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Showing posts from 2018

2019: Happier, Healthier and Guilt Free

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2019 The year to make a difference. Promises to myself: I am on a make-up ban: I will only buy what I need to replace. Other than that, I will use what I already have. Same goes with clothes actually. Make-up and clothes. Let's do that. Although I do get many of my clothes now from vintage stores and charity shops. I will not buy single use plastic bags: there are so many re-useable ones in my home/car that I need to remember to take them shopping!I actually hate myself a little tiny bit every time I have to pay for one. I will eat less meat: I am unlikely to go full veggie but I will cut my carbon footprint and reduce the amount of meat consumed. I actually like most veggie meals, but I found that I just ended up eating more cheese. And then getting chubby from all of the cheese. Mmm cheese. I will save money: I want to buy a house and to buy a house, I need money. Lots of money. I will live more ethically and sustainably: Buy less, waste less. Choosing to re-

2019 - Photo Challenges

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Some 2019 fun! I'll aim to post a new challenge for each month! Don't forget to tag me and use the hashtag #stcyphotochallenge so that I can go like your creativity! You can follow me on Instagram using the buttons at the side or searching @stcy  January

Sustainable Swaps

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Image Credit:  allfreesewing.com About six months ago I decided to start making some changes to the way I think about shopping. I started to do some research and was surprised at how naive I had been to the ways my shopping habits harm the world that we live in. I've always been somewhat conscious of certain things that are bad for the planet, with the likes of straws and other plastic disposables being called out I decided to look at other things I used that could be swapped or cut altogether. I have made a list of 10 simple swaps below. All tried and tested and I'm 100% behind them. 1.  Cotton pads/balls --->   Handmade reusable make up pads I've been using these for months now and alongside a microfibre facecloth, they work perfectly. I stopped using cotton makeup pads altogether. 2.  Plastic water bottles ---> Glass water bottle I chose glass because it seems to keep my water cooler. There are so many options available. 3.  Cling film ---> Beeswax

The Battle Against Plastic - Zero Waste Shop

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Happy Sunday! Today, I wanted to share my experience of my first ever zero waste shop. Firstly, I'm going to retract from calling it completely zero waste because although I saved a few items from being bought in plastic wrapping, others I could not avoid and I wasn't sure of the alternative. I had to shop at three places: the pop-up, the butchers and the supermarket. Time wise, I know it took longer than the average supermarket shop and cost-wise, I spent more than my average supermarket shop. So, a while ago I saw an ad for a Freecycle event near where I live and noticed that there was a zero waste pop-up. I've seen a lot about shopping zero waste and decided I'd like to try it out. I can't say I planned too much because I knew a limited amount about what was being sold. I gathered a few containers on the morning of the event and went to the local church hall to see what it was all about.. First impressions...it was a LOT smaller than I expected and (a goo

My Minimalist Journey: The Beginning

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2018 has seen a global recognition of the damage us humans are causing our planet.  It's something that I have never really thought about in great detail before. I have always been so wrapped up in the day to day, that I never saw the bigger picture. Like the millions of other people that are now looking, I want to make a change. This isn't a self righteous preachy post, this is a personal change for me and I respect the choices that other make wholly. I've reached an age now where I kind of know what I want from life, albeit a little later than I'd have wanted! Two primary goals I have established are: 1)  To save money: I went to uni, got a good degree (and the debt to go with it) and even now, a year after graduation, I need more. I need a better pay check, I need a better standard of accommodation, I need a more fulfilling life. Living pay check to pay check is not fun. I know I'm not the only one. My primary 2019 goal is to save money to

Wanderlust Series #7 City Break - Barcelona

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The next in line to the Wanderlust Series, a blog thread in which I detail and advise on places I have visited, is the amazing city of Barcelona. It's been on my 'to do' list for ages now and since 2018 was the year in which I turned 30, I decided it was the perfect place to celebrate. And I was right. Travel Flights from the UK can be really inexpensive if you choose the right time of year to visit. We visited in early June and booked in advance so paid under £100pp for return fares. Barcelona was super chill and by far the easiest place to get about. Easier than the London underground for sure. We purchased Hola Barcelona travel cards for €22pp before we arrived and it covers a full 72 hours worth of travel. With the exception of a taxi because we got drunk and missed of the trains back to our apartment...yolo. This card covered our travel to and from the airport by train, which is a huge bonus when you think about other cities! Food & Dr