I've loved vintage fashion for years. There's just something satisfying about wearing unique, high quality pieces of clothing that you didn't pick up in your local primark. As kids we would always be mooching through charity shops and car boot sales for treats and while I was embarrassed about that when I was younger, it's something I've learnt to embrace over the years.
What baby Grace didn't know when she was younger, was that second hand fashion would become extremely popular and even encouraged as more and more people started to understand the effects fast fashion has on the world. If you'd have told me rummaging through Cancer Research with my Nan would be in the 'in thing' when I was a teenager I would have never believed you, but here we are.
So why am I paying more attention to sustainable fashion? It comes down to a few reasons really. The fast fashion industry has been my friend for a really long time. I loved the days I could nip into Primark and come out with a whole outfit for a tenner, and whilst I won't be giving up that kind of shopping completely I am trying to reduce it.
One of the big reasons is the environmental impact. A quick google search will throw up hundreds of articles based around the impact the fashion industry has on our planet, and the stats are pretty shocking to say the least. According to an article on the Business Insider, the fashion industry accounts for 10% of our carbon emissions. And if that doesn't concern you, the fact that 85% of textiles end up in a landfill should - thats a lot of clothes.
I would highly recommend giving that article 5 minutes of your time because the data will likely take you by surprise. I know it shocked me.
For me there are also a couple of less important reasons for moving away from fast fashion. One is the cost. Second hand clothes in general are a lot cheaper than buying brand new, unless you specifically go to a vintage store of course. Older clothes are generally a lot better quality too and will also last much longer. Things were just made to last back in the day.
I would say the last reason, and the most important reason for me, after the environmental cost, would be having something unique. When you buy vintage or second hand, it's likely that you will have something no one else does. I can't even count the amount of second hand bags I've bought and loved over the years that I know no one else will have.
So apart from buying second hand, what else am I doing to embrace sustainable fashion? Well I won't be giving up my Primark trips, or Asos orders anytime soon, but I will reduce the amount I purchase 'just because it's cheap'. Too many times I've picked up a bag full of items I didn't really need just because I could, and I'd never even wear them!
I also recycle my own clothes and bags when I can. I send a fair amount of stuff to charity shops and I also sell on a lot of my older things too, because ya girl has to fund her habits someway. Sometimes things are too worn to donate to charities to resell, however a lot of my local charity shops use a scheme where they can sell things on as rags, so it's always worth asking your local shop if they participate in a scheme like that so you don't even have to throw ripped or damaged clothes away.
Shopping sustainably is something I've been trying to get more into lately and I'd encourage anyone who is concerned about the environment to do the same.
Thanks for reading!
x
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Lockdown life, the longer it goes on, the more it will take its toll on our mental health. I've seen so many people suffering lately due to loneliness, boredom, and just generally having their lives shaken up.
While we know it's a necessary evil at the moment, that doesn't really make it any easier to struggle through. So I've popped together a list of self care activities you can do in just 10 minutes to lift your mood.
Stick on a facemask
Is there a better feeling than sticking a facemask on for a few minutes? I think not. If you're anything like me you've likely collected a thousand facemasks which you keep in a draw for 'special occasions'. Well get those bad boys out and slap one on ya mush!
If you don't happen to have a facemask at home, why not make your own?
Pluck your eyebrows
One of the first things I did this morning was give my eyebrows a good pluck and my god do I feel better for it. Whilst I know no one will be seeing my shiny new brows for a while, my face feels a lot fresher, tidier, and more open now I've gotten rid of a few stray hairs.
Make yourself a delicious drink
They say there is nothing a good cup of tea can't fix, and I wholeheartedly believe that. That being said you could swap a tea for a fancy cocktail, or a banging hot chocolate and I reckon it would have the same effect! So make a drink of your choice and enjoy every last sip.
I'm quite partial to a cocktail (or seven) but I'm not great at making them to be honest, so I mostly stick to a basic bitch Mojito or other easy to make cocktails.
Do the '10 minute tidy'
It's a fact that your surrounding influence the way you feel, so it's going to be tough to shake your low mood if you're living in a mess. Whack on a couple of your favourite songs and tidy for 10 solid minutes. Even just tidying up for a small amount of time can really improve your mood.
Moisturise
It's likely that you're washing your hands a more than normal at the moment, which means your skin might be looking a little worse for wear. Dry cracked hands aren't protected hands, so it's important that you keep them moisturized. But don't stop there, smother your whole body in cream until you're feeling silky smooth, I promise you'll thank yourself later!
Meditate
This probably isn't for everyone, but when I'm at my worst, meditation really helps. I turn on a meditation soundtrack from youtube and I just lie still with my eyes closed for a while. Music with positive affirmations also really helps me when my anxiety pops up to say hello.
I hope this helps you guys out and gives you a few ideas of self care activities that can be done pretty quickly!
Thanks for reading!
x
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Are you finding yourself with a little more time on your hands than usual lately? Yeah a nation wide lockdown will generally do that! But you don't have to waste all this free time! Why not take this opportunity to learn a new language? German perhaps?
Over the last couple of weeks I've dedicated at least one hour a day to brushing up on my German language skills, which were poor to say the least. Whilst I don't feel like doing it every day, just one hour out of my busy (ha!) schedule is all it really takes to start getting to grips with the basics!
And I haven't paid a penny for it.
So how can you learn German for free?
Youtube
One of the easiest ways, and maybe more fun ways to learn the basics of a language is through Youtube. You will find a whole host of videos from multiple creators on the platform which can help ease yourself into learning a new language. Whilst I doubt you can learn a language thoroughly this way, it's definitly a good place to start.
One youtube series I've been watching for a while now is Learn German With Anja. Anja, a native German speaker, has published hundreds of videos which cover all kinds of topics and will be helpful to anyone learning German.
If you're looking to practice your German language skills, BBC Bitesize is a great place to head to. It was created to help school aged students revise however there is nothing to stop anyone from using it as a revision tool. The Bitesize German page is full of useful videos for learners of all levels however I do think you will really benefit from using this platform if you do already have a grasp of basic German.
Duolingo is my favourite platform to learn German for free. The lessons are short, simple, and can even be fun. Using Duolingo I can learn German on my phone and also track my progress too. It's a very thorough learning tool that tests your spelling and pronunciation skills amongst other important factors and it's an app I would recommend anyone looking to start learning a language.
I really hope this helps some of you keep occupied for the next few weeks while the UK, and most of Europe is still in lockdown.
And once the lockdown is lifted and the world starts to go back to normal, you'll just to have book yourself a little trip to a German speaking country to test your new skills!
If learning German isn't your thing don't worry, I've popped together a huge list of 126 things you can do in lockdown to keep you busy!
Thanks for reading!
x
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As the Coronavirus pandemic worsens, it seems that quite a few of us are going to be cooped up inside for the next few weeks. For some of us this means working from home, but for more and more of us this will just be time to kill before the world gets back to normal.
I've popped together a list of things you can do to pass the time and ride this pandemic out.
For ease I've spilt the list into two, things you can do if you're feeling productive, and things you can do if you're not, because in times like this it's okay to just chill the fuck out.
So what can you do whilst you are self isolating/ social distancing?
Things you can do if you're feeling productive:
1. Update your CV
2. Take an online course with Udemy
3. Check your credit score
4. Plan a weekly or monthly budget
5. Get all of your washing done and change your bed sheets
7. Tidy up your garden whilst the sun is shining
8. Do an hour of exercise
9. Delete the unwanted photos from your camera roll on your phone
10. Vacuum every room in the house
11. Organise your bookshelf by colour
12. Write a blog post (Here are some tips on writing your first ever blog post if you're new to blogging)
13. Update your media kit, or create one if you don't already have one
14. Tidy up and clear out your junk draws
15. Give the bathroom a massive spring clean and chuck out old products
16. Start learning sign language
17. Plan your meals for the week, making sure older food is all used up
18. Learn a new skill
19. Clean the bloody oven out, boring I know, but necessary
20. Create a 1 month, 1 year, and 5 year life plan
21. Check your bank account and move money over to a savings account if possible
22. Have a clear out of old things and start a charity bag to be taken to the shops once the lockdown period is over
23. Cut your grass
24. Unsubscribe to mailing lists you're no longer interested in
25. Cancel subscriptions to services you no longer want or need
26. Give your windows a good clean
27. Take out life insurance
28. Create or update your LinkedIn account
29. Check your emails
30. Clear the stuff out from under your bed and give it a good vacuum
31. Go through your calendar/ diary and make sure all the important dates are in there
32. Clear out any unwanted documents on your computers/ or hard drives
33. Open an ISA (if you can still do so online)
34. Polish your work shoes ready for when you can go back to work
35. Organise your wardrobe by; colour, item of clothing, occasion etc.
36. Check out the free courses at the open university
37. Take your curtains down and wash them
38. Unfollow the social media accounts that don't make you happy anymore
39. Bag up your lose change to take to the bank once you can
40. Clean out your makeup bag and brushes, and chuck away any old makeup
41. Delete apps you no longer use from your phone
42. Search for a new job online
43. Check how you can improve your credit score
44. Deep clean your carpets
45. Wash your car and give the inside a thorough clean too
46. Do an online food order so you don't need to leave the house for a little longer
47. Test all the chargers in the house and bin off any that don't work
48. Check you are up to date with any bills
49. Start writing a will
50. Pay off your credit cards
51. Switch your gas and electricity to cheaper suppliers
52. Flip your mattress
53. Clear out your attic/ shed/ random cupboards
54. Check when your car's insurance and MOT are due
55. Have a go at mending old clothes or turning up those trousers you've putting off doing
56. Set daily goals for yourself (and actually complete them)
57. Pack away your Summer clothes
56. Ensure you have enough medication to last and order more if not
57. Return any online orders you don't want while the post office is still open
58. Sort through your nail varnishes and get rid of any that are starting to dry out
59. Start planning your side hustle but avoid MLM like the plague (Avon, juice plus etc)
60. Grow your connections on LinkedIn
61. Check your bloody emails, (properly!)
62. Help your child (or a friends child) learn something new
63. Volunteer to help the NHS
33. Open an ISA (if you can still do so online)
34. Polish your work shoes ready for when you can go back to work
35. Organise your wardrobe by; colour, item of clothing, occasion etc.
36. Check out the free courses at the open university
37. Take your curtains down and wash them
38. Unfollow the social media accounts that don't make you happy anymore
39. Bag up your lose change to take to the bank once you can
40. Clean out your makeup bag and brushes, and chuck away any old makeup
41. Delete apps you no longer use from your phone
42. Search for a new job online
43. Check how you can improve your credit score
44. Deep clean your carpets
45. Wash your car and give the inside a thorough clean too
46. Do an online food order so you don't need to leave the house for a little longer
47. Test all the chargers in the house and bin off any that don't work
48. Check you are up to date with any bills
49. Start writing a will
50. Pay off your credit cards
51. Switch your gas and electricity to cheaper suppliers
52. Flip your mattress
53. Clear out your attic/ shed/ random cupboards
54. Check when your car's insurance and MOT are due
55. Have a go at mending old clothes or turning up those trousers you've putting off doing
56. Set daily goals for yourself (and actually complete them)
57. Pack away your Summer clothes
56. Ensure you have enough medication to last and order more if not
57. Return any online orders you don't want while the post office is still open
58. Sort through your nail varnishes and get rid of any that are starting to dry out
59. Start planning your side hustle but avoid MLM like the plague (Avon, juice plus etc)
60. Grow your connections on LinkedIn
61. Check your bloody emails, (properly!)
62. Help your child (or a friends child) learn something new
63. Volunteer to help the NHS
Things you can do if you're not feeling productive:
1. Start a new series on netflix
2. Video call a friend or family member
3. Download TikTok and watch the hours fly by
4. Have a go at creating cocktails, or mocktails if booze isn't your thing
5. Start a new book
6. Treat yourself to a magazine subscription whilst deliveries are still available
7. Bake something you've never baked before
8. Go for a walk (away from other people)
9. Download Netflix party and watch a film at the same time as your friends who don't live with you
10. Call your elderly relatives or friends to check up on them
11. Try out a new makeup look
12. Binge watch Youtube Videos
13. Play dress up and have a mini bedroom photoshoot
14. Start a scrapbook
15. Cook something new
16. Sign up to a dating app and chat with new people
17. Create a pub quiz for your friends and do a group video chat
18. Set up an instagram for your pet
19. Try out a new hairstyle (but don't get cutting it yourself because the hairdressers are going to be closed for a while!)
20. Meditate
21. If the weather is right set up the tent and camp in your garden
22. Write a letter to a loved one
23. Give Yoga a try
24. Create a TikTok Video
25. Start a quarantine diary
26. Take an afternoon nap
27. Discover some new blogs and binge read their content
28. Make a list of things you're grateful for
29. Download a new game for your phone
30. Go for a bike ride
31. Keep in touch with work colleagues
32. Start a new Pinterest board
33. Start planning your dream holiday for when you can travel again (Here are a few of my recommendations for when lockdown is lifted once again)
34. Create some pretty flaylays for your instagram
35. Leave nice comments on blog posts
36. If you can afford to, treat yourself to some goodies from small online businesses
37. If the weather is nice, relax in your garden
38. Try out Latte art
39. Do a face mask
40. Watch a film (Sarah has a great list of chick flicks to watch when you've had a bad day!)
41. Paint your nails
42. Plant some flowers (if you have seeds lying around)
43. Post your favourite books off to friends to read
44. Order physical prints of your favourite photographs
45. Create a mixtape
46. Spend 5 minutes doing deep breathing exercises
47. Call your mom
48. Do a hair mask
49. Make a handmade body scrub with blended fruits and sugar
50. Do something creative like painting or drawing (even if you're not that good at it)
51. Have a BBQ in your back garden
52. Start a blog if you don't already have one
53. Play a board game with whoever you live with
54. Take a bubble bath (Or practise some general self care)
55. Pluck your eyebrows
56. Crop some of your t-shirts ready for summer
57. Put on a banging playlist and dance like noones watching
58. Dig out your old games consoles and have a play
59. Leave tripadvisor reviews for the last few places you've visited
60. Moisturise your hands as excessive hand washing is likely drying them out
61. Treat yourself to some gift cards for your favourite independent pubs/ bars/ restaurants for when they open again
62. Write some poetry (even if you think it's a bit shit)
63. Have a photoshoot with your pet
39. Do a face mask
40. Watch a film (Sarah has a great list of chick flicks to watch when you've had a bad day!)
41. Paint your nails
42. Plant some flowers (if you have seeds lying around)
43. Post your favourite books off to friends to read
44. Order physical prints of your favourite photographs
45. Create a mixtape
46. Spend 5 minutes doing deep breathing exercises
47. Call your mom
48. Do a hair mask
49. Make a handmade body scrub with blended fruits and sugar
50. Do something creative like painting or drawing (even if you're not that good at it)
51. Have a BBQ in your back garden
52. Start a blog if you don't already have one
53. Play a board game with whoever you live with
54. Take a bubble bath (Or practise some general self care)
55. Pluck your eyebrows
56. Crop some of your t-shirts ready for summer
57. Put on a banging playlist and dance like noones watching
58. Dig out your old games consoles and have a play
59. Leave tripadvisor reviews for the last few places you've visited
60. Moisturise your hands as excessive hand washing is likely drying them out
61. Treat yourself to some gift cards for your favourite independent pubs/ bars/ restaurants for when they open again
62. Write some poetry (even if you think it's a bit shit)
63. Have a photoshoot with your pet
Just a note, if you're self isolating current government guidelines state that you should not leave your house for a certain amount of time. Make sure you keep yourself familiar with the latest guidelines and use common sense during this tricky time.
So stay safe, stay sane, and try to make the most of this time. It will be over and in the history books before we know it.
What have you been doing to keep yourself busy lately?
Thanks for reading!
x
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