Natural Mumma
Issue Three October 2017
Taking Care Of Yourself, Your Tribe And Our World
Autumn Style Exclusive Top Trends From London Fashion Week Festival
Getting Lippy The Natural Way to Smoother Lips
Supplements Made Simple Nutrition For The Whole Family
KIT&KIN
Emma Bunton On Eco Nappies & Green Parenting
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Our marine wildlife is facing more threats than ever before – overfishing, pollution and plastics, plus far too little protection.
Help us put the life back into our seas Porthcurno Beach © Natasha Ewins
Join the Marine Conservation Society today and receive your welcome pack, free gift and your opportunity to help make a difference to our amazing marine environment - www.mcsuk.org/join
© John Archer-Thomson
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© Frogfishphotography.com
© Andy Bowen
© Dave Boyle
© Tom Shelley
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Marine Conservation Society is a registered charity no:1004005 (England & Wales); SC037480 (Scotland). Company Limited by Guarantee no: 2550966. Registered in England VAT no: 489 1505 17. Registered office: Overross House, Ross Park, Ross-on-Wye, HR9 7US. AD0008-16
Welcome to Natural Mumma Magazine Contents 4
Ode To The Bee New collection from Bozena Jankowska
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Natural Mumma Loves...
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Getting Lippy Our pick of natural lip care products
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London Fashion Week Festival Seeking out the green face of fashion
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Kit & Kin Chatting eco nappies and green parenting with Emma Bunton
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Top Ten AW17 Style Tips
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Natural Mumma Makes... Spiced Butternut and Stilton Ravioli
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ondon L m o r f s Festival Greeting k e e W n Fashio
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Fortify Supplements for the whole family
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Natural Mumma’s Bookshelf A Home Education Notebook
t’s been another beautiful and action-packed month for us here at Natural Mumma. A celebration of AW17 style, this edition is inspired by bees and honey. We met up with Spice Girl, radio presenter and green parent Emma Bunton to chat about Kit & Kin’s new eco nappies. We drank copious amounts of Newby Tea at London Fashion Week Festival. We fell in love with Bozena Jankowska’s
bee-inspired collection. We learnt all about the benefits of beeswax and experimented with lip balms to bring you the best natural lip care products out there. We uncovered the truth behind supplements. I indulged my passion for fresh pasta and developed a spiced butternut and stilton ravioli recipe. Ross Mountney’s fabulous book on home educating really got us thinking. We’ve been delighted and overwhelmed by the response we’ve had to the first three issues of this magazine and can’t wait to keep creating and sharing with you.
Holly wears: Boatneck top with stripes and City skirt from me&i AW17 Tints Of Nature Permanent Hair Dye Rich Chocolate Brown Photo by Gerard Hughes Contact: holly@ naturalmumma.com
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Bozena Jankowska
ODE TO THE
BEE
Celebrating the ingenuity and beauty of the bee with a striking and ethically-minded first capsule collection.
B
ozena Jankowska is a designer, with a background in environmental science and a 16 year career in sustainable finance. Originating from Poland, Bozena has grown up and lived in London for over 36 years. Her philosophy is ‘experience, sustain, repeat - a mindful approach to living’ which she has embedded in the personality of her brand. Designs are inspired by environmental and social themes and a transseasonal idea of dressing without distinct season focus. Capsule collections consist of pieces that can be styled up or down throughout the year – or even from day to night. The focus is on sustainability, buying less but choosing beautiful inspiring pieces that last. Launching October 2017, the first capsule collection focuses on the world of the bee and the sustainability of its existence. Jankowska offers collections that are authentic and which promote a sustainable, engaged approach to fashion. The focus
is on a confident, yet classic femininity giving a modern twist to sophistication that effortlessly transitions between seasons. The first capsule collection ‘Ode to the Bee’ honours the life of this beautiful creature. Bozena believes that it is everyone’s responsibility to give something back to these important creatures that do so much for us. ‘Ode to the Bee’ is a celebration of the bee’s beauty and ingenuity. The colour palette is reflective of the diversity of the bee showing the use of both bold and soft tones resulting in an intriguing and striking combination of hues. Elements of the bee’s silky body are apparent in the delicate velvet detailing and print, whilst bee architecture is mirrored with the playful use of pleats and ruffles. Power pastels feature on key separates; sage green wide leg trousers offer a flattering and relaxed silhouette. Understated velvet detailing provides a fresh and unexpected look and the
softer looser tailoring allows for a natural flow of movement. Ruffles and pleats feature throughout the collection and offer a new dimension to classic tailoring. The result is a romantic mood with delicate and unexpected layers on the navy pencil skirt and horizontal and vertical ruffles on the summer wine blouse. Energetic sunshine hues and deep saturation impart easy glamour. The collection always focuses on the female form. The velvet detailing on the baked pink dress creates softness. This pleated dress is both overtly pretty and multi-textured. Bozena’s belief in championing the need for fashion with a purpose, will come about through partnerships with likeminded sustainability focused organisations that work on the environmental and social issues behind each of her collections. For Bozena, the focus is on the importance of basics, but with
Inspiration is in everything the bee is. What it represents, how it lives and works and how the sophisticated structures of its hives provide such architectural elegance.
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a luxurious appeal. As demand grows for long - lasting essentials, fabric and construction assumes a new importance. It requires links to quality and sustainability. The rise in the ‘slow fashion’ trend, basic no longer means ordinary. Quite the contrary: wardrobe staples are becoming more lavish and desirable, with a story to tell. Minimalism embraces strong silhouettes, clever cuts, added texture and original prints. Expect to see classic tailoring with a focus on a new relaxed style, refined yet casual with a luxe feel. Tell us about the story behind your brand? Bozena Jankowska came about because of my lifetime passion for sustainability and fashion and
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the fact that I struggled to find clothes that had a strong affinity with sustainability without being boring. So, after a 16 year career in sustainable and responsible investment, I made the decision to change direction entirely and follow my long term ambition of staring my own womenswear label that would bring fashion and sustainability together in a different way. Fashion has a global platform, it has massive influence and it has the ability to communicate messages powerfully and it is these qualities that I want to harness. Through my brand, I want to talk about environmental and social challenges we are facing globally and I am harnessing that by taking inspiration from different environmental and social issues for each new collection.
I want to make an impact that goes beyond just selling beautiful clothes. To partner with relevant organisations that champion the environmental and social issues that each collection is talking about and support their work through donations from my sales. For my customer, I hope to create an experience that cultivates their individual style, talks to them about sustainability in an intelligent way and empowers them to make their own impact through their purchases. What is it that inspired you to make the bee the design inspiration behind your first capsule collection? After watching the docufilm Vanishing of the Bees and then reading the book ‘A World Without
Bees’ by Alison Benjamin and Brian McCallum I was shocked by what we were doing to the bee and how through our actions, we are making their existence increasingly difficult. The humble honey bee is so critical to our way of life as we know it. One out of every three bites of food we take is thanks to the bee. We rely on them for a healthy environment and economy. If bees ceased to exist, we would no longer have strawberries, avocados, apples, almonds, coffee...and the list goes on. In recent years, bees around the world have suffered on a scale never seen before. Thousands of full strength colonies have collapsed, often with adult bees leaving their hives never to return - a phenomenon which has been termed as Colony
Collapse Disorder or CCD for short. CCD has been attributed to the use of pesticides and insecticides such as neonicotinoids, an influx of the Varroa Mite, the spread of diseases and viruses, poor nutrition, stress factors and habitat loss. Each of these is interconnected and ultimately boils down to how we have been treating the environment and the consumer choices we make. I wanted to highlight the beauty and importance of the bee with, this my first collection not only through thoughtfully designed pieces but through the messages that each piece will communicate to its owner. What does wellness and mindfulness mean to you?
Happiness, sustainability, selfconfidence, positivity, empathy and connecting with others. What is your indulgence and why? Textiles. Each textile tells its story by its drape, feel, flow, colour and texture. It can talk to you, inspire you and guide the design process. The magic for me is taking a one - dimensional piece of cloth and making it into something that can completely transform the female form making a woman feel beautiful, confident and empowered. Launching in autumn 2017. Bozena Jankowska is looking to sell direct to consumers via her website www. bozenajankowska.com in what is set to be an exciting fashion debut.
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Natural Mumma Loves...
A Safer Pregnancy Up to one in five of all pregnant women will be carriers of Group B Strep in the birth canal and the bacterium can be passed during labour to their baby. One in five newborns who are infected with Group B Strep suffer from serious, life-changing illnesses such as meningitis, septicaemia or pneumonia, which can have life-long effects such as brain damage, hearing loss and sight loss. One in ten babies with the infection will die from it. In the UK, pregnant women are not routinely offered testing for Group B Strep by the NHS unlike in many developed countries. The only way of knowing if a
pregnant woman is carrying the bacterium is by having a laboratory test. The highly accurate Strepelle test will determine whether the pregnant woman is carrying the bacterium. Treatment of antibiotics during labour will protect the baby from risk of infection. We’ll be honouring Babyloss Awareness Week (9-15 October) on Natural Mumma with plenty of resources including more information on Strepelle. www.strepelle.com
Sweet As Honey If you’re looking for an all-round miracle balm that will soothe and nourish dry skin, then Über Balm from Our Tiny Bees is the perfect solution. Made from almond oil, coconut oil, rosehip seed oil, vitamin E and oat oil this hydrating balm is safe to use on heels, elbows, knees, lips, hands and anywhere that needs a little extra attention and is gentle enough to use on your children too. With protective beeswax and honey to lock in the moisture, this portable balm has a delicate natural scent and a beautiful light texture. The combination of powerful antioxidant rich ingredients and soothing elements mean that this gentle natural skincare product is perfect for easing itching and irritation and bringing relief to the symptoms of eczema and psoriasis. www.ourtinybees.co.uk
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Showered With Health Chlorine is added to the water supply to kill pathogens, but ingesting chlorine is not good for us in any shape or form. In fact, inhaling or absorbing chlorine is believed to lead to a number of health complaints, inflaming the bronchial passages inside our lungs and robbing our skin and hair of moisture. Long-term exposure to chlorine can also lead to the production of free radicals within the body. Thankfully, removing chlorine from our water supply isn’t as big an ordeal as you may think: in fact, with the Biocera AtoZera Dechlorinating Shower Head from Water for Health, it’s easy. Stylish, robust and functional, the shower head can be easily fitted to your home shower. As well as eliminating the deleterious effects of chlorine, it makes showering a more pleasurable experience since the odour of chlorine is removed too. It should also help you save about 25 per cent of water. www.water-for-health.co.uk
Noughty By Nature Noughty is a 97 per cent natural haircare range, this playful new brand packs a punch with a range of haircare products to make your hair look and smell amazing. These gorgeous products are also totally free from parabens, silicones, SLS and petrochemicals. They are vegan, vegetarian and not tested on animals. Rise & Shine adds gloss and lustre to normal and dry hair, Care Taker provides TLC for dandruff and sensitive
scalps, To the Rescue is extra nourishing and is perfect for frizzy, damaged hair, Detox Dynamo is a 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner that is specially formulated to tackle product build-up and soothe stressed hair and my personal favourite, Wave Hello, is super smoothing for curly and wavy hair. I love how it adds weightless definition and hydration. www.noughtyhaircare.co.uk
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Natural Mumma Loves... Blooming Marvellous It’s bulb-planting time! Thinking ahead and plant bulbs now and you’ll be glad that you did when spring arrives. Bulbs are fabulous because they can slip between other plants in beds and pots, offering a welcome splash of colour. They are so easy to plant and robust enough for kids to handle too. They are also a favourite of bees and other pollinators. Unfortunately, more and more bulb companies are soaking bulbs in neonicotinoids. These pesticides have a halflife that varies between 34 days and three years and are toxic to a whole variety of insects. This poison not only has a detrimental effect on flying insects, but it seeps into the soil causing damage to the insects that live there. Ingestion of neonicotinoids can even affect a worm’s ability to tunnel! The solution is to buy organic bulbs. If you are looking for sustainable and naturally-produced
bulbs then Netherlands based Natural Bulbs offers an impressive variety. www.naturalbulbs.nl
Kitchen Genie The new Nutribaby(+) from Babymoov offers families superior cooking convenience, with five versatile features packed into one sleek and stylish unit. Aided by 10 pre-programmed functions and extra-large cooking (1500ml) and blending (750ml) capacity, Nutribaby(+) can comfortably prepare nutritious smoothies for mumTip!a week’s worth of well-balanced to-be, meals for baby, or a healthy feast for the whole family. The Nutribaby(+) is built to perform a multitude of tasks. It functions as a steamer and blender, heats bottles and jars, sterilises bottles and accessories and can defrost meals prepared in advance. www.babymoov.co.uk
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Save Your Skin Green People has introduced a fresh new look to their Organic Young (OY!) collection. The range of certified organic clear skin products for tweens, teens and those with troublesome skin are rich in nourishing omega 3&6 from rosehip, sunflower and hemp oils. Rosehip has excellent skin regeneration properties and can help reduce blemishes and scarring. Green People have also announced the launch of their Organic Shave Kit. Green People for Men has created a selection of pure performance products which strengthen, soothe and protect the skin. Plant extracts from green seaweed, the tara bush and a unique strain of the herb scullcap have been carefully selected for their remarkable, clinically proven rejuvenating and anti-ageing effects. Products include Exfoliating Face Scrub, Soothing Shaving Gel and Cooling Moisturiser. Available online. www.greenpeople.co.uk
Natural Mumma Magazine October 2017
Little Box Of Goodness The BoroughBox Artisan Box celebrates the finest artisanal food producers across the country. As only the tastiest foods make it into these boxes, the Artisan box is the perfect gift for any foodie. What’s inside this delicious box? Granola from Good Granola, Organic Tea from Joes Tea, Olive Oil from Nudo Adopt, Seasonal Juice by Chegworth Valley, Nankhatai biscuits from Chins Kitchen, Fruit Cake by Tipple Tails, Jar of Relish from Rubies in the Rubble, Tin of Chocolate Covered Nuts from Artisan du Chocolat, Chef’s Special Fudge from Radfords Fudge and 4 Organic Chocolate Bar from RAWR Chocolate. www.boroughbox.com
NMM Team Editor: Holly Daffurn
holly@naturalmumma.com
Creative: Gerard Hughes mail@gerardhughes.co.uk
Cover Image by Gerard Hughes (featuring me&i’s new Autumn/Winter range) www.naturalmumma.com Natural Mumma Magazine
is produced by T5 Publications. Contents may not be reproduced, stored or distributed in any form without prior written permission. All reasonable efforts have been made to ensure all information contained in this magazine is accurate but the publishers can accept no responsibiilty for effects arising therefrom. All rights reserved.
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Natural Mumma Loves... A Cup Of Joe Cuppa Joe’s Coffee & Grapefruit Body Scrub is the perfect way to wake up each morning. With natural grapefruit oil to improve circulation, cold-pressed coconut oil for hydration and natural sea salt, unrefined sugar and Arabica beans to cleanse and polish this natural product will leave your skin tighter, smoother and smelling delicious. www.cuppajoebodyscrub.co.uk
Smooth As Silk The husband and wife team at K&K Labs create beautiful, luxurious silk scarves that feature endangered animals to help raise awareness of the chaos of extinction. 10 per cent of their profit goes to a chosen charity each year. These elegant scarves are now available from The Natural History Museum. www.kklabs.co.uk
Next Month In
Natural Mumma THE LOVING TOUCH
Product Review: Handcreams
FRAGRANT WARMING LAKSA A Delicious Family Recipe
WINTER WARMERS Ethical Knitwear
NATURAL MUMMA MAGAZINE ISSUE 4 AVAILABLE FROM 3 NOVEMBER 2017 12
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© Richard Harrington
For more, everyday...
www.naturalmumma.com for the latest on: · ethical fashion · natural skincare and beauty · health and wellbeing · parenting and motherhood · healthy living and good eating · ecology and conservation · conscious lifestyle choices
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Natural Mumma G
Our pick of the best natural lipcare products to see you through
The Body Shop Born Lippy The fruity, juicy fragrances of these lip butters make them irresistible. They leave your lips feeling soft, nourished and silky. The strawberry lip butter is made from cold-pressed strawberry seed oil and gives lips a subtle red tint. The watermelon lip butter smells delicious and offers a clear sheen. Somewhere between a gloss and a balm, these butters are a real treat.
Silvan Skincare Patchouli Lip Balm
Our Tiny Bees Lip Balm
MooGoo Natural Tingling Honey Lip Balm
Packed full of nutrients in the form of beeswax, cocoa butter, rice bran, as well as nourishing avocado, apricot and jojoba oils. Musky patchouli essential oil adds a heady fragrance, as well as healing cracked and chapped lips. The beautiful softening lip balms from Silvan are also available in vanilla, myrrh and pure fragrances.
This 100 per cent natural lip balm is formed from a beautiful blend of honey, beeswax and almond oil. The honey smells amazing, as well as retaining moisture. This naturally preserved product is where Our Tiny Bees started from. They now offer the most beautiful range of natural skincare products and candles.
The MooGoo philosophy of “made from edible ingredients because what goes on the lips gets eaten� is one that resounds strongly with us. I adore this lip balm. From the quirky milk carton packaging to the refreshing zingy tingle that the menthol provides, this balm leaves your lips feeling smooth, soft and nourished.
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Gets Lippy
h the winter
Mind Your Beeswax! Beeswax is the perfect base for lip balms. It forms a protective layer over the skin, keeping moisture locked in and forming a barrier against environmental contaminants. It is also a powerful antioxidant, as well as having strong antiinflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. Beeswax will soothe chapped lips while locking in moisture and protecting against further damage. The powerful vitamin A component is vital for healthy cell development and regeneration. Beeswax also provides effective protective layer that guards against UV damage and possible infection.
Lush Lip Scrub
Packed with gently exfoliating sugar granules and the rich moisturising benefits of jojoba oil, the lip scrubs from Lush leave your lips kissably soft. Mint Julips smells divine, with the unique blend of peppermint oil and sweet vanilla extract evocating the scent of after dinner mints. The candy shop sweetness of Bubblegum is a fun alternative.
Arrow Boost Colour Enhancing Lip Balm
This fabulous product is the perfect lightweight alternative to lipstick. The unique formula adjusts to your pH, enhancing the natural shade of your lips with just a hint of colour. With a refreshing minty fragrance and nourishing mango seed butter keeping your lips hydrated, I love the subtle pink shade that this lip balm provides.
Tropic Lip Love Balm
Made naturally with rosehip, shea and cocoa butter. The invigorating natural fragrance of lemon and sweet orange essential oil is mouthwatering. Jojoba, avocado and carrot oils provide a welcome injection of moisture to keep your lips soft and hydrated all winter long. Tropic products are all vegan and cruelty-free.
Lush Lip Service Lip Balm
This beautiful lip balm is packed full of nourishing oils and butters to keep your lips moisturised all year round. With rich beeswax, cocoa butter, shea butter and apricot kernel oil to lock in moisture and refreshing high notes of tangerine and mandarin oil this lightweight balm is the perfect way to combat dry skin.
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LONDON FASHION WEEK FESTIVAL London Fashion Week is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the latest trends and soak up some serious style inspiration. With the British Fashion Council focusing on its brand new Positive Fashion initiative we were keen to find out how designers were embracing this effort for a move towards sustainability and more ethical manufacturing. So when the lovely people at Newby Teas invited us along to London Fashion Week Festival (to sit in the front row of the catwalk collection as hosted by Darren Kennedy and soak up the atmosphere) we couldn’t refuse. We lapped up every word that Glamour editor Lucy Walker shared with us about her views on Autumn Winter 2017 fashion trends (read her tips on page 20) and we had a wonderful time exploring the brand new Heritage Collection from Newby.
TREND
If you’re even half as much of a tea lover as I am, you can’t help but get excited by this new loose leaf collection inspired by tea history. With Moroccan Mint, Indian Breakfast Tea and Black Tea and Thyme amongst the flavours you will find something that will suit your taste! Newby offer the finest teas and their dedication is clear from the first sip. The copious amount of tea that we consumed was the perfect partner to the event. There was no mistaking we were in the heart of England, with the vast glass windows offering a striking view of the city. Yet there is something so deliciously cosmopolitan about London, and Fashion Week is the perfect way to celebrate what Darren describes as the “collective consciousness” in reference to trends that affect the whole world. What could be better suited to the occasion than a range of teas from all four corners of the globe?
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This collection was inspired by global trends and styled by Julia Brenard and displayed a mix of designer and high-end high street AW17 items. The sleek side-parted ponytails and coquettish afros were styled by Toni and Guy and the radiant complexions with played up eyes were credited to Maybelline New York.
Dazzle
This look is all about mixing up metals. Gunmetal, silver, pewter, bronze and gold were all mixed and matched. Whether you choose to go for a metallic accent with your shoes or bag or opt for a statement piece such as a silver skirt or glimmering bomber jacket – this look is all about shimmer and shine.
Suiting
Worn with low heeled boots and cropped trousers, there are options for everyone. The catwalk was graced with suits in animal print, stripes, checks and bold florals, making this a highly versatile and adaptable look. Invest in good shoes and a strong suit, then you’ll have two individual pieces that can be used in a multitude of ways and you can guarantee lots of wear out of it.
Natural Mumma Says: With more and more fashion brands taking action to make their designs more ethical, you will easily be able to find sustainable options to explore these trends. Vintage is also a great eco-friendly option and you’ll easily find great 70s wear, quality suits and stunning metal tones in your local vintage store or market.
That 70’s Show
The 70’s vibe is strong this season. Think bold florals, cosy knits, elegant polo necks, floorsweeping hems, florals, boho wrap dresses. The 70’s colourway and silhouette is the strongest part of this look. Long sleeves, pussy bow blouses and cropped trousers (just above the ankle) are perfect for autumn. This look is all about zesty limes, purples, mustards and brown/tan shades.
Fashion SWITCH to Green
The newly launched initiative from The British Fashion Council, Dame Vivienne Westwood and the Mayor of London is focused on getting fashion businesses to convert to a green tariff or green energy supplier by 2020. This ties in with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change who have identified the year 2020 as a significant year to make changes in order to prevent dangerous and irreversible levels of climate change. NMM October 2017
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We spent an afternoon with the founders of Kit & Kin - Spice Girl, UNICEF ambassador and radio presenter Emma Bunton and Director of Product Development Christopher Money who has a rich history in the world of maternity and children’s products. They were both brimming with excitement about their new enterprise, which is clearly coming from a mutual desire to protect the world for future generations. With conventional nappies taking centuries to biodegrade, many parents are looking for eco-friendly alternatives. Cloth nappies are the obvious choice, but few parents manage to use them exclusively and convenience means that even the most ecoconscious of parents fall back on disposables from time to time. Enter Kit & Kin. Their brand new range of eco nappies are more gentle for baby and kinder on the environment. Formed from sustainable resources, using chlorine-free pulp with adorable designs printed with vegetable dyes, great care has been taken to ensure that these nappies are reassuringly green. Whether parents decide to go exclusively Kit & Kin or use them alongside cloth nappies, there is no denying that this is
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a convenient and ecologically sound alternative to the regular nappies that are steadily building up in landfill. As well as these revolutionary new nappies, Kit & Kin also produce completely biodegradable baby wipes made from sustainably harvested fibres. In keeping with the Kit & Kin philosophy, these gentle wipes contain no harsh chemicals and are packed with soothing botanical ingredients instead. The natural mum and baby skincare range is also free from toxins and harsh synthetic ingredients. “We wanted to come up with something that was eco-friendly, biodegradable, natural... all of the things that we feel really passionately about,” says Emma. “Being a parent, I just wanted to change a few things. My boys have eczema. I needed a natural
product. I’ve learnt so much from my boys, they have been a wonderful inspiration and they have helped with some of the colours, the bottles and the branding so they have been everything to me.” Christopher has been in the industry for 15 years. He got into it through his dad, who had a factory in South Wales making breast and maternity pads. He then spent 10 years representing a major nappy manufacturer, developing products for them. He got increasingly frustrated with their lack of natural approach and decided to take things into his own hands. He met Emma three years ago through a mutual friend and decided to combine forces to create something that could make a real difference to the future of the planet.
“It was a long process because I’m quite bossy. I had a vision. I knew exactly how I wanted it to be and what we wanted to represent. Christopher has been so inspiring, and he knows a lot. The one thing that most stood out for me, from our initial chat is that we throw away 8 million nappies a day in the UK alone, one of those nappies takes 500 years to biodegrade. Our nappies take 3-6, so it’s a huge difference. I also learnt through Christopher how the chemicals in nappies can cause nappy rash. My mind was blown by all of these facts that he was coming out with and I thought we have to do something. We have to make a change! That’s when we came together and created Kit & Kin.” As well as significantly reducing the amount of waste in landfill, Emma and Christopher have taken
things a step further. For every 10 subscriptions they purchase one acre of the rainforest. “A lot of people may not appreciate the importance of the rainforest but it’s a vital ecosystem. Around 25% of all medications around the world today originated in the rainforest, yet only 1% of the rainforest has been analysed for its medicinal benefits. With the current rate of deforestation, in 40-50 years it’s going to be gone. It’s scary!,” says Christopher. “What we can do is raise awareness. If we can get to a point where 50,000 mums are buying our nappies, we’d be buying 5000 acres of rainforest every year, so that’s a little bit of a difference.” Kit & Kin have already won nine awards and Christopher’s determination to make a
difference is not going to stop at the current range of Kit & Kin eco nappies. He has plans to eventually develop nappies that can be used as a renewal energy source. As a father of two, his commitment to ecology is coming from a place of genuine love. We’re really excited to see how Kit & Kin develops.
If you’d like to try Kit & Kin nappies, their monthly subscription service is cost effective as well as convenient. Get nine other friends on board and that’s another acre of rainforest saved from destruction. Buy directly from the Kit & Kin website or Ocado and Uber Shop. NMM October 2017
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10
Top Style Tips
for Autumn Winter ’17
Glamour Magazine’s Fashion Editor Lucy Walker’s Top Ten AW17 Style Tips as told to Holly Daffurn
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Power suits: Think Stella McCartney and Max Mara. Invest in a beautiful suit and you end up with the perfect blazer and the perfect pair of tailored trousers. Dress it up with heels and statement earrings.
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Studio 54: There is a huge trend for the 70s with corduroy and granny knits on one end of the spectrum and on the other end we have the Studio 54 vibe. Think glitter, think dressing up. This sort of style is embodied by the Saint Laurent woman. It’s sexy. There is a return to heels. Invest in a glitter mini dress and you’ll get lots of wear out of this season.
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Punk: PVC trousers are huge this season, think Millie Mackintosh. Wear with a tailored shirt or a little knit or opt for a shiny PVC trench with a little cashmere jumper and jeans.
New season style tips
• Make a shopping hit list and break it down to the essentials. Pick key pieces that will fit into your life and wardrobe. • Maintain your integrity. Be true to your own personal style. • Wear things that make you feel like the best version of yourself. • Comfort is so important. Don’t be artificial or go out of your comfort zone. • Clothing is an expression of who we are. Enjoy being creative! 20 October 2017 NMM
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Lady in Red: Head to toe red is impactful as well as easy to style. By opting for one colour you’ll look more put together.
Craftwork: Alexander McQueen offered raw, unfinished hems. There was lots of attention to detail in many of the AW17 collections. Embody this look by picking a little black dress with ostrich feather trim.
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Cosmic Girl: As seen in the AW17 collections from Paco Rabanne and Chanel. Think modern and futuristic with technical fabrics. Find one piece to suit your taste and shape. Silver trousers work well if you are tall and slim, otherwise you might prefer to try a silver jacket.
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Fluffy faux fur: As seen on the catwalks of Miu Miu and Nina Ricci in shades of lemon, mint green, sherbet etc that are obviously not realistic or made of animal. Playful and fun. Ground it in everyday reality with a t-shirt.
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Dresses: This season’s dress is silky, fluted, below the knee. Can be worn to work and to an evening function. For day layer it with a roll neck and knee length boots or add court shoes and a clutch for the evening.
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When it comes to footwear, this season is all about heels and boots. High heels: Back in a big way and set to stay right through to SS18. A lower heel is more wearable and still achingly stylish. Boots: Thigh high, slouch knee highs and combat boots are all massive this season. If you opt for thigh highs, keep things loose on top with a slouchy jumper.
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Accessories: Worth investing in. This season is all about the statement earring: A great way to have fun with accessories and add personality.
Š Richard Harrington
Beautiful homewares, accessories, fabrics and prints. Designed and created by the sea in Cornwall.
@rockandsaltwater /rocksaltcornwall
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www.rockandsaltwater.co.uk
“Steaming pasta served with creamy, melted butter and freshly milled black pepper...”
You Will Need: For the pasta: 300g 00 grade flour 2 whole eggs 4 yolks salt For the filling:
“Go for the softest and most finely sieved flour available...”
natural
mumma
makes
1 butternut squash olive oil sea salt ground black pepper 2 small dried chillis (roughly chopped) 6 cloves of garlic 1 red onion (cut into quarters) 1 handful of fresh thyme 1 teaspoon each of ground coriander and cumin 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar 50g blue cheese (Roquefort/gorgonzola/stilton) Preheat oven to 200c/gas mark 6
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natural mumma makes
Spiced Butternut & Blue Cheese Ravioli P
asta is the ultimate cosy winter comfort food. If you love pasta, then you can’t beat the fresh variety. Homemade pasta has a bad reputation for being faffy and time-consuming, and as much as I love getting my hands stuck into a project it is the kneading that eats away the day. This is a really simple way to knock up some delicious fresh ravioli with the help of a mixer. I thought this was the perfect project to try out my new Judge Twin Blade Stand Mixer. I used the beaters to mix the pasta and combine the filling ingredients, and the dough hooks to take all the time out of the kneading process. The auto-rotating bowl resulted in a beautifully blended mixture and tilting head made my life a lot easier when it came to adding ingredients. This recipe will take you around an hour to an hour and a half to make. It’s the forming the ravioli that can take the time, but that’s a job that the children might enjoy getting involved with. You’ll also get a good half an hour in the middle when the pasta dough is resting (while developing all those beautiful gluten strands) and the butternut is roasting - you have my full permission to pour yourself a large glass of Malbec and relax.
Homemade ravioli freezes beautifully, so it is worth making a large batch and stocking your freezer ready for a healthy ready meal in the near future. Once you’ve mastered this little recipe, feel free to experiment with your own ravioli fillings. You’ll want to avoid anything too watery or thin in texture. Butternut is great for plumping up your ravioli and it also tastes sublime, especially when combined with the delicate spices and the robust, rich, saltiness of the blue cheese. Butternut squash is a wonderful source of vitamin A, as well as vitamin E and the B vitamins. The seeds are also packed with nutrients and are a rich source of protein. Just roast them for 15 minutes and enjoy them as a snack or added to salads, pasta dishes or soups. The flour: When making pasta you ideally want to go for the softest and most finely sieved flour available which means going for 00 grade flour. In Italy, this type of flour is referred to as tenero which also means tender or soft. It certainly results in the softest, silkiest sort of pasta. I use Doves Farm Organic Pasta Flour which is perfect for making pasta by hand or machine. Milled in the UK it’s a fine flour that results in perfect pasta every time. NMM October 2017 23
1Tip!
Cut your butternut squash into quarters and place flesh side up in a baking tray. Drizzle with a couple of generous lugs of olive oil, season well with Nam sea inum salt,alia chilli adiciaand Am freshly milled pepper. Add garlic, red your fresh thyme. ipsapid mi,onion eici Temand faccum
Tip! Nam inum alia adicia Am ipsapid mi, Tem faccum.
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Roast for 45-50 minutes. In the meantime, you can get on with preparing your pasta.
Add all of the pasta ingredients to your mixing bowl and whizz everything up until combined.
Remove the flat beater and replace it with the dough hook – knead until the dough holds an indent when touched.
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Wrap in cling film and rest for 30 minutes on the counter.
To keep dough from drying out only use a quarter at a time, keep the rest covered under a damp tea towel.
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Spoon the soft roasted butternut into your mixing bowl along with the skinned garlic, onion, thyme and cheese. Add the spices and balsamic vinegar. Whizz up until smooth.
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Roll the first quarter of the dough out into a large rectangle, the depth of which will be twice the length of your final ravioli.
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Place small mounds (1 tablespoon each) of the filling mixture onto the lower half of the pasta sheet. They should be around two inches apart, with space around them to seal each raviolo.
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Draw a square around each mound of filling, using a clean finger or pastry brush. Fold over to cover the mounds and press both sides of the pasta together until it sticks nicely.
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natural mumma makes
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Use a sharp knife to divide the ravioli. If you prefer you can use a decorative cutter or a specific ravioli cutter for a more interesting finish. If you are using a knife, it might be an idea to press the raw edges with a fork to reinforce the seal.
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Keep the new batch of ravioli covered with a damp cloth to prevent them from drying out while you shape the others.
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Once all of the ravioli has been formed you are ready to cook them.
Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. Cook for three minutes (until ravioli floats).
The flavour in the filling is enough, so you won’t need any sauce. I adore steaming pasta served with creamy, melted butter and freshly milled black pepper. This is the only adornment that this delicious dish needs.
Natural Mumma YouTube Channel
So there you have it! The ultimate comfort food. A delicious hearty family meal that is packed with nutrients, brimming with flavour and is very simple to make.
You can find this recipe and plenty more on the Natural Mumma YouTube channel www.youtube.com/naturalmumma NMM October 2017
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In an ideal world we’d get all of the nutrition we need through diet alone. However, for the more health-conscious amongst us taking a nutritional supplement is the best way to ensure all of our nutritional needs are being met. Why use supplements? Nutritional deficiency can damage DNA, affect our abilities to fight disease and cause premature ageing. This is why it is so important to ensure that all of our nutritional needs are being met. This isn’t always possible through diet alone. Modern farming means that crops are consistently grown on the same patch of soil, depleting the nutrients in the ground. When the essential vitamins, minerals and microbes that occur naturally in the soil are depleted quicker
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than they can be replaced the result is nutrient deprived fruit and vegetables. Fertilisers provide some nutritional enrichment, but it often just enough to sustain the plant and not to benefit human health. Further depletion of nutrients occurs during storage, most fruit and vegetables are eaten weeks after being harvested by which time they have lost a significant amount of their original nutritional value. As the modern palette favours sweeter flavours, the majority
of fruit and veg is grown with an increased sugar content. With the focus on flavour and not nutrition, the result is higher fructose and lower levels of key vitamins and minerals. In turn, animals that eat these plants are also suffering from a lack of nutrients. A study published in the Journal of Nutrition and Health uncovered that the copper levels in the UK have decreased by 90 per cent in dairy, 55 per cent in meat and 76 per cent in vegetables. Copper is vital for brain function and energy.
FORTIFY THE BEST SUPPLEMENTS FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
Nowadays, more people are opting for a calorie-controlled diet which can easily lead to a depletion in micronutrients. Our modern lifestyle also means that we are being bombarded with toxins and we need to support our bodies with adequate nutrition more now than ever. On a daily basis we are confronted with xenoestrogens (found in plastics, BPA and petroleum products), food toxins, industrial cleaners and solvents, unnatural light, sleep deprivation and stress.
Many people choose to use vitamin and mineral supplements in order to support their bodies as they contend with harmful substances and situations. It is also worth noting that certain medications can affect your ability to absorb nutrients which also declines naturally as we age. The production of hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes decreases as we grow older, making the break down of food and absorption of nutrients more difficult.
What should we avoid? Many supplements are packed with fillers. These tend to be in the form of coatings (to make them easier to swallow) and colourings (to make them look more appealing). Some fillers are also used to ease and speed up production processes. Just like processed foods can be bad for your health, the additives that are used in many supplements can be particularly damaging. Many of these fillers also block the absorption of nutrients making
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them completely useless. Hydrogenated oils: Linked to heart complaints, strokes, problems with the nervous system and disruption of blood sugar regulation; hydrogenated oils should be limited where possible. They are also known to block the absorption of essential fatty acids. Unfortunately they are also used in a number of vitamin and mineral supplements, so it is wise to check packaging carefully. Artificial colourants: The purpose of using artificial colourants is to make the product seem more appealing to the consumer. Linked to a number of health concerns from hyperactivity in children to cancer, many of these colourants are derived from toxic coal tar. Coal tar is commonly used in outdoor sealants, exterior paints and roofing – it should not be ingested. Magnesium Stearate: The jury is still out on the use of Magnesium Stearate. It is used in supplements to ensure that the tablets don’t stick to one another. There is evidence to suggest that this compound can supress the immune system as well as creating a biofilm that affects the body’s ability to absorb nutrients.
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Titanium Dioxide: Used widely in supplements and in the cosmetics industry, titanium dioxide is mostly used as a pigment. Studies show that exposure to titanium oxide can lead to an impaired immune system. It could be argued that the quantity present in a single capsule or tablet is likely to be nominal. However, it is worth bearing in mind that titanium dioxide is used in so many products that it could easily build up and cause problems. Opt for whole food supplements When it comes to choosing suppplements you’ll want to choose brands that use organic and natural ingredients without the use of unnecessary and potentially harmful chemicals. Pharmaceutical companies who mass-produce vast quantities of products are more likely to pack their products full of chemicals. There are plenty of companies with a more ethical philosophy and a genuine interest in helping people to improve their health. Do your research. Use supplements to enhance the health of yourself and family, using them to complement a healthy diet rather than as a replacement for one.
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B-Hada III
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Progurt
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NATURAL MUMMA’S BOOKSHELF
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A Home Education Notebook by Ross Mountney
oss Mountney’s inspirational writing practice stemmed from The Diary of a Home Educating Nobody which she wrote for the Education Otherwise newsletter. This valuable resource grew with the launch of Ross’s informative blog Ross Mountney’s Notebook which served to offer comfort and support to established home educators while providing guidance and reassurance to those who were just dipping their toes in the home educating pools. A Home Education Notebook...to encourage and inspire is a curated collection of these blog posts. Additional resources have been added and each post has been brought up to date, making this a great contemporary resource for anything with an interest in educating from home. Ross made the decision to take her two daughters out of school
when they were nine and six years of age. She home educated them until they were in their late teens when they went on to college, university and out into the world of work. Ross has chosen 52 of her most popular and valuable posts, meaning that you can dip in and choose one for every week of the year. Each article is beautifully written with a genuine warmth. Covering topics such as ‘Why Imagination Is More Important Than Knowledge’ ‘Thinking About Exams’ and ‘Curriculum: National; Natural; Personal; Optional?’ this is a diverse book that offers gentle guidance, information and explores all of the available options in a nurturing manner. “This book is to help bring you back to your core intentions if you wobble. And give you some company and encouragement until you get there.”
“Ross believes that children deserve to be happy and to reach their full potential.”
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Ross isn’t preachy or judgemental. She simply believes that children deserve to be happy and to reach their full potential. She is passionate about learning that is enjoyable as well as being stress-free. She understands that each parent knows their child best. “Perhaps you feel you want to provide the opportuntiy for your children to experience the joy that comes of finding out new things, finding out about themselves, the world in which we live, the people in it, how to relate to all
this, what to contribute and how to build happy lives for themselves through that understanding.” Whether you have been home educating for years and are looking for some additional support, or are toying with the idea – this book offers a wealth of support and information. As a parent whose child is in the mainstream schooling system, I gleaned some fascinating wisdom from Ross’s teaching and I would thoroughly recommend this book to any parent who wants to play an integral role in their child’s development and learning. A Home Education Notebook is published by Bird’s Nest Books. You can read Ross’s blog here: www.rossmountney.wordpress.com
A Gentle Guide to Pregnancy Loss: Grieving and healing after miscarriage Kindle Edition By Holly Daffurn (author of The Natural Baby, columnist for The Green Parent Magazine and editor of Natural Mumma) This book is about grieving and recovering from the loss of your baby. With the help of this sensitive and supportive guide, you will learn how to both cherish the memory of the past and move on into the future. “This book is aimed at couples and individuals who have lost a baby at any stage during pregnancy. Although the focus is on the grieving parents, I also consider siblings and ways to heal as a family. This could be a useful resource for someone who is trying to understand what those parents are going through. Each person’s journey is different. This book has been written with sensitivity and love, which is how I hope that you will treat yourselves in the months and years following your loss.” Published by Green Books
This informative and inspiring ebook deals with the following: · how to break the news · terminology
· learning to love your body again · pregnancy loss and the father · ways to grieve
· acknowledging anger · the fear of loss
· dealing with panic attacks · ways to heal
· caring for yourself
· healing as a couple
· looking to the future
· thinking about conception · recurrent miscarriage
Available from 15th October 2017 (available to preorder) International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day NMM October 2017 31 Available through www.naturalmumma.com and online retailers
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