2muchstuff

Wedding invitation stuff....

2011-08-26T06:11:00.000-07:00

I am incredibly excited that this weekend's plan include a wedding invitation construction line! These are some of the elements that are being incorporated:

Coveting...Green Patriot Posters

2011-08-03T04:03:00.000-07:00

Green Patriot Posters is a communications campaign involving the production of posters that encourage sustainable living. The website www.greenpatriotposter.org invites designers and artists to submit posters dealing with sustainability and some of these are now available in a book. Green Patriot Posters, by Dmitri Siegel and Edward Morris, contains 50 detachable posters and has been printed using 100% recycled paper and vegetable inks. It can be purchased via the Design Museum shop.

Home stuff....

2011-07-27T07:59:00.000-07:00

According to Sunday Times' Style magazine last week using jars as vases ('shabby chic' apparently) is on the way down...oh dear. I still think it looks rather good, but perhaps I am just not on the cutting edge of interior design.

Antiques dealer Robert Gordon's home was profiled in the Sunday Telegraph magazine and wow, I just found it incredibly inspiring. The kitchen is particularly gorgeous and such a contrast to the modern, package-ordered kitchens I seem to see so often. Gallery via The Telegraph.

Vote for 2muchstuff...

2011-07-20T06:53:00.000-07:00

2muchstuff is delighted to have been nominated for a 'little blog award'.

Click here to vote. Not just because I want free cereal bars....honest.

Also, interesting article in the The Guardian today, 'Which money-saving eco products 'you should avoid'.....product manufacturers and greenwash don't make it any easier to be an environmentally-aware citizen do they? Sigh.

Cool Summer Stuff I want to do but probably won't get round to...

2011-07-18T04:59:00.000-07:00

......but don't let that stop you! Weekend time seems to be at a premium at the moment and the next few are already booked up with weekends away and trips to see family up North but there is some very cool stuff going on in London in the coming weeks and I would suggest those of you with some free time check it out.

1. Visit the Urban Physic Garden, a pop-up community built garden celebrating medicinal plants. The garden is open to the public from 11 June to 15 August and there will be talks, workshops, film screenings and other very interesting-sounding stuff going on.

(Picture credit: Mike Massaro)

2. Attend Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair at Old Spitalfields Market on the 29th of August. This fair is a nationwide one and takes place not only in London but also in 30 other towns and cities. All traders are scrutinised for quality and affordability. I haven't ever attended one of Judy's fairs myself but apparently the careful screening makes it more accessible than some...and more likely to induce you to part with your cash.

(Picture from Vintage Style blog)

3. See a film outside on the Summer Screen at Somerset House. Screenings take place from 4 July to 7 August and films being shown include The Princess Bride, Thelma and Louise and The Big Blue.

Coveting....TOMS University Navy Classics

2011-05-19T07:04:00.000-07:00

I have noticed an increasing amount of interest in a shoe company that have actually been around for a while now. It seems that TOMS have made it onto some one's 'trends' list as there have been a number of press mentions lately as well as the obligatory sightings on young and lovelies out and about in London. Which has made me think again about how much I like these shoes, not only for their simple, comfortable design but also for the company's philosophy and 'One for One' movement. One for One means that for every pair of TOMS purchased, the company gives a pair of new shoes to a child in need. For more information visit the TOMS website. Their shoes can be bought direct from them or from various retailers in the UK, including Office and Schuh.

The first UK Green Film Festival....

2011-05-16T07:14:00.000-07:00

The UK Green Film Festival is being held for the first time this weekend. The festival will showcase films and filmmakers dealing with environmental issues and climate change themes. A few of the films being shown include FernGully, Godzilla and Plastic Planet. It will include the nationwide premiere of the film 'Planeat', a story about a quest to find a sustainable, healthy diet (which doesn't sound quite as thrilling as say, Godzilla, but should be fairly interesting....).

2011 Green Film Festival Timetable

Surely the best deck chair in the world......

2011-05-12T03:19:00.002-07:00

I have been coveting a penguin design deckchair since I first saw them online about two years ago. And now I have one...and the absolute best part is that it only cost £30 instead of the usual going rate on various websites of about £60. I have to say, and quickly before I get in trouble, that this bargain buy had nothing to do with me. I am the worst haggler in the world, I would be rubbish on The Apprentice. No, the OH deserves all the credit for his amazing haggling skills and at Waterstones no less. He spotted two penguin deckchairs at our local branch recently that had been marked down to £40 as they had clearly been there a while. So of course I wanted one but luckily the OH stopped by to purchase and mentioned that they looked like they had been there for years, so how about he takes one off their hands for £30...and they said yes! Kudos to the salesman for being flexible. So we are now the owner of what I surely feel must be the best deckchair in the world. And it matches my jeeves mug!

Slightly random car boot purchase....

2011-04-28T04:27:00.000-07:00

I am not entirely sure what these little pots are supposed to be used for....but they cost me £2 at a car boot and I just couldn't resist, particularly as they match our green kitchen so well.
Any suggestions on what to use them for welcome. Jam would be one option of course, it's just that, to be perfectly honest, I don't frequently offer four types of jam at my breakfast table!

Homemade strawberry lemonade...

2011-04-26T07:57:00.000-07:00

I love lemonade and original homemade is my favourite but with a recent excess of strawberries I decided to try the strawberry variety and it was well worth the effort. I found various recipes online, all fairly similar but I mainly followed this one from Gastronomy Domine (I added a little more sugar and I used my handheld blender to liquefy the strawberries as I didn't have time, ie. the patience, to soften overnight). It was pure loveliness in a glass.....

Sale on at Ethical Superstore

2011-04-14T04:54:00.001-07:00

Ethical Superstore are in the midst of a massive clearance sale and there are some hefty discounts going on that you might like to take advantage of. Unfortunately, most of the clothes items for sale that I would otherwise consider seem to only be available in very limited sizes (ie. only in large) but if you are lucky enough to find your size it is well worth a look. A number of their other home and grocery items have also been significantly reduced.

My top sales picks are:

Komodo Merino Stripe V Neck Jumper £13.79 (was £56.12 but only available in XL)

Marrakech Mosaic Glass Lantern £8.38 (was £16.75)

Spiezia Lemongrass & Marigold Body Scrub £11.25 (was £22.50)

Stroopwafels from 'The Grocery'

2011-04-11T05:24:00.000-07:00

I don't often take a lunch break at work...I know one is supposed to for improved productivity and work-life balance yada-yada but generally I would rather get more done and be able to leave on time. However....the recent spate of sunny-gorgeousness outside has made me resent being desk bound for long periods at a time and so I have been 'popping out' to get some fresh air and enjoy the sunshine on my face. And I do actually work in a very interesting area (Shoreditch) and have discovered some great shops and pubs and cafes in the last few days that I have generally known about but never actually located. In particular I can't believe I have never been into 'The Grocery' on Kingsland Road despite having walked past it a few times. It's right up my street (figuratively and kind-of literally), and crammed with not only lovely organic and/or fairtrade groceries but various organic cosmetics and toiletries as well. In their own words "The Grocery sells organic, fresh and whole foods, household goods and all your favourite everyday brands. Our stock is sourced from reputable local producers and we advocate good trading relationships. We supply healthy, well sourced produce, keeps prices down and tie our efforts in to local community needs." All of which sounds good to me. I am not quite sure where my purchase of Stroopwafels (Syrup Waffles) fits in with these policies but I had been after some since reading about the Holland House Festival on the weekend and The Grocery seemed as good a place as any to pick some up. Will definitely be stopping by there a bit more often in future....

Join the Fish Fight....

2011-04-05T02:01:00.000-07:00

Luckily for me, I am not a seafood fan....not because of any sustainability arguments (although there are many) but just because I honestly can't stand the taste. As I was so fond of reiterating during my childhood when well-meaning relatives would try and encourage me to eat fish, prawns, lobster, calamari etc...."nothing from the sea please! I don't eat anything that swims or lives underwater". But this isn't really about my fussy eating habits. This is about Greenpeace's current campaign to improve the sustainability of UK tinned tuna, and they are doing incredibly well but they are still appealing for consumers to help them even more and influence, in particular, John West and Morrisons, to raise their games.

Many of us are familiar with the dangers of certain commercial tuna fishing methods and the impact they have on sharks, rays and other marine species. If you want to know more, I suggest you check out the Greenpeace website (www.greenpeace.org.uk/fishfight) and/or check out Hugh's Fish Fight which is being shown again tonight at 10pm on More 4.

A fantastic number of supermarkets and manufacturers have joined the campaign and improved their methods but for some reason John West and Morrisons are lagging behind. The simplest thing you can do of course is not buy John West and not shop at Morrisons but you can also join the campaign by writing to them via the Greenpeace website. With so many supermarkets improving their methods there really is no excuse for others not to do the same, so make sure you voice your disapproval and let them know it's not a minority 'treehugger' concern but something that everyone is aware of and not prepared to accept!

Coveting....Neal's Yard Remedies Cosmetics

2011-04-01T02:42:00.000-07:00

Neal's Yard Remedies have recently launched a cosmetic range. As per their usual product philisophy, none of the products have been tested on animals and contain no parabens, bismuth oxychloride, mercury, phthalates, talc and carmine.

Although there is an increasing range of organic, 'no-nasties' beauty products available now, cosmetics are one area that can be tricky for make-up lovers who are looking for more natural products. Neal's Yard Remedies new range, which includes lip glosses, eye shadows and eye liners, is a welcome addition and I personally have my eye in particular on the English Rose Lip Gloss, which at £9.50 is fairly reasonably priced.

The things that got me through January....

2011-02-02T07:59:00.000-08:00

My local library

Carmex (Cherry) Lip Balm

Fenjal Bath Oil

Aero Lambs

Endless cups of tea from my 'Jeeves' mug

Happy February! The days have started to get longer and the daffodils are starting to appear and I am already in Summer planning mode (a trifle optimistic for sure but it is pleasant daydreaming after the cold and grey January we've had).

Where's your money growing?

2010-11-07T07:04:00.000-08:00

Today marks the start of the third National Ethical Investment Week (NEIW). NEIW is a campaign to raise awareness of green and ethical options for your finances. I think it's an interesting campaign for a number of reasons....firstly, finance and 'green' choices poses an interesting disconnect. Many of us who try to live in a generally sustainable and ethical way don't make the logical connection to extend this to our finances. It's great to to buy fairtrade coffee and recycle and make various other green and ethical choices but what about what we do with our money? What is our money financing and have we actually stopped and asked that question about our bank accounts, pension funds and investments. Finances may not be the most exciting topic to discuss but it's a huge issue and NEIW tries to raise awareness of this....much like Fairtrade Fortnight.

Easy ways to support the Week:

Visit the NEIW website to find out more

Take the NEIW green and ethical money quiz to discover your green and ethical money profile and really get started with thinking about your financial decisions

Attend an NEIW event taking place in the next week

Where's your money growing? It's certainly a question worth asking!

Coveting....Northern Lights Birchwood Tray

2010-10-19T05:01:00.000-07:00

Along with teapots and enamelware (and many other things) I have always been a big fan of trays....it's not that I use trays that often to be honest, but I just love them and am particularly loving this one which is now available at Amnesty International's online shop for the reasonable sum of £21.50. The illustration is by Finnish artist Emma Laiho. And should you be browsing the Amnesty site....I am also loving these gorgeous hand-painted cups, although I would probably want them more if the Winter wasn't closing in as they seem to me more of a Summer purchase.

On the note of Amnesty's website though, it is one of a list of online 'shops' from NGOs and other organisations that are a great source of inspiration for original Christmas shopping (aah, yes...I am joining the hordes of annoying shops that have already started pushing Christmas in our faces!).....but seriously, just thought I'd mention it now for all the super-organised out there......

Beauty Review: Burt's Bees Pore Refining Mask

2010-10-03T06:42:00.001-07:00

I have been a fan of Burt's Bees ever since a friend bought me one of their travel kits a few years ago while on holiday in the US. At the time, particularly living in South Africa, the range of 'natural' beauty products was rather limited and I found the lack of synthetics combined with interesting natural ingredients a refreshing approach.

I am actually now on my second jar of Burt's pore-refining mask with french green clay. I bought the first in Summer last year and have just purchased the second, which I suppose is enough of a review in itself.

The mask is 100% natural and basically contains French green clay and dried herbs and flowers. The product comes in powder form and needs to be mixed with a little water to make a thin paste which can be spread onto the face. Although I do find this a little fiddly, and occasionally messy, the advantage is that you can mix up as much as you like and the product has an excellent shelf life. For me, the reason why I like this so much is that my skin is slightly sensitive and I have found that other purifying, clay-based masks tend to irritate my skin. This one does leave my skin slightly flushed for a while, but it doesn't itch and the after effects are that my skin actually feels soothed and perfectly clean. I can't say huge pores are my major skin issue so I can't speak for those who suffer from this affliction but as a general pore-refining, deep cleansing mask this one is the best I've used.

I heart these...

2010-09-10T03:41:00.001-07:00

I have always had a bit of a 'thing' for enamelware and I was in a bit of sulk recently as this enamel mug from John Lewis had been sold out before I could get my hands on one. But they are now back in stock and I will definitely be purchasing some. Yes, such simple things give me joy! Particularly as it is also Friday and nearly the weekend, hope you all have lovely ones...

Organic Fortnight starts today....

2010-09-03T02:05:00.000-07:00

Organic Fortnight (3-17 September) kicks off today. I have previously blogged about my feelings on organic food and other products [Organic debate (en)rages] so I won't go into it again. Generally though I am definitely a supporter and Organic Fortnight is an excellent way of getting involved in celebrating 'all things organic', to quote the Soil Association's website.

The website gives a number of simple ways to get involved. Those of you near Bristol Habourside on the 11th and 12th of September could head to the 10th Organic Food Festival. Another idea is to visit an organic farm or host an organic dinner party. The website also has an excellent section on 'Organic on a budget' which addresses a concern that I often encounter among those who would ideally like 'go organic' but are concerned about the increase in costs.

This, that and homemade pasta...

2010-09-02T03:31:00.000-07:00

So my Bank Holiday weekend was as wild as anticipated! I delved into Gordon's 'Great Escape: 100 of my Favourite Indian Recipes' and made a delicious (in my humble opinion) Badami Chicken Curry and Sag Aloo. Badam translates to Almond in English but the curry had a very different flavour to a Korma, less sweet. Both recipes turned out well although I would modify the curry slightly the next time by adding some extra chillies, it was spicy but a bit mild for my taste. The book seems great so far though. There are a number of other recipes I'd like to try and many that are a bit different from what you might find in a standard Indian cookery recipe book.

The other culinary adventure of the weekend was totally instigated by the OH who bought a pasta machine (this one actually) from a charity store which we were browsing for books. I was, it has to be admitted, a little unenthusiastic. I love cooking of course but it just seems so much easier to buy pasta from the shops. But we followed (well the OH followed and I observed) the recipe in the recent Guardian article 'How to make perfect pasta' and after a bit of trial and error with the rolling and the folding it turned out wonderfully, although we made far too much. Served up tagliatelle-style with a carbonara sauce the pasta was honestly so different from shop bought that it was well worth the effort (probably not for every occasion on which I fancy pasta though). Next we are going to use home made pasta in lasagna and I have a feeling it will be a bit special.

Leaving food matters aside, I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of my Liz Earle shampoo and conditioner. I have pre-ordered their new haircare range which officially launches today. Finding a decent shampoo that contains no sodium lauryl/laureth sulphate can be a struggle for natural beauty product fans so I am excited to see whether the range lives up to the Liz Earle high standards which I have always found with their face and body ranges.

Wild weekend plans...

2010-08-27T04:02:00.000-07:00

I am the proud owner of three new recipe books, and as recipe books are firmly in my list of 'favourite things' I am rather excited. Sad but true! So my crazy bank holiday weekend plans are to generally potter around my kitchen and make some yummy meals. Reviews on the below to follow:

Time out...

2010-08-26T06:48:00.000-07:00

My lengthy absence from these pages can be partially explained by some time off, some pressing deadlines at work and a work training course but also by sheer laziness and a bit of a time out really. I am back now though and would love to say that I feel refreshed after some wonderful days camping along the coast in North Yorkshire (a few pics below) but to be honest, I rather feel like I have had a taster when I really wanted a full course! Am craving some lengthy time away in a little cottage by the sea to write and paint and cook and read and that is a wonderful dream but alas, not possible at the moment. So back to work for me.....

Whitby

Runswick Bay

One of my favourite parts of camping: toasted marshmallows!

Not buying it......

2010-07-21T04:47:00.000-07:00

This is a particularly apt post considering what this blog is called. Having moved fairly recently I have had cause to sift through my vast piles of possessions and all I can say is.....for shame! And again....shame on me! I seem to have accumulated the most ridiculous amount of stuff. Some of it good (especially the books, I could never be ashamed of the books!) but some of it oh-so-very bad. Shoes that I had worn once and earrings I have never worn and make-up, expensive make-up, that is still it all its unused glory. And yet....I found myself still trawling the shops on a regular basis gazing lustfully at the very stuff I had languishing at home....only this was shiny, new stuff and hence somehow....so very superior. I illustrate my point below:

Just some of my earrings collection

Nail polishes!

So I just thought enough! I need to stop buying for the sake of buying because not only is over-consumption harmful to the environment but somehow it's just not the type of person I am aiming to be. I have always considered myself quite a grateful person, not taking my privileged position in life for granted and yet I just seemed to be buying more and more for no reason. So July has been my 'Not buying it' month. Judith Levine has actually written a book on the subject called 'Not Buying It' way back in 2007 and the message is not new among the environmentally aware. 'Do The Green Thing' also highlight this on their website and their 'All-consuming' campaign is part of their seven steps towards a greener life.

So this month, although I have spent money on food and travel, I have not purchased any magazines, books, toiletries, clothes, accessories or anything else. This might not sound like much to some people, I know that my love of shopping is particularly pronounced and some people don't suffer with the same affliction, but I have found it quite difficult at times.....I see something in the sale and think, well now...I really do need another pair of black trousers so maybe I should just buy this....but I didn't and am remaining strong. I am not sure I could keep this going for a year, but certainly it has made me think and going forward I plan to consider whether I really need something before I buy it. The other great thing is that I am starting to actually use and appreciate the stuff I do have more. I still have another week or so to go of my 'not buying it' month but I think this is going to be something of a theme for the rest of the year....will keep you posted!

Coveting....Magno Cube Wooden Radio

2010-07-14T04:10:00.000-07:00

The Design Museum London's Sustainable Futures exhibition is currently showing and will be until the 5th of September. Hopefully I will get there sooner rather than later (such as after the 5th of September!) and will be able to tell you more about it but in the meantime....in conjunction with the exhibition their generally-fabulous-anyway Design Museum Shop has a number of gorgeous things in stock with an 'eco' aspect and I am loving the 'Magno Cube Wooden Radio' by Singgih Kartono. Not only beautifully designed and manufactured through an environmentally sustainable process; profits also support the development of the plantation surrounding the production facility. Plus it's MP3 compatible so can be used as speakers for one's iPod/MP3. It does cost £175 so this is very much admiration from afar on my part....but I can still enjoy its sheer existence! And that is what I am going to keep telling myself......

Beauty Review: REN Moroccan Rose Otto Body Wash

2010-07-07T02:33:00.000-07:00

I have been meaning to write a review on this for ages as it was one of my Christmas presents from the OH. And the reason why it was on the Christmas list is because, at £16, it is rather expensive for a regular shower gel purchase but I just kept reading good things about this product. And now that I have been spoilt with it I am loathe to go back to anything else! I absolutely love the smell but the main reason I rate this so much is the moisturising effect it has on my skin. Sometimes other shower gels/body washes can leave my skin feeling dry and almost a little tight but this makes my skin lovely and silky yet without an oily, sticky film which sometimes occurs with other products which contain essential oil. This won the 'Best shower gel' category in the Style Best Beauty Buys 2010 and I can understand why.

As with most REN products it contains no petrochemicals, sulfates, parabens, synthetic colours and fragrances, silicones or pegs....and the list goes on. REN's packaging is recyclable and can be returned to them using freepost. The only animal products REN use are honey and beeswax and none of their products are tested on animals. Visit http://www.renskincare.com/ for more information on REN's ingredients and environmental policies.

Pssst, 2 things you might like to know....

2010-07-01T04:18:00.000-07:00

Oxfam Bookfest 2010 is happening from the 3rd to the 17th of July. Various events are happening around the country and books at Oxfam's Second-hand store are 2 for 1 on all £2.99 fiction.

Ethical Superstore's Summer Sale is now on with up to 70% off some items. I have my eye on this dress:

Although I am resisting as July is my 'buy nothing' month, more on which to follow. But that doesn't mean others can't indulge.....hmph.

Pretentious....moi?

2010-06-30T06:56:00.000-07:00

In a happy marketing coincidence I was contemplating the fact that we should eat more fruit and vegetables (because this is the kind of thrilling thing I sometimes contemplate) on the very day that an Abel & Cole flyer had been popped through our front door announcing that they were now operating in our area. So rather than ignore the universe I am busy trying them out. Today I received, for the third week, a 'small mixed organic box' which is apparently perfect for one person according to them but I am seeing how it does the OH and I and will upscale if necessary. So far I am enjoying the delivery and have been very impressed with the quality generally. I especially like that the box normally has a little recipe card tucked in with it so you can try something different with some of the produce you've just received. My only concern is that I have wasted a fair amount of the vegetables simply because they don't always fit into what we're having for dinner although I am getting better at making sure I incorporate what we receive. Abel & Cole have loads of information on their website (particularly in the faqs section) about the 'organicness' of their goods, their packaging and their work with small, independent producers.....so if you're a 'concerned shopper' then they may be for you.

The OH said that our weekly organic box is pretentious! Which made me laugh and tcha with disdain but I did mull it over and fair enough in some respects I suppose if one was going to go round blabbing about it and how fantastically virtuous it is.....which I am soooo not doing here by the way....I just like that it is an easy way to support independent organic producers. I would love to shop exclusively at small grocers and/or farmers' markets but that is not really an option so for now I am going to go along with the pretentious organic weekly box!

Support a different way of doing business....

2010-06-23T03:47:00.001-07:00

Co-operatives Fortnight is currently running and is aimed at raising awareness of co-operatives across the UK. Basically, a co-operative is a business that is owned and operated by a group of people for their mutual benefit. The official definition is "an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise". Co-operatives Fortnight explains further in its 'What is a Co-operative' leaflet. The Fortnight itself aims to promote co-operative organisations but also the idea of being co-operative as a whole, whether it's with your neighbours or community or whatever the case may be.

I think it's a good opportunity to find co-operative organisations in your area and support them. So many of us spend a lot of time criticising and bemoaning big businesses and here is a chance to support smaller ones or ones that might have operating values that may do more to address concerns around environmental, ethical and social issues. Check it out at www.thereisanalternative.coop.

Green Britain Day...

2010-06-16T03:03:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, the 17th of June, is Green Britain Day. Whatever your feelings may be about the fact that edf Energy is the sponsor (I am frankly, a little tired of debates around whether we should support initiatives sponsored by ‘the man’ ie. Big businesses....personally I think that the more we do to support positive steps by business to take sustainability issues into consideration the more likely they are to take notice and make even more of an effort because, let's face it, they aren't just all going to go away or turn into lovely little ethical co-operatives, but maybe that’s just me being optimistic....) there are a number of great ideas for simple activities you can do for sustainability and a great deal of information on the site here: http://www.teamgreenbritain.org/the-big-picture. By registering online you can receive a newsletter which will let you know of events happening in your area.

At a recent event I went to in a work capacity the discussion centred around which group – business, consumers or government, were the drivers of change in terms of embracing sustainability issues. As usual, there was no consensus, and as usual, the conclusion is that everyone needs to work together. An excellent point which was raised and made sense to me though, was the fact that as consumers, we don’t often have access to, in economic terms, perfect information. We can only make our decisions based on what we are told and that is not always the correct information and/or all the information. So we are forced to rely on business and the information they provide. So inevitably, the best impact we can have is to let businesses know our concerns, tell them that it is important for us to know that they are doing their best to ensure that when we purchase goods and services from them we can rely on the fact that they have done the research and they are offering us the most sustainable/ethical product they can. I know this may be a bit idealistic, but I think that rather than us, as consumers, trying to make a decision about whether, for example, loose fruit or packaged fruit, is more sustainable in terms of the joint issues of food waste, transport and packaging, that is something we need to rely on the retailers to have done their research on and then fed back to us. So speak to the businesses you use about what they are doing, as a whole, about sustainability issues....write to them/email them and let them know that you want the information. I know it may seem a waste of time as an individual but just a short email can make a big difference and needn’t be a hassle. Ok, semi-rant over.....happy Green Britain Day for tomorrow.

Kitchen Clickalong....

2010-05-14T02:00:00.000-07:00

The OH and I have participated in few of Allegra McEvedy's kitchen clickalongs on the Guardian website. It's kind of a no-brainer that it would appeal to me, lover of food and recipe books! What makes these particularly interesting is the unknown element. You don't see the recipe as a whole so it is very different from following a recipe in a book....but it's also lots of fun.

Allegra also focuses on seasonal food and tends to use a lot of fresh produce which is great. Last night's was one of the best yet, especially because it was the first in our lovely new kitchen which has a breakfast bar counter perfect for the person on calling-out-the-instructions-from-the-laptop duty...which the OH did fabulously while also managing to make some amazing fresh raspberry and chambord based cocktails (more on them later as I think they are deserving of their own post!). We made English quiche of new season garlic, asparagus and new potatoes with lemon curd pots for pudding. I managed to use pretty much every utensil and container in the kitchen....but the end results were absolutely delicious! For anyone interested in cooking, I suggest you keep an eye out for the next one and join in....

Make do and mend....

2010-05-13T04:29:00.000-07:00

So the OH and I have just moved into a new house.....and without gushing (I only do that to my family and friends....a lot) I am just in love with it. We are only renting so are not in the business of making huge decor/refurbishing changes.....but we are planning on being there for a while so we are making it our own.....slowly but surely.

One of the projects I want to do in the fairly forseeable future is 'upcycle' our aged billy bookcases, of which there are 5 now in the open plan lounge/dining room area. They are currently tired-looking pine and the plan is to paint them white and wallpaper the inner back panel.

This is not a new and original idea by any means, it's been done to great effect here on design sponge and there are a number of sites that give step-by-step instructions. I think it's going to look great and to be honest, if it doesn't, we can always get some new bookcases as the ones we have at the moment are not in the prime of their lives so I'm not afraid of 'ruining' them. But I would always rather reuse what we have already, especially when doing that can mean you end up with something a little bit more original and personal than something straight from the shop.

I have ordered the wallpaper already (see below....I love it) and hopefully once that arrives I can get started so will post pics in the next few weeks.

Beauty Review: Yes To Carrots Body Lotion and Eye Contour Cream

2010-05-11T02:39:00.000-07:00

Yes To Carrots is a US-based skincare range now available in the UK. I have been using the 'C is Smooth - Body Moisturising Lotion' and 'Eye can C Clearly Now - Eye Contour Cream' for several weeks and although I wouldn't say they have astounded me they are good overall products.

The body lotion is non-greasy which is good. The only thing I don't like is that it just seems to disappear so I have to apply quite a lot before I feel like it's had an effect. I do like the fresh, 'baby lotion' smell as it doesn't interfere with my perfume.

The eye cream moisturises my under eye area effectively but unfortunately didn't do anything for dark circles or puffiness. So it's a nice product but not a miracle worker....it does however come in a very large jar compared to most eye products so will last for a long time and is good value for money.

The range uses Beta-Carotene from fruits and vegetables and minerals from the Dead Sea. Products do not contain parabens, phthalates and are not tested on animals. The 'Yes To' company state that they try to use as high a natural and organic content as possible....but this does vary from product to product, so it's best to do a bit of research and check the ingredient list for each one if you have particular concerns. The company aims to donate over 5% of profits towards the 'Yes To Carrots' Seed Fund, a US non-profit organisation which provides grants to schools and communities to help them build gardens and promote healthy nutrition. Visit http://www.yestocarrots.com/. for more information about the company and specific products.

Fairtrade Fortnight: The Big Swap is on.....

2010-02-22T08:01:00.000-08:00

Fairtrade Fortnight starts today. This year, the focus is on swapping your ‘usual stuff’ for the fairtrade equivalent. A number of individuals, organisations and businesses have already registered their swaps at www.fairtrade.org.uk/thebigswap. The website also has more information on what you can swap, Big Swap Events and other ways you can get involved in Fairtrade Fortnight.

The great thing about this campaign, in my humble opinion, is that it is really easy for individuals to get involved. You can embrace Fairtrade Fortnight as much as you’d like, whether all you do is register to swap your regular teabags for fairtrade ones for a few weeks or possibly take it a bit further swapping a wider range of items such as other groceries, clothing or even cleaning products.

3 of the best.....ethical fashion sale items

2010-02-18T02:12:00.000-08:00

Harriet Tunic now £30 (Frank & Faith)

Stweart + Brown Organic Tee now £24 (Fashion-Conscience)

Short Sleeved Cardi now £25 (Ascension)

Beauty Review: Liz Earle Cleanse, Tone and Moisturise

2010-02-12T04:18:00.001-08:00

I had heard about Liz Earle products a number of times in the run-up to me actually purchasing them, and pretty much all the things I heard were good. The products are a favourite of the ‘The Green Beauty Bible’ and have won a raft of awards.

Liz Earle have a broadly ‘natural’ philosophy, although some of our stricter green friends may be critical of the fact that the range does use some synthetic preservatives. Liz Earle do no animal testing and use no animal ingredients, no mineral oils and no genetically engineered ingredients.

I purchased the ‘3 daily essentials’ from the website which are the famous Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, the Instant Boost Skin Tonic and the Skin Repair Moisturiser (I bought the Normal/combination version).

I have been using all three for about 4 months now and I am incredibly impressed. I am notoriously lazy when it comes to maintaining any sort of routine, especially a ‘skincare’ one. But I noticed the effects of these products from day one (seriously) and that just made me want to keep things up. The Cleanser smells gorgeous and for my occasionally sensitive, dry and flakey cheeks it has been amazing this Winter. I feel it wouldn’t be accurate to review each of these products separately as I have been using all three and would be hard pressed to say whether the improvement in my skin has come from one in particular or a combination of all of them. I went to a beautician I have been to regularly over the years for a facial a few weeks ago and she said my skin had never been so hydrated. I’m sure this is partially down to the fact that I have never before been so disciplined with actually cleansing, toning and moisturising on a regular basis but that is mainly because the products make my skin feel great. So a big thumbs up for Liz Earle and I am definitely going to try some of the other products in the range in the future.

Visit http://www.lizearle.com/ for more information on the range, to read their Environmental Policy Statement and to find out more about Liz Earle’s philosophy on natural and organic ingredients. Ordering products from the website is quick and efficient. The products were packaged beautifully when they arrived and although most of the packaging was bio-degradable there did some to be rather a lot of it, unnecessarily. I also received a free sample with my order, which is always nice.

A new beginning....sort of...

2010-02-11T04:41:00.000-08:00

Well it’s been a while….a long while. I have a number of excuses prepared for my long blogging absence (holiday to South Africa, hectic schedule at work etc.) but they are kind of pointless because the point is…I’m just not sure of how I am feeling about this blog at the moment and that is the real reason why I haven't been very inspired. I think I kind of went off in an unintended direction of only wanting to blog about something that ‘fitted in’ with some preconceived idea of what this blog was about….not even my own preconceived idea, just one that somehow arrived and then roosted.

I just want this blog to be about stuff…all sorts of stuff, stuff I like doing and eating and buying and wearing, mainly in London as that is where I live after all. And I want the things I blog about to be stuff I’d like to share, rather than something I have had to think about and then written about for the sake of having something to write about! So I am semi-kind-of starting things over with a slightly wider remit and we’ll just see how things go…that is the beauty of it all, nothing has to be set in stone.

National Ethical Investment Week

2009-11-04T01:42:00.000-08:00

National Ethical Investment Week takes place next week (8-14 November). NEIW is a campaign which aims to raise awareness of green and ethical finance and investment choices.

There are a large number of people who are concerned about the green and ethical credentials of the purchases they make and yet they never stop and consider what their money may be financing in terms of where they bank and where they invest there savings. There are a wide and constantly expanding range of options available for people concerned about what their investments are financing.

Visit www.neiw.org for some more information about the campaign and green and ethical investing in general.

3 of the best.....natural cold and flu relievers

2009-10-14T03:57:00.000-07:00

In keeping with the general illness theme which I established last week, I thought I would highlight ‘3 of the best’ natural cold and flu relievers (I say relievers because I can’t really vouch for these as remedies….during my own recent germ-struggles I have found the following quite helpful although not cures…the best cure for flu is most often time and rest).

Ginger, honey and lemon tea – ginger is a natural antiviral plant and has long been used to treat asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory problems as well as assisting with digestion and easing nausea. One of the easiest ways to take it is as a tea by steeping shavings of fresh ginger in hot water and adding honey and lemon to taste.

Tomato Soup – ok so this may be more psychosomatic than anything else as a warm bowl of soup is essentially comforting but tomatoes contain high levels of vitamin c and are generally a good source of vitamins. Soup is easily digested which is helpful for someone who is generally worn down. Heavy meals require energy to digest and for someone ill, this energy can be best utilised by the body for getting better.

Steam – steam moisturises and soothes your nasal passages which can be a huge relief when suffering from a cold or flu. The easiest way to get a dose of steam is obviously to have a hot shower. Steam can also help ease congestion and help you expel phlegm.

Ok, I am going to stop going on about being ill now......I promise!

Lurgy, laziness and London Borough Market

2009-10-07T06:54:00.000-07:00

I have been a very neglectful blogger of late. The past few weeks have flown by in a haze of fuzzy-headedness and a desire to do as little as possible brought on by an indeterminate illness. So I a) haven’t actually done anything worth sharing and b) have spent any time while not at work sleeping, in the bath or lying on the sofa feeling vaguely sorry for myself.

The one thing I did do before the rot set in was visit London Borough Market. Now is not the best time for a first visit as construction is well under way on one of the market’s main sections….so it is even more crowded than usual and rather difficult to navigate without getting stuck in bottle necks but for anyone who likes food (and I find it hard to imagine how anyone could not) it is still worth a visit.

While there I feasted on raclette, numerous bits of cheese and bread with various olive oils, and fresh cranberry and apple juice. I went home with toffee-pecan cheesecake (oh my word, this is amazing, trust me on this one), Spanish hot sauce (the exact name of which escapes me), chipotle paste, sausages, dry-cure bacon and various herbs and vegetables. Whenever I buy food from Borough I am always amazed at how well dishes turn out and what a difference it makes buying things that are fresh and in season rather than from the supermarket. It’s not possible, unfortunately, for me to do day-to-day shopping at a market but I think it really is worth doing as often as possible.

Psst....

2009-09-17T04:58:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I am not sure why either, but online ethical retailer and brand Adili have changed their name to Ascension. Go figure. But what is actually kind of cool is…. they are launching a flagship London store. It will be opening in central London (exact location tbc) in early November. Let’s hope it is the first of many!

3 of the best....ethical shoes

2009-09-16T02:14:00.000-07:00

Although I have had a strong word with myself and have vowed (to try my very best) to go easy on the shopping....it doesn't hurt to look! And share with others. So here are 3 of my favourite ethical shoes available at the moment:

Boots: Terra Plana Birch Chocolate Waxed Leather (£170 at Terra Plana)

Heels: Beyond Skin Ruby Shoes (£97 at Equa)

Trainers: Veja Women's (£72 at Ascension)

Food news....

2009-09-13T11:56:00.000-07:00

Although I actually love general grocery shopping (which may sound very odd to some people), I also like looking at and buying unusual ingredients and online food shopping opens up a whole new avenue for this. Online food shopping doesn't, in my mind, compare to having a wonder around an actual market (especially Borough market which may just be one of my favourite places in London) but sometimes when that isn't possible online browsing can be the next best thing.

A great site I came across recently is Goodness Direct. The site has all sorts of information, an interesting blog (which recently featured a post about ethical food) and a number of different food categories such as fairtrade and raw foods and they only use biodegradable and/or recyclable packaging.

In other foodie news, it is currently Organic Fortnight so visit the Soil Association's website, http://www.soilassociation.org/ for some more information about the campaign to promote awareness about organic products.

Sign up to 10:10 today....

2009-09-01T04:46:00.000-07:00

10:10 is a new initiative (the launch event of which is today actually, so if you can, get down to the Tate Modern from 4pm) which calls on individuals, companies and other organisations to cut carbon emissions by 10% in 2010.

There is plenty of information on the website, www.1010uk.org. about why this is a good thing and how we can all go about achieving this target (in our homes and in the workplace) so I am not going to go on about it here. I just suggest you support the campaign by signing up on the website as soon as you can.....

Wish list...

2009-08-21T12:05:00.000-07:00

A website I recently came across, and have been visiting frequently lately, is Devidoll London. Every label they stock meets at least one of the following criteria: "made from organic fabric OR made from alternative fabric (including soya, hemp, bamboo, peace silk, modal and more) OR helps revive traditional handicraft among local populations OR especially benefits women and/or children OR made from vintage or repurposed materials".

Some of the items I am currently coveting:

DOIE Silk Tie Trackpants

FIN Goddess Dress (way out of my price range but a girl can dream....)

Sarah Donegan Golden Wheat Bag

London's Eco-finest....

2009-08-07T07:57:00.000-07:00

Coco Eco Magazine’s latest issue features an eco-guide to London. The article highlights some of London’s top eco-restaurants, hotels and shops. ‘London Goes Eco Chic’ was written by Tara of great eco-blog ‘Green Lashes and Fashion’ and is definitely worth a read if you’re planning a visit to London or are a jaded Londoner looking for some eco-inspiration…

Organic debate (en)rages....

2009-07-31T07:41:00.000-07:00

There has been a great deal of coverage in the media this week regarding the FSA’s recently published ‘Organic nutrient content review’. The Review concludes that there is no significant nutritional difference between organic and conventionally produced food and that there is no evidence to suggest eating organic food has any additional health benefits.

As someone who has always favoured organic food (if not always able to buy it due to budget constraints) I was quite interested to read the subsequent articles and comments which have followed the release of these findings. Interestingly, the study doesn’t take into account the effects of fertiliser and pesticide traces in food. This to me, kind of makes the whole report a bit of a cop-out really. Personally, I try to buy organic for environmental reasons rather than nutritional ones (after all, if I was so concerned about nutrition, I wouldn’t consume vast amounts of Wotsits on a shamefully regular basis). However, surely any study on how nutritious organic food is in comparison to ‘regular’ food should take into account chemicals found on and hormones found in conventionally produced food? Although my motivation is environmental, I do still like the idea that I am not ingesting potentially harmful chemicals when chomping on an organic apple….for example.

This is also, to keep things in perspective, one study among many others which have different conclusions. It is very difficult for us (and by us I mean those not in a position to test the nutritional content of our food which I feel fairly safe to assume is quite a large group) to know which study to believe and how accurate the information that filters down to us really is. One thing which really interests me is the level of hostility which some seem to feel towards those who buy organic food calling them ‘smug’ ‘rich’ ‘stupid’ and my favourite ‘middle class trendies in the west with more money than sense’. I wish I had more money than sense! Why such anger and contempt? The Soil Association suggests a number of benefits to ‘going organic’. Nutritional arguments aside, these include that organic farmers use natural methods to feed soil and limit pests rather than harmful chemicals such as nitrogen fertiliser which contributes towards greenhouse gas emissions. Organic food avoids pesticides and I don’t know about you but I would like to consume as little of those as possible. Animal welfare is also an important part of organic farming. Organic animal rearing standards prohibit cruelty and guarantee free-range conditions. And, according to the Soil Association’s website, “The UK Government’s own advisors found that plant, insect and bird life is up to 50% greater on organic farms”. Now to me all these things sounds like something I’d like to encourage as much as I can.

If I had the money, I would only buy organic produce. I don’t do it to be smug or to assuage my conscience. It’s because all of the above sounds good to me. So I don’t really understand the anger. I think discourse on the issue is important and the more information available the better. I personally would like to know whether the higher price charged for organic goods is actually justified or if part of it is cynical retailers knowing they can make money from us smug, middle class trendies…..so perhaps we can move forward this debate with a little less name-calling and a little more thought regarding what kind of farming practices we’d like to support and the best way to go about this….

Wish list....

2009-07-30T05:40:00.000-07:00

Ethical fashion retailer FASHION-CONSCIENCE.COM are currently having a sale. This Betty Jackson Organic cotton t-shirt is firmly on my wishlist. It was £32 and is now £22.40. This shirt is 100% organic cotton and as a bonus a percentage of the profits from this tee go to the Environmental Justice Foundation.

Ditch the plastic...

2009-07-27T07:09:00.000-07:00

One of the ‘green resolutions’ I have actually managed to keep this year is not buying bottled water. I use to buy a bottle of water pretty much every day and I have managed to cut that right down. As an incentive to make sure I stuck with my vow not to buy bottled water, I bought this SIGG water bottle from http://www.onyabags.co.uk/. Obviously I could have just used a glass but that didn’t seem as fun somehow!

Apparently in the UK alone the plastic bottles generated by our bottled water habit in one year would fill the Wembley Stadium 3 times over. Which just seems so unnecessary considering our tap water is safe to drink…

Loving Lovelula.....

2009-07-17T02:29:00.000-07:00

My first purchase from online beauty store Lovelula.com (‘the organic apothecary’) arrived last week. I bought Burt’s Bees Pore Refining Mask after reading its many rave reviews on make-up alley (my own review to follow later once I have been using it for a while but first impression was a good one!). I must say I am really impressed with Lovelula. Their range of natural and organic beauty products is excellent. They provide a great deal of information on a product’s ingredients and organic/natural credentials and are extremely helpful if you have any further questions about a product or range.

My order arrived quicker than I thought it would and best of all, with each order you can also choose up to 3 free samples of certain products. I opted for John Masters Organics Honey and Hibiscus Hair Reconstructor and Reconstructing Shampoo. John Masters Organics are quite a pricey brand so it’s great to be able to try them out before purchasing. I also chose a sample of Elysambre Organic Pre-makeup Base Cream which is a brand I have never tried before.

Pssst....

2009-07-13T06:50:00.000-07:00

Ethical online retailer Adili.com are in the midst of a sale with certain items up to 50% off. My favourites are:

Colourful embroidered dress

£66.50 [was £95.00]

Chenna's quilt pumps

£45 [was £90]

Silk mix button waist coat
£63.70 [was £91]

Second-hand style....

2009-07-12T11:18:00.000-07:00

As an ardent shopper one of the things I really battle with in my bid towards greener living is the idea that I shouldn’t really be buying stuff I don’t need. And to be strictly honest, at this point in my life, when it comes to bags, shoes, clothes and jewellery I don’t actually need anything. Even if it is fairtrade/ethically sourced/organic….or any of the above. It is one thing acknowledging this and another trying to live by it so in the meantime, one of the ways to assuage my conscience somewhat is charity shop shopping! Because if I’m buying something pre-owned then I am really just contributing towards the recycling process….right? Don’t disillusion me please, I am sure this theory has its own flaws, but let me just have this one for now….

Historically I’ve only really scoured the charity shops for books. But recently I’ve broadened my outlook somewhat and realised that with a little patience and regular check-ins they can be the source of all sorts of goodies. I bought a gorgeous striped-glass jug with two matching glasses recently for £2. So effectively what I’ve bought is recycled glass, I’ve just cut out the middle man!

I have also just ordered my first purchase from Oxfam’s online second-hand shop. The beauty of this option is that you don’t need to keep visiting a shop (which is a necessary component of an effective charity shopping strategy if you want to find something great) which can be time consuming. The online option means you can easily narrow down your search to your size, price range and/or category. And even better, you can then narrow it down by the condition of the item. So you can just search the Used: As New category if you so choose, or if you’re exta fussy, there is also a ‘with tags’ category so you’re essentially buying a new item. As an added bonus, all purchases from the second-hand store come with free delivery until the 20th of July. So check it out for some guilt free shopping that is also easy on the wallet……

Enjoying London doesn't have to cost the earth....

2009-07-08T02:24:00.000-07:00

I agree so much with the general premise of this article ‘Bargain London’ [guardian website travel blog]. Check out the comments to this as well for a whole lot of ideas on what to do in London when money is tight.

London can be incredibly expensive, as can most major cities, but there is also plenty to do on a budget. I am just too lazy to get out and do these things most of the time but as this article mentions, there are a host of websites and guides that can offer inspiration. On a ‘green’ note (just cause I can ;) Visit London even has a ‘green’ section of their website: www.visitlondon.com/people/green which not only has ideas on where to go and what to eat, but also tips on how to make sure you’re a ‘responsible tourist’ (which doesn’t sound particularly exciting I’ll admit but is more along the lines of throw away your litter and respect your environment rather than prohibiting any wild behaviour!).

Keep one Onya (groan....)......

2009-07-07T05:41:00.000-07:00

I am truly appalling at remembering to take my own bags with me when I go grocery shopping. Although I generally do manage to take my own bags along when doing a ‘big shop’, I tend to forget when it’s just a general popping in to get a few groceries, or when it’s not for groceries at all but clothes or books or toiletries etc. And I have all manner of cloth/hemp/plastic shopping bags but the issue is just that I don’t take them with me when I’m not anticipating a major shopping trip.

Hence my purchase of an Onya bag. It’s the best ‘fold-up’ bag I’ve seen/bought predominantly because it’s made out of parachute material so it can be stuffed into its own little pouch in a couple of seconds (I used to have another synthetic fold-up bag but it seemed to require advanced engineering skills to return it, folded and neat, into the little pouch it came with). Visit www.onyabags.co.uk. to check out their range. I have the original Onya which is the perfect size to keep in my bag for general purchases.

Plastic bags just seem such a ridiculous way of causing environmental damage when really, they’re so easily avoided. I still forget to carry my Onya bag with me sometimes, and have to use plastic ones, but I’ve definitely cut down and managed to avoid unnecessary leftist environmental guilt! ;)

Kind of cool....

2009-06-23T02:13:00.000-07:00

Chicza, organic rainforest gum, is now available at Waitrose. I haven't actually tried it yet but as a sporadic gum chewer I am definitely intrigued.

Chicza is not only biodegradable (the lifespan of a wad of ordinary chewed gum is anything up to 5 years where as Chicza apparently dissolves in about a month, causing no environmental damage) but it is also the first certified organic chewing gum and is produced by 56 cooperatives with the sustainability of natural resources of extreme importance. Visit http://www.chicza.com/. for more information on how the gum is produced.

Tube strike madness....

2009-06-10T06:23:00.000-07:00

Well I like complaining about the tube as much as the next Londoner, I really do. Tube ranting is one of my favourites. But I now have tube strike fatigue to be honest. The guardian even felt the need to blog about it and to share their journalists' journeys via twitter...and oh god, now I am talking about it too. So I will keep this brief...

I have no idea about my official position (and I know people are dying to know) on the strike. I think it's just not possible for a member of the general public (i.e. me) to really know what is going with regards to who is being the most unreasonable....and I don't really care. But I do like this website: http://www.walkit.com/ which I consulted so that I wouldn't have to use the tube to get to work. While forgoing my little tube commute only prevented (or avoided as the website prefers to say) 0.06kg of CO2 emissions, I have realised that the walk is far quicker than I anticipated and about a hundred times more pleasant than my usual Circle Line experience. So strike/don't strike...I don't really mind, just please don't tell me any more about it.

Wishlist....

2009-06-05T07:06:00.001-07:00

Adili, one of my favourite ethical online retailers, has a number of dresses that I am coveting at the moment. This is (probably) my favourite. It is by People Tree, which has recently won the Observer Ethical Awards for Fashion.

Ethical fashion options just keep on growing, a great thing for the world in general but a bit of an issue for my wallet......

Interesting, if not cheerful, weekend reading.....

2009-05-29T07:08:00.000-07:00

'The Anatomy of a Silent Crisis' has just been released by the Global Humanitarian Forum. This is the first comprehensive study which quantifies the effect of climate change on humanity. According to the report climate change is already responsible for 300 000 deaths per year. Of course the naysayers will have their own opinions and dismiss this as just another lefty-liberal treehugging fuss about nothing (still boggles my mind when I hear/read the 'what climate change?' view but I won't launch into rant mode or we'll be here all day) but for some of us it makes quite chilling reading....

LUSH....

2009-05-25T11:59:00.001-07:00

Despite the occasionally over-enthusiastic sales people, I really rate Lush for their general philosophy on organics, recycling and animal testing. Lush products have minimal preservatives and packaging and they tend to use mostly organic ingredients.

I was puzzled as to why they are not listed on www.gocrueltyfree.org/companies.php as a PETA approved 'no animal testing' organisation so I wrote to them to find out why and they actually had a plausible explanation. They sent me a fact sheet on Lush's stance on testing, which explains their Supplier Specific Boycott Policy. It explains the benefits to this policy, which is different from the Fixed Cut-off Date policy employed by the Humane Cosmetics Standard. Lush are not included on PETA's approved list because of this policy difference but they are actually specifically mentioned on the Go Cruelty Free website as a recommended retailer and cites the same explanation for their exclusion from the BUAV (British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection) list.

Lush products use minimal packaging which makes a refreshing change from many cosmetic's companies. Although I find some of their products overwhelming in terms of scent and underwhelming in terms of effect, they also have some great stuff.

My favourites are:

Ceridwyn's Cauldron bath melt

The Blonde solid shampoo (which is great for reducing packaging)

Marilyn hair treatment

Buffy exfoliating scrub

Lush are a great example of a company that manages to combine numerous ethical considerations at the same time, which is great for a concerned consumer as it takes the guess-work out of purchases. However, just because a shop or company is perceived to be 'good' it certainly doesn't mean they are so it is a good idea to ask questions if something doesn't make sense. It also lets them know that people are genuinely concerned and they can't just get away with vague claims about their ethical credentials.

Flowers...you can eat...yeah!

2009-05-14T06:35:00.001-07:00

I know that it is incredibly girly of me but I love the idea of eating flowers. I went to Saf, the vegetarian, organic, generally virtuous restaurant a few weeks ago for lunch (food was great, service was not but that's another story) and had, among other things, the 'greens and flowers' salad which made me even more excited about my nasturtium seedlings growing in the garden. I planted them from seed and they've been completely hassle free. The vivid orange flowers can be used in salads or added to vinaigrettes and they have a distinct spicy/peppery flavour as well as looking beautiful. They don't even need to be in the garden but can be grown in medium to large containers. A pack of seeds cost about a quid so in keeping with the current spirit of thrift and grow-your-own I would recommend adding this to your next list of things-to-do....

Wish list....

2009-05-08T02:37:00.000-07:00

I cannot, however hard I may try, justify the purchase of another pair of trainers at the moment. Not even by my vast imagination when it comes to the necessariness (I don't think this is really a word) of another pair of shoes do I need another pair of trainers. But if I did, and could overlook the fairly hefty £73 price tag, then these retro, Veja Volley Trainers would be mine...all mine! Oh, and they're also fairly traded, sustainable and made with organic cotton as an added bonus.

Find them online at http://www.equaclothing.com/ and http://www.endclothing.co.uk/. to name but two....

World Fair Trade Day: Saturday 09 May...

2009-05-07T01:57:00.000-07:00

This Saturday is World Fair Trade Day. I am, like many of us I suspect, guilty of being a bit of a fairweather fair trade buyer. I tend to go for the usual fair trade suspects like bananas, coffee, tea and chocolate. These tend to be the easiest and most visible/publicised fair trade products. But there is actually a suprisingly wide range of fair trade stuff out there, and not just from stores like Ethical Superstore, but also from online grocery stores like Waitrose and Sainsbury's, who tend to have a wider range available online than in-store which will hopefully change in future. And it's not just groceries that you should consider but clothes, accessories and household items.

The Fairtrade Foundation are suggesting we get involved with a fair trade breakfast which sounds like a cool idea to me. But even if you can't manage that, try adding a few extra fair trade items to your shopping basket in the next week or so and it might even become a habit....

Changing the way we behave....

2009-05-06T01:42:00.000-07:00

I read an interesting article in the New York Times Magazine recently entitled 'Why Isn't the Brain Green' by Jon Gertner. Although it gets quite technical in terms of behavioral psychology, I think the basic question Gertner asks is intriguing. Why aren't we all more concerned about climate change? Why is there very little sense of urgency among the majority of the population?

I don't know the answer to this. I just know that personally, inaction is often due to a combination of ignorance and laziness. As the article concludes, unfortunately, human beings don't always act in their own/society's best interests. Hence the need for greater incentives and stricter laws. I am no fan of being told what to do but sometimes it seems to me that if we can't be trusted to help ourselves, we need some significant pushes in the right direction...

How green is a barbeque?

2009-05-05T05:52:00.000-07:00

After a lovely, sunny bank holiday weekend consisting of 3 barbeques, 1 hosted by moi and 2 by friends, my boyfriend gave me a mild rebuke regarding my love of barbeques considering that they 'are not exactly environmentally friendly'.

I must confess that I do love bbqs, mainly just because of the fact that I get to spend more time outside, chilling in the sun with a beverage, which seems a much more pleasant way to cook when the weather is warm and the evenings are long. However, I hadn't honestly considered the 'green' concerns. As always, the internet saves the day with some useful information on how to green your bbq. Thankfully, I've not come across any sites which have vetoed them outright which is encouraging, as I'm not sure I could manage that.

Ethical Super Store stock 'BioRegional HomeGrown FSC Certified Charcoal' which is a good start, ie making sure that the charcoal you use is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified. I was quite chuffed to come across a tip on Planet Green's 'How to go Green: Barbeque' pages which my family have always done, not because it's green but because it's very effective and that is to use a raw onion sliced in half to clean the grill rather than a chemical spray of some sort.

Sierra Magazine's website also has some great green bbq tips in their article, The Green Life: Get your grill on.

So it seems that bbqs are allowed, which is cool as I've already been to 3 and Summer has only just begun....

Update: The Telegraphs' eco-friendly barbeques articles states that the following sell charcoal with the FSC logo: Waitrose (Big K brand), Morrisons (own label 'Instant Light' only); Co-Op (own label), Asda (own label). This is quite an old article though so there are probably more available now. Waitrose definately still sell the Big K Brand, which is still FSC certified.

Latest cookbook purchase....

2009-05-01T07:27:00.001-07:00

I love cookbooks so much that I try not to look at them too often....I would fill my house with cookbooks given half the chance and really, I can only cook so many things. In fact half the time, I just like reading them, even if I don't actually end up directly following any of the recipes!

I am quite excitedly awaiting the arrival of Sophie Dahl's new recipe book. I liked the idea that she has divided the recipes into seasons so you can make the recipe when the ingredients are accessible.

Will keep you posted on how it turns out!

Recycle now....

2009-04-16T04:04:00.001-07:00

Phase 1 of my recycling drive has finally kicked off with the arrival of a home composting bin and kitchen waste caddy. The most thrilling, yes thrilling, part of this arrival is that they together cost me £8, inlcuding delivery! When I decided I wanted to start composting in our small garden I looked into purchasing a composting bin and kitchen caddy from Ethical Superstore. The bin was going to cost around £45 and the caddy around £5. Before I actually ordered it though I, luckily, came across the Recycle Now website. After entering my postcode into the Composting section of the site I found that I could purchase a composting bin for £8 including delivery, plus a free kitchen caddy. I think it is great that councils are encouraging home composting, I just think they should spread the word a bit more. The difference between spending £50 and £8 is huge for most people and if we were all more aware of schemes like this we might take advantage of them.

Not only does composting reduce waste that eventually goes to landfills but home composting for a year can also save global warming gas emissions equivalent to the CO2 produced by a kettle used for an entire year or a washing machine for three months.

This 'It's easy to make your own compost' booklet is quite a useful source of information with a handy, simplified list of what you should and should not put in the composting bin.

Harsh but fair....

2009-04-14T08:13:00.000-07:00

I know it's mean to laugh at the misfortunes of others but as I see it, if they didn't want to be laughed at they would share on a website appropriately called FMyLife. Check it out for a daily dose of schadenfreude.....

Shopping fail...

2009-04-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

I recently needed to buy a new crockery set. I just wanted a basic, dinnerware set with some dinner plates, side plates, bowls and possibly mugs or glasses. As is always my first instinct, I thought I'd try and find a, in some way, green and/or ethical product.....fairtrade, recycled, etc....I just think, if I am buying something it may as well not have been involved in any penguin deaths; mistreatment of children/workers; pumping of noxious black cancer-causing fumes into the environment (delete as applicable).

However, my search was less than satisfactory. I'm sorry (not sure to whom but I am sorry) but I am not prepared, or able, at the moment to spend double the amount of money on something because it is recycled. I am also not prepared to use bamboo/ill-shapen clay pots as a dinner service. One of the problems with us humans, myself very much included, is our inherent laziness. If it is easy to make a green and ethical choice, we probably will. But after a fair amount of research, I honestly couldn't find something I was happy with that wasn't going to cost me more than double (sometimes a lot more than double) the price.

Below are a few of the options I could find.....bearing in mind the cost of the set I found at John Lewis which is exactly what I am looking for:

Basic John Lewis stoneware dinner set: £25
(Consists of 4 of each mugs, dinner plates, side plates and bowls)

Ecotopia: No suitable tableware
(although they did have some disposable plate alternatives made out of palm leaf)

Ethical Superstore: No suitable tableware

EcoCentric: £104
Really modern, stylish range of recycled glass plates and bowls. However, to purchase a complete set of 4 of each of the items available in a 'normal' dinner set (included some recycled tumblers in my costing as they didn't have mugs in the range) is well above my price range I'm afraid.

Biome Lifestyle: £152(!)
Biome have a range of Aster recycled glass tableware but even if I did want to spend the £152 I would need to make up a set of 4, I am not overly fond of the lurid colours available.

The Recycled Warehouse: £69
The most promising option I could find. Recycled Warehouse also have a range of Aster recycled glass. It is very different, and a lot cheaper, than the biome range though. The plates, bowls and tumblers available are clear glass and rather pretty. However, the price difference when compared to other, mainstream tableware is still significant at almost triple the cost.

So I am afraid that I have taken the easy, and thrifty! option and gone for the John Lewis set. Which I am disappointed with but to be honest, I didn't really have time to go through any more websites trying to find something better. Which is a pity really and it seems to me that there is an increasing need for green and/or ethically sourced goods that can compare in price (or at the very least not be more than 10/15% more expensive) than mainstream ones.

One soap fits all....

2009-04-03T05:27:00.000-07:00

I will confess something and that is...I have not actually used Dr Bronner's organic liquid soaps because, alas, I do not as yet own any. However, in my 'research' (ie blatant internet surfing/time wasting to avoid doing actual work/chores/constructive activities etc.) lately I keep coming across this miraculous sounding soap. According to its many fans it can be used as: facial wash; dishwashing liquid; shampoo; bathroom cleaner; pet wash; baby wash; and the list goes on....and on. It also boasts an impressive array of green and ethical credentials such as:

Completely biodegradable and vegetable-based
Made with certified Fair Trade and organic oils
No synthetic foaming agents, thickeners or preservatives
100% Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) cylinder bottles and paper labels

So even though I haven't tried them yet, I am already super impressed. Other retailers and manufacturers are often so full of excuses about why they can't produce products with even one of the above criteria and Dr Bronner's manage all of these.

Dr Bronner's website gives a full product list, online store and other info but for UK residents some places to purchase online are: http://www.lovelula.com/; http://www.guardianecostore.co.uk/; and http://www.thehempshop.co.uk/.

If life gives you lemons....

2009-03-29T04:58:00.001-07:00

Homemade lemon cordial....

Ingredients: 4 lemons (unwaxed, organic lemons are best); 1 orange; 500g organic sugar; 12.5g citric acid; 1.5 pints boiling water

Grate the rind of the lemons using the fine holes on a grater. Squeeze the juice from all four lemons and the orange. In a large pot dissolve the sugar and citric acid in the water, add the lemon and orange juice, rind and squeezed lemons and orange (chopped into quarters). Allow to cool completely before bottling.

To drink: dilute the syrup with water, approx. 1 part syrup to 5 parts water. This is a great syrup to use for cocktails and makes a great mixer with vodka. Enjoy....

Earth Hour....

2009-03-28T11:46:00.001-07:00

I have heard some interesting opinions, of support and derision, regarding WWF's Earth Hour this year. According to the official Earth Hour website, over 2800 cities from 83 countries have signed up to the initiative, part of WWF's global deal campaign which hopes to inspire regulators to agree on effective climate change policies.

Personally, I feel that the important part of supporting Earth Hour is not switching your lights off for an hour as much as signing up as a supporter on the website and the concept of 'Your light switch is your vote'. As the website puts it 'every single person who signs up to WWF's Earth Hour sends the message that they want action to tackle climate change'. The success of the event sends a message to the governments who will meet in Copenhagen at the end of the year (Copenhagen Climate Change Conference 2009) to decide on how the threat of climate change will be dealt with in the future.

I am going to be switching off as well though, and enjoying dinner by candlelight, I hope you are all doing the same....

More Shoreditch graffiti....

2009-03-25T08:43:00.000-07:00

More mobile phone graffiti shots....

Spring inspiration...

2009-03-22T10:18:00.000-07:00

I love London in Springtime. It's almost as if the great collective mood of the city shifts and suddenly, after the first sunny weekend in March, everyone is looking around for things to do and places to chill and enjoy any rays of sunshine that the gods of weather may choose to bestow.
Here are some of the things Spring has inspired me to do.... 1.) Take a walk in the woods (photographic evidence attached) 2.) Begin a new, more serious home recycling initiative (more to follow on this later in the week and yes, I am aware that home recycling initiative does not, in any way, sound cool and for that I apologise) 3.) Check out one of London's secret gardens 4.) Grow my own herbs for a variety of uses, culinary and otherwise (I found this website particularly helpful but there is a wealth of information online regarding growing and using herbs) and 5.) Buy a dress, preferably from one of my latest favourite ethical online shopping retailers Adili (http://www.adili.com/).

Would someone like to buy me......

2009-03-19T08:30:00.001-07:00

.....a green (in many senses of the word) Robert SolarDAB Radio? There is something so appealing about its toylike design. Once fully sunlight charged, the batteries last for up to 27 hours. It's available on Amazon at the moment for the bargain price of £66.11. I want one!

I did actually have a point besides just expressing my craving. The reason I wanted to highlight this is because, to me, it is a good example of a 'green' product which is both functional and appealing design-wise. More and more we are seeing products which manage to combine both which is, in my humble opinion, an excellent sign that considering the environmental impacts of a purchase is becomingly increasingly mainstream.

How to Shop?

2009-03-16T05:06:00.000-07:00

Without getting at all carried away, I do like to have a vague idea of what my cash is contributing towards when I make a fashion purchase (and I use the term fashion loosely to include everything from a fabulous granite-black trench coat for Spring to some good old cotton knickers). I confess that if I see something and fall in love with it, even if I don't know anything about the store's buying policies, I am probably going to get it anyway. But I like to at least try to ensure my buyer's remorse doesn't include any unnecessary guilt.

There are a number of schools of thought regarding ethical shopping approaches. One is, buy whatever you like wherever you like and then make sure you do your research and voice your concerns, with the added credence of being a customer, to the company. Another is obviously being very careful about where you shop and use one of the many 'ethical' stores which are now available, predominantly online. I don't have strong views on which is better. I know that for me it is, in all honesty, a question of cost most of the time. If I could afford to, I would love to order more from ethical retailers online but often this is an expensive route.

Some of my favourites are:

http://www.peopletree.co.uk/

www.simpleshoes.com/gb/index.aspx

http://www.mattandnat.co.uk/

"The way to help workers is not to boycott one company in favour of another; it's to shift from being a passive consumer to an active one." - Clean up Fashion

If you are hitting the highstreet though, which I frequently do, then an excellent source of information is Clean up Fashion where you can find info on various well-known retailers regarding how they treat the people making the clothes we wear and some practical advice on becoming an active consumer. Have a look and then make your own decisions on where and how to shop.

Shoreditch graffiti....

2009-03-15T06:14:00.000-07:00

I took these pictures in and around Hoxton, on my mobile phone, fully intending to go back and take proper camera shots but alas, London is ever changing and nearly all of these are now gone or painted over.

And so it begins.....

2009-03-15T06:07:00.000-07:00

I like stuff. I have way too much stuff, too much make-up, too many handbags, too many pairs of shoes and I know, in my heart…..that it’s wrong. I should, we all should, be living lives of 21st century-style simplicity, eschewing material possessions and Marks and Spencer ready meals and living off the land, shopping in Oxfam and making our own lip and cheek stains out of beetroot juice and rose water. Personally however, I like stuff too much. I love living in London and the opportunities that this allows for the purchasing of and doing of and seeing of stuff.

I am hoping that this blog will be a way for me to exorcise some of my stuff demons. Perhaps writing about some of the things I covet will lessen the coveting. I am not making any promises about the environmental and ethical nature of the things I write about so please, don’t shout at me. I am sure many will think I am a disgusting capitalist pig but to be honest, my conscience is more in the nature of a ladybug than a full-blown Jiminy Cricket so even if you do shout at me, I probably won’t care. I recycle, I work for a non-profit organisation that, without getting into details, I believe does very important work and I will certainly add to this blog any green and ethical information I have or have researched about the stuff that I am writing about but ultimately, this is a blog about stuff that I find interesting/useful/inspiring/worth owning/any combination of these things. I hope you enjoy it…..