And so this 31 day unrelenting stint of blogging is at an end! 31 days on the trot! Kind of a relief it's over but I am really glad I have done it. Any sort of talk of going on some sort of emotional, mental journey leaves me cringing and thinking of the X-factor/Strictly and over reality TV shows so I won't go down that route, I don't think I've been on a journey but I've poked my nose into a few more doors than usual, but it has been an interesting experiment. I largely stuck to the briefs each day with a few digressions into other posts
I did try to set out with the intention of visiting the other participants and I probably managed about half of them (that's about 60!) and left comments on those who had comment settings that allowed me to but in the end, I just couldn't. I had a few, not a huge amount of other BEDMers coming to reciprocate, but I appreciated those who did, most notably, the wonderful Zoe Pennyblossoms , Lizzie Cole, Janet B , Liz, Zoe Splodz, Laura Lojo. I even gained a few followers which for my slow moving follower list is astounding! Thanks to Laura, Zoe Splodz, Liz, Lynn Holland, SENCO Cat Herder, Rebecca, Carville, Two Squirrels and HI! Special thanks to my regular blog friends who have unrelentingly commented, especially Ivana and Denise who have literally been daily on here with insightful, caring and supportive comments and there's more of you too!
I followed a few, including Liz at Distract me now please, Zoe at Splodz Blogz and Laura at Lojo versus the world, all of whom are great, so please go and say hi!
In doing BEDM, I had a look over my past posts and realised I didn't have as much variety as I thought, quite a lot of mediocre outfit posts, over time I've got a bit lazy, though I have consistently waffled for England so I think it was good to make myself consistently blog about a few other things.
In trying out beauty blogging, I didn't find it quite as dull as I thought it would, so you never know, I might just occasionally post about something I like, I definitely would like to do some more collaborating as I loved my interview reciprocally with Zoe at Pennyblossoms and I think it would be fun to collaborate more. It was fun to think about travelling with the A-Z of travelling post and I liked trying to link things I wanted to post about with the briefs such as a bluebell expedition turning into a philosophical discussion tenuously linked to healthy living. The worst post was about my work space. If it isn't pretty or doesn't create a story, it doesn't excite me. My favourite post was probably my photographic visit to Mersea Island and I LOVED sharing the talents of the wonderful Ang Almond with my question mark shirt!
During the course of BEDM, I've met up with 3 bloggers (2 still to be posted about), been to a wedding, disappeared off to Devon for a week as well as normal life!
So, onwards and upwards- I've got a ton of things I want to post about so whilst I would relish a kind of break, I really don't want to, I'm a glutton for punishment or an addict-delete as appropriate!
BEDM, it's been a blast!!!
xx
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Saturday, May 30, 2015
BEDM 30: 11 things you wish some folks would understood about teaching
So these are linked to teaching. I know most of you on here are wonderful enlightened people but I thought I'd try and make light of some difficult elements of life in the teaching profession.
1. IT. IS. NOT. A NINE. TO. THREE.JOB. Make me repeat that and you may regret it.
2. I am not sitting at my desk marking whilst little darlings get on with their work quietly. I am preventing World War 2 every three minutes, trying to get blood out of a stone, soothing hurt feelings, searching for the missing pencil sharpener for the nth time, reading minds as well as trying to teach and help individuals.
3. "Yeh, but you get long holidays,". Yes, and if I didn't get those holidays I WOULD DIE!
4. "The summer holiday is too long." I don't understand this one. Well, I do, for full-time working parents and the difficulties and costs of childcare but seriously THEY, the children, do need it. They are a wreck at the end of term and actually they need that long break in the summer. I do too-it's the only holiday in which you really can switch off for a while and feel totally human. After you've spent days clearing out your classroom, passing on assessment data, filling in end of year assessment data, filing everything you didn't have time to file earlier, changing classroom, doing INSET day or two, then planning for next term.
5. You cannot just use your plans from last year. You may think we just reuse last year's one but no, goalposts are moved every year, every new government has some bright idea about what else must be crammed into a day and children are different.
6. I am not there to solely teach your child how to behave, parents- I am there to reinforce and model what you should have started!!! (True fact- one parent told a friend that it was her job to teach her child how to behave, not hers)
7. Children are germ-pools. If I am off sick, it is because I have been breathed over by germy children, had to hold snotty hands and subjected to more cold strains than an Antarctic wind. I am not being a layabout. I will get ill and I might, God forbid, have to take a day off to try and recover. It is no good teaching when 31 relentless people need your undivided attention. Yet why do I feel utterly wretched and guilty about trying to get better?
8. Children will vomit over your shoes. Yes, that has happened to me.
9. I will fret over every lesson in which something didn't go perfectly thinking I am the worst teacher ever. We do care and want to do our best.
10. I detest papiermache and rubbish junk instrument making. Make me make cereal box string violins (they doesn't work- it will ALWAYS collapse!)with your child and 30 others and I will cry ! That said, I will make things that sound acoustically good! If you want to make amazing junk instruments have a look at the Land filharmonic orchestra that Denise posted about! Now THAT is amazing junk instrument-making.
11. If you think your report doesn't show enough detail, believe you me, if I were allowed to, I would write MUCH more- but I am restricted for conciseness and a page limit! There's only so much about your child's full development in an entire year I can write in a small section without sending you to sleep!
I do love my job but there are some people that don't quite get the difficulties! Hope you see the tongue-in-cheek nature of this as well as a few genuine difficulties that we face!
xxx
Friday, May 29, 2015
BEDM 29: Passion Project: #What is it 32?
Today's BEDM brief is something you are passionate about or a new project you may start in blogging. My humble offering for today is not anything new but something I started a long time ago. I wonder, when I post my 'What is it?' posts, what you think of them- please, if you don't join in usually, I would LOVE an honest opinion!
For me, What is it? is a variety of things:
1. A chance to be creative and exercise my imagination.
2. A chance to engage imaginatively with all of you.
3. A chance to be a bit silly
4. A chance to LOOK at something in a different way.
I loved the Keri Smith book, How to be an explorer of the world. I love her take on viewing things at a slower pace, engaging creatively and enjoying life in different mediums.
When I look at the sky and see shapes in the clouds, I am going beyond the mundaneness of life and attempting to see it in a fun way, as I did as a child. I'm trying to take a ride of imagination.
Doing these What is it? posts for me was also something original I could do in the blog world. Everyone elsewhere does all my other type of posts much better than me and so I sought something unique and different. I am constantly staggered by the shapes I see in the clouds and so this became the impetus to make a new feature. I see it as an appreciation of the wonderful uniqueness of nature and I see God having a joke too!
So, enough philoposizing... onto today's picture.
Please leave me a comment as to what you think this cloud also resembles in the comments- all good fun!
What about last time?
I saw this as the side-profile of an early man or a gorilla/ape-like man.
What did the wonderful commenters see?
12 comments:
I look forward to hearing from you.
xx
Thursday, May 28, 2015
BEDM 28: Bygone era! Meeting Vintage Vix!
Today's brief for BEDM is a Bygone era-
And this allows me to neatly segue into an exciting event last Sunday!!!
The wonderful, legendary Vintage Vix, blogger and charity-shop extraordinaire and photographic memory for a vintage label let me know she was selling at Lambeth Town Hall in South London. Delightfully, I was free to go along!
I was so excited to meet this kind and wonderful blogger,who is SUCH an advocate for bygone eras in terms of fashion, homeware and quality! Over the years, I have wondered how this cool, kind lady had the time to visit and leave me such lovely comments and was so cool and down to earth and above all HOW ON EARTH she managed to find and remember so much vintage!!!! I also love her vegetarian thrifty aesthetic!
Kinky Melon, Vix and Jon's retro boutique had a prime position in the entrance hall so you couldn't miss it!
I spotted Vix straight away and she was just as lovely, cool and kind as she is on her blog. Looking utterly glamorous in real-life there is no editing to make her look this amazing- she is like that in real life!
It was super to meet Jon too! Cool, dapper and lovely too! I had a few chats with both of them although I was very aware that they had to be alert to customers (which they didn't make me aware of at all!) so looked around too.
Here's Kinky Melon's pitch! Look at all that vintage! I had a lovely time browsing-there was some amazing items! I was very tempted by many items but picked out three in the end- a paisley tie for CBC, a 70's dress (to be revealed soon!) and a 70's blouse all of which fit perfectly I am pleased to say. There was a deer-stalker hat which I was VERY tempted by- it fitted and I almost bought it but then figured it was a little niche, still thought about it though!
I went around to look round Lambeth Town hall at the other stalls. I've not really been to a proper vintage fair before with the time to look apart from the one I snuck into in Nottingham whilst at a wedding (had to make it in and out in 10 minutes without CBC noticing) and I saw many examples of beautiful clothes from a bygone era. Glasses, hats, blouses,dresses, homeware, all very tempting. I only bought one other item, a cute cotton thick blouse that had an adorable chicks in eggs print all over it from a £5 rummage suitcase!
Just before leaving, I bought a delicious large piece of handmade chocolate cake from the stall above and a cup of tea and went back to chat and say bye to Vix who had been looking after my bags!
It was really nice to meet you Vix and thank you!I look forward to seeing you soon!
Oh and a sneak peek of what I bought from Kinky Melon- here's the blouse, worn on Friday at school!
xxx
Blog about a bygone era. Discuss your favourite era. Create a vintage inspired outfit. List your favourite cartoons as a kid. Share a vivid memory. Interpret widely.
And this allows me to neatly segue into an exciting event last Sunday!!!
The wonderful, legendary Vintage Vix, blogger and charity-shop extraordinaire and photographic memory for a vintage label let me know she was selling at Lambeth Town Hall in South London. Delightfully, I was free to go along!
I was so excited to meet this kind and wonderful blogger,who is SUCH an advocate for bygone eras in terms of fashion, homeware and quality! Over the years, I have wondered how this cool, kind lady had the time to visit and leave me such lovely comments and was so cool and down to earth and above all HOW ON EARTH she managed to find and remember so much vintage!!!! I also love her vegetarian thrifty aesthetic!
Kinky Melon, Vix and Jon's retro boutique had a prime position in the entrance hall so you couldn't miss it!
I spotted Vix straight away and she was just as lovely, cool and kind as she is on her blog. Looking utterly glamorous in real-life there is no editing to make her look this amazing- she is like that in real life!
It was super to meet Jon too! Cool, dapper and lovely too! I had a few chats with both of them although I was very aware that they had to be alert to customers (which they didn't make me aware of at all!) so looked around too.
Here's Kinky Melon's pitch! Look at all that vintage! I had a lovely time browsing-there was some amazing items! I was very tempted by many items but picked out three in the end- a paisley tie for CBC, a 70's dress (to be revealed soon!) and a 70's blouse all of which fit perfectly I am pleased to say. There was a deer-stalker hat which I was VERY tempted by- it fitted and I almost bought it but then figured it was a little niche, still thought about it though!
I went around to look round Lambeth Town hall at the other stalls. I've not really been to a proper vintage fair before with the time to look apart from the one I snuck into in Nottingham whilst at a wedding (had to make it in and out in 10 minutes without CBC noticing) and I saw many examples of beautiful clothes from a bygone era. Glasses, hats, blouses,dresses, homeware, all very tempting. I only bought one other item, a cute cotton thick blouse that had an adorable chicks in eggs print all over it from a £5 rummage suitcase!
Just before leaving, I bought a delicious large piece of handmade chocolate cake from the stall above and a cup of tea and went back to chat and say bye to Vix who had been looking after my bags!
It was really nice to meet you Vix and thank you!I look forward to seeing you soon!
Oh and a sneak peek of what I bought from Kinky Melon- here's the blouse, worn on Friday at school!
xxx
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
BEDM 27: Local town: The Metaphorphsis of the Wizard and the Dragon
Today's BEDM brief is about your local town and whilst I don't want to announce to the world where I live, I thought I'd share something happening locally.
In my local park, an art project has been bloomin over the year and half since those October high winds that felled several tress in my local park almost two years ago.
A project has been brewing over the intervening months. It was decided to turn the tree stumps or remains into wood sculptures of a Wizard and Dragon. The park held a competition for children to tell a story about how they came to be there.
As I walk through the park towards the station every day, I have been witness to the evolution of the wood to statues. As they near completition, I thought I'd put together all my photos to see how they have changed.
6th September 2014
Walking in the park with CBC and N, I noticed that the tree which had been damaged by the storm had been separated into two pieces- a trunk (behind) and the fallen branch which someone had begun to carve into a dragon/dinosaur shape. I didn't know about the project at this stage.
8th February 2015
Not much happened from September to now as the weather was so changeable. The Dragon and the tree trunk were covered over with tarpaulins. On this sunny Sunday morning after church, I noticed that a wizard had appeared and been carved! He looked rather rustic, but beautiful and reminded me of the tree King from Doctor Who, The Doctor, the witch and the Wardrobe. There was no change to the dragon.
8th March 2015
The wizard had gained more details- his previously looking canoe-paddle now resembled a curved Staff, his hands hewed and his hat pointed. What we had feared was part of the dragon branch broken off was suddenly revealed to look like a small monkey perching on a bowed branch.
12th May 2015
Suddenly, the wizard was in technicolour alla Dorothy in Oz! This surprised me somewhat! The dragon was half painted.
The dragon was fully painted, what I suspected was a moneky was a small baby dragon, the dragon's tail appeared to be buried lochness monster style and woodchips appeared around the dragon. The wizard gained two small dragonettes peeping out of his cloak.
I don't know what is next for the Wizard and whether there will be a grand-unveiling up but I will try to update this as and when there is progress!
I've loved being witness to this growing art project and it only increases my love for my local park and those that take care of it. You can see the volunteer office behind, open in the large picture.
Does your local town have any projects like this?
xx
In my local park, an art project has been bloomin over the year and half since those October high winds that felled several tress in my local park almost two years ago.
A project has been brewing over the intervening months. It was decided to turn the tree stumps or remains into wood sculptures of a Wizard and Dragon. The park held a competition for children to tell a story about how they came to be there.
As I walk through the park towards the station every day, I have been witness to the evolution of the wood to statues. As they near completition, I thought I'd put together all my photos to see how they have changed.
6th September 2014
Walking in the park with CBC and N, I noticed that the tree which had been damaged by the storm had been separated into two pieces- a trunk (behind) and the fallen branch which someone had begun to carve into a dragon/dinosaur shape. I didn't know about the project at this stage.
8th February 2015
Not much happened from September to now as the weather was so changeable. The Dragon and the tree trunk were covered over with tarpaulins. On this sunny Sunday morning after church, I noticed that a wizard had appeared and been carved! He looked rather rustic, but beautiful and reminded me of the tree King from Doctor Who, The Doctor, the witch and the Wardrobe. There was no change to the dragon.
8th March 2015
The wizard had gained more details- his previously looking canoe-paddle now resembled a curved Staff, his hands hewed and his hat pointed. What we had feared was part of the dragon branch broken off was suddenly revealed to look like a small monkey perching on a bowed branch.
12th May 2015
Suddenly, the wizard was in technicolour alla Dorothy in Oz! This surprised me somewhat! The dragon was half painted.
The dragon was fully painted, what I suspected was a moneky was a small baby dragon, the dragon's tail appeared to be buried lochness monster style and woodchips appeared around the dragon. The wizard gained two small dragonettes peeping out of his cloak.
I don't know what is next for the Wizard and whether there will be a grand-unveiling up but I will try to update this as and when there is progress!
I've loved being witness to this growing art project and it only increases my love for my local park and those that take care of it. You can see the volunteer office behind, open in the large picture.
Does your local town have any projects like this?
xx
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
BEDM 26: National TARDIS day!
Yesterday, I alluded to trying something also new and outside my comfort zone today.
Well today,I am delighted to say I am going to be co-hosting TARDIS Tuesday with Maricel over at My closet catalogue. Apparently, my constant pedantry about managing to find Doctor Who links in every outfit through subtle references made her think this would be a good idea! I am honoured, really honoured but got a little scared about trying something new like that- What if I put people off, or posted the link wrong or ....???
Anyway, I told myself yesterday to stop being silly and worried about messing up and just embrace the opportunity!
Today, there is no subtle character Cosplay, today my outfit is full brazen TARDIS or British blue!
The outfit comes from last week, Wednesday I think and contains obviously TARDIS blue rather than any particular Cosplay. The colour requirement is met in the form of this trusty F&F blue skirt, charity-shopped blue scarf and Irregular choice floral shoes, all of which have featured on TT before, except for the scarf which said Hi for Style Imitating art.
The newest item on here is the black and white gingham top which is from Sainsbury's which I bought last year- not sure it's been seen here before or worn with these garments.
So today, I choose, TARDIS blue!
xxx
So, please, if you are wearing anything blue, remotely quirkily rainbowy, galaxy skirt, fez, cricket jumper or you feel like dressing up as an alien, come and link up for the first time!!! Please don't make me feel sad on my first day co-hosting! Borrow the logo below and join in the whimsical fun. You don't even have to like Doctor Who, play along for the sheer joie de vivre!
Linking to TARDIS Tuesday with Maricel at My Closet Catalogue,my illustrious leader!
Monday, May 25, 2015
BEDM 25: Trying something new: Beauty blogging: organic products
Tomorrow's brief for BEDM is stepping outside your comfort zone. In fact, I will be doing something for that tomorrow, sort of, as well but since today is about National Barbecue Day and I haven't had a barbecue (vegetable and egg vermicelli FYI), I figured I would promote tomorrow's brief today instead.
Beauty blogging. I have read a fair few beauty reviews of products on some of my favourite bloggers' domains but I confess, hoping I am not offending anyone I like, it's not really my thing. I read and comment out of liking and affection for the particular blogger, but it's not something that grabs me or I would ever consider myself any sort of expert at or have any zest for. I am also not a products driven person either. Sure, I love my Yves St Laurent Touche eclat, Urban decay glitter shadows and I love my CK be perfume and numerous other items but I don't have a yearning to try new things that often.
Therefore, I figured reviewing some beauty products might possibly be a brave choice for me to take me outside my comfort zone. I'm really not sure what to talk about but I will give it a try.
What DOES particularly interest me about beauty products is the use of natural ingredients, organic ingredients and those that are lacking elements such as Sodium Laureth sulfates and avoiding certain products which have dodgy connotations. I have tried brands like Green People, Weleda,Jason organics, Neal's Yard remedies and Dr Hauschka amongst others.
I came across a brand called 'Herbfarmacy' when I was on holiday in Hay-on-Wye a few years ago. Dr Paul Richard 's ran small shop and beauty treatment room selling products using herbs grown around Hay. We bought some at the time,loving the premise of this brand and CBC bought me some further products for Christmas. This Christmas, I asked if he could buy me a few more of the products as I liked them so much.
Here is the description of Herbfarmacy in their own words:
1. Citrus Handcream
This was sent as a sample along with our order and CBC, who is a confirmed snob when it comes to products, is a firm fan. He has conserved this sample well and says just a small amount is soothing and works well on his rough hands. It is very rich BUT does not leave you with a greasy feeling on your hands which for me, is an ABSOLUTE must when it comes to handcream. I physically cannot sleep if I can feel a hand-cream product on my hands or it has a pungent, non-natural smell. One well known brand of Citrus handcream really did keep me awake with its artificial smell whereas this product has a delicious, delicate smell. CBC feels similarly. You can purchase it from here for £12.95. The key notes are: Sweet Orange, bergamot, mandarin, sweet grapefruit and it uses 81% organic ingredients. It is also good for Vegans. CBC has said he will definitely buy a larger version of this as he's enjoyed it alot.
2. Rose and echinacea toner
I have had this bottle for absolutely ages ever since CBC bought me the first gift set of Herbfarmacy products. It lasts a very long time so even if you think the price is a little too high, it really does have longevity and doesn't lose its smell. This product comes usefully in a pump-action bottle so you can spray it onto your face and blot with a tissue. It has a wonderful rose smell. Considering I don't like the smell of roses themselves, I cannot get enough of rose in the form of rose-tea or facial products. It is the perfect product morning or evening after cleansing and I feel the smell soothes me especially as I go to bed and cools my skin pleasingly. It contains 98% organic ingredients.
You can purchase it here for £17.50 or a small bottle for £5.00, It also comes in the gift and travel packs, both of which I have had.
3. Wash off cleansing mousse
To use this product, you apply and massage in a thin layer to the skin and then use a warm, damp muslin cloth to remove it. I like the subtle smell of this. I am still not the hugest fan of using cream-cleansers as opposed to gels or soap (psychological I think), so I don't use this every day, but this does stop my skin from drying out which it usually does when I use soap (ayuvedic handmade soaps) on other days. It removes make-up well and it does feel like you have actually cleansed your face which I am not always convinced about cream-cleansers. use a can be bought here for £15.50 for 95ml or also still in a small jar 20g for £4.00. It contains Chamomile, Marshmallow and oils like Rose Geranium and Ylang Ylang which I know my skin appreciates. I remember a lady asking in the shop if the shopkeeper knew how to make edible marshmallows from marshmallow plant when I first bought this. This product received acclaim in the 2014 NaturalBeauty Magazine awards which I am not surprised about. 80% of the ingredients are organic.
4. Starweed Face Cream
CBC has been using this cream so I thought I'd offer you a male perspective on beauty products. I have a different fragrance which I haven't opened yet and it is a while since I finished my last jar of Herbfarmacy face-cream. I have been using up all my other sample bottles and travel-sized bottles that I have been accumulating over the years. CBC assures me it is not at all greasy to apply and it feels natural, not like you have applied cream (which he detests). It has a very subtle fragrance (I've smelt it and it is very gently herby in a way that males would like but also myself), it is hardly noticeable once applied, which he thinks is a good thing. Once you've applied it, you don't feel it on your skin all day, it is well absorbed but does feel moisturised. At the end of the day, if you wash it off, you still notice it on your skin though. This product good for combination (me!) and sensitive skin and can be bought for £15.65 here. It is nourishing but gentle, not too thick and I think I might give this a go next time as I can't stand thick feeling creams and this feels like it will fit the bill. If you have a man you'd like to buy something different for, I recommend this!
So is there anything I don't like about the products? Not really! If I had to say something, my own personal, (very small) objection to the face-creams, is not the product themselves,they are wonderful, but that the packaging has changed. When we bought our first set of Herbfarmacy face moisturising creams, they came in Glass jars that you dipped your fingers into and could easily rescue every last morsel of this delicious product (and I like recycling glass) but now in the pump bottle, I am not sure you can get every last drop and I don't want to waste any of this wonderful cream. I presume the change is for hygiene and preserving reasons.
Fundamentally, what I like about the products is that it started off locally, in Hay, which is a town that really is proud of the area and individual, local products. I bought them from the founder and creator's own shop. They have received acclaim through national beauty awards. Obviously, they are slightly more expensive than high-street generic products but I do think it is important to know pretty much what every ingredient is going onto your skin, not a long stream of miscellaneous, mysterious sounding laboratory creations that you do not know the long-term effects of, which is the case with most of what I come across. And of course, knowing exactly WHERE the products came from too. This is not some anonymous firm. I sincerely think they are worth the cost.
There are many more products available. You can also try samples of the products when you order something else. We received about 5 mini-samples with our order of 2 full-sized moisturisers before Christmas and we'd only ordered 2 to try!
Beauty blogging. I have read a fair few beauty reviews of products on some of my favourite bloggers' domains but I confess, hoping I am not offending anyone I like, it's not really my thing. I read and comment out of liking and affection for the particular blogger, but it's not something that grabs me or I would ever consider myself any sort of expert at or have any zest for. I am also not a products driven person either. Sure, I love my Yves St Laurent Touche eclat, Urban decay glitter shadows and I love my CK be perfume and numerous other items but I don't have a yearning to try new things that often.
Therefore, I figured reviewing some beauty products might possibly be a brave choice for me to take me outside my comfort zone. I'm really not sure what to talk about but I will give it a try.
What DOES particularly interest me about beauty products is the use of natural ingredients, organic ingredients and those that are lacking elements such as Sodium Laureth sulfates and avoiding certain products which have dodgy connotations. I have tried brands like Green People, Weleda,Jason organics, Neal's Yard remedies and Dr Hauschka amongst others.
I came across a brand called 'Herbfarmacy' when I was on holiday in Hay-on-Wye a few years ago. Dr Paul Richard 's ran small shop and beauty treatment room selling products using herbs grown around Hay. We bought some at the time,loving the premise of this brand and CBC bought me some further products for Christmas. This Christmas, I asked if he could buy me a few more of the products as I liked them so much.
Here is the description of Herbfarmacy in their own words:
Herbfarmacy is the home of organic British skin care. Dr Paul Richards, a member of the Soil Association, has been growing organic herbs on our farm in Herefordshire for 30 years. Using Paul’s expertise we steep the herbs for many weeks to produce oils rich with their benefits. Our skin care products are ideal for people with sensitive skin and, of course, have only been tested on us! We are a dedicated team of local people, passionate about the benefits of organic herbs and proud of the products we produce.
1. Citrus Handcream
This was sent as a sample along with our order and CBC, who is a confirmed snob when it comes to products, is a firm fan. He has conserved this sample well and says just a small amount is soothing and works well on his rough hands. It is very rich BUT does not leave you with a greasy feeling on your hands which for me, is an ABSOLUTE must when it comes to handcream. I physically cannot sleep if I can feel a hand-cream product on my hands or it has a pungent, non-natural smell. One well known brand of Citrus handcream really did keep me awake with its artificial smell whereas this product has a delicious, delicate smell. CBC feels similarly. You can purchase it from here for £12.95. The key notes are: Sweet Orange, bergamot, mandarin, sweet grapefruit and it uses 81% organic ingredients. It is also good for Vegans. CBC has said he will definitely buy a larger version of this as he's enjoyed it alot.
2. Rose and echinacea toner
I have had this bottle for absolutely ages ever since CBC bought me the first gift set of Herbfarmacy products. It lasts a very long time so even if you think the price is a little too high, it really does have longevity and doesn't lose its smell. This product comes usefully in a pump-action bottle so you can spray it onto your face and blot with a tissue. It has a wonderful rose smell. Considering I don't like the smell of roses themselves, I cannot get enough of rose in the form of rose-tea or facial products. It is the perfect product morning or evening after cleansing and I feel the smell soothes me especially as I go to bed and cools my skin pleasingly. It contains 98% organic ingredients.
You can purchase it here for £17.50 or a small bottle for £5.00, It also comes in the gift and travel packs, both of which I have had.
3. Wash off cleansing mousse
To use this product, you apply and massage in a thin layer to the skin and then use a warm, damp muslin cloth to remove it. I like the subtle smell of this. I am still not the hugest fan of using cream-cleansers as opposed to gels or soap (psychological I think), so I don't use this every day, but this does stop my skin from drying out which it usually does when I use soap (ayuvedic handmade soaps) on other days. It removes make-up well and it does feel like you have actually cleansed your face which I am not always convinced about cream-cleansers. use a can be bought here for £15.50 for 95ml or also still in a small jar 20g for £4.00. It contains Chamomile, Marshmallow and oils like Rose Geranium and Ylang Ylang which I know my skin appreciates. I remember a lady asking in the shop if the shopkeeper knew how to make edible marshmallows from marshmallow plant when I first bought this. This product received acclaim in the 2014 NaturalBeauty Magazine awards which I am not surprised about. 80% of the ingredients are organic.
4. Starweed Face Cream
CBC has been using this cream so I thought I'd offer you a male perspective on beauty products. I have a different fragrance which I haven't opened yet and it is a while since I finished my last jar of Herbfarmacy face-cream. I have been using up all my other sample bottles and travel-sized bottles that I have been accumulating over the years. CBC assures me it is not at all greasy to apply and it feels natural, not like you have applied cream (which he detests). It has a very subtle fragrance (I've smelt it and it is very gently herby in a way that males would like but also myself), it is hardly noticeable once applied, which he thinks is a good thing. Once you've applied it, you don't feel it on your skin all day, it is well absorbed but does feel moisturised. At the end of the day, if you wash it off, you still notice it on your skin though. This product good for combination (me!) and sensitive skin and can be bought for £15.65 here. It is nourishing but gentle, not too thick and I think I might give this a go next time as I can't stand thick feeling creams and this feels like it will fit the bill. If you have a man you'd like to buy something different for, I recommend this!
So is there anything I don't like about the products? Not really! If I had to say something, my own personal, (very small) objection to the face-creams, is not the product themselves,they are wonderful, but that the packaging has changed. When we bought our first set of Herbfarmacy face moisturising creams, they came in Glass jars that you dipped your fingers into and could easily rescue every last morsel of this delicious product (and I like recycling glass) but now in the pump bottle, I am not sure you can get every last drop and I don't want to waste any of this wonderful cream. I presume the change is for hygiene and preserving reasons.
Fundamentally, what I like about the products is that it started off locally, in Hay, which is a town that really is proud of the area and individual, local products. I bought them from the founder and creator's own shop. They have received acclaim through national beauty awards. Obviously, they are slightly more expensive than high-street generic products but I do think it is important to know pretty much what every ingredient is going onto your skin, not a long stream of miscellaneous, mysterious sounding laboratory creations that you do not know the long-term effects of, which is the case with most of what I come across. And of course, knowing exactly WHERE the products came from too. This is not some anonymous firm. I sincerely think they are worth the cost.
There are many more products available. You can also try samples of the products when you order something else. We received about 5 mini-samples with our order of 2 full-sized moisturisers before Christmas and we'd only ordered 2 to try!
Would you try any of these products? What's your opinion on natural beauty? Is it worth the price? And how did I do as a beauty blogger?
xxx
This is one of my final week of 'Blog every day in May' posts!
Sunday, May 24, 2015
BEDM 25: Wanderlust: My ABC of travel
Gemma At Lipsticks and Lashes did this a while ago and I copied and pasted it into a draft for future reference. Now with 35 minutes till midnight, I will try to complete it before the deadline for continuing to meet my Blog every day in May requirments.
So I thought I would have a go at this one myself, here is my A-Z of travel...
A // Age you went on your first international trip?
I was 8, going on 9 and we went to Lanzarote in February with my dad and stepmum.It was an idyllic holiday mostly made up of swimming!
B // Best foreign beer you’ve had and where?
I detest beer BUT I remember trying Kaiser's beer in Austria and not totally wanting to vomit when I drank it. Also tried a sip of a strawberry beer at the Flask pub in Highgate Hill which wasn't quite as rancid as most beer.
C // Cuisine. Favourite?
Probably Thai, as I love all the flavours and spices. But, I have to say Indonesia for the amazing tempeh and tofu!
D // Destinations. Favourite and least favourite? Why?
Favourite: was definitely Switzerland. Also had a very happy holiday in Herm, the channel islands. That place is beautiful! I also adored Lindesfarne.
Least favourite: Jakarta, I was SO scared of being on my own in Java and being in scary horrid accommodation and not knowing how on earth I was going to get to Bali alive, all I saw was scary motorways!
E // Event you’ve experienced abroad that made you say “WOW!”?
On our honeymoon, we went Lucerne, Switzerland on THE most opportune day, totally by accident. It was the day before the 75th anniversary of the Lucerne festival and all tickets were free on the day if you queued up for them. We saw this amazing percussionist called Martin Graubinger. who if you watched Eurovision last night, you would have seen him playing with his amazing ensemble, Percussion Planet in the break between acts and results. We were wowed totally by him and could not believe our good fortune in being there on THAT day of all!
Also, I performed in the opening ceremony of the Bali International Arts festival for the President of Indonesia and it was just amazing, the amazing spectacle that our arts college produced over a month- we were rehearsing every morning at 6am in the morning to avoid the bright sun! Seeing it all come together in costumes and all the amazing 'gimmicks' of the stage craft was super!
F // Favourite mode of transportation?
Train- we did most of our honeymoon with our Swiss rail passes which was fantastic. I feel safe on trains, you can move around and they are fast!
G // Greatest feeling while travelling?
The feeling of freedom and adventure and the feeling of "I am so lucky to be experiencing this beautiful place.
H // Hottest place you’ve ever travelled to?
Definitely Bali. It was SO humid during the rainy season and I fantasized about winter.
I // Incredible service you’ve experienced and where?
I think everyone in Croatia was brilliant who served us. SO polite, well-meaning and not at all obsequious just lovely.
Also, we stayed at this amazing place in Spiez, Switzerland near Interlaken that we found on Air BnB. It was idyllic- we had a beautiful huge vintage-decorated room, they had an amazing cat called Mimi and there were about 20 pet rabbits. The food was amazing, our host Anne was amazing and she was SO kind.
J // Journey that took the longest?
I think it would either be my travel TO Bali or back from there either time. I suspect it was returning the first time as I had to wait 5 hours in Singapore! It felt longer on the way out via Dubai though.
Oh no, wait, wait!!!!! It was going on my first international tour with my orchestra. We drove to Lake Garda in Italy by coach. That took well over a day!!!
K // Keepsake from your travels?
Probably the only ones I've kept over the years are from Bali. I bought a bronze-keyed, wooden carved frame Pemade (a form of bronze metallophone) from Bali- it is amazing to look at. That and about 40 bamboo flutes! Oh and my orange foam fish from the Bali Arts festival that I ripped off the float I rode home on!
L // Let-down sight. Where and why?
Notre Dame. It was dark, I was very cold and sleepy. It WAS beautiful but I wasn't in the mood for it! It WAS comforting to have a little warm snooze during mass though. Sacre Coeur was a different matter!!! Amazing!!!
Also wasn't THAT fussed by Ubud in Bali which everyone raves about. Why?
M // Moment where you fell in love with travelling?
I don't know really. Any time I ever went to Wales, I felt like I wanted to keep travelling.
Also, any time I go on a foreign train always really excites me!
N // Nicest hotel you’ve ever stayed in?
Well, we stayed in an amazing B&B in the Exmoor National Park in a place called Wheddon Cross. It's called 'Cutthorne' and we found it in Organic places to stay. We're actually going back there in 2 days!
Oh and Huis Kunig in Bruges. What a fantastic B&B
The breakfast was amazing!
Also absolutely adore Racquety Lodge in Hay on Wye!Amazing food, amazing host, Ro,s and oh HOW I love Hay!
O // Obsession. What are you obsessed with taking photos of while travelling?
Flowers. Always flowers and shrubs of all sorts.
P // Passport stamps. How many and from where?
I only have those from Indonesia, that's the only place outside Europe I've been.
Q // Quirkiest attraction you’ve visited and where?
Well, when we stayed in Zeneggen, Switzerland, we stayed in an old converted Swiss pub. It was a room and still had the bar, beer taps,till and all the paraphenalia!
Also visited these hilarious springs in North Bali, Lovina. They were like Roman baths with green water and everything! Felt decidedly odd wafting around in warm, green water!
Finally, the Jean Tinguelly museum in Basel is SO quirky it is untrue!!!
R // Really frightening. One place you’ve visited where you felt unsafe or uneasy?
Definitely Jakarta. Smelly, big, no idea where I was going! Oh and changing buses in Surabaya in Java too!
NO, it was travelling with the nightbus from Jakarta to Bali. Insane coach driver who overtook everything ALL night. The journey should take 24 hours but it took 18 with this crazy driving. I made friends with these lovely Sumatran students and we were all terrified for our lives!
S // Splurge. Something you have no problem spending money on while travelling?
Bottles of water!
T // Touristy thing you’ve done?
Went to Borobodur in Java- an amazing 9th century Buddhist temple in Jogakarta in Java. Rather a touristy thing to do but we loved it!
In Iceland, we went to the Blue Lagoon in subzero temperatures. It was so cold but you have to do it!
U // Unforgettable travel memory?
Getting accidently locked in the Basel Paper museum on the penultimate day of our honeymoon! It is a vast, amazing building and SO fascinating. We were on the top floor and were messing around with these letter cubes and suddenly, some worker there realised we weren't curators and told us the museum had in fact shut an hour ago and the gates were now locked and we'd have to climb over them! Ooops!
Oh and eating meringues at the Reichenbad falls in Meiringen, Switzerland, fighting over them like Holmes and Moriarty.
Oh and riding the Petit Train Jaune in the Pyrenees was pretty cool!
V // Visas. How many and for where?
I just have had visas for Indonesia. The one I got first time was a Diplomatic Visa- very cool!
W // Wine. Best glass while travelling?
This question is wasted on me! I’m not really a wine drinker AT all
X // excellent view and where from?
The views of the Skrandinsky Buk waterfalls in Croatia last year were just amazing! I was overwhelmed with their beauty!
Also, we climbed Mount Batur in Bali for sunrise- it was memorable because the views were beautiful but it was a jolly hard slog getting up there!
Y // Years spent travelling?
Well, I've been travelling on holiday all my life if you count going to Dorset as a toddler, so aboout 33!
Z // Zealous sports fans and where?
Meh, not really into sports at all. BUT, I love canoeing on the Wye river in Herefordshire. Wasn't SO enamoured by Sea-kayaking in Croatia as I found it exhausting but still fun! Did also love potholing in Cheddar Gorge a few years ago AND when in the Brecon Beacons with my Youth Orchestra. The ONE activity I smiled throughout!
Phew!!!!! 3 minutes to spare before the midnight!
So I thought I would have a go at this one myself, here is my A-Z of travel...
A // Age you went on your first international trip?
I was 8, going on 9 and we went to Lanzarote in February with my dad and stepmum.It was an idyllic holiday mostly made up of swimming!
B // Best foreign beer you’ve had and where?
I detest beer BUT I remember trying Kaiser's beer in Austria and not totally wanting to vomit when I drank it. Also tried a sip of a strawberry beer at the Flask pub in Highgate Hill which wasn't quite as rancid as most beer.
C // Cuisine. Favourite?
Probably Thai, as I love all the flavours and spices. But, I have to say Indonesia for the amazing tempeh and tofu!
D // Destinations. Favourite and least favourite? Why?
Favourite: was definitely Switzerland. Also had a very happy holiday in Herm, the channel islands. That place is beautiful! I also adored Lindesfarne.
Least favourite: Jakarta, I was SO scared of being on my own in Java and being in scary horrid accommodation and not knowing how on earth I was going to get to Bali alive, all I saw was scary motorways!
E // Event you’ve experienced abroad that made you say “WOW!”?
On our honeymoon, we went Lucerne, Switzerland on THE most opportune day, totally by accident. It was the day before the 75th anniversary of the Lucerne festival and all tickets were free on the day if you queued up for them. We saw this amazing percussionist called Martin Graubinger. who if you watched Eurovision last night, you would have seen him playing with his amazing ensemble, Percussion Planet in the break between acts and results. We were wowed totally by him and could not believe our good fortune in being there on THAT day of all!
Also, I performed in the opening ceremony of the Bali International Arts festival for the President of Indonesia and it was just amazing, the amazing spectacle that our arts college produced over a month- we were rehearsing every morning at 6am in the morning to avoid the bright sun! Seeing it all come together in costumes and all the amazing 'gimmicks' of the stage craft was super!
F // Favourite mode of transportation?
Train- we did most of our honeymoon with our Swiss rail passes which was fantastic. I feel safe on trains, you can move around and they are fast!
G // Greatest feeling while travelling?
The feeling of freedom and adventure and the feeling of "I am so lucky to be experiencing this beautiful place.
H // Hottest place you’ve ever travelled to?
Definitely Bali. It was SO humid during the rainy season and I fantasized about winter.
I // Incredible service you’ve experienced and where?
I think everyone in Croatia was brilliant who served us. SO polite, well-meaning and not at all obsequious just lovely.
Also, we stayed at this amazing place in Spiez, Switzerland near Interlaken that we found on Air BnB. It was idyllic- we had a beautiful huge vintage-decorated room, they had an amazing cat called Mimi and there were about 20 pet rabbits. The food was amazing, our host Anne was amazing and she was SO kind.
J // Journey that took the longest?
I think it would either be my travel TO Bali or back from there either time. I suspect it was returning the first time as I had to wait 5 hours in Singapore! It felt longer on the way out via Dubai though.
Oh no, wait, wait!!!!! It was going on my first international tour with my orchestra. We drove to Lake Garda in Italy by coach. That took well over a day!!!
K // Keepsake from your travels?
Probably the only ones I've kept over the years are from Bali. I bought a bronze-keyed, wooden carved frame Pemade (a form of bronze metallophone) from Bali- it is amazing to look at. That and about 40 bamboo flutes! Oh and my orange foam fish from the Bali Arts festival that I ripped off the float I rode home on!
L // Let-down sight. Where and why?
Notre Dame. It was dark, I was very cold and sleepy. It WAS beautiful but I wasn't in the mood for it! It WAS comforting to have a little warm snooze during mass though. Sacre Coeur was a different matter!!! Amazing!!!
Also wasn't THAT fussed by Ubud in Bali which everyone raves about. Why?
M // Moment where you fell in love with travelling?
I don't know really. Any time I ever went to Wales, I felt like I wanted to keep travelling.
Also, any time I go on a foreign train always really excites me!
N // Nicest hotel you’ve ever stayed in?
Well, we stayed in an amazing B&B in the Exmoor National Park in a place called Wheddon Cross. It's called 'Cutthorne' and we found it in Organic places to stay. We're actually going back there in 2 days!
Oh and Huis Kunig in Bruges. What a fantastic B&B
The breakfast was amazing!
Also absolutely adore Racquety Lodge in Hay on Wye!Amazing food, amazing host, Ro,s and oh HOW I love Hay!
O // Obsession. What are you obsessed with taking photos of while travelling?
Flowers. Always flowers and shrubs of all sorts.
P // Passport stamps. How many and from where?
I only have those from Indonesia, that's the only place outside Europe I've been.
Q // Quirkiest attraction you’ve visited and where?
Well, when we stayed in Zeneggen, Switzerland, we stayed in an old converted Swiss pub. It was a room and still had the bar, beer taps,till and all the paraphenalia!
Also visited these hilarious springs in North Bali, Lovina. They were like Roman baths with green water and everything! Felt decidedly odd wafting around in warm, green water!
Finally, the Jean Tinguelly museum in Basel is SO quirky it is untrue!!!
R // Really frightening. One place you’ve visited where you felt unsafe or uneasy?
Definitely Jakarta. Smelly, big, no idea where I was going! Oh and changing buses in Surabaya in Java too!
NO, it was travelling with the nightbus from Jakarta to Bali. Insane coach driver who overtook everything ALL night. The journey should take 24 hours but it took 18 with this crazy driving. I made friends with these lovely Sumatran students and we were all terrified for our lives!
S // Splurge. Something you have no problem spending money on while travelling?
Bottles of water!
T // Touristy thing you’ve done?
Went to Borobodur in Java- an amazing 9th century Buddhist temple in Jogakarta in Java. Rather a touristy thing to do but we loved it!
In Iceland, we went to the Blue Lagoon in subzero temperatures. It was so cold but you have to do it!
U // Unforgettable travel memory?
Getting accidently locked in the Basel Paper museum on the penultimate day of our honeymoon! It is a vast, amazing building and SO fascinating. We were on the top floor and were messing around with these letter cubes and suddenly, some worker there realised we weren't curators and told us the museum had in fact shut an hour ago and the gates were now locked and we'd have to climb over them! Ooops!
Oh and eating meringues at the Reichenbad falls in Meiringen, Switzerland, fighting over them like Holmes and Moriarty.
Oh and riding the Petit Train Jaune in the Pyrenees was pretty cool!
V // Visas. How many and for where?
I just have had visas for Indonesia. The one I got first time was a Diplomatic Visa- very cool!
W // Wine. Best glass while travelling?
This question is wasted on me! I’m not really a wine drinker AT all
X // excellent view and where from?
The views of the Skrandinsky Buk waterfalls in Croatia last year were just amazing! I was overwhelmed with their beauty!
Also, we climbed Mount Batur in Bali for sunrise- it was memorable because the views were beautiful but it was a jolly hard slog getting up there!
Y // Years spent travelling?
Well, I've been travelling on holiday all my life if you count going to Dorset as a toddler, so aboout 33!
Z // Zealous sports fans and where?
Meh, not really into sports at all. BUT, I love canoeing on the Wye river in Herefordshire. Wasn't SO enamoured by Sea-kayaking in Croatia as I found it exhausting but still fun! Did also love potholing in Cheddar Gorge a few years ago AND when in the Brecon Beacons with my Youth Orchestra. The ONE activity I smiled throughout!
Phew!!!!! 3 minutes to spare before the midnight!
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Same old Bluebells?
That phrase, "Same old, Same old" implies to me that a certain contempt is implied regarding the object of the sentiment. Do you grow tired of the same old things or do you seek new joy, new opportunities, new angles, new insights, new appreciation of what you receive or do.
I'm sure I am guilty of that on many occasions and yet, I do feel, I do like to see the joy in something.
Someone said, when I said I wanted to go and see the bluebells in the woods again,"But why? Surely they are the same as last year?"
But no, no, no, that is not true. Every bluebell is unique. Every year is different.
You are in a different place in your life, you see things differently.
Spring is fresh each year. It never fails to delight after the cruelty and interminable nature of Winter.
Spring is a gift.
Do you see these photos as identical? Do you think I have shared too many different pictures, capture too much of the same?
Or like me, do you see that light hitting those hues in different ways, the alternative hanging of those tinkling bells. Do you appreciate their subtle nuances and individual glory?
Having seen other bluebells, do you grow contemptuous of yet another set of 'identical' photos from a blogger here, a blogger there? Or do you revel in seeing that beauty represented in different times, places and through different perspectives?
Having selected only a few from a myriad images, I wanted to represent the gift of as many of these proud blooms, their fleeting beauty shared and immortalised here. This is their time, let us delight.
They stretch, thousand upon thousand in random groups, never uniform yet achieving an overall community.
Along the margins of a treeline.
Seeing this beauty through the first time eyes of my niece. Teach them the continuous appreciation of something young. Never allow those words of contempt for the 'same old, same old' to form.
Appreciate, rejoice, grow nostalgic and anticipate these annual occurrences.
Engender a love and appreciation for seeing the uniqueness of each form.
For appreciation of this type helps appreciation of the individuality of others.
Happy memories are associated with this place, this time. Past bluebells memories intertwine with present, building a joyous tapestry of memories of blue bells, past, present and future.
Say those words with alacrity: "Same old! Welcome same old friends!"
"Come and enlighten and enrapture my life!"
And perhaps you will see something new in those experiences each time. Surely, this is the most important facet of healthy living, a healthy heart and mind and soul.
And a joy of these familiar practices we continue each year.
"See you next year, Same Old friends!"
xxx
BEDM for today was 'Healthy living'. I firmly believe appreciation anew is a crucial facet of healthy living.
I'm sure I am guilty of that on many occasions and yet, I do feel, I do like to see the joy in something.
Someone said, when I said I wanted to go and see the bluebells in the woods again,"But why? Surely they are the same as last year?"
But no, no, no, that is not true. Every bluebell is unique. Every year is different.
You are in a different place in your life, you see things differently.
Spring is fresh each year. It never fails to delight after the cruelty and interminable nature of Winter.
Spring is a gift.
Do you see these photos as identical? Do you think I have shared too many different pictures, capture too much of the same?
Or like me, do you see that light hitting those hues in different ways, the alternative hanging of those tinkling bells. Do you appreciate their subtle nuances and individual glory?
Having seen other bluebells, do you grow contemptuous of yet another set of 'identical' photos from a blogger here, a blogger there? Or do you revel in seeing that beauty represented in different times, places and through different perspectives?
Having selected only a few from a myriad images, I wanted to represent the gift of as many of these proud blooms, their fleeting beauty shared and immortalised here. This is their time, let us delight.
They stretch, thousand upon thousand in random groups, never uniform yet achieving an overall community.
Along the margins of a treeline.
Seeing this beauty through the first time eyes of my niece. Teach them the continuous appreciation of something young. Never allow those words of contempt for the 'same old, same old' to form.
Appreciate, rejoice, grow nostalgic and anticipate these annual occurrences.
Engender a love and appreciation for seeing the uniqueness of each form.
For appreciation of this type helps appreciation of the individuality of others.
Happy memories are associated with this place, this time. Past bluebells memories intertwine with present, building a joyous tapestry of memories of blue bells, past, present and future.
Say those words with alacrity: "Same old! Welcome same old friends!"
"Come and enlighten and enrapture my life!"
And perhaps you will see something new in those experiences each time. Surely, this is the most important facet of healthy living, a healthy heart and mind and soul.
And a joy of these familiar practices we continue each year.
"See you next year, Same Old friends!"
xxx
BEDM for today was 'Healthy living'. I firmly believe appreciation anew is a crucial facet of healthy living.
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Could be a distant relative of mine.
Take care and be happy.
Hugs,
JB
Laura
Lojo Vs The World
DenisesPlanet.com
Zxx