I call this my wizard pipe!! At the first sign of any immune response (a throat tickle etc.), I pop a couple of drops of essential oils (I use oils such as tea tree, rosemary, oregano, eucalyptus or frankincense) into my salt pipe inhaler and use it for 15 minutes a few times a day. In my experience, it helps immensely to aid my immune system and symptoms either can’t take hold or, if I don’t get to this soon enough, any symptoms disappear fast.

“Living Libations Salt Inhaler is a positively purifying device that cleanses and fortifies the breath and airways. It is a super-simple way to add some verve to your vents and some verdancy to your vibe.

Salt inhalers, also known as salt pipes, have been featured on the Dr. Oz show and named one of Alternative Wellbeing's 2010 Best New Products.”

When this first arrived, I must admit, I was a bit concerned I would look like a creepy rag doll with two round red dots on each cheek. I’m happy to report that I was pleasantly surprised. Not only does this balm nourish your skin, it’s filled with botanicals that encourage natural circulation to your cheeks, bringing a real rosy hue to light up your face.

It’s very easy to apply and blend. A little goes a long way.

Regular make-up can be filled with plastics, phthalates, petrochemicals and all manner of nasty ingredients.

I used to wear a full-face of make-up daily! I have since learned to revel in natural radiance most of the time but I do still love putting on some make-up from time to time.

With that said, it became important for me to seek out products that were clean if I was going to wear them on my skin.

I use this mascara in Dark Chocolate.

“Why bother with nasty synthetic preservatives or artificial colors when our healthy, pure and natural mascara is sure to satisfy your needs?

Our mascara helps lengthen and separate your lashes while coating them in healthy conditioners, for a result that will have everyone looking in your direction. If you’re after durability, then you can rest easy; our products ensure that you’re ready for anything life throws at you (while looking fabulous)!”

While it’s technically a single use appliance and we like multi-use appliances, we love waffles.

Wild blueberry waffles, savoury potato waffles, breakfast potato waffles…the possibilities are endless.

We don’t like teflon-coated waffle irons. This is a non-stick ceramic that is PFOA and PTFE free.

Baking Soda (or Bicarbonate Soda) is so versatile. We use it in homemade cleaning products and as a tooth polish and as part of our mouth rinse in our daily oral care practice.

Pure baking soda matters as some brands can include other unnecessary fillers/additives. Also, I look for Food-Grade - especially if we are going to be using it in our mouths.

A roll-on applicator makes it easy to apply and re-apply. This beach balm is “made with a bevy of sun-loving botanicals and non-nanoparticle, uncoated zinc oxide.”

When we lived in the Middle East and Spain, I kept this on hand in my purse so we were ready to prolong our sun-soaked play time whenever and wherever!

I learned from reading Renegade Beauty that interacting with the sun “safely” is possible and necessary for wellness (Chapter 7 - Let the Sun Shine In).

This is a beautiful mix of sun-harmonizing botanicals that drench your skin. We use it as a daily body and face wash in the summer and it’s also great as an after-sun tonic.

“The action of sunshine in the outdoors on the body is of such a nature that sun-baths have a triple significance - as healing agent in the cure of disease, as a preventative to disease by building up body resistance, and as a sheer pleasure-giving tonic which increases the feeling of well-being” -Edgar Mayer, MD

I learned from reading Renegade Beauty that interacting with the sun “safely” is possible and necessary for wellness (Chapter 7 - Let the Sun Shine In).

When we want to extend our time in the sun, we use this sun cream with zinc oxide and sun-harmonizing botanicals.

“The action of sunshine in the outdoors on the body is of such a nature that sun-baths have a triple significance - as healing agent in the cure of disease, as a preventative to disease by building up body resistance, and as a sheer pleasure-giving tonic which increases the feeling of well-being” -Edgar Mayer, MD

A good knife is well worth the investment. My husband loves to cook. We also travel a lot. If we are away for any extended period, the knives come too.

This prep set is a great starter. You don’t need all kinds of knives. Honestly, a good sized cook’s knife and a decent paring knife will cover most general needs.

We use washing soda in our homemade dishwasher and laundry detergents. Not to be confused with Baking Soda.

You can find out more about it and its uses here.

Wool dryer balls are a chemical free alternative to fabric softener. They also reduce the need to iron.

Made from 100% organic New Zealand wool with no chemicals or additives. No synthetic fragrance either! Dwellness approved!

I love these reusable glass straws from Glass Dharma. The slight bend makes them easier to drink from. I love being able to see the smoothie passing through the straw but let’s face it…the transparency is also practical from a cleaning point of view as we can see if we need to pass the “pipe cleaner” through it.

Simply put, it’s sharp and works well. No plastic! Used daily in our house. Hey, I’m Irish/Scottish and I love my potatoes!!

Mince garlic in seconds with this robust press. In our house we use our garlic press every day, sometimes several times a day so we need it to function well and be long lasting.

“Garlic is one of the world’s oldest medicines and is an incredibly potent spice that can ward off a variety of illnesses and diseases. It has amazingly high levels of vitamins and minerals including vitamin C and B-6 and minerals such as selenium, calcium, and iron. Garlic also contains very strong antibiotic, anti-fungal, anti-cancer, and anti-viral properties.” -Medical Medium

We start each day off with 16-32 oz of lemon water. We also juice a lot of citrus for salad dressings, dips and more so this comes in handy each and every day.

Our favourite (and most-used) kitchen tool makes healthy eating so EASY!

I love the timed smoothie preset that goes through different speeds and automatically switches off once the smoothie is ready.

We own this Designer 625 model in Polar White. The designer in me loves the white and bright appliances as they are stylish enough to adorn your countertop.

Even cleaning can be kind…kind to your body, kind to your home, kind to the planet.

I use and reuse these sponge cloths for house cleaning. I machine wash them along with my rags and haven’t experienced any issues doing so. As the packaging says, they are machine washable up to 300 times so they last and when you finally do retire them, you can rest assured knowing they are 100% compostable.

Even cleaning can be kind…kind to your hands, kind to your home, kind to the planet.

Twist makes plant-based cleaning tools.

They are committed to contributing to a cleaner world by thinking about what their products are made of and what happens to them after they are disposed of.

“Dyes and glues in traditional cellulose sponges can be harmful to our environment and polyester scrubbers never disappear from landfills. We wanted to provide consumers with a better option.

Twist Clean uses 100% plant based materials in the manufacturing of our residential cleaning tools. We get the wood pulp for our cellulose from FSC Certified sources and all of our scrubbers are hand sewn onto their cellulose bases.”

I also think about the impact of a product on our bodies. Plant-based non-toxic ingredients also mean these products care for us as we care for our homes and our world.