Author: Celeste

Menstrual Cups

Posted on by Celeste

Yesterday I finally found a video that showed and explained how to insert a menstrual cup in such a straight forward way that I think I will be able to confidently insert my cup and maybe even use it. I just wanted to share the link for anyone who is interested in trying a cup. For those of you who haven’t heard of them, it is a reusable silicone cup you use to catch menstrual blood during your period. They can be worn up to 12 hours and because they are made of silicone (many are medical grade such as the Diva Cup) there is no risk of tss.

It’s a great way to have a more comfortable and eco friendly period.

Check out how to insert one here.

The video also touches briefly on measuring so that you can buy the right cup for your anatomy.

Enjoy.

The Ethics of Cloth Pads and the Companies that Sell them…

Posted on by Celeste

Companies such as Lunapads and Eco Femme have Pad for Pad and One For Her programs. New Moon Pads donates a pad for every order over 99 dollars as well as offering a discounted option to donate to Days for Girls. I believe it is 3 pads for 9.99 or 10 for 29.99. You can check out the Days for Girls website here. These programs help women who otherwise may not be able to afford any form of menstrual product to help them through their cycle, which would result in them missing school and work. Imagine not being able to go to school because you have no way of dealing with your period.

I haven’t bought any Eco Femme pads, but they look really well made if you check out their website and the few reviews out there. I love that I know who is making my pads, where they are coming from, and the fabrics being used. I have quite a stash of New Moon Pads, she’s fairly local to me and gives amazing customer service. From what I understand, she runs her business herself out of her home and her products are amazing and durable. Lunapads is a small business in Vancouver, which again is somewhat local to me, and while I don’t know how many people are employed, I do know that they are very willing to answer any questions and I feel very confident buying from them.

Those are just a few reasons I support companies such as those listed above. Lunapads is by far my favorite. The quality and customer service is outstanding. Their passion to change the lives of those of us who menstruate  is inspiring. They are inclusive, in that they acknowledge that it isn’t just cis women who menstruate, and they offer such a variety of options from internal to external protection. I will always always always promote their business and support them myself. I gotta say, their teeny pantyliners has made my life a lot more comfortable, and I don’t feel guilty changing it several times a day cuz I know I am just gonna rinse it out later and toss it in the washer with my clothes. Easy peasy.

So it is the experience of supporting and buying from people who are making these products, from small businesses to the work at home etsy seller who is single handedly making all their products themselves that has led me to wonder about businesses I’m seeing more and more of such as Precious Stars Pads. I decided recently to try sewing some of my own reusable pantyliners and so of course I started watching hours upon hours of youtube videos. I’m a very visual learner and I like to have a solid idea of what I’m doing before I venture into a new project, and so I stumbled across the Precious Stars Youtube channel.

The channel is run by a young woman named Bree and she has tons of great information and reviews on her vlog. She shares her experiences and struggles with reusable menstrual products (also referred to as rumps by many users) and she even started her own cloth pad business at a fairly young age. How awesome to see a young person succeeding at doing something they are so passionate about, yet I have one major issue with her company. Her pads are all produced in factories in China. She refuses to answer questions about why these are the exact same pads one can find on Ebay or Aliexpress. She has yet to address questions regarding the conditions of these factories and the workers. After watching her videos and looking at her website, I have decided I won’t be buying from or supporting her in any way. I would urge others to question the ethics of her company as well.

One of the main reasons so many of us do switch is for environmental reasons, and buying from small businesses or making our own gives us the chance to know where these products are coming from and who is making them. I don’t want mass produced products and I certainly don’t want to unknowingly buy a product that may have been produced in a sweatshop or by workers who endure long hours, sub-par work conditions, and low wages.

I like to know where the food I eat comes from, I will go out of my way to buy local food and I will email companies and ask questions and research research research. I feel that if I can make something myself, then I will. I grow a garden, it’s not huge, but we get a lot of food out of it. I buy a lot of second hand and ‘sustainable’ clothing. So while I love to support small business, I only like to support ethical business.

I also want to address the issue of bloggers and vloggers who open with ‘hi ladies’ or post things about how men may not want to view/watch. All genders need to be educated about the reproductive system and periods are a huge part of that. Also keep in mind that there are trans men out there who do get periods, and it may be a very delicate subject for some as it is a very unwanted process their bodies forces them to endure. I just really like inclusion, and I know we have all been somewhat programmed to think a certain way, but the world is a vastly growing and changing place and one must educate themselves about these things.

Now, it has been several years, four or five, since I have purchased anything from etsy, so I have been perusing the pad makers shops and I am loving what I am seeing. It’s like there is this huge community of supporters, makers, buyers, reviewers…and I feel really inspired by it. Inspired to buy, to make my own, and to add my voice.

 

 

Ditching the Disposables

Posted on by Celeste

For years I have done my best to eliminate waste, but I’ve become complacent recently. I find myself in the produce section of a grocery store pulling plastic bag after plastic bag off those rolls they have everywhere, and the whole time I’m just thinking to myself ‘why are you doing this, you know better?!’ I do know better and I can do better. Here are some ways we can all ditch the disposables.

-Reusable mesh bags for produce. I have cotton ones, but you can buy nylon bags as well. They’re durable and washable.

-Reusable cotton bar towels (or un-paper towels if you want something a little fancier, you can find them on stay) instead of paper towels. You can buy packs of them almost anywhere. I find them to be quite absorbent and I prefer them over paper towels.

-Washable fabric ‘swiffer’ type cloths instead of throw away ones. I have a reusable washable ‘swiffer’ that I’ve been using on my laminate floors for years. I love it.

-Microfiber cloths. Great for dusting. I bought mine at a dollar store and have been pleasantly surprised at how much dust they pick up.

-Fabric shopping bags. We should all be doing this by now, but sadly we are not. I have a huge collection and keep some in the car and some by the front door of my house. My favourite are the cotton canvas bags. I have one I’ve been using for 9 years and it is still in perfect condition. Sometimes if I forget a bag I will just carry my purchases or shove stuff in my purse.

-Stainless steel or glass lunch containers, water bottles, and even straws. My son loves his glass straw, it was even locally made. Can’t invest in these products? Get some decent bpa free reusable plastic then.

-Menstrual cups or reusable cloth pads and pantyliners.

-Switch to a coffee press, you can then compost your grounds and greatly reduce waste. (No paper filters or little plastic cups)

Now, those are just a few simple ideas. There are so many other ways to lessen our impact on the environment. Buying the best quality you can afford in the hopes that items are durable and will last many years instead of going cheap and needing to constantly replace things like coffee makers and clothing.

Buying local, especially when it comes to food, is a great way to promote sustainability in our communities. It’s becoming more and more common to see outdoor markets full of farmers and crafters and producers, making it easier to access locally grown and produced foods.

Now, I live in a small community so we need a car since we have to travel out of the community quite often and there isn’t adequate bus service, but when we can we walk. In larger cities I have found it much easier to just use transit to get around. Less stress and less pollution.

I know there are so many other ways to ditch the disposables, and there are certain things some of us just aren’t willing to sacrifice unless absolutely necessary, but we can all do something small each day to at least try to make an effort.

What ways have you cut back on waste?

Himalayan Salt Lamps

Posted on by Celeste

image

My bedside.

I want to write a bit about Himalayan Salt lamps. I can’t claim to know an awful lot about them, especially as I’ve only recently discovered them, but I can share what I do know.

As someone who has always suffered from anxiety, especially at night, I often sleep with a light on or a night light. I have discovered that my himalayan salt lamp gives off just the perfect amount of calming light, so that when I wake in the night I don’t wake feeling startled or afraid, or annoyed by an overly bright light. When I bought it I was given a red bulb to put in it, and I love how rich the light in my room seems to be. My husband isn’t a huge fan and sleeps with an eye mask. We compromise that way and it works for us.

I’ve read that these lamps are great for people with anxiety, allergies, and asthma. This sounded weird to me, but from what I’ve read it actually makes sense. These types of lamps remove excess moisture from the air, which is great for asthmatics and allergy sufferers. Too much moisture in a room just creates dampness and an environment for mildew or mold, at least it does where we live on the West Coast.

For me it isn’t about ions or energy or healing, it’s about creating calm and beautiful spaces in my home. I like to touch the smooth warm roundness of my lamp and find it comforting to look at and be near. I find that night waking isn’t so frightening to me since I bought my Salt Lamp, as I just wake up and look at it and feel calm. It may have something to do with the type of light it gives off and the colour of it. I was told the deeper the colour the better it is.

I keep my lamp on my bedside table, which is a decent size. It’s near some candles, rocks, gemstones, and my collection of essential oils. I joke about creating an emergency kit that is simply full of things like gemstones and comfort items, but really that’s what this is all about for me. Comfort.

I bought my Salt Lamp from a local retailer, but you can view some of the beautiful lamps available and read more about them here.

Please feel free to share your experiences or ask any questions. I will always do my best to answer them. I’m pretty good with Google when I want to be. Thanks for reading.

 

On Going “Green”

Posted on by Celeste

Greenwashing. It’s all around us today. Everything is suddenly green, eco friendly, planet friendly, biodegradable, good for your health and the environment. I often have to wonder, is it really? How can we know for certain, especially if we don’t have lot of time to dedicate to research? I’m going to share my personal views and experiences with you here by sharing ideas, tips, and product reviews on how to be more green. I will discuss gardening, sewing, diy, upcycling, how to make homemade cleaning products, cooking and baking from scratch, reusable menstrual products (rumps) and pretty much anything green and simple I incorporate into my daily life.

Ask me questions, make suggestions, and enjoy the journey.