Winter

  • Natural Home

    Simple simmer pot to fragrance your home

    This post is about how you can make a simple simmer pot to fragrance your home. If you aren’t keen on using synthetically produced ingredients in your home, this simmer pot is a great option.

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    Moving away from a chemically based home has been something we’ve been working on for many years. As with most things that we do for ourselves and for our home we don’t ever take an all-or-nothing approach, instead preferring to take our time and figure out what works. Before we started using simmer pots we didn’t use anything to fragrance our home.

    Chemically based fragrance

    We’re surrounded by chemically based fragrances and before starting to make our own simmer pots, instead we didn’t use fragrance in our home. Fragrance has always been a big issue for me, from contributing to my migraines to aggravating an ongoing ear problem I have had since my teens. Even a quick spray of synthetic polish, or any kind of air freshener, and my ear would immediately hurt.

    When I started to look into it, because I was curious as to why, I found a whole heap of evidence to back up that air fresheners and many cleaning products contribute to human exposure to primary and secondary air pollutants.

    Air freshener exposures, even at low levels, have been associated with a range of adverse health effects, which include migraine headaches, asthma attacks, breathing difficulties, respiratory difficulties, mucosal symptoms, dermatitis, infant diarrhea and earache, neurological problems, and ventricular fibrillation.

    Recent population studies have investigated the prevalence and types of health effects associated with air fresheners. In a survey of the US population [39], in a nationally representative sample (n = 1,136, CL = 95%, CI = 3%), 20.4% of the population report health problems when exposed to air fresheners and deodorizers. Specific health effects include the following: 9.5% report respiratory problems, 7.6% mucosal symptoms, 7.2% migraine headaches, 5.7% skin problems, 4.7% asthma attacks, 3.2% neurological problems, 2.7% cognitive problems, 2.7% gastrointestinal problems, 2.6% cardiovascular problems, 2.4% musculoskeletal problems, 1.8% immune system problems, and 0.7% other health problems.

    Ten questions concerning air fresheners and indoor built environments, Building and Environment
    Volume 111, January 2017, Pages 279-284, by Anne Steinemann

    Given our generation’s obsession with cleaning our homes with all the Mrs. Hinch-inspired products under the sun, I have to say I felt incredibly grateful to physically not have been able to fall into this trap. My good old ear saved me from myself because let me tell you, I always loved a good scent.

    I also found this particularly concerning:

    Air fresheners are not required to disclose all ingredients [41], and typically do not. For example, in a comparison of declared and undeclared substances for six air freshener products [46], found high percentages of the number of undeclared substances (greater than 90%) and high percentages of the concentrations of undeclared substances (greater than 75%), relative to the total number and total concentration of declared and undeclared substances.

    Ten questions concerning air fresheners and indoor built environments, Building and Environment
    Volume 111, January 2017, Pages 279-284, by Anne Steinemann

    I also found this concerning, as a mother of two very small children:

    Children of the 90s (ALSPAC), which has followed the health and development of 14,000 children since before birth, is the first study to investigate the effects of VOCs on infants.

    The researchers found that frequent use of air fresheners and aerosols during pregnancy and early childhood was associated with higher levels of diarrhoea, earache and other symptoms in infants, as well as headaches and depression in mothers.

    Farrow A, Taylor H, Northstone K, Golding J, ALSPAC Study Team. Symptoms of Mothers and Infants Related to Total Volatile Organic Compounds in Household Products. Archives of Environmental Health. doi: 10.3200/AEOH.58.10.633-641

    There is a lot of research out there about the damage these synthetic fragrances can do, and for someone with very much physical symptoms for most of her life, it has always made sense to avoid anything with synthetic fragrances like the plague.

    The best thing about simmer pots is how natural they are

    Health is wealth as far as I am concerned, and while I cannot control many aspects of my health (a work in progress for someone with health anxiety, but CBT has helped me make massive strides) there are many I can. I can’t control fragrances, dioxins and pollutants as I move through life outside of my home and therefore I don’t even think about that, but inside my home I am more careful about what we use.

    What do I need to make a simmer pot

    Here is the great thing, you can pretty much make up any kind of pot and experiment with what you love. Today I am sharing one of my favourites, but feel free to be creative and find what you love.

    All you need is:

    • Saucepan with lid
    • Hob/Stove top
    • Natural ingredients

    Making an autumnal apple simmer pot, that you can make any time of year

    Oven top simmer pot

    Oven top simmer pot

    Tools

    • 2 apples Cut into either slices or quartered
    • 1 lemon sliced
    • 1 litre water
    • 1 tbsp dried Cinnamon

    Instructions

    1. Add ingredients to pot, mix together and place on hob.
    2. Bring to a rolling boil, reduce the temperature and allow to simmer softly.

    If you’re wondering whether these kind of simmer pots fragrance your home as well as chemical frangranced items such as plug ins or air fresheners, the answer is yes. Every time I fragrance my home this way (usually when we have guests) I always get so many comments about how good it smells. It is not only a wonderful smell but is comforting and warming too.

    If you give this a try be sure to let me know, by either leaving me a comment here or tagging me over on Instagram.

    Until next time,

  • Mindfulness & Meditation

    Wintering, Breath work and beyond with Billie

    A post about Wintering, Breath work and beyond with Billie. Billie joined me on the podcast to share her love of wintering and discuss the importance of breath work.

    Spotify Podcasts | Apple podcasts

    Date: 30th January 2023

    Podcast: The Slow Living Collective Podcast

    Episode: 025: Wintering, Breath work and beyond with Billie

    Summary: Wintering, Breath work and beyond with Billie

    In this episode we’re joined by Billie from Each Mindful day. Billie is a teacher and breath work coach. Today we’re talking about wintering, from embracing the seasonality of winter, slowing down with the natural ebbs and flows of our own life and Billie shares why breath work is a key part of her practice. 

    woman meditating in bedroom
    Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

    Key Topics & Chapter Markers

    Wintering & living seasonally [2:00]

    Welcome to Billie and welcome to the slow living collective podcast. Billie and I are so similar in our outlook on life, along with many of the things we are passionate about but also so different too. It’s great to come together and celebrate those unique parts of us. 

    In this episode we’re talking about how we embrace the seasonal flow of winter, but also how we implement these things in those natural ebbs and flows of our lives. 

    Billie explains what winter means to her, that the idea of wintering is something she has been practicing more over the last 4-5 years. That it means leaning into knowing when rest and retreat is most needed, and that these things that we can apply in winter can be applied to our life whatever the season, whenever we need to embrace slowing down. Billie talks about how we generally follow a linear track through life which isn’t really how we were made to be.

    Amy discusses the wonder that is living more seasonally and how when you start to embrace living with the seasons you suddenly get it, and it all of a sudden seems quite obvious.

    Deep in January we talk about the emergence of the new year and how we are expected to be switched on and ready to set your goals, and it doesn’t feel the most natural. 

    We talk about how lockdowns during the pandemic taught us so much, encouraged us to slow down and how the doom and gloom and doom scrolling was difficult to absorb. Amy shares how coming out the pandemic she realised that she didn’t want to get back to normal, a phrase that the media was quick to dish out. 

    Billie talks about how our bodies aren’t designed to live the life society tells us to live and instead, by embracing seasonal living we are able to create a life that feels right. She talks about having a life throughout winter that reflects the bare bones of the season. It is about spending more time at home, creating a home space that feels good for the family to relax in and embracing the ways we traditionally used to live.

    Amy talks about how we’re so disconnected from this natural way of living in the modern world, and we know these things [about living seasonally] but we don’t know that we know because we’re so disconnected. We’ve largely grown up with the ‘new year, new me’ mentality and it’s hard to shift ourselves away from that.

    Billie talks about using the winter season to quietly plan things but not act on them yet, and instead put plans into action in the emergence of spring.

    How to protect your mental health through winter [14:20]

    Winter isn’t an easy season for many and Billie explains that she embraces the season with reading, writing, journal and breathing. She also ensures she has time with her family, are mindful of what they are eating and nourishing themselves with. Understanding the connection between gut health and mental health is also key.

    Breath work & being a breath work coach [16:30]

    Billie talks about her experience with breath work and her decision to become a breath work coach. Her intention is to get the awareness of breath work out there and help to empower people with the techniques to help them with every area of their lives

    Billie also talks us through breath awareness and conscious breathing; Being breath aware where the breath breathes you and conscious breathing where you breathe the breath. Billie also shared her win of the week in uploading her first track on insight timer, you can find the links to everywhere Billie is online at the bottom of these show notes. She also explained her seasonal sessions which she holds.

    Amy asked Billie what inspired her to start practicing breath work and then becoming a breath work coach? Billie said lock down and being paralysed by everything that was going on and noticing that nothing was switching off her mind. She found breath work and started to feel a little lighter, and from there she felt compelled to join training to become a breath work coach. Starting training as a breath work coach pushed her outside her comfort zone but her instructor gave her the confidence to push ahead. Billie explained that she had long felt inspired and pulled by people in the wellness space but never believed she had the right to be there. Taking the plunge completely changed her life. It’s not just the breathing and techniques using on herself, but this backed by science practice is wonderful to teach, and seeing others finding that wow moment too. 

    How do you balance it all [25:11]

    Living in the modern world, being women, mothers etc can sometimes be difficult to manage it all. Amy askes Billie how does she balance all the things? Billie has worked part time for 8 years and so has had time to embed those routines and rituals. She explains including her children in everything she does, inviting them to slow down, being at the allotment, getting them involved, showing them the importance of self care and living within that life together.

    Amy talks about how she wants her children to know how to slow down and nourish themselves from birth, for all of this to just be a natural way of life.

    Where to connect

    If you want to follow Billie and her breath work, you can find her on Instagram @each.mindful.day and on Insight Timer too. 

    If you are looking for more ways to learn about living seasonally come and follow along with my seasonal living life on Instagram. You can find me @lifeonplot44. You can also follow this podcast @theslowlivingcollective.

  • Simple Living

    Is January the right time to set intentions?

    Spotify Podcasts | Apple podcasts

    Date: 23rd January 2023

    Podcast: The Slow Living Collective Podcast

    Episode: 024: Is January the right time to set intentions?

    In this episode Amy delves into the why’s and the hows of seasonal living through winter and why January might not be the best time to set intentions/goals/resolutions when it comes to the pressure of the new year.

    calendar on a laptop beside a cup of black coffee
    Photo by Leeloo Thefirst on Pexels.com

    Key topics & chapter markers

    Living seasonally throughout the winter [3:02]

    Living seasonally throughout the winter isn’t easy and the new year comes at a time when it doesn’t really make logical sense. It is not connect to anything relating to the solar or lunar, it just exists as a date with no real connections to anything. We come straight from the Christmas season, into new year and then we’re plunged back into normality in the deep, dark depths of winter. Is it any wonder why our new years resolutions/intentions don’t work.

    So many of us have grown up in the “new year, new me” era and also in the era of creating resolutions in January and not being able to see them out. It was considered normal, but why? 

    Since I got into seasonal living and living more attuned to the seasons it has started to make more sense. Seasonal living is a strange one that people don’t always understand, but the irony is is that it is how our ancestors lived. It is almost like we have been pulled away from what is the most natural way of living for us. Seasonal living is inherently built into us and in winter it is natural for our bodies to want to slow down, seek rest, be more tired and for us to want to nourish our bodies with filling, warming foods.

    Why resolutions don’t always work in winter [14:28]

    So why don’t our resolutions always work in winter time? The timing makes no logical sense as nothing aligns with the date of the new year. Not to mention we are in the deepest, darkest winter. There was a survey conducted by Sundried which found that 43% of people expected to give up their goal by February and that a whopping 95% of resolutions made are related to fitness. January is a hard month, in the depths of winter and whether we embrace seasonal living or not our bodies are well aware that it is winter, and whether we give into it or not, they are seeking rest. 

    The promise of spring [21:00]

    I did some research on where the notion of celebrating new year came from and who decided 1st of January was a good idea. What I found was so interesting, as until 1752, Great Britain (not including Scotland) and the empire used 25th March as the official start date of the year. I found this incredible as this is literally how I feel. Spring, it makes so much sense. It’s the time of new beginnings and not only that, it is close to the spring equinox too.

    Whether we want to align with it or not, we were born to live by the seasons and ancestrally we have connectons to that. Our bodies keep the score and they know that we should live by the seasons, but because modern society has pushed us further away from how we were born to live we end up not understanding why we feel the way that we do about each season. Whether you are looking to change your way of living or not I really recommend doing some reading about living seasonally, I think it will make so much sense. 

    If you are looking for more ways to learn about living seasonally come and follow along with my seasonal living life on Instagram. You can find me @lifeonplot44. You can also follow this podcast @theslowlivingcollective.