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Dec 20, 2023

Subsconscious and the silly season - things to think about for Christmas - Monthly ramble by Anna

Subconscious and the silly season

I have been thinking lately about the subconscious and how many philosophers focus on the need for us to bring forward the subconscious to the conscious. As Carl Jung states,

'Until you make the subconscious conscious it will direct your life and you will call it fate'.

So in my simple mind this means being insightful about who we are and how we act within the world. Some philosophers and potentially religious scholars will say we already exist as perfect vessels for the whole consciousness. I believe it is about being conscious of our actions and feelings at a present moment. Why do we feel that way, why have we acted that way? It is those little steps of insights that allow us to become wiser humans. In my mind it is ensuring we have time for reflection and looking for those blind spots. The blind spot theory is one that has intrigued me this year. I think it is a similar to the subconscious as neither are obvious, right? Although I think to really understand a blind spot you need others to spot them for you. Engaging with people and collaborating is a way to become aware of blind spots. That is why we often ask our customers for feedback so we keep abreast of potential blind spots in our business. So thanks for being part of that.

I see that bringing the subconscious forward into everyday life is no different than bringing forward the 'whys' in a business. Why are we in business? Why do we sell products that are good for the environment? Our mantra has been about considering what things are made of, who makes them and will they leave any waste on the planet. Our 'why' for our business is for others and the planet. It is not driven by the ego or a profit but simply a desire to be innovative and help the planet.

Considering how our subconscious works maybe useful over this silly season as it is so easy to get carried away with consumerism and the busyness of it all. Maybe it is a good time for reflection to draw out insights from the subconscious and consider our 'why' in our working life. Some things to think about for Christmas might be the following:

Remember what Christmas is about and not just busyness and material gifts
Find time for reflection
Less excess, more gratitude
Wrap presents in old material or scarves
Sing and dance as it is so good for the sole
If you don't like singing, play or listen to music
Buy quality not quantity
Make things with people you love
Ring that person who you think about often and tell them how you feel
And don't forget all the cool special Christmas Munch products we have bought in for Christmas. Shop here :).

I know a lot of concepts in this mailer but I have tried to keep it simple and not too muddled. You may have read between the lines that I am actually getting too busy in this crazy silly season as well!! Feel free to email me if you want to discuss more.

'Those people who are least aware of their unconscious side are the most influenced by it'.
Carl Jung

Thanks for listening to my ramble again
Anna Mills-Bordignon xx
PS picture above is me in my new EV car - living my values as discussed in my November newsletter.

Dec 14, 2023

The ultimate guide to green gifting this Christmas!

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, filled with love, laughter, and festivities.

It is also the most wasteful time of the year, from electricity usage to surplus food, presents, wrapping, and travel.

The festive season takes a toll on the environment, but it doesn’t have to. Munch is here to point you in the right direction!

Dec 14, 2023

Christmas mince pies - easy and quick to make

Christmas mince delight. Yes I have used the word delight as Christmas mince is only made once a year in our house and at a time when the kids are super excited for Christmas. What a delight!

There are so many things you can do with Christmas mince. However the first thing is to know how to make Christmas mince, so we have attached a very simple Christmas mince recipe for you below.

Do you often have left over Christmas mince? If so, here are the things you can make with Christmas mince

Christmas Mince pies – make it with the kids. If you buy already made sheets of sweet pastry, all you have to do is get the kids to cut out circle shapes for the bottom of the muffin tins and maybe a star shape for the lids. Our kids love to help. Check out our Munch Christmas Mince pies here.
Christmas Mince topping on ice cream – you might like to add a bit of water and reduce it further down so that it becomes
Make a tart out of the Christmas Mince
Crumble bars
Keep your Christmas Mince for next year – yes it will last if you keep it safe
Read more here for further ideas for your Christmas Mince.

Merry Christmas to you all xx

Nov 05, 2023

Living to our values - is that possible and how

Living to our values

I have recently done some work around how I want my life to be going forward. Mainly because I have had a bit of time lately as I have been recovering at home after surgery.  I recall before children I often had yearly mantras, values, goals and I was really good at sticking to them. But over the last 16 years they have fallen away as my time has been given to my children/family and their goals. I am still doing that for my children but I decided it was time to work on mine again.

To be honest I use to think people who read so called 'self help' type books as being slightly crazy and belittled it. About 18 months I joined my first business group called EO - Entrepreneurial Organisation. You have to be at a certain revenue level to be invited into the organisation so it is not for one hit wonders. But this organisation is all about growth on all levels being family, personal and business. And the reference material (which includes business books, self help type books and much more)  have been fantastic.  I do love learning and I am quite a little fact gather. In fact, I am going to set up a little funky library in my home in the new year. A warm, soft, relaxing space with delicious calm lighting. So last week while sunbathing on my deck in the Wellington Spring sun I read a book called Life by Design, Jack Daly. Although this chap is pretty extreme as he even measures sleep times so not something I would be looking at doing. Also I believe there is something about just letting things happen in good time. However he had some good ideas on values.

So I want to live more to my values and as you know looking after the planet is one of my values (along with fitness, connections plus the basics of being a good human - honesty, trust, integrity and loyality). Have you considered what your values are and do they flow through in all parts of your life? I suppose I want to amplify mine as much as I can afford too.

This month I purchased a new EV car. Previously I drove a hybrid but I thought it was about time to go the full way. One of my dreams is to build a full eco off the grid house by the sea, but that will just have to wait for now. I think a big part of it is to get lost in the research and design of the build. Recently I had a beehive installed in my garden. I would love to only eat plant based food but I do have three boys so going to try at least 5 nights plant based. I am currently looking into solar power at my home and hope to progress that as well. I am also researching how I can be more energy efficient in other areas in my large 3 level old wooden NZ house (maybe a little impossible to be fully eco - whatever that means!) I am also in the process of expanding my vege pod which conveniently sits outside my kitchen door.

Things that I am already doing are below (thought this might give other people ideas):

Obviously we use all our Munch lines in our home from dish soaps, dish cloths, teatowels, wooden dish/veg brushes, cleaning tabs, compostable bin liners, laundry soaps, laundry dryer balls, laundry sheets, stainless steel pegs, beeswax wraps. silicone and cotton covers, baking mats, wooden utensils, wool make up removers, body soaps, wood ear buds, reusable coffee cups, straws etc
We use our Munch refillery for all our cleaning products
I try to buy high quality second hand clothing
We recycle
We compost
We try and shop local for our food and if buying new clothes I would buy New Zealand made or designed locally
We are conscious of our food waste and try to use all parts of a food source when cooking or baking
When we travel we use Mevo EV cars
We off set our carbons when taking flights
We dont print anything at home and use devices to record things
Kids take buses when they can
We would love to shop for our groceries at unpackaged supermarkets, but not possible. But I do try and buy products with the least packaging.

We are certainly not perfect but we are trying. Small steps count.

Is there anything else I should be doing? Email me your ideas to info@munchcupboard.com.

Will keep dreaming about that eco build by the sea of mine to really be eco to the max!

Thanks for listening to my ramble again
Anna Mills-Bordignon xx

Oct 05, 2023

Disconnecting from social media - monthly thoughts by our Founder

Disconnecting from social media - the election

Stop notifying me and serving me up nonsense. Some days I feel that I need to whisper the above into my phone so the algorithms serve me up things I actually really want? I actually want well written election articles at the moment. Or maybe I need to turn my smart phone off and pick up the old fashion newspaper (assuming that is better).

I have been dreaming of going to my special place on the east coast. It is a place that has no internet or cell phone reception, no cafes, shingle roads and a place you can walk for miles without interruption. You can surf, fish, swim, dive in water that is so fresh, clear and wild. It is a secret place I want no one else to find or a least no one to develop. I will often climb to the top of the cliff over looking the beach and look beyond my world and onto the next. It is refreshing and allows me to keep things in perspective. While at night I will go to the same place and lie back and just look at the stars and beyond. It is a place of real connections with nature and a place that does not allow for my smart phone to notify me of things I just don't need to know about.

I think our world has become full of information served to us that is not needed. Therefore we need places to escape too with those we love. We need to connect with nature and we need to connect in person with people. There is a massive gap between connections on social media through images of beautiful beaches to the real state of being that draws all the senses to become alive and present. Seeing with our eyes 'the real' and touching in person is something that social media will never be able to replace. And frankly the constant notification and attention that my phone requires is exhausting. Even though I turn many of the app notifications off I still get drawn into messages which I just dont need to know about.

As you know I recently did a Tedtalk style presentation this month on HOPE - our future, our planet, our young ones. Did you know that 60% of our young ones believe there is no hope for our planet? Did you know that there is now a clinical diagnosis called 'Climate anxiety' that ranges from sadness, anxiety, depression to suicide and the numbers diagnosed are growing.

Maybe we need our young ones to spend more time in nature and have them disconnect from social media. My talk was not about these two points as I could only cover 3 key areas within my 15 minute time limited. The topics I did cover were what history has taught us, conversations that are needed with our young ones and how we can empower them. But connecting with nature and disconnecting from the artificial is something I know I need right now and I cant imagine how our young people feel when bombarded with negative climate change messaging all the time.

So who has been following the election lead up? I made my kids watch part of the first Leaders debate on TV. I think it is really important for children to understand the political landscape they live in. My children are almost too young to fully understand or at least be able to watch a full debate but I did manage to talk about some of the issues with them. My middle child said that the candidates visited his high school and he loved hearing what they had to say. I thought that was fantastic that the school encouraged and arranged such an event. I have no doubt that my middle child will continue to be political and I cant wait to see what changes he will be able to make for his future.

I recently read a great Stuff article on what each party has to say about climate change. I think it is fantastic that climate change policies are a key issue for all parties, but as to how they will follow through on them is another story.

Thanks for listening to my ramble again
Anna Mills-Bordignon xx

Blog posts & pages

News

Subsconscious and the silly season - things to think about for Christmas - Monthly ramble by Anna

The ultimate guide to green gifting this Christmas!

Christmas mince pies - easy and quick to make

Living to our values - is that possible and how

Disconnecting from social media - monthly thoughts by our Founder