2018 has been a year full of growing, learning and helping. We are becoming more aware of our environment and the need to protect it, with the festive season just around the corner and christmas literally almost a month away (where has this year gone?) I thought it’d be a great idea to give some environmentally friendly wrapping ideas.

As we all know, christmas paper isn’t recyclable, and hundreds of thousands land up in our bins and in the landfills every single year. I think it’s important for us to make a conscious effort this year, even if it’s a small one to try and reduce that!

Brown paper bags

I don’t know about you but I have always been one for the more natural, rustic look – depending on the occasion of course but I think this is a perfect idea for those gifts that are a little too big or a little too small to wrap. They are inexpensive and can be dressed up or down for the look you are going for!

Cloth

Is this not so beautiful? This is one I don’t believe many people will think of but I absolutely love the idea of wrapping a gift in a gorgeous type of cloth! This would also be more convenient for those oddly shaped type gifts that are a nightmare to wrap with paper. What is also lovely about this idea is that the cloth can be reused, whether it be to wrap another gift or to be used as something around the house. Definitely a unique way of wrapping a gift. There are many ways to wrap a gift in cloth, you can find tutorials on Youtube and Pinterest.

Brown wrapping paper

This one pretty much speaks for itself! I think this would be a more obvious route for a more environmentally friendly approach to wrapping Christmas gifts. There is just something so pure about wrapping a gift in brown paper and adding some ribbons with leaves from your garden.

Newspaper

Does anyone else’s mom have a cupboard where she stacks newspaper? I swear, we have newspapers sitting there from before I was born! This is the perfect time to make use of all of that newspaper and if you’re like me and have an abundance of newspaper sitting around, its also the most adorable and inexpensive route to go. 

Printable Christmas tags

If you haven’t noticed already, I get all my inspiration from Pinterest. It honestly is the best platform for any and all ideas you have. They also have a huge variety of free printable Christmas cards, you can get them printed and its another way to save money and the environment or you could even make your own, I like to use canva.com when designing my own little things!

I know that having such a minimal look when wrapping gifts isn’t usually tradition but they can be personalised and spruced up in so many ways, from gift tags to ribbon, drawings, leaves, acorns. It really can be so beautiful and just as much fun to do. I hope you are now inspired, like me to be a bit more cautious when deciding on buying wrapping paper. Our environment can’t protect itself, thats why it’s up to us. Tag me on instagram if you decide to try any of these out! 

Have a safe and merry season! 

Disclaimer: The images that have been used in this blog post have been sourced from Pinterest.

The last month of the year is here! I don’t know about you but this year has felt like its been three years in one. Its had the most incredible and most difficult moments I have ever endured!

This post is hopefully to inspire those who are trying to make progress, become more fit and healthy whilst also having a good time during the holidays, like myself! I’ve recently been a little out of whack with my fitness regime because I have been busy writing exams. Exam time is a time where I don’t put pressure on myself to exercise daily or to be picky about my eating habits, I eat pasta if I feel like pasta and I workout when I can fit it into my studying schedule. So although I have been working out and eating well majority of the time, it’s time to get myself back into gear and time for a change!

Anyone that knows me knows that I take my health and fitness lifestyle seriously but not to the point where I allow it to dominate and control my life, that’s just not fun. December is a time for giving, indulging and spending time with family and friends.

My goals for the rest of the year are fairly simple; to enjoy myself whilst looking after myself.

I really want to get back into gym, 5 days a week 4 at least and to just be conscious about the food that I am putting in my body with that said, it’s December I don’t believe it’s necessary for you to be overly concerned with the amount of calories that are in certain meals or how long your workouts are. One unhealthy meal really isn’t going to set you down the wrong path, it’s important to enjoy your time with those whose company you enjoy without having to worry about the logistics of every meal or every activity. The new year is coming, it’s okay!

What I do believe isn’t the best idea if you are wanting to change your fitness and health lifestyle this holiday is don’t go overboard in one day. If you know you’re going to go out for dinner and have a good old pasta then try and eat well throughout the day, don’t have pizza for lunch as well. Enjoy everything in moderation, you’ll appreciate it more that way too!

Cape Town is a beautiful place and seeing as though i’m not going away these holidays, I definitely want to become a tourist in my own city. I can’t tell you how many times one of my friends from JHB or Durban tell me they went somewhere in Cape Town and i’m like “oh that sounds so cool, i’ve never been there” meanwhile they’ve been here 11 months and me 21 years, it’s sad really!

Being active is an important part of who I am and my lifestyle, when i’m stuck inside all day I go a little insane so if I don’t get to the gym one day, i’ll go for a walk on the beach or a hike up the mountain.

I feel like most of the posts or things I see on social media around this time puts a lot of pressure on people to live up to certain expectations and to live according to what they see on certain platforms but I want to tell you that it doesn’t have to be like that, you can enjoy yourself this season while making progress in your fitness and health journey just don’t allow yourself to have certain expectations or to make yourself feel bad when you don’t eat as well as you’d hoped one day. Always remember that the sun will rise and you can try again!

Recap of goals for December:

Enjoy yourself

Look after yourself

Eat well

Spend time with those who matter!

Be active