Lent gifting day 33

I don't know about you but Lent is flowing FAST!!! I feel like I'm only just getting the show on the road and it's almost over. Woweee. They say time flies when you are having fun! 

I'm sticking with the soft toys for now because I have so many of them. 

 

This little guy will be small enough to fit inside a shoebox. So I'll vacuum him thoroughly and then give him to a friend who collects small toys (in very good condition) and donates them in shoe boxes to kids in 3rd world countries around Christmas time. 

He was a free promotional Teddybear for a company that has since gone bust so there is no reason for me to keep it. It might bring joy and love to the life of a young person. I had a collection of soft toys that I've loved over the years so I know what one soft toy can do for the life of a child. 

So thank you to the teddy bears and fluffy penguins who I have loved over the years (I collected penguins in my younger life). Thank you for the kindness you have bestowed on me: Being there to cuddle when I was afraid of the dark or when I was scared; reminding me I am loved and am capable of love; letting me dress you up in stupid clothes; forcing you to drink/wear "tea" which may have in fact been toilet water; being there to hold when I cried. See, to a kid these seemingly inanimate objects come alive and support our younger selves in the darkest days. 

I am reminded of Toy Story 3 where Andy is able to pass his old toys onto a new generation of toy lovers. The toys are happy and Andy is happy because his toys are being loved by someone else who loves them just as much as he once did. 

Sending big fluffy cuddly hugs to all those who need it at the moment in honour of all the stuffed toys we have loved over the years. 

Love Daena 

Sustainable September 2016 - Day Eleven

Hi again Kindness lovers, 

So today was all about OP-SHOPPING!!! Or thrift shopping! And today I got to see the super fancy and super expensive kind and then the not as expensive type. 

 

Now, to explain, I was wandering the hip and with it streets of Canberra today, as its my last full day here. I found some very expensive op shops, think expensive & designer second hand goods! 

Tomorrows idea is another simple switch: 

Buy/use a wooden or bamboo toothbrush. 

I bought some last year, some for me and some for the rest of the family. Whilst they are not to everyone's liking they are much better for the environment. 

I have only just recently thrown my first bamboo toothbrush in the compost and I just love it. 

If you are also looking for a way to get rid of your old plastic toothbrushes consider recycling them. 

Kindness idea: donate toiletries to a local homelessness shelter or emergency relief centre. 

Toiletries are needed by so many places not just the ones mentioned. Because toiletries are used by everyone they are often the first things to go and so lots of charities and community services are always needing more. 

Front Lines: micro-beads in toiletries. 

One thing you might like to know about when you are purchasing your toiletries is plastic micro-beads. 

These are in everything from shampoo to toothpaste. These are really bad for the environment. And get into our waterways and into all types of water creatures. Here is the video from the UK about the micro beads and how and why we need to prevent the use of them in all of our things. 

 

I hope this finds you all well. 

I leave Canberra tomorrow and I have really enjoyed my stay. 

Much love to you all, 

Love Daena 

Sustainable September 2015 - Day Fifteen

Hello my lovely people.
I survived work and have been busy again today. I learnt a new skill today. I learnt how to change a car tyre. Thank you very much to the man in the parking lot who helped mum and i in the Perth Convention Centre Car park. He helped us get the bolts off the tyre because they had been mechanically tightened. I now know how to do it myself too! What a great piece of knowledge to pass on. I did everything else myself, mostly with mums directions. You learn something new every day! :) I am so grateful to be on the receiving end of a kindness too! :) Good things do come back to you when you need it! 

So Sustainable September ideas for tomorrow is based on something I did today...

September 15: Go to Cafe or Restaurant or eatery that has sustainable practices and is environmentally friendly, and grab something to eat or drink (and maybe ask for a tour if you want).

The following photos are from my trip today to one of my most favourite Sustainable Cafe/restraunts in Perth, Western Australia. Its called the Green House Perth. I wrote about it last year and it is worth sharing again. :)

One of the most awesome things that Green House Perth does is give discounts on their take away coffees for those who bring their own reusable cups! Save 50c AUD! :) Pretty good!!

My super fancy Chai Latte that was made with Freshly made almond milk, in which the Chai tea was steeped. Sooooooo delicious!!!

This was the menu topper. Mum and I had a delicious and light lunch today.

they have even updated their Toilets because they are saving water by using the clean water that would usually just end up in the cistern, as the water to wash your hands! So clever! I love this idea! :) 

I am a bit bummed I didn't take a photo of the fresh and delicious food. I love the way that almost everything that is used to create the atmosphere is either recycled, repurposed or reused. I love that the bottles from the alcohol that they serve (yes they are a licenced bar too!) are used as the bottles for water on the table. I love that they use an old popcorn dispenser as the glass cabinet that they keep their muffins and cupcakes in for display for sale. I love that they used Bread Crates in the cement in the ground, using the waste from some places and incorporating it into their build. Everything seems thoughtful and considered. Even their food waste goes in to make compost. Often which they give away! :) so that is awesome!!! :)

I hope you have a great time trying out a new place, and a new way of eating - supporting those who use sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. This is the fun part of Sustainable September! Adventuring! :) hehehe.

Sending love,
from Daena x