At the start of every year I like to reflect on the key highlights of the previous year – both personal and professional highlights.

I do this because I always find that looking back fills me with such a massive sense of achievement and pride and it also helps me to decide where to channel my focus for the year ahead.

Sure thing, I look at my wins, but I also look at my hurdles and am always amazed at how they seem to be the stages of my biggest growth and breakthroughs….. in business and in life.

Plus, I also review my data – whether it’s website stats on what content is being digested the most or what you tell me in my annual survey that you want me to focus on more for the year ahead.

So, in this Eco Chat episode review 2015, the year that was, and let you know a little of what I have in store for you in 2016.

I go through the highlights and lowlights of each quarter last year and discuss my five most popular blog posts and podcast episodes (hint: they're not what you think!).

I also reveal the findings of my recent reader survey and chat how I'll be turning this feedback into helping you make green mainstream in 2016.

And PS – in the next week, I’ll be making a super exciting announcement for those of you who want to make a decent living while saving the world, because the two aren’t mutually exclusive you know! And keep an eye out as I’ll also be re-opening the doors to Home Detox Boot Camp again real soon!

Moving to a chemical-free home has many benefits. In this episode I chat about the following six reasons why you should consider breaking up with toxins in your home:

1. Your kids won’t be guinea pigs
2. You will save money
3. Your home will be less cluttered
4. Your kids immune systems will be stronger
5. Chemical-free is kinder to our planet
6. You will reduce your child’s overall chemical load

If you're keen to learn more, you can discover my 10 Must-Have Natural Products to Clean Your Home here.

You can also jump on board my FREE Home Detox Training Series (for a limited time!) here.

Borax is one of those ‘natural’ cleaning products that can divide a room.

The ‘CAUTION Keep Out of Reach of Children’ notification on the container, teamed with the child-proof lid that even the man of the house struggles to open only adds to the ‘It must be nasty, nasty stuff’ worry passing through any concerning mum’s mind.

But is it toxic and on the ‘no-go’ list or can it hold its head up high in your green cleaning toolkit?

In this episode I take a look at what Borax is, whether or not it's safe for use in the home plus I share my thoughts on the product and how I use it in my own home.

If you're keen to learn more about detoxing your home you can also pick up your FREE copy of my eguide '10 Must-Have Natural Products for cleaning your home without harsh chemicals' here. 

I recorded this podcast while on holidays with my family in Eastern Victoria, Australia. Whilst back in my hometown of Sale I immersed myself in the outdoors I grew to love so much while I was growing up.

In this episode, recorded unscripted in the Sale Common State Game Refuge, I chat about the importance of getting back out into nature - for our physical, mental and spiritual health.

Special thanks to my backing team of birdlife and cicadas!