Eco-Friendly Hobby Suggestions | Part One

 

Gardening

Gardening can be a great way to reconnect with nature. I started getting into gardening a few years ago, and my top tip would be to not worry about making mistakes as that’s part of the learning process. If you are feeling unsure, you could watch some YouTube videos or read books on the topic.

Drawing

The good thing about drawing is if you have some basic materials such as a sketchpad, a few pencils, a rubber and sharpener, you can do it anywhere. You could put them in your bag and draw your surroundings. If you want to start small maybe try cartoons or adult colouring books.

Walking

There are many benefits of walking such as exercise and it being good for mental health. If you don’t have a lot of time to walk for pleasure, you could introduce more walking by using stairs not lifts, getting off at an earlier bus stop or watering your plants in the garden every day.

Cycling

This one is similar to walking. If you have a pal who lives local to you and also owns a bike, you could go for a bike ride together. They make a good alternative to driving a car if you aren’t traveling too far. Make sure to wear a helmet.

Visiting Charity Shops

This is something I’ve missed during the pandemic. It feels good to find a bargain and know that the proceeds go to a charity. You can find lots of useful things such as books, jigsaws, clothing, gifts, etc. It’s a much more sustainable way to shop.

Visiting Local Farmers Markets

Supporting local businesses and economy is great as well as helping to reduce your carbon footprint from the unnecessary travel of goods. Shopping seasonally really helps too. It makes a nice day out if the weather is good. You could combine this with other things on my list.

Do you have an eco-friendly hobby?

Which of the ones mentioned interested you most? :-) Xx

The Body Shop Almond Milk & Honey Body Lotion

 

Recently I’ve been using this body lotion from The Body Shop. It uses ingredients almond milk and honey, that give off a beautiful subtle fragrance. I found a little goes along way with the product, and the scent lingers on. This particular range is aimed at sensitive skin which really appealed to me. The product sinks in lovely which some lotions don’t do as well. My skin feels soft after each use.

On the back of the packaging, it mentions that community trade shea butter is used. It also states that it’s vegetarian and cruelty-free although the leaping bunny logo isn’t shown. Make sure you check out the links to learn more. This item retails at £8.50 for 200ml. I would recommend this product, particularly for those with sensitive skin.

These links include info on The Body Shop cruelty-free and vegan policy:

https://www.thebodyshop.com/en-gb/about-us/activism/faat/a/a00018 

https://ethicalelephant.com/the-body-shop-cruelty-free-vegan/

Do you like The Body Shop products?

Do you have any similar recommendations to share? :-) Xx

These are a few of my favourite things #8

 

Books:

Jamie’s America by Jamie Oliver

This was the first book I have read by Jamie Oliver however the mix of food, culture, and travel interested me. This is so much more than a cooking book as it includes essays, beautiful travel documentary photography and illustrations. 

Many of the recipes are aimed at the more advanced, and are unsuitable for vegetarians, but I can imagine most ‘foodies’ coming away with something. I liked the twists Jamie put on different recipes sourced from around America. I actually don’t cook, although I do some baking, and if you bake as well, there are some dessert recipes in there too. I appreciated all the unusual salads he created, they look so aesthetically pleasing and delicious. 

This book has encouraged me to be more adventurous when I order at restaurants. I learned some new recipes and ingredients I hadn’t previously heard of. If you know of someone with a passion for visiting America, I would recommend this title as a gift. Jamie didn’t choose the obvious route with how the book was put together.

Oliver & Patch by Claire Freedman 

Fun, heart-warming story for children about a boy who moves to the city, rescues a dog and makes a new friend along the way. The quirky illustrations are fabulous. One of my personal favourite picture books of late.

The Little Book of Humanism by Andrew Copson 

I knew very little about humanism going into this book, and I felt this was an excellent way to learn more. The definition I found online describes it as ‘A rationalist outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters.’

Chapters cover things like religion and faith, science and progress, living well, etc. The book includes mini essays, beautiful poetry and quotes as well as the occasional photograph. The book was short, concise and one of the most interesting books I’ve read this year.

I didn’t agree with everything but I think that’s fine when you are learning about a new topic. Many of the words were incredibly enlightening, and occasionally hard hitting. There were some positive and negative thoughts expressed. 

My favourite chapter was science and progress because I’ve been reading some quite negative oriented books about the environment lately and it was nice to see an author mention all the progress humans have made particularly regarding scientific discovery.

Trick or Treat Poems Chosen by Paul Cookson 

Spooky, atmospheric poems that are fun for Halloween. The clever wording and witty humour made me laugh. The poems came across cohesive even though the authors varied. Lovely little book.

Cool Spaces for Kids by Sam Scarborough 

A book about making cosy places for children to play is a beautiful concept. Everything is very nicely presented and made me feel nostalgic of imaginative playtime as a child. I would recommend this read to creative families.

Lifestyle:

Brain Benders Crazy Crosswords 

I wanted to challenge my crossword ability, so I gave this children’s puzzle book a go. It’s split into three sections: beginner, intermediate and expert which I found both fun and useful. Towards the end, I could feel I had improved my technique and spelling.

Poppies in Bloom

On one of the walks, I go on with my family I noticed the poppies were in bloom. They really are lovely and vibrant and perfect to photograph.

Have you noticed the poppies in bloom too?

Do you have any book recommendations for me? :-) Xx