Coveting....TOMS University Navy Classics

I have noticed an increasing amount of interest in a shoe company that have actually been around for a while now. It seems that TOMS have made it onto some one's 'trends' list as there have been a number of press mentions lately as well as the obligatory sightings on young and lovelies out and about in London. Which has made me think again about how much I like these shoes, not only for their simple, comfortable design but also for the company's philosophy and 'One for One' movement. One for One means that for every pair of TOMS purchased, the company gives a pair of new shoes to a child in need. For more information visit the TOMS website. Their shoes can be bought direct from them or from various retailers in the UK, including Office and Schuh.

Sale on at Ethical Superstore

Ethical Superstore are in the midst of a massive clearance sale and there are some hefty discounts going on that you might like to take advantage of. Unfortunately, most of the clothes items for sale that I would otherwise consider seem to only be available in very limited sizes (ie. only in large) but if you are lucky enough to find your size it is well worth a look. A number of their other home and grocery items have also been significantly reduced.

My top sales picks are:

Komodo Merino Stripe V Neck Jumper £13.79 (was £56.12 but only available in XL)

Marrakech Mosaic Glass Lantern £8.38 (was £16.75)

Spiezia Lemongrass & Marigold Body Scrub £11.25 (was £22.50)

Coveting....Northern Lights Birchwood Tray

Along with teapots and enamelware (and many other things) I have always been a big fan of trays....it's not that I use trays that often to be honest, but I just love them and am particularly loving this one which is now available at Amnesty International's online shop for the reasonable sum of £21.50. The illustration is by Finnish artist Emma Laiho. And should you be browsing the Amnesty site....I am also loving these gorgeous hand-painted cups, although I would probably want them more if the Winter wasn't closing in as they seem to me more of a Summer purchase.

On the note of Amnesty's website though, it is one of a list of online 'shops' from NGOs and other organisations that are a great source of inspiration for original Christmas shopping (aah, yes...I am joining the hordes of annoying shops that have already started pushing Christmas in our faces!).....but seriously, just thought I'd mention it now for all the super-organised out there......

I heart these...

I have always had a bit of a 'thing' for enamelware and I was in a bit of sulk recently as this enamel mug from John Lewis had been sold out before I could get my hands on one. But they are now back in stock and I will definitely be purchasing some. Yes, such simple things give me joy! Particularly as it is also Friday and nearly the weekend, hope you all have lovely ones...

Not buying it......

This is a particularly apt post considering what this blog is called. Having moved fairly recently I have had cause to sift through my vast piles of possessions and all I can say is.....for shame! And again....shame on me! I seem to have accumulated the most ridiculous amount of stuff. Some of it good (especially the books, I could never be ashamed of the books!) but some of it oh-so-very bad. Shoes that I had worn once and earrings I have never worn and make-up, expensive make-up, that is still it all its unused glory. And yet....I found myself still trawling the shops on a regular basis gazing lustfully at the very stuff I had languishing at home....only this was shiny, new stuff and hence somehow....so very superior. I illustrate my point below:

Just some of my earrings collection

Nail polishes!

So I just thought enough! I need to stop buying for the sake of buying because not only is over-consumption harmful to the environment but somehow it's just not the type of person I am aiming to be. I have always considered myself quite a grateful person, not taking my privileged position in life for granted and yet I just seemed to be buying more and more for no reason. So July has been my 'Not buying it' month. Judith Levine has actually written a book on the subject called 'Not Buying It' way back in 2007 and the message is not new among the environmentally aware. 'Do The Green Thing' also highlight this on their website and their 'All-consuming' campaign is part of their seven steps towards a greener life.

So this month, although I have spent money on food and travel, I have not purchased any magazines, books, toiletries, clothes, accessories or anything else. This might not sound like much to some people, I know that my love of shopping is particularly pronounced and some people don't suffer with the same affliction, but I have found it quite difficult at times.....I see something in the sale and think, well now...I really do need another pair of black trousers so maybe I should just buy this....but I didn't and am remaining strong. I am not sure I could keep this going for a year, but certainly it has made me think and going forward I plan to consider whether I really need something before I buy it. The other great thing is that I am starting to actually use and appreciate the stuff I do have more. I still have another week or so to go of my 'not buying it' month but I think this is going to be something of a theme for the rest of the year....will keep you posted!

Coveting....Magno Cube Wooden Radio

The Design Museum London's Sustainable Futures exhibition is currently showing and will be until the 5th of September. Hopefully I will get there sooner rather than later (such as after the 5th of September!) and will be able to tell you more about it but in the meantime....in conjunction with the exhibition their generally-fabulous-anyway Design Museum Shop has a number of gorgeous things in stock with an 'eco' aspect and I am loving the 'Magno Cube Wooden Radio' by Singgih Kartono. Not only beautifully designed and manufactured through an environmentally sustainable process; profits also support the development of the plantation surrounding the production facility. Plus it's MP3 compatible so can be used as speakers for one's iPod/MP3. It does cost £175 so this is very much admiration from afar on my part....but I can still enjoy its sheer existence! And that is what I am going to keep telling myself......

Beauty Review: REN Moroccan Rose Otto Body Wash

I have been meaning to write a review on this for ages as it was one of my Christmas presents from the OH. And the reason why it was on the Christmas list is because, at £16, it is rather expensive for a regular shower gel purchase but I just kept reading good things about this product. And now that I have been spoilt with it I am loathe to go back to anything else! I absolutely love the smell but the main reason I rate this so much is the moisturising effect it has on my skin. Sometimes other shower gels/body washes can leave my skin feeling dry and almost a little tight but this makes my skin lovely and silky yet without an oily, sticky film which sometimes occurs with other products which contain essential oil. This won the 'Best shower gel' category in the Style Best Beauty Buys 2010 and I can understand why.

As with most REN products it contains no petrochemicals, sulfates, parabens, synthetic colours and fragrances, silicones or pegs....and the list goes on. REN's packaging is recyclable and can be returned to them using freepost. The only animal products REN use are honey and beeswax and none of their products are tested on animals. Visit http://www.renskincare.com/ for more information on REN's ingredients and environmental policies.

Pssst, 2 things you might like to know....

Oxfam Bookfest 2010 is happening from the 3rd to the 17th of July. Various events are happening around the country and books at Oxfam's Second-hand store are 2 for 1 on all £2.99 fiction.

Ethical Superstore's Summer Sale is now on with up to 70% off some items. I have my eye on this dress:

Although I am resisting as July is my 'buy nothing' month, more on which to follow. But that doesn't mean others can't indulge.....hmph.

Pretentious....moi?

In a happy marketing coincidence I was contemplating the fact that we should eat more fruit and vegetables (because this is the kind of thrilling thing I sometimes contemplate) on the very day that an Abel & Cole flyer had been popped through our front door announcing that they were now operating in our area. So rather than ignore the universe I am busy trying them out. Today I received, for the third week, a 'small mixed organic box' which is apparently perfect for one person according to them but I am seeing how it does the OH and I and will upscale if necessary. So far I am enjoying the delivery and have been very impressed with the quality generally. I especially like that the box normally has a little recipe card tucked in with it so you can try something different with some of the produce you've just received. My only concern is that I have wasted a fair amount of the vegetables simply because they don't always fit into what we're having for dinner although I am getting better at making sure I incorporate what we receive. Abel & Cole have loads of information on their website (particularly in the faqs section) about the 'organicness' of their goods, their packaging and their work with small, independent producers.....so if you're a 'concerned shopper' then they may be for you.

The OH said that our weekly organic box is pretentious! Which made me laugh and tcha with disdain but I did mull it over and fair enough in some respects I suppose if one was going to go round blabbing about it and how fantastically virtuous it is.....which I am soooo not doing here by the way....I just like that it is an easy way to support independent organic producers. I would love to shop exclusively at small grocers and/or farmers' markets but that is not really an option so for now I am going to go along with the pretentious organic weekly box!

Green Britain Day...

Tomorrow, the 17th of June, is Green Britain Day. Whatever your feelings may be about the fact that edf Energy is the sponsor (I am frankly, a little tired of debates around whether we should support initiatives sponsored by ‘the man’ ie. Big businesses....personally I think that the more we do to support positive steps by business to take sustainability issues into consideration the more likely they are to take notice and make even more of an effort because, let's face it, they aren't just all going to go away or turn into lovely little ethical co-operatives, but maybe that’s just me being optimistic....) there are a number of great ideas for simple activities you can do for sustainability and a great deal of information on the site here: http://www.teamgreenbritain.org/the-big-picture. By registering online you can receive a newsletter which will let you know of events happening in your area.

At a recent event I went to in a work capacity the discussion centred around which group – business, consumers or government, were the drivers of change in terms of embracing sustainability issues. As usual, there was no consensus, and as usual, the conclusion is that everyone needs to work together. An excellent point which was raised and made sense to me though, was the fact that as consumers, we don’t often have access to, in economic terms, perfect information. We can only make our decisions based on what we are told and that is not always the correct information and/or all the information. So we are forced to rely on business and the information they provide. So inevitably, the best impact we can have is to let businesses know our concerns, tell them that it is important for us to know that they are doing their best to ensure that when we purchase goods and services from them we can rely on the fact that they have done the research and they are offering us the most sustainable/ethical product they can. I know this may be a bit idealistic, but I think that rather than us, as consumers, trying to make a decision about whether, for example, loose fruit or packaged fruit, is more sustainable in terms of the joint issues of food waste, transport and packaging, that is something we need to rely on the retailers to have done their research on and then fed back to us. So speak to the businesses you use about what they are doing, as a whole, about sustainability issues....write to them/email them and let them know that you want the information. I know it may seem a waste of time as an individual but just a short email can make a big difference and needn’t be a hassle. Ok, semi-rant over.....happy Green Britain Day for tomorrow.

3 of the best.....ethical fashion sale items

Harriet Tunic now £30 (Frank & Faith)

Stweart + Brown Organic Tee now £24 (Fashion-Conscience)

Short Sleeved Cardi now £25 (Ascension)

Psst....

Ok, so I am not sure why either, but online ethical retailer and brand Adili have changed their name to Ascension. Go figure. But what is actually kind of cool is…. they are launching a flagship London store. It will be opening in central London (exact location tbc) in early November. Let’s hope it is the first of many!

3 of the best....ethical shoes

Although I have had a strong word with myself and have vowed (to try my very best) to go easy on the shopping....it doesn't hurt to look! And share with others. So here are 3 of my favourite ethical shoes available at the moment:

Boots: Terra Plana Birch Chocolate Waxed Leather (£170 at Terra Plana)

Heels: Beyond Skin Ruby Shoes (£97 at Equa)

Trainers: Veja Women's (£72 at Ascension)

Food news....

Although I actually love general grocery shopping (which may sound very odd to some people), I also like looking at and buying unusual ingredients and online food shopping opens up a whole new avenue for this. Online food shopping doesn't, in my mind, compare to having a wonder around an actual market (especially Borough market which may just be one of my favourite places in London) but sometimes when that isn't possible online browsing can be the next best thing.

A great site I came across recently is Goodness Direct. The site has all sorts of information, an interesting blog (which recently featured a post about ethical food) and a number of different food categories such as fairtrade and raw foods and they only use biodegradable and/or recyclable packaging.

In other foodie news, it is currently Organic Fortnight so visit the Soil Association's website, http://www.soilassociation.org/ for some more information about the campaign to promote awareness about organic products.

Wish list...

A website I recently came across, and have been visiting frequently lately, is Devidoll London. Every label they stock meets at least one of the following criteria: "made from organic fabric OR made from alternative fabric (including soya, hemp, bamboo, peace silk, modal and more) OR helps revive traditional handicraft among local populations OR especially benefits women and/or children OR made from vintage or repurposed materials".

Some of the items I am currently coveting:

• DOIE Silk Tie Trackpants


• FIN Goddess Dress (way out of my price range but a girl can dream....)


• Sarah Donegan Golden Wheat Bag

London's Eco-finest....

Coco Eco Magazine’s latest issue features an eco-guide to London. The article highlights some of London’s top eco-restaurants, hotels and shops. ‘London Goes Eco Chic’ was written by Tara of great eco-blog ‘Green Lashes and Fashion’ and is definitely worth a read if you’re planning a visit to London or are a jaded Londoner looking for some eco-inspiration…

Wish list....

Ethical fashion retailer FASHION-CONSCIENCE.COM are currently having a sale. This Betty Jackson Organic cotton t-shirt is firmly on my wishlist. It was £32 and is now £22.40. This shirt is 100% organic cotton and as a bonus a percentage of the profits from this tee go to the Environmental Justice Foundation.

Loving Lovelula.....

My first purchase from online beauty store Lovelula.com (‘the organic apothecary’) arrived last week. I bought Burt’s Bees Pore Refining Mask after reading its many rave reviews on make-up alley (my own review to follow later once I have been using it for a while but first impression was a good one!). I must say I am really impressed with Lovelula. Their range of natural and organic beauty products is excellent. They provide a great deal of information on a product’s ingredients and organic/natural credentials and are extremely helpful if you have any further questions about a product or range.

My order arrived quicker than I thought it would and best of all, with each order you can also choose up to 3 free samples of certain products. I opted for John Masters Organics Honey and Hibiscus Hair Reconstructor and Reconstructing Shampoo. John Masters Organics are quite a pricey brand so it’s great to be able to try them out before purchasing. I also chose a sample of Elysambre Organic Pre-makeup Base Cream which is a brand I have never tried before.

Pssst....

Ethical online retailer Adili.com are in the midst of a sale with certain items up to 50% off. My favourites are:

Colourful embroidered dress

£66.50 [was £95.00]

Chenna's quilt pumps

£45 [was £90]

Silk mix button waist coat
£63.70 [was £91]

Second-hand style....

As an ardent shopper one of the things I really battle with in my bid towards greener living is the idea that I shouldn’t really be buying stuff I don’t need. And to be strictly honest, at this point in my life, when it comes to bags, shoes, clothes and jewellery I don’t actually need anything. Even if it is fairtrade/ethically sourced/organic….or any of the above. It is one thing acknowledging this and another trying to live by it so in the meantime, one of the ways to assuage my conscience somewhat is charity shop shopping! Because if I’m buying something pre-owned then I am really just contributing towards the recycling process….right? Don’t disillusion me please, I am sure this theory has its own flaws, but let me just have this one for now….

Historically I’ve only really scoured the charity shops for books. But recently I’ve broadened my outlook somewhat and realised that with a little patience and regular check-ins they can be the source of all sorts of goodies. I bought a gorgeous striped-glass jug with two matching glasses recently for £2. So effectively what I’ve bought is recycled glass, I’ve just cut out the middle man!

I have also just ordered my first purchase from Oxfam’s online second-hand shop. The beauty of this option is that you don’t need to keep visiting a shop (which is a necessary component of an effective charity shopping strategy if you want to find something great) which can be time consuming. The online option means you can easily narrow down your search to your size, price range and/or category. And even better, you can then narrow it down by the condition of the item. So you can just search the Used: As New category if you so choose, or if you’re exta fussy, there is also a ‘with tags’ category so you’re essentially buying a new item. As an added bonus, all purchases from the second-hand store come with free delivery until the 20th of July. So check it out for some guilt free shopping that is also easy on the wallet……