Silicone Jewellery: the baby-friendly alternative for new mums.

As all mums would know, little ones are attracted to the colours and shapes of jewellery and their little hands will make a grab for them at any chance they get.  When I had Emma back in 2010, it wasn’t long before I stopped wearing jewellery altogether, as the metallic materials and tiny components just didn’t feel safe in her tiny hands. Naturally, I was also concerned about her coming into contact with unknown chemicals and toxins. 

If only Harper and Hudson had been around when Emma was born! 

I’m really excited to introduce the Harper and Hudson range of silicone jewellery to the Master and Miss collection. Harper and Hudson silicone jewellery is a stylish and baby friendly way to keep wearing the accessories you love. And not only does silicone jewellery look great, it’s completely safe for little hands and mouths. That’s right, the range is made from 100% non-toxic silicone, free of any nasty chemicals and completely safe for your little one to touch and chew on. Making them the perfect on-the-go teething accessory when your baby’s nursing sore, sensitive gums. 

And the benefits don’t stop there. The soft, stable jewellery is also safer for mums, coming with a built in safety lock that will snap open if the chain receives too much tension. 

To keep the necklace clean all you need is some warm soapy water – it’s as easy as that. Or better still just pop it on the top shelf of your dishwasher and it will come out clean and sterilized, ready for both you to wear and for bub to chew on. 

Coming in a range of gorgeous styles and colours I predict these funky yet very practical pieces will be popping up at more and more baby showers. Because who doesn’t love a gift that doubles up as something for both mum and bub? 

Hope you like them as much as I do. 

Liane x 

www.masterandmisss.com.au

P.S. The necklaces are not toys and like most things in life, should not be left alone with your little one. 

Reuse - Glass Jars

I’m a big fan of looking for ways to reuse items before putting them in the recycling bin and glass jars are one of the easiest items to reuse in the home. According to the CSIRO, Aussie households currently place 90 per cent of their glass in recycling bins. While this is a great statistic, the reality is only 40 per cent of that glass is actually makes it to the recycling process. While rinsing out glass jars properly can help this an even better option is keeping them out of the bin in the first place and finding fun and creative ways to repurpose them in your home and garden. 

Here are some of my favourite uses:

1. Storage solutions
Glass Jars make for the perfect storage container for countless items in the home. Craft bits and pieces, dried kitchen spices, grains and pasta, cottonbuds and wipes in the bathroom, the list goes on and on. 









2. Wine bottle candle holders 
This romantic and elegant look is as simple as placing long tapered candles in clean and empty wine bottles in clusters in the middle of the dining table.

3. Glass Jar Vases
Pretty in the home or garden, mismatched glass jars look great together and the varying heights and widths allow for all different kinds of flowers to be arranged together. They make a great budget option for wedding decorations too.

4. Jam Jar Tea-Light Holders
Wash out your jam jars, weave some wire around the opening and you’ve got beautiful homemade tea-light holders to hang from branches around your garden. 











These are just some of my favourite uses. There’s lots more you can do, the limit is only your imagination!

Liane Shannon
Creative Director
Master and Miss - Organic Children's Clothing
www.masterandmiss.com.au

Bhutan: Set to be the world’s first 100% organic nation

The Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan is perhaps best known for being the only country in the world where national happiness is considered more important than the national economy. If that wasn’t noteworthy enough the country’s Prime Minister Jigmi Thinley recently announced Bhutan intends to be the world’s first 100% organic nation.

Bhutan

He’s called it the “National Organic Policy” and it’s being driven by the simple belief that working in harmony with nature offers Bhutan the best means of achieving great farming results while also protecting the health of its people and environment.

What the policy equals is something most places in the world can only dream about. Fruit, vegetables and grains that are pesticide free, herbicide free and not GMOs. In short, real food that is fresh, healthy and free of harmful chemicals.

When it comes to sustainable farming, human ethics and organic development Bhutan is doing something nations all around the world could learn from.

As their Prime Minister said, 

Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigme Thinley

“True development takes place when material, emotional and spiritual well-being occur side by side.” A beautiful statement that echoes the values and ethos of many eco-friendly businesses.  

At Master and Miss we take this holistic approach in everything we do. We strive for the designing; producing and purchasing of our clothing to be both a joyful and mindful experience every step of the way.  

Bhutan is definitely a shining eco light but the need for such a decision is also a sad reminder of what is going on everywhere else around the world. Vegetables, grains and cotton are all being grown using chemicals and pesticides we know are extremely harmful. While each of us continue to do our best to ensure our actions and choices don’t support these practices, we can only hope that one day we’ll all live somewhere as progressive as Bhutan, where the choice for organic isn’t even necessary as it’s the only choice available!

Liane Shannon

Creative Director

www.masterandmiss.com.au

One of my favourite things as a parent is story time with my daughter. Running a small business and taking care of my family means life can get hectic. Story time is a lovely quiet time my daughter and I share where the demands of the outside world are switched off for a little while and we get lost in the magic of a wonderful book together.

Being an eco-conscious Mum I’m always on the look out for beautiful books that help to nurture aware, responsible little people by inspiring them to care for the environment and those around them.

Here are some of my favourites:

“What does it mean to be Green?” by Rana DiOrio

This bright, colourful story, explains in fun kid-friendly ways what it means to be green by helping children to look at the everyday things they do with environmentally friendly glasses.

“Sofia’s Dream” by Land Wilson

This is a beautiful bedtime story about a little girl called Sofia who befriends the Moon. Through her friendship she sees the Earth from the Moon’s perspective and is inspired to do what she can to protect it.

“Our big home” by Linda Glaser

Our big home is one you’ll love just as much as your kids. The words and images are simply beautiful and serve as a lovely introduction for children in understanding the interconnectedness of all life.

“The Tomorrow Book” by Jackie French

Australian author Jackie French, won the Wilderness Society’s Environment Award for Children’s Literature for this fantastic story of a young prince who wants to create a country where the future is environmentally focused. Printed on recycled paper, the story demonstrates in an imaginative and light-hearted way possible and practical solutions to water conservation, consumer waste, pollution and wildlife protection.

“Hairy Nose, Itchy Butt” by Elizabeth Frankel

This great little story follows the plight of Australia’s Southern Hairy-Nosed Wombat on a mission to track down his favourite scratching tree. The book was inspired by a desire to help raise awareness of the threats faced by one of our most loved marsupials. Part of the royalties for every book sold are donated to the Conservation ARK for wombat conservation.

This is just a tiny snapshot of some the wonderful eco-conscious children’s literature that’s out there. I’d love to hear other recommendations! What are some of your favourite eco-friendly kids books?

Liane Shannon

Creative Director

www.masterandmiss.com.au

The Great Nappy Debate- Cloth v Disposable

The Nappy Debate

Cloth or disposable nappies? While there’s a lot of debate on what’s best, ultimately what it all comes down to is what’s right for you and your baby. Everybody’s lifestyle, beliefs and time constraints vary – so of course priorities for what kind of nappy you choose will also vary. In everything we do it’s important to gather as much information as possible before making a decision. Here are some of the pros and cons for both:

Cloth Nappies…

Cloth nappies have come a long way from what we remember our mothers and grandmothers using. In fact most modern cloth nappies look much the same as disposable nappies, just made of fabric. They even come complete with handy Velcro closures and elasticised leg openings. Available in a range of fabrics, including organic cotton and eco-friendly bamboo, the overall consensus is that cloth nappies will save you money, especially if you’re able to reuse them with other children. Depending on the brand you choose the average set-up costs are between $800 and $1000. This is compared with the average $2500-$3000 most of us spend on disposable nappies every year.

There’s also the added health benefits as using cloth nappies helps you avoid the risk of exposing your baby’s delicate skin to some of the harsh dyes and gels that appear in some brands of disposable nappies. 

The major con of cloth nappies is of course the washing that’s involved. Most mums feel clothes and linen are more than enough for the keeping the washing machine in constant motion without adding dirty nappies to the mix. However, a quick trawl of internet forums discussing this aspect and you’ll find a lot of mums arguing the benefits of cloth nappies – both economic and environmental – greatly outweigh any inconvenience regular washing creates. When managed the right way they can simply be added to the washes you’re already doing.

 

Disposable Nappies…

Convenience. Convenience. Convenience. It’s hard to argue about how much easier life is with disposable nappies. They’re super convenient and a cinch to change thanks to smart, commonsense designs. As they can be thrown straight in the bin, they make a much more practical option when you’re on the go and due to their ultra-absorbent linings, there’s less urgency to change them than if you’re using cloth.  And so long as they’re put on correctly, no leaks is almost a guarantee.

On the downside, they’re more expensive than using cloth and there’s no denying the huge environmental toll disposable nappies are making on Australia’s environment. It’s estimated that 800 million nappies end up in landfill each year and when you consider it can take up to 500 years for a single nappy to breakdown there’s a strong case that disposable nappies equal a real environmental disaster.

 

These points are just the tip of the iceberg and in the end everyone needs to decide what works best for their own family. I encourage everyone to read up more on this issue and recommend the following websites for more info:

http://ecocubs.com/

http://www.greens.org.nz/misc-documents/information-about-nappies

http://www.choice.com.au/reviews-and-tests/babies-and-kids/kids-health/nappies.aspx

 

 Liane Shannon

Master and Miss

www.masterandmiss.com.au

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winter Produce

Unsure what to plan for family meals this week? Stay healthy, fresh and green by letting the seasons dictate what goes in your grocery basket.

Eating food according to the season is a good idea for many reasons. For one, it not only benefits your health, but helps local farmers build a sustainable food industry. Two, you reduce your carbon footprint by choosing food that hasn’t been shipped half way around the world. And last but definitely not least, you get to enjoy some produce that tastes infinitely more delicious simply because it’s fresher.

While supermarkets do stock seasonal produce, their shelves are equally stocked with countless non-seasonal, imported products. To ensure the biggest range and the freshest choice of seasonal fruit and veggies, be sure to check out your local farmers’ market. Making this choice also means you’ll be taking better care of yourself and your family, as not surprisingly most fruits and vegetables grow in the season in which our bodies need them most.

Don't forget to visit farmers markets for great organic seasonal produce

On top of all the health and environmental benefits, eating seasonally also brings back some of the joy that’s been lost through eating habits built on mass production and processing. By choosing to eat seasonally you'll bring real variety to your diet and have a deeper appreciation for the uniqueness of each season, and for the range of tastes, colours and textures that each one brings. 

As we move into the early winter period of late May, June and early July keep your eye out for these winter delights….

Fruits: avocados, apples, grapefruit, lemons, limes, mandarins, pears, and rhubarb.  

Vegetables: asian greens (bok choy & choy sum), beetroot, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celery, fennel, garlic, artichokes, kale, onions, parsnip, peas, potato, pumpkin, spinach, sweet potato and turnips.  

How easy and delicious is avocado on toast!

Liane Shannon
Master and Miss - Organic Children's Clothing
www.masterandmiss.com.au

Organic Baby Food

When the time comes to starting feeding your baby solid foods, the options in the baby aisle at the supermarket can be overwhelming to say the least. While every label screams top nutrition, one of the things I was alarmed to discover is that to enable long-life storage jarred foods are cooked at extremely high temperatures. While this high temperature kills any bacteria it also kills all the good stuff – vitamins, nutrients and even taste! 

Off the shelf baby food can contain
a long list of ingredients. It is also
cooked at extremely high
temperatures to ensure it can sit
on that shelf for up to 3 years. 

Oh Mum! Have you tasted this stuff?

On top of those concerns we all know the unhealthy and potentially harmful extras that go into pre-packaged foods. Not to mention the environmental toll preparing food in this way creates.

All in all I think the case for making your own baby food is a strong one!    

Here are just some of the advantages:

• You know exactly what you’re feeding your baby
• You save money
• Your baby gets used to eating the same foods as the rest of the family (just in puree form!)
• Your baby’s food can be 100% organic and preservative free

While some of you might feel daunted at the thought of preparing all that puree food – don’t worry! It’s much quicker and easier than you think. All you really need is an easy way to steam the food and a good food processer. Steaming by the way is the best cooking method as steaming preserves the most nutrients. 

And when it comes to what to cook you don’t need any recipes. Simply create modified versions of the fruits and vegetables the rest of the family is already eating.* By shopping for seasonal, organic fruits and vegetables your baby will be getting his or her daily dose of vitamins and nutrients from the very best source – mother nature. 

Wholesome organic baby food in a few simple steps

• Purchase fresh, organic fruits and vegetables and scrub clean
• Bake, roast or steam the fruits and veggies until tender
• Puree in a food processor with a little liquid (water, breast milk, or formula), or simply mash with a fork if your baby can handle more texture
• Serve immediately or store in the fridge or freezer in airtight containers

It really is as easy that!

*Remember to always discuss with your paediatrician any foods that may potentially pose an allergy risk for your baby.

Liane Shannon
Master and Miss - Organic Children's Clothing
www.masternadmiss.com.au