I have been making and using this recipe for the past 4 years, tailoring it and tweaking the amount of different mica colours. I haven't bought foundation for myself since 2019 and it has been something that is now part of my makeup routine. It saves me loads of money as the raw ingredients cost a fraction of what I would usually spend on foundation and I make other makeup with supplies such as daily oil serums, blush, bronzer, eyeshadow etc. I also seem to only make a batch every year or so, and it's been one of the most successful changes I have made! This recipe is made up of two parts, th ..read more

I have a weird (maybe not so weird) love/hate relationship with the zoo. Many know about my irrational fear of large cats... I even messaged the zoo when I found out that they walked the cheetahs around the zoo. Cue crazy large cat lady... in a crazy bad way lol.... The Zoo's response actually didn't alleviate any fears, it just made me Google "cheetah attacks on humans" for the next day lol. But it all goes further than imagining the cats escaping and attacking me... I think it goes far deeper than that. They are powerful, beautiful creatures and I genuinely really hate seeing animals in cap ..read more

Landfills aren’t giant compost heaps. In the 80s I accompanied my dad to the local rubbish tip where bags of rubbish were piled high where seagulls would circle, swoop and land on broken chair legs, pecking at the food scraps escaping from the sides of the open black rubbish sacks. There was a time when I really did think that a landfill was a giant compost heap. I thought that the food scraps and other compostable material I placed into my rubbish bin would help break down the other material and be of benefit. I had grown up in a household where composting was something we did without thought ..read more

"Leveling up" is a great way to approach changes. But doing it slowly and letting changes become part of your life is the key to zero waste success. Read all about my successes and failures on my "leveling up" journey. I really like the idea of "Leveling up" on your Zero Waste. There is always something more you can do, no matter where you are on your zero waste journey to achieve a better result. Generally speaking I approach things with a very measured approach. So when I want to incorporate better eating habits or exercise into my life I go slow and make changes that I know will stick. Bec ..read more

Make your own coffee body scrub with finely ground coffee, brown sugar, fine Himalayan sea salt and kaolin clay. It feels super amazing on your skin. This recipe also has a teaspoon of jojoba oil mixed in too. Ingredients: 1/2 cup fine ground coffee 1/4 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup fine Himalayan sea salt 3 tablespoons kaolin clay 2 teaspoon jojoba oil Mix together with a spoon. I find it easier to mix the jojoba oil in with the salt separately, so it incorporates better ..read more

Half of my freezer is stuff frozen into cube form! From grated zucchini, grated carrot, passion fruit, blended feijoa pulp to gravy and grated ginger. It originally started when Scarlett started solids and I made all of her baby food and placed it into ice cube form all ready to go when she needed it. Its a money saving thing, but its also a way to reduce our wastage from food. it saves time and also means that I have things that I can whip out of the freezer to use in dishes or in drinks at short notice. I also have to say that it also stops me from overindulging on certain things like feijo ..read more

Did you know you can clean your face with oil? Does it sound weird? One of the most basic principals in chemistry is that 'like dissolves like', which means oil dissolves oil. By using an oil cleanser, you can clean your face gently and effectively while still nourishing your skin. This recipe uses Jojoba which closely resembles human sebum, which makes it great for sensitive skin. I use tea tree oil as is a natural antiseptic, and is fantastic for clearing up acne. Oil counts as a facial cleanser and a makeup remover all-in-one too! Ingredients: The ingredients are super simple, just... 50m ..read more

I have been making and using this recipe for the past few months, tailoring it and tweaking the amount of different mica colours. This recipe is made up of two parts, the powder which is kept in a small jar and the oil mix that is used to mix the foundation as you go. by placing a small amount of the powder into your hand and then using an oil to mix as you go you can make it fresh each time and eliminate the need for preservatives. This DIY foundation creates a dewy look that you can then add a finishing powder (bronzer or highlighter powder) over the top if you wish. All the ingredients can ..read more

There’s more to being a bird than flying! From book to stage, the story of Tu Meke Tūī is being told as a stage show to delight young audiences at the Herald theatre, Aotea Centre, Auckland. Because I have known this book since it was first published I feel like it is everywhere, but if you haven’t heard of it, it is an amazing book written by Malcolm Clarke and Illustrated by the incredible Flox (Hayley King). Tu Meke Tui is an award winning, best selling children's book and it is now so iconic. It is so incredible seeing it come to life on the stage for my kids who have grown up with this b ..read more

You can tell that there are many voices and experiences that have shaped this book. Which has important message of hope and a longing for connection when your loved one is far away. Stardust explores the emotions from a young girl that come along with having a parent in prison. It is an important story to tell from the child’s point of view. It is told without without judgement and contains universally recognised themes that everyone is different, we all share hopes and dreams and that at the end of the day we all share the same sky as another who may be looking up at the very same moment, a ..read more