When I saw a TikTok of Amber of critiquegeek unboxing the Box Lunch Lord of the Rings Doors of Durin backpack I knew I had to get one myself. And I did…like immediately, I went straight to the website and ordered it and now it finally came!!!!
Among everything going on in the world right now, we can’t forget that there is a climate crisis. So I’m going to propose a few ways in which you can become more eco easily. In fact, you probably won’t realise that you're doing it!
Disclaimer: Nobody is perfect, it’s really f-ing hard to be eco-friendly in all aspects of your life, these are some simple things I have been doing/have started implementing that I think are easy ways to be a little more eco in your everyday life. If everyone makes a little change that will lead to a massive change.
Get ready to unleash your inner Greta Thunberg…
Fashion - Thrift shops are cool, fashion comes in cycles anyway so get your 70’s florals or your 90’s slip at a fraction of the price, in better quality and while saving the planet. It’s a win-win scenario.
Classic Books - Dead authors don’t need your patronage, so buy your Dickens, your Flaubert, your Tolstoy second hand, all those dead guys don’t need your money anymore. Save your cash and save the trees. If you really want to spend absolutely nothing as you don’t mind reading on a screen then download them for free onto the kindle app or from Gutenberg! Also, a recent discovery is Better World Books, they are cheap, offer carbon-neutral shipping and also donate 1 book for every book you buy to a good cause!!
Furniture - The same reasoning as fashion, old school furniture is generally better quality because it’s still in existence after all these years. It’s also more eclectic than your Ikea flat-pack stuff.
If you love coffee, and often get it on the go, just get a flask rather than those godforsaken takeaway cups! If you’re feeling even more spendthrift with a dash of Marxism thrown in for good measure, brew your own coffee at home or find an indie coffee shop instead of handing your hard-earned cash over to massive corporations!
I have the Kinto Day Off Tumbler, and while it’s not exactly cheap for a vacuum flask it will make back its price very very quickly and each time I use it I can feel proud that there is one less takeaway cup ending up in landfill! And its rather sexy I must say, as travel mugs go…
Be a little more speedy, that’s all you need to change. Sure it’s lovely to close your eyes and bask in the tropical waterfall that your shower becomes, but there are people out in the world that don’t have access to water! Don’t waste so much of it! People in Africa, Asia and South America have to walk miles to get a small amount of often dirty water, their communities and countries are already suffering from global warming, so pay them some thought and think about what the future holds for them if you keep taking your everyday luxuries for granted. Also. with the money, you save on your water bill maybe you could turn that into a donation for a water charity!
So much food is wasted every single day. Don’t buy more than you need, if you think you might not be able to eat something before it goes off, freeze it if possible. If a recipe just needs egg whites, save your yolks in the fridge for something else tomorrow. Batch cook, so you can use up stuff and feed yourself for a few days rather than giving yourself a massive portion that you end up putting half of into the bin. Just be smarter about waste, it’s that easy!
Each year the WWF hold Earth Hour where for just one hour everyone turns their lights off from 8:30 to 9:30. Imagine if we could do this just once a week. How about having a weekly movie night where you gather your household around the tv and watch a film in the dark, or maybe crack out some candles (even better if they are homemade) and have a candlelit hour or two reading or a candlelit bath as part of a pampering evening. Make your Eco event a healing event for you too, then you’ll come to see them as coinciding in the same space, to save the world you can save your well-being too.
There’s a French phrase that I love ‘on est pas à Versailles ici!’ which translates to ‘we’re not in Versailles!’ so check yourself, don’t leave all your lights on, you’re not in Versailles, you're at home, save some energy for your bank balance and for the well-being of the world!
oh here’s one extra for good measure
You know those plastic bags they have in dispensers in supermarkets to put your fresh fruit and veggies into, well think about how many of those must be used every day. It’s probably quite alarming, and yes they keep your fruit and veg separate and safe but you could opt for an eco version like these ones from The Plastic Free Shop.
There we go, 6 Easy Eco Steps that we can incorporate into our lives without any real difficulty. Do you have any eco tips and tricks to share, pop them down below in the comments section and let’s get saving the planet!
When I heard that Uniqlo were doing a collaboration with the Louvre, I had a moment. Like I am obsessed with Art, especially the whole renaissance and baroque era, I just love it.
Somewhere in Italy in 2013. It’s hot and I’m looking up at the creation of man in a room packed to the brim, over an audio system a man says “Silenzio” intermittently in a monotone voice. I feel a rush of awe as I stare at one of the greatest artistic achievements in the history of man.
But is appreciating Nessus Abducting Deianeira problematic in itself, a painting in the male gaze depicting and romanticising male on female violence. Am I perpetuating the patriarchy by buying a T-shirt that portrays a woman in flight fearing for her life? Perhaps. That’s the problem with art, it’s open to interpretation and what once was normal and beautiful may no longer be.
But I can’t help but feel drawn to these paintings, I adore the craftmanship and the ethereal quality to them. And I must say the well-placed peach and roses in the T-shirt design give Deianeira back a bit of privacy and the omission of the centaur has to mean something. Am I looking into this a bit too much, maybe but when did I not overthink everything? It’s just a part of me, the constant questioning and analysis of thing can quite easily transfer the simple purchase of a T-shirt into a debate on morality….
Luckily in the myth that the painting is based on Heracles saves Deianeira from Nessus the centaur before he can have his way with her. What would a damsel do without her hero, aye? Fun fact for all the Disney Hercules fans out there, Nessus is the centaur that Hercules rescues Megara (aka the best Disney character ever!) from.
Either way, whatever the side of the argument that’s not really an argument your on, you can get the Uniqlo X Louvre T-Shirt here.
Need a little Valentine’s Day Gift inspiration? Whether your buying for a partner, a friend, a family member or treating yourself this Valentine’s Day here are some ideas to get you on the right track.
1. The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa | 2. Estée Lauder Hand Creme | 3. Kate Spade Light Orchid Trousers | 4. Chloé Love Story Perfume 5. Outline by Rachel Cusk | 6. Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy in Royalty | 7. Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson | 8. Kate Spade Small Crystal Studs | 9. Sweaty Betty Yoga Leggings | 10. Kate Spade Metro Strawberry Watch
Disclaimer: The above links are affiliate links so I do make a small commission if you make a purchase through them.
I am really getting in the festive mood this year, and with less than 20 days until Christmas, I thought I would share some gift ideas for anyone struggling for inspiration. One of my favourite things about Christmas is gift shopping, and while I usually would head out to a shopping centre for that one of a kind Christmas vibe, I will be doing all of my gift shopping online this year. Yes, I will miss all the beautiful displays at Liberty’s, Selfridges and Harrods, the carol singers on the streets, random acts of Christmas kindness and the struggle of shuffling in and out of your coat every time you enter or leave a store. But for me staying COVID free and spending time with my family is far more important than the annual Christmas Shop experience. So without further ado, I present 8 gift ideas to get you inspired and ready to shop!
1. Untold Day and Night by Bae Suah | 2. Kate Spade Nicola Micro Crossbody Bag | 3. Chanel N°5 Perfume | 4. Anthropologie Bistro Tiled Margot Monogram Mug | 5. Avène Refreshing Eye Contour Care Cream | 6. BY WISHTREND Green Tea and Enzyme Powder Cleanser | 7. Kate Spade Star Studs & Pendant Boxed Set | 8. Normal People by Sally Rooney
The above links are affiliate links so I do make a small commision if you make a purchase through them.
A Mubi subscription for an Art House Cinema lover, Spotify Premium for a music nut, Wine for a budding sommelier or help save an endangered species with WWF.