Ban the bead.

I have seen a lot lately about the LUSH Ban the bead campaign. It surrounds the concept of the environmental damage that microbeads in exfoliants are having on marine life. In one study 35% of fish tested were found to have microbead particles in their digestive system. Microbeads in body and face exfoliants are made from plastics (you will see it on packaging as Polypropylene or similar) that do not bio-degrade and are therefore building up in the oceans. 

There are 2 types of exfoliaters 1: Chemical ( such as a sallysidic acid) or mechanical (beads/grains/particles). I think that it is pretty unnecessary to use an artificial product on your skin when there are so many natural grainy substances that can do the same physical job. 

So in the name of beauty I set about to make my own natural exfoliants using only ingredients from my kitchen or garden. I have a pretty normal skin type, and generally only exfoliate my face once a week, but I stopped altogether for about 5 weeks. By this week it looked dull and lifeless!

I made up a few for different skin types or concerns;

OILY SKIN PURIFYING EXFOLIATER:

• capsule of activated charcoal
• few fresh mint leaves
• zest from a lime
• small drop of cool water to mix a paste

This is a great deep cleansing exfoliate that can be left on as a mask. Charcoal is deeply purifying and detoxing for the skin. The lime is packed with Vit C and Mint contains Vitamin A which helps repair skins surface. Empty the charcoal capsule and mix all the ingredients into a bowl, use your fingers to mash everything up into a paste. The charcoal is a fine powder so it is the perfect light exfoliant for oilier skin.

DRY SKIN NOURISHING CLEANSER:

• Polenta ( or any fine maize)
• Fresh corriander
• Virgin organic coconut oil

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Polenta is a fine maize grain rich in Vit A and C. It is slightly coarser so perfect for drier skin. Corriander is very nourishing for dry skin too. A small drop of coconut oil to bind it all together. My skin was so soft after using this.

Other grains that can be used as exfoliaters:

Coffee- Caffeine for perky bright skin

Oats- If you suffer from sensitivity

Crushed Almonds/Cashews/Macadamia Nuts- Dry skin

Salt or Sugar- More coarse so better for a body exfoliater

Mix with fruits or veggies such as 

Avocado

Tomato

Citrus Fruits rinds

Berries

Inhale good, exhale bad

Welcome back to Wellness Wednesday! 

It's been a busy week for my little family this last week, between working, projects and family time it's been all go go go!

As mummas daily life is chock full of busy times.Stress comes with the territory when you are trying to juggle so many things in a daily basis. It's easy to feel like your fighting a loosing battle with household chores, work, and general life. Sometimes it is important to remember just to BREATHE. To really breathe, deeply, and let go of the tension you are holding in your body. It will instantly give you relief. I see so many people coming into my work, holding their shoulders so high and tight, completely unbeknownst to them. Stress and tension are physically draining and can take a toll on your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Have you ever had a particularly stressful day, and then the slightest thing sets you off, and afterwards you feel so much better, albeit slightly crazy :)

On a daily basis it's so important to take time out just to BE. Weather it is 1 minute or 15 minutes or an hour - if your lucky. Breathing deeply right down to your little toe and exhaling, releasing all the negative energy and emotions and thoughts. That niggle of annoyance about the towel that your other half left on the bathroom floor. Let it go. The stress you feel over the ever increasing laundry or dishes. Let it go. The exasperation you feel when your little humans empty the toy box everywhere, seconds after it has been tidied away. Let it go. If it does not serve you let it go! 

When I'm feeling particularly stressed I find a quiet corner in the house or take a walk outside and breathe. Inhale good energy, fresh air, positive thoughts. Exhale your gripes, annoyances, negative energy and stress. Let your shoulders relax. I bet you didn't even realise you were holding them tight?

 When you are finished you will feel ready to put back on your mummy hat and take on the world again. So when it feels like it's all getting too much, just remember to take a step back and just breathe .

Much love,

Rachael x

Wellness Wednesday

Hi all, 

I thought I would start a thread for wellness Wednesday's that, hopefully il be able to post every week with a positive little message!

 Being a mum (or dad) is one of the most amazing and rewarding jobs that there is. Getting to watch your little ones grow and develop and achieve their goals is such an amazing feeling but being a parent is also such a hard job at times too. It is so important to be aware of this and to accept that it isn't always going to be lovely and easy! 

As a mum your day starts at crazy o'clock in the morning, you don't get lunch breaks, double pay, holidays or time off. When we are feeling tired or run down, or if we have a busy schedule it can be a little overwhelming. Being mindful does not mean to be positive all the time, it does mean to be aware of how you are feeling at that present moment and seeing the reasons that may be making you feel like that.. And to accept it!

When I'm feeling overpowered or low on energy, or if I'm having a tricky moment with Ollie there are a few things I like to try to pick our moods up! 

•Go outside; fresh air and the outdoors are known to increase your mood. Especially in Ireland when the weather can be so wet. Just wrap up well and get outside for even a few minutes! 

•Nourish yourself; you know those days when you have a take away and instantly feel sluggish and tired. Rarely do you feel like this after a salad or fruit. Keep it in mind next time you go to fix a meal. Eating well will nourish your body and mind. 

•Meditate and Stretch; if you have time take 15 minutes or even 5 minutes to meditate and focus your thoughts. Deep breathing or sun salutations are great for increasing energy and positivity. I try to set aside time in the garden while Ollie is playing for this. If yoga or meditation is not your thing light excersise will help too. Often when you have taken time to be with your thoughts you will realise that what was stressing you is not that important (the dishes will wait)

• Take time out for yourself; this is so important for self wellness to just take time out to do something you enjoy, by yourself! Wether it's going for a walk in the evening while your other half watches baby, Meeting friends or just having a bath in peace. It's important not to loose sight of you as a person outside your role as a parent.

And sometimes the only thing that will help on those days where you feel like you want to pull your hair out is a good nights SLEEP! :) Keep in mind what an amazing job you are doing mummy's and how much your little ones appreciate what you do!

Rachael x

Stop to smell the roses.

Firstly I just want to say sorry for my complete absence from the blog lately. I have been taking time out to really focus on Ollie and embrace our time together. 

I mentioned in a previous post I got tickets for  a mindfulness workshop and myself and Billy attended it in March. It focused on mindfulness with parenting and really helped me to become more aware of the present moment, not to be anxious about the future or regretful for the past. 

As adults we are looked at as the teachers to children and to set a good example yet it is children who show us how to embrace the present moment. Our little ones are determined, they don't give up until they get what they want and they see the beauty and wonder in the world that we have become so accustomed and blinded to. They teach us to live every day to the fullest.

So lately I have been spending a lot of time with Ollie outdoors and learning from him. We do yoga, we have our breakfast in the veggie patch (when it's not raining) and mostly we play 😊.His latest hobby is smelling every single flower he sees. When we are out walking he picks all the dandelions and daisies, I'm trying to teach him not pick "planted" flowers. Even with the dandelion, which is basically a weed, he takes a long sniff and says WOW. Our cherry blossom tree bloomed in the last week and the fragrance off the flowers is so beautiful. That tree has been in the garden for years and I don't think I ever really even saw it! One aspect of mindfulness is beginners mind which is basically seeing the world through a child's eyes. 

Im really going to try and practice this on a daily basis. Our little ones have so much to show us and open our eyes to the important things in life. I'm going to make a big effort also to post more regularly on this but I keep the Mayalu Facebook page updated more quite often so check that out.

Rachael xx

Nailed it!

Most of you have probably heard the hype about toxins in nail polishes. It wouldn't come as a surprise, with the strong smell of it, that a lot of those little colourful bottles are filled to the brim with toxins. Most polishes have phased out the ingredients for the 3-free polishes and are slowley following suit for 5-free, greener more natural polishes!

What is 3 free and 5 free nail polishes?

3 Free; No Dibutyl Phthalate, Toluene, and Formaldehyde
5 Free; No Dibutyl Phthalate, Toluene, Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, and Camphor
The harmful effects of these ingredients are are well documented. They are strong, toxic chemicals and a quick google search will fill you in on all the deets!

I'm not too picky on brands of nail polishes as I rarely paint my nails any more since I had Ollie. If I do buy polishes its nice to be able to make an informed decision, especially since the more natural ones are just as good in my opinion. Great range of colours, brands and better for your nails and health :)

Which brands are 3 Free?

 CND, Essie, Estee Lauder, Hard Candy, Lancome, M.A.C., Nars, OPI, NYC, Wet ‘n’ Wild, Avon, Revlon, Nubar
Which brands are 5 free?

Chanel, Dashing Diva, Dior, Givenchy, Hopscotch Kids, L’Oreal, Nubar, RGB, Scotch Naturals, Uslu Airlines, Zoya, Mineral Fusion, 
                                                                      

If you know of any other brands that I'm missing, et me know and I'll add them in :)

Rachael

x

Finding peace with toddler tantrums.

He wanted to flollow the ducks into the pond!

                                             

funny; courtesy of pinterest

Tantrums. The terrible two's. I have been expecting them, preparing for them and I got a dose of a real tantrum the other day-except Ollie is only 18 months! Now of course he has had his fair share of outbursts before but these full blown tantrums are completely different. I wanted to explore the best way to react and to navigate these tricky situations.

Ollie's first major meltdown happened when we were out for a walk the other day. We had played a lovely game of football in the park and I had popped him in his buggy to go for a nice long walk before we headed back to the car. So we were half way through our walk when suddenly Ollie decided he didn't ant to be in the buggy anymore. Fair enough. I popped his harness on to let him walk. Nope don't want to walk. Didn't want to play football. Didn't want to be carried. Didn't want me to carry the football/put it under the pram. Didn't want to be carried. It seemed all he wanted to do was sit on the floor and cry. I gave up on the idea of a walk and decided to return to the car.  It didn't help that my coat was made of the same slippy material as his coat so as I struggled to carry the screaming toddler who had made himself all floppy he just slid off my hip and to maneuver the pram with the other hand. I tried to keep my face calm and loving and continued planting little kisses on his tear stained cheek. I must have looked like such a crazy woman- my hair a mess from being pulled, my coat covered in little footprints trying to escape, stumbling down the street trying to get home. I can laugh now but at the time the journey back to the car seemed endless.

Why am I telling you this? Obviously its not my greatest moment as a mum! On the drive home it led me to think... What do you do when your toddler is throwing a tantrum?

Now as with all new mums, we are all just learning as we go and I am lucky enough to have my own mum (mother to 6) to turn to for advice so here are a few nuggets of advice to help you survive the stress' of tantrums.

A bit like Ollie the other day 

Firstly remember that your toddler is just trying to communicate something and you don't understand. They are old enough to have a sense of self- they have developed their personalities and sense of will. Basically they know what they want and what they don't! (Now is may be something as silly as wanting to share their yogurt with the dog.)

Be present; Keep your face calm, positive happy or neutral but try not to fall into a stressed/negative or agitated state as this will only mirror your toddler instead of lift their spirits. 

Offer an alternative or a distraction: So you may not let them take a toy from another child but offer them another or take them away from the situation. 

Play with them: Sometimes the reason they are acting up is because of boredom. I find the best thing to do in these situations are to be their to play with them, Go outside for a walk or run around. Leave the dishes (they will wait). A calm toddler is much less stressful than a messy kitchen!

Let them help: If your toddler wants something that you have- but cant give them ( for instance; a dusting cloth). It may be their way of saying but mum I want to do what your doing too! Give them a clean cloth/ face cloth so they can mimic you (their hero ;))

Remember that your toddler is trying to communicate

Tantrums can be upsetting for both mum and baby so once your little one is settled again, take some time out to reflect or meditate. This can restore your energy levels and bring you back to a more peaceful and positive state. 

Nourish your body and mind, drink green juice - keep your energy high to help you cope with stress. Tired mum + cranky baby ≠ happy times

Spend some time away from technology, reading stories, going for walks it will help you de-stress.

Don't take it personally. They still love you :) 

I hope you may find some helpful info in here and as they say a problem shared is a problem halved ;) Any other mums out there have any other tips?

Rachael
x

Reasons my toddler is crying; He wanted to put his hand in my hot tea!

January/ February Faves!

Hi Ladies,

What better time to start a monthly faves post than at the start of the year... Already I am running behind! This is a post I love reading on other blogs. This will be a bit of a mix of beauty/baby fave's I have been loving over the last 6 weeks or so.

Darphin Vitalskin Serum

I have been LOVING this or the last few weeks. This super-hydrating serum really perks up and brightens your skin(with caffeine extract and vitamin C) and leaves your skin super fresh and glowing. Love love love it! 

Porridge

There is nothing better on a dark winters morning than a bowl of hot porridge to set you up for the day :) To shake it up a bit I make it with almond or coconut milk, a few raisins, sprinkling of cinnamon and some honey.

Lucas' Pawpaw Ointment

Made from fermented Paw paw fruit, this little tube is a miracle worker. I keep one in my handbag all the time especially during these winter months. Among its many uses it can be used as a lip balm, on dry skin, as a hand cream, for nappy rash or for taming fly-away hairs! I bulk bought before I left Australia and now get my friends to bring me home some whenever they're visiting :)

Make Up

This Buxom lip gloss is from Sephora that I got as a gift from a friend. It's a lip plumping gloss but it is a lovely light texture, non-sticky and really moisturising for the lips. I have the shade "White Russian" and its a lovely pale pink shade.

The next 2 are NYX products which are super affordable, only 4 or 5 euro each. The HD concealer is brilliant,I use it as a highlighter and under eye dark circle concealer. Its highly pigmented and has a lovely light powder finish. A brilliant concealer for just a few euro!! You can't go wrong with this.

The Lip pencil again was only a few euro and I have the shade 719 PECAN 

. I love this colour its a dusty pinky-brown colour. Similar to MAC "Amplified" and has a cream sheen finish.

I am loving NYX cosmetics they are brilliant quality for the price, I'l be going back for more soon :)

Baby Harness:

Now Ollie is getting braver and more independent, whenever we are out and about he doesn't want to hold my hand or stay in his buggy. Half the time I was pushing an empty buggy trying to run after him :) He wants to explore by himself! I picked up a harness one day in Tesco and found it was brilliant for keeping him safe yet giving him a sense of independence!

Let me know if you enjoy these kinds of posts and I'd love to hear any feedback. Have a lovely week.

Rachael x