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Was visiting my Mother-in-law today and we decided to check out Reviva (the tip shop) at Noosa Landfill and Resource Recovery. I was pleasantly surprised, all the goods were organised into categories and there was a lot there. We found a new door to one of my chicken runs!!! Stoked. Why by something new, when something perfectly good already exists?! #upcycle #waronwaste #savemoneybuypreloved (at Reviva Noosa) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx4uXSynLw0/?igshid=epsjisqe3vgi

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Husband and kids went up the coast for the weekend and I had a quiet weekend of work and takeaway for dinners. I never feel motivated to cook just for me. I chose to #saynotosingleuse and brought my own containers. One night I had Indian (yummy veggie korma) from Indian Flavour Restaurant at Brassall and Pad Thai from Tigers Asian Wok at Kenmore. Neither place raised an eyebrow when I handed over my containers. I hope that #bringingmyowncontainer can become more of the norm. Minor fail was the plastic dipping sauce container. #reusablesarerad #passonplastic https://www.instagram.com/bethechangesheryl/p/BxHJPt7HOMg/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ur1ef3fpb32b

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The #sweetpotato harvest at my house today 🥔!!!! One has been attacked by grubs but I’ll grate that one up for the chickens. #homegrownfood tastes better!!! #zerofoodmiles My sons thinks it’s hilarious that one has a bum 😂. Sweet potato is great as I often trim the leaves and the chookies love eating them 🐔 https://www.instagram.com/p/BtH_2bQnhd9/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1tbge6sjbd6hm

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Super excited that I have some little #luffa or #loofah growing!!! I am really hoping that I can keep them going and grow my own #zerowaste sponges. That’s right when this grows bigger I could potentially strip back the skin to expose the fibres which are commonly used as sponges in the bathroom and kitchen. #keepgrowinglittleone https://www.instagram.com/p/BtGEIV-H32d/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=vy0ocvmuovon

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I tried something yesterday, 2 toned soap and I’m pleased with how it turned out!! This is #castilesoap which is made from olive oil and naturally coloured with pink clay and spirulina plus I scented it with bergamot essential oil. #soapmaking is super fun and I love that it is #crueltyfree and #packagingfree !!! #solidsoapisthewayforward #homemade https://www.instagram.com/p/BtGCxE8H6aG/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1x2jtpcwnczek

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I whipped up a batch of #laundryliquid. I’ve been using this recipe for ages. I do have soap nuts as well which I’ll use if I’ve run out and haven’t had time to make up some. My #diylaundryliquid is #chemicalfree and smells great. It cleans well. I actually keep my cousin in laundry liquid and she uses it on her baby’s cloth nappies and it goes well. Here’s the recipe. You will need: 7.5L water, 1/2 cup washing soda, 1/2 cup baking soda, 3/4 cup Castile soap (I use my homemade Castile soap), 30 drops of your fave essential oil (I love lavender). Method: Add the washing soda to the bucket and cover with the water. Stir. Then add the baking soda. Stir. Finally add the Castile soap and essential oil. Stir. That’s it! 👍🏻 Make sure you add the water BEFORE the Castile soap or it will bubble over. I use 1/2 cup per load. It’s as easy as that. This will last ages and it’s cheap to make. I buy the washing soda and baking soda in bulk in my own containers so this recipe is almost zero waste. Think of all the packaging I am avoiding my making it myself!!! 🌏💚😁#lowimpactliving #everyeffortcounts #beingthechange https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsww30UHwKP/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ht413aapd3el

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Do you guys all know about #sodastream ??? We’ve had ours for about 7 years. You can carbonate water which my hubby sometimes does for alcoholic beverages and we also create fizzy drinks for the kids adding cordial (from glass) for a treat. We don’t use the sodastream syrup as it is loaded with so much sugar. When the CO2 canister is empty, you can return it to get a refilled one which is what I did today. This is great to avoid plastic bottles from soda water or soft drinks. Plus when you’ve run out of cheeky drinks at home, you can just make up some more without having to go to the shops👍🏻 #reuserevolution #passonplastic #swapandgo https://www.instagram.com/p/Bskj9iZHAbu/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=16tobt452kyvn

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I just finished reading this gem that I found at the library #howtoliveplasticfree ... written by @mcs_uk. It was an easy, informative read. I have been focusing on reducing single use plastic but after this book I shall certainly notice the plastic and I will ask try to myself: is it necessary? where does it come from? where will it end up? Important questions to help us #turnthetideonplastic 🌏 🐬 🐋 🐟 https://www.instagram.com/p/BsgixPEHIsO/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1gba40292amau

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I wrapped the rest of our presents 🎁👏🎄💚. #furoshiki is so easy!!! It makes me happy to know we won’t be creating excess waste this Chrissy. I had all this fabric that I bought when I was pregnant and nesting. I was planning to sew all the things. But of course 5 years later, I’ve done nothing with it. So glad that I’ve found a use for it and I plan to #reuse it over and over again 😁 #createlesswaste #ecochristmas #lowimpactliving https://www.instagram.com/p/Brvzj83HvJi/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=bqrs25xs1yti

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On holidays but we still brought our #reusables 💚. Little man had a hankering for sushi and mummy and daddy needed a real coffee and we came prepared to #avoidwaste!!! We were stoked to find this little sushi place that encourages bringing your own containers 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 #zerowaste #beingeco #reusablesarerad #passonplastic #supportbusinessesthatsupporttheplanet (at Sushi Cafe) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrMOoM6HUZQ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1v3q4l8xpz9bc

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Please excuse me as I squeal as these guys are too cute 💕. Jilly is about 6 months of age and Max (can you see him tucked behind?) is 5 months. Little Jilly fell out of a tree and Max’s Mum was killed by dog 😥. @treeroorescue #treeroojoey #lumholtztreekangaroo #cuteasabutton (at Tree Roo Rescue and Conservation Centre Ltd) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpbH5dpBTax/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1prccrn6rqr2d

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Just look at little Bonnie’s feet! #treeroos have the cutest #feet... unlike other macropods tree kangaroos have short and broad feet with very soft, spongy and bumpy undersides to mould around branches and help with grip. Bonnie is 8 months old and she’s learning to climb and socialise with the others. I’ve been taking her up (in her little pouch) to hang with the big kids and I sit in with them everyday. It’s super cute as when she is unsure or uncomfortable she will come to me. I’m her security blanket, like her Mum would normally be. She just warms my heart 💕. #lumholtztreekangaroo #cutenessoverload #canisneakherinmyluggage (at Tree Roo Rescue and Conservation Centre Ltd) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpbGxHTHDug/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=jlqqzuwp87v1

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This is Mickie, he is an adult male #lumholtztreekangaroo and he’s blind. Sadly almost all the #treeroos that come into care @treeroorescue are blind. Dr Karen tells me with global warming particularly this drought (yep drought in far North Queensland) the toxins in the leaves that these animals eat are far more concentrated, causing neurological blindness or vision impairment. The cataracts that you see in his eyes are due to secondary injury after going blind. Let this be a call to action! All my eco friends, keep up your eco actions and keep spreading the word as not just us but wildlife is affected by climate change too. (at Jaggan, Queensland, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpN-QqlHJvY/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=tsiw5ibkh08h

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I’m an over thinker

Are you an over thinker? I am and it is the worst. Often someone will say something off-handedly and in my mind I analyse or go over it in my mind... over and over. Why do I do this? I don’t want to do it! I am told that this is almost a genetic trait. This is only bad, for myself. I create issues with people. Issues that aren’t even there. I created this blog to be an outlet. To release some of the things that bounce around in my head in a cathartic way. But I agonised over what I would write about and in the end wrote nothing. 

I’m a happy person but when I’ve got something going on in my head, my poor husband bears the brunt (admittedly it usually is when I’m PMSing) . He often doesn't know how to comfort me or can’t comfort me as whatever he does is wrong (in my eyes at the time). Gee I sound terrible.

I shall try to express myself here and rationalise. Maybe I can be more level headed.   

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I got my first #blueegg Sarsaparilla was hanging near the nest boxes (like she was working herself up to it) and I heard her egg call, and ran to the chicken house and I was so proud to see the little light turquoise egg. I've been so waiting to see what her egg would be like 😊😊😊 #araucanaeggs #araucanachicken

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Yippee for #shavedlegs

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Looking after yourself

I am feeling great, I just shaved my legs. It doesn’t seem like a big deal but for me these days it is. With my 2 little ones, taking care of myself just isn’t a priority. I’d rather get more sleep or get cleaning or cooking done and more often then not I procrastinate on social media. Before kids I gave myself facials once a week, washed my hair every second night (I hated having even a little grease in my hair) and of course I’d never let my legs get hairy!! I just bought an aerosol or dry shampoo. Best idea ever… A couple of sprays of that and I’m good to go .. Maybe a week or more between washes. Before motherhood me would be horrified! I’ve probably gone a couple of months without shaving… I tell myself that no-one looks at my legs and the hair on my legs is fine …. No one can see it but who am I kidding?! This week I gave myself a facial and shaved my legs and it feels wonderful. It probably shouldn’t feel as good as it does 😂 Anyways, note to self - take care of yourself! #takecareofyourself