March 2, 2021

SCHOOL UNIFORM SOURCING + LUNCH BOX CONTAINERS

I talked about this on stories as Clayton started school but I wanted to put it here so you could share and reference it more easily!

The real takeaway here is ASK QUESTIONS!

Even if nothing changes for you in an area, you might be part of things changing down the line. Explain why you care and see what workarounds you can find, uniform or any area. Yes it can be uncomfortable to be the one who asks if something can be done differently, but you’re not doing it to be difficult, you’re asking to bring needed change. So ask away!

For Clayton I first dug into what was listed by the school. Called the companies, looked at what they made clothes with and where. It wasn’t awful, there was some idea of supply chain but I knew I wanted to be a bit more sure on sourcing and materials. Sadly second hand wasn’t an option with 2020. So a few tips for starting out:

Ask about second hand sales: This is probably the best way to give uniform a longer life and spend less without using more resources!
Check local charity shops: sometimes local charity shops will have uniform basics or even specific pieces for local schools. This will be an ongoing thing – if I see something in a larger size I’m grab it before it’s needed!
Ask if there are facebook groups or online reselling options for your school: In the era of COVID some schools are doing more online methods of clothing reselling, find out what you have access to.
See if you can start something! If your school doesn’t have anything, ask if you can start something! A google doc with available pieces and email address? An appointment only second hand sale? A coordinator who people can check in with who handles it all with no contact – there could be so many options!

HERE’S WHAT WE DID!

UNIFORM BASICS

Ethical superstore (UK/ROI)

SHOES

Giesswein (US/UK/Europe)

GYM KIT

Ethical superstore (UK/ROI)

GYM PLIMSOLES

Trotters: not overall a brand I choose but they have one great plimsole option.

OUTDOOR SPORT SHOES

Second hand FB marketplace

SCHOOL COAT

Mini Boden Used via eBay

LUNCH BAGS

Used via eBay

LUNCH CONTAINERS

Eco lunch box (UK LINK)

Eco Lunch Box (US LINK)

Planet box – much less worth the cost to me but we do use it cos we have it! (US LINK HERE) (UK not available)

Stasher Bag (UK LINK)

Stasher Bag (US LINK)

Hydroflask Water Bottle (US LINK)

SCHOOL COLOURED SWEATER

OrBasics THIS sweater which they currently have in lots of great school basic colours.

SCHOOL COLOURED GYM SHIRT

Hope that helps!

PIN IT FOR WHEN IT MATTERS! :

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🍓 Finished up probably my last morning workout

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They’re very treasured as we don’t eat them when they’re packaged in plastic or not local. Why? Given we have choice over where our food comes from (cos not everyone has a choice of how food gets on their table) and some control over the human and eco impact of our diet, I want to use that choice the best we can! Not to think that every food grown worldwide should be available to us every day. 🍓
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So we have strawberries a few weeks of the year and we savour them. Then blackberries for a few weeks... then we don’t really have berries the rest of the year.
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Just a very pregnant girl and her very spicy chana

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POST PARTUM MEALS! 🥄 This is 1 of my 2 go to’

POST PARTUM MEALS! 🥄 This is 1 of my 2 go to’s for mums after birth when I get to join in a meal train! 🥄
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Everyone wants something different after giving birth (so just ask if you’re cooking!) but taking hearty meat stews with vegetables, broth and few allergens are my go to if it fits for the person!
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There’s no specific recipe, I use what I have in the house but the general outline I use is:
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1️⃣ Dice a large onion or two smaller ones and sauté with 2-3 cloves garlic in oil.
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2️⃣Add in 3-4 cups veggies. Potatoes, carrots, squash, anything I have! And keep stirring and cooking in oil. .
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3️⃣Add in about 1lb stewing meat (I used @kneppwildrangemeat here) and brown it.
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4️⃣ Add in about 3 cups liquid. I used 2 cups @sumawholefoods chopped 🍅, broth, and added marmite and aminos, ACV for flavour but beer, wine, passata... lots of things work. .
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5️⃣ Sometimes I add in a cup of lentils, barley, or rice. And then an extra 2 cups of liquid to compensate.
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6️⃣Give it all a stir, a season and pop in a low oven (150°C) for 2-3 hours stirring a few times and adding more liquid as needed until everything is soft and the meat is falling apart. Taste and season again!
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🥄: this much makes about 6 full servings. And I dropped it off tonight with some “cookie dough” with great fats @bebambu collagen and oats, for quick treat bites while breastfeeding. 🍪

“Mummy, why is your butt more jiggly?” Clayto

“Mummy, why is your butt more jiggly?”

Clayton asked me this innocently as I got in the shower a few weeks ago. At other moments in life (prior pregnancies for sure) I would have shied away or laughed him off. I feel like I’ve grown up this pregnancy and I have no desire to make the changes in my body seem like anything to feel shame over, and I feel no shame. “My butt IS more jiggly babe yes! And it’s because it has extra fat on it - my body is doing something incredible and growing a baby and fat is important for that. Fat is part of what keeps us healthy and right now my body needs more - so, jiggly butt!”

Then this morning: “Mummy, why do you have those lines down your leg?”

He means the varicose veins I’m sporting on my calf. Pregnant with Roey I covered them in foundation but I haven’t hidden them for a second this time - who am I helping by covering up what my incredible body is doing? And when he asked I wanted to CELEBRATE them! “Did you know my body has made sooooo much extra blood 🩸?! Isn’t that cool? Like, it’s made double the blood it usually has to help me grow this baby!? And that can make it push on the veins a bit more and do that - aren’t our bodies incredible?”

I’m 7 months off being classed as a geriatric pregnancy. Someone asked me about growing older and being pregnant and how I feel. Honestly: some aches and low blood pressure yes, BUT the best, strongest, most healthy version of pregnant me. The first time I saw a tummy stretch mark 6 years ago I freaked OUT. It defined me. This time, I moved right on without have to even have a second of self talk. Varisoce veins: no foundation going on them. Natural weight gain: it’s a beautiful needed change. It’s taken time to get there but I’m glad I get to paint a different picture from the beginning to my kids and celebrate all the things - finally - that society tells us aren’t ideal of should be covered up, or we’re “lucky” if we don’t have happen to us. Nope, we’re lucky to be alive, incredibley fortunate to carry this little life, and all the changes that come with it are just perfect.

RECIPE ✨ Whole Spelt Honey Shortbread from the w

RECIPE ✨ Whole Spelt Honey Shortbread from the weekend 😋
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Anyone else watch Ted Lasso?! ⚽️ thanks to Ted we’ve been making lots of this the last few weeks - playing with the more traditional recipe to make it work with our go to whole spelt flour which is what we buy in bulk and love using!
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This recipe is 👌 and so so simple. Yesterday we stacked it up with whipped cream and 🍓 from the garden and it’s below for you ahead of hitting the blog later this week. It’s one of THE simplest recipes - and if you’re worried it loses something with taking out the white flour and refined sugar I promise it doesn’t... and so does Jared which maybe carries more weight 😉
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INGREDIENTS

* 4oz good quality soft butter (or we tested coconut oil and it works well too!)
* 2oz honey
* 7oz whole spelt flour (we get it in bulk from @dovesfarm)
* 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
* Pinch salt

DIRECTIONS

* Mix the honey, vanilla, and butter/oil together until they’re smooth.
* Add in the flour and salt together and mix it with a spoon (or your hands!) until it’s an even and smooth dough.
* On parchment paper press it into a slab about 1/3” thick then slice it into squares for regular shortbread or two long rectangles to make it this way stacked with cream and fruit!
* Chill in the fridge for 15-30 mins then pop it in a 190°C oven for 15-20 minutes until it’s golden brown at the edges.
* Allow them to cool on the baking sheet as they harden up there too then transfer to a sealed container or eat them!
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If you’re stacking it with cream, whip 8oz cream (I added 1tsp honey and 1T @broughbrothers whisky 😋) and then layer it up with fruit like the picture!

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