Green Efforts At home

I am all about thrifting and up-cycling and of course finding bargains so when I can tie this in with being eco it's a win win all round so when I came across this book in my local library for 20p I had to get it. I already collect books for little Mr.A to read when he is older and I hope that he puts this one to good use All over the world, the emphasis on environmental efforts seems to be increasing, as more and more people begin to recognize the importance of living environmentally responsible lifestyles. However, even as awareness grows, many people are still largely unaware of what they can do as individuals to live green lifestyles and books like this put it into an easy to digest perspective. The funny thing is, there usually isn't anything particularly difficult about being more environmentally responsible! Particularly with regard to your life in your home, there are a number of green efforts you can make while maintaining entirely normal home ownership. You can ......

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Organic Beauty Week with Green People + Giveaway

If you visit the blog regularly you will know that we always try and use natural and organic products when we can as well as purchase clothing and food in an environmentally friendly way (thrifting, supporting local and organic brands) although this is not always possible and it can be hard to find a brand that covers all bases when it comes to skin care and beauty so I have been super excited to work with the lovely Green People for Organic September and Organic Beauty week which runs from 8-14th September. I was sent some lovely products to try out and see how the swap from normal products to plant based ones would go. 1. day Solution Moisturiser - I am so happy that this is suitable for all skin types including oil/combination which is what I have and it contains a natural anti-blemish system which still being light, alcohol free and perfect for daily use. 2. Gentle Cleanse and Make-Up remover - this is such a lovely and refreshing cleanser that is alcohol and deterg......

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Chloe Green Does Shoes

So some may know here as a character from Made in Chelsea, others as the daughter of Top Shop boss Sir Philip Green, but now she is making her own name in the world of shoe design as she unveils her very stylish and bold shoe line, available at TopShop . When I first heard that she was going to be doing a shoe line I was not filled with excitement but since seeing the line I am impressed with the uniqueness and creativity of the collection, which has oversized heels and wedges. I know this line has divided some critics with some saying they are ugly, but I feel like they are something new, bold and not for everyone, which is what fashion should be. Chloe Green herself is not conventional and I like that they have used here in the advertising instead of a stick thin perfect model, it's a bit of difficult situation being apart of reality show and then trying to be taken seriously in other aspects and I think one should look simply at the product and I find them catchy and interesting......

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Essential Items to Bring on Your Local Outings

*This post contains affiliate links  While we are still on lockdown here in Wales, the restrictions have slowly started to ease, one being able to enjoy the outdoors again, safety of course. Unlike England, in Wales, we cannot drive to beauty spots and our outdoor time has to be taken from our front door, saying that a lot of Wales is rural or semi-rural and even our cities have plenty of green spaces so most have access to quiet outdoor spaces. Just because you are heading off somewhere local it's still important to be prepared. I have some mountain and woodland paths near my home and on one outing two weeks ago we came across a couple where the woman had fallen and broken her ankle coming down a steep path - certainly not the ideal thing to do during lockdown (or at anytime). The best way to prepare for an enjoyable, comfortable, and safe outing is to do a little planning in advance. Planning an outing with your family or members of your household is not onl......

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The costs of staying fashionable laid bare

In a dream world we would all win the lottery, spend our days relaxing in the sun in the South of France, without a care in the world, long days spent with permanant smiles on our face and no lines or wrinkles caused from the stresses of the world, we could waltz into stores and buy lovely beautiful quality garments on a whim and be able to put outfit's together in an easy fashion. I could have all the ethical products I wanted and it would be magical, I am sure for at least a while - I am not one of those to not have a purpose in life, so perhaps boredom at some point would set it, but one thing is for sure life would be easier. However nearly all of us do not live the life of Riley and the reality of life, work, moving home, wanting to travel, becoming parents, running a car or simply wanting to buy the latest on-trend fashion piece can bring compromise in terms of finance. The main thing is to stay on top of things, if you let your finances go out of control, your life......

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Pen Pych Waterfall Hike

One of our favourite hikes of the late summer was a walk up to Pen Pych Waterfall in the Welsh Valleys near the small village of Blaencwm. I know thousands of people flock to the Brecon Beacons to take in the beautiful Waterfall hikes and trails but if your looking for a far quieter and child-friendly hike then this is a great option. We went on a Sunday around lunchtime and only came across other people on our way back down, it was so nice and quiet and it meant we could take our time and walk at our own pace. When you arrive into Blaencwm there are signs for the mountain carpark which has plenty of space and is free to park. At the far right end of the car park is the start of the Pen Pych Mountain trail which initially veers away from the waterfall through a meadow and then back around into a forest area where a gentle incline starts. As we did this near the end of the summer everything was green and slightly overgrown with huge ferns and we also spotted some mushro......

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This HomeSchooling life

This is coming a few days later than usual as Baby G is going through a major developmental stage which has meant he has been keeping me up all night with waking every 30-45mins so this week has meant energy levels have not been as high as normal. But saying that we have still had a lot of fun and have been embracing every dry day thrown at us and keeping cosy indoors doing crafts on those rainy days. As this is the first HomeSchooling update post of the year I thought I would talk more about what we hope to achieve this year especially as we had a sort of break over the festive period from the more formal learning to just enjoying baking, making and seeing friends and family. So what do we have install for Mr A this year ? 1. He is at the age now that introducing some sports as well as learning key skills such as swimming is very much on the agenda. He already does bouldering which he has made some great improvement in over the past few months and have just enrolled him in......

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Simple ways to bring more nature into your life

*Contains Affiliate links Spring is now upon us and it feels like we are all waking up from a winter hibernation and it's time to make up for the long cold winter and get outdoors and embrace everything is has to offer. The great thing about the outdoors is for the most part it's free and has huge wellbeing benefits for all ages. Of course you don't always have to be on some big adventure or challenge but simply spending time pottering around your own garden is good for you and can be a great lesson for children on how to bring more nature into your garden space. When it comes to anything like this it's important to just focus on works best for your family or lifestyle and not get too caught up with whatever everyone else is doing, ignore your neighbours neatly clipped lawns and tamed beds, as long as what your doing is bringing joy and happiness to you and your family then that's all that matters. So in this post I am going to focus on simple and fun wa......

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20 Family Friendly UK festivals 2024

One of the things that helps me through winter and spring is knowing that the festival season is on the way! Summer festivals is something that has been a part of my life since I was a teen and I love that it's also ingrained in my children's lives and has become something we all look forward to year on year.  The music, food, camping, freedom and escape from reality for a few days, regardless of the weather, never fails to be a fun and wholesome experience. The great thing about festivals in the UK is the abundance of choice, each festival is slightly unique meaning that most music and food tastes can be catered for and you're sure to find a festival that piques your interest.  Both of my kids have been going to festivals and camping overnight since they were 5 months old, so yes it's more doable and a lot of fun! Of course, some festivals are more suitable for younger children than others so here is a list of some of the best family-friendly festivals taking place thi......

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