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goldenbells replied to your post: My Top Beauty Picks for December

just out of curiosity, have you ever been able to find a cheaper natural/chemical-free foundation? I want to try ones so bad but they’re out of my price range!

Hi goldenbells!

Thanks so much for your question! I find the same problem with natural products, but the thing is - with ingredients you really get what you pay for. Cheaper ingredients are easier to obtain but often it’s junk that you really don’t want to be putting on your face. And, if you break out easily, a lot of this stuff is pore-clogging - which is no good. 

The worst pore-clogging ingredient to watch our for is: Isopropyl Myristate.

For me, I’d rather buy fewer products, but of higher quality. What I do now too is I’ll make some things at home that I used to buy - like a body scrub or hair moisturizer (just pure virgin coconut oil) that way I can use that money towards the things that I can’t make - like make-up. 

Here are some suggestions: 

I haven’t tried it - but I like Physician’s Formula and their line of organic make-up is meant to be great. The price is right around $13 and, on a side note, their all natural mascara is supposed to be awesome! 

http://www.physiciansformula.com/en-us/productdetail/organic-wear-product/01084.html

This is a foundation stick. It’s all natural and organic - It’s pricy around $35, but it’s super!

http://www.vapourbeauty.com/Foundation-Concealer-and-Face-Makeup/Vapour-Organic-Beauty-Atmosphere-Luminous-Foundation.asp

or you can give a mineral foundation a try…

http://lasplashcosmetics.com/productdetail.aspx?item=11

If you come across anything too  - let me know! 

I’ve been using these products everyday - and they have been my top go-to items for all of this month!

1.  Dr. Bronner’s Unscented Castile Soap - This stuff is brilliant. It’s not drying - It cleans off make-up, I use it as a body cleanser, I’ve even wash my hair with it (not my favorite use, but it will get you out of a pinch). Plus, It lasts forever! You just need the tiniest drop. I use it on my girls and myself everyday - I’ve tried the scented ones too, they’re nice, but I feel like the unscented one is just a pure, hardworking soap. Certified fair-trade and organic (you can find it in most natural shops). It’s great value for money! 

2. 100% PURE - I’ve been using this foundation and powder combination on my face everyday. It works just as well as any conventional product I’ve ever used, but it’s all natural and pigmented with fruits! How lovely is that?! The foundation can feel a bit thick to go on, but if you apply just after moisturizing - it’s perfect.

3. Suki Moisturizer - I love how this makes my skin feel. Soft and dewy. You only need a tiny bit and, a big plus, I love how it smells… so does my husband :) All natural and organic.

4. Coconut Oil (no specific brand) - This stuff is great! At night, I just slather myself in it and my skin drinks it up. It’s also the best hair conditioner that I’ve ever tried!

If you give these a go, let me know what you think. I know you’ll love them! This month I’ll be trying out lots of new products and I’ll be sure to report back :)

In our world where things are mass produced, where we’ve begun to confuse machine-made with quality - it’s refreshing to go back to our roots…

When I saw Bisous La, I fell in love! I visited Helena, the designer, in her studio and it’s up close where you can really appreciate the workmanship, the beautiful thick felt and quirky details that make this brand so unique.

The Bisous La range is made by talented, but underprivileged people all around Asia. Helena told me about all of her pieces, how they’re made, where they’re made… each country with its own form of craft and each piece with its own story…

Helena not only works closely with the men and women who craft her pieces - but by working with fair trade organizations, she ensures that they are paid fairly for their work and given the opportunity to provide for their families. This kind of collaboration is exactly what we need more of… and the results are simply beautiful! 

Do check out her website - it’s a very happy place full of lovely handmade goods and happy stories!

Do you find yourself with two days till Christmas but still looking for a gift?

At this point, what you risk is entering the mall, getting completely stressed out by all the other 10,000 last minute shoppers and inevitably spending too much money on something that you’re not even that excited about.

You care about this person, that’s why you want to buy them a gift, but this person would not want you to do it in this way. 

Instead, stay home, make a cup of tea, have a look through some worthy causes and donate to a charity in their name. Print it out, roll it up like a diploma, tie a bow around it - and tell them it’s a small token…a way to help spread the joy!

SG Gives

Give directly to Singapore registered charities and dedicate it to your loved one. You can choose from various projects from animals to children and environment. When you donate you can dedicate to someone, so that they can clearly see their name and contribution.

World Vision Singapore

Choose from many of their great programs, mostly focused on underprivileged children and also families affected by natural disasters like floods and typhoons. Here you can help to give clean water, food and necessary medical supplies. World Vision can also send an e-mail out to person you’re dedicating the donation to, with a photo and short message about how they’ve helped.

photo image: watershedasia, another great charity.

Christmas! The best time of year! Filling the house with homemade decorations. Packaging little gifts for family and friends. Enjoying delicious meals together… 

Holidays are great because they remind us to celebrate each other, but it has me thinking…If I enjoy it so much, why don’t I do it more often? There’s really no reason why, for no specific occasion, I can’t send my friend a small gift in the mail. Or light some sparklers. Or surprise my husband with heart shaped pancakes for breakfast. Or bake my daughters a cake with candles.  

It’s adding little special details to ordinary things that makes life fun.

Sure, you can’t do it everyday, but I enjoy doing these things, and it’s nice to be reminded to do more of what make us happy. I will definitely relish all that comes with this time of year - especially my Mom’s cooking :) and I look forward to doing more of that in the coming new year! 

Happy Holidays and remember to keep it green!

Wreaths are so beautiful in the home and spending the weekend making one can be great fun! Gather old photos, go for a nature walk or pick up some goodies from the wet market and spend an afternoon making your very own wreath! 

Click on you favorites for the how-to!

1. Kids Craft Wreath 2. Photograph Wreath

3. Twig Wreath         4. Succulent Wreath

5. Edible Herb Wreath   6. Snowflake Wreath

7. Fruit Wreath              8. Nature Wreath

Happy Weekend!

Militza
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Like many of you, I’ve been reading about the benefits of coconut oil and decided to give it a try. Here’s my bottle, bought a couple months ago and already half-way used! 

Here’s the thing - like all of you, I’m learning as I go. I’ve used this beauty superfood with great results on my hair - but I decided that I needed to read more about how to consume it. That’s where I learned that I had unknowingly bought the “wrong” coconut oil! 

Maybe that’s a bit harsh. Here’s what happens: refined coconut oil (which is what you find on most shelves) is made from the dried flesh of the coconut.The process of drying is usually done outdoors under the hot sun…and it can become contaminated with dust and particles. Little critters and fungus. So, when the oil is finally pressed, it’s then refined to rid of any toxins. To do this - chemicals are used (it’s bleached and deodorized) and many of the coconuts natural properties are lost. And here I had wondered why my coconut oil had no smell!

So, it’s refined to be more hygienic, and have a longer shelf life. That’s not bad - it’s just not the real, pure stuff! 

As you can see from my jar, the label won’t mention Refined Coconut Oil - so what you need to look for is: Organic Virgin (unrefined) Coconut Oil!

I will finish this jar, because it’s brilliant. But I won’t eat it or probably use it for my skin. It lives in my bathroom now and is my best deep hair conditioner! But coconut oil can truly be a superfood…an amazing multi-tasker, feeding and nourishing us from the inside out! 

Here are 3 great reasons to buy a jar of coconut oil: 

For your skin:  In case you’re thinking that you don’t like the feel of oily skin - coconut oil is different! It’s absorbed quickly, and unlike any mineral found in many lotions, not only does it soften the skin, but also nourishes and helps to promote healing! It’s packed with antioxidants that help repair skin damage and strengthen skin tissues - aka: prevents wrinkles!

Great uses:
- eye make-up remover
- cuticles and nails
- soften dry feet and cracked heels
- soften chapped lips
- all over body moisturizer  

For your hair: Coconut oil contains fatty acids which are able to penetrate the hair shaft, moisturizing and strengthening from within.  It has fantastic antibacterial, antiseptic properties which promote a clean and healthy scalp, allowing for hair to grow healthy and strong.

Great uses:
-scalp treatment to cure and prevent dandruff
-hair treatment to moisturize and strengthen
-leave-in treatment to calm frizzies (use sparingly!)

For your health: Coconut oil had a bad reputation for a long time… being incredibly high in fat, mostly saturated fat, it was deemed unhealthy. But new studies are showing that, just like there is good cholesterol, there is also good saturated fat. 

Here are some great reasons to use it: 

- coconut oil can withstand high heat temperatures, while other vegetable oils and even olive oil will oxidize (turn rancid). All the nutrients are literally burned out of the oil, along with the color, and toxic fumes start to rise from the pan. Not good!  

- most of the saturated fat in coconut oil is easily digestible and converted into quick energy. And these types of fatty acids are less likely to cause obesity because they are immediately used by the body and have no opportunity to be stored.

Many people swear it’s the fountain of youth and good health. I’m not a doctor, and not entirely comfortable promoting its health benefits. You might like to read what that New York Times says about it… I do love what I hear about what it does for food!

Great uses:
 - use in high temperature cooking: roasts and stir-fry
- make amazing roasted sweet potatoes!!
- replace butter in vegan recipes

p.s. don’t miss the recipes here if you’re tempted to try some coconut oil in your cooking: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/02/dining/02apperex.html

Living an eco-conscious lifestyle doesn’t mean that you have to be a slave to organic certification. There are countless farmers who practice organic farming techniques, but who are not comfortable in the world of bureaucracy, or who cannot afford the high prices of certification.  We shouldn’t neglect this group of people who do dedicate themselves to growing food in a natural, sustainable way -  who have a passion for what they grow and in turn nurture the land that provides it.  

So, who are these people? Well, when it comes to our wine - YiXin and his business partners have dedicated themselves to finding them. 

Their business, KOT Selections, is about sourcing great wine… but not necessarily organic wine. The interesting thing here is that when something is grown and created with dedication, passion and respect - you’ll find that often, they are one and the same. 

I asked YiXin to give us a look into that world…

Read More →

Hi! I just received word that Choose, an eco-friendly shop listed in my directory, has moved location! If you were thinking of checking them out, or picking up any of the goodies that you may have seen on my Christmas Guide - do call them first for more information. 

I’ll keep you up-to-date!

Have a great day! 

I’ve been thinking a lot about food lately… specifically, how to make sure that we make great choices when we eat. I’d like to share with you one of my most useful and effective tools for helping me to make those good food choices - my menu planner!

I love using it so much that I wanted to share with you - so here’s a set that I created just for you!

Now, for many of you, the idea of planning out your meals may appeal to your sensibilities and you need no convincing.

Great! Go straight to download the PDF and happy planning :)

For a lot of you though, it may seem like an impossible task - to decide in advance what you’ll be eating. The funny thing is that, once you start, not knowing what you’ll be eating becomes more difficult!

Here’s how it works :

1. Take an afternoon, sit with your favorite recipe books, the internet… and get inspired!
2. Think about what you like to eat. Think about what you want to eat more of: if you know that you need to eat more fruit - plan into your meals.
3. Start filling in the days - thinking about your schedule: If you know you’ll be coming home late one day - make sure that you have leftovers to heat up a quick meal. You’ll thank yourself!
4. Veggie Thursday! Pencil it in!
5. When you’re all done - do your shop, gather up all of your ingredients - stick the menu planner onto your fridge, follow it - and enjoy the fruits of your labor!

I’ve been planning my meals for a good year now and here are 3 things that I’ve noticed:

1. I save money. I don’t make impulse decisions anymore - the kind you make when you’re desperate to get out of the supermarket. I know exactly what I need and how much money it takes to feed my household of 5. I do the shop on one day - Monday. It’s done and I don’t need to worry about it again throughout the week.
2. I try out more recipes. Now instead of finding a good recipe and thinking “oh, I should make that someday”, I say… great, I’ll make that Tuesday.
3. I make good choices. When you plan your meals, you are essentially tracking your food. An interesting thing happens here - although you may very well have eaten three hamburgers a week in the past, it’s hard to put that in writing. You start making good choices for you body and those choices usually also tend to the best for our planet.

Let me give you a little background to my menu planner…

I wanted to make something easy to use and pretty to look at. This month, I felt inspired by the different types of local fruits and veggies that grow right here in Singapore - so I made four looks: Turnip, Abalone Mushroom, Sweet Potato and Papaya. You can print up a different one for every week of the month.

I know that there are tons of apps for this…but I like the feel of pen on paper. I like having something pretty on my fridge and it makes me feel excited to look at all the yummy things that I’ll be eating during the week.

One last thing…

When deciding what you’ll be eating throughout the week - I like to consider Michael Pollan’s advice:

Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants

• Eat food: Eat real food. Processed food is just that - processed. To make that packet of noodles, with its infinite shelf life, it has to be put through a process which includes many steps and many ingredients (preservatives, additives) and at each point of manufacturing, energy and resources are consumed. Not to mention, the final product is so far removed from its original natural state, that what you are now eating, can be better described as a “food-like substance!”
• Not too much: We are in a serious position faced by the fact that our planet needs to feed 8 billion of us. It’s about changing the way that we view food. As long as we continue to want our food - fast, convenient and super-sized - we will prove to be too large of a burden.
• Mostly Plants: Reducing your meat intake is one of the easiest and most significant ways to be green. You’d save more water by cutting out meat just once a week, than you would by not showering for six months! I don’t know about you, but I’m not really willing to give up my showers - whereas meatless Thursday is absolutely do-able.

But, the only way it works is if you you have a plan. So get planning :)

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Hope it works for you… if you like it, do let me know, I love hearing from you!

p.s.  If you have any trouble grabbing the PDF, let me know and I’ll email you a copy

My relationship with food is not entirely healthy. Overall, we get on well, but like any relationship, we have our problems. For instance, I tend to want what’s bad for me -mainly processed cheese. But as I age, I’m beginning to want something better. I no longer want a cheap fling - a can of Cheez Whiz; I want a meaningful connection - a round of brie!

(If that analogy is lost on you, it’s because you did not spend your teenage years making bad food choices in America)

So now I find myself in a place where I don’t wish to support the people who have learned how to make my food quickly, cheaply and with little regard to its consequences. Instead, I’d like to connect with the people who make my food with great respect, passion and with a high regard for what they create.

At first, I didn’t know where to find these food creators, but then I started hanging around farmer’s markets and specialty shops.  Something interesting happened - I started hearing peoples stories. The women who marinates olives from her uncle’s olive tree. The man who roasts his own coffee beans. What I noticed, is that their stories all shared a common theme: quality. They all sought out the best ingredients, they all cared about what went into their food and, equally, what didn’t, and they all had respect for our earth - for what it provided. 

Inspired, I wanted to be part of that world and to step away from the one that just really was never any good for me. 

Here’s what I’ve learned: being eco-friendly really means being connected. It means being interested, aware and making conscious choices. For me, I choose to seek out people who make great products, to spend a little more money for better quality and to contribute to ways of making food that are healthy for us and for our planet. 

Even if it means cutting down and having less, instead of buying a whole box of store bought doughnuts (which I love), I’d now rather spend my money on that one beautiful slice of organic cake from that nice baker, eat it slowly, thoughtfully and with great pleasure, because I know that I’ve chosen - the meaningful connection.

Great… now I’m hungry for doughnuts. 

This subject is close to my heart, and really, this whole journey with the blog - started because of my babies and trying to find safer options for them.

I think especially now, this being a gift giving season, it’s a great time to learn about the issues with toys and toxins and about how we can better inform ourselves to make the right choices. 

Eeyore Pook-a-Looz, Disney

Recent studies by HealthyToys.Org found that 20% of 1,500 popular toys tested showed detectable levels of lead. In products intended for newborns (changing pads, crib wedges, breastfeeding pillows) it was found that 80% contained chemical flame retardants that are considered toxic! This is a big wake up call for consumers, that until stricter regulations and controls are put into place, it’s up to us to inform ourselves. 

I asked Linda of 2 Little Sprouts to answer a few questions - she sources safe, natural and eco-friendly products for children and I think that someone with the passion to bring in these safer options into Singapore, is a great person to turn to. 

Read on to find out - when it comes to our little ones - what we should know, what we should avoid and what we should look for. 

Read More →

Hi! I thought we could have a quick chat! This week has been a little all over the place, so get ready for a bit of randomness!

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So, how are you coping with all of this rain? I work from home and my eldest is off from school for 2 weeks, and the rain has us mostly locked in! I’m desperately trying to find indoor activities to keep from going stir crazy, so if you have any suggestions, please share!!

One thing we got up to was some cooking!

Here’s the rhubarb crumble that I told you about! I won’t lie - I pulled it out of the fridge this morning to take this photo, and I ate that big chunk that came up with the spoon :) Crumble can be a breakfast food too, right?

If you like sweet and tangy, soury flavors - this crumble is for you!

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This will soon be on my balcony!

I’m so excited - my husband and I had contributed to fund this Windowfarm project - and now, with all the contributions given from around the world, they’ve raised the money needed to kickstart this project. They’ve built this kit (the one above) to assemble your own window farm and next March we should be receiving our two towers! If you’re interested, you can still get in on it - you have until Dec. 7th, so do check it out!

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I’m thinking about attempting this DIY

I saw it on this blog and she makes it look easy enough! I believe that being able to make our own things, is one of the cornerstones of living an eco-frienldy lifestyle! The rugs are usually pretty inexpensive, made of natural fibers, and the final effect looks really graphic and bold! I really love it!

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Also, there’s going to be an Eco Bazaar going on this weekend (Dec 3rd,4th) at City Square Mall from 11am to 8pm - if you check it out, let me know if you find any new green products that look good!

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That’s pretty much what’s been going on here. Have a great day!