Green Efforts At home

29/11/2012

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Eco friendly




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 still have a technological security system, you can still entrust your home to an Aviva insurance policy, and you can still rely on basic necessities like lighting and running water. Green efforts are more about the little things here and there that, when multiplied by thousands or millions of households, can make an incredible difference. Here are a few examples on the RSPB site of ways to be environmentally responsible in your home life.

Recycle

Throwing used cans and glass bottles into a recycling bin is easy, and basic. Fortunately, most cities and towns make it fairly easy for you to dispose of this sort of recyclable material. However, if you truly want to make your mark in green living, try to expand upon your recycling efforts. Things like paper and cardboard are often thrown out, for example, when they too can be recycled. Additionally, you can recycle used electronic equipment, instead of simply hanging onto it or throwing it away.

Conserve Water

Water waste is one of the most environmentally harmful practices that occurs in a vast majority of homes. Often, people waste gallons of water each day without even realizing they're doing so. Things like leaving tap water running while brushing your teeth, or taking lengthy showers - even running water to wash food or dishes, instead of using a sponge and rinsing occasionally - can all waste enormous amounts of water. Try to be more careful about not letting excess water flow out of your taps, and you will be doing a great environmental service.

Conserve Electricity

Conserving electricity is a very significant aspect of any green effort, and there are a number of ways that you can do it in your own home. If you truly want to commit to as significant green effort, you may want to consider installing solar panels on your roof, as they can eliminate a great deal of your need for electricity. However, you can also make simpler effective efforts by doing things like leaving unnecessary lights and appliances turned off. In fact, even unplugging such appliances while they are out of use can conserve electricity, believe it or not. These small efforts can add up in a significant way.

Making sustainable fashionable and lifestyle choices

So many brands have there own eco lines such as H&M which does the very stylish conscious collection and the very popular online shop People Tree has some great on trend pieces. It is also well worth a look at your local charity shops as you never know what your going to find and can bring life back to unwanted or unused clothes and accessories, I don't know how many amazing little one off pieces I have found - here are a few of my personal favourites.


thrifted brooch
I love this Anchor brooch I found at a 2nd hand store

Silver heart necklace

Thrifted bracelets


This post contains a sponsored link
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Beanie Envy

28/11/2012

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My must have accessory for winter is a beanie.....not just for warmth but for style...so I have reclaimed Johns Asos beanie as my own! My little man also looks on trend rocking his hand knitted one.

Winter beanie

Toddler fashion

I am not the only one who thinks beanies are great...my current model crush Cara Delevingn hits the off duty rock chic look to a tee.

Street Style
Cara Delevingne - my current style crush



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Slient Sunday dreams.....

25/11/2012

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In love

Paris black and white

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Photos Talk

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Ceramic Owl
Taken on my new Sony xperia

So first of all this is Not a sponsored post - believe me I wish it was because having to fish out £169.99 for a new phone because yours dropped down the toilet after placing it in your back pocket is no fun. I have heard of that kind of thing happening to others and never thought I could do something so stupid but I proved myself wrong on that front. So goodbye iphone and alas I do not have £339 to buy an iphone 4 let alone an iphone 5 and only being eligible for an upgrade next year August didn't leave me many options.

As a blogger I there are certain requirements I need from a phone

1. Good camera! This is a must, especially since I have a toddler that I want to capture when he is doing something funny.
2. Needs to be able to connect to various social media platforms easily.
3. Has to be Wifi compatible.
4. Needs to be fairly easy and smooth to navigate.
5. Can run Apps in an fast and efficient way.

What are your requirement for a phone?

Basically I want an iphone but without the price tag. So after a lot and I mean a lot of umming and ahhing I decided on the Sony Xperia J.

Sony smartphone


If I had had the luxury of time I would of done some research and possibly would of gone for an iphone 4 refurb but alas I did not have that luxury as I could not be without a phone especially when my son was with the grandparents and they may need to get hold of me. It's not as smooth as an iphone but for a few months until I can upgrade I feel this is a solid phone

It takes decent photos as Sony is know for making good lenses. It runs all the apps I use and social media platforms run fast, it also has a nice large screen, larger than my Iphone and it's also thin and light. Here are a few shots I have had fun with

Anchor broach

Green dragon

Hotrod yellow car



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Prints and Denim

19/11/2012

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Sometimes I just wake up and feel like having a real fun fashion day - which everyday should be really because you only live once and you should live it smiling. I was asked by TightsPlease to review a pair of their tights and wow what a choice - over 20 000 items in stock at anyone time I was really spoilt for choice! But as soon as I came across these Pamela Mann Fairisle printed tights I knew they were the ones for me. I paired them up with a denim shirt from Topshop, Peace necklace, Cazal 607 glasses and biker boots from Peacocks. I think when wearing a really busy print such as the tights you don't want to distract from it so always pair it with something more subtle, in my case the denim shirt. These tights are super smooth and lovely and will be wearing them a lot in the future...viva prints

Topshop denim shirt
Pamela Mann tights, Topshop denim shirt, Peacock biker boots, Cazal 607 glasses
Cazal 607
Fairisle print


I was given a pair of tights in exchange for a review
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Silent Sunday

18/11/2012

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leopard print


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Orla Kiely Giveaway

17/11/2012

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So you may have noticed that the blog has been a bit quiet over the past 10 days and thats been due to a reoccurring bad cold which all three of us came down with and has been hard to shake off but we are hoping that's us done for the winter. So as a nice way to be back online with thought we would run this lovely giveaway - a beautiful Orla Kiely casebound notebook. It's super easy to enter through rafflecopter and you have until the 28th November to enter and it's open to everyone (no matter where you live)

Notebook giveaway

designer giveaway



a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Country Park Casual

07/11/2012

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We had a great weekend, spending Sunday and Monday outdoors, which was a refreshing change from being house bound with a bad cold last week. Sunday was spent at St Fagans and Monday at Cyfarthfa Castle in Merthyr. Being outdoors and within nature is very important to me and it's something I really want to instil in Baby A. It is getting very cold so we just need to make sure everyone is wrapped up nice and warm and ready for muddy adventures. Beside hot summery days I also love crisp fresh autumn afternoons with the yellow leaved trees and beautiful welsh sunset.

Autumn lens flair
Rocking my new vans and enjoying the autumn sun


Boden jacket
Running down the path - A is wearing a Mini Bodens Jacket, Miniclub jeans and Vans

Saint James jumper
John wearing Redwing shoes, Nudie jeans, St James jumper and Ralph Lauren jacket


inspring sunset
Amazing Welsh Sunset

Male fashion



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Enter Etre

06/11/2012

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So on Side Street Style we love home grown British brands that pride themselves on being made in an ethical, locally source time honoured way so when I came across Etre we felt we had to share the love as we are hearting their Autumn winter collection of fisherman sweaters and British workwear perfect for those colder days. All lovingly made in small family based british business - the gloves are made in one of the last surviving glove manufactures in the UK and the bags are produced in a small Cornish factory. The gloves are also designed with a touchy fivepoint to be used with current technology so no more cold fingers when texting - bonus! The look book is beautifully shot and understated and the items are timeless, chic and are something you would invest in knowing that you will have them for years to come, improving with wear and eventually being handed on for others to enjoy. The gloves start at £40

British clothing company

fishermans jumper

fashion shoot

iphone 4

vintage door

british fashion

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Creative income

05/11/2012

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So with Christmas coming up we could all do with alittle bit extra money and I am pretty sure you have  all read articles about filling out surveys, mystery shopping or renting out your driveway for alittle bit of extra money but here are some other creative and fashionable ways to bring in a little bit extra each month.

Christmas wreath


1. Start a blog - you never know where this may lead! I personally know a few people who now have either made blogging a full time career or have be offered a job through there blogs. Blogs can be whatever you want them to be, no one asks for qualifications and you don't have to have just graduated from St Martins to write about your passion for fashion or Art. A blog is also a great way to promote your skills and crafts and you may have the chance to work with some amazing brands. Another plus of blogging is that it can be quite an interactive community in the real world and John and I have met some amazing bloggers at events in Cardiff. This does take some commitment and thought needs to go into the content you put on your blog as it's very competitive to keep readers interested. The most popular blogging platforms are blogger and wordpress and provide straightforward and easy to set up templates.

blog design

2. Freelance your skills with People Per Hour - this is a great site not only to offer your skills to prospective employers through hourlies such as photo editing, graphics designs, blogging and copywriting but you can also bid for jobs. You do need a good profile with an excellent CV as there are now a lot of people using the site so it can be quite competitive to get the first bid but after that if you do a good job and get a reference it should be easier to get the next one. Not only could you get a little side job for a few pounds a week but you could also land yourself a job paying £200 plus per week.

freelance creative logo


3. Sell your crafts online with the creative melting pot's that are Etsy and Folksy. It's easy to set up and sell all your homemade crafts, arty goods and vintage fashion and if it's really good Etsy may highlight it in one of their daily newsletters. 15million use the site - yes that's right 15million, so there is a huge audience and scope to make it more than just a hobby. They only take 3.5% of the sale price once sold and no membership fee's means a win win for everyone.

handmade gift tag
Some gift tags I made for Christmas last year

4. Become a fashion seller on ebay - why not take it one step further than just selling your unwanted clothing and actually buy wholesale, there is a great site that does ebayer starter packs one2wear that provides you with new, on trend, stylish and chic clothing and it beats having heavy shop overheads. As long as your good at listing at the right times and like everything you network and social media yourself you should make some fashionable profit margins.

one to wear


5. Teach your trade. If your a homemaker, photographer, print maker or artist why not put on a workshop and share your skills with others. It's not hard to find a space that will allow you to do this if you can't do it at home, such as community halls or local studios. If you love what you do this won't even feel like work, which is a major bonus if you ask me. Happy days

two shows

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