By Edeliza Virata, MamaP Contributor

Our 7-Day Wellness Reboot may be over, but we advise that self-care be administered daily, and with reverence. To make it easy to do preferably every morning, here’s a simple guide in just four steps:

First, take care of your head.

Doing some breathwork right when you wake up helps supply the brain and other parts of the body with enough oxygen to gently awaken it into alertness. Alternating breaths between the left and right nostrils or doing a short meditation can start your day with clarity. Breathwork and meditation can be done before brushing your teeth with a biodegradable bamboo toothbrush. Mindful toothbrushing is also key: being present is all about doing what you are doing at the moment without ruminating about the past or thinking ahead. Brush your teeth well while you brush your teeth and try to think about nothing else.

Step two is about taking care of the heart.

One way to build the mood of the day is by setting a few intentions. After brushing your teeth with our bamboo toothbrush, look at yourself in the mirror with loving kindness and set your intentions for the day. Simple yet good intentions prepare your heart and spirit and attract the right energies for the day. Before you move on to step three, say a few positive affirmations out loud. Place one palm over your heart, take a few deep breaths, and say, “may I be happy, may I be loved, and may I be at peace.” Repeat a few times if you feel it necessary.

The third step is taking care of the gut.

A good breakfast has benefits for your energy as long as you are mindful of what you need for the day. For a long day ahead, a well-balanced meal with plenty of fruits and vegetables is recommended. For busy days, a smoothie also made of fruits and vegetables and some plant-based protein can keep the gut full, and the body and mind fueled with energy and nutrients in a healthy yet efficient way. You can prepare the ingredients for a good green smoothie the night before so that all you have to do in the morning is blend and pack away. Mama P has great biodegradable cleaning brushes to take care of your blender and other kitchen tools while you take care of your gut.

Last but not least, take care of those hands and feet.

Do a bit of hand stretching before you start a workday. Our hands and fingers do a lot of work even when we are just sitting on a desk and typing away on a gadget all day. Make sure to stretch and warm up those wrists, too. Our legs and feet also take a lot of pressure even when we spend the whole day indoors or seated. It’s beneficial to feel the ground on your feet for a few minutes with a hike or some gardening if you are able to go outdoors. Barefoot, if you can. Otherwise, a few minutes of stretching the ankles, legs, and glutes can do wonders to keep the blood flow smooth from head to toe.

This is just a simple guide, but you can optimize it according to your liking. The point is to keep a daily self-care routine that can be easy to follow especially in these times. The more you invest in loving, kind, and mindful care on yourself in a holistic way, the healthier you will be inside and out.

You can sign up for our 7-day wellness reboot series here. It's a video series of daily morning routines you can do to help you get centered: 

7-Day Wellness Reboot Video Series

About the author:

Ede Virata always wanted to be a writer, but got caught up working as a sales associate at a Macy’s in Washington state for a year before doing brand work for a boardsport company in Manila. Plans of becoming a writer became more plausible as she entered the world of advertising, but her boss found her a natural strategic planner instead. Now she writes for MamaP while surfing and following physical distancing protocols on the coasts of Northeast Luzon, in her home, the Philippine islands. Her new plans include learning to be a permaculture gardener. 

By Suz Hernandez, MamaP CEO

Blame it on the extended quarantine. Maybe it’s the lack of public places to go. Or is it the cooler mornings and nights creeping in that signal the changing of seasons to come.

Whatever the cause, this summer has flown by faster than any other summer. Sure, folks are camping and road-tripping more, but it’s strange to not fly cross-country to visit family. Or head to a favorite or new international destination. This summer (and year) is definitely one for the books.

This year it seems our world has gotten smaller and has allowed folks to take time to themselves. People, now more than ever, are being pushed to reassess their priorities and consumption. Many will reconsider their values around consumption and spending. The new normal has closed offices and has brought work into the home. Both Google and Facebook have announced remote working until Summer 2021. Schools and Universities are considering distanced learning through the fall - and in some cases the entire year. The rise in virtual gatherings - learning, work, and entertainment, is here for a while.

So where does this leave vacation? There’s still time left to book your end of summer vacation! For many Americans looking for low-risk ways to venture out, that means going on road trips, sticking closer to home, and avoiding states where virus cases are spiking. Whether heading to nature and camping or renting an airbnb house on the water - the good news is, we’ve got options. We’ve put together helpful tips to consider when planning vacations.

Photo of how Suz roadtrips responsibly - cooking at home and bringing a dish brush

Airbnb, or other home rental site:

The #1 thing to consider is WHERE. Consider both the area’s covid case rates and out of state quarantine requirements. Conversely, it’s not respectful traveling from a high rate area to a low rate area - for nonessential travel. Look for homes with well equipped kitchens and enough space inside and outside for your group or family. Prepare ahead of time for the trip. Bring disinfectant and paper towels. In these pandemic times, you may need to make a few eco concessions to keep your family safe and healthy. 

Here are our list of favorite items to bring:

• Zero waste dish soap and kitchen brushes to minimize cross contamination
• Toothbrush stand to ensure our brushes were kept clean
• A travel bag for our toothbrushes to protect them during travel
• Your own spices to use in cooking at home (most days)
• A nutri blender so we could make morning protein smoothies
• Your own toiletries to help minimize contact in the home
• Water pitcher and charcoal stick filter
• Finding nearby places in nature to explore - kayaking on rivers, hiking on trails, or heading to a state beach (where there’s more space for social distancing)

Lastly, choose hosts with good cleaning reviews, take only longer (1 week+) stays, and/or put 72-hour windows between bookings. For more information on Airbnb’s covid-19 updates https://www.airbnb.com/resources/hosting-homes/t/coronavirus-updates-34

About the author: Suz Hernandez has a passion and drive for blending consumer products with purpose, sustainability, and design. She enjoys cooking new recipes and spending time with loved ones.

Have you ever thought about what happens to your toothbrush when you're done with it and you throw it away? We have and believe that "now is the time to be more thoughtful." Maybe we should think "about an every day, practical object such as a toothbrush as having a life and its own life span gives it better purpose and allows us to curate what kind of objects get to be part of our lives on this earth." 

Visit this article to read more and let us know what YOU THINK.  

Juneteenth (short for June 19, 1865) is effectively when slavery ended in the United States. It's a day that's remembered in history when Abraham Lincoln freed the remaining slaves in the South. But did you know that it was January 1, 1863 when Lincoln declared slaves freed? Did you also know the US and US-businesses still participate in modern day slavery? 

At MamaP, we stand for equality and openness and we believe that knowledge is power. That's why we've pulled together information so we may all:

1. Learn the history behind Juneteenth
2. Understand the implications of the 13th Amendment
3. End racial discrimination and modern day slavery in the US

What Is Juneteenth?

According to history.com, "Juneteenth marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, TX in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. 

The Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, had established that all enslaved people in Confederate States in rebellion against the Union “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.”

Why did it take two and a half years to enforce this law?
"In reality, the Emancipation Proclamation didn’t instantly free any slaves. The proclamation only applied to places under Confederate control and not to slave-holding border states or rebel areas already under Union control (like Texas). However, as Northern troops advanced into the Confederate South, many slaves fled behind Union lines.

From Slave To Criminal With The 13th Amendment

The 13th amendment makes it unconstitutional for a person to be held as a slave, "Except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted." Why are we highlighting this amendment if slavery was abolished?

"The United States is home to 5% of the world's population, but 25% of the world's prisoners. Think about that." 13th, a documentary and free to view, opens with President Obama sharing this startling statistic.

1 in 4 people on Earth are locked up in the "Land Of The Free"

Around 2.3 million Americans are currently incarcerated. Of that number, 40.2% are Black men. Consider that Black men make up only about 6.5% of the US population. As Senator Cory Booker states, “Right now, we now have more African-Americans under criminal supervision than all the slaves back in 1850s.” 

We haven't even folded in all people of color.

When slavery was abolished, the loophole was exploited and Black men were targeted. 

"They were arrested for extremely minor crimes like loitering and vagrancy. And they had to provide labor to rebuild the economy of the South after the Civil War."

Targeting black and brown communities has continued since slavery was abolished - with racial profiling, "stop and frisk" policies, and police quotas. Another eye opening documentary to watch is Crime & Punishment - it spotlights how a progressive city like NYC still has a police force that targets people of color and their communities. There are police officers who want to help the community but have challenges due to pressure from the department to hit quotas.

Where Does This Leave Us Today? 

Black Lives Matter is a movement, not a moment. It's not saying that all lives don't matter, but that Black and Brown communities need help right NOW. As we remember Juneneeth and how it took 2.5 years for a law to be fully executed (with loopholes), it's time for the human community to fight for equality and justice for our Black family.

Now's the time to take action - it will take a local-level and nationwide approach to start implementing change. We've put together a list of what you can do now and in the near future.

1. Keep Educating Others And Educating Yourself
Read books and articles. Watch documentaries. Discuss with people in your network. There are so many places to start, just start. Find your own path, build your knowledge.

2. Start Making Changes In Your Local Community
Do leaders in your community represent your views? Here's a breakdown of the elected offices that could be on your ballot: City Council, Mayor, Sheriff, District Attorneys, and Judges. Your vote counts.

3. Register To Vote In November - And Rally Others To Register
You can vote for Governors, State Legislator, Senators, Congress, and the President. Every election matters. Make sure your voice is heard. 

4. Check if your favorite companies use prison-labor. If they do, tell them you don't approve. A new report released by New York-based advocacy group Worth Rises detailed some 4,100 corporations that profit from the country’s prisons and jails. It identified corporations that support prison labor directly or through their supply chains. Do you use Zoom Calls? They're listed on the report.

There are so many ways to take action - choose one and start somewhere.

#KnowledgeIsPower #ActNow

To stay silent is to be complicit. We at MamaP believe #BlackLivesMatter and we stand with activists who are demanding change. Equality is what bands us together as a human race. It's clear there is progress yet to be made. To everyone who is hurting, feeling pain, or just angry, we see you, we feel you, we are with you. While some of us are on the ground joining local rallies, not everyone may be able to do that. We've put together a few things you can do to take action. To the black community, we are with you and we support you.

Art by Sacree Frangine

5 Ways to To Make A Difference and Demand Change:

1. Find a local rally. Ensure you do your research to make sure it's being credibly organized. There are reports that fake rallies are being organized by the opposition. A Forbes article notes:

• The George Floyd Memorial Fund - The official gofundme.org from the family of George Floyd. His brother writes, "On May 25, 2020, my life shattered as I learned of the tragic passing of my dear brother, George...This fund is established to cover funeral and burial expenses, mental and grief counseling, lodging and travel for all court proceedings, and to assist our family in the days to come as we continue to seek justice for George. A portion of these funds will also go to the Estate of George Floyd for the benefit and care of his children and their educational fund." They also provide an address for cards and gifts.
• Sign a Change.org Petition: The “Justice for George Floyd” petition on Change.org already has 10.5 million supporters. That sends a big message. 
• Black Lives Matter - Donate to a local #BLM chapter or find ways to get involved in the movement. You can also create your own local #BLM Chapter.
• Campaign Zero - A nonprofit dedicated to ending police violence
• Sign a petition by Color of Change: Civil rights group Color of Change launched a petition asking that all the officers involved in Floyd’s death are brought to justice.  

🌎 Earth Day is everyday here at MamaP. That's why since Day 1 we've said goodbye to plastic and hello to Earth-friendly. When we first started a few years ago, many of the other bamboo toothbrush brands used plastic packaging. When seeing this, all we could think was "Doh!" That's exactly what we were trying to get away from - all that PLASTIC.

Our packaging has always had for undyed, kraft paper with soybean oil ink. It was simple and modern, with curved bristles. We loved how the packaging was compostable. Isn't this a dreamy photo of the bamboo toothbrush packaging on a bed of strawberries 😍 We also ship in a kraft paper mailer that's also compostable (double win!).

Starting out as a new brand doing things differently, it was a hard sell to retail buyers, "But you can't SEE the toothbrush in its packaging," was a common phrase. Here's the thing - even when our packaging was different, we told our story and give back message. After a few months, people starting catching on. Stores were selling out and kept reordering. We learned that people care about the planet and wanted to give back. Thank you to our early store buyers who believed in our mission. 💚

After hearing how much fun and colorful the brushes were, we wanted to bring that same excitement onto the packaging. Each package now tells you which cause the color supports. Guess which color yellow stands for 😉

Here's a list of ways our packaging enriches the planet and soil:

🌿 Fully compostable (throw it in the compost bin with your banana peels and use it in the garden, hello regenerative agriculture and circular economy!)
🌿 No plastic or faux plastic
🌿 Made of recycled kraft cardboard paper (hello again circular economy)
🌿 Soy ink is a natural dye that doesn't hurt the soil
🌿 Information on how you brush with purpose with each purchase

Check out a few other blogs: