being okay with not being okay
does not make things
automatically better.
but it does stop you
from adding more to
an already difficult situation.
being okay with not being okay
helps you let go
Friday
| review | KeepCup - Brew Cork Edition in Almond |
I bought this of my own volition and I'm slightly horrified at the facts that drove me to this particular purchase.
the why::
right let's get down to it.
I absolutely loathe single use items. We are increasingly becoming allergic to any form of inconvenience or forethought (to the detriment of our resources) and this has manifested in our culture of 'on the go food'. Everything is housed in single use plastics or cardboard and comes with plastic cutlery and a plastic bag....
Half of the plastic produced globally goes into products that are used only once [1]
If that itself doesn't horrify you, then please take a moment to yourself. Inconvenience is no longer an acceptable reason to do (or not do) something.
Did you also know that compostable and biodegradable paper cups cannot be put into household compost and need to be commercially broken down. This means they require dedicated collection and if sorted incorrectly can contaminate a whole batch, meaning it all ends in landfill [2]
It pains me to say this, but most people think they're saving the planet by the act of recycling - and with that the more they do the better they're doing it.
No. That's not how this system works. We need to reduce the amount we are having to recycle by actively buying items which last - think of the items you own as your legacy. I for one would rather have a higher quality reusable object than a flimsy paper one. Go figure.
1 million disposable cups end up in landfill every minute - calculated from an estimation of 500 billion annually [3]
Again. Flabbergasted.
15 uses of your KeepCup puts you environmentally in the green [4]
I also calculated that with the 25p saving on my hot drinks I'll have effectively paid for my KeepCup in 80 drinks - or two months worth of regular consumption.
Do I need to continue?
The only plausible, arguable downside to this is remembering to carry it with you in the first place. Given we all manage that with our phone, keys and wallet I'm not sure there's a strong argument here at all.
the what::
Mine is a KeepCup Brew Cork Edition in Almond. It is a medium size which holds 340ml - so you can get either a smaller one or a larger depending on personal preference.
Sourced sustainably from portugese forests the cork band is light, antibacterial, biodegradable and doesn't need to be removed to be washed.
The cup itself is made from fully tempered, barista standard soda lime glass (all of which I'm guessing are good things) and it feels nice in the hand.
It does need to be handwashed.
That's okay.
It's hardly challenging.
the how::
If I need to walk you through how to buy coffee then please call your family or close friend, because like me you shouldn't be handling hot drinks....
my thoughts::
This saves me 25p every time I buy a coffee from certain shops (in fact you'll be surprised how many offer this) and is aesthetically pleasing.
It ensures I'm no longer contributing to that particular aspect of waste production and gives me a really nice portable cup that I'm not ashamed to hand over and have filled.
Please bear in mind that there are many options for these reusable cups, and my emphasis of this post is to get across the importance of avoiding the disposable rather than buying something new.
KeepCup is a brand that I feel represents my values and is one I'm happy to invest in.
Get yours here.
[1] Plastic, a toxic love story, Susan Freinkel, 2011
[2] Coffey P, http://www.aora.org.au/, April 2013
[3] Jim Hanna www.oneearth.org, April 2012
[4]Hocking M (1994) "Reusable and disposable cups: An energy based evaluation"*Breakeven is calculated in reference to the life cycle of each product.
| review | Noughty Hair Care - Wave Hello Curl Cream |
Intentional living is the art of being selective and present during your decision making process.
Similar to my shampoo post, I understand that curl cream is not a necessity. Nor is it something I will 100% repurchase.
But if you are going to buy one, consider one with a brand we can all get behind.
Little steps.
as per my previous post singing the praises of the Wave Hello Shampoo, Noughty is a brand with a range of 97% natural products. Free from parabens, silicone's, petrochemicals and sulphates - what could you complain about?
[fyi the 3% is the stuff to stop it going off - 'the preservative system'].
They're also striving for sustainability and the packaging will be recyclable from January 2021.
> noughty is not tested on animals
> all noughty products are registered with the vegetarian society and the vegan society.
If you are familiar with curly haired styling, this is the 'activator' you need. It contains 'curl optimizing QuinOxy' to discipline curls and tame frizz.
It sells for £6.99.
the how::
after washing with your shampoo (or co-wash if you're fancy) apply a decent amount to towel-dried (or t-shirt, also if you're feeling fancy). Place it in the palm of your hand and emulsify slightly. Starting at the mid point move it through to the ends. then style as per.
my thoughts::
i'm fairly fickle when it comes to hair products. convenience, price and packaging are usually enough to sway my loyalty. i'm not just talking once i've finished a product, it's been known that i'll bin something halfway through in favour of something new.
however i've almost finished this and will be repurchasing. i'm not joking about being a noughty fan girl.
i use this on sopping wet hair and scrunch it through. my hair feels like, bouncy and the curls are more defined than when i go without.
changes::
in a perfect world (as with all products) the packaging this came in would be more environmentally friendly.
I'd also love for it to be slightly more hydrating, but the compromise there would be the lightness of the product.
| review | Teapigs - Glass Teapot for Two |
the why::
my push towards lighter living involves reducing my use of daily consumables and throwaways.
I started by critically reviewing those things I do daily and how they could become more sustainable. For me, no morning is complete without a cup of tea, but would you believe it? Even the stable british beverage is not safe from plastic.
The UK tea council confirmed that 96% of the 165 million cups of tea we drink daily come from teabags.
For a long time now I was under the impression that all teabags went into the compost bin and disappeared forever... but some background research reveals that manufacturers use polypropylene to seal the edges and this does not compost. So we're left with a product that isn't quite biodegradable.
Further complicating this is the advice given by the government body Wrap - it's actually more sustainable to compost them at home (removing plastic if possible) and either accept you'll have plastics in your soil or fish them out yourself - than to send them to landfill.
So. With that in mind. I'm just going to try and avoid them completely - safe in the knowledge tea leaves break down just fine.
Cue the teapot.
the how::
simply put your loose leaf tea in the middle section of the pot and pour your water over it, allowing the leaves to steep for as long as you like.
similar to the coffee situation - this isn't something i should have to explain.
drink it.
my thoughts::
i partly regret not getting the teapot for one as i prefer it aesthetically. but hey ho.
also whilst I am a huge fan of this brand - they have made sure that their tea temples are fully biodegradable - it should be noted that this is through industrial composting and not all their packaging can be recycled... sigh. small steps.
But please. rethink your teabags. My takeaway from this is that you need to start looking at every aspect of the process.
| review | Noughty Hair Care - Wave Hello Shampoo |
Intentional living is the art of being selective and present during your decision making process.
I understand that shampoo is not environmentally friendly as it is a highly processed item and honestly if we discussed the pros and cons we'd be here forever.
However, I've taken the time to chose something I know I use, make the most of and truly think the brand is a good one.
Little steps.
the why::
I have been wanting to sort my hair-care routine out for a very long time. I have dabbled with the curly girl method, tried cutting out certain products and generally tried to wash it less - but I've not quite found the perfect balance between low maintenance and looking put together.
the what::
Noughty is a brand with a range of 97% natural products. Free from parabens, silicone's, petrochemicals and sulphates - what could you complain about?
[fyi the 3% is the stuff to stop it going off - 'the preservative system'].
They're also striving for sustainability and the packaging will be recyclable from January 2021.
> noughty is not tested on animals
> all noughty products are registered with the vegetarian society and the vegan society.
the how::
if you aren't familiar with shampoo... now might be the time to start.
it's interesting because marketing tells you to strive for the 'squeaky clean' feeling, but fundamentally you don't want to completely strip your hair of the oils it needs to stay protected and hydrated.
Wave Hello Curl Defining Shampoo cleanses without stripping and defines any curls with sea kelp extract and avocado oil.
my thoughts::
it's really hard with products like shampoo to determine whether they work. If i think back over the past ten years, I've never truly had a shampoo that stands out and that I'd actively remain loyal to however...
when i finished my second bottle in a row of Wave Hello Curl Defining Shampoo I was shocked to find there was a noticeable difference in my hair when i changed to something else.
Nothing else in my routine had changed except that.
It doesn't lather in the traditional sense - it's not a soap - so you have to be patient with the product. sometimes it can take some time for your hair to transition over to natural products so a combination of a lack of lather and weird feeling hair can be initially off putting.
I'm frustrated I chose to stray from this brand and will be going back as soon as my current one is empty.
You can also find them on Amazon.
changes::
in a perfect world, this would have more of a fragrance to it (i imagine this isn't good for your hair)
it would also be in more environmentally friendly packaging (i know that's a future promise but it's not now).
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