Archive for the ‘Eco Living’ Category

Prepare for the great Xmas guest rush!

Friday, October 28th, 2011

Is it just me, or does the whole year feel like it’s geared towards Christmas? We seem to spend the first few months of the year paying off the Christmas credit card debt and beating ourselves up for overspending, yet again! Then it’s time to get ‘bikini-fit’ and work off the extra Christmas girth we accumulated thanks to our total inability to resist temptation. Then, before you know it, and earlier every year, the shops are filled with Christmas carols, Christmas cards and twinkly decorations all in time to start the whole process over again!

It also seems a time of year when everyone aims to get their homes ‘Christmas perfect’ for the many parties and guests we will be accommodating. Whether it’s re-painting the living room, ordering new furniture or a new TV, or just having a general Christmas tidy-up, we all like to feel our homes are ready for the family and friends descending on us.

In fact, the Christmas rush starts at home! So here a few home ideas to make it all a bit easier.

If you are tight for space, or have been a little over generous with the guest invites, then our wonderfully handy roll-up bed could be the perfect solution. The beds are ethically made in Kerala from organic cotton and stuffed with a hardwearing man-made fibre to ensure your guests have a blissful night’s sleep. Once used, the beds can be quickly rolled up and stowed away or even used again in the summertime for camping or holiday trips.

To match the roll up beds, and also from our ethical factory in India, we have beautifully soft sleeping bags to make sure your guests are kept toasty warm in the depths of winter.

For the extra-considerate host, why not supply a lovely carafe of water on the bedside table. Especially suitable for the guest who may have consumed a little too much alcohol over the course of the evening!! It’s made from recycled glass of course!

Prepare yourself for the endless onslaught of sheet changing and towel washing by stocking up on extra towels. Our wonderfully soft, organic cotton fair trade towels are bound to make your guests feel welcome and at home.

Finally, why not prepare your guest room or living room with a beautifully handmade English scented candle. My particular favourite is the True Grace Fig Candle which is a lovely warm and deep fragrance of Musk, Cedarwood & Mandarin. A perfect, warming winter fragrance.And by the way, even if you own home doesn’t need any of these lovely things, they do make great Christmas gifts for someone near and dear to you!

Posted in Biome Lifestyle, Eco Gifts, Eco Home, Eco Living | No Comments »

Camping, on Memory Lane

Friday, July 8th, 2011

Memory is a funny thing. Mine’s very selective, for example, and my clear vivid memories are all of great times. My friend has a highly developed food-related memory; ask him what he and his wife had for dinner on the seventh evening of their trip to South Africa, and he’ll tell you. My wife can remember colours. More than that, she can match them in her head with colours she sees around her. Amazing.

One of my own vivid, happy memories is of a camping holiday in Brittany. My dad was driving an old Triumph Herald convertible, and I remember that the sun shone every day, and we never had the hood up. Now does that seem likely? Not a hint of rain, for two weeks in Brittany? No, it really doesn’t. You can see why the Police term for an unreliable eyewitness is ……..“an eyewitness”!

Leaving memories to one side, the 2011 camping season is well underway. Now, it seems a pity that so much of the stuff you need on a camping trip is essentially not ethically or environmentally friendly. So if you want to commune with nature without destroying it, here are a few ideas for eco-friendly camping equipment.  And they do make great eco-gift ideas as well!

How about using the sun’s energy during the day, to heat up your evening shower? A solar shower is about the best idea around, and they really do work! I’ve used one on a yacht, and you see lots of them around the festival campsites, where hot showers are just not available.  It doesn’t even need to be a brilliantly sunny day to warm the water up. And there’s a bonus; until you’ve seen the joy of a bunch of children scampering around under a warm shower, in the garden or on the beach, you just haven’t lived!

Also, you’re going to need some plates and mugs when you go camping, or even just for a picnic when the warmer weather gets here. Plastic is best, to avoid breakages. Now the great thing about plastic is that it can be re-cycled, but the disappointing thing is, how seldom you see recycled plastic made into consumer articles. But you can find recycled plastic mugs and plates if you search hard enough!

Finally, you will need something comfy to sleep on… Forget about the lumpy camp mats, why not try one of our roll-up beds? I can vouch I had a great nights sleep last year at a festival on one and I am sure it was down to the mattress making me sleep, rather than the booze… (ahem).

So enjoy your camping this year, and stack up some wonderful memories.

Posted in Eco Living, Eco-tourism | No Comments »

Abel and Cole

Friday, June 24th, 2011

I have just completed my first online shop at www.abelandcole.com.

Abel and Cole is an award winning organic food delivery company. I have friend who rave about the service and the quality of the food so I will keep you posted… I certainly like their website so that’s a good start! It’s great to read about where products are sourced from and made, I could look through all their tasty items for hours!

They have an amazing range of fish, meat, cheeses, fruit and veg and some very tempting desserts too.. mmm. Plus they also have a lovely section on their website dedicated to recipes. I also love their ‘how to section’, such as how to make marmalade, how to cook the perfect steak… May seeme simple but it’s always great to know how to do things better!

I can’t resist trawling through recipes so here is my favourite pick from their list, which I will be sure to try on the BBQ this weekend! For more amazing recipe ideas go to: http://www.abelandcole.co.uk/recipes

I bet you can’t resist ordering once you are on their website though, so be warned! xx

Moroccan Lamb Burgers with Roasted Red Pepper

Lamb mince makes wonderful burgers. The mint and cumin add a nice, exotic touch. and the red peppers are a delicious alternative to tomato slices. Makes 4 large, or 6 smaller burgers.

  • 2 red peppers
  • 500g lamb mince
  • 20g fresh mint leaves, roughly chopped
  • 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 tsp cumin seeds, ground in a pestle and mortar
  • 2 tsp Abel & Cole’s red chilli jam
  • 1 clove of garlic, finely minced
  • A pinch of sea salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 800g Farmhouse loaf

Preheat the oven to 200°C. Place the whole peppers in the oven on a rack in the middle with a baking tray underneath them, to catch any juices that fall from the peppers. Roast for 20-30 minutes, rotating once or twice, until blackened a bit and fully softened. Once cooked, place in a sauce pan with a lid or a paper bag to sweat the peppers – this will allow you to pull the skin off easily. Peel the skin, discard the seeds and cut into 1cm thick ribbons. Set aside while you make the burgers.

Mix the mince with the mint, onion, cumin, red chilli jam, garlic, salt and pepper. Divide into 4 burger patties. Heat the oil in a large frying pan and fry the burgers for about 7 minutes each side, until cooked through. Pop in a 180°C oven to cook further, if needed. Or, place a lid (or use another pan as a lid) over the frying pan to help cook them through.

Slice the farmhouse loaf into 1-inch thick slices. Then cut, using a scone or cookie cutter – or the rim of a glass, into bun-like circles. Try to get 2 circles out of each slice of bread. (Use the leftover bread to make bread and butter pudding – or to make breadcrumbs for coating fish or chicken.) Toast lightly, if you like, and use to sandwich burgers, along with the red pepper ribbons and some fresh avocado slices, if you like. Serve warm.

Posted in Eco Living | 1 Comment »

Ethical Summer Wardrobe

Thursday, June 9th, 2011

How nice have the recent bouts of sunshine been?!

When the sun is shining, life always seems so much brighter!

For those of you have lovely summer holidays booked either abroad or in the UK (lucky you!) then I have picked a few of my favourite ethical summer buys!

My next holiday is sadly not until September, so these holiday buys will be sat in my suitcase for a good few weeks to come! Roll on holidays!


Posted in Eco Living, Eco-tourism, Ethical fashion | No Comments »

Feed the birds

Friday, May 20th, 2011

I just love our new bird feeders – they are so simple yet stylish and best of all, they keep birds and wildlife happy!

Available in two cool colours, grey and black.

Posted in Biome Lifestyle, Eco Home, Eco Living | No Comments »

Coming soon…

Friday, May 13th, 2011

We are in love with these beautiful cushions and mugs from designer Michelle Mason and can’t wait for them to come into stock very soon!

Michelle Mason designs contemporary interior and giftware products with all products being designed and made in the UK.

This new collection of cushions shows scenes from London life and features the iconic red Routemaster bus. Digitally printed onto soft but hardwearing cotton satin and backed with unbleached calico.

We will also be stocking these lovely travel mugs with a twist! These new fine bone china mugs, made in Stoke on Trent, follow in the footsteps of our popular bus destination cushions. Three colourways depict different London routemaster bus destinations and include: Angel Islington, Trafalgar Square, Brixton, Chelsea World’s End, Oval, Dulwich, St Pauls, Ladbroke Grove, Hoxton and many more.

Adorable! We can’t wait to proudly stock these products and many more from the lovely Michelle Mason range.

Posted in Biome Lifestyle, Eco Home, Eco Living | 1 Comment »

Freshen up for Spring!

Friday, April 8th, 2011

The sun is shining and it’s time for a good old Spring clean!

Here are some of my favourite Springtime tips to help freshen up your home below:

• Open the windows. After a winter of closed windows and almost constant central heating, open all the windows in your home to let the fresh air in!

• Bring sprigs of flowering plants indoors
I love a few daffodils in a jar to add some Springtime cheer to your home! Or even better purchase a few potted plants which will last much longer and add some fresh greenery to your home.

• Enjoy citrus. Lemons can be used in so many ways around the home, they provide a fantastic natural detergent. For example, rub lemon on your faucets to remove lime scale, hard water stains, and soap residue. Or for a mild, stain-free bleach, soak your delicates in a mixture of lemon juice and baking soda for at least half an hour before washing.

• Light an all-natural, soy or beeswax, lead-free candle in a springtime scent like bay leaf, tomato leaf, eucalyptus, citrus, meyer lemon, and more.

• Clean the sheets (and couch cushions and pillow covers and dog beds for that matter)! Opt for an all-natural lavender or eucalyptus scented detergent and then top it off with line-drying in the sun.

• Make your own chemical-free homemade air freshener: Follow this easy to recipe to freshen up your home:

* 1 oz gin, vodka, or rubbing alcohol

* 6 oz filtered water

* 20 – 40 drops of essential oil, a few suggested oils are: peppermint, jasmine, citrus oils

My preference is to use gin as your alcohol and jasmine as your essential oil, but you should experiment to find a mix that you like. Simply mix in a spray bottle and spray around for instant freshness. This mix will keep well for at least a month.

• Line the closets and drawers with sachets of fresh lavender. You’ll feel more relaxed, and all your linens will smell ready for spring.

 

Posted in Biome Lifestyle, Eco Home, Eco Living | No Comments »

Aromatherapy for the home

Friday, March 25th, 2011

I am always keen to avoid chemicals. In general, I buy organic food when I can, wear organic cotton and recently I have replaced practically all of my toiletries with chemical-free products from deodorant to toothpaste (and I am quite amazed that they really do work!).When it comes to cleaning the home, I love Method products as not only are they chemical-free, they really do work & smell great!

Here are a few of my favourite ways in which essential oils can be used around the home to help create a healthy and chemical-free environment to live in.  A small bottle of Essential Oil can last a very long time & amazingly certain oils have so many uses; from clearing stuffy noses to cleaning dirty work surfaces!

Scented tissues for stuffy noses
Place up to 10 drops of Eucalyptus or Tea Tree Oil in different places throughout the box of tissues. Seal and leave overnight for the scent to permeate the tissues.

Kitchen wipes
After cleaning the kitchen work surfaces and chopping boards, add a few drops of Tea Tree and Lemon to a clean dishcloth and wipe around units etc. Leaves a fresh clean smell while helping to eliminate bacteria.

Clean floors and walls
Leave a fresh fragrance and help eliminate bacteria by adding a few drops of Tea Tree & Lemon oil to the water for washing down floors and walls.

Freshen up Carpets
Make up your own carpet freshener: add drops of essential oils such as Lemon or Bergamot to a container of bicarbonate of soda and shake well to infuse the oils. Sprinkle on carpets and leave overnight; vacuum the following day. This is much kinder to pets and leaves a natural freshness around the home.

Sweet smelling laundry
Add 3-4 drops of essential oils to the fabric conditioner compartment of your washing machine.
Put a few drops of essential oil onto a piece of cotton cloth and place into the tumble dryer with laundry.
Add a drop of lavender to the corners of pillows to help restful sleep (ideal for guests).
My suggestions are Lavender, Bergamot, Lemon, Sandal-wood.

Fresh waste bins
Place a kitchen towel at the bottom of your waste bin and add a few drops of oil to the paper before inserting the bin liner. This will keep the bin fresh and germ-free. My recommendations are Tea Tree, Lavender, Pine, Lemon.

Beautiful atmosphere
Create a romantic atmosphere by adding a drop of Rose or Geranium oil to a lighted candle or oil burner. Geranium relaxes and creates a good mood. Rose is omantic, extravagant and truly decadent!

Posted in Eco Home, Eco Living | 1 Comment »

Reclaimed furniture

Friday, March 18th, 2011

I came across a new furniture company the other day and just loved some of their quirky and unique designs. The company is called All About Boats and as you may have guessed, everything is made from boat wood!

Here’s some further details below from their website…

“My name is Achmad Kurt and I’m a German living in Indonesia. I have a passion for the sea, for design, and for doing my part to help our ailing planet. I have been buying fishing boatsshelving, pintus, wine racks, and sofas. Hunting the broken boats was not only a profession – it was a passion. I loved everything about the process; the search, the travel, the villages, and the people, who were often perplexed as to why I wanted to buy their old boats!”

I just love the idea that a piece of furniture can have such an amazing history and story connected to it! Every piece has such character too!

Here are some of my favourite designs below, I hope you like them as much as I do! x

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Posted in Art, Eco Home, Eco Living | No Comments »

Life goes on…

Friday, February 18th, 2011

The amazing thing is, that despite the near-universal custom in Britain today of couples living together before they get married, and despite everything some politicians say about the troubled state of British society, some traditions have just not changed. Marriage for example has never been more popular. Yes, couples are marrying later. And yes they may have a couple of kids before they tie the knot, but they still are getting married. And when they get married, they expect to do it in style!

White veil, wedding cake, and embarrassing speech from the best man- some things never change. Some do, of course. The traditional drunken stag night for the groom and his mates has somehow morphed into a stag-several-drunken-days. And booking a room in June has turned into trying to find a “venue” any time in the next 18 months!

Wedding presents have actually become a bit of a challenge. Your average British newly-weds today have probably been building a home together for years, so a tea service or a canteen of cutlery “to help them get started” are not on their wedding list at all. They’ve got a sense of their joint style. And their gift list reflects it. Not just what’s on the list, but where they set it up.

We think our wedding gift list service is second to none. Everything in Biome’s range of house-wares has style. It all looks great. But just as important, everything has a story to tell. Biome is the UK’s No1 on-line ethical house-ware store, and they take time and trouble to research what they sell, and make sure it meets some demanding standards. Sustainable or recycled raw materials, fair trade, and decent wages and working conditions are part of the picture, but there’s much more. Check out our website, and see for yourself. There’s no better place for a wedding list.

But what if you’re going to a wedding, and the couple haven’t set up a list? No problem; Biome has wedding gift vouchers available in multiples of £10. And they’re printed on recycled paper, of course!

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