June 12, 2019

“What do you use for __________?” Our go to products outside the kitchen!

I wanted to create a master list of all the things we use in our home so I can direct people to them in DMs! This isn’t a ‘perfect’ list and I’m always changing everything, looking for better ways, using up what we have and checking again that rebuying the same thing is still the best option out there.

This is also something that I know is going to change and we move to the UK. Some things will stay the same and are available there: e.g. Dr Bronners for everything, toilet paper and Holly’s deodorant, and some I’m in love with and will be bringing over: my makeup!

House Cleaning

Laundry Detergent: Biokleen

Delicates like wool and cashmere: Laundress $10 off link HERE

All purpose cleaner/windows/bathrooms: $10 off link: Branch Basics (a great concentrate that you can dilute to be all kinds of different cleaners)

DIY All purpose cleaner: Vinegar + Water + Few Drops Dr Bronners + Essential Oils

Floors and mopping: 1/2 cup Dr Bronners in the mop bucket + a few drops essential oils

Drying: Wool Dryer Balls + Essential Oils

Stain Stick: Package Free Shop, or Dr Bronners concentrated

Dishwasher: Seventh Generation Powder

Trash Bags: We don’t use trash bags in our home. When you compost all your organic waste our trash is pretty dry and you don’t need a bag depending on your curbside removal. But if you do need a bag THESE ones are compostable, and you can also line bins with paper like THIS. There is no great way to trash things (or ultimately recycle) which is why we are trying to cut out trash and recycling as close to zero was possible!

Bathrooms

Hand Soap: – Dr Bronners

Used Healthade Bottles with THESE pumps.

Toilet Paper: Who Gives a Crap (available US/UK/Australia)

Toilet Cleaner: Vinegar, Dr Bronners

Kids + Family Use

Bath soap and Shampoo: Dr Bronners

Tooth Paste:

Nelson Naturals (I love the one linked here, Jared loves the charcoal one!)
Dr Bronners toothpaste Peppermint
I also love the DIY one from Wellness Mama for a homemade option

Moisturizer: Coconut oil to moisturize when needed

Diaper Rash Cream: California Baby

Wipes: Thirsties Butt Spray and rags or Babyganics wipes

Diapers:

Mostly cloth which is another blog post all together but
we also use Honest when we need disposable.
Also I recommend diaper training as early as possible for ease and waste! We did 22 months with the 3 day method and it was fab!

Sunscreen: Countersun by Beautycounter (I recommend the lotion or the stick, the spray you really need to still rub in well – the formulation is the same but people don’t rub in the spray as well and have issues!)

Mosquito Repellent: Stay away

Car Seat: We’re currently using one I would recommend due to flame retardants, I’m looking at switching to the Britax Endeavor one without any chemical flame retardants. Uppa Baby and Nuna also have ones.

Hair

Jared + Kids: Dr Bronners

Every day go to shampoo: Sappo Hill Shampoo Bar

Slightly better but not local so I choose the Sappo Hill: Ethique Shampoo Bar + Conditioner Bar

For guests who don’t want a bar: Plaine Shampoo and Conditioner

Deodorant

Jared: Toms (Aluminium Free, and can be recycled through Terracycle)

Kezia: Holly’s Keeping It Real

Jared’s Things

Shaving Cream: Counterman Shave Cream

Beard Oil: Beard Oil Pirate’s Secret

He doesn’t use anything else!

Kezia Things: non makeup

Face Cleansing/Makeup Removing: Organic Coconut oil on a cotton rag for makeup removal or Diluted Dr Bronners

Face oils:

Whole Maker Co
Beautycounter Facial Oils (#1 and #2 are my favorites but #3 is great if you have oiler skin as a balancing oil.)

Toner: Whole Maker Co Rosewater Toner

Exfoliating Scrub and facemask: Cocokind or Just a bulk activated charcoal and aloe feta DIY mix is great!

Daily Makeup

Matcha Stick and Lip Balm: WholeMaker Co

Concealer: Elate Cosmetics

Foundation: Tint Skin foundation or Dew Skin SPF moisturizer by Beautycounter

Blush, Bronzer, mascara and lipstick: Beautycounter

Beds

Kids: Babyletto Cococore Mattresses and Babyletto Cribs

Basinette: Ninna Nanna Bassinette, a great sustainable non toxic one – I got mine second hand to save money!

Adults: We chose to just go very second hand as an interim option. This avoids the original off gassing from mattresses which is the cheapest easiest first move. I was going save for the deal deal but now we’re moving so that’s something I’m doing with English brands instead. In the US Ikea is a great new bed more budget move as they don’t use flame retardants on their beds anymore – or sofas so I recommend those too. They also have recycled plastic bottle duvets which we have and love as a down alternative.

Sheets: Sol Organics on our home beds and airbnb too – the best organic and fair-trade ones that are so soft!

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If you’re thinking about keeping bees - I’m a novice - but I wrote about things you should think about before you start, from my own experience. I didn’t do them all and it would have been easier if I had! So it won’t tell you everything you need to do - but it’s the bee keeping for dummies overview of things to think about I wished I’d had before starting!
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You can find it at: www.thewholefooddiary.com/blog/startingwithbees 🐝

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Ok, we’ve ordered an Abel and Cole box for years

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Such a win. And 11 portions is perfect for our family for the week. 🙌
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Go to tidd.ly/3MkmUiz (or hit the link in my bio) for 50% off your 1st and 4th box! Which is a fab saving! There’s also a comparison on the blog of different UK options. Hope it all helps. ❤️

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“Climate” has become a buzzword used in so many places, and for some it’s lost the meaning, brings too much anxiety or is just a turn off to making change. Change we NEED. But I don’t believe it’s a word we need to still build a beautiful movement of caring for the earth and its people. 🌎
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Hi 👋 my name is Kezia and I just pulled that co

Hi 👋 my name is Kezia and I just pulled that compost can out of the full recycling bin I found when we moved in. It’s happily back on the kitchen counter. 😬 …And a few other corners from our new home. 😍
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My 11 year old cast iron and the draught horse that watches me cook, eventually maybe we’ll paint over her, but no rush. ✨ My little work corner - I’ve never had any kind of office or desk. I’ve run my world from the kitchen table and I really wanted to invest in a little work HQ, so this £40 2nd hand find is that. I love it. And a photo my sister @jo___lees took of a special spot by our favourite California date night restaurant where we marked some special moments. ✨ Our bathroom. We’ve gone down to one bathroom, but I love it. We haven’t had a bath for 4 years (yep, the kids do fine with just a shower!) but I LOVE that we have one again. ✨ Closets. And a lampshade I jumped to replace, but reminded myself to slow down… and the quote I have on the wall to remind me not to keep up with the Joneses (or a Pinterest board or anyone else on social media!) on home decor. Slow and second hand and low impact is the vibe.
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Oh and lastly, does anyone know what you do if you inherit a few koi carp by mistake but you want to drain the pond for safety ASAP?! 🥴🐟

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