“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring” - Marilyn Monroe✨
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I could quote Marilyn all day! Marilyn Monroe is one of my favourite human beings. I respect her and relate to her a lot. I have always felt a connection to her and when I found out that she also struggled with Endometriosis, that connection grew stronger. It explained a lot of things that happened in her life. Besides her struggles, she had so much depth, was incredibly intelligent, and had an amazing sense of humour. She was a woman ahead of her time. One day I dream of doing a photo shoot inspired by her!
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Accessories: my grandma’s vintage hat & jewelry
Let’s talk about seed paper / seed packaging / seed confetti / seed bombs 🌱
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These options may seem like a completely natural & sustainable solution, however there’s a twist. Rarely do these products clarify the type of seeds. Most of the time, they say “wild flowers” or “flowers that attract butterflies” or “flowers that will save the bees” etc. While these may seem like really good ideas, realistically there are going to be numerous places across the world where the seeds will grow to be invasive species. Therefore, certain products like these can actually cause extreme environmental harm and degradation.
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An invasive plant species is a non-native plant which can adapt to different areas very quickly. It will spread rapidly, take over certain ecosystems & outcompete native species. The prevention of invasive species is the most environmentally responsible management tool. I am bringing awareness to invasive species because we need to prevent the spread of invasive plant (& animal) species in order to protect ecosystems. In a Watershed Conservation Internship position, the work I did was invasive species awareness, monitoring, prevention & removal. Invasive species are a serious threat to ecosystem function & productivity.
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@elatecosmetics packages their products in seed paper. I am a huge supporter of Elate & their amazing products. However, when I receive a product of theirs packaged in seed paper that says “wild flowers” I make the decision not to plant that seed paper. This decision will ensure that there is no chance of invasive species spreading as a result from my actions. However when I receive a product of theirs that says “herbs”, I plant this seed paper. Herbs are commonly planted in garden situations and can be easily harvested. I take an extra precaution & plant it in a pot to ensure I am in the most control that I can be in these situations.
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@play.clean.go reminds us of these important steps:
-REMOVE plants, animals & mud from boots, gear, pets & vehicle after every place you visit.
-CLEAN your gear before entering & leaving the recreation site.
-STAY on designated roads and trails.
-USE CERTIFIED or local firewood and hay.
@nakedkittynaturals & I collaborated to create these equality balms! All proceeds of these lip balms will go towards important organizations that provide womxn with access to health care, support, and safe spaces to thrive. These organizations include:
-@plannedparenthoodregina
-@girlsrockregina
-Sofia House
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PLANNED PARENTHOOD provides accessible, confidential contraceptive and sexual health programs and services to the community. They provide pap smears, pelvic examinations, STI testing, contraceptives, education, IUD insertions or removals, with their goal being to prevent negative health outcomes for women, youth, LGBTQ individuals and new immigrants.
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GIRLS ROCK is dedicated to the empowerment of female, trans, two-spirit, & non-binary youth and adults through music. They promote respect and value diversity of age, race, economic status, gender expression, size, physical ability, developmental ability, musical interests, nationality, religion, citizenship status, & sexual orientation.
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SOFIA HOUSE provides comprehensive services to families who have experienced domestic violence. In addition to safety, they provide supportive counselling services. They provide individual, group & community support during the time of recovery from the traumas of domestic violence. They believe that all people have value and that women have the right to safety, security and their own choices.
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These lip balms are available through the @nakedkittynaturals online shop (just search “equality balm”) & at @greentreebeauty. These lip balms have a lot of product in them and are packaged in cardboard packaging! If you are purchasing them with other items and live in Saskatoon, there is a shipping charge. If you are only purchasing the lip balms, leave us a note at checkout indicating where you live and select the “free pick-up” option! You can also donate to the organizations in the dropdown menu for the lip balms as well!
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It’s important to note that you don’t have to live in Saskatoon or Regina to purchase the products and support these organizations! We need all the balms to sell before we donate to these amazing organizations!
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Use code RAWFASHIONBLOG at checkout👄
When I was young, I would collect old magazines and cut things out from them that inspired me or that I liked. I would save all my cut-outs in a folder or in a box and I enjoyed looking through it often.
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Now there’s an easier way to keep all of your favourites in one place! @fayvo.official allows you to share all your favourites (pictures, books, food, fashion, products, places, music, movies & more) in one organized app #Ad
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You organize your favourites into “boxes” which you can keep to yourself or share with friends or family. You can also add and share your favorite content from other social platforms, thus keeping all your favourites in one place! This social tool is a great way to never forget about or lose your favourites!
Yesterday I went to @vitabeautybar and had my first appointment for laser hair removal. Now, before I get into why I personally got laser hair removal, I do want to disclose some information:
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Your body, your choice. If you choose to not shave or remove your body hair, or if you are empowered by growing out your body hair, do not let anyone else’s opinions sway your personal decisions. Body hair is completely natural, we are mammals. Body hair is not a flaw, or an imperfection. There are so many stigmas and social customs around women’s bodies and how they should look, instead there should be an acceptance of what individuals decide to do with their own bodies. If your form of self-acceptance and self-love includes not shaving or only shaving certain areas on your body, I stand right beside you and support you on your decision. We can normalize natural bodies and celebrate people’s decisions, whether that includes removing body hair or keeping it. Hair removal is also time consuming, there’s nothing wrong with doing whatever you have time for or whatever makes you feel comfortable.
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I do not have to justify my own personal decisions that I make about my own body. I would just like less body hair in certain areas, easy as that. This does not mean that I am not supportive of individuals who decide to grow out their body hair - I am supportive of individuals doing whatever empowers them.
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For over a decade I have spent so much money on razors and waxing. I switched to a safety razor several years ago to cut even more waste, however I still have to purchase razor blades and this is still a product that needs to be mined, created and transported. If I could reduce the frequency that I have to shave, that would be ideal. It would also be more empowering for me. So, I visited @vitabeautybar (certified @greencirclesalons) and had my first laser hair removal with @danika.vitabeauty. The overall process wasn’t painful! The laser they use is very high quality and gets the job done quickly. The space is beautiful, clean and comfortable and I truly recommend it to anyone who might want to reduce or remove their body hair. The ladies are also a joy to be around!💞
Mouth health 🦷
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The standard products used for mouth health create a lot of unnecessary waste. Switching to more sustainable options is important, as standard plastic products will only break down into smaller and smaller plastic pieces, aka micro plastics.
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My current favourites:
- @davidsnaturaltoothpaste is packaged in a recyclable metal tube
- @thefutureisbamboo toothbrush is made from bamboo
- @dentallace is 100% natural fibres and will biodegrade, also is refillable
- tooth tabs which I bought in bulk from @bulkbasket require no packaging at all
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Finish all the product you have right now and when you run out, look to purchase sustainable options instead! Make sure to send your plastic toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes, & floss to a @terracycleca location (@bulkbasket) as you transition out of plastic products. Relying on recycling is not sustainable, however ensuring that what you have is properly recycled and switching to a more sustainable option is crucial!!!
Dessert from the backyard 😋
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I am a huge Haskap fan! These berries have an unique taste - almost like a blueberry, raspberry, strawberry, and black currant combined. Haskap berries are bred the natural way and are not GMO, in fact my Haskap came from the University of Saskatchewan Fruit Program through Horticulture! Nothing is more satisfying than walking into my backyard and helping myself to this delicious snack!
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Haskap berries have 3x the amount of antioxidants as blueberries. Also (very importantly for me) Haskap berries act as an inflammation inhibitor, which therefore helps manage chronic diseases! So great for #EndoWarriors. Haskap berries also promote a good immune system and have a plethora of other incredible health benefits.
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I served them in these cute reusable glass containers that came from a dessert that my parents purchased. The perfect serving size!
💛GIVEAWAY💛
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Ky is the creative genius behind @kycrilly. Her own personal pursuit of a more minimalistic lifestyle inspired her to create her shop, which is centered around mindfulness and sustainability. I was gifted a pair of her earrings (in my first piercings).
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She does not use any harmful chemicals or chemical polishing agents in the handcrafting of her jewelry. Instead, she finishes each piece by hand-sanding and dry polishing. She uses citric acid, baking soda and white vinegar instead of chemical pickles and fluxing agents during her metal smithing process. She uses raw silver which is sourced from a reputable Canadian company which incorporates recycled silver into their product and the new silver is mined with ethical mining procedures. Ky incorporates all scrap silver pieces into other jewelry designs, ensuring there is no waste created. If she makes a mistake with a piece, she donates it to charities who raise money in silent auctions. She also donates old tools or jewelry making supplies to women’s shelters. She creates timeless handcrafted pieces with the environment in mind, now that makes a statement!
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✨To enter the giveaway:
1. like this photo
2. follow @rawfashionblog & @kycrilly
3. tag 1 friend / comment that would love sustainable jewelry (multiple comments count as more entries)
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This giveaway is open internationally. The pair of earrings the winner receives will be the Oval Earrings. This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with Instagram. Contest will close Thursday June 20th at 5PM Central Standard Time. Winner will be contacted via Instagram Direct Messaging. Good Luck!
