We’ve just finished reading Louise Hare’s utterly compelling debut novel, This Lovely City for May’s book club.

Set in post-Windrush London, This Lovely City could just as easily have been called This Lonely City as Hare writes a poignant story of young love, shameful prejudice and belonging.

A soaring debut set in the past but with disturbingly accurate contemporary resonance. Let’s find out what the team made of it!

The drinks are flowing. The music is playing. But the party can’t last.
With the Blitz over and London reeling from war, jazz musician Lawrie Matthews has answered England’s call for help. Fresh off the Empire Windrush, he’s taken a tiny room in south London lodgings and has fallen in love with the girl next door. Touring Soho’s music halls by night, pacing the streets as a postman by day, Lawrie has poured his heart into his new home – and it’s alive with possibility. Until, one morning, he makes a terrible discovery. As the local community rallies, fingers of blame are pointed at those who had recently been welcomed with open arms. And, before long, the newest arrivals become the prime suspects in a tragedy which threatens to tear the city apart.

Atmospheric, poignant and compelling, Louise Hare’s debut shows that new arrivals have always been the prime suspects. But, also, that there is always hope.

Zoe

I was excited to get stuck into this book, as a lot of the novels I tend to read, and a lot of the books we’ve had in the book club previously have been set in a more modern era. This is set in London in the late 1940’s post-war Britain, and instantly my imagination is ignited by Louise’s descriptions and atmospheric writing. This book could be described as a murder mystery (something that I was instantly the most drawn to), however, it has a much more educational and poignant element, following Lawrie & Evie and their experiences that are a product of racism during this particular time. Although really sad and quite shocking in parts, it was also intertwined with hope, emotion and fun-loving moments too. Overall the book was thought-provoking and had twists I couldn’t predict which is a big plus for me! A definite read for right now, it makes me sad that the racism Lawrie and Evie face in the 1940s/1950s is still alive today all over the world.

4/5
Would you recommend it? Yes
Would you read it again? Yes

Lareese

What a remarkable debut from Louise Hare. After reading a couple of dark and gritty books recently, This Lovely City’s leisurely pace and authentic characters gave me an opportunity to catch my breath, or so I naively thought as I pored over the first few chapters. I was utterly invested in Lawrie and Evie’s blossoming love story and captivated by the descriptions of their world. That said, this is so much more than a romance novel. Hare doesn’t shy away from the harsh and horrific truths of racism in a post-war 1950s Britain, and alongside the girl-next-door mystery and the jazz-filled music halls, you can’t help but feel desperately uncomfortable and enraged by the abuse and discrimination the Windrush generation had to endure. The lighthearted cover will lull you into a false sense of security but don’t be fooled, Hare’s bright and glossy novel will fill you with shame, dread and hope in equal measure. It’s not always such a lovely city after all!

Rating- 4/5
Would you recommend it? Yes
Would you read it again? Yes

Danielle

I’ve tried to write my review for this book a few times and it’s so hard to put into words how it made me feel. We chose to read This Lovely City in May at the start of the year and tend to pick our book club books in chunks. Picking up This Lovely City this month was hard, but I’ll get to the reason why later. It’s a beautiful novel with so many really lovely qualities and a murder mystery thrown in, so really what’s not to love? The book is featured around an absolute gentleman named Laurie; he is one of many of the Windrush immigrants who came over in post-war Britain to help with labour shortages. He has a relationship with a girl called Evie who is mixed race and has lived in London her whole life. As someone who used to live in London, I adored picturing them both in jazz clubs in Soho in 1948 and 1950 (the story flits between the two). As always, I listened to this book on audible, I loved the accents and the music but some of the awful racism and prejudice that the characters faced made me audibly gasp, and during the current climate, I was left feeling a bit hopeless and thinking WTF has changed? But that’s the point isn’t it, to get angry, to get frustrated and to get things changed. Something we’ve been doing so much more of this month. This book is important, it’s important to know how terrible people were treated when they came to the UK, why none of this was ever taught in school and why we need to start changing the discourse and education from only learning about the strife and success of white people.

Rating- 4/5
Would you recommend it? Definitely
Would you read it again? Yes, I think I would

Charlotte

I love a book set in or around war time, so the 1950 London backdrop was already something I knew I’d love about this story. I really enjoyed the parallels of the two main characters and found myself attached and invested in both of their outcomes- the detail and pace throughout the book means you really have time for this relationship to develop. I loved how the book explored so many issues prevalent at that time, and felt like it built a clear picture of how sexism and racism manifested in every day life. The successes and failings of every character largely stemmed from these two defining factors of life in the 50s. I really enjoyed the story up until the ending/big reveal, which felt rushed in comparison to the otherwise slower pace of the rest of the book. I don’t feel like the twist was all that realistic or fitting with the remainder of the story, so that was slightly disappointing. I did however love the final chapter which went forward in time, and found that did in fact answer a few questions and gave some closure on the previous events. Overall I’d definitely recommend it!

Rating- 4.5/5
Would you recommend it? Yes
Would you read it again? Yes

Darcey

As a slow reader I am always one of the last to finish the book, normally coming right up to the cusp of us reviewing it. So, I have read majority of this book in the past week. I’ll add why that is important at the end. I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this book, following the developing love story between Evie and Lawrie. It really gives you an insight into the late 1940’s, socially and politically. The book has a murder mystery intertwined, with Lawrie and Evie more involved than they both realised. The book was a slow burner but I really enjoyed this as I felt like I got to learn about all the characters in depth. I was surprised by the ending, I didn’t imagine it to play out how it did, but I liked the twist. The ending happened quite quickly and I would have liked it to have played out more in depth like the rest of the book. Now going back to my first point, the book is centred around the Windrush immigrants who came over to help Britain after the war, with Lawrie coming over to London in 1948. The racism and prejudice they had to endure was difficult to read, difficult as I read the book and wondered how so much of this still plays in our society today. How it can be 2020, the week I am reading the book, a man is killed in America because of his skin colour. That this is happening monthly, even weekly. I felt sad and angry, I want so desperately to make a difference where I can, to learn more and educate myself on my own white privilege. I hope the events this week are a catalyst for change, this cannot go on any longer.

Rating- 4/5
Would you recommend it? Yes
Would you read it again? No

Holly

Well, this one started with a bang! From the first few pages I was pretty engrossed. I love history and am so interested in the 40’s/50’s anyway so knew I’d like this one. I loved the two main characters, Lawrie and Evie, and I loved the realness of the story as well as the themes; racism, sexism and just how backwards the world was back then. Which is why I was a bit disappointed with the ending. The whole book was very factual and I found it so easy to imagine living in those times but I just found the ending a tad unbelievable. That being said, the actual ending, as in where they skip to 6 months time is perfect and had me crying. I did really enjoy ‘This lovely City’ and would 100% recommend it.

Rating- 3.5/5
Would you recommend it? Yes
Would you read it again? Yes

Amy

I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading This Lovely City (I don’t think the cover gives much away), but I was captivated by this heart-wrenching, deeply moving story. Lawrie is one of the ‘Windrush generation’, a Jamaican immigrant who arrives in London in the aftermath of the Second World War who works as a postman and as a musician in various jazz clubs around the city. He suffers from the racist actions of the police and local community when a mixed-race baby is found in the waters of Clapham Common, which threatens not only his safety in his new home, but his chance at love with his neighbour Evie. I thought Louise Hare did an incredible job at describing the atmosphere of the time, and I was transported to post-war Britain. I live currently in South London so many of the locations were familiar to me – and yet she unearthed so much of the history and stories that are often buried or forgotten. A wonderful read – and although I read this on my Kindle, I’ve ordered a hardcover of this beautiful book for my shelves.

Rating- 4.5/5
Would you recommend it? Yes
Would you read it again? Yes

This June we’ll be reading two books, The Switch by Beth O’Leary and Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge

Last month, we introduced a daily photo challenge to remember our days in lockdown and get our creative juices flowing.

We included photo prompts to inspire you to share your beautiful imagery from both past and present. Some of us posted beachy wanderlust shots from the deep depths of our holiday archives whilst others lived in the moment, embracing the instant nature of Instagram.

There were so many brilliant and original ideas and we have loved seeing how many of you took part.

To mark the end of the challenge, we’ve rounded up a selection of a few of our favourite #ComeWhatMay moments!

@Polinarhae

As of this moment, a dandelion is never to be considered a weed ever again. What a dreamy shot.

@Polinarhae

 

@Polinarhae

Another beautiful shot from Polina showing her city some love.

@Polinarhae

@ellieandjolie

You can’t beat blue skies and Spring blooms. Sisters Ellie and Jolie really made this photo challenge their own, we loved seeing how creative they got with each daily prompt.

@ellieandjolie

@lovingpralines

Look at this breakfast table of dreams. We were living vicariously through Franzi’s pretty posts throughout the whole of May.

@lovingpralines

@chloe_bell

From her little salad garden to her social dis-dancing, we loved seeing Chloe’s gloriously real and relatable posts of lockdown life as it happened.

@chloe_bell

@annamargeti

Day 30: ‘Let it bloom’ featuring these gorgeous daisies. We’re obsessed.

@annamargeti

@jheyrmab

“Together” A cool candid shot reminiscing of a time where we could be within 2 metres of each other!

@jheyrmab

@ellieandjolie

Who knew bath water could be this beautiful? Bravo girls!

@ellieandjolie

@lifeofols

Just Ollie the bouncy sprocker spaniel, living his best life. What a handsome pup!

@lifeofols

@Laurenmusinguzi

Lauren and her daughter “dreaming of” coffee shops, chips by the sea and even baby & Toddler groups!

@laurenmusinguzi

@lareesecraig

Rupi Kaur’s poetry + pretty little petals = a winning combination.

@lareesecraig

@melonisalone

One of our favourite floral portraits.

@melonisalone

@shannonhollies

Casually out here making strawbs look like an art form. We applaud you, Shannon.

@shannonhollies

@antleyswonderland

The perfect image to describe Bank Holiday Happiness! We loved so many of Sean’s entries.

@antleyswonderland

@darth_cydious

Versace on the floor is cool but have you ever had breakfast on the floor? This is a total vibe.

@darth_cydious

@mandyclshek

Tokyo dreaming! We loved this photo for Day 9: Wanderlust.

@mandyclshek

@manonvrm

All the travel inspo. What we’d give to be floating in a blue lagoon right now.

@manonvrm

@shanonhollies

Like a real like Dr Dolittle. This is insane!

@shanonhollies

@ohhsorosie

Books and coffee never looked so good.

@ohhsorosie

@jheyrmab

Day 11: ‘Gratitude Attitude’, interpreted beautifully by Jerleena and these fields of gold.

@jheyrmab

@ellycuriouswords

Blooming. Lovely!

@ellycuriouswords

@ohhsorosie

Pretty little sprigs of dried gypsophila.

@ohhsorosie

@_amylt

Isn’t nature incredible? Candy floss skies for days.

@_amylt

@annamargeti

Day 21: ‘Stay Connected’ – this image of a community street party made our hearts happy.

@annamargeti

@ellycuriouswords

We love the simplicity of this delicate daisy, shot in Elly’s garden.

@ellycuriouswords

@lovingpralines

Idyllic scenes of a trip to beautiful Eibsee lake in Germany. Come through mother nature!

@lovingpralines

@polinarhae

Bike riding through wild meadows – the perfect photo to accompany our Day 26: ‘Time Well Spent’ prompt.

@polinarhae

@lareesecraig

More cheery daisies continuing to bloom and brighten up our camera rolls.

@lareesecraig

We’d love to know if you took part in our photo challenge and if would like to see more of these? Let us know!

Following the tragic news surrounding the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers, many people are asking themselves, ‘what can I do, what can I say, what action can I take?’ to eradicate systematic racism and fight for justice.

Overt and covert racism isn’t just an American problem. It’s a worldwide injustice. We are all accountable for the energy and actions that cause harm to BIPOC. We must ask more of ourselves and our friends and interrogate tough truths; to lean into the discomfort and denial and seek to understand our privilege as white people and what that power and protection has afforded us.

It’s never too late to cultivate change, empathy and education. To be better and do better. If you’re wondering where to start with your learning, or how to dismantle institutional racism in your own life and immediate circles – because, yes, it exists – we’ve rounded up some insightful resources to help you begin this life-long work.

It’s not up to our black friends to do the work, they are exhausted enough and still, we dare to ask more of them; to carry more weight for us. Enough.

The obligation to challenge the ways white supremacy resides within you is no one else’s job but your own. We all have to put in the work to undo the silence. Start now – speak up, be an active ally and, if nothing else, make it a priority to listen and learn.

Now more than ever, we need to use our voices to verbalise a narrative that doesn’t belong to us but that was systematically created by us, and to keep the volume up until black people and POC can breathe.

Below is by no means a comprehensive list, and we will look to constantly update it. If you think we are missing something important, drop it in the comments.

Accounts you can follow

Nova Reid – @Novareidoffical on Instagram Nova runs in depth and comprehensive anti racism courses. For anyone in a financial position to do so the knowledge you gain about becoming a better ally to POC is invaluable.

Munroe Bergdorf – @Munroebergdorf on Instagram

Donté Colley – @Dontecolley on Instagram

Stephanie Yeboah – @StephanieYeboah on Instagram – be sure to check out Stephanie’s IGTV ‘I’m tired of the white tears’ Her blog, her book, and her Patreon here. Steph has also hosted a Tuesday Takeover on Zoella, you can watch it here.

Chrissy Rutherford – @Chrissyford on Instagram. Chrissy uploaded a very helpful IGTV titles “It’s not enough to just say “I’m not racist”

Nicole Ocran – @Nicoleocran on Instagram. Nicole’s BLM highlight is really insightful and points out the emotional labour that POC go through when white people continually ask for help/directions/resources.

Jameela Jamil – @JameelaJamilOfficial on Instagram

Florence Given – @Florencegiven on Instagram

Rachel Elizabeth Cargle – @Rachel.cargle on Instagram.

Layla F. Saad – @Laylafsaad on Instagram Layla is the author of Me and White Supremacy.

Dom Roberts – @Domrobxtrts on Insgagram.

The Grief Case – @Thegriefcase on Instagram. Specifically, take a look at this post about supporting black communities.

The Conscious Kid – @theconsciouskid on Instagram. If you are a parent take a look at this post discussing the idea that children may be ‘too young’ to learn about race issues and how racism can be reinforced by the silence of white care givers.

Mireille C Harper – @Mireillecharper on Instagram. Be sure to read her post on education and advice regarding non-optical-allyship.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – @AOC on Instagram congresswoman for NY has been sharing helpful information for those protesting.

Janaya Future Khan – @Janayathefuture on Instagram. Janaya has uploaded a live-stream to her IGTV aimed at white people only, to teach and educate, for people wanting to know what else they can do to help.

Gal-Dem Magazine – @galdemzine on Instagram.

From Privilege to Progress – @Privtoprog on Instagram.

Yazzie – @Standforhumanity on Instagram. Yazzie has also hosted a Tuesday Takeover on Zoella, you can watch it here.

Black Lives Matter – @Blklivesmatter on Instagram.

Books you can read

Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge. Reni is also asking people who buy her book to purchase from small independent sellers or better yet borrow from a friend and spend the money on donating.

Me and White Supremacy: How to Recognise Your Privilege, Combat Racism and Change the World by Layla F. Saad.

White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo. Find Robin’s other literature, podcasts, articles and more here.

I Am Not Your Baby Mother by Candice Braithwaite

So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo

Race Matters by Cornel West

I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a world made for whiteness by Austin Channing Brown

Shows, Documentaries and Ted Talks you can watch

When They See Us – Netflix – “Five teens from Harlem become trapped in a nightmare when they’re falsely accused of a brutal attack in Central Park. Based on the true story”

I Am Not Your Negro – Documentary Amazon – “The memoir recounts the lives of James Baldwin’s close friends and civil rights leaders Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and Medgar Evers.”

Dear White People – Netflix

The Hate U Give -Hulu

What happens when I try to talk race with white people – YouTube – Insightful short video ft Renni Eddo-Lodge (author of Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race) that really succinctly sums up the issues at play when discussing racism with white people. Easy and accessible language amongst maybe some of the more academic content online.

White People, Enough: A Look at Power and Control | Jaelyn Coates | TEDxCSU

Let’s get to the root of racial injustice | Megan Ming Francis | TEDxRainier

Not all Superheros wear capes-how you have the power to change the world | Nova Reid | TEDxFrankfurt

Petitions you can sign

List of petitions you can sign from Black Lives Canada – This includes area codes you can use if you are not based in the US

Petition to Defund the police

Colour of Change petition to charge all officers involved with George Floyds murder be charged with murder

Change.org petition for jusitce for George Floyd

Black Lives Matter, two petitions you can sign to help black communities dealing with coronavirus and demanding racial data.

Black Lives Matter petition to defund the police

Places you can donate

Official George Floyd Memorial Fund Go Fund Me Page

List of funds for victims from Black Lives Matter

List of ways you can donate to help protestors

Important places you can donate to including the BLM Fund

Protest Information

Important information and numbers for those protesting in the US

UK Protest Information

What to bring and wear to a protest

Brighton Protest Information

Articles you can read

Why You Need to Stop Saying “All Lives Matter” By Rachel Cargle

10 Habits of Someone Who Doesn’t Know They’re Anti-Black

How to be a white ally by Stephanie Yeboah (Patreon)

100 Ways White People Can Make Life Less Frustrating For People of Color

Podcasts you can listen to

Code: Switch NPR – “Hosted by journalists of color, our podcast tackles the subject of race head-on.” Explores everything from pop culture, to politics, to sport. Race impacts every part of life.

Momentum: A Race Forward – Features movement voices, stories, and strategies for racial justice.

Intersectionality Matters! – Intersectionality Matters! is a podcast hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw, an American civil rights advocate and a leading scholar of critical race theory.

About Race – Hosted by Reni Eddo-Lodge

Nova Reid and Vicki & Selina from loveprojectlove – A powerful conversation about race, racism and white privilege with Nova Reid

Never mind sexual healing, crystal healing is where it’s at! The holistic therapy is having a moment and let’s just say, we’re definitely attracted to the good vibrations.

Here, we explore the natural superpower of those otherworldly stones and how to make the most of their healing energy.

Energy vampires, you can’t sit with us…

History and origins

Ancient civilisations used crystals as protective talisman and peace offerings. The ancient Egyptians used crystals like lapis lazuli, carnelian, turquoise, clear quartz, and emerald in their amulets and jewellery for health and protection, whilst jade was the favoured stone in Ancient China and is still revered today.

In the Renaissance period in Europe, healing crystals and precious stones were used alongside herbal remedies to heal the sick. So in terms of historical healing power, they go way back.

What is crystal healing?

When worn close to the skin or placed throughout your home on your windowsill and bedside table, crystals can act as a channel for healing, drawing out negative energy and cleansing your chakras by inviting positivity and mindfulness into your life.

A beginner’s guide to essential crystals

Each crystal has its own unique energetic properties and vibrational power according to its shape, colour and mineral content.

Amethyst – enhances intuition, calms the mind and encourages us to tap into the higher planes of existence.

Clear quartz – known as the master healer, it regulates energy and aids concentration and awareness.

Rose quartz – known as the ‘love crystal’, it’s used to promote emotional wellbeing, self-love and compassion. Use it to balance your heart chakra, protect relationships and encourage connection.

Iron pyrite – deters negative energy and boosts self-worth.

Tiger’s eye – the stone of sun and earth focuses the mind and promotes mental clarity.

Jade – a symbol of serenity and purity, it soothes the mind and encourages harmony.

Citrine – associated with creativity and personal power, citrine is considered one of the most powerful stones for manifestation. Citrine also promotes motivation and optimism.

Selenite – Instils deep peace and clarity of thought.

Choosing your crystals

Once you know the basics, let your intuition guide you. Crystal experts say you don’t choose the crystal, it chooses you, so listen to your gut. When you’re drawn to a certain stone, it means it resonates with your healing needs.

How to cleanse your crystals

To get the most out of your crystals, you will need to charge and remove any stale or congested energy once a week. There are a few different ways to cleanse them:

• Return them to the earth (soil) to recharge for a week
• Burn a smudge stick to purify the air around them
• Leave them to charge in the moonlight for three days before and three days after a full moon, this is when the moon is at its brightest and most powerful
• Cleanse them with salt water to purify negative energy (not suitable for stones that can’t get wet such as amber and turquoise).

Manifest your goals

Thoughts create vibrations and vibrations = energy. Contemplate your intentions, connect with your goals and explore the areas of your life that you want to nurture.

Command your crystals

Once you have your crystals, it’s important to give them a purpose. They want to be used! Hold your crystals in your hand and reflect on the earth, your life and what makes you happy. Aloud or in your head (whatever you’re most comfortable with) say, ‘I command this crystal to hold the intention of…’ and choose three intentions. Finish the ritual by saying thank you. The crystals are now energised with your intentions and goals.

Best of healing beauty

If you’re looking for a way to incorporate crystal healing into your life that doesn’t involve carrying a lump of rose quartz in your pocket, get your cosmic fix with our edit of gemstone infused beauty & lifestyle products. Cleanse your chakras and your pores!

*This post contains ad-affiliate links

There’s no denying that self-portraiture takes time and patience but it’s a great way to get creative with your photography and challenge yourself.

Despite the softening of lockdown measures, many of us are still restricted to shooting and styling our own content from home or whilst out on our socially-distanced walks, so now’s a good opportunity to build your confidence and get familiar with shooting self-portrait.

We’ve pulled together a few fail-safe tips to help you capture your best self(ie). Ready for your close-up?

Tool-kit essentials

To get the best results, use a tripod (camera or phone) with wireless remote shutter or self-timer, shop our top pick here. If you haven’t got a tripod, you can also use the front-facing camera on your phone on self-timer mode, propped up against a bookshelf or a ledge. Use burst mode and move slowly to get a variety of angles/poses to choose from.

You can also try using the portrait mode on iPhone, or a low F-Stop (4 – 5.6) to achieve a lovely blurry background in your photos.

Shoot with natural light

When shooting indoors, position yourself by a window, ideally with the light source directly in front of you. If you’re outside avoid harsh direct sunlight and instead head for shade or wait for some cloud cover to avoid squinting into the sun.

If you’re shooting around your house, find some interesting shadows on walls and experiment with their shapes. Wine glass and flower shadows always make for a great photo.

Golden hour is every photographer’s dream – if you’re after that beautiful soft dreamlike glow, get outside with your camera a few hours before sunset. It’s basically magic.

Focus on a feature

You don’t always have to get your whole body in frame when you’re shooting self-portrait. The real beauty of self-portrait is in capturing your true ‘self’ and our hands and eyes are the best storytellers.

Try standing relatively close to the camera and reaching out a hand towards the lens for an arty editorial vibe or shoot a close up of your eye looking straight into the lens. You can then make a 9 x9 collage of your self-portrait best bits – a little bit of you in each square.

Another tip is to place a small mirror on the bed and capture a detail such as a necklace or a frilly sleeve.

Use props

Awkward hands? No problem. If you’re finding it hard to know what to do with your hands in your photos, holding a prop can help keep them occupied. Magazines, a bag, a bouquet of flowers, a cup of coffee or a beauty product – the world’s your oyster.

Top tip: never underestimate the power of a plain white sheet, a backdrop stand and a tripod, my friends. If you haven’t got an abundance of plain walls in your home, this is a great alternative and it just so happens to look very fashun editorial, too.

You can use all kinds of items around your home for backdrops and setting props. Here’s a few of our go-tos:

• Plain walls
• Curtains
• Bed sheets
• Plants / dried flowers
• Vases
• Chair / stool
• Books

Shoot nice and early

Lockdown or not, shooting at peak time with lots of people and busy streets to navigate can be tricky. Make your life easier by shooting first thing in the morning or later in the evening during golden hour. Quiet locations often make for the best spots for self-portraiture. Go and explore and enjoy the calm before the rest of the world wakes up.

Consider the colours of your photos

What colours will you be wearing and how will these complement or contrast your backdrop? Wearing a bright orange raincoat in a green forest setting can look much more effective than wearing brown or green in the same setting, for example.

Shoot your reflection

Shooting directly into a mirror to capture your reflection can create a beautiful self-portrait. It also looks pretty cool to have your camera or phone in shot. Experiment with other reflective surfaces like puddles and windows, or use natural light to shoot your shadow form.

Try black and white

Removing colour from your self-portrait will dial up the drama in your composition and heighten mood and emotion. It’s particularly effective when you have a photo with a strong contrast of light and dark. If you think about wedding photography, for example, the white of the bride’s dress pops when set against a dense forest or a dark and atmospheric church venue. Play with the contrast and shadow in post-production when you’re editing to make the black and white edit really stand out.

Play with angles

Self-portrait doesn’t always have to mean shooting front-on at eye level. Change the perspective by shooting from above or below and start to create a visual story.

Top tip: Put your phone on self-timer and tape a cereal box to your ceiling to hold your phone for the perfect from above photo. Et voila!

Add texture and character to your photos

Images captured on a film camera have a beautiful raw texture, but you don’t need to be a film photography whizz to achieve that retro look in your photos. Whether your portraits are colourful or B&W, you can recreate the nostalgic film effect by adding grain (it might be under ‘texture’ or ‘detail’ in your editing app). You can also play with saturation to make your self-portrait to look less vibrant and more tonal and timeworn. Try shooting through sheer fabric and lace to create hazy, ethereal self-portraits, too!

Don’t be afraid of movement

Your self-portrait doesn’t always have to be perfectly sharp and in focus – sometimes blur and movement make for the best photos. Bring on the bloopers!

Maximise your shoot

Since you’ve got your camera and tripod all set up, utilise this time to capture multiple looks or visuals in one session.

Editing

There are a variety of editing apps ready to download and use from your phone. From fixing skewed images, creating vignette, sharpening and brightening, the best way to get to know what each of the editing tools does is by having a play around. You can also find a preset you love and use it to help curate your Instagram feed with beautiful cohesive imagery.

Here are a few of our favourite editing apps:

Lightroom
VSCO
Snapseed
A Color Story

Curate your unique visual story

After you’ve shot and edited your self-portrait, you might want to share it on your Instagram feed, stories or your Pinterest board. You can craft your own unique visual story by experimenting with hundreds of creative templates, custom brushes, fonts and layouts using Template app. From film strips to paint splashes and worn scrapbooks, elevate your portraits with a cohesive aesthetic and design.

Are you going to have a go at shooting self-portrait? Let us know how you get on!

Oreo, good. Bourbon, good. Brownies, GOOD. It’s a triple threat situation and we want it in and around our mouths quicker than you can say Bruce Bogtrotter.

SERVES 8

PREP: 30 MINS COOK: 30 MINS

EASY

INGREDIENTS

Ingredients

• 200g dark chocolate
• 140g plain flour (or you can substitute this for self-raising flour for a denser brownie)
• 200g caster sugar
• 20g cocoa powder
• 1tsp baking powder
• 80ml vegetable oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 240ml soya milk
• 1/2 pack of Bourbon biscuits
• 1/2 pack of Oreo biscuits

Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees, then create a bain-marie by filling a small saucepan halfway with water to simmer.

Place a heatproof bowl on top of the saucepan, making sure the bottom isn’t touching the water, then break up your chocolate into the bowl and let it melt over a low heat.

Whilst the chocolate is melting, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder and cocoa into a large mixing bowl and whisk to combine.

Add the oil, milk and vanilla into the dry mix and whisk until just combined, then pour in the melted chocolate.

Crumble in a few biscuits, mix again until just combined making sure there is no dry mix around the sides or bottom of the bowl then pour into a lined tin.

Scatter the remaining Bourbon and Oreo biscuits over the top. Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Let the brownie cool completely before removing from the tin and cutting into thick glorious slices. Serve/ smash the whole lot. This is lockdown guys, we’re stepping it up.

Suffice to say, the houseplant trend is going nowhere fast and we’re mighty glad about that because, well, life is better with plants.
They make our homes brighter and greener and our air cleaner just by existing, and all we have to do is just, you know, keep them alive. Easier said than done!

With so many glorious types to choose from, you’re bound to come across some species that are slightly trickier to care for than your average low maintenance succulent. Boston ferns, what did we ever do to you?

If, like us, you’re a serial plant slayer, here’s your chance to turn a new leaf and be the good plant mum you were always destined to be. Here’s our essential guide to caring for your precious leaf babies.

Overwatering is just as bad as under-watering

The biggest plant crime = Overwatering. Killing them with kindness until they die a slow root rot death. Sound familiar?

Every plant has different water requirements – succulents like to get bone dry between each watering while ferns prefer permanently moist soil conditions, so get to know your plant’s individual needs and tailor your care for each of them.

You can check if your plant needs watering by placing your fingertip into the top 2 inches of soil. If it’s dry and crumbly, it’s definitely time for a good shower. You can also invest in a probe tool to measure the soil condition accurately or simply pick up the plant and weigh it by hand. If it feels light, it needs a drink! Purchase your probe tool here.

Find its happy place

Try shuffling your plants around the house to find the best light to suit their needs. You might picture your plant trailing a bookshelf somewhere, or hanging in a windowless bathroom, but you’ll have to get used to letting your plant dictate where it wants to put down roots. Like an unruly toddler, they know their own mind. Make your peace with that.

Make sure there’s enough light

Some plants love strong direct sun, while others will be happiest with bright morning light and some shade. But what does all that actually mean?

Direct sun means ideally within 2ft of a south-facing window, while bright indirect light is 4-5ft away from an east or west-facing window. If your plant becomes ‘leggy’, stops growing, or the leaves turn yellow, it’s likely not getting enough light. And if your plant’s leaves are browning, curling or appear dry and brittle, then they’re getting too much of a good thing.

Pay attention to any changes

If your plant isn’t a happy bunny, it will soon let you know. Keep an eye on the leaves, feel the soil, check how much sun it’s getting – it’s a full time job but if you care for them properly, you’ll be able to enjoy them in your home for longer.

Beware of heaters and draughts

Keep your plants away from radiators, doors and draughty windows. House plants don’t like to be too cold or too hot, they’re like Goldilocks. They want their conditions to be ‘just right’.

Give them a snack

To top up their soil nutrients, pamper your plants with a healthy dose of fertiliser throughout growing season (March – September). You can buy houseplant food from most supermarkets and garden centres.

Adapt with the seasons

Scale back your feeding and watering in the Winter months. Much like humans, plants slow down in the colder months when they’re no longer actively growing.

Keep the dust away

Dust can block light and harbour insects. Keep leafy plants clean and dust-free by using a damp cloth and gently removing the dust or place the whole plant in the shower and rinse. This is a good way to remove pests such as spider mites and mealybugs. If your plant has an ongoing problem with pests, quarantine the plant, buy a spray treatment and continue to use regularly until the bugs are gone. Purchase your spray treatment here.

Repot when necessary

Most houseplants will come already potted with drainage holes and as a general rule of thumb, this will keep them happy for a year or two. Some variations such as Ficus, Peace Lily and Ferns prefer to be slightly pot-bound but even they will need re-potting eventually.

There’s a few tell-tale signs of a root bound plant to look out for. One of the most obvious signs is roots growing through the drainage holes at the bottom. Turn the pot over and inspect the bottom, you may need to gently remove the pot to get a closer look. If you see a mass of pale roots in the shape of the pot wrapped around the plant, it’s time for action. Give the plant a good watering the day before repotting to reduce stress and make the root workable.

Mist with caution

Aha, misting – the most controversial topic among plant parents! Certain houseplants enjoy a gentle misting but take heed, it’s not suitable for all types. Some are susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections when their foliage is exposed to too much water but tropical houseplants such as Palms and Ferns love high humidity and will thrive with a light morning mist.

The air in our homes is generally dry, so misting is a simple and effective way to boost humidity. You can also group several plants together in close proximity to increase air moisture.

Avoid a soggy bottom

Plants hate having wet feet, which is why most pots have drainage holes to prevent root rot. If in doubt, water your plants in the shower like one big drunken forest orgy. After you’ve given them a good drink, leave them to drain for at least an hour before popping them back in their pots.

Keep your plants hydrated while you’re away

If you’re going on holiday and haven’t nominated a family member to keep an eye on your beloved plant babies, these self-watering globes ensure your plant takes water gradually and only when needed for up to two weeks. Genius!

Plants for beginners

These easy-going plants are a good entry point for any first-time plant mums.

Golden Pothos (Epipremnum Aureum)
Snake plant (Mother-in-Law’s Tongue)
Cacti
Succulents
Spider plant (Chlorophytum)
Dracaena

What’s your favourite house plant? Let us know in the comments below!

First of all how are you and how are you coping in lockdown?

I’ve actually only just got into some sort of groove. I was positive for the first two weeks and then coronavirus affected my family and I basically didn’t move from my bed or the sofa for a month. I was overwhelmed. I still am, but now I’m getting back to work (at my little corner desk) and managing to get moving each day with a walk or a workout. It’s still ups and downs though… and I still haven’t put jeans on yet!

Tell us about some of the work you do

I work as a writer, broadcaster and campaigner. I do a lot of speaking at events and with industries – truth to power stuff on gender equality and pushing against the establishment – and I contribute to BBC Radio 5 Live with my slot Gina’s Gamechangers. I’m also an ambassador for UN WomenUK. I work to show ordinary people like me that you can change things if you feel injustice. The main issues I talk around are gender equality, white privilege and human rights. I want to make politics and the conversation around it more accessible to people because it’s so bloody complex and gatekept.

A lot of people will know you as being the woman who got upskirting made illegal, how did it all come about?

Ah yes! I am the upskirting girl and proud of it! I was working in an ad agency in London when I was upskirted in 2017 at British Summertime Festival and after handing the guys, and the picture, into the police I was told there was nothing I could do. So, I launched a two-year legal battle with the Government and my lawyer Ryan and we changed the law in April 2019.

We love your book Be the Change, tell us all about it!

When I first thought about kicking up a stink about upskirting not being a Sexual Offence I googled “how do you change a law?” And literally nothing came up (surprise, surprise!). I realised I was going to have to figure it out on my own and thankfully I managed to, but everything you read on politics and law and campaigning is so dry and complex and full of jargon. So, I decided to write the book I had needed back at the beginning when I had no idea what I was doing. I packed it full of all the things I learnt – everything from using social media for campaigns to public speaking to doing TV interviews to writing a press release. It’s all in there. And it’s all accessibly written and easy to understand! Order Be the Change here.

What was it like to write a book and do you have any advice for someone who wants to write one?

It was amazing but stressful – I was on a tight deadline. I wrote my book in two months as the law was about to change and I was encouraged to release it right after that happened. That worked out though as I was able to write it fairly fast as I was basically collating all this info I’d learnt in the last few years! My advice for a non-fiction book would be to;

A) Create a really single-minded and clear angle for it

B) Don’t try and write like you think you should – you’ll do this without noticing – but allow your tone of voice to shine through.

C) My friend Sam said to me “just get the paint on the wall and perfect it after!” And she’s right; just get the words down! You’ll have time to go over it two or three times and make it better, but the scariest thing is a blank page.

Tell us about your work with UN Women UK

I’ve looked up to them for a long time. They really wanted to work with individuals who not only cared about an issue but were already doing the work to change it. I met Claire Barnett, the Executive Director and we clicked straight away. Since then it’s basically like a big round- table where the ambassadors (me and others) learn about the work UN WomenUK are doing, consult, throw around ideas to help develop projects and then support their mission through our networks and our platforms.

For Instance, they’re launching a digital Everyday Allyship Platform which I’m really excited about, and I’m writing a piece for them and discussing how I could support it with Claire. It’s a very open and honest discourse which I love because that’s hard to find – even in this work!

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

It was, of course, changing the law. But not even because I achieved it, just because it made me so hopeful to think “so, someone who has zero political or legal experience and scraped by in school can change the law?!” It made things feel possible. That or when Annie Lennox emailed me to tell me she loves my work and then I met her and she gave me the biggest cuddle and took me over to meet her team. I literally almost wet myself I was so happy.

What are you currently working on?

Coronavirus has meant I’ve shifted my perspective a bit. I was putting a lot of energy into being on the ground with people, in rooms, speaking, having discussions and now I obviously can’t do that the same way. I’m working on some broadcast opportunities which will look at ordinary people who are pushing to change things which is very exciting.

Right now though I’m most excited about the podcast I’ve launched with my sister Stevie who is a comedian and journalist. It’s called Might Delete Later and it dives into people social media timelines like we do family photo albums, looking at embarrassing posts, big regrets and proud moments. Plus, it asks us to really think about our relationship with social media. It’s been such a joy to have a laugh and work on something where I can be silly Gina not only Gina Martin the Activist!

Who are some of your current favourite follows online?

God, how long do you have!? For learning, I love @rachel.cargle, @munroebergdorf, @mikaelaloach, @jamie_windust @ajabarber, For beautiful words, I love @charlycox1 and @quotesbychristie. For art, I adore @kellyannalondon @hillergoodspeed @weewaaz and for fashion or beauty, I go to @emilisindlev @katiejanehughes @rowisingh. There are about 10,000 more but I’ll stop myself.

What do you always carry with you?

My phone, but after that probably Weleda Skin food, Fenty beauty concealer and Ardell Stroke-A-Brow because I always have dry lips, a hormonal spot goatee and I like my brows to be bushy!

What does your perfect weekend look like?

Oh, what a gorgeous question. Well, it would start with the world being free from Coronavirus. And then my perfect weekend would be my parents and sister coming to stay. We’d wake up late, have coffee and then walk to our favourite tiny cafe and have brekkie. Maybe then we’d all go for a family walk to the park and sit in the sun, before heading home to hang around the house eating nibble bits and have naps. After, we woke up and got ready we’d go out for some red wine at a nice cosy bar and finish the day having Italian at Circolo Popolare! On the Sunday we’d wander around London for hours, grabbing food at a food market and come home to watch a movie and all get takeaway together. I’d kill to have that time with my family. We talk for hours upon hours.

If you could only eat one meal again what would it be?

Pasta. Not even a doubt in my mind. Any pasta. All Pasta. Pasta for brekkie, lunch and dinner. With Garlic bread. Am I allowed to add a backup and say Mexican? Because I have to give that an honourable mention – but pasta has my heart. Going to go and cook some right this second.

If you could give one positive message to our followers what would it be?

Look at your experience from the bottom up, not the top down. On everything. From where you are in the world; your rights, your privileges to personal things like your achievements and your successes. Realise you have an obligation: to do your best for other people. They need you. We all need each other. Oh, and no one can tell you you’re not the right person to make the world a better place.

Follow Gina Martin on Instagram here!

This week the team are talking through their current go-to beauty products! From skincare to setting spray, we’ve definitely switched up what we’re reaching for, now the temperatures are rising, swapping full coverage for fake tan! Getting ready for a night out feels like a lifetime ago but that won’t stop us going from 0 to 100 just for a video call with our mates. Hands up who can’t wait for their big beauty reveal post lockdown!

Charlotte

I’ve tried various foundations over the years, but throughout my acne/oily stages to a more dry complexion, and now settling at my more normal skin type, this foundation has been with me through it all! It’s glowy, can be built to full coverage and the shade Mont Blanc is my perfect colour match. There’s nothing not to love!

*Nars Sheer Glow Foundation £33.50 

*Carmex classic duo £5.99 

*The Body Shop Honey Bronze Powder £14 

*Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder £32 

*Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray £26 

*The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% £8.90 

 

Danielle

Starting off with skincare, I was recently -influenced- by Zoe to try the Lumene Nordic-C Glow boost essence and I’m already a HUGE fan. I also bought the vitamin c brightening moisturiser and both products are really lovely together, I can already tell I’ll be repurchasing. Now that the sun is shining and my tan has started coming out the woodworks I’m back to adding the Tan-Luxe drops into my routine. So much better than trying to get a tan on your face and they’re so great to use overnight. For makeup, I’ve recently fallen in love with Nars Radiant Creamy long-wear foundation, I was never a big fan of Nars Sheer Glow so didn’t bother to try it but it is such a lovely formulation and my skin has never looked better. I’ve added in Hoola Caramel as it’s also a bit of a game-changer for bronzing and contouring in the summer it’s a beautiful warm shade. For my glow, it has to be Becca. I use the backlight priming filter for a lit from within vibe under foundation and go in with their highlighter after. I’m a champagne Pop girl through and through but I’m also considering an Opal purchase.

*Lumene Nordic C Glow Boost £29.90 

*Lumene Nordic C Overnight Bright Sleeping Cream £22.50 

*Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation £35 

*Tan-Luxe The Face Tanning Drops £35 

*Benefit Hoola Caramel £27 

*Becca Backlight Priming Filter £28 

*Becca Shimmering skin perfector pressed highlighter £16 

Jade

I’m the kind of person that finds a product I like and then I stay loyal to that same product for years!

This face scrub has been a game-changer for me. Not only is it made from repurposed coffee grounds from London Cafes but it works wonders for my face and leaves my skin so moisturised and soft.

I absolutely love this Herbivore Lapis Oil I pop it onto a bare face/neck before bed, using upward strokes. Feels amazing!

It took me so long to find a brow product that worked for me. I have quite sparse dark brows and the Glossier Brow Flick fills them in and keeps them looking natural.

Finally, the Bare Minerals Matt Powder Foundation provides brilliant coverage and feels so light on your skin.

*UpCircle Coffee Face Scrub Herbal Blend £12.99 

*HERBIVORE Lapis Balancing Facial Oil £22.00 

*Glossier Brow Flick £15 

*bareMinerals Original Loose Mineral Foundation £28 

Zoe

bareMinerals Original Foundation – I’ve talked about my love of this fabulous foundation for years. With only 5 ingredients and very buildable, you’d expect this not to give much coverage as it’s a powder foundation, but it’s as sheer or as full as you want it to be. I also love it because it’s light & you don’t feel as though you’re really wearing anything. It also makes your skin look glowy & healthy too!

bareMinerals barepro glow liquid highlight – I’ve been loving adding a liquid highlighter to my moisturiser if I’m having a no-makeup day (which was pretty much every day last week). It gives your skin that glowy look without doing an entire face of makeup.

Tan-luxe Face fake tan drops – I’ve also been adding tanning drops to my moisturiser or serum at night to give me a bit more of a summer glow and these have been my go-to! If I’m having a day of no makeup however, I’ve used the loving tan fake tan and applied that to my face with a makeup brush and then washed off a couple of hours later. I’ve become a bit obsessed!

Allies of Skin Mandelic Night Serum – At a much higher price point than a lot of my other skincare, this serum is exceptional & a staple in my routine. If I’ve had any blemishes, I find this completely clears my skin & reduces redness as well as erase pigmentation & scarring. I use it at night and by the morning my spot has halved in size or gone completely. My skin has definitely looked much more even in tone since using this and I’ve repurchased despite the price! Allies of skin is a brand that I highly recommend to anyone who has the budget.

*bareMinerals Original Loose Mineral Foundation £28 

*bareMinerals BAREPRO™ Glow Highlighter Drops

*Tan-Luxe The Face Tanning Drops £35 

*Allies Of Skin Mandelic Pigmentation Corrector Night Serum £95 

Maddie

I am having such a minute with skincare at the moment and like a lot of us, I’ve pretty much-abandoned makeup altogether. Ole Henriksen remains a firm favourite brand as I’m working my way through yet another pot of their banana bright eye cream which is super thick and nourishing, I’m obsessed. I’ve also newly discovered their vitamin C Truth Serum which is also incredible for brightening up my skin every morning. As we’ve had some gorgeous weather the last few weeks I’ve been making more effort to moisturise my forgotten limbs. My go-to right now is the lush body lotions and scrubs. Although I’m embracing the naked face look I do sometimes stretch as far as a tinted product. The holy grail to making you look alive is the by Terry cc serum in Sunny Flash, it’s a tad pricey but my god is it worth it. Finally, I’m loving my eve lom kiss mix lip balm to give a touch of colour to my face.

Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Cream £32 

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum £59 

LUSH Sleepy Lotion £16 

LUSH Ocean Salt Scrub £11 

*By Terry By Terry Cellularose CC Serum £61 

*Eve Lom  Lip Balm £18 

Darcey

I like to keep my go-to products seasonal and switch them up accordingly! Currently, I am always going back to the Bondi Sands everyday gradual tanning oil, it gives you a lovely glow! I also always go back to the Chanel healthy glow bronzing cream, it’s such a beautiful bronzer, great with or without foundation. I even use it as eyeshadow! The Becca glow glaze stick is a new go-to but definitely deserves a mention. This cream highlighter gives a subtle and natural glow to the skin, but with the most beautiful pearlescent effect. Going more into the skincare area, I am a true advocate of SPF and especially the Clinique City Block, it’s got a lovely texture and also works really well as a primer before makeup. I also rave about The Ordinary Niacinamide with Zinc, this product has really helped my skin, especially in reducing redness. Lastly, I always have a pot of Carmex near me, I’ve tried so many lip balms and I’ve still not found one better!

*Bondi Sands Everyday Gradual Tanning Oil £13.95 

*Chanel Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream £37.80 

*Clinique Super City Block £20 

*Becca Skin Love Glow Glaze Stick £24 

*The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% £5 

Carmex Lip Balm £2.50 

Lareese

A new discovery for me but Typology has fast become one of my favourite brands! Cruelty-free, ethically-sourced, honest skincare, and just look at that beautiful branding. What more could a girl want from her beauty products?

I’ve been making a conscious effort to try and look after my nails during lockdown so set about using cuticle oil twice a day to try and revive my desperately dry nail beds. This stuff seems to be doing the trick.

This pencil works wonders for faking a fuller brow. My brows are quite sparse and gappy but this gives the impression that I have thicker brows than I actually do.

Typology Radiance Serum 11% Vitamin C £11.80 

*OPI Pro Spa Nail & Cuticle Oil £17 

*IT Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil £20 

 

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Found throughout the Mediterranean and the Middle East, Mezze, or meze, is a selection of small plates and savoury dishes, made to be shared alongside any main meal.

Bursting with flavours from all over the world, mezze can just as easily be enjoyed as the main snack board supper itself, or an all-day grazing board, if you’re no longer subscribing to the idea of breakfast, lunch and dinner. That’s us! Mealtimes have blurred into one big all you can eat lockdown buffet anyway, right?

Whoever you’re sharing your house with right now, this smorgasbord of
delights is one way to enjoy a sociable and leisurely meal at home while lingering in the garden or playing games around the table. Grab a plate and get stuck in!

Assembling your Mezze

The mezze experience is as much about the visual feast as it is about the taste but that doesn’t mean you have to be pedantic about presentation. You are the architect of your own mezze masterpiece. As long as it’s colourful, plentiful and served on the biggest platter you can find, you’re doing it right.

All of these ingredients can be purchased in your weekly shop, so if pre-prepared and low maintenance is the way you want to go with mealtimes, mezze’s your main guy.

Dips & sauces

No mezze is complete without party dips and sauces. Load up your platter with houmous and tzatziki – decant them into bowls and nestle them in amongst the rest of your ingredients to make for easy dipping.

To spruce up your shop-bought houmous, make a swirl pattern using the back of a spoon and add a drizzle of olive oil and some pine nuts. Your household will never know it’s pre-made!

Olives

Like little mouthfuls of the Med, mixed olives, pickles and nuts are the best accompaniment for any mezze spread.

Cured meats

Meats like dry-cured prosciutto and salami are delicious with olives and bread. You can also try prosciutto-wrapped asparagus – finger food at its best!

Bread

Serve a variety of bread, Lavash or warm toasted pittas with a generous bowl of dipping oil and balsamic vinegar.

Veggies

Add some crunchy crudités to your platter with raw carrots, roasted asparagus spears and sweet red & yellow peppers.

Fruit

Once you’ve assembled your mezze, fill in any little gaps on your platter with clusters of fruit and veg. Grapes make for a great palette cleanser after you’ve been up for second helpings of salty cheese and salami.

Sun-dried tomatoes

Throw in in those Mediterranean flavours with marinated sun-dried tomatoes – perfect for complementing that tangy feta.

Cheese

Feta and mozzarella balls are the best choices for a Mediterranean mezze but halloumi or whatever you’ve got in your fridge will work just as well.

Falafel

Simply delicious served on flatbread with a generous dollop of fresh yogurt or tahini dip. So simple, so good.

Garnish

To finish, decorate your spread with a few fresh sprigs of rosemary – not only does it smell great, but it also adds texture and visual interest against the backdrop of all the vibrant mezze colours.

And there you have it, a foodie’s masterpiece! Drizzle and dunk to your heart’s content.