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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Enjoy! Happy Friday, and Happy Fathers Day weekend! 🍕
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Budget + Full disclosure: we’ve never - and still wouldn’t have - chosen such a pricey hotel 😆 we’re budgeters and to us hotels are not a splurge place - even for a big occasion. We value being together more than pricey hotels and we value a good well sourced food truck meal or grocery store finds over an expensive-just-for-the-sake-of-fancy restaurant every time. We chose this hotel because I earned a Four Seasons gift voucher through working with Beautycounter in 2021 and we travelled early cos they had a 3 days for 2 offer 😏 Even though it’s our 10th anniversary we stayed close to home to not travel which is honestly my dream: Less travel. No flying. Explore close to home. 👏 We did mega splash out to visit a restaurant newly awarded a Green Michelin star for lunch but overall we didn’t spend the money it looks like we spent which I think it important to note when it’s not something we’ve actually paid for - lifestyles on insta can be conveyed misleadingly and I don’t want that! We probably would have done a one or two night Airbnb somewhere close too if we were paying!

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How we cloth diaper (the cheapest way possible!) Part 1: Choosing the system.

Closure: Snaps vs Velcro - I’ve found snaps live way way longer through multiple kids or for resale. My covers have seen 5 years of use and look new! Snaps are also quieter for changes when baby is sleeping. 😴
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The system: I choose a two piece system of thin covers (@thirstiesinc are my faves) and then a simple cotton pre-fold insert. We’ll look at fitting them in another video but they’re the cheapest to buy, then they take up the least space of all kinds which is great in a small house. Thin also means more diapers in one load of laundry (less expense) and less drying time which is helpful but also cheaper if you use a drier.
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You can also use the cover through a few changes before it needs washing so less expense in the first place as you don’t need to buy so many.
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They’re less simple for someone new to cloth, or for other people changing your child who aren’t familiar with it. So I think having a few all in ones can be a good idea if you might have other people needing to change your baby!
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Any questions? Drop they below!

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