Little Green Dot

Category: Lifestyle

Unboxing the new LOHASIA box!

I received my first Box by LOHASIA (yay!) It’s a new service in Singapore that curates and delivers green products to your door. I was super excited – so I pulled out my camera and sat down to open it up. Then, my little monkey saw what I was up to and immediately took over going through all the little packages – opening, smelling and trying everything!

Such a treat to unwrap and discover – and because LOHASIA is only about green, natural products – it was all things that I can feel good about using and eating (and letting my daughter get her hands on)!

This subscription service is for Singapore (for now) and it’s a quarterly box that arrives at your door. You get to discover new, earth-friendly brands and test them out at home. A great way to get to know your options. Check out LOHASIA to sign up for your box. Can’t wait to see what’s in the next one!

Here’s what I received in the box, so that you can check out these brands too! 🙂

Soy Lites Candle – Peaceful Summer, smells sweet and fresh
Logona Organic Rose Day Cream – Lovely rose scent, this went straight into my purse

Balm Balm multipurpose moisturising balm, went straight into my purse 🙂

Way Better Snacks – love, love, love!
Snowberry Face Cleanser – a great brand, I’m saving this for when I go travelling in a few weeks
Skinny Chocolate Cacao7 – this lasted all of two seconds after I took the last picture!

Mekhala Living Black Rice Shampoo & Conditioner – really great brand

Four Cow Farm Tea Tree Remedy – I know this brand well, beautiful product!
Not a Sponge – a great natural sponge, I know the brand well – a great company too!

October 22, 2013
Where else is BPA lurking?

Canned food is often full of artificial flavourings, too much sugar or salt – no surprise here, how else are they meant to make something sit on a shelf for years and still taste good?! But even if you do find a brand that is healthier (organic, low sodium…) it turns out you may still may have BPA to worry about! They’re not making it easy on us are they! Let’s take a look at what’s happening:

BPA is all about the plastics right, so what’s it doing in cans too? It’s actually found in the plastic lining inside cans, which is used to help extend the shelf life and prevent corrosion. If you hadn’t noticed it before, next time you open a can, take a look inside.

BPA is used to make plastic, and was originally developed in the 1960‘s, but it wasn’t until 2011 that the American Medical Association labeled it as an “endocrine disruptor” Though the FDA has deemed it safe in small amounts, researchers are now concerned about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behaviour, and prostate gland in children, both before and after birth. It’s been shown to raise risk for cancer and other diseases found in animal studies. A recent study from Harvard showed that people who ate one daily serving of canned food over a span of five days, had a ten-fold increase of BPA in their system. And worse yet, if you eat an entire meal from a can, say a soup, levels spike up to… 1000 percent!

In general, most studies have found that urinary BPA levels in typical adults average somewhere around 2 micrograms per liter. After eating canned soup, though, their levels rose above 20 micrograms per liter, a 1,221 percent increase.

So, as always, the best option is whole foods: whole tomatoes instead of canned tomatoes… but let’s not lose perspective. The goal is to reduce our exposure to chemicals, and, if the occasional can of tomatoes helps you get dinner on the table – you’ll likely be healthier for having eaten the tomatoes than not.

I think the point is to not rely on canned foods. Even though it’s not always easy to remember to soak our beans the night before, or take an afternoon to cook a pasta sauce – if its important to you to eat well and be healthy, then make it a priority. We can always choose to enjoy the experience of slow-cooking… I like pretending that I’m on a cooking show, unless that’s embarrassing, then… it’s totally not what I do.

P.S. in case you’re wondering, “what the heck can I eat?!”, check out this website. They emailed several food manufacturers to ask them directly if their products have BPA and list out the brands that are BPA-free!

October 15, 2013
Brew your Tea Longer!

I recently came across an interesting character, Susun Weed – she’s a four time best-selling author and has been teaching herbal medicine for longer than I’ve been on the planet! She has a wealth of knowledge and I was recently listening to her talk about the way we brew our herbal teas. We know that herbs have incredible healing and health promoting benefits – but according to her, the two or three minutes that we let it steep, just isn’t enough to really extract those benefits. She recommend at least eight hours to get the full potential.

So at night, I started steeping my tea in a glass jar. In the morning, I drink it as a cold tea, I actually prefer it as is, but if you wanted, you could add a little honey to sweeten. It makes for a really refreshing drink and according to her, a much healthier one too! PS – if you make green shakes, I’ve used my tea as the water base, and it works great!

Susun Weed is definitely a character, but full of interesting information – if you are interested in the world of herbs, check her out!

Happy brewing!

Militza Xx

September 20, 2013
Simple Eco Tips for your Home

Being green is about the little steps – done often, they add up! Here are three tips that you can do around the house, ways to repurpose items and get the most out of the things you buy.

Removing an egg yolk from your omelette is sometimes a good idea – but then you’re left with a yolk and not always sure how to use it. I know I’ve kept a yolk in my fridge, not wanting to waste it, just to toss it in the bin a few days later! Here’s what I do now: take out one yolk from my omelette and use it as a beauty treatment! I don’t even need to buy hair mask products anymore – try this homemade protein hair treatment – it’s awesome!

Before you toss out your aluminium foil wrapper, scrunch it up and put it to work! It great to scrub the bottom of pots and pans, to clean the grill, the caked on mess on your glass bakeware. You can use it to polish your silver – just line a dish with the foil paper, add cold water and a couple tea spoons of salt. Then toss your silver in and let it soak for 2-3 minutes. I’ve even heard that you can ball it up (smoothly) and toss it in your dryer to remove static cling! I haven’t tried that yet, if you do – let us know how it works!

Sometimes our storage solution needs change and that’s totally normal. So, we just go with the flow and find new ways to use our storage bins! Even in unconventional ways! The bins on top used to store my cleaning supplies and the bin at the bottom I used in my bathroom for a while. Now they keep my freezer organised!

Remember, repurposing items is a great way to extend the life of a product and keep it out of the landfills – but the first and most important step is to not buy it in the first place! Think carefully about the things that you buy and how long they will serve you – often stores tempt you with bulk bins and cheap prices, and hard to resist. Even if you didn’t set out to buy something in the first place, next thing you know you have 4 plastic bobble-heads and no idea why. These items fill our homes, our lives and cause clutter. What’s that point of that! Simplify and cut out the excess, you’ll feel better for it, I promise!

September 17, 2013
What I See When I Run

When I first saw these prints featured on an American blog, I thought – wow, I feel really drawn to these images, they’re almost familiar. Then I realised why – these beautiful portraits are based on nature found right here in Singapore! The work is by Francis Ooi, an amateur photographer whos weekly runs along Bukit Timah Reserve, turned into nature walks as he felt himself captivated by what he saw around him.

How beautiful is that feature wall? I really love the story behind his work – it speaks about being present and in the moment with your eyes wide open. It’s easy to get caught up in work and life, but when we take ourselves away from our desk, computer and out of our own head – it can lead to so much inspiration. He did it by going on nature walks, I like to cook and tinker around the house. Some people meditate or exercise. What ever it is, create those moments where you can unplug and just be. Who knows what beauty you’ll see!

Check out Francis’ shop to see all of his prints. At only $40, this is such an affordable way to bring inspiring art into your home!

p.s. Want to create a feature wall? Here’s how he did it!

September 10, 2013
Five Weekend DIYs
Today I have five awesome and easy DIY s that you can do over the weekend. But first, two important notes:

1. Recently, I’ve been getting a lot of requests for recipes to demonstrate on the blog. To everyone who has written in, you have no idea how helpful that is!

We all share similar pursuits and come across the same roadblocks. I’m really inspired to put together recipes and solutions for you (we all have our passions, right?). Your questions are helping others out there who might be too shy to ask, so please keep them coming!

Send your questions to: [email protected]

2. I’m overwhelmed by the response to the Coconut Oil Workshop – we even have a waiting list. I had no idea you guys loved coconut oil as much as I do! Can’t wait to show you all the fun things you can do with it!

A big thanks to CocoNurture for providing our guests with free full-size bottles of their organic & cold-pressed coconut oil (it’s the only one that I buy!). If you’re coming on Tuesday, you have that to look forward to!

Now – on to the DIYs! Which one inspires you most?
- Party Coaster Conversation Starters – tutorial
- Handmade Envelopes – tutorial
- Wooden Bead Trivets – tutorial
- Kraft Paper Grocery List – tutorial
- Word Search Tea Towel – tutorial
photo credit: Jen Huang Photo
August 23, 2013
What’s Really In Our Household Products? Little Green Dot + Experts

We have another Little Green Dot Expert on board! If you’ve ever been stumped by reading the labels on household products, skincare and foods, you’ll be happy to get to know Delphinia. She has an incredibly unique perspective, coming from both a law and marketing background, and now being the manufacturer of a line of (amazing!) organic skincare, Four Cow Farm. Del knows the underbelly of the industrial manufacturing industry, the part that most of us don’t see: the weird legal loopholes that big companies go around, the clever advertising that has us buying things we think we need and the truth about what really goes into the products that we use.

Del and I have been teaching Detoxify Your Skin and Detoxify Your Home workshops together for over a year, and I love seeing people’s reactions when Del reveals what’s really in their favorite products! Our workshops are all about becoming informed and empowered – and now Del is here to help you too!

Here’s an introduction from Del herself, so that you can get to know her better. She’s going to give us a little primer now on household cleaners and, in the future, she’ll be answering your questions about products for the home and skin: what’s in them, what they are doing to our health and our planet, and how to make better choices!

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What’s Really in your Household Products by Del, Four Cow Farm

I’m a mum, and I know the first question in my head, whenever one of the kids decides to pick something up, is probably the same as most mums: Is that thing clean?

It’s every mother’s desire that their kids live in a clean home, free of nasty germs. In fact, keeping our kids healthy is at the top of mum’s stress list. But these days, it isn’t enough that we clean – we are also expected to disinfect, i.e. ensure every last germ is exterminated!

As a result, we have homes stocked with cleaning sprays of all varieties, scrubs, bleaches, gels and pastes. If you think about it, the average bathroom probably uses up to five different cleaning products every time it gets cleaned!

But the strange thing is this – most of us know very little about what goes into many of the cleaning products we buy. And scarily enough, most authorities don’t either. The U.S. President’s Cancer Panel has indicated that, of the 80,000 chemicals in commercial use in the United States, federal regulators have assessed only about 200 for safety. Read the serious health warnings at the back of the average commercial cleaning product, not to mention the notices on the extremely careful storage and handling required, and it’s enough to make any mum suspicious!

Because of these chemicals, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency now estimates indoor air quality can be up to five times worse than outdoor air quality! It might be about time we all start asking more about what we’re really bringing into our homes. Being clean is a good thing. But making sure what we’re using to clean our homes isn’t causing any side-effects on us, our kids, or our environment isn’t just the smart thing to do – it’s the right thing to do.

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Thanks Del! Check out Del’s beautiful range of organic skincare for baby’s skin (although I use it on myself too!): Four Cow Farm

We’ll continue diving in deeper with more info on ingredients and I’ll keep finding us easy ways to simplify our lives from all of these products!

don’t forget, we’re all in this together!
Militza x

August 6, 2013
Interactive Meals + Breakfast Crêpes
Kids (and adults) eat a lot of junk food. But, let’s be honest – it’s hard not to, the junk food industry has made it their business to make their food attractive. So how do I get my family to eat more healthy? This is a BIG question for most of us, but I believe we’ll have a lot more success if we ask it a bit differently: How do I get my family to LOVE eating real food?

The trick is to make healthy foods as fun and impactful as the boxed stuff. How do we do it? Create moments centered around fresh, whole foods. Remember, the goal is not just to get them to eat it – but also to build a life-long, healthy relationship with real food. Think about how happy a kid gets when you give them a lolly. Do you want to know how to make them that happy to get a plate of fruit? Here’s one of my favorite ways to do just that – Interactive Meals!

This interactive crêpe breakfast is perfect for lazy Sunday mornings. It takes no time to prepare, and all morning to eat!

We use this basic recipe to make our crêpes. It’s simple, yummy – it’s a winner. Now, the fun part are the fillings. Think in colours, textures and flavours to excite your kids! In my house it’s all about lemon and sugar or berries and maple syrup. Our youngest adds a little of everything. And here’s the important part: even if they only go for the sweet syrupy stuff, it doesn’t matter at all, because it’s about the experience you are creating for them. Viewed through their eyes: they wake up to a table full of beautiful fresh foods, like a colourful wonderland. They get to choose their own toppings, build it as high as they want. They get to squish berries and get their little fingers all purple and red. They play and eat – and here’s the best part – they’ll connect that image of fresh, whole foods – with memories of fun and happy moments. That’s a big win for the Real Food team!!

Here are some ideas for your crêpe buffet:
- lemon
- fresh fruit cut in small pieces
- dried fruit
- yogurt
- crème fraîche
- nuts – slivered or ground
- peanut butter (or any nut butter)
- maple syrup
- sugar crystals
- home-made “chocolate” sauce
Happy eating!
July 23, 2013
Essential Oils 101 by Alina, of Abundant Earth

Hi friends! Probably the single best part about starting this blog has been the connections that I’ve made. When I began sharing my journey, my whole world opened up to a community of readers who just like me, are learning to live a greener life. At the same time, I’ve also connected with the experts, authorities in their own field – nutrition, farming, herbs, cooking… who I learn from everyday.

It got me thinking, why not join these communities together? This topic of wellness is so broad, and I realised that the best way I can serve you, to answer your questions about beauty food, home, family and lifestyle – is to connect you with these same experts that I’ve gotten to know, and learn so much from. So, I started reaching out and the response has been amazing! We’re lining up our very own A-team, a group of smart and passionate people who are here to help us along our path. They’ll be advising us in their own niche, with recipes and answering questions!

The first Little Green Dot Advisor that I’d like you to meet is Alina Uchida, of Abundant Earth. Alina is a clinical herbalist and aromatherapist, and has agreed to help us with our recipes. From now on, whenever you see me post a recipe which uses essential oils, herbs or tea for wellness – know that I am first consulting Alina to get you the best information. I’m so excited about this and I hope that you are too!

I asked Alina to give us an introduction to essential oils – I hope you enjoy learning more about those below. Also, if you have any questions, send them my way and together we’ll learn how to create our own natural and safe solutions!

Don’t forget, we’re all in this together! Militza X

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Essential Oils 101 by Alina, Abundant Earth

Do those rows of little brown bottles of essential oils fascinate yet intimidate you? Here’s a quick intro to essential oils, how they work and what to do with them.

Essential oils are naturally produced by plants to preserve their health and survival. Naturally antiseptic, essential oils protect plants from infection, infestation, and attract pollinators.

You may not realize it, but you are surrounded by essential oils. They give flowers, herbs and spices their characteristic smells. Peeling an orange releases a vibrant citrus scent, which comes from essential oil stored in the rind. It is the essential oil in peppermint leaves that you smell in the steam from your hot peppermint tea.

One of the ways essential oils work is via their aroma. Smell has a powerful impact on our mood, emotions, memories and thoughts. You are sure to have your own aromatic triggers. A familiar perfume that brings a loved one to mind, a whiff of roasted coffee grounds that arouses your appetite, or how about the seductive fragrance of warm, melting butter that lures you to the popcorn queue at the movies?

Besides aroma, each essential oil possesses unique physical healing properties, which makes them useful for common ailments. Lavender, an anti-inflammatory and wound healer is fantastic for cuts and burns; peppermint, an analgesic, is effective for headaches; and eucalyptus, antimicrobial and decongestant, is useful for coughs and colds.

Skin application is an effective way of introducing essential oils into the body, as they are absorbed easily through the skin and enter the bloodstream. Try rubbing a clove of garlic on the sole of your foot. You will have garlic on your breath in a matter of minutes!

Safety note – It’s important to remember that essential oils are extremely concentrated –approximately 3,000 lemons are needed to produce 1kg of essential oil – and in aromatherapy, less is always more. In fact, certain oils may have the opposite effect when too much is used. Essential oils are extremely effective when used responsibly and with respect. When applying to your skin, dilute essential oils in a carrier oil, eg. sweet almond or jojoba, or natural base cream. Test your blend on a small patch of skin on your inner arm when using new oils. If in doubt, consult with a professional.

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Thanks Alina! Check out her website to learn more about her and her custom blends! http://www.abundantearth.sg/

p.s. This Thursday I’m sharing a recipe to make your own Pure & Clean – Linen & Body Spray using a purifying blend of oils that Alina has created for us! I’m so excited about this new direction! Make sure to check it out!

July 16, 2013
Happy Mondays + Breakfast Forts

How was your weekend? Mine was a perfect balance of a night out with the hubby followed by a lazy morning in with the girls. A big breakfast was definitely in order, and since we’re big fans of making forts around here, we decided to have breakfast… in a fort. Why not, right? Keeps things fun! Hope that you have a great week ahead!

July 15, 2013