The Five Binge-Worthy Book Series You Won’t Want To Put Down
You know that bittersweet feeling of finishing a great novel but not being mentally prepared to shelf it and say goodbye?
You know that bittersweet feeling of finishing a great novel but not being mentally prepared to shelf it and say goodbye? That’s the best thing about a series – once you’ve finished one story, you know there’s a little silver lining in the way of a sequel to remedy your book-ache; another paperback to fill that wizard-shaped hole in your life for a while.
From YA vampire romances to high fantasy trilogies, these are the binge-worthy page-turners to add to your reading list or pick up again in 2020.
Harry Potter
“After all this time? Always.” sniff Seriously, what did we do to deserve books? We couldn’t do a book series feature and not include HP, could we? That would be a cardinal sin. We laughed and cried with the characters, patiently awaited our very own Hogwarts acceptance letter and got into heated debates about the correct pronunciation of Hermione. For years, J.K. Rowling let us get lost in a world steeped in imagination and feast on magic and for that reason, we will always be Potterheads.
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
Featuring three books – Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass – this captivating trilogy follows Lyra Belacqua, her shapeshifting daemon and Will Parry as they journey through a series of parallel universes, meeting armoured bears and soul-eating spectres along the way. Philip Pullman just might be the best storyteller of our time – add it to your reading stack immediately!
The Hunger Games
If you like strong female protagonists that don’t go down without a fight, dystopian universes, televised blood sport and sacrifice, then you’ll love this series. The Hunger Games is the ultimate tale of survival and there’s only one rule: kill or be killed.
Twilight
There’s no saga like a Twilight saga. Ever since the first book in the four-volume series was released in 2005, millions have been captivated by this unconventional vampire romance. If you like a love story with a bite and missed the hype first time round, now’s your time to sink your teeth into a bit of YA nostalgia.
The Lord of the Rings
J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendary trilogy puts fantasy fiction on the map. One powerful ring, the ultimate good vs evil quest to destroy it, and the most relatable protagonist, like EVER – it’s a perennial favourite for good reason.
What book series changed your literary life forever? Let us know in the comments below!
The humble shirt is a must in anyone's closet! It's a hardworking style staple that looks just as good paired with your weekend 'fits as it does with your 9-5 workwear.
From crisp cotton basics to fashion forward puff sleeves and oversized silhouettes, there’s few items that offer as much versatility as this classic.
Ready to shop? Here’s a look at the pieces at the top of our Weekly Wants wish list!
Lareese
A plain white shirt goes a long way in a wardrobe and when styled with a pair of classic tailored trousers, an oversized blazer draped over your shoulders and sneakers, it’s the perfect smart casual outfit. I used to neglect basics like shirts and tailoring but now I’ve realised they’re the foundation of a functional wardrobe.
Whenever I want a good quality basic like a shirt I usually head to Weekday or Uniqlo, they have solid options lots of colour ways and they’re always a lovely quality fit. I’ve gone for this gorgeous blue Arin shirt as I could see me in it for work and a night out where the dress code is “jeans and a nice top”. I’ve gone for some white straight jeans from Topshop because they’re denim is killing it at the moment and some super fun strappy sandals in a colour that will work with EVERYTHING.
A clean cut shirt isn’t a staple in my wardrobe as a maximalist dresser, so for this look I’ve gone for a more alternative shirt styling option, of course paired with some killer accessories. The shirt in question is an oversized fit, paired with some chunky trainers for ultimate dress down contrast. Add sunnies for wishful Spring weather thinking and you’re good to go!
I decided to style my shirt as a bit of an “evening out” outfit, something a little more formal for me, but I love shirts both dressed down and dressed up. At the moment i’ve been tucking a thicker style of shirt into a pair of white mom jeans for a casual vibe, and to dress it up, i’ve chosen these heels and this clutch!
I’ve jazzed up my shirt and gone for this poplin style one from Topshop. I’ve paired it with jeans and some black heeled boots, great for a ‘jeans and a nice top’ occasion! Lastly, a 90’s style shoulder bag would go perfectly with this outfit.
I think white shirts usually look pretty formal, which I am not. So I recommend thinking outside the box like this mesh white shirt. I’d wear this with a black leather skirt, thick black tights and some chunky boot heels. Perfect for important meetings or even a date night.
I love this Tomboy shirt from Sezane, it can be styled with smart trousers, statement shoe and a blazer for a smart “i mean business” style or dressed down with a pair of distressed blue jeans and converse.
I love this Tomboy shirt from Sezane, it can be styled with smart trousers, statement shoe and a blazer for a smart “i mean business” style or dressed down with a pair of distressed blue jeans and converse.
Spring Cleaning Series: 8 Hacks For Getting Your Wardrobe Sh*t Together
It's 8am. You're staring at the wild abyss that is your wardrobe: the seven identical shirts, the jumper embroidered with Ketchup that you're abnormally attached to and the white t-shirts bearing their very own grubby halo of foundation.
It’s 8am. You’re staring at the wild abyss that is your wardrobe: the seven identical shirts, the jumper embroidered with Ketchup that you’re abnormally attached to and the white t-shirts bearing their very own grubby halo of foundation. Then there’s the jeans. Oh, the jeans. We haven’t been able to park our arse in them for three years and counting and yet, they’re still here clinging on for dear life.
You’ve called it – it’s time.
You embark upon the character-building journey of… clearing out your wardrobe. You lose yourself, in the music, the moment. Cue the Eminem music.
What ensues thereafter is generally a mad four-hour episode of pulling everything out of the deep depths of your nether regions and onto the floor. No one knows what signs of life you might uncover: Turkish Delight, a white witch, Aslan – anything could happen.
There will be times when, knee-deep in charity shop piles and tops that now resemble Winnie The Pooh’s finest OOTD, you wish you could turn back and abort the mission, just shove it all back in and walk away from responsibility. Marathon runners call it hitting the wall. Americans call it bonking. In this context, we like to call it losing our sh*t and pouring a large glass of wine instead.
Fear not! With a little logic and a few organisational tips, we can muster up enough stamina to see this endurance exercise through. Not sure where to start? Let’s break it down. Here’s how to clean out your wardrobe.
Set some manageable goals
Ok, so you want to declutter your wardrobe, we know that much. But what do you want to focus on? Do you want to be more aware of the clothes you already have, curate a capsule wardrobe or create a stress-free environment for getting dressed in the morning? When you set intentions and objectives for your clear out, the task in hand won’t seem so daunting and the focus shifts beyond just sorting out your clothes. It’s a mentally beneficial task as much as it is a physical one.
Take everything out
Yep, even your knickers and hangers! Clear the rails and pile it on the floor or your bed so you can get a good view of everything you have.
Evaluate and cull
Inspect each item in your wardrobe and evaluate how much you enjoy wearing it. Does it still fit? How often do you wear it? If you decide it’s no longer serving a purpose in your life but could benefit someone in need, donate it to a charity shop, clothes bank or a recycling scheme like H&M’s garment collecting programme. Simply hand in a bag of old clothes in any condition and receive a £5 voucher towards your next purchase in-store or online.
If you haven’t worn an item in the last 12 months but lust after a capacious wardrobe, now’s the time to be ruthless, tackle the weeds and let go!
Create separate piles
You’re thinking of the scene in Sex and the City too aren’t you? Creating separate ‘keep’ ‘donate’ or ‘repair’ piles for your possessions can help you make clear and practical decisions about each item.
Identify the hardworking basics
Keep hold of the pieces you know you can layer with some of your trend focused in-season items. Your trusty denim, turtlenecks, the versatile blazers and everyday tees are all items that will never really go out of fashion.
Rotate your wardrobe seasonally
Few of us have a big enough wardrobe to accommodate our thick space-invading Winter knits as well as all our Summer gear. Something’s gotta give. The key? Seasonal rotation.
Pack away the heavy pieces that see you through the colder months to enjoy in a few month’s time, that way you get to free up a bit of wardrobe space without sacrificing your favourite pieces. Seasonless wardrobe staples can stay put but as for the rest, if you’re not going to wear it in the next 3 – 4 months, fold it away into storage.
Maximise on space
Once you’ve been through your closet and asked yourself if each piece still gives you a 10/10 sartorial orgasm, it’s time to put it all back in.
Here’s where you can really claw back some space by folding items away and organising properly. Make like Marie Kondo and get practising that royal roll for items you want to stow away in drawers and categorise the clothes you hang up by seasons or occasions.
Stock up on hangers
If getting confused and stressed when you’re choosing what to wear in the morning is all too familiar, consider organising your wardrobe with matching velvet hangers – it’s a game-changer. Not only will the new sense of order motivate you to keep control of your wardrobe on a long-term basis, but the velvet also holds onto your clothes, preventing items slipping off and sitting in an unloved pile at the bottom of your closet.
Try facing your hangers away from you in the wardrobe, turning them towards you each time you wear an item. It’s an easy way to keep stock of the items you love and those that you’re simply not getting the wear out of.
What are your best tips for tackling a wardrobe clear out? Let us know!
Between You and Me – Answering Your Problems Pt. 2
Our 'Between You & Me' write-in is a regular series dedicated to answering your personal problems...
It’s that time of the month again where you write in with your Between You And Me dilemmas and we do our best to dish out some solid life advice – because a problem shared is a problem halved and all that!
This time we’re tackling cheating boyfriends, pubic hair, sexuality, A-level stress and periods.
I jumped at the chance to answer this question because I’ve been in a very similar situation myself. Sorry to hear you’ve been a bit poorly. I know how much stress can affect your physical and mental wellbeing so it’s not surprising that holding this secret for so long has lead to this.
There’s so many layers to this which is hard. Firstly, coming to terms with your sexuality is hard enough without having to worry about coming out to your friends and family. Sounds like you need to get your head sorted before even thinking about telling your family. In my opinion, sexuality is fluid and we’re all too obsessed with labels, straight, gay, bi, who the fuck cares? Don’t pressure yourself, when something’s right you’ll know.
I think whatever happens with your boyfriend, you shouldn’t jump straight in to a new relationship, with this girl or anyone else. After being with someone for 7 years, moving to their hometown and basically adopting their life, it might be good to make your own strides and explore yourself as an individual for a little while.
On the other hand, cheating is never OK, whether you’re confused or not. I think you need to be honest with your boyfriend and cool things off with this girl while you sort things through. If you come clean I think you’ll start to feel a lot better physically too. If the only reason you’re staying with your current partner is because it’s easier, that’s never the basis for a healthy relationship. There will be other jobs, houses and cars. The only thing you won’t be able to replace is the people you’ve made connections to, your boyfriend and his family. So do a bit of damage limitation and put this woman on pause.
Coming out is a whole different story. I wish it wasn’t a big deal, but it is. It is TERRIFYING I know. But everyones journey is completely different. If someone is important enough to you for you to share that part of yourself to them, they’ll accept you no matter what. You’re literally the same person just defying what they thought the ‘norm’ was. It might take them a little while to get their head around it, but if they’re worth it, they’ll be there for you. Anyone that isn’t supportive I promise you, isn’t worth the time of day.
If I were you I would just not make any hasty decisions. Talk to your boyfriend, maybe say you’ve been attracted to other people and work from there.
Thanks so much for submitting this question, I really feel for you and wish I could help but just know, it’s all going to be OK!
Holly
Danielle
To me, it sounds like you’ve already made up your mind about your boyfriend purely by the way you’ve written your email. It’s definitely clear he is not the one for you but you’re tied to him through so many other complicated things that make it hard for you to leave and that must be so stressful and difficult.
You have so much going on and there are so many moving parts that it’s no wonder you are stressed and losing weight. My advice is to break up with your boyfriend but I would be careful over-sharing. I agree you should start a bit more of a life for yourself before jumping into a new relationship as you don’t want to end up relying on your partner again.
In terms of your sexuality, I firmly believe it’s a sliding scale and you don’t have to pressure yourself into a label and ‘coming out’ to friends and family. Work on one thing at a time and you’ll soon have the confidence, to be honest with them when the time is right.
I think as soon as you’ve split up with your boyfriend you’ll start to feel less confused and guilty and therefore your mental and physical health will improve. Wishing you the best of luck! XOXO
Darcey
Hello!
This is a really great question and one I’m sure many people would like some advice on. Periods can be very daunting when you first start and the idea of having them every month can be quite stressful when you haven’t quite worked out your flow yet. I remember when I started my period just before my 16th birthday I felt so relieved for the moment to have finally come, until the realisation hit that actually periods aren’t that exciting and not so pleasant at times either!
Saying that though, periods are just a natural thing us humans blessed with a uterus have to deal with, and once you know how your body works on your period, they can be very easy to manage. I’d say if you are experiencing quite bad periods, it’s worth visiting your doctor to see if they can offer you anything to help relieve them a bit. I’d really recommend downloading a period tracker app, I use Flo and it’s really great to track your periods and symptoms and will give you more of an idea when your period is due. I’ve found it to be really accurate and now I can pinpoint a day I’ll be coming on my period which is great for peace of mind too, it’s definitely worth a try!
Also, just explore using different types of sanitary products. You might find you prefer using sanitary pads to tampons, or vice versa, there’s so many products out there to trial so you are bound to find something you get along with. Also, don’t be afraid of leaks, it happens to the best of us and something we can’t really control!
On the topic of pubic hair, do what makes you feel most comfortable! At the end of the day, we all have pubic hair and what we choose to do with it is our choice. I know there can be a lot of pressure in removing it all, and if that’s what you choose to do then that’s absolutely fine, but if you would like some hair down there, then you do you! Personally, I have grown quite fond of waxing, mainly because I cannot shave as I find it super uncomfortable when it grows back, and waxing takes away that horrible shaving rash itch (but not everyone experiences this). But of course, with waxing, means growing it back for the next round of waxing, so I’m no stranger to letting it grow down there.
Basically, do what feels best for you and what makes you feel comfortable. There is no wrong or right answer when it comes to pubic hair, it’s the individual’s preference! Whether you wax it all off or grow it all out, as long as you are happy, that’s all that matters!
Hope this helps and good luck with everything!
Danielle
My biggest piece of advice is just to experiment! The thing about hair (especially pubic hair) is that it grows back so you don’t have to worry too much about committing to a style.
If you’re used to shaving your legs or armpits you could try whacking it all off, neatening it up or leaving some at the top and see what you like the look of most! I personally just get rid of the whole lot with a razor, but there are downsides to this as the skin can get quite itchy and rashy. There are tons of articles online about how to go about using the best products for this and making sure you exfoliate before and after.
I’ve never gone full throttle for a fanny wax as I don’t think I could handle the pain but plenty of women swear by it, so it’s probably worth trying when you’re more confident with your nether regions.
We’re currently experiencing a bit of a revolution when it comes to period products as new brands are becoming available and sustainability is playing such a huge part in our monthlies. Suddenly we have to choose not just for our vaginas but also how much impact we want to have on the environment! When I first started I used sanitary towels but these can be super unreliable and prone to leaking so it wasn’t long before I made the move to tampons. I prefer to use tampons with an applicator, but it’s all about experimenting and seeing what you’re comfortable with.
You only have one a month (thank god) so it takes a bit of time to find what’s right for you and it can all seem a bit intimidating at first but I promise you’ll get the hang of it! XOXO
Zoe
Firstly, i’m so sorry to hear about this. Absolutely nobody deserves to feel the way you do. Secondly, you have wholeheartedly done the right thing by moving home and focusing on you and your career. somebody who loves you and respects you, would have embraced that change.
Unfortunately it sounds like your boyfriend used this as an excuse for his crappy behaviour because the situation gave him an out. Cheating is cowardly and expresses a real lack of respect and communication. If he was finding it hard with you being away, he could have chosen to express that to you and given you the chance to deal with it together in a whole manner of ways. He CHOSE to cheat on you, this was not your doing. The fact he is placing blame on you is a clear indication that he can’t accept the responsibility which is a real shame, but something I have experienced myself in a previous relationship.
You have 100% done the right thing, as you said yourself, you are excelling! And this was because you took a leap of faith and went with your heart. As cliche as it sounds, I really believe everything happens for a reason and when one door opens, another closes. That doesn’t mean to say it doesn’t hurt or that it’s easy, but you sound like you’re on the most amazing life journey right now and if your boyfriend was prepared to jump ship at the first sight of change, he would have been dragging you down and holding you back.
Life is too damn short for people who don’t want the best for you! The next person you meet will get the absolute best version of you (something your ex boyfriend clearly didn’t deserve) and I wish you nothing but happiness on this new and exciting chapter in your life!
Maddie
Hello!
I’m really sorry to hear you’re going through a tough time with your breakup. I can relate to this exact situation and i can’t tell you how angry it makes me on your behalf that you’ve been made to feel that this is somehow your fault, it 1 million percent is not. Choosing to cheat is an individuals choice, end of story.
The summer I turned 18 I fell head over heels in love with a boy, by the time we went our separate ways for university I was convinced he was the “one” and that long distance wouldn’t break us apart. For my part i stayed loyal and didn’t get a wondering eye even for a second. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case for my boyfriend who within a few weeks not only rekindled something with an ex back home but also met a new “special friend” at university too, all while seemingly being devoted to me. If i could go back in time and change one thing I would go back and not forgive him when he told me it wouldn’t happen again. Our relationship lasted nearly 9 years after that with millions more ups and downs. I was plagued by mistrust, misery and insecurity yet was somehow addicted to this person and it took years before i finally let go. That whole time i blamed myself too and that’s another thing I really regret. It wasn’t my fault that he didn’t share my morals and standards, just like this is not your fault either. There’s something really clever about people who lie and cheat, they manage to turn things around on you just to justify their actions to themselves and take the edge off their guilt and shame. I promise you, taking the decision to focus on yourself and move home to excel in your career will be the best thing you could have ever done for your future happiness and if he was too immature and cowardly to have an honest conversation with you about your relationship you can’t blame yourself for that. Breakups are really rubbish but I promise it will get better with time, try and stay busy, do new things and say YES to as much as possible!
I promise that not everyone cheats and not every long distance relationship is doomed, it comes down to communication and sharing the same expectations, morals and values. Concentrate on yourself and the right person will be along before you know it.
Lareese
Hi love,
Thanks so much for getting in touch. I’m sorry to hear you’re feeling confused and worried about this. I feel so disheartened on your behalf that you could even contemplate this being your fault. It’s absolutely not so don’t even entertain that thought. If things weren’t working out when you moved back home to Brighton he should have grown a pair and communicated with you rather than dropping his pants, being unfaithful and then pinning the blame on you. After four years together, he owed you an honest conversation, right? It’s about respect.
It sounds to me like a classic case of a guy who didn’t quite know how to handle the thought of his long-term girlfriend flourishing on her own terms and making decisions that would serve her future self but that’s exactly what you did, and it sounds like it was precisely what you needed to do to motivate your own happiness. That could never be a mistake!
You moved away, you didn’t break up with him because you clearly wanted it to work and were still very much invested in the relationship. Sure, living apart was new territory for both of you to navigate and work on but that doesn’t justify his infidelity.
If you were still together, you’d still be stuck in an unfulfilling job, wondering what would have happened if you’d taken the leap of faith and moved home. Don’t waste another second thinking about the shoulda woulda could ofs – continue to nourish yourself and do more of what makes YOU happy. He may not have known your worth but someone else sure will.
Charlotte
There’s a lot to unpack here but firstly I think it’s important to acknowledge that the stresses you’re feeling are totally normal in the run up to university, which is such a big life ‘moment’. Being aware of your own feelings amongst the input of others is really great so I hope you’re able to recognise the good in yourself here.
Everyone experiences self-doubt and imposter syndrome to some degree when applying to university- after all, it’s an entirely new process and experience that’s bound to make you question your worth and abilities. But what’s not helpful is other people also doubting you when they should in fact be your biggest cheerleaders! It might be helpful to remind your friends of that when they next say something on the topic, and voice that you need their support and backing rather than criticism in a time that’s already leaving you anxious. It sounds like they have your best interests at heart but perhaps aren’t going about it in the best way!
In regards to your part time job, is it something you really love or need to earn some money before university? If you’re also feeling like it’s taking up too much of your free time, perhaps pressing pause on working until your exams are out of the way could be an option? I think balance is the key in this scenario, and if you’re able to put in place a killer revision and exam prep timetable that works around your other commitments then achieving your academic goals will hopefully feel more within your reach. 8 hours sounds achievable around your revision, but if you know that time would be better placed in giving you moments of relaxation to recharge around your hectic school commitments, then self-care should always come out on top!
Similarly to your friends, I think your mum also has your best interests at heart in trying to prepare you for the step up to university, even though her way of going about it feels a little harsh. I think my main advice is to trust your gut- only you know your abilities and capability in pushing yourself so try not let others dictate that for you. Maybe try to think about future you and what she would want you to do- will you regret not pursuing medicine because of doubts others have projected on to you, or would a less ‘intense’ course actually be best for your mental health and career prospects. Best of luck with whatever you decide feels most ‘right’ and fitting for you. Hugs!
Zoe
This all sounds like a lot of people are taking it upon themselves to crawl into your head/business. It is totally normal for you to be feeling these stresses at this junction in your life. You feel like you need to have everything laid out in a nice neat path ready to start following into adulthood, but I can assure you, there are a lot of people feeling exactly the same way you are (even some of your friends).
I was so stressed in year 12 as I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do and which career path I wanted to take. I also felt like I was the only one who didn’t have a clue, which of course isn’t true. First of all, however hard it might be, you have to try and ignore what other people want for you. Although I’m sure it comes from a place of love, concern and support, it’s not always solicited or wanted and can actually end up making you feel more confused.
The one thing I think you should really sit down and think about, is what YOU want. What do YOU enjoy? You’re still so young and careers can change and adjust as you get older, all you can do is go on what you feel right now, in this very moment. In terms of grades and exams, again, as long as you put everything you can into it (job or not) and you try to the best of your ability, regardless of what grades you end up with, you can hand on heart say you tried your best, and that’s all that matters. Just remember that you’re the one in the drivers seat, you’ve got the wheel and you can go wherever you want at whatever speed you like (you can also reverse too!) Keep us updated! x
Banish the Winter blues and brighten up your pad in time for Spring with these easy styling ideas. From floral accents, fresh scents and pastel colours, here's how to inject a healthy serving of Spring into every nook and cranny of your humble abode.
Pops of pastel
Breathe new life into your living space with pastel accents and a sprinkling of pattern. Mirror the invigorating colours of Spring with blues, vibrant greens, yellows and soft pastels. Now’s the time to shake up a tired and stuffy colour palette. If you’ve got any cheery decorative plates hibernating at the back of a cupboard somewhere, display them on open-shelving / cabinetry.
Deck the halls with a Spring wreath
Whatdoyaknow, wreaths aren’t just for the holidays! With every season, there comes a new opportunity to style your home in accordance with the seasons and adding a decorative wreath – much like flowers – can offer a quick way to introduce a touch of nature into your living space.
Whether you go for an all-out Easter theme, or simply style a fresh wreath with foliage and a medley of tulips, nothing welcomes guests quite like a well-dressed front door.
Switching up your home fragrance
Out with the ‘oud’ in with the new! While Winter is all about the heady, comforting spices and warming ouds, Spring inspires us to scent our homes with fresh and uplifting fragrances that energise and motivate us – the candle equivalent of going for a brisk seaside walk to to blow the cobwebs away.
Bringing the great outdoors in
Nature really knows how to show off in the Spring. Daffodils and hyacinths are particularly fragrant and aesthetically pleasing bunched in a vase and placed on the kitchen counter, or as a centrepiece on your Easter dining table. The house plant trend is going nowhere either, so go ahead and create your very own Spring sanctuary with a smattering of leafy friends. A trailing string of hearts looks great in an office, while a snake plant is a delightfully low-maintenance addition for a bar cart or console table.
Introduce lighter fabrics
Create a calm and airy ambience in your boudoir by changing up your heavy Winter bed threads for crisp whites or ditsy floral prints. Go for light, breathable fabrics on your bedding, switch out heavy blankets for cotton throws in the lounge and crinkled cotton table cloths in the kitchen. It’s the season for letting go of unnecessary layers!
If you’re a fan of letting the light flood in through the curtains in the morning, then opt for sheer curtains for a laid-back boho mood mixed with Moroccan overtones and earthy hues. Dreamy!
Creating space
Once we’re done lapping up the comforts of hygge season, we often feel a need to clear out, refresh and rearrange our living space to reflect the shift in seasons and the sunnier days ahead. Evoke a calm home by organising your cupboards and drawers, paring back your bedside table and lightening your bookshelves. There is beauty and functionality in the unadorned wall and the ship-shape kitchen counter. Embrace the space! Need some motivation to get your place looking Hinch-levels of tidy? Read our Spring cleaning tips here.
Natural textures
Channel those vacation vibes with natural materials and an aesthetic style firmly set in contemporary minimalism. Introduce wood, rattan, bamboo or seagrass textures for a neutral palette that’ll work with any interior aesthetic. Wicker baskets are both functional and stylish storage pieces for your hallway or lounge, while rattan planters work well for a bedroom or a reading nook. You can also try switching up your Berber style rugs for natural jute for a lighter but still lived-in look.
How do you style your living space for Spring? We’d love to hear your best tips!
We all know that spending time outside and reconnecting with nature can benefit both our mental and physical wellbeing.
They don’t call it the great outdoors for nothing! In a technologically driven world, never before have we been so divorced from nature thus unplugging from our devices and the hustle and bustle of digital noise is becoming increasingly important.
The Japanese have long recognised the healing power of green spaces with the practice of forest bathing or ‘shinrin-yoku’ becoming a cornerstone of preventative healthcare and a globally practised wellbeing activity. No bikini required.
We don’t always have to head off into the depths of the forest to get our happiness fix, though! Nurturing our mental health can start from our very own backyards. Yep, we’re talking about getting out in the garden and flexing our green fingers! Crocs… it’s finally your time to shine.
The benefits of gardening go far beyond making our grass greener. Tending to our outdoor spaces fosters our innate connection with the earth, creating a sense of order and calm in our lives by observing nature and the cycle of seasons. It’s a valuable source of relaxation that gets us out of our heads and into the present moment.
We’re exploring how taking a holistic approach to our wellbeing and immersing ourselves in a bit of green-thumbed therapy can help keep our mental health in check.
Vitamin D
Sunlight improves our mood and is conducive to a good night’s sleep, so when it comes to looking after our mental health, getting outside and lapping up the sunshine is a sure-fire way to forget about the stressors of daily life and get a dose of that all-important happiness.
Exercise
Much like hitting the gym, gardening is a positive habit to build into your day. All that raking, digging and weeding gets your muscles moving and your endorphins flying. If you’re feeling lethargic, a productive hour in the garden can provide an effective workout while putting minimal stress on the body.
A sense of achievement and self-worth
Cultivating your very own green space can give you a unique sense of purpose. By giving it your time and energy, you get to reap the fruits of your labour – whether that’s beautiful scented flowers, home-grown veggies or simply the satisfaction of giving back to nature.
It’s inclusive
Young or old, gardening doesn’t discriminate. Its rewards are for everyone!
Stress-buster
Gardening is a natural stress-reliever and while it might not compete with combative sports like boxing, taking a trowel to the soil and pushing a lawn mower round can certainly help to let off some steam and calm your mind.
It’s a safe space
Plants don’t judge. Simple! For those struggling with mental health issues, those simple day to day tasks or socialising with others can be the most overwhelming. Gardening is a great way to get outside and channel that nervous energy into something purposeful, motivating and creative.
Community connections
Cooperating with others and working towards a shared goal promotes a real sense of community. Mental illness can be extremely isolating and for those who struggle with confidence issues, meeting new people can be a daunting experience. Joining a communal gardening group can be a great way to nip fear and discomfort in the bud and connect with likeminded people.
We spoke to Brighton and Hove Food Partnership about their dementia-friendly gardening sessions and the work they do to help propagate mindfulness in the community.
Explain the work that the Brighton & Hove Food Partnership organisation does within the community.
The Brighton & Hove Food Partnership is a not-for-profit organisation which has 15 years’ experience using food to make positive changes in people’s lives. We help people and organisations to grow food, buy locally, cook & eat a healthy diet and waste less food. This ranges from running a community cookery school and growing vegetables in public spaces to campaigning about food poverty or helping food businesses get together to ‘ditch the plastic’ locally. Our work brings positive food experiences to people experiencing deprivation, isolation, poor health and other life challenges. Over many years we have found that growing, cooking and eating with others can make lasting changes to habits and behaviours which improve lives.
How can gardening benefit our mental health?
Many national studies and reports evidence the benefits of garden/ outdoor projects for physical & mental health (Kings Fund 2017, Natural England 2016, Growing Health 2014, Mind 2013), including reducing stress, depression, self-harm & destructive behaviours and improving social interaction, life satisfaction, self-esteem, meaningful activity and achievement. Evaluation of Brighton & Hove garden projects by the University of Essex found:
– 97% of participants reported improved happiness, mood or wellbeing
– 89% reported improved physical health
– 90% reported greater skills or confidence
– Participants increased their fruit and vegetable intake by an average of 14% and physical activity levels across the group increased between 10% and 17%.
88% reported that coming to the garden would have a long-term impact on them in the future, while 16% noticed an improvement in life satisfaction after 3-6 months.
We have found that community gardening is a perfect way to achieve the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ – connect, be active, take notice, learn and give.
Here are some quotes from people who have been involved in our gardening projects.
“Sometimes when I am depressed I miss coming but I know that if I make the effort to get here I will instantly feel better.”
“I suffer from anxiety and the gardening sessions are calming and boost my mood. I leave feeling more relaxed.”
“It’s been worth more and more useful to me than all the psychotherapies I’ve had. It’s been amazing for me.”
“Now I’m at stage now where I want to get right stuck in with it all, I want to give something back now and I’ve come a long way in my recovery. It’s given me a different view of living in this city coming to gardens like this and I feel I want to move towards helping other people in gardens like this who used to feel like me.”
The Food Partnership helped to triple the number of community gardens in the city, from 25 to 75, and we estimate that 4,000 people volunteer across these community gardens each year. Since that time, we have focused on supporting existing projects to be stronger and more effective. In particular we have prioritised running and supporting gardens that work with vulnerable people, as they need more specialist expertise/ safety / skills and capacity. Between 2014 and 2017, we supported over 2,000 vulnerable people to improve their mental health, physical health and skills at therapeutic gardens across the city. With new funding for the Wellbeing Alliance we look forward to growing this further and reaching out to new areas.
Tell us more about the dementia-friendly gardening sessions…
The gardening sessions are a time for those living with Dementia and (sometimes) their carers to spend quality time in a glorious private garden tucked away in central Brighton. We tailor the sessions to suit those who come along in terms of their interests, energy and mobility. In the past activities have included things like transplanting seedlings, making pinecone bird feeders, planting bulbs and making nasturtium pesto from plants in the garden. We have incredible volunteers who work one to one with those that come along enabling them to participate in the activities on offer. Our volunteers are a key part of the success of the gardening group as they bring a wealth of experience and compassion which creates a warm and welcoming environment for everyone. Over time we get to know the participants really well as they share stories about their lives and we learn their particular sense of humour. We always have lots of tea and cake, you can’t garden without tea and cake can you?
How important is the community aspect of gardening?
People who attend our gardening groups tell us that belonging to one of these groups help them feel connected to their communities and give something back by tending green spaces around the city. We often chat with park users (for example in Preston Park) about food growing techniques and they share with us how much they enjoy seeing all the different plants growing and cropping through the year.
What are your top tips for getting started with gardening?
If you are keen to start gardening for wellbeing in Brighton, the good news is you’re in the right place. The city has loads of different supportive community gardens which you can find out more about through our directory: https://bhfood.org.uk/directory-map/
You can always visit a few different gardens to find the one that suits your availability and your particular interests. It may be that a shared meal is really appealing or you’re especially interested in gardening for wildlife, so exploring a few different projects will guarantee that you find the right one for you. If you live outside the area, maybe check out the projects that exist near you, many will have a Facebook page or even a website you could find through using a search engine.
Have you got a favourite story you can share with us from the work you’ve done with the gardening scheme so far…
It’s so hard to choose as I’ve been involved with community gardens in Brighton for nearly 7 years now and met so many brilliant people through this work. One lady from our last Dementia friendly gardening group does spring to mind though. The joy she expressed from week to week of visiting the garden was very moving. She would describe the Garden House (where we run the Dementia friendly gardening sessions) as the secret garden and the garden of her childhood dreams. One day she told us that she viewed her Alzheimer’s as a gift ‘because it enabled her to have beautiful experiences by being part of this wonderful group.’ It’s moments like that when I realise that what we create together is special – it’s garden magic!
How can someone get involved / volunteer?
I’d recommend looking at our website bhfood.org.uk and checking the directory; contacting the gardens that you’d like to volunteer at directly is a good way to find out more about what they and you, are looking for, through volunteering.
Let us know your gardening tips in the comments below!
The Sustainable Period Products That Could Change Your Cycle For The Better
Ladies, we've got enough to worry about each month, so when Auntie Flow comes round, you just want to keep things simple and ride out those waves until you're cramp free again. But did you know that your period might be as unkind to the environment as it is to your uterus?
If you’re feeling conscious about your period product choices, here’s a few alternative ways you can have a happy period and decrease your impact on the planet too.
Mooncup
One of the most popular alternatives to emerge on the period market, Mooncup provides an eco-friendly and convenient alternative to tampons and pads that you can re-use with every cycle and wear through everything from swimming to travelling and more!
The Mooncup comes in 2 different sizes depending on your flow and whether you’ve had children, and can be emptied, cleaned, and reinserted every 4-8 hours depending on your flow.
Worried about putting it in? No need! Simply squish the cup into a ‘C’ shape and insert it inside your vagina, allowing it to sit low and expand open naturally as your muscles will hold it in place during the day. Not only will it save you money in the long-run, but it’s a convenient one-job solution to your period needs – no need for stockpiling and backups with this cuppa flow in your life!
Offering the first reusable applicator, DAME’s organic cotton tampons have helped save 300 million pieces of plastic from entering the ocean since launching their applicator set.
Alongside their organic cotton tampon, DAME is on a mission to reduce the environmental footprint left by period product production and consumption. From chemical free biodegradable tampons and natural ingredients in their printing, to donating tampons to women in need across the world and recycling old applicators to reuse in future products, DAME is championing the mantra of reducing, reusing, and being conscious where we can!
Available at wearedame.co and Waitrose, prices start at £8.50 per month for the subscription or £24.99 for the applicator set.
Reusable Sanitary Pads
If tampons aren’t your thing and you’re feeling brave, then reusable sanitary pads might be your cycle’s BFF! With a soft fabric outer layer and an absorbent layer of fleece, simply pop these in your pants, secure, and leave them to do their job – FYI, it’s estimated you’ll need to change about 6 times a day. When you’re done for the day, simply pop the towel in the wash on 60 degrees and leave to dry – it’s recommended you have 6-8 towels per cycle, so they can be washed and dried in time to reuse.
Not feeling the cotton pads? Try organic cotton and biodegradable pads instead! Brands such as Natracare offer plastic-free, vegan friendly and natural pads that are as good at absorbing as your regular sanitary products, but are a lot kinder to the environment.
Available at Amazon and various health food stores, Natracare available at Waitrose, Ocado, and Amazon – prices start at £2.16.
ohne
Who knew periods could be so convenient! No need to worry about popping out to the shops for your monthly reliables, ohne provides a tailored tampon service that allows you to pick the amount of tampons you need per cycle, the absorbency, and how often you need them delivered.
Whether you’re a fan of naked or applicator tampons, ohne’s tampons are made from 100% organic cotton and fully recycled cardboard, all unscented, unbleached, and with enough protection to help you go about your day worry-free. Not only that, but they’re Soil Association and GOTS certified, fully biodegradable, vegan and cruelty-free, and are made using renewable energy sources – bloody impressive stuff.
As a little added extra, ohne also offers two 1% CBD oil for cramps and mood swings, one to rub on your tender belly and the other to ingest so you can experience a totally relaxed period with zero fuss.
Still want more information about sustainable periods? We sat down with the founders of ohne to get the flow-down on environmentally friendly period products and how they’re changing the world one tampon at a time…
What made you start OHNE?
There are so many reasons contributing to why we started ohne, it’s hard to distill them into one story! We have been friends ever since we were put in neighbouring rooms in uni halls and have basically been inseparable ever since. It honestly never occurred to us to go into business together until one of our many late night (and wine-fuelled!) chats got out of hand and we realised we had the seed of an amazing business idea. We couldn’t stop talking to each other about everything we saw that was wrong with the period product industry. From our initial hatred of the hyper-feminine flowery designs on pads to the point when we finally researched what mainstream period products are actually made of (spoiler alert: a horrifying cocktail of nasty chemicals and toxins), we realised there was no going back. We had to create the period product company of our dreams, because no one else was going to do it!
Why are sustainable period products so important?
The average period uses up to eleven plastic bags worth of plastic every bloody month. By opting for a more sustainable period product option, such as 100% organic cotton and biodegradable tampons, you’re saving up to 132 plastic bags worth of plastic a year – aka enough plastic to wrap around four killer whales. And, we don’t know about you, but we’d rather save all that ocean real estate for the actual fish! Not to mention the fact that pads and tampons are made of a lot more than just cotton – think a nasty cocktail of chemicals and toxins that includes rayon, dioxin, and chlorine bleach, to name just a few! And the parts that are cotton? Well, we hate to be the bearers of bad news, but there’s still a problem there, too. Non-organic cotton is known to be one of the most intensively farmed crops in the world. Approximately 25% of the world’s insecticides and 10% of the world’s pesticides are used in it’s production. This makes the farmers who cultivate the land very sick and causes up to 20,000 deaths each year from pesticide poisoning in developing countries. We’re pretty sure this is enough to turn any menstruating human off non-organic cotton period products for good. People will use up to 11,000 tampons over the course of their lifetime in the most sensitive and absorbent part of their bodies – this is pretty much as serious as a product relationship gets, so opting for sustainable, safe period products is crucial.
How do you guarantee that products work as well and still have the ability to biodegrade?
ohne tampons are made with 100 percent organic cotton which means they biodegrade in 4-6 months. Non-organic brands include other materials, some of these are to help with their tampon’s absorbency which means they can take over 500 years to biodegrade. We make it a priority to educate our customers on correct and careful tampon use, which involves making sure you’re changing your tampon every 4-6 hours and only using the correct absorbancy for your flow. When people use a higher absorbency so they can keep it in longer, this actually goes against the FDA recommendations for tampon use. Using a new product can take some getting used to – our tampons aren’t designed to be absorbent for hours upon hours because not only is it not safe to leave tampons in for extended periods of time, the hyper-absorbent materials and ingredients mainstream brands put in their tampons are really unsafe! An organic tampon has never once been linked to a case of TSS, but we think it’s important to be as careful and vigilant as we can when we’re talking about products that get up close and personal to our vaginas – which have the thinnest and most absorbent skin fo anywhere in the body! So: if you’re used to using a hyper-absorbent, toxin-filled tampon for longer than 8 hours at a time, there’s a small chance you might find that you need to change an organic, biodegradable tampon more frequently, but this is a good thing!
Tell us about your CBD products and how these can help?
We’re the creators of the UK’s first pro-period CBD oils, holy cramp, which is a topical CBD oil intended for period pain, and yours, hormonally, an ingestible daily CBD supplement.
‘holy cramp’ is designed to be used by rubbing a few drops onto the areas of the skin where pain is felt (for period pain this will usually be on the belly above where the uterus is or on the lower back), but we’ve also had a lot of success popping a few drops into a steaming bubble bath and letting the CBD and essential oils in it soothe all our pains and worries away. Leah even swears by putting a few drops onto the end of her tampon before inserting it. CBD is great for period pain because it has been found to have relaxant and analgesic effects, meaning it can help get those cramping uterus muscles to chill out.
‘yours, hormonally’ on the other hand, is a daily ingestible CBD supplement designed to help maintain balanced hormone levels throughout the menstrual cycle, long-term. In addition to being great at soothing aches and pains, CBD is also an adaptogen – AKA, a plant (or herb) capable of supporting your adrenal system to balance your hormones and help manage your stress levels. Adaptogens help speed up or slow down the release of certain hormones, depending on what your body needs at a given time. We’ve found that, when we’re experiencing low moods, lack of motivation, and, most importantly, heightened stress right before our periods strike, CBD helps keep us balanced and super chill so we can continue to be our best selves, every damn day!
What do you wish more people knew about period products they’ve probably been buying for years?
Shockingly, there are actually stricter regulations for the labelling of hamster food than there are for tampons in the UK (and Europe). The ingredients list of a tampon makes for a pretty disturbing read, and tampons are basically a chemical soup with contaminants linked to hormonal disruption, cancer, birth defects, dryness, and infertility.
We love the Fem Space on your website, why is it important for you to educate your customers on some of these topics?
A huge part of starting ohne for us was creating an ethical and socially responsible business. For us, community comes first. We want to create space both online and in real life for people with vaginas to talk freely about periods, menstrual cycles, and their bodies without the shame and stigma that is all too often attached to these topics. Periods are not taboo and treating them as though they are leaves a lot of people who have periods in the dark about how their bodies function. If we’ve got anything to say about it, in the future period taboos and all the shame and embarrassment that comes along with them will be totally stamped out! Education and normalisation are an enormous part of ridding society of these taboos, and that’s what we’re trying to achieve with fem space. It’s a place where there are no stupid questions and no topic is off limits – we’re talking and learning alongside our community about all the things we should have learnt in school (but didn’t).
What other steps can we take to make our periods more sustainable?
Zero-waste living and eco-friendly product alternatives are really taking off here in the UK. Sometimes it can feel a little overwhelming to start making changes in your own life – the pressure to be 100% perfect, 100% of the time is too much pressure and responsibility and can leave a lot of people feeling like they’re failing because they’re not a paragon of zero-waste living. At ohne, we’re more into championing the ‘low-impact’ lifestyle. This is basically about encouraging everyone to do a little bit to better the environment and help out the planet, rather than celebrating only the very few people who are able to live 100% zero-waste lifestyles. Switching to organic cotton tampons is a really simple step to make if you’re already using tampons. Investing in a pair of period pants to use on your lighter days could reduce your tampon or pad use massively without inconveniencing you (and pulling out almost entirely dry tampons isn’t fun or good for our vaginas anyway!). Another top tip would be to double check the packaging of your period products and making sure you’re properly recycling or disposing of each material in the right way rather than sending it all to landfill or accidentally contaminating your recycling bin with heaps of un-recyclable plastic. and remember: nobody’s perfect, but all the small gestures count.
Have you tried any alternative period products? Let us know your favourites in the comments!
International Women’s Day 2020: The Women Who Have Shaped Our Lives
International Women's Day (IWD) is dedicated to celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
With over a century of history, it’s a day for recognising how far the movement has come and what action is still needed to broaden perceptions, challenge bias and pave the way for a more harmonious and enabled world.
In 1996, the United Nations started to adopt annual themes to mark IWD each year. This year’s theme is #EachforEqual drawn from the notion of ‘collective individualism’.
The organisation’s site states, “Collectively, we can make change happen. Collectively, we can each help to create a gender equal world. We can all choose to be #EachforEqual.”
Join us in thinking about the influential female friends and trailblazers that have shaped our lives and indeed, our futures. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.
Zoe
Name a woman that has shaped your life so far?
My Mum & Alfie’s Mum Amanda are two very inspirational ladies that have really shaped my life. My mum taught me how to be positive and to treat people with kindness, to respect people and always give everything 100%, even if it doesn’t turn out how i’d like, the only thing that matters is that i’ve tried. She’s also very creative, and I’ve definitely taken that from her. Amanda taught me how to be more compassionate and to have a completely open mind. She’s one of the most caring people I have ever met and would drop everything to help someone in need. Both these ladies have such a positive impact on my life.
A woman in a position of power that you admire?
Meghan Markle. I think she’s very brave and has handled being put under a microscope with such grace and dignity. I can only imagine how hard it must be to be thrust into an entirely different world in the way that she was.
Which woman would you like to be more like?
Beyonce Knowles. Does this even require an explanation? I love her confidence, her determination, her drive, her voice, her stage presence…everything about her is incredible.
The best lesson we’ve learnt from another female?
Not neccesarily a lesson but my therapist has taught me so much. From how my mind works, to understanding other peoples behaviours and how to completely change the way I see and feel about certain situations. I honestly owe so much to her.
Change you’d most like to see for women going forward?
Not picked apart for their appearance in the media or pitted against one another.
A lesson you’d most like to instil in younger women for the future?
Social media is not real life. Love yourself and treat yourself with the kindess you’d give to others.
Danielle
Name a woman that has shaped your life so far?
I think my mum and my aunties have been such a driving force for me in how I live my life. Not so much in terms of my career but more about how I conduct myself, how I treat other people, hosting, style, and so much more. I’ve also always been lucky enough to be surrounded by hilarious women, I’m a strong believer in laughter being the best medicine.
A woman in a position of power that you admire?
I recently watched the Taylor Swift documentary on Netflix – Miss Americana and thought the way she held herself accountable for being ‘good’ from such a young age was inspiring, especially when that industry wants to see you morph into something else. The way she stood up for herself and decided to speak out against Marsha Blackburn in the midterms was so brave because she had so much to lose, sometimes you have to trust your gut and do what’s right instead of what’s easy.
Which woman would you like to be more like?
Lizzo! What a freakin badass. We’re all obsessed with her at the moment because she oozes confidence and fun. Who wouldn’t want to go on a night out with Lizzo? Bring your flute,I’ll bring the ginny tonics and we can have a right old knees up in Brighton gal!
The best lesson we’ve learnt from another female?
Michelle Obama simply stating that ‘when they go low, we go high’. For some reason, pettiness is popular at the moment and although I enjoy the memes I absolutely do not have time for that sh*t. Stay high people.
Change you’d most like to see for women going forward?
Let’s start helping women in other countries much less fortunate than ourselves, more steps to end period poverty, FGM, child marriages, physical violence against women and basic human rights.
A lesson you’d most like to instil in younger women for the future?
There are no more ‘boy jobs’ and ‘girl jobs’! Be whatever you damn well please. Go for gold, go for CEO, but most importantly go for happiness, because a job title or salary are not the sole measure of human worth.
Lareese
Name a woman that has shaped your life so far?
My crazy nan! She absolutely loved to laugh and even into her 70s she was the life and soul of the party with a larger than life character that would command a room. There was never a dull moment with her and her enthusiasm for living and chasing the good time was infectious.
A woman in a position of power that you admire?
J.K. Rowling – from a single mum on benefits to one of the world’s most celebrated authors, she faced multiple rejections, set backs and personal struggles but never gave up on what she wanted the most.
Which woman would you like to be more like?
Kathy Burke – she’s witty, intelligent and unapologetically frank. I feel like everyone could do with a friend like Kathy to cut through the bull crap and remind you of what really matters. Her All Woman documentary was brilliantly done.
The best lesson we’ve learnt from another female?
One of the toughest lessons I’ve learned from another female is to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. Vulnerability, fear, pain – it’s all part of the fabric of who we are.
Change you’d most like to see for women going forward?
I’d love to see a serious shake up on how women are treated and represented in the media full stop.
A lesson you’d most like to instil in younger women for the future?
That self-love is the greatest love of all! You set the tone for your own life and the sooner you realise that your sense of worth starts and ends with you, you’re already winning.
Maddie
Name a woman that has shaped your life so far?
Definitely my mum. She’s mother nature personified, completely selfless and the most caring person i know. There’s nothing i couldn’t confide in her or trust her with. She wears her heart on her sleeve, speaks her mind and loves really really hard. All of my kindest, warmest qualities, i know i learnt from her.
A woman in a position of power that you admire?
I admire so many women that have pierced the glass ceiling and risen to the top of their businesses, particularly within the tech industry which for so long has been and continues to be dominated by men. A few that come to mind include; Susan Wojcicki (CEO, YouTube), Nicola Mendelsohn (VP of EMEA, Facebook), Andrea Ahrendts (Past VP, Apple) and Amber Venz Box (Founder, RewardStyle). I’ve had the pleasure of meeting all of these incredible powerhouse businesswomen and each of them has inspired me to want to be a better leader.
Which woman would you like to be more like?
I recently watched the Taylor Swift documentary which i found really inspiring. I really admire that she speaks her mind, no matter the consequences when it’s something she feels really passionately about. I have definitely been guilty of biting my tongue in the past to avoid possible confrontation but do I think sometimes you just have to be brave and stand up for the things you believe.
The best lesson we’ve learnt from another female?
I was in an 8 year relationship that ended in my late 20s leaving me incredibly lost and like i’d never find love again. I had gone from the next steps being marriage and kids to completely alone and heartbroken. My girlfriends were incredible during that time and there’s two things that i’ll always remember and really helped me when i was feeling my lowest. One of them reminded me that it’s always “better to be at the back of the queue, than at the front with the wrong person” and the other showed me the quote “It’ll all be alright in the end, if it’s not alright, it’s not the end”. I was given a lot of advice at that time but those two lines stayed with me, they were completely right.
Change you’d most like to see for women going forward?
Let’s close that gender pay gap shall we?
A lesson you’d most like to instil in younger women for the future?
That you can be whoever you want to be.
Charlotte
Name a woman that has shaped your life so far?
Megan Crabbe from @bodyposipanda was one of the first body positivity accounts I discovered on Instagram and it completely flipped my world upside down. Her social media pages and book ‘Body Positive Power’ taught me about diet culture, intuitive eating and how liberating life is after eating disorder recovery. My life would be so different had I never found her page.
A woman in a position of power that you admire?
I have so much admiration for Kenyette Barnes and Oronike Odeleye- founders of the Mute R Kelly movement. They’ve dedicated so much time, energy and perseverance in ensuring justice is served for victims of R Kelly’s actions, whilst also shaping a better future for other victims of sexual assault and abuse.
Which woman would you like to be more like?
Unconventional answer, but Maura from Love Island is pretty bad ass! She knows her worth, spoke up for what she felt was right and was always so supportive to the other girls in the villa- an A* friend!
The best lesson we’ve learnt from another female?
I’ve had a mixture of female therapists over the years that I’ve learnt so much from, but the main thing has been accepting my sensitivity and emotional side as something that’s a part of me and not a trait that needs to be ‘toughened up’. I feel like sensitivity has helped me be a better friend and more empathetic listener, and I’m proud of that part of my personality.
Change you’d most like to see for women going forward?
I’d like women to be able to walk down the street wearing whatever they choose and not feel unsafe. No catcalling, no ‘she was asking for it’ victim blaming and no threat to safety if out at night alone.
A lesson you’d most like to instil in younger women for the future?
Change begins at the grass root level of society: stand up for what you believe in, speak out if you see an injustice being served and be the change you’d like to see in the world. Things are changing for women, but in many respects we still have such a long way to go in helping minority and vulnerable women.
Darcey
Name a woman that has shaped your life so far?
I couldn’t possibly name one woman, this is because growing up I had my mum and my step-mum, who have both shaped my life. They have both taught me so many things about life, always encouraged me to follow my dreams and always offered me support when I’m in need. I have been so lucky growing up with two great women in my life.
A woman in a position of power that you admire?
I really admire Jameela Jamil, I love how honest and open about her life she is online. I also really admire how she admits to mistakes and preaches that it’s human to do so, cancel culture has become so damaging online, but we are all humans who make mistakes. She also really fights for young women, her campaign against detox teas was so monumental (I know these affect all genders, but many ads were targeted at young women). Now that Instagram has banned toxic diet promotion, she really has made history and helped so many people who would have been so affected by these ads.
Which woman would you like to be more like?
Ashley Graham, she has really influenced me in many ways. I love her confidence, her body confidence, her compassion and kindness. She (in my eyes) was the catalyst for inclusivity in the fashion industry, she knew what she wanted and she got it! I really admire that kind of drive.
The best lesson we’ve learnt from another female?
I’ve learnt a lot from Munroe Bergdorf, she has taught me a lot about feminism and about fighting for what you believe in. She is truly amazing, I learn something new from her weekly through her Instagram. Munroe said that once we stop focusing on genders, we will stop this notion of not being “woman-enough or man-enough. Focus on individuality” and that really stuck with me, individuality is much more important, do what makes you happy!
Change you’d most like to see for women going forward?
More women in power! Women and men should be equals, making decisions together. We need more women in parliament, more female CEO’s, more women in the tech industry.
A lesson you’d most like to instil in younger women for the future?
That your beauty isn’t everything, that relationships aren’t everything and that your career isn’t everything. Be you, do what makes you happy and do things at your own pace.
Lauren
Name a woman that has shaped your life so far?
Definitely my mum, she’s so strong yet caring, and is always there to listen and offer advice and speak her mind. She’s always been there for me and has pushed me to live the best life I can, and taught me to own my own power and be a kind person.
A woman in a position of power that you admire?
Phoebe Waller-Bridge, I’d describe her as powerful as she’s been able to use her words and intellect to command a global stage after starting from a small space in Edinburgh and being able to influence and charm the world with her writing and go on to be a big name in the world of entertainment.
Which woman would you like to be more like?
Aside from Phoebe, Marina Diamandis. She is my woman crush forever and always, and she has such an awareness for emotions and society that is always inspiring and eye-opening, and is able to communicate them in a simple yet beautiful manner.
The best lesson we’ve learnt from another female?
“Do whatever brings you to life, then. Follow your own fascinations, obsessions, and compulsions. Trust them. Create whatever causes a revolution in your heart.”
― Elizabeth Gilbert
Change you’d most like to see for women going forward?
Equal and better pay, eradicating period poverty, and having women universally be in charge of their bodies, not men!
A lesson you’d most like to instil in younger women for the future?
Believe in your gut and your passions, strive to make changes where you can, and know there is so much power inside of you.
This week, our Weekly Wants go out to all the ladies.
We’re celebrating International Women’s Day and shining the spotlight on the female fronted-brands at the top of their professional game.
From Glossier to KKW Beauty and Sezane, let’s hear it for the female founders, CEOs and self-made entrepreneurs disrupting the status quo.
Here come the girls!
Maddie
We couldn’t highlight female business women without mentioning Kim Kardashian now could we? Love them or loath them (let the record state, I’m a fan) it’s undeniable that there is an incredible strategy in play with absolutely everything the Kardashians put their name to. Sure there have been ups and downs along the way which is true for absolutely every business in history but Kim is the queen of the comeback and she isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. From TV shows and apps to beauty ranges, fragrance and shape-wear. She is a formidable force and her work ethic is undeniable. The empire they’ve all created within the social media space is absolutely fascinating and completely groundbreaking.
I have three different women I wanted to mention in business as I couldn’t narrow it down to just one!
Firstly, KKW, as Maddie said, you either love the Kardashians or maybe they’re not your favourite, but i’ve always admired Kim and her work ethic. She’s my favourite Kardashian! Whether she’s fighting a law suit, bringing out a new brand or app, she absolutely puts her all into it and it’s extremely inspiring! I also love that she shares her ups and downs in business too.
I wanted to mention Emily Coxhead here as someone with a smaller business with whom I greatly admire. She started The Happy Newspaper (a newspaper full of brilliant and wonderful things happening all over the world to bring people positivity) in 2015 with help from a kickstarter campaign. Emily is so dedicated and works really hard to inspire others and bring smiles to peoples faces and I just love that.
And lastly I wanted to mention my friend Samantha Cusick who runs her own hair salon “Samantha Cusick London” in Notting Hill, London. Sam saw a space to really utilise social media and give the best bespoke balayage service with instagram worthy cocktails. I’ve loved following her journey of growing her team and hair empire with all it’s ups and downs. Sam is so determined and has such a drive and passion and she inspires me to always follow my ideas through!
Danielle
This IWD I’m going wild for one of my favourite beauty and skincare brands: Glossier. The first time I heard of Emily Weiss was on Whitney Port’s spin-off show ‘The City’. I distinctly remember Emily bowling into a florist and reeling off a ton of beautiful blooms they needed for an event, I was absolutely mesmerised and thought this Emily girl was a genius. Was I wrong? NOPE. She is now the proud founder and CEO of Glossier, one of the most exciting and innovative beauty brands on the market. These products aren’t really my ‘wants’ because I own them all and use them ERRYDAY. Each one is magnificent and you can absolutely tell how much research and care has gone into creating them. Emily Weiss, you are a G!
Not only is it great to support brands founded by women, but voting with your money and choosing small and independent businesses feels so empowering too. I’m always lusting after everything Megan Ellaby wears so this cute tie dye number from her amazing brand is a no-brainer choice.
Another Manchester based gem: July Child Jewellery founded by Sinead Flood. I honestly would order everything from that website if I could!
Realisation Par is one of my ‘lusting after’ brands- the kind you see on Instagram and always add to your ‘saved’ folder despite the spenny price tag. The shape of the Venus dress is so classic though and one I know I’d get so much wear out of it. Maybe one to invest in when the weather warms up … (wishful thinking).
Finished off with this GORGEOUS Poppy Lissiman bag and that might just be my summer OOTD sorted!
I’m already a self-confessed Sezane addict so in honour of IWD, I’ll be stocking up on a few pieces from the new collection. Founder Morgane Sézalory started her own business organically by selling a couple of bags of her sister’s clothes online. She supplemented her part-time job by selling vintage finds on eBay and in a matter of years, built a hugely popular French brand with a cult following. I’ve got my eye on the Ann shirt and their new eco denim!
This IWD I’m going to be supporting Fenty Beauty, firstly because Rihanna is an absolute self-love queen. Never will I forget when she was asked by a journalist “what are you looking for in a man now” to which she replied, “I’m not looking for a man, let’s start there”. She just projects confidence, kindness, compassion all rolled into one. Fenty Beauty I believe is so great because it was groundbreaking in beauty. She released 40 foundation shades in her first launch, including everyone in the beauty conversation. She didn’t stop there either, she received emails from around 10 women who said “hey, actually my shade isn’t in these 40” so you know what Rihanna did? She sent them out to be colour tested, and created 10 more shades! I’ve listed a few of my fave products from Fenty Beauty, which are must-have staples for me.
I’m choosing to shop at Lucy and Yak this international Women’s day. The founder is funnily enough called Lucy and she started the brand whilst travelling New Zealand with her partner, Chris. I love their ethos they put out and their items are incredible. I’m yet to own a pair of their dungarees but this year I’m determined to get some.
Spring Cleaning Series: Why The ‘Tidy House, Tidy Mind’ Mantra Is One To Live By
Cleaning is one powerful doing word and Marie Kondo and Mrs Hinch having their very own verbs is testament to that.
There’s something to be said for the tidy house, tidy mind mantra. Without going into the ins and outs of the psychological impact of cleaning and decluttering, we know it’s beneficial because, well, we feel it and there’s no arguing with that.
Cleanliness is next to godliness!
Throughout the month of March, we’ll be bringing you a whole hub of helpful tips to make light work of your spring cleaning. Not only because cleanliness is next to godliness but because we all know our minds need the digital blackout too.
Slip into your finest marigolds, we’re going in!
Why do we spring clean?
Inhale.
Picture this. You’ve scrubbed the house top to bottom and organised the junk drawer where cables, receipts and hair bobbles go to die. You’ve polished the kitchen counter to within an inch of its life. You might have fluffed cushions, sucked away all evidence of sofa crumbs and cobwebs and lit a few candles, reserved only for this ritual right here.
You climb into bed, wrapped in that crisp fresh linen spritzed with some kind of therapeutic mist and you sleep better, don’t you?
When everything around you has its place, your mind find its way back to you. You’re not trying to work a body and a mind that operate independently from one another; they’re in unison once again and stillness resumes.
Exhale.
You might discover similar moments elsewhere in your day-to-day life; in the quiet whir of the coffee machine before the rest of the world is awake, or when your phone runs out of battery and you find yourself secretly happy for the inconvenience. We don’t know for sure, but we can only guess that what you feel in that moment is your brain doing a little tiny happy blow off. Like a self-inflating Whoopee Cushion finally sat on and relinquished of its duty.
You gain an extra half an hour of glorious existence before it glows back to life and you’re engrossed in the Tick Tock rabbit hole again. Like, share, repeat.
We’re all guilty of searching for the permission to be momentarily excused from digital distraction
We’re all guilty of searching for the permission to be momentarily excused from digital distraction; to leave the table of comparison we’re forever gorging on. We’ve all felt it. But why do we wait until our phones – and indeed our physical selves – are burning out? Only when our hand is forced do we decide to manage our time differently and reshuffle our priorities.
Cleaning has a unique way of ironing out our problems, literally and metaphorically. At the very least, it’s an hour or two away from our devices, a chance to add order to chaos and invest our energy into something with a clear objective and end result. We have used an hour wisely and have the evidence of a tidy space to prove it. We just need to find the gusto to do it in the first place!
Spring is often the best time to declutter your space. The turn of the seasons presents a very tangible sense of change and new beginnings. Everything gets lighter and sunnier around us which sets the precedent for optimism and renewal in our own lives. With life blooming into colour all around us, we can’t help but mimic nature – letting go of things that no longer serve us and making room for new found possibility and purpose.
The power of productivity
With a lot of us shifting into careers where working remotely is the norm, the line between our work and our lives has grown ever fainter and increasingly blurred. Our living room is now serving as our office, meeting room, Skype zone and somewhere we’re told we need to recline and switch off.
We create the physical space in which we need to live and function properly
If we declutter our homes, we immediately eliminate the visual noise that causes us to lose focus. We create the physical space in which we need to live and function properly but more than that, we create the kind of environment our headspace depends upon in order to thrive.
Boost your mood
If you’ve ever felt lighter after you’ve been on a decluttering marathon or deep clean, you’ll be able to vouch for the psychological payoff that comes with taking the time to tend to your living space. That wave of calm that comes over you when you’re sat in that armchair admiring your finest work. The physical activity gets us moving and sweating and when paired with a killer playlist, there’s just no stopping us. Even the fruit in the fruit bowl’s getting dusted. Nothing is safe.
Best cleaning accounts
If you need a bit of motivation to get you started, these ‘cleanstagrammers’ know a thing or two about how to handle a feather duster. Follow and prepare to get your clean freak ON.
