Ritual Oils Blue Lotus - The Ancient Egyptian Dream Flower

So I wasn’t able to try this gorgeous Blue Lotus Flower previously because I was breastfeeding Lolita but I stopped this month and I was like “wooooo I can finally try it come at meee” loll. I ordered 3 packets of Ritual Oils Blue Lotus flower which you can add to your bath, your tea or smoke it. The Blue Lotus flower is also known as the Ancient Egyptian Dream Flower andddd now I know why the Ancient Egyptians were so lit. I didn’t want to try it whilst I was breast feeding because it can have psychoactive affects and obviously this would then be passed onto my daughter so I didn’t want to risk it. I don’t think there have been adequate studies done but I encourage you to research for yourself.

This flower is gorgeousssss and versatile. Here’s a little bit about my experience with the flower. Every body is different and from a scientific perspective and what I experienced it will create a somewhat altered state of mind but it will totally depend on you and your body.

BLUE LOTUS TEA

So let’s start with having it as a tea. So just like other tea’s you let it steep in hot water for 3-5 minutes depending on how strong you would like it.
Other people may put it in a teapot and the keep topping up the water as you can get quite a few cups out of a single flower but I just added it directly to my gorgeous mug and kept re-filling it in there. I added two flowers cause I bought an abundance lol but I am sure if you add just one at a time it will be fine. I didn’t add any sweeteners because I am sweet enough hahahahah nah I just don’t feel the need to make everything super sweet. I just have black coffee, no sugar & no milk so you can get an idea of what my tastebuds like.

The flavour is very mild. Almost like a Camommile if I had to compare it to anything but it is it’s own unique flavour. After about 15-20 minutes or so you will feel the amazing affects of this gorgeous flower. I would describe it as a super relaxing and chill vibes but not tired. Just like your whole body is reallllllly relaxed and comfy if that makes sense? I can see why people with anxiety choose this flower to drink as a tea and why it has been used for thousands of years in Egypt and China and many other countries especially in the East. I would recommend trying it before you sleep if you have insomnia or are anxious and I can guarantee you will fall into a deep sleep with quite vivid dreams.

I wouldn’t have this tea before work or when you’re going out. That’s just me personally. I would have it at home when you want to chill and relax. It also has aphrodisiac effect’s so that’s probably another reason to have some at home. Haha.

I read an article on how the Ancient Egyptians added it to wine and I think this would be super intense and a really nice but also get you lit experience. If you try it out like this let me know :)

SOAK IN BLUE LOTUS

The next way I used the sacred Blue Lotus flower is by adding it to my bath. I added 6 flowers to the running hot water with epsom salts and about 10 drops of Ritual Oils Moringa and Blue Lotus oil. It will turn the water a light pale yellow colour which to me signified the important qualities of the flower had been leeched. (Is that a real word or did I make it Up lol). If you haven’t tried this oil before it is SO AMAZING. It has the most divine smell so a bath and the flowers combined is pure relaxation. And we all need that weekly.

To be honest I got about 15 minutes of bath time to myself before the kids came in and wanted a bath as well but if you were to have a bath and a cup of Blue Lotus Tea before bed then oh my lordddddd it would be such a blissful sleep and you would smell like an angel. If I had longer I would have lit some candles and meditated in the bath fully emersed in blue lotus hehe.

SMOKE BLUE LOTUS

So I wanted to start off by saying I do not condone smoking cigarettes or vapes. Everyone can do as they please and no judgement from my end but I don’t smoke and I personally think the whole inhaling process of smoking is a factor of why people enjoy it.
It is a form of meditation as you are concentrating on your breath which is how you can enter into a meditative state during meditation. That’s just my opinion.

Secondly I am not saying I smoked the Blue Lotus flower. Please DM me on Instagram @thedesignerhippy if you have any queries.

BUT if I did smoke the Blue Lotus Flower and according to other people’s experiences then this would be my experience - totally euphoric vibes and a feeling of happiness but also a very awake type feeling that had a lot of creative insight and buzz.

All in all I really enjoyed the Blue Lotus flower. I personally believe ancient civilisations were a lot more in tune with nature’s gifts and I love it because it is versatile, cheap and looks really pretty in the bath or mug. You feel like a queen when you’re surrounded by it.

If you want to give it a go, click here and use my code ROMEO. It will get you discount. If you have tried it out I would love to hear about your experience as well.

Thanks for stopping by and I want to send some blessings, love and light your way. Vibe high babies.

XOXOXO

Daily Self Care with Ritual Oils Rose Quartz Face Roller, Gua Sha & Moringa Oil w Blue Lotus

Hello ! It’s me. And I am so happy to be back connecting with ya’ll.
As it is still lockdown here in Sydney, Australia ; I figured it’s the perfect time to check in with you and for you to see what I am doing.

Lockdown due to Covid -19 has been intense and whilst we are all riding the same storm; we are NOT all in the same boat. Some people are in boats and some are in yachts. I want to extend my love and blessings to absolutely everyone who has been affected whether that is financially, mentally, physically or spiritually.
Anyways, some comments I have gotten are how I am always happy and looking good (not sounding stuck up but for real some people said that which I have credited makeup, cute filters and a happy vibe lmao).
And while I believe I really consciously made an effort to use lockdown to my advantage, my hubby and I both can verify I am not always happy. I am super sensitive and highly emotional. I absorb other people’s energies and since the world is a mad house right now I do get in my moods …BUT I can say I have done SO MUCH internal work and I am really proud of how much I’ve evolved during lockdown.

If you want me to go more into my lockdown routine like my home workouts, what I am eating and how I am staying motivated for life then let me know but for now I am going to get back to my daily self care which has kept me sane and looking a lil fresher.

So if you can remember back to my post on Ritual Oils Moringa & Blue lotus , I absolutely love using this divine smelling oil and this gorgeous shop in general. Well when I was pregnant with Lolita in 2019 and living that virtual hell ( read about it here if you’re not familiar with Hyperemesis Gravidarum & why I am sounding so dramatic), Ritual Oils gifted me the Rose Quartz Face Roller, Gua Sha & Ritual Oils Set. Oh my goodness it must have been the pregnancy hormones combined with pre-natal depression but I sobbed like a baby haha I was so grateful.

Anyways I really enjoy using both the roller and the Gua Sha. I will admit the Gua Sha is my fave because of how it sculpts the jawline and cheekbones and I love high, defined cheekbones.
I found this lady on Instagram and she does all these crazy face massages using the Gua Sha and I also went onto Youtube and Googled techniques. It’s so easy and it works. I don’t have anything against botox or filler, I just don’t feel ready for it (and I hate needles) so this is perfect for me.
I use the Blue Lotus Moringa Oil, the Gua Sha and the rollwer after the shower every day.

**TIP** Keep them both in the fridge and it feels so good on the skin like wow.

If you’re not familiar, some other benefits of the Rose Quartz Face Roller and Gua Sha are :

• tension relief

• assists with facial lymphatic drainage

• assists with product absorption into the skin

• and supports blood circulation

If you have tried it out. Let me know :) i feel like I am puffy in the face in the morning but after using these three I see a HUGE difference.

After I do my skin care routine I have been getting into the habit of putting makeup on every second day or so even if I am just going to the fruit shop to get items for dinner.
Honestly, I enjoy makeup and getting dressed up. For me personally when I look good I feel better and since no beauty services are open- this is the next best option for me to keep me sane.

This little self care routine has made a difference to my mental state. I have a few more posts on the way with products from Ritual Oils. If you’re keen on trying out there products you can get a discount with the code ROMEO. Click this link and happy shopping cause you deserve it.

Lots of love beautiful people. Sending out love and light

xx

Lolita's first photoshoot with Australia's BEST eco nappies - Comfy Koalas

Hello and welcome back to my blog beautiful people. Thanks for stopping by- It’s been a while and I am not consistent but life has been wild and busy and great to be honest. I had to do this blog post because my baby girl Lolita was asked to be a part of a photoshoot for Australia’s best environmentally friendly nappy company- Comfy Koalas and well, that needs documenting haha. I just received the professional images and have been waiting on that to post so here it is and wiiii I love them.

I suppose it would be best to start at the start and that would be way back in 2015 when I was pregnant with Romeo. I would say this was the turning point in my life when I started to give a sh*t about what was going into my body, the environment and living as toxic free as I could. It is odd that myself and many others needed to be pregnant to have this switch in mindset but suddenly, knowing I was growing life, made me so much more conscious of what I was consuming indirectly and directly.
Then started the research of baby items such as nappies and wipes and all of that plus the environmental impact of the choice you make as an individual and whoaaaaaa my mind got blown. Nappies like Huggies take 500 years to break down…500 ! So that mean the first nappy that was invented has not disintegrated eeek. Not only that but they contain a variety of toxins like Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), Dioxins, Sodium Polyacrylate, Tributyl-tin (TBT), Dyes, Fragrances, Petrolatums, Plastics, Phthalates and Adhesive chemicals. The thought of these being against my babies skin for me was a no-go so I chose an Australian company who sold bamboo nappies. A year and a half later Romeo was toilet trained and my nappy buying came to an end until Lolita was born.

So back to the shoot and how it came about. Lolita isn’t part of a modelling agency which was the main question I was asked when I posted on my Instagram story. The opportunity came about as I had just found a family owned, Australian eco nappy company based in New South Wales providing bamboo nappies very cheap with free delivery and 30% off the first box. A great incentive from Comfy Koalas!
I loved their branding - coming from a design background I think I look into branding more then the average person lol. It’s fun and quirky- not your usual nappy style marketing.
Comfy Koalas were new to the nappy scene (launching early 2020) and I was excited to support a fellow small business and give them a go!
A few months later I received an email from Comfy Koalas thanking me for my support ( which is something they regularly do anyways as well as checking in on how we are finding the nappies, if we have any queries etc which is amazing and personal ) as well as asking if Lola would like to partake in their up-coming shoot for their socials and website content.
Of course I said yes- I’ve done a few shoots myself, some professional and some for friends ( Aperol Spritz, Edwards and Co + Emma Chen Artistry were some of my fave) but never at the age of under one. I was excited to get some professional pictures of her as we didn’t do any newborn shoots or anything.

So the photoshoot for Comfy Koalas was held in North Sydney in a studio with two other babies and it was the quickest shoot I’ve ever been on. I was able to meet the owners and employee’s of Comfy Koalas- everyone was very friendly, down to earth and passionate about their company which I love. They were genuinely excited about their company and I think that is so important as a small business owner cause dangggg, business can be tough so having that passion really makes things seem less like work.
Lolita did really well for her first shoot. She was teething which you will be able to tell from the photo’s but she was pretty happy and comfortable in front of the camera. They had some cute props like a hand made Comfy Koalas box tower, a Koala towel and toy, balls and shiny things as props to keep the bubs happy. Romeo was also a big help as Lola is so obsessed with him so he was making her smile, cuteee. And I got to be a in few pics so these will be something I can look back on in 20 years time and reminiscence.

I definitely will be a permanent customer with Comfy Koalas until Lolita is out of nappies.
I love that they are SUPER soft with no unnecessary plastic or ink on them. I have never understood why nappies need so much toxic ink on them as it’s not like the bubs even know what image is on them (marketing to the adults I suppose ). She never leaks even after a full nights sleep. Sure the nappy is full but at least it doesn’t leak over the bed. We co-sleep so I don’t want to be changing the sheets every day lol. They are hypo-allergic and dermatologically tested so she has never had nappy rash caused from the nappy. I think this is a massive bonus especially when they are newborns. I would love to see these nappies in the hospitals instead of big name brands full of toxic crap.
And call me lazy but the fact they are delivered for free to my door is a massive bonus. Buying a box and having a monthly subscription benefits me as 9/10 I have Lolita in the baby carrier so carrying bulky nappies and other shopping items is pretty impossible. The monthly plan is super flexible. We went to Byron Bay this month and that was when my nappies were due to arrive so I received them a week earlier. The month before that we hadn’t gone through as many so I changed the subscription for a week later.

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If you have a bub I would highly recommend trying Comfy Koalas. If you don’t like their nappies they even refund you but honestly there is absolutely no reason not to love these nappies. Even if you know someone with babies, instead of getting them a blanket or a plastic toy, I would highly recommend getting the parents something like these nappies. It takes the stress off the mum or dad to go to the shop as it’s one less they need to worry about and you know they will use it!

Anyways , I hope you love the pictures of my baby girl as much as I do. Thank you so much for stopping by and reading this. I love sharing these moments with my friends, family and followers. I feel like I have friends all over Australia and the world because of my Instagram and this is just another way for us to connect and share these special moments of our lives.

Love and blessings,
Gabriella

Moringa Oil infused with Blue lotus- Ritual Oil Review and Discount code

Hey honeys ! I’ve got an amazing product to share with you that you can introduce into your skin, hair and body care routine. You all know I love beauty products and this one has become a staple because of the way it makes my skin feel and look. Like a pregnancy glow but without the pregnancy ahaha.
Unfortunately my husband is also obsessed so we go through it quickly haha. Just kidding I love sharing everything with him and I love that my husband is open enough to let me put face masks and skin products on him.

This product is very special because it’s my friends company. I’m really proud of him for manufacturing something of this high standard that looks and feels amazing as well and has many health benefits.  I love to support small brands and Australian owned companies. Something so amazing about this product is that it was featured in Vogue Arabia early this year which is a great achievement since the product is relatively new. Congratulations Arri and the team at Ritual Oils !

Now onto the product…..Drum roll please…It’s called Moringa oil infused with Blue Lotus - by Ritual Oils. 

Prior to using this oil I was unfamiliar with the properties of Moringa and Blue Lotus. Sure it smelt good but how was it going to benefit me ? After looking into it further , Moringa is well known in the beauty and health industry and used extensively. It’s also set to be the next big ‘superfood’ so you will be hearing about it a lot soon. Sorry Kale, your time has come to an end. Haha.

Moringa is a tree native to India but grown all over the world. People digest it as a powder, tea or in tablet capsule form but in our case it is in oil format. It is high in Vitamins A, B and C as well as Iron and Zinc.

Blue lotus is also an amazing plant used a lot in Ancient Egypt, Ancient China and India. It assists with depression, is a muscle and sleep relaxant , an aphrodisiac, diabetes, assists with menstrual pain and has many more health benefits.

So this product is not only great for your skin but also your hair especially those fortunate enough to have tight ringlets. When using it on your skin and hair, it’s nourishing qualities include anti ageing and assists with rejuvenation, acne problems, dry skin, pigmentation, it’s a source of vitamin C and also is used to treat wounds. Because the product is cold pressed, you get 100% of the nutrients, minerals, enzymes and vitamins.
I am blessed with clear skin and don’t use this product as an acne treatment so I can’t comment too much on that aspect in too much detail but if you head to Ritual Oils Instagram you can see in the highlights that it has treated blemishes and acne. I would try this natural product before using chemical derived and unnatural products. There are also some story highlights of people putting it on their baby bump, hair, wounds and over-all body. Such a lovely all round product.

My routine with this is simple. After a shower, I rub 2-4 drops into my palm.
I then rub my hands together and massage it into my face, chest and neck. I close my eyes during the process and take my time with slowly massaging it into my pores. During this, I think about how grateful I am for my beautiful life and all the things I am blessed for.  I make it a ‘ ritual’ skin care routine when I treat myself to this mini relaxation and I look forward to it every day.
After the oil has been warmed in your hand, it glides beautifully over your skin and you can feel it absorbing into your skin, without leaving it feeling greasy. The brand as a whole has a wonderful message - it is there to reminds you and I how important gratitude is and I like those little subtle reminders. The more grateful I am, the more abundant my life becomes.

If you would like to add Ritual Oil into your skin care routine you can purchase it here. Use code ROMEO for a discount.

If you are wanting to purchase it over the counter, please see the stockists here. It is stocked in Australia, Indonesia, U.S.A and England.

In my opinion, the 3 pack is great value and currently on sale but if you’re unsure I would go for just one bottle. After that you will be hooked. The Rose quartz gift set (picture right) is the most PERFECT sentimental and useful gift for mother’s day as well. Get it before you forget and have to buy flowers from the service station haha.
Please let me know if this worked wonders for you as well.

Hope you loved this post as much as I enjoyed creating it for you.

All my love, TDH

xx

My top 3 favourite children's books

Hello ! Feeling so inspired to write and the post has been on my mind a lot so it’s about time I did it.
This year I am making an effort to action when I have those hunches or urges to do something. So far I am seeing success and personal satisfaction from doing this. Hooray for me :)

Since I was young, I have always been a book worm. I loved getting lost in a novel and I used to spend literally hours reading. So much in fact my eyes would hurt haha. A funny story from when I was young ; I loved the look of glasses so I kept making my mother take me to the optometrist to get glasses for reading but he said my eye sight was perfect and they just needed a ‘rest’ if I had been reading for 2 hours. This happened 2-3 times… lol Looking back on this I find it so funny. FYI- I didn’t ever get glasses haha.

Like most parents, we read to Romeo every night before bed. His book collection consists of a variety of themes like super hero’s and fairytales to learning about his feelings and how to deal with them. A mix of educational and silly fun.

Because my husband and I read a lot, I knew from even before Romeo was out of my belly that I wanted him to have these good habits. I read to him in my belly and I decided to build his library from a young age. I did so by asking for a book instead of a baby shower card when we celebrated his impending arrival. I did this by including a little note on the invites.
It said ‘ A little request, please bring a book, pre-loved or new instead of a card’.
Cards usually get thrown out but a book is forever. People can buy super cheap pre-loved books from Second hand shops or The Salvation Army, etc which usually costs less then what a card would. I think I will do this from now on with all his birthdays. Let me know if you guys have done this or like the idea. I know a few mums appreciated the idea and did it for their little one’s birthdays.

Ok so , in my opinion a book is such a timeless and beautiful present. Perfect for any occasion. Books are forever. They are fun, educational and helps our little ones to expand their imagination. It’s also so beautiful to bond with them while reading a book and you’re all snuggled together. I am a sucker for Romeo’s cuddles.

Now for the books I am excited to share with you. My top three favourite children’s book :

Lets start with

1. The wonderful things you will be

Suitable for : Boys and girl aged 0-10 years

Written by : Emily Winfield Martin. The author is a New York times best selling American lady and she has a few more books that I need to get because if they are anything like this one then Romeo and I are sure to love it.

Overview : Oh my goodness the first time I read this book I cried haha I thought it was so beautiful.My hubby and I went out on a date during the day last year and we bought this for Romeo as a little present so he didn’t feel left out. I must have been extra emotional that day but the words are so sweet and it really struck a cord.
This book has dreamy illustrations that match the words written from the heart. I love the quirky characters and the caring, kind nature it is instilling in both boys and girls.

Why I recommend it : I believe if we provide the correct emotional and physical support, our kids will believe that they are special and they will be confident to follow their dreams and calling in life. This book is a reminder to dream big and set their goals from an early age knowing that mama and papa will support them, regardless of what they decide to be. Unconditional love in every circumstance, whether your child wants to be a doctor or a painter. How much does it matter if they are happy and living their dream?

Perfect to give as a : baby shower present

You can use this link to purchase this incredible book. Let me know what you think in the comments below :)

2. I’m Australian too.

Suitable for : Boys and girl aged 0-12years

Written by : Mem Fox and illustrated by Rojan Gosh. You may know the author of this book from her best seller ‘ Possum magic’. If you grew up in Australia then this book was in every classroom and home in the 80’s.

Overview : Side note, I can recite this book without looking at the pages haha Romeo loves this book as much as me! The illustrations are modern, colourful and bright. Perfect in size to read before bed with about 4 lines of catchy rhymes per page.

Why I recommend it : I love this book because it represents acceptance, understanding and what Australia is; A country made up of many nationalities from all over the world. Racism is still very prevalent in Australia and this way of thinking usually starts at home because let’s be real…no one is born racist. This book helps kids understand we are all equal and we are all Australian if we live and are born here. To me, Australia is a safe haven for those who have had discriminated Everybody is included and everyone is welcome and that is something I want to instil in Romeo and my future babies.

Perfect to give as a : birthday present

Click this link to buy the perfect birthday present for your little one’s cousin or buddy :)

3. The When I’m feeling..Collection

Suitable for : Boys and girl aged 0-12 years

Written by : Tracey Monjay

Overview : The 8 book series has a main character of a cute bunny. The bunny experiences different emotions such as jealousy, sadness, happiness, love etc in day to day life situations. The language is easy to understand as well and the illustrations are really cute.

Why I recommend it : I think it simplifies what our main feelings are : happiness, anger, jealousy etc and helps kids understand that everyone feels these emotions and why they are good or bad etc and what we can do when we feel them. The back page is for the parents/ guardians which outlines from a psychological point of view the benefits of gentle parenting and explaining to children what and why they are feeling. It has helped me personally in many situations with Romeo. To help him explain what he is feeling, for example anger. And what he can do in that situation like breathe and in.

Perfect to give as a : Christmas, Easter or any special occasion.

Click here to buy these gorgeous books.

I hope you have enjoyed this post. I would love some suggestions on what other books to buy Romeo.

Much love, positive vibes and blessings from me to you. x