1. Biodynamic Apple Cider:

2. Solar Sun Jar:

Harness the sun’s amazing energy to create your own ambient light in this cool solar jar. The traditional mason jar contains a high tech LED which illuminates the jar when charged. Great for Summer evenings spent in the backyard entertaining or even inside as a feature nightlight. They come in 3 different colours too – very funky and SOOO much cooler than a standard ol’ candle. Grab one from: www.todae.com.au

3. Cotton Hammock Chairs:

We adore spending our weekends and warm evenings ‘hanging’ around on our hammock chairs sipping on coconut water. They are 100% cotton, hand-woven and oh-so-comfortable! Be warned, you may prefer to sleep in one of these over your own bed. We picked ours up while on holiday in Margaret River, WA, though you can find similar ones here: www.mexicanhammocks.com.au

4. Filtered Water Bottle:

5. Sun-friendly Products:

The sun is here – do not be afraid of it. I repeat, do not be afraid! The sun is here to provide life on earth and you are included in this. It is not evil, though unfortunately most products associated with sun exposure ARE. We have found some fantastic natural alternatives for you to try:

ECO TAN:

If you’ve read the killer cosmetics article, you will know my stance on fake tan. I adore it! Finding a faux tan to suit my very strict ‘no nasty chemicals’ rule was not easy, until I discovered this amazing stuff. Not only does it give the most beautiful natural brown colour (unlike the orange glow you might get from your usual chemical-laden tanning products), but it’s made with 70% certified organic FOOD and natural extracts! Perfect for when you need a quick bronze boost for a one of the many Christmas parties this time of year. You can pick one up through their website: www.ecotan.com.au.

CREAM DEODORANT:

Deodorants are a MUST in Summer for most people, especially those wishing to sit next to me on the train on a 40 degree day! Aluminium is present in many of the commercial deodorants available today, which not only prevents necessary sweating to cool our bodies and eliminate toxins, but is a toxic heavy metal linked to diseases such as Alzheimer’s and some cancers. This cream deodorant is one of the few I have come across that not only smells incredible and contains no nasties but it actually does the job of deoderising very well. Grab one from: www.tranquillita.com.au.

NATURAL SUNSCREEN:

Most of the sunscreens we all know and love are unfortunately packed with nasty chemicals which are known to be carcinogenic (cancer-causing). If you are planning on spending more than 30 minutes in the sun and feel the need to shield your skin further than just wearing a hat and protective clothing, then consider a healthier option. www.shopnaturally.com.au stock this great alternative which is completely natural and organic. The active ingredient is ‘zinc oxide’ which very effectively blocks both UVA and UVB rays.