the phone? You can do that by calling 9911 6555 - 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Awesome FOOD WASTE Facts from the incredible team at Oz harvest 

Last month I received a sweet Facebook message from a follower that told me Bea Johnson was coming to Australia. I thought, "Oh yay!" Who is Bea Johnson... 

Google Search... bam! Oh... neat, she is all about the War on Waste.  She had started a Zero Waste movement that was growing fast. That's cool. I'm trying to learn more about that at the moment. I just so happened to get an email from my local Source Bulk Foods in Bulimba the following day announcing the early bird ticket sales. The event happened to be in Sydney at the Concourse in Chatswood. Hey I'm moving there, I think. It was going to a 2hr seminar, $15 and a 30 minute drive from our new home. I was keen as mustard.
* (I didn't know it when I booked, but The Source Bulk Foods gave everyone a reusable bag as well as a $20 voucher to use at their shop....so impressed). 

I knew I would have only lived in Sydney for a few days by the time the event rolled around, so I booked immediately, hoping to go and make some friends, network and learn a bit.

Paul Medeiros the co-founder and owner of The Source Bulk Foods opened up the conversation before handing over the mic to Bea.

Let me be completely candid.
First thing that stuck out to me about her was how she looked.

I caught myself being superficial as I was looking at her thinking; great bod, fab outfit, nice hair ... she looks completely normal. Her clothes in particular stood out right away. "This woman is killing it. Her book has been published in 25 languages. Cha-ching! I bet that outfit cost a mint, she looks fabulous and professional," I thought.

Not long into her powerpoint Bea pointed out that she only shops second hand. Um, what? She added that her chambray top and crisp white skirt were both second hand and her designer (looking) black boots were a whopping $5. Gobsmacked. 

_____

Bea and her family moved into an apartment in California and needed to place about 80% of their belongings into storage. After the one year was up on their apartment, they visited their storage unit and quickly realized they had not missed much of anything stored there. They ended up selling most of their possessions and donated the rest. Her family of four (plus one adorable chihuahua), found that they were clutter free, a lot happier and more active. Something had switched, and Bea wanted more.

From there they started to be more aware of their water consumption, and then she proceeded to eliminate harmful toxins in their house, such as cleaning products and plastics. One thing Bea said which really stuck out in my mind was about household cleaning products. She said that these companies have tricked us all into believing that we need different cleaning products for different parts of the house.  For example:  a certain product to clean glass, another for grout, yet another for mould, another for the showers, bench tops etc.  Bea simply uses vinegar and castle soap for all her home cleaning, and her space is spotless!

​But, back to her story! Bea and her family moved again, but this time it was to a place that was more conducive to walking and riding their bikes around. Once again Bea felt inspired to live with even less. 

She focused specifically on her family’s waste and here are her 5 R’s:

So to keep it simple, Bea and her family only put into the recycling bin what they cannot refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle or rot. Since plastic can't be reused more than once, (example plastic bottles converted into a park bench), Bea switched to items such as glass, metal, cardboard and wood. Her family of 4 fills ONE glass jar of trash a YEAR. Yes, you read that correctly, a year (see photo at the bottom of this article).

Bea became vigilant when it came to detail. A few things that stand out in my mind are:

• She composts, but she’s even mindful about WHAT she composts. If she decides to eat or cook a fruit/vegetable that doesn't need to be peeled, she won't peel it. Simple as that.
• You can compost human hair (although, she donantes her hair to companies that make wigs for cancer patients). 
• She also uses a single bar of soap to wash her face, body and hair and takes this soap with her when she travels speaking all around the globe. 
• She uses two silk fibers to floss and then composts the fibers.
• She has 7 pairs of black underwear and will patch them when she needs to rather than buy a new pair
• She owns 15 items of clothing and can make over 50 outfits with the staple pieces that she owns 
• Butter is the only food that she buys in packaging 
• When you buy an item in packaging, 15% of the price covers the cost of the package
• It’s a common misconception that your spend MORE money going zero waste  

All I could think of was:
How satisfying it must be to lead such a rewarding, low-tox, waste free life.

How I personally would find it hard not to buy brand new materialistic temptations. 

How liberating it would be to live in a home without papers, clutter and unnecessary items. 

And she must have known that most of us were thinking somewhat along these lines because she clued with this:
​
"Zero Waste helps me to invest in voluntary simplicity, so that my family can have a life based on experiences instead of things. A life based on being instead of having."

Cheers to that Bea!
​EMK x

If you're looking for an eco friendly way to feed your children that's non-toxic and environmentally friendly, then look no further than Byron Bay based company, Love Mae.

These guys make the cutest baby food trays that are non-toxic, plastic free and biodegradable. They have numerous patterns and styles that are all to die for. My daughter has the 5 piece Flower Garden set pictured here. It comes with a cup, bowl, tray, fork and spoon. We are essentially set for her first two years of life!

If trays aren't your thing; they also have tumbler cups, cutlery and plates for older kids. Need a lunchbox? They have those too, and uber cute cases to carry them in as well. They are also dishwasher safe, BPA free, PVC / phthalate / lead  free and 100% recyclable.

​As a new mom that's continually looking to make low-tox, eco-friendly transitions in our household, these Love Mae products ticked all the boxes.

_______

​The designs are so precious that even I want a set of my own!

As a matter of fact, you can win a five piece set because I've teamed up with Love Mae to do a giveaway celebrating their 9th birthday! I'm giving away this adorable 5 piece Safari set (see below) on my instagram account. Click here to enter!

What are your favorite ways to make food fun for kids?
​Tell me in the comments below.

EMK    ​​

Christmas has gotten out of control if you ask me.

I'm a firm believer in not spoiling kids. My 10 month old doesn't need lavish gifts she can't even open, couture clothing or designer shoes under the Christmas tree. I also don't like the notion of bribing kids to behave well when they should always behave well twelve months a year. 

This is a guide that I like to follow for gift giving in our home for adults and children

"Something you want, something you need, something you love, something to read."

Simple.
Just how I like it. It isn't over the top or pretentious.

I'm not sure what Riley wants, but I know of a few things she loves, needs and some great books for her ever growing collection. And since making the change to chemical free, I've become more aware of what toys she has and plays with as well. So below I'm sharing with you a few of her non toxic, plastic and chemical free presents, AS WELL AS alternative options for different price points. 

Kangaroo Ornament from HomeGoods 

It's our daughter's first Christmas, so how appropriate that we start her Christmas ornament collection! I would love to give her eighteen special ornaments on her 18th Christmas for her to have when she moves out. Secretly I'm hoping she lives with us until she is 35, but still.
Plastic free and sentimental, made of ceramic and the perfect heirloom. 

* Alternative: You can also get a bargain with these super cute ceramic ornaments which are handmade in Brisbane. Plastic free and made with the intention of keeping in the family and out of landfills.  

Beaver Puppet from Target
Set me back a whopping $10 and she lit up like a kid on Christmas (how appropriate) when she saw it. I'm going to clock hours of entrainment with this fuzzy little friend during story time. 

* Alternative: Or you can try these adorable puppets from Biome in Brisbane. These puppets are made fairly in Nepal by ethical/sustainable businesses run by Nepalese women. Pretty neat and they will last a lot longer. The wombat puppet is a personal fav. 
 

Headbands from Nordstrom
My daughter has been wearing headbands since she was 7 days old. She is used to wearing them thankfully, and I simply adore her in them. She doesn't have a lot of hair yet, and they make her look super girly which I love. These bows are well made, affordable and last for a long time.

* Alternative: Looking for an Aussie owned and Aussie made company? Check out Little Raya Sunshine. She hand makes gorgeous baby accessories in Melbourne, VIC.

Dr Bronner's Magic Balm
A great stocker stuffer for the little baby who has it all, but just needs a little extra moisture. I love this balm, we all use it in our house. I use it when she has cradle cap, or when she just needs a bit of hydration.  

Let's Sign, Baby Board Book 
BOOKS! I'm obsessed with children's books and I'm always giving them to other people's kids as presents. They are practical, great for learning and easily passed on to friends or donated when you're done with them.
​I wanted to teach our daughter sign langue for a long time, and I finally got the perfect book. It covers the family members, eating, playing and the basic hand gestures alphabet as well. 

Santa's Aussie Holiday by Maria Farrer and Anna Walker
Since it's our daughter's first Christmas, I want to start new family traditions for the three of us. One of which is reading a festive book in the lead up to Christmas as well as Christmas jammies. I haven't found any pj's yet, and I would love if you could comment below as to where I could hunt some down.  

But back to the book! I have two favourite Australian illustrators, Rod Clement and Anna Walker. I've emailed with both of them and they are, no surprise, fantastic people. Anna is so talented across a variety of mediums. In my opinion, her best work can be seen in her new book, Florette. 
You can find her on Instagram if you're a nerd like me and into following authors and illustrators on social media.

Wooden Story Blocks from HomeGoods 
(not shown in photo)
Totally plastic free, so one tick in the non toxic column. There is just something about wooden toys that really romanticizes having a wee baby. These colorful blocks are made of wood from certified suppliers, treated with beeswax and botanical oils and packaged in a gorgeous eco friendly canvas bag. This 50 piece set is free from chemicals and handmade in the Beskidy Mountains of Poland. My husband and I lived in Poland for two years, so I think I'll like watching her play with these pieces of Poland and reflect back to a different time, before her, that now seems like a lifetime ago. 

* Alternative: I also love the company Noc Noc Wooden Toys if you are looking to support Aussie made. They sell personalized toys (swoon), rattles, tethers, and blocks.  


What are you looking forward to this Christmas? What are your go to places to shop for your loved ones? 

EMK

I needed to get my husband a gift for Father's Day as it was fast approaching. I headed to our local Biome store to see what they had. Sure enough they had a beautiful table display loaded with unique, fun and sustainable gifts for Dad. Two things caught my eye right away. The first was a brew kit for making your own beer! I was pretty tempted, but I thought it would be a better hobby when we are back home in our own house.

The second was a super sleek water bottle. I remembered he'd wanted a reusable water bottle, preferably glass. This one was stainless steel, super ergonomic and looked flat out cool. It was made by S'well. 

I'd never heard of this brand before, but I'd seen the sleek design all over Queensland and in many of my yoga classes. I talked to the retail associate a bit more and learned that it was medical grade stainless steel which meant that it was able to keep cold contents cold for more than 24 hours and hot fluids hot for 12 hours. I loved the idea that we could go to beach and leave the bottle in direct sunlight and still enjoy crisp, icy water after a swim. I was also thrilled at the thought of filling the S'well with hot water or coffee at our campsite before a hike on a chilly morning.

It's versatility was what I found most appealing. Founder and CEO Sarah Kauss said, "I launched S’well with the mission to rid the world of plastic water bottles. I believed that if we made a crave-worthy bottle that combined fashion with function, people would stop buying disposable bottles, and we could reduce single-use plastic consumption worldwide." She hit the nail on the head with fashion and function. S'well is truly sophisticated enough for a boardroom and tough enough for a mountain hike. Oh, and let's not forget, they also help bring clean, safe water to the world's poorest communities. S'well has partnered with UNICEF USA and donated over $800,000 since 2015! You've got to love a company with a CAUSE that also cares about the environment. 

I purchased the S'well and headed home with a few other bits and pieces. The water bottle was a huge success on all fronts. Super easy to use and clean (warm soapy water, air dry). Cold water really does stay cold for 24 hours, we tried it out. It's a pretty incredible product.

Hubs accidentally left his S'well at home when he went on a work trip and I used it religiously for a few consecutive days. I'd been using Life Factory water bottles because they were glass, not made in China, and had a decent protective barrier to keep from shattering. I liked them a lot and used them for about two and half years. However, I was fed up with how the straws worked and they did have a tendency to spill which I discovered during my flight from America to Australia when my carry on bag was saturated. 

This bottle ticked all the boxes in my book, so I went back to Biome and purchased one for myself.  

If you have a S'well or are looking to get one, comment below and let me know what you think!

In Australia a single head of organic cauliflower is $10
(Not joking)
​
Here are some other examples:
$8 for 4 organic lemons
$8.50 for five Pink Lady organic apples 
$9 for 1 lb of organic beets 
Don't believe me? Click here!

​So I did some research and stumbled across a company called Home Fresh Organics which is an online organic marketplace. You can choose your box size, customize the items inside and then pick your delivery date. They are also able to put your order on hold if you are traveling, and you can also change the size of your box at any time (downsize or upsize). The payments are direct debited and it's delivered right to your front door. As a mum, I'm thinking, YES PLEASE to anything that is going to make my life easier. I think we have all been in the predicament where were ate like crap because we didn't have "good choice" food available. 

{ If you are a new customer, you can get your first box 50% off with the Promo code: START }

We received our order and were super happy with the quality of the produce from HFO. I knew I needed a way to keep all the lovely fruits and veggies fresh, because I sure as hell didn't want to waste money on such good quality organic produce ..... which led me find the company Swag Bag at our local Biome Store.

​ Swag bags are non-toxic, environmentally friendly, sustainable, machine washable, breathable bags that help to keep your fruit and veggies stay fresher for longer. 

So it's not only going to help you financially, it's also good for the environment, so that's a win, win.

All you have to do is wet the bags, squeeze out the excess water and then place your produce inside, it's that simple.  

 EMK