Hi guys!
Sorry there's been no post from me again this week - we've opened our new Holistic Centre in Keynsham and it's been so exciting and busy! The sale is still going through on The Witches Brew so I'm splitting my time between the two at the moment. Once we're in the new place full-time I'll take some pictures and give you some information on it, I really can't wait. :) If you want to come have a look for yourself we're having an open day next Saturday (27th) with cake! Message me for details if you're interested.
I'm also going away for a few days so I won't have any posts for you until Wednesday at the earliest (sorry!). Tom and I are going to a retreat in Wales which is super exciting and I can't wait to be surrounded by countryside. :)
I'll write again soon, promise!
Ami
0
Keep cosy this winter..
..without it having to cost the earth!
We all want to delay putting the heating on, but most of us try to tough it out and give up when we can't bear sitting in a cold living room anymore. Little do we know that there are more ways to keep the house toasty out there. If you want to keep warm this winter without paying huge gas (or electricity) bills then read on...
First up we have things you can do;
Wear the right clothes.
It's all about the layering in winter - start simple and work up. You don't have to wear a vest like when you were little, but there's nothing wrong with a little thermal strap top underneath your t-shirt. Next a thin cardigan might be all you need depending on the eco-stats of your house. But if you're still cold there's nothing better than wrapping up warm in a wooly jumper (or fleecey blanket/dressing gown/all three!) for a little extra warmth at the end of the day. Don't forget to top it off with a pair of wooly bed socks to keep your toes toasty!
Grab a hot drink.
Warm insides = warm outsides. Whether you prefer tea, coffee, or my personal favourite hot chocolate, a warm drink is perfect for keeping you toasty in the evenings. It has the added bonus of warming up cold fingers. :)
Do housework.
Give the heating a day off at weekends - go out for the day for a walk, a trip to the pub, something fun that keeps you warm away from home. Then once you're home for the evening get on with the housework you would've done in the day - not only will your house be spotless but you'll have had a fun day out and you'll be so warm the heating isn't necessary until later in the evening.
Bring back romance.
In the summer everyone wants their space; it's just too hot and sticky to be cuddled up on the sofa. But winter gives us the opportunity to get snuggled up under a blanket and watch tv together without passing out from heat. Grab a hot choc each, a movie you both love and enjoy the added warmth of a cuddle. :)
Next, tips for around the house;
Close the door(s)!
The obvious one is not to leave the front door open while you stand a chat to a departing guest or while you bring shopping in from the car. Less obvious is to keep all the doors in your house closed. The same number of radiators giving off the same level of heat will do it much quicker in smaller spaces than one large one, so bedroom doors, kitchen, bathroom etc. - close them all!
Close un-used rooms.
If you have a room in your home you very rarely use it can be beneficial to close it for the winter. Turn the radiator off, shut the curtains and close the door - remembering a draft excluder so the cold doesn't leech into the rest of the house under the door. One less room to heat!
Make your own draft excluder.
Get crafty with the kids; grab an old pair of tights and cut the legs off. Stuff them with newspaper, old (clean) underwear, cotton wool.. whatever you have to hand. Then sew across the top to keep it all in. You may think draft excluders are just for external doors, but you'll be helping your radiators do their job if you use them on all internal doors too.
Work with the sun.
Make note of which windows face the sun at each time of the day - if a window is in the shade close the curtains to keep warmth in. If the sun is hitting the window leave the curtains open to warm the room.
Close the curtains.
I know you want to grab the last 5 minutes of light while it's there, but it's cheaper to turn the light on than the heating! Curtains trap in the heat, so make sure yours are extra thick (you can buy backing to bulk up curtains if you need to) and keep them closed when the sun isn't around!
Get radiators working efficiently.
Make sure to get air out of the systems regularly so they do the best job they can. Also attach foil to the wall behind radiators - this will bounce any heat back into the room instead of being lost to the wall. You can also get a little gadget that draws heat from the back of the radiator and aims it back into your room, reducing the amount of time the heating needs to be on.
Time your radiators.
Even those with a most basic heating system (like ours!) can usually set timers for their heating. Don't put it on for hours in the morning when you'll be gone by 8.30am - time it to come on 30 minutes before you get up and shut off 30 minutes before you leave the house. Then time it to come on when the sun is going down - if you're home before that make the most of the wooly jumper I mentioned earlier! And finally set it to turn off 30 minutes before bedtime - it'll still be warm by the time you climb into bed.
Use your oven as a radiator.
I am not suggesting turn the oven on and leave it open. But when you're cooking a lot of heat is made and you can make the most of it. Close the kitchen door so the warmth is kept in and you'll be toasty while making your meal. Once you're done leave the oven door open (oven off!) so that the heat can dissipate into the room instead of going out of the back wall through convection.
Only heat the room(s) you use most.
If you'll be spending all night in the living room then going to bed, why heat the dining room? Or the study? Close those doors and turn the radiators off. Also try to get family members to congregate into one room if you can - more bodies means more natural heat. There's also no need to heat the bedroom in early winter, it's just a little chill. Save the heating for later when it's really cold. Use it as an excuse to get a hot water bottle and snuggle under the duvet!
Dry clothes the smart way.
Don't wash a load of clothes then hang them over all the radiators to dry - this will just block the heat in and take forever to heat the house. It's also better to dry washing when you'll be heating the house anyway - not while you're at work or out for the evening. Instead get an airer and place it somewhere with a lot of air-flow, preferrably in the room you're spending the evening in to make the most of the previous tip!
I bet you didn't think there were that many different ways to delay the use of and make the most from your heating! Follow this advice and you'll not only be toasty this winter, you'll have lowered your energy bills too. :)
Do you use any of the tips already? Do you have any other tips I haven't mentioned? Let me know in the comments below. :)
We all want to delay putting the heating on, but most of us try to tough it out and give up when we can't bear sitting in a cold living room anymore. Little do we know that there are more ways to keep the house toasty out there. If you want to keep warm this winter without paying huge gas (or electricity) bills then read on...
First up we have things you can do;
Wear the right clothes.
It's all about the layering in winter - start simple and work up. You don't have to wear a vest like when you were little, but there's nothing wrong with a little thermal strap top underneath your t-shirt. Next a thin cardigan might be all you need depending on the eco-stats of your house. But if you're still cold there's nothing better than wrapping up warm in a wooly jumper (or fleecey blanket/dressing gown/all three!) for a little extra warmth at the end of the day. Don't forget to top it off with a pair of wooly bed socks to keep your toes toasty!
Grab a hot drink.
Warm insides = warm outsides. Whether you prefer tea, coffee, or my personal favourite hot chocolate, a warm drink is perfect for keeping you toasty in the evenings. It has the added bonus of warming up cold fingers. :)
Do housework.
Give the heating a day off at weekends - go out for the day for a walk, a trip to the pub, something fun that keeps you warm away from home. Then once you're home for the evening get on with the housework you would've done in the day - not only will your house be spotless but you'll have had a fun day out and you'll be so warm the heating isn't necessary until later in the evening.
Bring back romance.
In the summer everyone wants their space; it's just too hot and sticky to be cuddled up on the sofa. But winter gives us the opportunity to get snuggled up under a blanket and watch tv together without passing out from heat. Grab a hot choc each, a movie you both love and enjoy the added warmth of a cuddle. :)
Next, tips for around the house;
Close the door(s)!
The obvious one is not to leave the front door open while you stand a chat to a departing guest or while you bring shopping in from the car. Less obvious is to keep all the doors in your house closed. The same number of radiators giving off the same level of heat will do it much quicker in smaller spaces than one large one, so bedroom doors, kitchen, bathroom etc. - close them all!
Close un-used rooms.
If you have a room in your home you very rarely use it can be beneficial to close it for the winter. Turn the radiator off, shut the curtains and close the door - remembering a draft excluder so the cold doesn't leech into the rest of the house under the door. One less room to heat!
Make your own draft excluder.
Get crafty with the kids; grab an old pair of tights and cut the legs off. Stuff them with newspaper, old (clean) underwear, cotton wool.. whatever you have to hand. Then sew across the top to keep it all in. You may think draft excluders are just for external doors, but you'll be helping your radiators do their job if you use them on all internal doors too.
Work with the sun.
Make note of which windows face the sun at each time of the day - if a window is in the shade close the curtains to keep warmth in. If the sun is hitting the window leave the curtains open to warm the room.
Close the curtains.
I know you want to grab the last 5 minutes of light while it's there, but it's cheaper to turn the light on than the heating! Curtains trap in the heat, so make sure yours are extra thick (you can buy backing to bulk up curtains if you need to) and keep them closed when the sun isn't around!
Get radiators working efficiently.
Make sure to get air out of the systems regularly so they do the best job they can. Also attach foil to the wall behind radiators - this will bounce any heat back into the room instead of being lost to the wall. You can also get a little gadget that draws heat from the back of the radiator and aims it back into your room, reducing the amount of time the heating needs to be on.
Time your radiators.
Even those with a most basic heating system (like ours!) can usually set timers for their heating. Don't put it on for hours in the morning when you'll be gone by 8.30am - time it to come on 30 minutes before you get up and shut off 30 minutes before you leave the house. Then time it to come on when the sun is going down - if you're home before that make the most of the wooly jumper I mentioned earlier! And finally set it to turn off 30 minutes before bedtime - it'll still be warm by the time you climb into bed.
Use your oven as a radiator.
I am not suggesting turn the oven on and leave it open. But when you're cooking a lot of heat is made and you can make the most of it. Close the kitchen door so the warmth is kept in and you'll be toasty while making your meal. Once you're done leave the oven door open (oven off!) so that the heat can dissipate into the room instead of going out of the back wall through convection.
Only heat the room(s) you use most.
If you'll be spending all night in the living room then going to bed, why heat the dining room? Or the study? Close those doors and turn the radiators off. Also try to get family members to congregate into one room if you can - more bodies means more natural heat. There's also no need to heat the bedroom in early winter, it's just a little chill. Save the heating for later when it's really cold. Use it as an excuse to get a hot water bottle and snuggle under the duvet!
Dry clothes the smart way.
Don't wash a load of clothes then hang them over all the radiators to dry - this will just block the heat in and take forever to heat the house. It's also better to dry washing when you'll be heating the house anyway - not while you're at work or out for the evening. Instead get an airer and place it somewhere with a lot of air-flow, preferrably in the room you're spending the evening in to make the most of the previous tip!
I bet you didn't think there were that many different ways to delay the use of and make the most from your heating! Follow this advice and you'll not only be toasty this winter, you'll have lowered your energy bills too. :)
Do you use any of the tips already? Do you have any other tips I haven't mentioned? Let me know in the comments below. :)
Posted by
Ami Marshall
Green Living: New Resolutions
The link to the Green Living article is working again now, so I've been through and picked some new resolutions to try out. :)
The ones I'm keeping from last time are:
16. Carry a reusable bag.
Despite an improvement in this habit I'm not remembering as often as I should, so I'll keep trying.
3. Start refilling, not replacing.
I'll have to wait until we run out of something refillable to do this, but my aim is to refill everything possible in the kitchen. :)
And the new ones I'd like to try out are...
17. Wrap a present in a gift bag or fabric scarf.
With christmas on it's way now seems like the perfect chance to try out inventive wrapping paper!
22. Leave the car at home for a day.
At the end of the month I'm moving offices and the new one is a 5 minute walk from home, plus Tom has a new job that's a 30 minute walk from home. I'm going to invest in some good waterproof clothing for Winter and leave the car at home as often as possible. :) (I will let myself off if it's torrential rain or snowing though!)
30. Create a scrap paper box.
I always put paper to one side if it has space for notes/scribbles still, but I always seem to lose it or someone else throws it. Moving to a new office is the perfect opportunity to make a scrap box so I can actually use the paper I set aside!
I'll review this again after christmas, since some of the resolutions are aimed at the Winter months. :)
The ones I'm keeping from last time are:
16. Carry a reusable bag.
Despite an improvement in this habit I'm not remembering as often as I should, so I'll keep trying.
3. Start refilling, not replacing.
I'll have to wait until we run out of something refillable to do this, but my aim is to refill everything possible in the kitchen. :)
And the new ones I'd like to try out are...
17. Wrap a present in a gift bag or fabric scarf.
With christmas on it's way now seems like the perfect chance to try out inventive wrapping paper!
22. Leave the car at home for a day.
At the end of the month I'm moving offices and the new one is a 5 minute walk from home, plus Tom has a new job that's a 30 minute walk from home. I'm going to invest in some good waterproof clothing for Winter and leave the car at home as often as possible. :) (I will let myself off if it's torrential rain or snowing though!)
30. Create a scrap paper box.
I always put paper to one side if it has space for notes/scribbles still, but I always seem to lose it or someone else throws it. Moving to a new office is the perfect opportunity to make a scrap box so I can actually use the paper I set aside!
I'll review this again after christmas, since some of the resolutions are aimed at the Winter months. :)
Posted by
Ami Marshall
Green Living: Update 2
Some of you may remember my post from ages ago about Green Living. I did an update a little while ago with how I was getting on, but I haven't revisited it since moving into the new flat so I thought now might be the time! So let's have a look at the habits I promised to try...
5. Banish stand-by.
I'm doing much better than I was with this one. I can now safely say there are only 4 items in our flat that are on full-time; the fridge, the freezer, the internet (if you switch it off it doesn't work for a few hours when it comes back on) and the Virgin box (to record programmes). Everything goes off once it's not in use. :)
16. Carry a reusable bag.As with #5, I'm slowly improving with this one. I don't remember every time, so won't take it off the list yet, but I certainly remember more than I used to! Making a meal plan really helps because it makes me think about what we need before we leave home.
27. Head for the local library. Once again I have to admit to not visiting a library, but I have still been borrowing books from friends. I've been on quite a reading spree lately and of all the books I read only 3 were bought. I think I'll just have to give up on this one as I haven't made any progress with it since March and I'm unlikely to.
Now on to my newer resolutions...
3. Start refilling, not replacing. I definitely need to look into this a little more as I'm not sure what items we have are refillable. I stupidly forgot this and bought more basil the other day which I could've bought as a bag.. but apart from that I don't think there's much in the cupboards we can refill.
8. Clear out old stuff. I think I've reached my limit of old stuff to throw out now. Tens of bags have gone to the charity shop, a box of shoes is going to Car Boot whenever we get a chance and anything else useful went to family/friends. I've even got an email from GiftAid saying they've raised £11 so far with the stuff I donated. :)
So that's 3 resolutions I need to replace; 2 completed and 1 very sadly being given up. Annoyingly I can't get onto the article with all the resolutions I found, either the website is down or they've removed the article. So I will do some hunting and find some new resolutions ready for my next blog post. :)
Have you tried to introduce any Green Habits lately?
5. Banish stand-by.
I'm doing much better than I was with this one. I can now safely say there are only 4 items in our flat that are on full-time; the fridge, the freezer, the internet (if you switch it off it doesn't work for a few hours when it comes back on) and the Virgin box (to record programmes). Everything goes off once it's not in use. :)
16. Carry a reusable bag.As with #5, I'm slowly improving with this one. I don't remember every time, so won't take it off the list yet, but I certainly remember more than I used to! Making a meal plan really helps because it makes me think about what we need before we leave home.
27. Head for the local library. Once again I have to admit to not visiting a library, but I have still been borrowing books from friends. I've been on quite a reading spree lately and of all the books I read only 3 were bought. I think I'll just have to give up on this one as I haven't made any progress with it since March and I'm unlikely to.
Now on to my newer resolutions...
3. Start refilling, not replacing. I definitely need to look into this a little more as I'm not sure what items we have are refillable. I stupidly forgot this and bought more basil the other day which I could've bought as a bag.. but apart from that I don't think there's much in the cupboards we can refill.
8. Clear out old stuff. I think I've reached my limit of old stuff to throw out now. Tens of bags have gone to the charity shop, a box of shoes is going to Car Boot whenever we get a chance and anything else useful went to family/friends. I've even got an email from GiftAid saying they've raised £11 so far with the stuff I donated. :)
So that's 3 resolutions I need to replace; 2 completed and 1 very sadly being given up. Annoyingly I can't get onto the article with all the resolutions I found, either the website is down or they've removed the article. So I will do some hunting and find some new resolutions ready for my next blog post. :)
Have you tried to introduce any Green Habits lately?
Posted by
Ami Marshall
Water Savings
We got our first water bill this week so it was finally a chance to see if our water saving efforts were doing any good and I must say I was pleasantly surprised!
When calling to set up our account I answered a quick survey and they deemed us as "Low Consumption" and said it would be £30/month. To be on the safe side we started paying the "Medium Consumption" tariff which was £36/month. So I was rather happy when our first bill came back to say we were actually £50 in credit! Not only were we below the Medium Consumption amount, but we were also below the Low Consumption rate by £10/month! Our monthly use averaged out to about £20/month, which makes me a very happy bunny indeed.
We've now lowered our payments to £25/month and my aim is to be using even less than £20/month for the next bill which arrives in 6 months. Not by going without or anything silly, just by being smarter with the way we use our water. I've already started turning the shower off while I wash my hair, turning it back on each time to rinse, now I just have to get creative elsewhere around the house. :) (Like maybe showering at someone elses' house? :p)
What ways do you save water around the house? Are there any unusual methods you think I could try?
When calling to set up our account I answered a quick survey and they deemed us as "Low Consumption" and said it would be £30/month. To be on the safe side we started paying the "Medium Consumption" tariff which was £36/month. So I was rather happy when our first bill came back to say we were actually £50 in credit! Not only were we below the Medium Consumption amount, but we were also below the Low Consumption rate by £10/month! Our monthly use averaged out to about £20/month, which makes me a very happy bunny indeed.
We've now lowered our payments to £25/month and my aim is to be using even less than £20/month for the next bill which arrives in 6 months. Not by going without or anything silly, just by being smarter with the way we use our water. I've already started turning the shower off while I wash my hair, turning it back on each time to rinse, now I just have to get creative elsewhere around the house. :) (Like maybe showering at someone elses' house? :p)
What ways do you save water around the house? Are there any unusual methods you think I could try?
Posted by
Ami Marshall
Minimal Make-Up
I was having a conversation with a friend the other day about make-up items we simply couldn't live without. It got me thinking about all the products that have multiple uses and how you could create a beautiful look without using many products at all. I use a small number of make-up products to create a wide variety of looks and it never occurred to me until then to share them with people. It's early in the morning and my make-up is being held captive by a sleeping Tom, but I may post a mug shot later if I remember!
The products you will need are:
Vaseline Lip Therapy - Rosy Lips or a pinky-red lipgloss
Some kind of shimmering eye-shadow powder
Eyeliner
Mascara
The key to creating a simple look is to think of the many uses your products aren't designed for but are perfectly capable of doing. So here's the run down of each products' uses.
Vaseline (or lipgloss)
- Most obviously, to colour your lips!
- As a blush - use the tiniest amount (we're talking teeny tiny) on your cheeks and blend well. Build up colour by only adding a tiny dab each time and blending until you're happy. Don't be tempted to use more to speed up the process, you'll end up with clown make-up!
- As an eye-shadow base. This one should only be done with vaseline as lipgloss will just make the shadow sticky and clumpy.
Vaseline is better for fresh-faced dewy looks, lipgloss is more suited to a going out look.
Shimmer Eye Shadow Powder
- As a shadow for your eyes.
- To highlight your brow and cheekbones. As with the vaseline for a blush, use the tiniest dab and blend it well. This works best with a shadow with a warm hue, but a cold hue could be used for creating a more striking look.
- To add sparkle to your lips. Add a touch of the powder to the vaseline (lipgloss will only work if it's closer to a liquid than a gloss) and blend well. Your lips will catch the light and be the focal point of your face!
Eyeliner and Mascara
I can only think of the conventional uses for these products (unless you're into a more extravagant look, in which case liquid eyeliners are perfect for artistic designs around the eyes) but no look would be complete without either. If you were very careful and talented you could probably use mascara as an eyeliner, but I wouldn't recommend it!
So there you have it, a make-up look that only takes 4 products but looks like you've gone all-out! I can vouch that this works because I'm a very lazy person when it comes to make up, so I only have these products in my daily make-up bag. I have an assortment of mostly unused items in a drawer somewhere that I pull out for special occassions, but day-to-day this is the most I'll use. :)
Do you have any multi-use products or alternative uses for the products above? Also feel free to share any pictures if you try out this look!
The products you will need are:
Vaseline Lip Therapy - Rosy Lips or a pinky-red lipgloss
Some kind of shimmering eye-shadow powder
Eyeliner
Mascara
The key to creating a simple look is to think of the many uses your products aren't designed for but are perfectly capable of doing. So here's the run down of each products' uses.
Vaseline (or lipgloss)
- Most obviously, to colour your lips!
- As a blush - use the tiniest amount (we're talking teeny tiny) on your cheeks and blend well. Build up colour by only adding a tiny dab each time and blending until you're happy. Don't be tempted to use more to speed up the process, you'll end up with clown make-up!
- As an eye-shadow base. This one should only be done with vaseline as lipgloss will just make the shadow sticky and clumpy.
Vaseline is better for fresh-faced dewy looks, lipgloss is more suited to a going out look.
Shimmer Eye Shadow Powder
- As a shadow for your eyes.
- To highlight your brow and cheekbones. As with the vaseline for a blush, use the tiniest dab and blend it well. This works best with a shadow with a warm hue, but a cold hue could be used for creating a more striking look.
- To add sparkle to your lips. Add a touch of the powder to the vaseline (lipgloss will only work if it's closer to a liquid than a gloss) and blend well. Your lips will catch the light and be the focal point of your face!
Eyeliner and Mascara
I can only think of the conventional uses for these products (unless you're into a more extravagant look, in which case liquid eyeliners are perfect for artistic designs around the eyes) but no look would be complete without either. If you were very careful and talented you could probably use mascara as an eyeliner, but I wouldn't recommend it!
So there you have it, a make-up look that only takes 4 products but looks like you've gone all-out! I can vouch that this works because I'm a very lazy person when it comes to make up, so I only have these products in my daily make-up bag. I have an assortment of mostly unused items in a drawer somewhere that I pull out for special occassions, but day-to-day this is the most I'll use. :)
Do you have any multi-use products or alternative uses for the products above? Also feel free to share any pictures if you try out this look!
Posted by
Ami Marshall
Monkey Mischief
Hey guys!
I've finally had a chance to sit down and recover from the last few days, which have been amazing but tiring! Tom's parents came to visit for a few days over the weekend and we did as much as we could to make the most of their time here. :)
On Saturday we went to Longleat and did about everything they had to offer us, including a trip around the safari! This little guy was a bit cheeky and took a momento from my car:
Yup, that's my magnetic car sign he's ripped to pieces there! And all his monkey friends came running over to help him eat it... bless them? Although I wasn't too happy about the loss of my sign, it did mean we got a very up-close look at them as they were fighting next to the car and jumping on the bonnet. :) The rest of the day was less eventful, but still exciting and fun as we watched the Birds of Prey show, walked through the meerkat enclosure and fed the sealions in the lake!
Also logging in today I spotted that I've passed 6000 views! So a huge thank you to everyone for that! I'd love it if the people who stopped by regularly could become followers. :) As a little incentive I'll be giving away a gift once I reach 50 followers. ;)
Hope you all had a lovely weekend!
I've finally had a chance to sit down and recover from the last few days, which have been amazing but tiring! Tom's parents came to visit for a few days over the weekend and we did as much as we could to make the most of their time here. :)
On Saturday we went to Longleat and did about everything they had to offer us, including a trip around the safari! This little guy was a bit cheeky and took a momento from my car:
Yup, that's my magnetic car sign he's ripped to pieces there! And all his monkey friends came running over to help him eat it... bless them? Although I wasn't too happy about the loss of my sign, it did mean we got a very up-close look at them as they were fighting next to the car and jumping on the bonnet. :) The rest of the day was less eventful, but still exciting and fun as we watched the Birds of Prey show, walked through the meerkat enclosure and fed the sealions in the lake!
Also logging in today I spotted that I've passed 6000 views! So a huge thank you to everyone for that! I'd love it if the people who stopped by regularly could become followers. :) As a little incentive I'll be giving away a gift once I reach 50 followers. ;)
Hope you all had a lovely weekend!
Posted by
Ami Marshall
Re-using Coffee Grinds
Sorry for the long gap between posts, we've been busy bunnies at work and I've just not had much time to blog. I have quite a few post ideas dancing around in my head though, so I've not disappeared entirely. :) I promised at the end of my last post to give you some re-use ideas for coffee grinds for those of you who really can't give it up. So here they are!
In the garden!
Adding used coffee grinds in the garden can make all the difference between a limp, snail chewed lettuce and a nice leafy green one! Not only are they a great pest repellent to ants, slugs and snails, but also to a larger garden pest - cats! We may love the cuddly pets, but we certainly don't love the presents they leave in our flower beds. A few coffee grounds sprinkled onto the soil will be enough to deter them and your plants will be free to grow.
They're also great as a fertiliser for plants that love acidic soil. Simply mix the grounds into the top layer of the soil and pop your plants in - roses especially love coffee enriched soil and it keeps away greenflies too! Alternatively you can use the grinds as soil for growing mushrooms, just fill a container with grinds and pop the mushroom plugs in. :)
Cleaning the house!
Coffee grinds really come into their own when it comes to house cleaning. From a de-odouriser in practically any situation to stopping ashes from spreading in a fireplace, they're incredibly versatile!
To de-odourise an area, simply put a little pot of dry grinds somewhere they won't get knocked over; a pot in the fridge, in the wardrobe, the shoe cupboard... the possibilities are endless!
Cleaning your pots and pans becomes a lot easier once coffee grinds are in the mix: simply rub the grinds on the offending stain to cut through grease and have it clean in no time. While you're at it, stick about half a cup of grinds down the drain to get rid of nasty smells - once you're done with the pans pour the boiling water down the drain to stop the grinds blocking the sink and you've killed two birds with one stone!
Another great use is to touch up scratches on wooden furniture as the coffee stains the wood back to a darker colour. Just dab the grinds onto the scratch - although be careful - make sure the stain won't be darker than the wood you're touching up!
Finally, anyone with a fireplace will love this tip: sprinkle the coffee grounds over the ashes in your fire place before sweeping them up to stop them flying into the air and making a mess. :)
As a beauty product?!
Take coffee out of the kitchen and into the bathroom with these great ideas...
Mix 1/4 of a cup of coffee grounds into some egg whites and you have a great exfoliating mask!
After you've washed your hair rub in some coffee grounds to add shine and enrich your colour. (This one is only for brunettes - coffee will act as a dye so could leave blondes looking a bit odd!)
To banish cellulite: Mix 1/4 of a cup of still-warm, moist coffee grounds with some olive oil and rub into the cellulite. Wrap it with cling-film and leave there for 5-10 minutes (trying not to feel silly)! Once your time is up just hop in the shower and wash it off. For the best results do this 2-3 times a week. (ps if anyone tries this let me know how you get on with it!)
In your cooking!
Want an interesting meal full of flavour? First soak a steak in a pan of hot coffee - it will add flavour and leave the steak nice and tender. Then use the grinds to make a tasty dessert - coffee & walnut cake is always a favourite, or make coffee infused butter icing!
Alternatively they're great for getting rid of the onion or garlic smells on your hands - just rub them all over your hands and rinse off!
Just for fun!
Get crafty with coffee with some of these tips. :)
Dried coffee grinds are a great filling for homemade pin cushions!
As mentioned above, coffee is a natural dye and will stain pretty much anything. So why not put it to use and get creative! Dye clothing, paper, even your hair! Boring old paper becomes parchment when dipping in just a little coffee and left to dry. ;)
Mix grounds with henna to make a natural base for tattoos. :)
To make playdough! Mix a few cups of coffee grounds with 1/2 a cup of salt, add in 1 to 2 cups of cornflour and then enough warm water to get the consistency you like. Voila! Playdough. :)
Can you think of any other uses? Have you tried any of these and do they work? I've used the grounds from the coffee shop to clear drains and one lady who comes in used to take them home for her roses, so I know those ones are right!
In the garden!
Adding used coffee grinds in the garden can make all the difference between a limp, snail chewed lettuce and a nice leafy green one! Not only are they a great pest repellent to ants, slugs and snails, but also to a larger garden pest - cats! We may love the cuddly pets, but we certainly don't love the presents they leave in our flower beds. A few coffee grounds sprinkled onto the soil will be enough to deter them and your plants will be free to grow.
They're also great as a fertiliser for plants that love acidic soil. Simply mix the grounds into the top layer of the soil and pop your plants in - roses especially love coffee enriched soil and it keeps away greenflies too! Alternatively you can use the grinds as soil for growing mushrooms, just fill a container with grinds and pop the mushroom plugs in. :)
Cleaning the house!
Coffee grinds really come into their own when it comes to house cleaning. From a de-odouriser in practically any situation to stopping ashes from spreading in a fireplace, they're incredibly versatile!
To de-odourise an area, simply put a little pot of dry grinds somewhere they won't get knocked over; a pot in the fridge, in the wardrobe, the shoe cupboard... the possibilities are endless!
Cleaning your pots and pans becomes a lot easier once coffee grinds are in the mix: simply rub the grinds on the offending stain to cut through grease and have it clean in no time. While you're at it, stick about half a cup of grinds down the drain to get rid of nasty smells - once you're done with the pans pour the boiling water down the drain to stop the grinds blocking the sink and you've killed two birds with one stone!
Another great use is to touch up scratches on wooden furniture as the coffee stains the wood back to a darker colour. Just dab the grinds onto the scratch - although be careful - make sure the stain won't be darker than the wood you're touching up!
Finally, anyone with a fireplace will love this tip: sprinkle the coffee grounds over the ashes in your fire place before sweeping them up to stop them flying into the air and making a mess. :)
As a beauty product?!
Take coffee out of the kitchen and into the bathroom with these great ideas...
Mix 1/4 of a cup of coffee grounds into some egg whites and you have a great exfoliating mask!
After you've washed your hair rub in some coffee grounds to add shine and enrich your colour. (This one is only for brunettes - coffee will act as a dye so could leave blondes looking a bit odd!)
To banish cellulite: Mix 1/4 of a cup of still-warm, moist coffee grounds with some olive oil and rub into the cellulite. Wrap it with cling-film and leave there for 5-10 minutes (trying not to feel silly)! Once your time is up just hop in the shower and wash it off. For the best results do this 2-3 times a week. (ps if anyone tries this let me know how you get on with it!)
In your cooking!
Want an interesting meal full of flavour? First soak a steak in a pan of hot coffee - it will add flavour and leave the steak nice and tender. Then use the grinds to make a tasty dessert - coffee & walnut cake is always a favourite, or make coffee infused butter icing!
Alternatively they're great for getting rid of the onion or garlic smells on your hands - just rub them all over your hands and rinse off!
Just for fun!
Get crafty with coffee with some of these tips. :)
Dried coffee grinds are a great filling for homemade pin cushions!
As mentioned above, coffee is a natural dye and will stain pretty much anything. So why not put it to use and get creative! Dye clothing, paper, even your hair! Boring old paper becomes parchment when dipping in just a little coffee and left to dry. ;)
Mix grounds with henna to make a natural base for tattoos. :)
To make playdough! Mix a few cups of coffee grounds with 1/2 a cup of salt, add in 1 to 2 cups of cornflour and then enough warm water to get the consistency you like. Voila! Playdough. :)
Can you think of any other uses? Have you tried any of these and do they work? I've used the grounds from the coffee shop to clear drains and one lady who comes in used to take them home for her roses, so I know those ones are right!
Posted by
Ami Marshall
5,000 Views!
I find it amazing that even though I haven't had time to post recently (tonsillitis again amongst other things!) I've still made it to 5,000 views this quickly! Life has gone absolutely manic this last few weeks, but I promise I have some good blogs lined up for you as soon as things get a bit quieter. :)
Posted by
Ami Marshall
"I've kicked the habit, now what?"
Hopefully my last blog convinced you to stop drinking coffee, but you may be left wondering what you're going to drink instead? There are plenty of options out there, but two spring to mind that are infinitely better for you than the others.
Obviously the top one is water. Good old H2O! It rehydrates, detoxes, quenches thirst like nothing else can and is incredibly good for you. We know humans are 75% water, so having a drink that can 'top us up' as it were is nothing but good news!
Since you're told about the pros of water pretty much everywhere, I'll save you hearing it all again. ;)
So instead this blog is dedicated to the wonders of Tea! (I tried to find the chemical formula for you but it's a mix of multiple chemicals and too complicated to calculate - sorry!)
Like water, tea is incredibly good at rehydrating you and it may surprise you to know it's completely calorie free! The only calories you'll find in tea are from the milk and sugar if you use them. It still has a minor amount of caffeine in, so perfect for weaning yourself out of a coffee addiction, but at such so levels it's about on par with the capsaicin from chillis. However unlike coffee, it has plenty of good chemicals in there too that are just waiting to improve your health!
First up are all the antioxidants - wonderful little things that travel around your body scooping up any free-radicals it can find. Free radicals are best known for their ageing effects - tiring out your cells and making you look older. They're nasty little things that have even been linked to causes of cancer, so anything that will get rid of them for you is great!
Antioxidants also help your cells to absorb nutrients more efficiently, so they not only reduce signs ageing they can actually help reverse them too. :) (It's not a miracle cure, you're not gonna look like you've just been on 10 Years Younger but you might feel like it!)
Next we have all the benefits tea can provide for your heart - reducing your chances of a fatal heart attack or stroke! Blood clots can develop if your arteries are clogged up with cholesterol, causing some pretty nasty effects on the body. Tea can help to smooth the arteries back out, reducing the risk of blood clots. A 5 year study from the Netherlands found that people who drink 2-3 cups of black tea daily have a 70% lower risk of fatal heart attacks than non-tea drinkers. Not bad!
Tea can also strengthen your bones, thanks to the fantastic phytochemicals it contains. A different study over 10 years showed that tea drinkers had the strongest bones, even after taking into account age, weight, height, background differences etc. Ageing increases the risk of bones becoming weak and brittle, so get drinking tea now to reduce the impact age will have on your body. :)
Drinking tea raises your metabolism - 5 cups of green tea a day will increase your metabolism enough to burn an extra 80 calories per day. You may not want to drink that much, but even 1 cup will still burn 16 more calories. When added into a healthy diet with exercise it can make a difference.
There are plenty of other good things that tea can do for you, but the reasons above should be more than enough to convince you! But if you really couldn't possibly part from your coffee addiction, stay tuned for the next blog with some ideas on how to recycle the coffee grinds when you're done with them...
Obviously the top one is water. Good old H2O! It rehydrates, detoxes, quenches thirst like nothing else can and is incredibly good for you. We know humans are 75% water, so having a drink that can 'top us up' as it were is nothing but good news!
Since you're told about the pros of water pretty much everywhere, I'll save you hearing it all again. ;)
So instead this blog is dedicated to the wonders of Tea! (I tried to find the chemical formula for you but it's a mix of multiple chemicals and too complicated to calculate - sorry!)
Like water, tea is incredibly good at rehydrating you and it may surprise you to know it's completely calorie free! The only calories you'll find in tea are from the milk and sugar if you use them. It still has a minor amount of caffeine in, so perfect for weaning yourself out of a coffee addiction, but at such so levels it's about on par with the capsaicin from chillis. However unlike coffee, it has plenty of good chemicals in there too that are just waiting to improve your health!
First up are all the antioxidants - wonderful little things that travel around your body scooping up any free-radicals it can find. Free radicals are best known for their ageing effects - tiring out your cells and making you look older. They're nasty little things that have even been linked to causes of cancer, so anything that will get rid of them for you is great!
Antioxidants also help your cells to absorb nutrients more efficiently, so they not only reduce signs ageing they can actually help reverse them too. :) (It's not a miracle cure, you're not gonna look like you've just been on 10 Years Younger but you might feel like it!)
Next we have all the benefits tea can provide for your heart - reducing your chances of a fatal heart attack or stroke! Blood clots can develop if your arteries are clogged up with cholesterol, causing some pretty nasty effects on the body. Tea can help to smooth the arteries back out, reducing the risk of blood clots. A 5 year study from the Netherlands found that people who drink 2-3 cups of black tea daily have a 70% lower risk of fatal heart attacks than non-tea drinkers. Not bad!
Tea can also strengthen your bones, thanks to the fantastic phytochemicals it contains. A different study over 10 years showed that tea drinkers had the strongest bones, even after taking into account age, weight, height, background differences etc. Ageing increases the risk of bones becoming weak and brittle, so get drinking tea now to reduce the impact age will have on your body. :)
Drinking tea raises your metabolism - 5 cups of green tea a day will increase your metabolism enough to burn an extra 80 calories per day. You may not want to drink that much, but even 1 cup will still burn 16 more calories. When added into a healthy diet with exercise it can make a difference.
There are plenty of other good things that tea can do for you, but the reasons above should be more than enough to convince you! But if you really couldn't possibly part from your coffee addiction, stay tuned for the next blog with some ideas on how to recycle the coffee grinds when you're done with them...
Posted by
Ami Marshall
Four Thousand Views!
Good morning lovely people!
I just popped on to work on my next blog post (it's been taking me a few days at a time to compose them between olympic events!) and spotted that I've reached 4,000 views in less than 6 months! That's just incredible and makes me really happy. :) I'd love it if people would start following the blog too, my view numbers and follower numbers seem a little uneven! Haha. :)
Thanks to everyone for putting a smile on my face on a Monday morning. :)
I just popped on to work on my next blog post (it's been taking me a few days at a time to compose them between olympic events!) and spotted that I've reached 4,000 views in less than 6 months! That's just incredible and makes me really happy. :) I'd love it if people would start following the blog too, my view numbers and follower numbers seem a little uneven! Haha. :)
Thanks to everyone for putting a smile on my face on a Monday morning. :)
Posted by
Ami Marshall
Time to kick the habit?
Hello lovely readers!
Lately I've not had the best run of health which has slowed me down on the blog front. As a result I've started to take a serious look at my lifestyle and make some changes. I've been researching all kinds of foods and drinks - both those that I need to cut out and ones I need to add into my diet to benefit the particular problems I have. For example, did you know cherries are extremely good at reducing inflammation? I've found some really fascinating articles and information, so I thought I'd do a series of blogs to share my findings with you. :)
Today's blog is all about coffee - the staple drink of pretty much the entire population - and why you should switch to a much healthier choice.
Statistics show that we consume 12,000 tonnes of caffeine each year, which is a phenomenal amount of coffee. What a lot of those coffee drinkers probably don't realise is that caffeine was actually developed by plants over time as a poison. Caffeine is the plant worlds own homemade pesticide, designed to kill any insects that try to eat them.
We consume many chemicals from the plant world that are considered to be a poison, such as oxalic acid from leafy greens or capsaicin from chilli peppers, but none on such a grand scale as caffeine. So what effects are we letting ourselves in for?
Caffeine's primary effect is to stun or kill insects, which to a human just creates a little 'buzz'. Most people think that the caffeine has given them energy, but in reality it has just stimulated the nervous system and will wear off. Just like with sugar hits, we keep drinking coffee to sustain our energy not realising we're just letting ourselves in for a crash further down the line. The nervous system is constantly being stimulated and forced to work harder, which ultimately will exhaust your adrenals.
Caffeine is also very addictive. Studies show that even as little as one small cup a day can cause withdrawal symptoms, so you may be addicted without even knowing. Withdrawal symptoms can include headaches, exhaustion, irritability, lethargy, insomnia, constipation, muscle aches, flu-like symptoms and even depression. Do you really want any of those?
Quite possibly the scariest thing about caffeine is what it does to other pesticides. Taken from a study by James Nathanson, assistant professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical school: "a small dose of caffeine increased known pesticides potency by 10 times." Think of all the pesticides that make their way into your body through your diet (unless you only eat organic food of course!) then think of all the caffeine you're adding to them. It doesn't sound good, does it? That's why caffeine is now considered to be a neurotoxin.
That's enough doom and gloom though. Hopefully I've thoroughly convinced you to kick the caffeine habit! Stay tuned for my next blog for alternatives that are yummy and good for you. :)
Lately I've not had the best run of health which has slowed me down on the blog front. As a result I've started to take a serious look at my lifestyle and make some changes. I've been researching all kinds of foods and drinks - both those that I need to cut out and ones I need to add into my diet to benefit the particular problems I have. For example, did you know cherries are extremely good at reducing inflammation? I've found some really fascinating articles and information, so I thought I'd do a series of blogs to share my findings with you. :)
Today's blog is all about coffee - the staple drink of pretty much the entire population - and why you should switch to a much healthier choice.
Statistics show that we consume 12,000 tonnes of caffeine each year, which is a phenomenal amount of coffee. What a lot of those coffee drinkers probably don't realise is that caffeine was actually developed by plants over time as a poison. Caffeine is the plant worlds own homemade pesticide, designed to kill any insects that try to eat them.
We consume many chemicals from the plant world that are considered to be a poison, such as oxalic acid from leafy greens or capsaicin from chilli peppers, but none on such a grand scale as caffeine. So what effects are we letting ourselves in for?
Caffeine's primary effect is to stun or kill insects, which to a human just creates a little 'buzz'. Most people think that the caffeine has given them energy, but in reality it has just stimulated the nervous system and will wear off. Just like with sugar hits, we keep drinking coffee to sustain our energy not realising we're just letting ourselves in for a crash further down the line. The nervous system is constantly being stimulated and forced to work harder, which ultimately will exhaust your adrenals.
Caffeine is also very addictive. Studies show that even as little as one small cup a day can cause withdrawal symptoms, so you may be addicted without even knowing. Withdrawal symptoms can include headaches, exhaustion, irritability, lethargy, insomnia, constipation, muscle aches, flu-like symptoms and even depression. Do you really want any of those?
Quite possibly the scariest thing about caffeine is what it does to other pesticides. Taken from a study by James Nathanson, assistant professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical school: "a small dose of caffeine increased known pesticides potency by 10 times." Think of all the pesticides that make their way into your body through your diet (unless you only eat organic food of course!) then think of all the caffeine you're adding to them. It doesn't sound good, does it? That's why caffeine is now considered to be a neurotoxin.
That's enough doom and gloom though. Hopefully I've thoroughly convinced you to kick the caffeine habit! Stay tuned for my next blog for alternatives that are yummy and good for you. :)
Posted by
Ami Marshall
Back to the modern world!
We finally have internet in our new flat!! It's such a relief after living for so long in the Dark Ages. ;) We're also really enjoying having TiVo - I've already set all my favourite shows to Series Record. :) A feature I didn't actually think I'd missed was being able to rewind the tv, but we used it so much last night to show each other things we didn't see, or even just to pause for a bathroom break instead of waiting for adverts!
The only thing I am sad about now we have the new equipment is that some of it has to stay on all the time now. I tried turning the router off when we went out a few times, but it causes horrible connection problems when it's turned back on. We're turning the TiVo box off for now, but once it starts recording some of the shows it'll need to stay on or it won't record any shows from when it's off. I'm trying not to feel too guilty though, since everything else in the flat stays off unless in use. :)
I'm afraid it's just a short post for you today, I woke up early due to having a cold and used my time wisely as you can see! But now it's time to get ready for work. Then this evening we're going to my grandparents' 50th Wedding Anniversary party, which is going to be amazing. :) I have a little speech prepared for them (it's a surprise..shh!) as do a few other family members, so I'll post it for you over the weekend!
Have a lovely sunny day everyone! (I'm being optimistic - I can see a faint hint of sun coming in through the front door!)
The only thing I am sad about now we have the new equipment is that some of it has to stay on all the time now. I tried turning the router off when we went out a few times, but it causes horrible connection problems when it's turned back on. We're turning the TiVo box off for now, but once it starts recording some of the shows it'll need to stay on or it won't record any shows from when it's off. I'm trying not to feel too guilty though, since everything else in the flat stays off unless in use. :)
I'm afraid it's just a short post for you today, I woke up early due to having a cold and used my time wisely as you can see! But now it's time to get ready for work. Then this evening we're going to my grandparents' 50th Wedding Anniversary party, which is going to be amazing. :) I have a little speech prepared for them (it's a surprise..shh!) as do a few other family members, so I'll post it for you over the weekend!
Have a lovely sunny day everyone! (I'm being optimistic - I can see a faint hint of sun coming in through the front door!)
Posted by
Ami Marshall
LED Lights
Morning! Hope your week is going well. :)
We've just installed some LED lights at the coffee shop and they look fab. :) We bought 3 to start with to make sure they were compatible with our current fittings and now we know they work we'll be putting in another 9. They're so much better than our standard spotlights - when I asked if we could get them originally I was only thinking of the environmental benefits, but now they're in place I've found they're so much prettier too! They give a little sparkle effect rather than just a circle of light, so I'm very happy. :)
Speaking of the environmental benefits though, did you know an LED light uses 92% less electricity than your average bulb? And speaking from experience they actually give more light too! An LED light is supposed to last for up to 5 years, which is much longer than the few months we've been getting out of our current bulbs. So overall, you'd be mad not to get them. Their original outlay is more than a normal bulb, but it'll pay you back on your bills pretty quickly. :)
In other news, I'm off to Center Parcs for the weekend tomorrow! It's my grandparents' 50th Wedding Anniversary this year so they're getting the whole family together for a celebration. So I won't be around to post until next week now - not that it's anything out of the ordinary these days!
Have a wonderful weekend everyone. :)
We've just installed some LED lights at the coffee shop and they look fab. :) We bought 3 to start with to make sure they were compatible with our current fittings and now we know they work we'll be putting in another 9. They're so much better than our standard spotlights - when I asked if we could get them originally I was only thinking of the environmental benefits, but now they're in place I've found they're so much prettier too! They give a little sparkle effect rather than just a circle of light, so I'm very happy. :)
Speaking of the environmental benefits though, did you know an LED light uses 92% less electricity than your average bulb? And speaking from experience they actually give more light too! An LED light is supposed to last for up to 5 years, which is much longer than the few months we've been getting out of our current bulbs. So overall, you'd be mad not to get them. Their original outlay is more than a normal bulb, but it'll pay you back on your bills pretty quickly. :)
In other news, I'm off to Center Parcs for the weekend tomorrow! It's my grandparents' 50th Wedding Anniversary this year so they're getting the whole family together for a celebration. So I won't be around to post until next week now - not that it's anything out of the ordinary these days!
Have a wonderful weekend everyone. :)
Posted by
Ami Marshall
Eco-Friendly Hair Care
Hello! I've managed to get on the internet from work and wanted to squeeze in a sneaky blog post while I had the chance!
Earlier I saw an article about a shampoo bar by Lush explaining it's eco-credentials and it's had me thinking all day about the hair care products I use. I've heard of shampoo bars before but it's never been something I thought of using. Having read this article I'm seriously considering investing in some to see what it's like. I especially like the look of their Reincarnate Shampoo as it might revive the colour in my hair. :)
Up until now it only occurred to me to save water during a shower, but this has brought a whole new aspect in for me. I love that you just get a re-usable tin to store the shampoo, saving on hundreds of plastic bottles over the years! Plus they've come up with a solid conditioner bar too, so the entire hair care process becomes plastic free.
This has even lead me on to discover solid perfumes! So I'm guessing there are a whole host of products out there that I could be switching to and saving on packaging. As a result, this blog is now my pledge to replace any products I can with a solid counterpart as and when I run out. I still stand by my original aim: to become more eco-friendly without sacrificing the quality of my lifestyle, so if they really suck I'll be switching straight back! But if they do as good as/better than my current products there's no reason not to go Green!
Have you tried Solid Shampoos/other products before? Does anyone want to join me with this experiment? Let me know what you think. :)
Earlier I saw an article about a shampoo bar by Lush explaining it's eco-credentials and it's had me thinking all day about the hair care products I use. I've heard of shampoo bars before but it's never been something I thought of using. Having read this article I'm seriously considering investing in some to see what it's like. I especially like the look of their Reincarnate Shampoo as it might revive the colour in my hair. :)
Up until now it only occurred to me to save water during a shower, but this has brought a whole new aspect in for me. I love that you just get a re-usable tin to store the shampoo, saving on hundreds of plastic bottles over the years! Plus they've come up with a solid conditioner bar too, so the entire hair care process becomes plastic free.
 |
| I love that it's called The Smell of Weather Turning! |
This has even lead me on to discover solid perfumes! So I'm guessing there are a whole host of products out there that I could be switching to and saving on packaging. As a result, this blog is now my pledge to replace any products I can with a solid counterpart as and when I run out. I still stand by my original aim: to become more eco-friendly without sacrificing the quality of my lifestyle, so if they really suck I'll be switching straight back! But if they do as good as/better than my current products there's no reason not to go Green!
Have you tried Solid Shampoos/other products before? Does anyone want to join me with this experiment? Let me know what you think. :)
Posted by
Ami Marshall
3000 Views!
I only have about 30 seconds for a post, but I couldn't possibly let 3000 views go un-celebrated! That's amazing! :)
Once again I am super sorry for the lack of posts lately. This morning I waited in for 5 hours for someone to come and install internet for us and at the end of the 5 hours when I rang to complain no one showed up they told me they had changed our installation date but hadn't notified us! So now the new date is 12th July. I will be trying to find ways to post more before then, as I'm getting blog withdrawal!
Hope you're enjoying the sunshine while it lasts! :)
Once again I am super sorry for the lack of posts lately. This morning I waited in for 5 hours for someone to come and install internet for us and at the end of the 5 hours when I rang to complain no one showed up they told me they had changed our installation date but hadn't notified us! So now the new date is 12th July. I will be trying to find ways to post more before then, as I'm getting blog withdrawal!
Hope you're enjoying the sunshine while it lasts! :)
Posted by
Ami Marshall
Fascinating Facts
We all want to be more Green but without knowing the effect we're having it's hard to keep up motivation. So as promised I've put together a few interesting facts about recycling and the actual impact it has on the environment so we can keep the momentum going. :)
Laptops use 80% less energy than a desktop.
They're portable, last hours without being plugged in and can connect us to the internet on the go so we already love our laptops. Now you can also be smug that you're helping the environment at the same time!
If everyone re-used 2ft of wrapping ribbon just once it would save 38,000 miles worth.
That's enough to tie a bow around the earth!
A tumble drier uses 3x more energy than the washing machine.
So if you wash and dry your clothes with machines it's the equivalent of washing them 4 times over. An airer is more environmentally friendly and can be hidden out of sight if necessary. :)
85,000 litres of rain fall on your roof every year.
A water butt will allow you to use this water for your plants and washing your car instead of fresh water from the tap.
It takes 80% less energy to recycle an aluminium or steel can than make a new one.
To make it even more impressive; cans can be recycled endlessly so if everyone started recycling we'd never need to make another can again! (Unrealistic I know, but I'm a dreamer...)
A car club takes approx. 20 privately owned cars off the road.
If you're very car-reliant it may not be for you, but if you can rely on public transport a lot of the time and only need a car now and then car clubs can be extremely useful.
Glass milk bottles are reused approx. 13 times before they're recycled.
That's 13 times more than a plastic bottle! Plus the milkman delivers using an electric car so you can be smug when you don't have to go buy fresh milk instead of feeling lazy!
80% of the energy a washing machine uses is to heat the water.
Turn down the temperature and you turn down your electricity bill!
An urban cycler reaches speeds of approx. 15-22km/hour.
An urban driver reaches speeds of approx. 22-35km/hour in traffic. Add in time for searching for spaces and parking, then walking the 2 miles to work because you couldn't get closer... it could be quicker to just cycle!
You can save approx. 5000 litres of water a year if you have an old toilet.
Fill a 1L bottle with water (or 2 500ml bottles) and put them in your cistern. This will save 1L of water every time you flush, which accumulates to approx. 5000 litres of water over the year! (This only works if you have a normal flush - push buttons use a different mechanism.)
Insulating your roof will save approx. 25% more energy each year.
For the full details on insulating your loft check out this post.
Filling in draughts around the house - especially doors and windows - can save up to 10% on your energy bill.
More information is also in the link above - it's well worth getting draught excluders, lining thin curtains and keeping doors shut wherever possible!
Cotton production takes up 2.6% of our water usage.
Fixing up old clothes, donating those you don't want and buying from charity shops will all reduce the amount of new clothing that needs to be made and will cut down our water usage.
In the UK appliances left on stand-by use 2 power stations worth of electricity a year.
Some of the appliances can use up to 90% of their normal power use even on stand-by, so it really is worth turning them off at the plug. Some of the worst culprits are TVs, stereos and games consoles!
In 2010 hydropower accounted for approx. 16% of global electricity production!
Add to that solar energy, wind energy etc. and we can see that our efforts are making a global impact. :)
Laptops use 80% less energy than a desktop.
They're portable, last hours without being plugged in and can connect us to the internet on the go so we already love our laptops. Now you can also be smug that you're helping the environment at the same time!
If everyone re-used 2ft of wrapping ribbon just once it would save 38,000 miles worth.
That's enough to tie a bow around the earth!
A tumble drier uses 3x more energy than the washing machine.
So if you wash and dry your clothes with machines it's the equivalent of washing them 4 times over. An airer is more environmentally friendly and can be hidden out of sight if necessary. :)
85,000 litres of rain fall on your roof every year.
A water butt will allow you to use this water for your plants and washing your car instead of fresh water from the tap.
It takes 80% less energy to recycle an aluminium or steel can than make a new one.
To make it even more impressive; cans can be recycled endlessly so if everyone started recycling we'd never need to make another can again! (Unrealistic I know, but I'm a dreamer...)
A car club takes approx. 20 privately owned cars off the road.
If you're very car-reliant it may not be for you, but if you can rely on public transport a lot of the time and only need a car now and then car clubs can be extremely useful.
Glass milk bottles are reused approx. 13 times before they're recycled.
That's 13 times more than a plastic bottle! Plus the milkman delivers using an electric car so you can be smug when you don't have to go buy fresh milk instead of feeling lazy!
80% of the energy a washing machine uses is to heat the water.
Turn down the temperature and you turn down your electricity bill!
An urban cycler reaches speeds of approx. 15-22km/hour.
An urban driver reaches speeds of approx. 22-35km/hour in traffic. Add in time for searching for spaces and parking, then walking the 2 miles to work because you couldn't get closer... it could be quicker to just cycle!
You can save approx. 5000 litres of water a year if you have an old toilet.
Fill a 1L bottle with water (or 2 500ml bottles) and put them in your cistern. This will save 1L of water every time you flush, which accumulates to approx. 5000 litres of water over the year! (This only works if you have a normal flush - push buttons use a different mechanism.)
Insulating your roof will save approx. 25% more energy each year.
For the full details on insulating your loft check out this post.
Filling in draughts around the house - especially doors and windows - can save up to 10% on your energy bill.
More information is also in the link above - it's well worth getting draught excluders, lining thin curtains and keeping doors shut wherever possible!
Cotton production takes up 2.6% of our water usage.
Fixing up old clothes, donating those you don't want and buying from charity shops will all reduce the amount of new clothing that needs to be made and will cut down our water usage.
In the UK appliances left on stand-by use 2 power stations worth of electricity a year.
Some of the appliances can use up to 90% of their normal power use even on stand-by, so it really is worth turning them off at the plug. Some of the worst culprits are TVs, stereos and games consoles!
In 2010 hydropower accounted for approx. 16% of global electricity production!
Add to that solar energy, wind energy etc. and we can see that our efforts are making a global impact. :)
Posted by
Ami Marshall
New Flat: Week 2
It's officially 2 weeks today and the flat is starting to look like people live there rather than a dumping ground for boxes! ;)
We bought a cabinet for our bathroom yesterday so soon we can put all our things away instead of just in a box on the floor. It'll be nice not to stub my toe when brushing my teeth! We also got some lampshades for the lounge and our bedroom so we don't have plain hanging lightbulbs anymore. :)
This week we've learned valuable information ready for the winter. This may sound a bit random but the sucky weather has caused our neighbours to use their heating. As a consequence we've found just how hot our flat gets when they do! We've been watching tv in strap tops and joggers at 10pm this week because it's too toasty for anything else. :)
I know I haven't written any eco blogs for you recently, but I have plenty planned for when I return to modern technology! Including 180 uses for 9 every day items and some facts about just how much our Green efforts make an impact.
Until then I leave you with this incredible fact: A cyclist can travel 644 miles and use the same amount of energy as it takes to make just 1 litre of fuel.
We bought a cabinet for our bathroom yesterday so soon we can put all our things away instead of just in a box on the floor. It'll be nice not to stub my toe when brushing my teeth! We also got some lampshades for the lounge and our bedroom so we don't have plain hanging lightbulbs anymore. :)
This week we've learned valuable information ready for the winter. This may sound a bit random but the sucky weather has caused our neighbours to use their heating. As a consequence we've found just how hot our flat gets when they do! We've been watching tv in strap tops and joggers at 10pm this week because it's too toasty for anything else. :)
I know I haven't written any eco blogs for you recently, but I have plenty planned for when I return to modern technology! Including 180 uses for 9 every day items and some facts about just how much our Green efforts make an impact.
Until then I leave you with this incredible fact: A cyclist can travel 644 miles and use the same amount of energy as it takes to make just 1 litre of fuel.
Posted by
Ami Marshall
New Flat: Week 1
Hello lovely people!
We have officially been in our new flat over a week now and it's been pretty interesting! Moving in was a bit of drama which I won't bore you with, but suffice it to say that we have none of the furniture we were planning to move in with. It's all worked out well, but my plan of using all pre-loved furniture went a little down the drain thanks to some weather mishaps and sizing issues!
We have a new IKEA bedroom set, although I chose one that will be with us for many years to come so I had sustainability in mind there. A new tv, which will also be dead before we replace it - had no choice with this one since the old one got rained on in transit. We also have a brand new sofa and armchair, second hand! Crazy as that sounds, someone a family member knew had the 3 piece set in his garage because he'd bought it and it wasn't right. Still in its wrapping, it had sat there for over a year and after hearing our situation he was happy to give it to us for the low price of: our old sofa that wouldn't fit! So we have a brand new cream leather sofa and it didn't cost us a penny. :)
So minor furniture issues aside, everything has been beyond amazing this last week. I've suffered a few health issues (understatement of the year!) but Tom has been fantastic at looking after me and sorting all the official stuff I've not been able to take care of. We've had great fun playing board games, putting furniture together and moving it around to make it perfect, playing on the wii and generally just enjoyed having our own space. :)
One thing I've been having fun with is finding ways to cut down on our bills, not that we've had one yet! We're on a water meter and our heating is on the electric so we've been cutting back in every way we can without actually sacrificing anything. The heating hasn't gone on except to dry out the mattress when we moved in (seriously - weather mishaps!) and to give the washing a boost drying when it was particularly wet outside. It's actually pretty toasty in the flat until 8/9pm, at which point we pull the blanket off the bed and snuggle up. :)
We're also turning absolutely everything off when it isn't in use - including the oven and washing machine (at the wall that is)! The only things that are running 24/7 in our house are the hot water heater and the fridge/freezer. I'll be really interested to see what our bills come to at the end of the month. I'm hoping they're not that high because I'm not sure we could cut back much more without sacrificing something!
Today's post was a bit of a lengthy one, but I felt I owed you a decent post since I haven't been on much lately! Internet is arriving in our flat on the 25th June and I can't wait! Until then I'll be updating you as and when I can. :) I have a few ideas for some interesting posts so watch this space. ;)
Much love
xx
We have officially been in our new flat over a week now and it's been pretty interesting! Moving in was a bit of drama which I won't bore you with, but suffice it to say that we have none of the furniture we were planning to move in with. It's all worked out well, but my plan of using all pre-loved furniture went a little down the drain thanks to some weather mishaps and sizing issues!
We have a new IKEA bedroom set, although I chose one that will be with us for many years to come so I had sustainability in mind there. A new tv, which will also be dead before we replace it - had no choice with this one since the old one got rained on in transit. We also have a brand new sofa and armchair, second hand! Crazy as that sounds, someone a family member knew had the 3 piece set in his garage because he'd bought it and it wasn't right. Still in its wrapping, it had sat there for over a year and after hearing our situation he was happy to give it to us for the low price of: our old sofa that wouldn't fit! So we have a brand new cream leather sofa and it didn't cost us a penny. :)
So minor furniture issues aside, everything has been beyond amazing this last week. I've suffered a few health issues (understatement of the year!) but Tom has been fantastic at looking after me and sorting all the official stuff I've not been able to take care of. We've had great fun playing board games, putting furniture together and moving it around to make it perfect, playing on the wii and generally just enjoyed having our own space. :)
One thing I've been having fun with is finding ways to cut down on our bills, not that we've had one yet! We're on a water meter and our heating is on the electric so we've been cutting back in every way we can without actually sacrificing anything. The heating hasn't gone on except to dry out the mattress when we moved in (seriously - weather mishaps!) and to give the washing a boost drying when it was particularly wet outside. It's actually pretty toasty in the flat until 8/9pm, at which point we pull the blanket off the bed and snuggle up. :)
We're also turning absolutely everything off when it isn't in use - including the oven and washing machine (at the wall that is)! The only things that are running 24/7 in our house are the hot water heater and the fridge/freezer. I'll be really interested to see what our bills come to at the end of the month. I'm hoping they're not that high because I'm not sure we could cut back much more without sacrificing something!
Today's post was a bit of a lengthy one, but I felt I owed you a decent post since I haven't been on much lately! Internet is arriving in our flat on the 25th June and I can't wait! Until then I'll be updating you as and when I can. :) I have a few ideas for some interesting posts so watch this space. ;)
Much love
xx
Posted by
Ami Marshall
Quick update!
Hello lovely readers, I've missed you!
It's lovely to see I'm still getting views even though I'm not posting. :) I've had such a busy few weeks - first of all I got a severe case of tonsilitis which was not fun at all. I had quite a few trips to A&E and more than once I had to argue with them to avoid being admitted! But in the end I won the battle, got some antibiotics that actually worked and now I'm better. :)
We also moved into our new flat which was quite an ordeal in itself. I was still incapacitated with tonsilitis, so my mum and Tom had to pack up our entire house in just a morning. I'm still incredibly impressed that they managed it! I'll have to give you a more detailed run down of the events of the last week later on, I'm on borrowed internet at the moment. But the short of it all is that I have a very amazing partner. Tom has taken every problem thrown at us in his stride and fixed them all, while I looked on in despair (and usually tears). He's made us a lovely little home and we're very happy now. :)
We still don't have internet at the new flat yet, so I'm afraid I won't be posting regularly yet. But the good news is we officially get internet on the 25th of June (providing Virgin don't delay it at all!) so I'll be back to posting for you for definite then.
Sorry for the short post, but I missed you all and wanted to keep you updated! :)
Much love to you all,
Ami
It's lovely to see I'm still getting views even though I'm not posting. :) I've had such a busy few weeks - first of all I got a severe case of tonsilitis which was not fun at all. I had quite a few trips to A&E and more than once I had to argue with them to avoid being admitted! But in the end I won the battle, got some antibiotics that actually worked and now I'm better. :)
We also moved into our new flat which was quite an ordeal in itself. I was still incapacitated with tonsilitis, so my mum and Tom had to pack up our entire house in just a morning. I'm still incredibly impressed that they managed it! I'll have to give you a more detailed run down of the events of the last week later on, I'm on borrowed internet at the moment. But the short of it all is that I have a very amazing partner. Tom has taken every problem thrown at us in his stride and fixed them all, while I looked on in despair (and usually tears). He's made us a lovely little home and we're very happy now. :)
We still don't have internet at the new flat yet, so I'm afraid I won't be posting regularly yet. But the good news is we officially get internet on the 25th of June (providing Virgin don't delay it at all!) so I'll be back to posting for you for definite then.
Sorry for the short post, but I missed you all and wanted to keep you updated! :)
Much love to you all,
Ami
Posted by
Ami Marshall
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
