8 reasons to love hemp!

Simple title, very interesting subject. Let me first start by explaining hemp a little more, seeing as most people (understandably) think of the drug marijuana when the ‘h’ word appears in conversation. First of all, the component of marijuana that gets you high is THC, and marijuana has a THC content between 3% and 20% (with 3% obviously being really, really bad product). Hemp on the other hand sits at 0.5%, and therefore about as useful at getting you stoned as smoking your t-shirt.

The juiciest information lies in hemps nutritional prowess. 

Hemp seeds contain all the essential amino acids and all the essential fatty acids necessary to maintain human life. Hemp seeds and oil are actually the best source of omega 3 and 6, and they are in the perfect ratio balance for the body to absorb and use them.  Hemp seeds are a significant (read: it’s possible to gain a large portion of you daily requirements from hemp seeds alone) source of dietary fiber, calcium, and iron, and there are no known allergies to hemp seeds.

Historically, hemp has been grown for the past 12 000 years for material, paper and food. These days, there are over 25 000 (read: twenty five THOUSAND) different products that can be made with hemp. Because of its long fibres, the products produced with hemp would be lighter and stronger compared to those made of wood.

Hemp material can be made up to linen grade, and blocks UV rays more effectively than cotton and most synthetics.

Hemp paper can be recycled more times than normal paper.

Hemp fibres are more environmentally friendly to pulp than wood, meaning no extremely toxic chemicals necessary!

Hemp grows happily in a larger variety of climates and soils than cotton, it is naturally resistant to most pests (means no chemical pesticides), and outcompetes weeds, so no herbicides either, and a weed free field for the next crop to be planted (just quickly, for this reason hemp is used as a ‘clearing crop’, and also because it cleans and replaces nutrients in the soil that are removed with commercial crops).

Hemp yields four times the dry fiber per acre than the average forestry crop.

And a quick fact about cotton: 50% of the worlds pesticides are sprayed on cotton crops.

Winter warmer

I kind of went off on a bit of a tangent after posting about positive aspects of winter. It made me feel a little warmer and fuzzier inside towards the colder season to think of fun winter activities, so I kept going after I'd shut my trusty little lap top down and came up with another brilliant winter installment:

WELLINGTONS!! (or gumboots, but I much prefer wellingtons, or wellies for giggles)

I am definitely the kind of girl who loves jumping in puddles when it's raining! Plus these days, it's not just plain black or army green, there's every colour imaginable, and amazing patterns to suit any style.

I'm looking for a flowered print pair, so I can put them with my hand-me-down denim dress from a few days ago, and my favourite cheetah print scarf. (I know, clash. But I am a lover of accessory clashes with a mediating neutral in the middle)

X

winter loving

 i don't like winter

this is public knowledge. but i am a believer in finding positives in seemingly negative things, and for winter i have succeeded. so here is my warm thought for winter today:
lying snuggled under the blanket, all warm in bed with a hot water bottle (or boyfriend), listening to the rain on the roof.

it’s so soothing, not to mention cozy.

love
x

natural body lovin’ - part two!

household secret identity number two: the ONION!

the humble onion, consumed in nearly every household in western society, and countless other cultures around the world. it's such an unassuming part of the grocery shopping that no one thinks any further about after it's chopped and thrown in dinner.
but onions are a many layered thing. underneath their flavoursome skin are antibacterial properties that have been used for centuries (literally). Chinese and early American settlers used onions to help treat coughs, colds, and bacterial infections. modern complementary medicine is still using it as an antibacterial for small cuts, and also as relief for wasp and bee stings (just rub the cut side of an onion on the sting).
the World Health Organisation advocates the use of onion to prevent poor appetite and atherosclerosis (a condition in which fatty material collects along the walls of arteries), and onion extract to treat colds, coughs, and bronchitis.
and the most amazing onion secret?
it's a cancer preventative.
cultures with high levels of onion consumption in their diet have up to half the level of stomach cancer prevalence compared to other westernised cultures.

need any more convincing? (if you do, try here for more info)

x

beautiful planet

ps. if anyone is interested in the original (it's a lot bigger), please leave a comment and i'll email it to you.

life and love (commitment with a conscience)

because it is saturday, and time for relaxing and perhaps a little indulgence, i'm going to introduce you to my current obsession: weddings.
as we all know, weddings begin with a question, and a little thing called an engagement ring (little thing? i think not!)
and so, i present to you...

Image from Brilliant Earth

Image from Brilliant Earth

now, if that was glittering up at me from one of Brilliant Earth's eco friendly ring boxes and my man on one knee, i'd probably be skipping straight to "i do"!
Brilliant Earth  are the talented creators behind this eco friendly bling. they are an organisation devoted to sustainability and fair trade practices, and all of the diamonds they sell are certified conflict free, coupled with their precious metals either coming from recycled or sustainable and fair labour mining practices.

it's commitment with a conscience.

what makes this exponentially more exciting is that on Brilliant Earth's site you can design your own personalised beauty from their incredible setting collection, and pick your own stone according to what shape, carat, colour, price, cut and clarity you are looking for.
and it doesn't stop at engagement rings, or diamonds for that matter. they have a stunning collection of antiques rings, earrings, pendants, or you can start with the stone of your choice (coloured gem stones, sapphires or even pearls) and make a personalised piece from there. stunning, conflict free, fair trade sustainable and completely unique.
that said, who needs an engagement? just get one because they are so... brilliant!
(sincere appologies for the low standard of humour, but it makes me giggle)

spread the love

x

hands up for hand-me-downs

when my best friends have throw outs, my life gets brighter. especially when said best friend has a wicked fashion sense! (see here for her awesome blog all about her fashion, life and travel adventures)
plus it's a perfect way to reuse old clothes and reduce your environmental impact, with the bonus of knowing where the clothes are coming from.

today's addition to my wardrobe is this cute little denim dress. to make it a little more interesting i added a bit of pattern with the boob tube, and accessorised with a belt from my mum's wardrobe plus the necklace i made last week.
i was also planning a winter outfit in my head, involving thick socks, ankle boots and a snuggly scarf.

if there's one thing that makes winter fun, it's all the accessory options that open up because you can be as creative as your heart desires with layering. have fun!

x