Brand-New-Second-Hand September

It’s September again. “Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness” and all that malarkey. Time to get tangled in the hedgerows, bramble-spiked and berry splattered. It’s also Oxfam’s annual #SecondHandSeptember campaign… but don’t worry if you aren’t a fan of charity shops and jumble sales: There are a few ways you can get involved without ever setting foot in a chazza. 1. Try a scheme such as Finisterre x Reskinned or Revivo or Paramo Re-store Adventure … Read more

I Hate Wild Swimming*

*Well I hate the term. No one talks about ‘tame swimming’, or ‘pool swimming’. Why label it? Sea and river swimming is normal swimming. However, although I love swimming outdoors, I’m not a massive fan of cold water. While some friends have braved lakes and oceans through every season, I’m a get-in-really-slowly-and-try-not-to-shriek kinda person. I’m more likely to be found using Wim Hof breathing techniques to help me survive in a super-hot bath. The pandemic … Read more

Let’s Talk About Pants…

Or knickers. Or briefs. Whatever you call them, you’re probably wearing some right now. This post is specifically about the ‘everyday’ kind of women’s pants. The comfortable ones that you put on without a second thought. If you’re after some more saucy options, check out this post instead. To wear your pants without a care in the world, it’s best to find some that are ethically made using sustainable and natural materials. Otherwise your pants … Read more

Beautiful Ethical Bra On Sale

After spending several years searching for a non-wired organic cotton bra that comes in proper cup sizes, I have finally found one–and the crazy thing is that the company are based less than 10 miles from my home! In a moment of desperation, after numerous shopping trips, internet searches, Twitter-shout-outs and more, I searched the hashtag #organiccottonbra on Instagram. And there it was… Ella Bella Grey. I ordered one straight away and as soon as … Read more

Perfectly Plastic-Free Socks

Here’s an easy way to literally reduce your plastic footprint: 100% plastic-free socks! Most socks are made with artificial fibres, meaning they will shed plastic microfibres every time they are worn and washed. Conventionally grown cotton also uses huge amounts of water and relies heavily on pesticides. ‘Cotton rich’ socks usually contain polyamide and elastane too. A lot of ‘eco’ companies use a blend of bamboo and recycled polyamide, which is a step in the … Read more

Time to get a watch…

Looking for an ethical watch?

To give you some indication of how long it’s been since I regularly wore a watch, when my last watch died, I had a pager that I could use to tell the time instead. A pager. Just let that sink in for a moment. Since upgrading to a mobile phone, I’ve used them as a way of keeping track of the time. But last year something changed: I got a smartphone. Instead of checking my … Read more

Winning and Losing at Organic & Second Hand September

The summer holidays are over! I’m welcoming September and the changes it brings. Time to reflect on the year so far, and time to get on with some more work, as my five year old started Year One earlier this week. September is the start of a new school year, and a great time to make some positive lifestyle changes. Perhaps you are trying #ZeroWasteWeek or joining #OrganicSeptember or #SecondHandSeptember? If you haven’t heard of … Read more

Not All That Glitters is Green…

It’s that time of year where we like to add a bit of sparkle to our lives. Out come the sequins, on goes the glitter. Glitzy crafts come home from nursery, shedding a shiny trail. It feels like glitter is particularly on trend at the moment, with glitter body art and hairstyles, glitter tattoos, and even glitter beards around, but there is evidence that people have used sparkling substances since prehistoric times. As long as … Read more

A Stylish Slipper?

As the days turn colder, the wooden floors in our Victorian house become distinctly draughty. I’ve just mended my Shepherd of Sweden sheepskin slippers, but my man’s feet are getting chilly so I’ve been on a hunt to find him some stylish slippers. It’s pretty hard to find slippers that are attractive, and when you are buying footwear for a loved one, the last thing you want is to make them look fusty and old. … Read more