Foods to avoid if you suffer from thyroid disease

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Although it was around 8 years ago now that I was diagnosed with thyroid disease, it was not until only recently that I found out that there were certain types of foods that I should have been avoiding.

Anyone out there who suffers from TD would know a thing or two about goiters and how, if your thyroid levels are out of wack, you may be prone to developing one of these nasty looking things.

So when I came across goitrogen foods I was surpised I hadn't heard of them earlier.
Gointrogens are foods that decrease thyroid function. Especially in those who suffer from hypothyroism, they can in fact induce hypothyroidism and the goiters that are associated with it.

So what foods are we talking about here?
Bok Choy
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Brussel Sprouts
Cabbage
Mustard
Kale
Turnips
Canola Oil
SoyTofu
Turnips

Also included in the goitrogen category, even if mildly, are:
Bamboo Shoots
Millet
Peaches
Peanuts
Pears
Pine Nuts
Radishes
Spinach
Strawberries
Sweet Potatoes

Many are members of the 'brassica family'.

Now, before you freak out totally, as these are heat sensitive, cooking them can help minimise or inactivate the goitrogenic compounds. So if you can't stand the thought of giving up your faves then just make sure you cook them before you eat them. Also, keep in mind that if you do decide to eat them raw, keep it to an 'occasional' thing, and they probably won't affect you at all. They key word here is 'moderation'.

What's your thoughts? If you suffer from TD have you heard about goitrogens before?

Sweet weekend - one for the chocolate lovers

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I'm a total chocoholic.
I could eat chocolate for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Of course I don't... Well, not recently anyway...
So I'm always a fan of any research that comes out giving me the thumbs up to this sweet addiction.

Now, I'm not talking about the sugar packed versions you see on your supermarket shelves. Don't get me wrong, I love a few good squares of Top Deck or a handful of m&m's.
But I'd be kidding myself if I actually thought I was getting any benefit whatsoever from this kind of stuff.
When I say chocolate that's good for you I'm talking about the dark, bitter, raw kind. In particular, lovingearth raw chocolate.

If you think you're going to get the same sugar hit with this stuff as you do with a block of Cadbury's then think again.
This stuff isn't exactly sweet, it's more bitter, and not the same creamy, soft texture as you get with the other stuff.
Now, it may not give you the same sugar rush, or taste as sickly sweet, but it's a different-kinda-good.

Yep, it might take some getting used to, but there are 3 main benefits that impress me about this stuff.
1/ It contains up to twice as many antioxidants as conventional chocolate.
2/ Instead of sugar it contains organic raw agave syrup (a natural, low GI sweetener). So that's what makes it so good for you!
3/ You only need 2 or 3 squares to give you the same sugar craving fix. Any more than this and you'll be feeling quite ill afterwards. Brilliant for those of us that find we can't stop at 'just a little' with normal chocolate. This is some rich stuff!

The only negative thing that I have to add here is exactly how much this stuff sets you back.
For a small block (45g - 6 squares) you're looking at around $4-$5... not on the cheap side, that's for sure.
But I suppose if you can make it last a week or so (which has been pretty easy for me to do having had 2 squares at a time, one week on and I still have 2 squares left in the packet) it ain't so bad...

Something to keep in mind when you get your next sugar craving perhaps?

Give it a go and let me know what you think!

What kind of fighter are you?

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Early last year hubby and I attended a marriage preparation course in the lead up to our wedding day. You can imagine at the time how stoked we were to give up two weekends of our time, not to mention the almost-$300 it cost us!

But you know what? At the end of the course we found that not only was it really cool to spend such a decent chunk of our time purely to concentrate on 'us', we actually came away with some interesting info.

One such topic was about the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Yep, we giggled a little at that too. I mean, gees, how serious do they want to be?!

You see the 4 Horsemen is a theory developed by Dr John Gottman, a PhD Psychologist known for his theories in analysing the relationships of married couples. He claims that he can predict with 90% accuracy within the first 3 minutes of a couple having a conversation whether the relationship will last the long-haul or crash and burn. Hmmmm...

Check this out:


So the aim of the activity was to firstly work out what horseman we were and we were then given ideas of how to deal with arguments as they came up. It would always frustrate me when hubby would walk away or shut down when we were in the midst of an argument. I would keep at him as this is the way I would deal with things (sound a little like your fights maybe?), when all I had to do was to let him take 20 minutes to himself and for us to both calm down and then address the issue at a late time.

Sounds a little too good to be true right? Well I'm the first to admit that we're far from perfect, but it does help to put a little light on the reasoning behind the way we behave in the heat of the moment...

You can read more about the horsemen here.

Which of the horsemen do you think you are when it comes to fighting?

Happy Australia Day!

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Many of you will be getting together with friends and celebrating what an amazing country we are lucky enough to live in. 

Please also take the time to remember those less fortunate than ourselves, especially those who have been affected by the recent floods.

You can use today to rally friends together to raise some money for these people. It may simply be by passing a hat around, running a BBQ cook-off competition or a game of good old fashion footy.

You can visit here to donate.

Happy Australia Day everyone! 

x

Body Image - creating positive change

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Last week I posted about creating positive change around body image, and how we can come up with ideas of how to turn toxic messages about our bodies into positive reassurance.

Negative body image affects millions of girls and women each and every day. We are often overwhelmed with the influx of images of stick think girls in magazines and on TV, crash diets on how to 'loose 5 kilos by Friday' and celebrity role models who make us all think that 'size zero' is what you need to be to 'make it'.

Personally, like many of us, I have suffered with some negative body image issues for most of my teenage/early adult life. I have struggled with weight issues and the pressure to 'fit in', and, as I reach my 30th year on this planet, I have had enough.

It pains me to see the struggle girls and young women face.
When we are young not only are we critical of ourselves, but often we are so hurtful to each other. Girls can be very mean sometimes. We take our own insecurities out on others around us.
Instead of turning on each other we should be standing together, united, saying 'no' to negative body image and telling others how beautiful we really think they are.

So from this, came my big idea as to how we can create a more positive body image culture that helps girls and women of all shapes and sizes love and respect their bodies.

I take myself back to my high school days. These were the toughest for many of us. Trying to fit in, trying to feel accepted and beautiful. You see, I don't remember there being any real support programs run through my school on body image and how to deal with the negative feelings that may come up about yourself.

So, why not?
Well, that's just the thing. Why the hell don't we?

Why don't we create 'girl group' programs in high schools across Australia to get teenage girls together to chat about what body image means to them and how they think we can overcome the issues we face!
And it's not only girls who suffer from body image issues you know. There are truck loads of boys who face the very same problems. Fearing that they're not good enough, that they need to fit into a certain type of box to be accepted by others around them.
We could develop programs that support all kids out there. Teaching them all about body image, how to support others, how to love themselves, and what their ideas are to overcome this global issue.
I mean, this is where it all starts. These are the ones who we should be helping to work through this issue so that we can start to make a change for future generations.

If we could only make this part of each and every high school in Australia then we would have thousands of amazing young people to carry the torch for us all.

Together we are the only ones who can make a change!

Sweet weekend - Getting back what you put in

Friendships come and go. You can find new ones that are fleeting and old ones that feel like you know every part of someone.

Recently I've found myself thinking a lot about my friendships, how they make me feel, and what I get out of them.

You see, my thoughts on any kind of relationship, whether it be a partner, a friend you have known since your school days, or the work colleague you gossip with on your lunch breaks, every relationship should have something you get out of it.

Obviously you need to put in as well. I mean, people need to want to be friends with you too!

But taking the time to reassess friendships and think about what they mean to you, and what you get from them, is something I think everyone should do from time to time in their lifetime.

I remember 'breaking-up' from friends when I was younger and the reasons for the split being something along the lines of 'she's been mean to me' or 'she didn't invite me to her birthday party'. Not really a thoroughly thought through decision mind you but hey, I'm talking the importance of things to a 14 year old here!
Then all of a suddent you hit your 'sensible adult life' (hmmm.... debatable on whether I'm actually there 100% of the time mind you!) and you begin to judge your friendships much differently, and rightly so.

Take the person you call your bestie. The one you would call on and no matter what they'd be there for you in a second. Well, when you think of what you get out of that relationship you might think of how they would drop anything for you if you needed them, that they always touch base to see how you are, that they pop in for coffee when they can, that they organise girls nights out every couple of months.
Whatever it is, I'm sure you have something great that you get back from it. And I'm sure you put in just as much (if not, perhaps that's something you should think about?)

So what if you have friendships in your life that when you think about what you actually get out of them you find yourself stuck?
Are you the one who always organises catch-ups? Are you always the first to call them?
Is the only thing that seems to be tying you to this person the fact that you have known them for half your life? Or that you work with them and so you see them every day? Or that you see them on a regular basis because you share the same friends?
Sometimes, just because you see them on a regular basis doesn't exactly mean you get something out of the friendship.

And then there's the way they make you feel when you do see them. Do you leave feeling happy, relaxed and reassured? Or do you feel agrivated and drained?
If you get negative feelings after seeing or chatting to a friend that's a huge red flag right there!

Friendships are sacred, and as I get older (and perhaps wiser???) I have come to realise that it's not necessarily the number of friends you have, but the quality of the few you do.

What's your thoughts on getting back what you put in with your friendships? Have you ended friendships on this basis before?  

Product review - Dr Bronner's Magic Soaps

Dr Bronner's is an American company that has been around for over 60 years, creating a range of Fair Trade, organic skincare products including liquid and bar soaps, lip balms and body lotions.

Their liquid soaps are pretty much an all-in-one show. They can be used as a liquid soap in the shower (for both body and hair) and if you're a little more adventurous you can try them out as an everyday cleaner or to clean your clothes in the wash.

I tried the Citrus Liquid Soap as well as the Citrus Conditioning Hair Rinse.

Price-wise they're pretty good and I liked the idea that the soap could be used as an all-in-one.

So after a few goes I found I quite liked the liquid soap but only as a body soap, not on my hair.
On my hair it felt like it really got my hair clean but it left it fairly dry and I wasn't a huge fan of the smell either.
The hair rinse on the other hand was pretty damn average.
To use you need to mix it with some water in a cup and I found mine came our in big globs and was near impossible to mix properly into the water. The result was globs of gross brown gunk all over the shower floor with little on my hair.

So the verdict on this one is that while I would buy the liquid soap again I wouldn't go back for seconds of the conditioning hair rinse.

Have you used Dr Bronner's products before? What's your take?

Love is the drug?

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As the Beatles sung back in the 60's 'All You Need Is Love'... or perhaps Roxy Music were onto something back in the 70's with 'Love Is The Drug'...

Love gives us a sense of security, happiness and sureness.

But did you know that according to a recent study conducted in the US, being in love may actually make us feel so euphoric that we in fact ignore pain?

Sounds a little crazy right? Well, the study found that subjects in love not only felt less pain while looking at a picture of their significant other, but that love also acts through the same pathway in the brain as some strong painkillers and addictive drugs.

Pretty cool huh!
So get your love-on people, you might just be helping avoid pain and discomfort! :)

Creating postive change

Today I came across a post by BeautifulYou about a the upcoming Endangered Species: Preserving the Female Body international summit, inviting all of us to challenge the negative culture that teaches females to hate their bodies.

Negative body image is something I hold very close to my heart.
Like many others out there I have been through many years of judging, picking-apart and criticising my own body.
As I now reach my almost-30's it is only recently that I have started to realise what a poisonous effect these negative thoughts can have towards my self-esteem and overall well being.

Julie from BeautifulYou is inviting all amazing women out there to get involved in creating positive change for woman and girls by putting your ideas out there by addressing one (or all) of the below questions:

Why is body image important to you and what would you like to be your wider community's body image legacy?

What is your one big idea (or even ideas) as to how we can create a more positive body image culture that helps girls and women of all shapes and sizes love and respect their bodies.

What is a significant part of the media, education, health and/or wider community that you believe needs to change to better support girls and women to have positive body image?  What would you do to change it?

You can email your thoughts through to Julie by commenting on her blog or emailing her at beautifulyoublog@gmail.com.

Get involved and help change the future for the next generation of amazing women out there!

I will be checking back in over the next few days to share some of my ideas.

x

Breaking up with my fave lip balm...

Lucas' Paw Paw Ointment and I go way back... I used it on a regular basis (not only as my staple lip balm, but on cuts and burns mind you!) and I couldn't recommend it highly enough to my family and friends.

Then, the crushing blow came only a couple of months ago when I started finding out more about my beloved... it was pretty much all Petroleum Jelly.

What is Petroleum Jelly?
Also known as Petrolatum, it's the stuff used not only in Paw Paw Ointment but in Vaseline.
Basically Petroleum doesn't actually moisturise as it cannot penetrate the skin. It simply sits as a layer on top of your skin until it rubs off. Once it rubs off you will find your skin feels dry once again as nothing has actually penetrated the skin to moistuise it and so you re-apply once again... over and over again...

Not only does it really fail to do what it's meant to do (i.e. add moisture to the area when used as a lip balm), studies show that it may in fact contain cancer-causing contaminants. 
The thing is, in it's purest form, Petroleum is in fact quite safe. However, due to poor industry regulations, it's highly unlikely this is the case with many of the products out there on the market.

Sigh..... I hear you, I'm devo too....

So I could very well keep on using this, ignoring what I have read but that would just make my whole skincare clean-up a waste of my time.

If you decide to dump your Paw Paw too make sure you look for lip balms that contain all-natural plant based products made from natural oils like coconut and jojoba, and cocoa and shea butter.

So far I am in love with RMS Lip and Skin Balm and I don't mind Miessence Jaffa Lip Balm either.

Have you ever broken up with a much loved product before due to health concerns?

Sweet weekend - the human spirit

Man, these floods have really got me emotional.

Watching the stories of people who have lost their homes and don't quite know what the future holds for them.
On TV tonight they showed the story of a young couple in their early 20's, with 2 children, on a single income. They had worked hard to buy their own home and when the floods hit they hit them hard. Their house had water up to the roof. Everything was destroyed. Their insurance doesn't cover flood damage. And as distraught as they were about what had happened, all they could say is that it was just 'things' that were lost, and we can replace 'things'.

Just like a couple of years ago when us Victorians suffered through the horrific black Saturday fires, I am so very proud to be Australian right about now.

People are just getting stuck into cleaning up the damage and all they can say is how lucky they are to be here. Neighbours are helping out each other and everyone pitching in to get things back to normal as soon as they can. The human spirit is an amazing thing.

Check out the above picture. This made me tear up a little - so very Aussie :)

If you haven't already donated, click here to help those affected.

This weekend take the time to be grateful for what you have. Hug your family tight, treasure each and every moment, smile when the sun comes out.
x

Detoxing from Facebook...

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I have been a Facebook devotee for around 4 years now.

Working in an office for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week it has been a staple of my daily routine.
Sit down at my desk with my morning coffee - check emails, check Facebook, start my work.

Over the past few weeks something started to not sit right with me about the good old FB and I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was.

I caught up with a dear friend of mine a few days ago and our conversation began to veer towards the latest goss (nothing new there) and what people we doing (many according to updates I'd seen on FB).

It's funny how a little over 5 years ago none of us even knew about FB and the revolution that was about to take hold and change many of our social networking lives. And now, for many of us it's become a part of our daily routine, a way of life.

You see what dawned on me when chatting with my friend that day was how much we now rely on social networking sites to keep up to date with what is happening in our friends lives. We now see where they are and when, who they're with, what's going on at work, at home, on the weekend, even what they wore to a party last Saturday.
For many of us this has become our way of keeping up with the latest and greatest in our friend's lives.
Want to know how a friend is? Write on their wall.
Want to organise a party? Send an event invitation.
Want to ......
Sure, social networking is great fun but what happens when you realise that it's become more of a part of your life than actually seeing or calling friends to catch up?

Over the past few months I have found I have reassessed many of my friendships and a big part of that has been the 'friendships' I have on Facebook.

Take a look at your list of 'friends'. Do you have 100? 300? 500?
How many of them do you actually care about? And how many of them are you only 'friends' with so that you can snoop into their profile?

One thing I have found over the past couple of months is the feeling I get after checking the latest on my news feed.
Up until the other day I didn't quite realise what exactly it was that didn't sit well with me.
And then it kind of hit me when I was chatting with my friend.

I tend to compare my life to others.

Now, don't get me wrong, my life is pretty damn good.
It's just that of late I seemed to compare.

It took me back to a couple of years ago when it seemed that every single person on FB was getting engaged and I started comparing their exciting milestone to the one I had been waiting on... Now if only I had've known at the very time my dear boyfriend was having my engagement ring made and was planning to pop the question...
But I found I compared back then, and I have started to compare again now.

Funnily enough my girlfriend also said the exact same thing. And you know what she decided to do? Give Facebook the flick!
She told me how she now feels better not comparing peoples lives to her own and how she catches up in person or on the phone with those friends she truly wants to have a relationship with.

So what did I do then? I decided to detox...

Hi, my name is Kristen and I am a Facebook addict.

And so it's now been almost a week and you know what? I feel so much better already! I am taking myself out of the FB gossip and I am now debating deleting my profile all together... Perhaps that will be the next step of my program...

Product review - RMS Beauty Raw Coconut Cream

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Now, a couple of months ago if someone told me to try out this product I would have thought 'hells no! Why would I put coconut oil on my face and body?! oil = pimples - no thank you!'

However, after reading more about how oils like coconut and jojoba in fact help to rebalance the oil production of your skin without blocking pores I was intrigued.

I came across RMS Beauty Raw Coconut Cream which is cold-pressed, organic, pure coconut oil.

Coconut oil is a natural antioxident and is known for its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties. Believe ir or not it is in fact great for acne prone skin! Just make sure you use a high quality cold pressed one like RMS Beauty.

I started off by using this as a make-up remover and man, did it work brilliantly! My eye makeup came off with not much effort at all, and added moisture to my skin at the same time. Not only that but it also conditions your lashes as well.
The other thing I am now using it for is a daily body moisturiser. The smell is just divine and I find I don't need much at all to add moisture to my skin. It's absorbed really well too.

So yep, I have now been converted and my old paraben-ridden moisturiser has been binned!

Do you use oils like coconut or jojoba? 

Thought for today

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Today, when you find you're frustrated at being stuck in peak hour traffic, or running late for an appointment, or annoyed because the dishes haven't been done... think of those affected by the floods in Queensland.

As it stands, 10 people have been confirmed dead, and more than 90 still missing. The images are just terrible.

Let's all pray for those who have died, those who are missing, and those who have lost their homes.

If you would like to donate to help those affected out click here.

All things beautiful... January

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These beautiful hand made books by etsy seller EmersonBindery are just lovely.

They can be custom made to suit what you are after and I used the one pictured above for my very own wedding guest book last year.

She has a range of guest books and journals to suit your own style and they are beautiful keepsakes.

10 sweeter-living tips for a healthy 2011

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I have always struggled with my weight, and health issues like thyroid disease certainly haven't helped my battle over the years.
You could say I have been on pretty much every diet out there, and while I have dropped a decent amount on a couple of them in the past (and surprisingly not put it all back on - diets are notorious for quick loss, but not necessarily sustainable loss!) I have now yo-yo'd my way into my almost-30's and I'm sick and tired of it!
So, as part of my 'fresh start to 2011' and the year I bid my 20's farewell, I have included some healthy tips that I try to use on a regular basis in my lifestyle to kick those final kilos I have to lose and hopefully they'll be helpful to you as well.

1. Include protein in your meals
Protein fills you up and gives you long lasting energy that helps you burn fat, not muscle.
Try to add some protein with each meal you have.
Think fish, chicken, eggs and occasional lean red meat


2. Drink lots of water
Drinking water is great to hydrate your body but it also fills you up and helps flush out all those nasties in your body.
Drink at least 2 litres a day. My tip is to try to down 1 litre before lunchtime and 1 after. If you drink lots in the afternoon and night, then you'll find you're having to get out of bed in the middle of the night to rush to the loo!


3. Get moving
This is an obvious one I know.
Aim for around half an hour each day. Try to mix it up so you don't get bored.
Think walking the dog, yoga, boxing class, dancing, interval training (alternating walking with short runs). This year I'm going to try yoga!   

4. Cut back on your sugar
This is a really important one. Many of us have issues with sugar addiction and may not even be aware of it.
Sugar is in so many things these days and many people think when something has 'fat free' on it, it means 'good for you'.
The thing is that many products that have 'fat free' on them have a truck load of sugar instead. Sugar simply turns into fat if we don't burn it off so this is a big one to keep in mind!
If you're a sugar addict (yep, my hand is up on this one!) start looking at ingredient labels on products and start to get familiar with how much sugar is in things. A good start is to simply cut back your sugar intake by half and you'll probably see changes.   

5. High in fat doesn't necessarily mean bad for you!
Ok so this is one many people aren't aware of. There are numerous types of fats out there an some are in fact really good for us.
Good fats lower our bad cholesterol and increase the good stuff!
Now I don't mean going out and eating a Big Mac is ok! Try adding foods like avocado, nuts and extra virgin olive oil to your diet.          

6. Eat less, more often
Having 2 or 3 big meals a day often means over eating due to hunger in between. By trying to eat 5-6 small meals a day you're avoiding overeating and you'll find you're full for longer.

7. Avoid artificial sweeteners 
Many people (me included in the past) think by replacing sugar with artificial sweeteners like Splenda, Equal and Nutrasweet you're doing the best thing possible for your body.
While there's lots of controversy surrounding artificial sweeteners I say give them the flick and stick to natural ways of sweetening things if absolutely necessary.
Think raw honey, agave or xylitol.  

8. Give the grog the gong
Alcohol. God love it, is bad, bad, bad for us when trying to keep our weight down.
While the occasional glass of red does have its benefits, the short story when trying to loose those extra          kilos is to give it the flick altogether. Sometimes easier said than done I know, but just keep it in mind before your next big night out on the town...

9. Bulk up your meals with veggies
There's no need to be hungry when watching what you're eating. Pile up the veggies on your plate to keep you fuller for longer. You'll start to feel great in no time!      
Think 'all you can eat' = vegetables
Eat loads of greens and limit high sugar veggies like corn, carrot, potatoes and peas.          

10. Eat s...l...o...w...l...y
Ok, so this is one I am still trying to learn.
Eating slowly means you digest your food better and get that full feeling before you find you've stuffed yourself silly. A good rule is to put your knife and fork down in between bites.
It can take 20 minutes to feel full so another tip is to eat 'til you're 80% full. Once 20 minutes has gone by you'll be feeling super satisfied.        

What are your tips for watching what you're eating?                                                    

Sweet Weekend - eating organic

Image - from my garden!

I'm a big believer in eating organic.
Now I'm not saying I eat 100% organic foods, I just try to where possible.
Fruit and vegetables that are nutrient rich, not sprayed with pesticides, and grown locally honestly makes me feel good about what I am putting in my mouth.

For all of you out there that are wanting to eat more organic fruit and veg, or for those who already eat organically, you would know that eating the organic way isn't exactly the cheap way.

Of course growing your own is a wonderful place to start, not to mention a great way to save money but it isn't necessarily for everyone. You need the room to plant your garden, not to mention the time to look after it.
So not into growing your own? Well another option is to buy organic foods where possible from local farmers markets, organic shops and online (oh, and sometimes you'll find bits and pieces at your local supermarket).

I have just started my own veggie patch and I'm hoping over the next few months I'll be munching on my very own veggies! For now I buy mine either online or from a little organic shop nearby.

Look - I grew a baby capsicum! :)

The thing I have found is that my food bills do increase when buying organic.

If you want to start buying organically but the extra cost involved makes you think twice, take a look at the below list off foods that are a good place to start. These veggies are most affected by pesticides and should always be bought organically. Plus, many people say they taste better when organic - which I personally think is the case for many organically grown foods!

Apples
Celery
Carrots
Strawberries
Capsicum
Potatoes
Kale
Lettuce
Nectarines
Grapes
Spinach

Some fruits and veggies like eggplant, banana, kiwi fruit, mango, pineapple and avocado aren't as important when it comes to buying organically, so if you find you're a little strapped for cash these can be put on your regular supermarket list.

Do you eat organic where possible? 

Product review - Soapwalla Kitchen Deodorant Cream

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A while back I wrote about my quest to find a clean (and effective) deodorant.

Finding something that was not only free of aluminium and parabens, but at the same time actually effective was easier said than done.

I have since tried a few, with one of my fave's being Crystal Body Deodorant.  The only thing was on really humid days or after excessive exercise I found that it really didn't hold up like my old 'dirty' deodorant used to. Not only that, it was totally fragrance free. A good thing in terms of 'clean-ness' I know, but I miss having that clean, fresh smell under my arms.

So I continued the hunt and came across Soapwalla Kitchen Deodorant Cream. Soapwalla Kitchen is the baby of Brooklyn girl Rachel. Rachel makes her own products that are free of harmful chemicals and never tested on animals.
My only concern with the deo cream was that it came in a tub and you had to put it on by hand. But can I tell you, getting used to the slightly quirky application technique is seriously no big deal. Just rub it on gently after you shower and rinse the excess off your hands (oh, and make sure you allow some time for it to dry before putting your clothes on too).
It has a wonderful fresh and light scent that I found I missed with the Crystal Body Deodorant. Plus, it actually lasts - seriously, this stuff is awesome!
I've even got hubby onto using it and have already placed my order for a couple more tubs!

How is your hunt for a clean deodorant going? Any good finds?

New Year, New You?

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It's that time of the year again.

After the champagne glasses are empty and the day-after-hangover hits, the reality of a brand new year ahead of us and the opportunity to 'start afresh' causes us to think.
Many of us chose the often-travelled road of quitting the fags, cutting the fat, upping the exercise or saving our dosh.

But more often than not many of us find the pressure we put ourselves under as soon as we wake up on the 1st Jan is an open invitation for failure.

Why do we feel like the start of a new year has to mean the start of a new you?
Of course it's not a bad thing to take the time to look at what we would like to change in our lives but I have found making massive changes like those mentioned above can often leave us with a tremendous amount of pressure that can more often than not lead us to cave and return to old ways.

A few years ago I used to smoke and on more than one occasion I used a brand new year to start a brand new non-smoking me. The thing is, after putting all that pressure on my 'new years resolution' I found I ended up caving within the weeks to follow.
Then, after a few 'quitting speed humps', one day I found that I was truly ready to kick my addiction and so I threw out the half-full packet of smokes in my handbag and have never looked back!
Ok, so it wasn't that easy... But I did it when the time was right, I did it when I was really ready and not when the calendar told me it was time.

Now this is not to say that I don't believe in new years resolutions, I think a fresh new start in a brand new year is a great thing! I just believe we shouldn't put ourselves under the pressure of changing our lives dramatically on the same day of the year that everyone else does.

If there's something that you've been truly wanting to change in your life why wait for new years?
A fresh start can start whenever you want it to!

Did you make a new years resolution this year? How is it going?