Wednesday, 29 February 2012

Fair Enough


So what's so special about the next two weeks? 
Wellllll it's FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT! 
Hope you're excited?!
Some of you may not know much about fairtrade beyond perhaps bananas and coffee at the supermarket. Maybe you've even been lucky enough to experience the truly Divine chocolate

Seriously good Choc.

But let me open your eyes to a whole new world. Check out all these goodies available at the online Traidcraft shop

Elephant Bedspread £120

Basket £20

Hammock £30

Kaisa Grass & Recycled Sari Baskets £15


Tribal Bookmarks £8 for 10

BBQ £7.99 for a 3 pack

Honey Pot £3.50

Jute Shopper £5

Chicken Egg Holder £28

Tape Measure £6 for 2

Wall Hanging £38

Elephant Storage Basket £38

Rabbit Phone Holder £6

Rustic Wooden Drawers £14

And there are an increasing number of highstreet shops stocking up on a fair deal. Boots has a range of goodies, I particularly like the brazil nut body wash/scrub/butter. Smells good enough to eat!

Yum!

Fairtrade is important because so many farmers and workers in developing countries get a raw deal for their work from supermarkets and companies who want to offer their customers rock bottom prices. Wouldn't it be better for us to forgo an extra pound or two so that these farmers get a decent wage instead of being exploited? How about you commit to take just one step towards this?


Monday, 20 February 2012

Spring in your Step



Well, hi there!

Yes, no need to worry. I haven't abandoned all blogging loyalties. I know it's been a while. There's not much I can blame besides my lack of inspiration sadly - what a boring excuse. Then again, my camera's broken. Maybe I could blame that instead.

So what has dragged me out of blogger's block? 
SPRINGTIME!
 It hasn't arrived very convincingly yet but if you have beady eyes you can catch a few glimmers of sunshine here, and the odd bud or blossom there. Normally I can't say I'd get that excited - Spring kind of just feels like a watered-down, disappointing B-celebrity supporting act preclude for Summer. Like, OK the sun finally makes an appearance and you get keen with your lovely summer flip flops... then you step outside and realise that behind the attractive outlook it's just cold and wet and windy. It's a fake, it's a wannabee. Your hopes are dashed and your feet are missing their socks.

However, to be honest I'm happy just with some sunshine right now. Winter has dragged on and on, drab day after drabber week. Sure, for you mainland folk the snow has helped to keep things interesting - clogging up all my facebook feed with those mocking snowman images and gleeful snow day statuses. While we've been sat here with not so much as an icy puddle to make the walk to Uni more interesting. Drab drab drab. Like a TV sitcom that starts off good and then they do too many series and ruin the whole thing. Outstayed its welcome. Go home.

Well I'm glad to get that season rant off my chest. Now to talk all things spring! Some cheeky pinterest pins to set the scene...

If I had a nice house/garden I would hold a spring party.
It would look a little like this.
But with more scones.

My heart's been set on a VW Fox for quite some time.
So this photo made me reconsider a lot.
PLEASE take me for a spring picnic in this.

I love flowers in jars, tins, etc.
These are perfect.

This is like Spring in room form.
I was really depressed when I caught myself thinking
"lovely ceiling deco, but dusting would be a nightmare"

I'm not a big follower of high class fashion collections or runway style, but there are some collections I do like to check out - nail polish! Especially right now when I have only pennies to spend on new clothes - it's just fun to get a feeling for the colours of the season and to freshen up your hands even if you can't manage a new wardrobe! Chanel and Essie would be the brands I hone in on. So let's have a gander. This way...

Chanel's April, May and June.

I haven't quite warmed to these yet.
June is very orange from seeing other pictures.
April would be my current fave.

Essie's collection - mix of pastels and brights

'tour de finance', 'orange, it's obvious' and 'olé caliente' 

'to buy or not to buy', 'a crewed interest' and 'navigate her'.
I'm liking those last two (beige and green) the best of all.

What gets you happy about spring?

I do enjoy the feeling of fresh starts and rebirth. Easter being the ultimate example for me as a Christian of a new life and clean slate - definitely something to celebrate!

And I'm looking forward to getting outside, even if it's still a tad chilly. I miss nature and sunshine when I'm shut away with the long winter nights. Spring is all about the countryside with lambs and green green grass and your own little cottage surrounded by wildflowers and filled with fairycakes and well-used wellingtons... (Sigh, one day).

Love this artist - Katie Daisy.

Speak soon adoring fans! 
(I jest).