Free Postage

Free postage for all orders over $80, only within NZ though, or a $5 discount on postage overseas.

That makes shopping at Red Rata even easier. You just choose and pay, and I will wrap your goodies in pretty paper and ribbon, make a special unique box from recycled cardboard and get my local postie ladies to put the stamps on and off it goes to you.

Easy peasy, and you get to save money too. AND enjoy the healthy benefits of natural body and home care products. Plus its kind of like getting a present in the post since it is all wrapped up especially for you.

This offer is only for June and July.

Fun in the Bubbles

I just got lots of bottles of natural Bubble Bath in stock today. As the tempurature drops a bath seems very inviting to kids and adults alike.

And there are no yukky chemcials in the Herbal Selections Bubble Bath so you can totally relax and unwind.

Take a look at Red Rata's online brochure to find out mroe about this yummy Bubble Bath. I have plenty of bottles but dont miss out as it is very popular!!

Get your cleaning products on special

Until the end of May choose any two natural products from Red Rata's Home Care range and get 20% off the total price. Save a bit of money, save time as these products are great to care for your home.

Clean any surface with the anti-bacterial spray, do the dishes, wash the clothes and freshen the air with a light citris smell with the natural air freshener.

Thanks Shannon

Congratulations to Shannon who won the Female Pamper Pack at the recent Frye Fundraising Fiesta. This included a pack of lovely natural goodies from Red Rata such as lavender massage wax, rosehip body lotion and a cocoa butter soap.

However Shannon has very generously donated her prize to Keighly, mum of 2 yr old Charlie who is doing really well with his chemo treatments.

Keighly will be so grateful for this little pack of pampering which will give her a little bit of time to think of herself in amongst the last few crazy weeks for her and her family. Thank you Shannon, and Keighly, enjoy :-)

Red Rata on Facebook

Red Rata now has a facebook page so we invite you to visit us there. Check us out often for information, products reviews, speicals, competitions and lots of interesting bits of information about natural products, working from home, being a mum, etc, and for some fun!

Be one of the first 71 people to 'like' Red Rata and you might win a refreshing Herb Farm Lime Shower Gel, definitly Sodium Lauryl Sulphate free and very enlivening. Click on the link to the right, or here and look forward to seeing you on facebook.

Why is your toothpaste so frothy?

I was watching my children brush their teeth. They can't spit out very well at this age and tend to swallow all the froth. But what is it that makes toothpaste froth so much and is it ok to swallow toothpaste?

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is a foaming agent and in high quantities in mainstream toothpastes. Its also common in shower gels, shampoos and facial washes. It's actually an irritant and can cause skin reactions and dryness. It is a penetration enhancer so allows other cheimicals in the product to be absorbed into your skin easier so you are getting more bad stuff for the price of one. SLS was originally developed for industrial cleaning purposes, not for personal care products.

We don't really like SLS and the effects it can have on our skin and beleive there are better healthier alternatives. Especially in toothpaste as the mucosa in the mouth is really absorbant, and kids are likely to swallow it rather than spit out.

So try a natural toothpaste such as Red Seal which is Sodium Lauryl Sulphate free. It cleans your teeth and tastes great with flavours of aniseed, basil, eucalyptus, clove, liquorice and peppermint (yum!). You can find Red Seal Natural Toothpaste at Red Rata.

Tips for a work-life balance...

I really like how Marjorie asked me my tips for achieving a work life balance when working from home. I told her not to hold me to achieving these tips all the time as they are things I constantly am working on.

My husband is always telling me to not try and do everything, although sometimes I think I can :-)

Lists, gotta have lots, an books of lists too!!

You cannot lose focus of the kids as they are why you choose to work from home, its all about them, well that's what 1 and 3 year old think anyway.

I particularly like my reference to putting all your hats somewhere and just being yourself. As a mum in particular I think we all find this very hard to do. But its good for us to plonk our bottoms on the couch and eat ice cream and hot chocolate brownie fresh from the oven, like I am about to do.

Have a great evening!!

Peanut Butter on my laptop

There is an assortment of goodies hiding on and around my laptop, peanut butter being one, along with playdough, pen and felt, stickers, and raisins. It is very serious business working at my kitchen table with a 1 and 3 yr old!!

Free postage for ODT readers

Maybe you read the feature about Red Rata in the Otago Daily Times and are interested in getting your hands (and body) on your very own gorgeous natural NZ made body and home care products. You have come to the right place :-)

Visit our website www.redrata.co.nz to make your choices and you can order easily online. Mention you read about Red Rata in the ODT and I will give you free postage (within New Zealand).

A warm welcome to Red Rata.

Best wishes, Susan

In the Otago Daily Times today

Susan Helmore and Red Rata are featured in today's ODT, in the Body and Soul section. Read it here about the 'kitchen whizz' who is 'homing in on a passion'.

Natural Home Care Products on Special

Don't forget that if you buy 2 or more products from Red Rata's natural home care range, that includes dishwash liquid, laundry powder, air freshener, multi-purpose concentrate and anti-bacterial spray, then you get 20% off the total.

Thats a cool saving, you could get a yummy hot chocolate and a piece of cake to treat yourself since you are such a clever shopper to buy online, at Red Rata, choosing natural essentials AND saving money.

No skin reaction YAY

I posted out an order just 2 days ago and I received this lovely email just now:

Tried out the bubble bath and body wash today and seems to be no reaction on his skin so far, so that's a good sign! Bubble bath was a real hit.

Happy customers and happy families make me happy :-)

200 is a lot

Did you know that typically a woman puts 200 chemicals on her body A DAY!

Thats a lot.

And thats not including chemicals in our food or in the environment.

The Red Rata challenge is to see if you can use less than 10 chemicals on your body a day... easy by choosing to use natural body care products.

Smelly washing powder

I went to the supermarket in the weekend and right at the entrance by the bananas and potatoes was a big stand with concentrated 'name brand' washing powder. A tall stack of small colourful boxes, but golly, did they smell.

There must have been so much perfume in these small inconspicuous little boxes to fill a duty free store. Just by walking past my nose hurt and I felt sick. I thought, if this is just the fake synthetic fragrance, I hate to imagine what other awful nasties were hiding in the box.

I got home, having not bought any of these pretty boxes. I filled my washing machine with our dirty clothes and my nice, friendly, natural Earthwise Laundry Powder and enjoyed the light fresh smell of eucalyptus and grapefruit essential oils, and my nose smiled - well if noses smiled it would have been been smiling :-)

Beach bums

Our family just returned from the most relaxing weeks holiday in the Catlins, South Otago coast of New Zealand. What a superb place to explore the hidden wonders of our beautiful country.

Within a few kms of our cute farm cottage (with chickens as well) we explored many beaches, saw Sealions, viewed magnificent waterfalls, and did many short walks. A perfect nature getaway with two energetic toddlers.

Whats the largest organ of our body?

Our skin is the largest organ of our body.

Not many years ago it was thought that what was put on our skin simply stayed there. But we now know that whatever is put on our skin is rapidly and readily absorbed into our bloodstream and vital organs. We are therefore exposing our bodies to many chemicals by using common body care products, and potentially risking our health in doing so.

Thats why the type of products you use on your body is so important. Check the ingredients lists and avoid synthetic chemicals. Choose natural body care products.

Love the bubbles and the balm.

I love getting feedback about Red Rata's products and about our service. I always wish to know what people think as I want Red Rata to make you happy.

Here is one happy customer's thoughts after they bought the Tui Bee Balme and the Herbal Selections Bubble Bath from Red Rata. I especially love it that its not only the littlie that gets to enjoy a fun bubbly bath, but their parents too :-).

"thanks so much for getting the balm and bubble bath over so quickly, my daughters cheeks were getting so dry but the balm has made them all lovely and soft again and the bubble bath smells so fresh I'm going to start using it myself! She loves slashing around in all the bubbles and I'm happy knowing there's nothing in it but good, natural stuff, thanks."

The Tui Bee Balm and the Herbal Selections Bubble Bath are both natural body products, New Zealand made and essentials for your baby, children, and yourself.

Look here for more details.

If you have used any products from Red Rata I would love to get your feedback as well, just scribble me an email. Thanks.

New postage rates

Postage is now cheaper!!!

For 2-3 smaller items postage is now $4 and larger parcels are still $6. Or if you are so lucky to live in Wanaka, I will deliver your natural goodies to you for free!!