Stress Management

Recently I've had a number of stressful events happen in my life both good and not so good.  While looking around on the internet I found the Mental Health Association NSW  with some very helpful information one of them being the following.  I hope you find this a helpful as I did.

Stress Management

Always take time for yourself, at least 30 minutes per day

Be aware of your own stress meter: know when to step back and cool down

Concentrate on controlling your own situation, without controlling everybody else

Daily exercise will burn off the stress chemicals

Eat lots of fresh fruit, vegies, bread and water; give your body the best to perform at its best

Forgive others, don’t hold grudges and be tolerant – not everyone is as capable as you

Gain perspective on things, how important is the issue?

Hugs and kisses and laughter, have fun and don’t be afraid to share your feelings with others

Identify stressors and plan to deal with them better next time

Judge your own performance realistically; don’t set goals out of your own reach

Keep a positive attitude, your outlook will influence outcomes and the way others treat you

Limit alcohol, drugs and other stimulants, they affect your perception and behaviour

Manage money well, seek advice and save at least 10% of what you earn

No is a word you need to learn to use without feeling guilty

Outdoor activities by yourself or with friends and family can be a great way to relax

Play your favourite music rather than watching TV

Quit smoking, it is stressing your body daily, not to mention killing you too

Relationships - nurture and enjoy them, learn to listen more and talk less

Sleep well, with a firm mattress and supportive pillow, don’t overheat yourself and allow plenty of ventilation

Treat yourself once a week with a massage, dinner out, the movies, moderation is the key

Understand things from the other person’s point of view

Verify information from the source before exploding

Worry less; it really does not get things completed better or quicker

Xanadu - regularly retreat to your favourite space regularly, make holidays are part of your yearly plan and budget

Yearly goal setting, plan what you want to achieve based on your priorities in your career, relationships etc

Zest for life, each day is a gift, smile and be thankful that you are a part of the bigger picture

MY Miracle cure

Now I don't know about you but the birth of my son 22 months ago really knocked my body around, well in truth it was probably the pregnancy but I didn't notice until after he was born.  

One of the things that I have been dealing with is an incredibly itchy scalp, now for almost 2 years.  It has been driving me insane.  

Well, as you can guess I've been researching to find a natural alternative to anti-dandruff shampoo.  I tried a number of different remedies and none of them really worked.  Some worked for a day but after 24hrs the itch was back.  And my last experiment has been Apple Cider Vinegar.  Do you know how amazing this common kitchen item is???  

I found this information and some other amazing information from Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits

DANDRUFF
Apply pure apple cider vinegar to the scalp and work it into the roots of the hair; allow the vinegar to stand for a half hour or a full hour before washing your hair. This will help to destroy the bacteria and fungus that cause dandruff and itchy scalp. 

While I only allowed the Apple Cider Vinegar to stand for about 15minutes, the results have been amazing.  I did this about 5 days ago and I haven't had an itchy scalp since.  

This is MY miracle cure.  What's your miracle cure?  

Nature & Beauty

If you truly love Nature, you will find beauty everywhere

~ Vincent Van Gogh ~

This is a photo of a blue bottle I took on a beach near where I live.  

I love it because it is beautiful even though it's poisonous to touch.  

I thought Vicent's quote was appropriate for such a photo.

Homemade Laudry Powder

It's been a while since my last post, it's been a bit hectic, with Christmas, New Year, Holiday to SA & WA and the start of school.  I can't believe that my eldest girl is in High School, time certainly flies.

But I digress, I wanted to let you know about a fantastic Homemade Laundry Powder I have made & used following Julie's recipe from Towards Sustainability.  I've been using it for about 3 months now and it is fantastic. 

I have two girls & a one little boy and although the eldest girl is usually clean and tidy the younger two are magnets when it comes to dirt and stains. 

If you are looking to save money and help the environment try these recipes.  I do have a front loader and I have had no problems at all.  As I make soap I generally use the soap that doesn't look good enough to sell, nothing goes to waste.  Try it, you'll be surprised

Concentrated Laundry Powder

2 cups grated laundry or homemade soap or soap flakes (Lux)

2 cups borax

2 cups washing soda

2 cups bicarbonate of soda (which acts as a deodoriser)

Mix all the ingredients thoroughly and store in a plastic container with a lid. Use 2 tablespoons per wash. Again, this powder will not make suds and again, this is perfectly okay.

Heavy Duty Laundry Powder

2 cups grated stain remover soap (e.g. Napisan or Sards Soap; Sards has a nice eucalyptus scent)

2 cups grated pure soap or Lux flakes

2 cups Borax

2 cups washing soda

Mix all ingredients together well and store in an airtight container. As above, use two tablespoons per wash, and it is suitable for front loaders.

Try it and let me know what you think.

I have also found Down---to---earth which have number of other recipes for various types of cleaning product.

Seabuckthorn Oil

Seabuckthorn oil is made from the seeds and pulp of the seabuckthorn plant.

Seabuckthorn oil is full of vitamin A and E as well as natural anti-oxidants. It is excellent oil for the skin which is why it is popular with massage therapists and makers of natural body products.

This oil has wonderful healing properties. It has been used for hundreds of years in folk remedies to heal skin complaints. It can assist in healing burns and skin injuries as well as conditions such as eczema. Because of the vitamin and anti-oxidant content it is highly valued for its ability to help protect skin from aging. It seems to help with cell regeneration and keep the skin looking healthy and youthful.

The oil is sometimes used in hair care products and it keeps the hair and scalp in great condition. There have been reports that the oil can help slow baldness. The oil is also used by Russian astronauts who report that it helps prevent damage to their skin caused by radiation. The fruit of the plant is edible and is said to be excellent for the digestion. It seems to be a miracle plant.

Seabuckthorn is a really interesting plant with many of its benefits probably still undiscovered. One thing we do know is that when seabuckthorn oil is used in natural body products you know that your skin will benefit.   Our Anti-Aging Night Cream contains this amazing ingredient, along with a number of other Natural Skincare products Purely Natural Living has.

Nature

After you have exhausted what there is

in business, politics, conviviality and so on -

what remains? Nature remains.

Walt Whitman

Come forth into the lght of things,

Let Nature be your teacher

William Wordsworth

Jojoba Oil

Jojoba is not actually an oil, although we call it by that name. It is actually a liquid wax that is thicker in consistency than many oils and is made by cold pressing the seeds of the jojoba plant.

Jojoba has a chemical makeup that is very similar to the sebum that our skin produces to keep it protected and waterproof. It is rich in Vitamin E which helps to nourish and rebuild damaged skin. Its likeness to sebum makes jojoba oil suitable for use by all skin types.

Jojoba oil is excellent for use on skins suffering from eczema and other irritations because it has anti-inflammatory properties. It works wonders on skin suffering from acne because it is also anti-bacterial. It is an amazing oil, isn’t it?

The cosmetic industry loves to use jojoba oil. It acts as a wonderful moisturiser but is also light and won’t clog the skin. It is often used in shampoos to keep the scalp and hair healthy.

Jojoba can be used on its own but it is a wonderful carrier oil for essential oils. We use it in our Natural Calendula Baby Oil because we know it is gentle enough to use on baby’s delicate skin. It absorbs beautifully into the skin and doesn’t leave that greasy feeling left by other oils.

Jojoba oil is a wonderful base for many natural cosmetic products and now you know why.

TowTabs – Instant Towelettes

Have you seen the TowTabs in our store? This is a really useful and versatile item that everyone can use.


A TowTab is an instant towelette. It comes in tablet form – small, round and compact. You just add 15mls of water directly to the tablet and watch it expand instantly. Just unroll it and you have a large, moist towelette ready to use. Once it is opened up the towelette measures 20cm x 25cm – much larger than the usual towelettes available.

These are excellent for travelling and take very little water to activate. Add some to your first aid kit or just carry them in your handbag. The tablets are small and won’t take up a lot of room. They come in a handy little refillable case which holds 6 towelettes or in a roll of 10 that is shaped like a roll of lollies.

They are so easy to take wherever you go. Add them to your picnic hamper or BBQ kit. Take them to sporting events or on family days out. They will wipe up spills, clean sticky fingers and deal with grazes. They are quite strong so you can reuse them. They will clean more than one set of sticky fingers.

Best of all TowTabs are environmentally friendly. The towelette is made from cellulose which is extracted from wood pulp. They contain no chemicals or dyes so they are biodegradable and can break down in around 3 weeks.

These are so cheap, convenient and useful that everyone should keep a roll or two of TowTabs handy.  You can get them from Purely Natural Living, today.

How Natural Products Protect the Earth

We hear a lot about products being environmentally friendly these days, but what does it really mean?

An environmentally friendly product is one that causes little or no damage to the earth either during its production, its use or once it is finished. Realistically, anything we make or do has some impact on the environment but an environmentally friendly product is one that makes the least impact of all.

Bath and body products can do a lot of damage to our earth. They often contain synthetic materials and chemicals which artificially provide fragrance or some supposed benefit to our skins. We don’t really know what the long term effect is on the human body but we can already see what effect they have on the world around us. We won’t even talk about the testing on animals…..

Did you know that talc comes from great big open mines? Some of them have even been located inside National Parks. Not only are they digging this out of the earth, they then turn the products including talcum powder which has been linked to cancer.

Mineral oil sounds nice and gentle, doesn’t it? Sadly, mineral oil is poorly named because it is actually derived from petroleum. This is the same product that we know as baby oil and for generations it has been plastered all over our skins. Not only does it stop our skin from breathing but it as it passes through the body it interferes with the elimination of toxins. We damage the earth by mining petroleum, which is not a sustainable product, only to damage ourselves by using it.

You have probably seen reports on how phosphates are feeding the algae in our waterways and causing our fish to die and our water to be polluted. Phosphates are found in laundry and dishwasher products. SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate) is another chemical that is in most of the soaps and hair products we use. Although they say it is ‘derived from coconut’ SLS is actually quite corrosive and can cause skin damage. It is also used on animals when manufacturers test for skin reactions. Can you imagine what happens when a chemical cocktail of our household cleaners and cosmetics is flushed into our waterways?

Natural products are made from plants and products that occur naturally in the environment. They are environmentally friendly because they do not interfere with the earth or with plant and animal life. The materials are sustainable so that balance is maintained. Natural products are not processed with chemicals so they have no poisons to seep into the earth nor are they tested on animals. Natural, environmentally friendly products have no side-effects on us or on the Earth. The waterways stay clean and the micro-organisms that are the basis of our food chain stay healthy.

Look around your home and read the labels on the products you are using. How natural are they? Try eliminating chemical products from your home. Why not start by replacing your harmful bath and body products with our natural range? Every step towards natural products is a step towards a healthier life for your family and for the planet.

Coconut Oil is good for you

Coconut Oil is different from most other oils because it is solid at room temperature. I remember years ago buying my first bottle of coconut oil and expecting it to be a fragrant, liquid oil. I thought I had a faulty product when I opened it and saw a solid white mass like wax instead of oil.

Coconut Oil has many benefits for the skin which is why it is a favourite ingredient for soap makers. Coconut oil provides a protective barrier on the skin, protecting it from daily damage. It is an oil that really helps to give your skin a more youthful appearance as it is absorbed into the cells of your skin, helping to keep them strong and healthy. Coconut Oil contains anti-oxidants which are known to help fight off the free radicals which cause such damage to your skin.

Virgin Coconut Oil is pure and has not been damaged by vigorous refining processes. It has antioxidant, antifungal, and antibacterial properties. In fact, it has health benefits far beyond skin care. Scientists have found that by cooking with coconut oil it has a positive effect on heart disease, blood pressure, cholesterol and much more.

There is no real fragrance from Coconut Oil. It has a very light scent to it but certainly does not smell of coconuts!

Soap and skin care makers love to use Coconut Oil because of its wonderful health and skin protection benefits. It is easy to use, taking only a gentle heating to melt, but it also stays stable during the production process. That means that it will produce a quality product each time.

If you look at our lovely range of soaps (http://www.purelynaturaliving.com/TheSoap.html) you will notice that they all list Coconut Oil as an ingredient. Now you know why. When you use our soaps you know that you are doing the best that you can do to keep your skin healthy and gorgeous.

Natural Baby Wipes

Have you ever thought about making your own baby wipes...well here is a really easy recipe and great for little bottoms, not to mention it's quick. You don't need to buy anything special, you should have most of the ingredients in your cupboard.

1 ltr of brewed chamomile tea
1/4 cup Olive Oil
A few drops of Lavender Essential Oil
Poured over the folded cloth wipes & drain of the excess

I found out about this recipe from my sister who was trying to save money, after having her children.  I have been using them for my son and have had no need for any rash ointment.  I love these and they are also so much cheaper than the ones you buy in the store and there's not nasty chemicals

Purely Natural Living Product Review

We have been getting reviews on our products recently, have you seen them? Here are a couple of them;


Here is some of what Mum e Assistant had to say

"I have been alternating between the Goats Milk Soap and the Liquid Soap on a daily basis now for about 1 ½ weeks and in that time have not felt the need to apply moisturiser after showering as these wonderful natural products do not contain any harmful chemicals that dry your skin only natural oils.

So do yourself a favour and visit Purely Natural Living today and pick up some wonderful handmade Christmas gifts. "

You can read the full article and other articles at Mum e Assistant Blog.

Here is some of what Your Cheeky Monkey had to say

You can read the full article and other articles at Your Cheeky Monkey Blog.

"Not surprising, I have to rave about the Goddess Bath Salts – just the name alone is enough to win me over let alone having an excuse to bathe in a sea of pink bath salts with rose petals… take it from me, you just have to try these! I managed to sneak a bath in at the end of a very stressful day using the Goddess Bath Salts, and afterwards felt like a new girl!

The great thing about the Purely Natural Living soaps is that they are so natural and soft to use I have no hesitation using them for my sons (in fact I wouldn’t have a problem using them for a baby either). ..... "

Thank you very much to Leigh Pendergast from Mum e Assistant and Monique Nickalls from Your Cheeky Monkey for your reviews. If you would like to try these or any other Purely Natural Living product please visit us.

Remember for every $30 spent at Purely Natural Living, before 1 December 2009,  you go into the draw for a $50 Gift Voucher

A Humanist Code of Ethics ~ Arthur Dobrin

Do no harm to the earth, she is your mother.

Being is more important than having.

Never promote yourself at another's expense.

Hold life sacred; treat it with reverence.

Allow each person the digity of his or her labour.

Open your home to the wayfarer.

Be ready to receive your deepest dreams;

sometimes they are the speech of unblighted conscience.

Always make restitutions to the ones you have harmed.

Never think less of yourself than you are.

Never think that you are more than another