What I Read - January 2022

Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters

This is the first trans book I’ve ever read and wow! Torrey goes so in-depth into the world of trans men and women, the want and desire to have children, and detransitioning - and ties it so nicely into a “typical” romance book. And I loved it. It did take me a short while to truly get into the storyline, but once I got into it, I devoured it.

Two of the main characters are quite unlikeable, Ames at times can be so selfish at times and same with Reese. The way Reese would rather be with toxic masculine men can be tough to read!

I also really loved how well Torrey was able to switch between each main characters perspective so easily. It read so naturally!

we are all birds of uganda by hafsa zayyan

This is such a beautifully written book that showcases two generations at different points of life. Yet at times, their lives very much feel like they go through the same motions. Struggles with racism, family life, and cultural differences.

As I read this, I truly envisioned the movie playing in my head. I really hope that someone buys the rights for this movie, otherwise I might have to do it.

Each chapter it jumps between the grandfather’s love letters to his first wife and the grandson (Sameer) in present day London. The book covers topics of cultural differences, family expectations, colonisation, racism, and love. I cried a lot but I’d do it all over again to be honest.

What I Read - August & September 2021

August

Twilight by Stephanie Meyers

I feel like I don’t even need to review this book, but I’ll leave a small snippet about it.

I honestly read this book at of pure comfort and escapism. Even though this book is on the bad side with the lead female character being seen as pathetic, in an abusive relationship and forever relying on a vampire male that she’s only just met.

It’s quite clear that Stephanie Meyers being a mormon has influenced her writing…

But if you enjoy a story that involves vampires and a tragic love story, then you are in luck because this book and the rest of the Twilight series is for you!

Bleach Volumes 10-12 by Tite Kubo

I’m quite glad that I’m buying this manga series in the volumes of 3-in-1 because, wow, did these three volumes really drag. Unless you want spoilers, don’t read on…

I’ve found that manga and anime series can really drag the fighting scenes for hours, which in my opinion, could be done in half the time. But I guess where would the fun be in that? All three of these volumes are about Ichigo and the team fighting to get Rukia out of the Soul Society before she’s executed. There’s a huge shock for everyone when they realise just how many Soul Reaper’s they have to fight to get to Rukia in prison, and there are quite a lot of casualties on the way.. And Ichigo is definitely not as strong as we all hoped he would be! Hopefully we’ll find out in Volume 13 if they can get Rukia out of prison and all leave the Soul Society, eek!

September

Rebel Without Applause by Lemn Sissay

This is my first poetry book - Thank you Crofton Books in Brockley for having the best second-hand book selection I’ve seen!

I first heard about Lemn Sissay through the Desert Island Discs on Radio 4 - what a life story he has! As a Black poet he has done so much for the future of Black writers, it is so wonderful to see! He’s how I found out about Commonword in Manchester, an organisation dedicated to ensuring under-represented writers are being heard and represented.

Lemn Sissay has a beautiful way with words, the poems he has written in this book are so empowering! I never realised before how poetry sits in your mind and every so often when you’re left to think, you find yourself pondering the words and the story behind them, and thinking about how he does it!

Mixed Up: Confessions of an Interracial Couple by Tineka Smith & Alex Court

This is an absolute must read, even if you’re not in a mixed race relationship!!

I picked this up as I’m half Indian and half English and I’ve always noticed the difference in treatment my parents get because of their skin colour. Particularly when we lived in Dubai and people would think she was a maid.

This was a very insightful read into the dynamics of a Black and white couple, it’s very raw, real and heartbreaking at times. It was interesting and like mentioned before, heartbreaking, to read about how each of their perspectives are so different in life situations. There is so much to learn from both Alex and Tineka’s confessions on topics like white privilege, travelling as a mixed race couple, and microaggressions in the workplace.

What I found really important to read about was Alex’s confessions on his white privilege, his heartbreaking realisation that his future children won’t have the same privilege as him and how he has learnt to see racism and microaggressions Tineka receives in all aspects on her life.

I cannot recommend this book enough! It’s such a great and easy read.

What I Read - June & July 2021

June

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

This book follows the life of Nora after a suicide attempt which leads her to the midnight library, where she can basically choose a life to live. That’s all I want to say about the premise of this novel.

Honestly, this book really lives up to all the hype on TikTok and Bookstagram. Matt Haig has put his personally experience with mental health and suicide so incredibly well in this novel. It got me seriously thinking about how I’m living my life and if I got the chance to change aspects of it and for that to lead into a completely different life, would I do it?

Reading this made me laugh, cry and mourn the lives she hoped to have been ‘the one’, all in one. This book is such a great gripping read and I really loved how the chapters were laid out in a way of feeling like short stories.

July

Assembly by Natasha Brown

I managed to get my hands on a signed copy of Natasha’s first novel through Crofton Books, which is honestly my favourite secondhand book store; major plus is that it being a 15-minute walk away.

Natasha really has an incredible way with words. The way she’s been able to portray such a powerful story in a short read.. wow!
The entire time I read this, I was truly engrossed in this story of the woman protagonist. The way she is never truly seen as British even though she was born here, her parents were born here, her grandparents were born here. Reading about her struggles with health, being seen as a powerful strong woman at work, coasting through life with her boyfriend and his family… I just wanted to reach into the book and give her a hug.
I feel such a sense of loss and sadness after finishing this…

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

What a read this book was! I was totally engrossed in this book from start to finish, it really got me back into my reading groove again.

This is quite an intense ‘who did it’ murder mystery book, where in each chapter I was trying to figure out who really killed Alicia’s husband. The plot twist at the end was definitely not expected at all, which made the book even better!

This book kind of felt like a slight modern-day version of an Agathe Christie novel, so if you love those then this is a book for you!

Red Notice (How I Became Putin’s No. 1 Enemy) by Bill Browder

This was an isolation book read (yay covid) and I LOVED it! If I wasn’t recommended this by my boyfriend, I honestly would never have picked up a book like this. Reading about the life of a financial investor isn’t really something that is of interest to me.

But I was wrong - this book is so gripping, truly does read like a thriller, and so heartbreaking as it’s all true.

The life of Bill Browder is so fascinating. His journey of starting out in the investor world, to starting his own company in Russia. But what happens during his time in Russia is truly horrifying, the Russian Government does not play by normal rules and Bill’s success with investing in Russia caused somewhat of an uproar. Which sadly in turn lead to an innocent man dying.

Everyone should read Bill’s life story and Sergei’s bravery.

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

Another book based in Lewisham! As soon as I read about Queenie taking the 136 bus towards Lewisham, I instantly fell in love as it’s the bus I always take. There’s something so good about reading a book about a place you live in, I’m glad that it no longer feels like a rarity.

Queenie is black and her boyfriend is white, and how Candice has portrayed their relationship showcasing the struggles of being in a mixed race relationship is hard to read. What I found most difficult to read is how Queenie felt so alone in the horrible situations she was put in while visiting her boyfriends family. I felt like she was constantly being gaslighted by him and at times resulting in her taking the blame for why things went so wrong…

The book also follows Queenie through racism in the workplace, dealing with being the first in her family to be openly dealing with mental health, and trying to not let her personal issues ruin her work life - so much goes on in this book, yet it is written and read so smoothly.

I was in on and off floods of tears while speeding my way through this book. Knowing that this book is showing elements of what black people are dealing with all around the world, it’s heartbreaking. Which is why I cannot recommend this book enough, a definite must read!

What I Read - May 2021

The Colour Purple by Alice Walker

WHAT A BOOK!!
Alice writes about such tough topics: being a black, being a woman, being a black woman, rape, culture differences and racism. But gosh does she write it so well.

Initially this was a hard book to read as the POV of this story follows the journey of a girl through to women, who is not well educated. So Alice has cleverly written it as her writing letters to God/ her sister, meaning her spelling and grammar isn’t great. For me personally, it took about 40 pages or so to get use to reading the bad spelling and grammar, but as she grows up it does in turn get better throughout the book (never perfect though).

The storyline is a powerful one but I would say there are trigger warnings needed for rape/ abuse/ toxic masculinity/ racism. So do read with that in mind.
This is well worth the read and the journey these characters go in is sad tough but there is a good ending.

I’ve heard this is also a movie but I don’t think I could personally stomach it mentally.

Shaping Up Culture by Mark Maciver (Zine)

This was a lovely short zine all about the key elements of starting up a business. I loved reading about Mark’s personal experience of starting up Slider Cuts and how his own faith in God played a crucial part in it.
Totally recommend if you’re starting a business or just curious.

The Good Immigrant Edited Nikesh Shukla

(This book was such a great find at my local secondhand bookshop, Crofton Books, in Brockley!)

This book is a collection of essays by underrepresented voices that explore otherness, cultural differences, racism and migration.
WOW ! This book was so so important. Topics covered by each individual are just so powerfully written and again - just so incredible important to hear.
I absolutely loved reading about each of these people’s experiences and personal history with immigration.
Really recommend you pick yourself up a copy of this. There is also a US version of this too; I definitely need to buy this version!

Reading The Ceiling by Dayo Forster

(Another secondhand find from my sister as a birthday gift!)

This was a really interesting read where there are essentially three stories in one. Three different lives the main character could have led if she had chosen a slightly different life decisions; where she went to university, who she lost her virginity to, and will she keep this baby??
I’m reading The Midnight Library at the moment, and these two books are similar in the sense of different life choices lead to different lives.
This definitely isn’t a light hearted read. It’s tough reading about the women protagonist go through so much trauma and not having the perfect life she deserves. I so wished elements of each of the three lives were combined to become one.

Huck Magazine Issue 74 (Magazine)

I thought I’d take a break from reading books… so I decided to read a magazine instead!
I borrowed this from my boyfriend, and what a magazine.
The stories they’ve covered in this issue is just so diverse and so important. Covering topics such as black people’s experience of surfing in the US, the UK basketball courts during lockdown etc.
I cannot recommend picking up this copy or any copy of Huck Magazine’s.

What I Read - April 2021

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

I didn’t quite understand the name of the book until I got 3/4 of the way through and my goodness, did things fall apart quickly. 

It took me a while to really understand  what was going on. I didn’t quite get what the plot of the story was until as the title states, things falling apart. And now, I can understand why this book is such a classic.

This was a great entry book into colonisation. After reading it, I took some time to reflect on this history and wow. It made me so angry, mad and just all round hateful towards the church for coming into these tribes and colonising it. Building the church, shops and starting a school... It just doesn’t sit right with me as a Christian that the man in charge of this did this in the name of God??!! 

I cannot recommend this book enough! 

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

This book had me angry with Dumbledore, Ron & Hermione.

Firsty, why does Dumbledore treat Harry so poorly? He’s so vague with what he tells him about why he’s having these special lessons with him and why he needs to get this special memory from Slughorn! It made me quite angry.. Like Harry doesn’t deserve this, he’s the chosen one ;)

And then there is Hermione & Ron… they’re suppose to his best friends and yet they just get really annoyed with him obsessing over Draco. I can kind of get what they mean as it is weird at how obsessive Harry was with watching him on the Marauder’s Map every night. Plus, he doesn’t even get to have the satisfactory of a good ‘I told you so’ moment due to the tragic ending…

All in all it was a great book and I loved the moments of romance added throughout.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

I don’t know if it was because I haven’t read this one before but, this was by far my favourite book of the whole series, I loved every bit of it.

The love story really developed between Ron & Hermione and it was so sweet to read it. Again, so many details that just aren’t put in the movie.. who decides what goes in the movie?? And why do they miss out so many things??? For example: Tonks & Lupin getting married and having a baby, Dean going into hiding as he has muggle parents, Dean & Luna having a cute romance and then Voldemort’s name having a spell on it where death eaters know exactly where you are when you say the name.

All in all, loved the adventure, romance and feuds that went on!! I’m so sad now that this series is over **goes and cries**.

Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson

This book is a literal piece of art, Caleb is just talented beyond words. The way he writes is so powerful, it’s more than just a story, there’s poetry mixed in there too. I haven’t read a book like this before and I doubt I will, unless it’s another book written by Caleb.

I loved reading about South East London as it’s where I grew up and also where I’ve just moved back to. There’s something so special about knowing exactly where they are and imagining it like a movie scene in your head while you read.

At times I found it quite hard to read as it brought all this emotion of breaking up with my long-term ex. So there were some nights I just had to put it away otherwise I’d be in floods of tears that were just unwanted.

This is a very special book and something so well worth reading, savouring it and then making sure all your friends read it too! Caleb is an author to watch out for.

What I Read - March 2021

March

Uncommon Places by Stephen Shore

If you love shooting in film or admiring film photography, this is the book for you! This book is just filled with wonderful and slightly weird photographs of as stated, uncommon places, ha. As someone who recommended this book to me said, ‘this one is for your eyes’ and he wasn’t wrong.

I’ve absolutely loved sitting in bed with a mug of hot water and flicking through these pages most nights.

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

I really loved the Netflix series Bridgerton and needed a book to fill that void until season 2 is out, so I started reading the book series by Julia Quinn! This book was not at all what I expected from the series, there are a lot of additional characters and storylines that just aren’t in the book, which is slight disappointing but I’m kind of amazed at how well they added them into the TV series!!

Really easy read filled with a tonne of romance and laughter!

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

Month by month I am slowly making my way through this Harry Potter series. And it’s at this point where I struggle to read them as it signifies the start of main characters dying.

This book again has so much extra details in here about Umbridge and Dumbledore’s Army.

Great read, although I found some of the chapters far too long.

Bleach Volumes 7, 8 and 9 by Tite Kubo

If you haven’t followed my what I’ve read series, here’s a quick description on what this book is about: a manga series following a boy that receives soul reaper powers and soon had to learn how to use these powers to kill hollows.

I struggled getting into the storyline at the beginning of volume 7 due to the introduction of new characters and story! It did take all 3 volumes to really get into what was happening but to be honest, that’s pretty classic with manga.

The Women in the Window by A. J. Finn

This was one of the easiest books I’ve ever read, the way A. J. Finn has written this book, is just incredible. For me it was the way the book was laid out into short diary entry pieces of between 2-10 pages, that made this book so quickly consumed.

One downside is that this style of book is basically another one of those 'Gone Girl’ or ‘The Girl on the Train’ books. As the main character is somewhat of a drunk with mental health issues. But, if you’re anything like me, I could read these genre of books all day long, even if they are similar!

Brown Baby by Nikesh Shukla

I adored reading this memoir by Nikesh for his daughter.

It felt really nice to read a book about a brown family!

Nikesh touches on such great topics: racism, dealing with the loss of a loved one, purpose and finding your people. Well worth a read!

What's Happening In Fashion Right Now - Stitch. Article

The news of Boohoo stealing British independent designer KAI’s work has been spreading around Instagram like wildfire. Back in 2019, KAI designed a bespoke pattern that gives off strong 60s vibes in collaboration with Grapes Pattern Bank, and now three years later, Boohoo is selling an exact replica of their designs.

Now, this isn’t the first time that big fast fashion brands have stolen from small independent businesses. It has happened countless times with other small designers such as:  Tuesday Bassen, Scamp & Dude, Emma Warren and Amy Yeung. It’s time for this to end and for justice to all designers this has happened to, from fashion to furniture designs. There needs to be more protection and action for those who are not financially secure enough to fight.

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 This year’s London Fashion Week (LFW)is officially going gender neutral. About time, right?? LFW has been going on since 1984, traditionally showcasing womenswear and menswear.  This year’s Men’s LFW will be replaced with a gender-neutral virtual showcase.

It’s well and truly been a long time coming for the fashion industry to move towards gender neutral clothing and dissolve the stigma and divide around this topic. Gender fluid clothing lines allow everyone to feel seen, fashion companies to have designer flexibility and bring the industry one step closer to fashion sustainability.

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 Sir Philip Green’s empire Arcadia Group has fallen. If you don’t know what this all means, Arcadia Group includes big brands such as Topshop, Debenhams and Miss Selfridge.

What is Oxford Street going to be like without the massive iconic Topshop store? It felt like such a right of passage for me as a teenager, getting the train to Oxford Street and meeting all of my friends outside Topshop for a mooch around. In many ways Topshop was a coming-of-age social hub first and a leading high-street store second. On the other hand, it feels like a good end of an era, bringing us one step closer towards change. What once was a strong group of go-to clothing brands is now a sight of distress for the thousands of people that have their jobs and livelihood on the line. But what does this mean for the future of these fast fashion brands and retail in general? 

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If you love fashion and Instagram, I’m sure you’ll have heard of the Instagram account called Diet Prada. They’ve recently opened up about a lawsuit that began in early 2019, where Dolce & Gabbana (D&G) began seeking over $600 million in loss of sales from the two US bloggers who run Diet Prada. Their post from Friday 05 March read: ‘On Monday, we filed a defence of our freedom of speech in answer to defamation claims brought in a Milan court by Dolce & Gabbana’. In a short summary of what’s happening, Diet Prada stood up for the anti-Asian hate rising in the US and in turn criticised D&G for their stereotyping, sexism and anti-Asian remarks of Chinese women from the 2018 advertising Weibo campaign. Now D&G is filing a claim for the lost revenues and harm this caused them, which goes against the freedom of speech for these two US bloggers and their right in denouncing racism when they see it!

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Now that non-essential shops are opening up from Monday 12 April, what does this mean for the post-pandemic future of retail? Coronavirus has caused a considerable impact on the fashion industry, as evidenced by several bankruptcies and store closures. But, most importantly, what kind of impact has this had on the people that make our clothes? With the news of the military coup in Burma (also known as Myanmar) putting risk on foreign investment, ‘this poses the threat of trade sanctions, and may prompt some clothing companies to sever their sourcing ties with the country’ (Leonie Barrie, just-style article). In Burma, clothing, footwear and handbags are the second largest export sector for the country. If this trade is severed there could be serious consequences for this economy, even more so after the cancellations of orders from Covid-19.

Will this cause the fashion industry to stop being so drastically dependent on cheap synthetic fibres and cheap labour for their clothes? I can only hope that it will be a wakeup call for both fashion brands and consumers to take action on their harmful habits.

Fashion Trends I'm Loving - Stitch. Article

1.     Crocs

Crocs are in fashion, people, officially 2021 fashion... And I am very happy about it! I’ve had a love hate relationship with crocs. On one hand I find them ugly but then on the other hand, they’re comfy?! So now that I’ve seen Ariana Grande wearing them, and my Instagram page starting to fill up with crocs, I decided it was finally time to hop onto this trend.

2.     Sweats

I guess one positive to come from lockdown life is that wearing sweats have become the new normal! I now don’t feel this weird judgement for wearing them on walks, or nipping down to the shops, as I feel everyone is in the same boat and just wants pure comfort during these times.

3.     Neutral colour tones

There’s just something so beautiful and classic when it comes to a simple colour palette of browns, greys and whites! Whether it’s your whole outfit or just a statement piece, anyone and everyone looks so beautiful in these colours.

4.     Dungarees

I feel like dungarees are going to be a fashion sample throughout every generation! They’re such a great statement piece to wear for everyone. Ever since I found out about the clothing company Lucy & Yak, I’ve been hooked; the colours, the patterns, the styles – everything!!!

5.     Shackets

More and more people have been rocking shackets and I am seriously here for it! I’ve also found it hard to style shirts with coats in colder weather but now, it’s no longer an issue! Shackets are just so versatile, they can be worn dressed up or casually, and with fun colours it can be the statement of the outfit! Definitely a must-have in your wardrobe. I have seen so many second-hand options on Depop, which is always a great cheaper option!

What I Read - January & February 2021

January

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

This was nothing like I expected it to be after watching the movie! The way this book is set up is that each chapter it flicks between the different families and main characters of the storyline. To be honest, it took me the entire time I was reading it, to really get use to the way this book flowed.

I absolutely loved the detail it gave when it came to the family trees, their backgrounds and especially the footnotes on what the Malay/ Hokkien/ Cantonese words meant in English; really useful & informative!

February

I Am Not Your Baby Mother by Candice Brathwaite

This book was incredible, a mixture of humour and sadness with so much informative information on how black mothers are treated in general and in/ outside the hospital when it comes to giving birth. I cannot believe how naive I was when it came to the treatment to black women in the hospital, I knew the stats of how black women are four times more likely to die in childbirth. But to read about Candice’s treatment from after giving birth is absolutely shocking, it really made me understand the statistics and how poor postpartum treatment contributes to that.

I would honestly recommend this book to everyone to read, a definite must-read!!

Bleach Volumes 3, 4, 5 & 6 by Tite Kuto

I absolutely love manga, it’s such a great change in-between reading the books like the ones in my blogs.

Basically Bleach follows the life of a teenager who obtains these soul-reaper powers. As the volumes go on, it gets more and more action packed and I’m loving it. The illustrations are so well done and it makes you feel like you’re kind of in the fights scene too. The TV series is literally so spot on with the manga!

Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

I don’t really think there is much I can say about the Harry Potter books as I feel like everyone has either read the books or watched the books.

This books great, filled with action and a bit of funny high school cheesy romance! The only thing I have to criticise about this book is how poorly Fleur is portrayed as a woman in the triwizard tournament. Rowling could of done a better job of showing Fleur to be a strong hardcore witch that isn’t weak or flimsy.

Women Don’t Owe You Pretty by Florence Given

I have quite mixed feelings about this book.

I found this book to be more catered towards a younger teenage audience (14-18 year olds) as a lot of this information on feminism, diversity, racism I already knew a lot about as a 26 year old. Which, made it feel quite repetitive to me. I’m also someone who is very sure of themselves, knows who I am, loves myself dearly, so for me the chapters on self-love and acceptance felt like a therapy session where it was full of me saying ‘yeah i know, tell me something I don’t already know pleaaase’.

But, overall I would definitely recommend this book for anyone that needs to learn more about what feminism is and privilege white/ cis/ non-disabled/ straight people have, as well as knowing your self-worth and putting you first.

Sneak peak into some books I’ll be reading this month:

• Bleach Volumes 7, 8 & 9 by Tite Kubo

• The Duke & I by Julia Quinn (big Bridgerton fan over here!)

(All front covers have been made in Procreate, and are copies of the original book covers)

BOOKS of 2020

It’s already February 2021 and I’m only now getting round to posting about the books I read throughout 2020…

I am knee-deep in bookstagram & booktok, and I love hearing about books that everyone is reading or they’ve put on their to be read corner. So, here’s a sneak into what I read!

Harry Potter’s 1 - 3 by J.K. Rowling

I am the biggest Harry Potter fan, both the movies & the books. I’ve only listened to the Harry Potter audiobooks, so it was only time to pick up the books and give them a read.

I get so much comfort from reading these books as it reminds me so much of my childhood! Plus, the first three books are so sweet and fun before the sudden turn of darkness from Lord Voldemort with the addition of a few deaths…

Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer

If you were a hardcore Twilight fan like I was during secondary school, then you MUST get your hands on this book! Stephanie Meyer’s did such a great job of Edward’s POV from the Twilight book. There are times where Edward comes across as a creepy stalker and he needs to get a grip, but it’s still so so good. Stephanie’s style of writing is just so incredible throughout this book and she’s done an incredible job at the continuity from Twilight in Bella’s POV, to Edwards!

It is a thick book and cost a whopping £20… Embarrassingly, by the time I was at the till ready to pay and saw the price, it was too late for me to question the price, so I just paid for it and left in a bit of a shock. Other than that, I’d totally recommend this to read.

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

I was introduced to this book by my mum when I broke up with my ex-boyfriend last June. I cannot recommend this book enough with helping you find your footing again, whether it’s from a breakup, finding a new career, finding a purpose again etc.

It’s basically all about finding your own creativity in life. I know it sounds cheesy, but we are all creative in our own unique way, we just need to find it.

It’s a 12-week programme with a chapter per week to read and from the beginning it highly recommends starting morning pages; where you write three pages every morning before you start your day. The pages can be rants, poems, stories, whatever you want it to be, you just need to make it three pages long. And then it also says to start doing something called ‘artist dates’, where you take some time out during the week (just you) to go on a date!!

I absolutely LOVED this book and the journey it took me on! I still do the morning pages at least 3 times a week!

Into The Water by Paula Hawkins

Paula also wrote The Girl on the Train, which was such a gripping book that I had to buy another of hers! I was surprisingly shocked and how long it took me to get into this book. I had to keep forcing myself to keep reading as I found it really hard to remember everyones names and how each of the characters were linked to one another. I’d say it took at least half of the book for me to finally get into it, as around then was when it started to get really good and gripping about the people who are found dead at this lake. I don’t want to reveal too much details about the storyline, but it was good and the ending was not at all what I expected.

Sadly, I don’t think this is a book I’d reach for again unlike the other’s I’ve read this year.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

If you follow my blog on the reg, you’ll already know that I’ve read this book. I just really fancied reading it again, and gosh, it was even better than reading it the first time!

Again - like Harry Potter, this was a comfort read.

(If you want to read my post about this book, click here!)

The Timewaster Letters by Robin Cooper

This is such a hilarious book and provided me with many laughs while reading this before bed.

This book is a collection of real letters that Robin Cooper has jokingly written many many letters to hotels, fan clubs, associations, stores, publishing houses and more! Such a quick and fun read of all the hilariously written letters and responses!

I’d totally recommend this book as a gift for dads or even a book that is placed in your bathroom for yourself or guests to flick through while they’re on the loo!

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'Thoughts on diversity' - a blogpost for MA Publishing course

Coming from a mixed raced background, there has always been a lack of books and magazines that represent what I look like. I think about this topic a lot now that close family members are having kids of their own. I want these kids to grow up feeling seen, appreciated and love the differences that come with having an Indian heritage.

What I question with this issue in the publishing industry is: diversity has always been there, so why has this not been included in books (especially kid’s books) from the beginning?

Before I started this publishing course, I listened to a talk on ‘diversity in book publishing’ lead by Dr Anamik Saha. The following are a few bullet points on what Dr Anamik Saha touched on that I personally found interesting and slightly surprising:

• Supermarkets are one of the top sellers for books (But they only stock the books that will provide the highest revenue)

• Books written by BAME authors are seen as a niche with not enough of an audience

• The industry is essentially set up to cater towards the audience of white and middle-class authors

• Black authors are put into this box of what they can and cannot write about (for example: crime, prisons etc.)

Where does the responsibility lie when it comes to diversity in publishing? When reviewing the cycle of the industry (see image below), each element has a part to play. Most specifically: authors, publishers, readers, publicity, marketing and distribution.

Image found at www.PublishingTrendsetter.com/book-life-cycle-infographics/life-cycle-book/

I find that what may be happening is that everyone is waiting for someone to make the change, which in turn will create the shift everyone’s been waiting for.

As I’ve found through lectures, the power doesn’t lie in one place! For example, readers have become more and more prominent when it comes to choosing what is popular, what is missing, marketing behaviour and finding the next ‘big’ author through places like Wattpad/ Tik Tok and Instagram. I believe everyone involved in the publishing chain needs to fight for the change, otherwise it might never be solved.

There are many sides you can approach to this topic and truly there isn’t just one answer to it either. But for now, here are some of my thoughts on the topic. Feel free to add to any of these or add new ones in the comments!

• If bookstores/ supermarkets widened their book/ magazine range, then maybe it would make it easier for publishers to take risks to represent BAME authors?

• Why is money a major factor when thinking about representing the voices of a minority?

• Why is there an assumption that BAME authors don’t have a big enough audience? As there is such a big desire from children and parents to have books/ magazines showcasing different skin tones, then isn’t this a big enough sign that there is an audience for these products?

Recommended read on this topic:

Rethinking diversity in publishing, Dr Anamik Saha & Dr Sandra van Lente (2020). Available at: https://www.spreadtheword.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Rethinking_diversity_in-publishing_WEB.pdf

PLASTIC FREE TOOTHPASTE REVIEW

Since switching to shampoo and conditioner bars, the next thing I wanted to try was toothpaste. I’ve tried switching to bamboo toothbrushes but personally, I find they don’t clean my teeth to the standards I want. I know becoming zero waste/ plastic free is all about compromising but, my teeth is just something I don’t really want to compromise on. So.. bamboo toothbrushes are not really in the picture unless I use them for travelling.

I’ve tried a total of three toothpastes over a seven month period, all very different from one another. So, enjoy my opinions on trying out these toothpastes and how I got along with them. 

1. The Source, toothpaste tablets 

I really liked this option for being the best zero waste option as no packaging is involved when purchasing them. (I’m not entirely sure what packaging they arrive in when The Source buy them). 

All you need is to reuse a glass jar to fill up with as much tablets as you want. I initially filled up a small jar which was barely 1/4 filled which, cost £5.72 for 0.045kg. I was so shocked that such a small amount cost SO much! However, those have lasted the past two and a half months almost three months, which isn’t too bad. That’s about 0.077p per toothpaste tablets! 

Directions of use:

With a bit of water in your mouth, pop one of the toothpaste tablets in and chew until you form a paste. This will literally take a few chews. Then, brush your teeth for two minutes. I always recommend to never rinse your mouth out afterwards as it’s great for your teeth and gums to have that leftover toothpaste. 

Review:

Initially I really got on well with these tablets as they are the most minty out of the three options. However, using a bamboo toothpaste and these tablets together made me feel like my gums were being ripped to shreds and they were so sore about every use. I switched to using my electric toothbrush which, made my gums feel slightly better. But, for me, this was a massive downfall with this type of toothpaste. And even though they were the most minty, I’d get to work and I’d have a really bad breath leaving me feeling very self conscious. (*These tablets also don’t foam*)

So, overall I’d give these a 2/5! These tablets might work better for some people but for me, it’s a no go. 

2. Georganics Natural Toothpaste

This was bought from our local store, As Nature Intended. This option comes in a cardboard container with a big block of the natural toothpaste. 

Direction of use:

Initially wet your toothbrush a little and then brush it over the block until enough of the block covers the toothbrush bristles. Then brush your teeth for two minutes. 

You’ll be surprised at how little you will actually need, as this option foams up really nicely as you brush your teeth. It’s actually the only one out of the three that foams up. 

Review:

I initially hated this toothpaste as it tastes like soap to me; again, it’s not a strong minty taste like normal toothpaste. However, over the month of trying it out, I’ve really really grown to love it. It’s really easy to use and my boyfriend has even cut a chunk of the block off and kept it in a container to use at work after his early morning workout sessions at his work gym. 

I would say the downside to this is the package. As you need to wet your toothbrush to get the paste onto your brush, small bits of water is continuously getting on the container and it’s gradually destroying it; so, that definitely needs working on as the block is going to last a lot longer than the packaging. Over time though, we will be transferring the block into a small tin box. 

Overall, I’d give this option a 4/5 as it does leave your mouth feeling clean, doesn’t kill your gums like the tablets and I don’t find myself feeling like I have bad breath. The only thing I miss is just the minty flavour so, maybe I’ll have a look out for different flavours. 

3. Georganics Activated Charcoal Natural Toothpaste 

This option was bought at our local The Source however, I have seen this being sold in As Nature Intended as well. It’s a small class jar with black activated charcoal already in paste form which, was very exciting to try out. 

Direction of use:

Using the scoop given with the toothpaste, take a pea sized scoop and place it on your wet toothbrush. Then use as normal toothpaste and brush for two minutes. 

Review:

I was really interested to see how black paste would clean your teeth and it really did work well and it doesn’t leave your teeth stained black either!

The texture of the of the paste is something to get use to but, it leaves your mouth feeling quite fresh but, like all the others, never crazy minty like usual toothpaste. This definitely feel like it gives your teeth and gums a good clean and I’ve definitely noticed my teeth becoming slightly whiter than they were before. 

Overall, this is another 4/5. 

A massive sum up, options 2 & 3 were my favourites but, the activated charcoal was an extra plus as it’s started to whiten my teeth. Something I would recommend with all these options is to use mouthwash 15-30 minutes after use. I usually brush my teeth first thing in the morning and then eat my breakfast so, I mouthwash before I leave for work/ the house etc. 

A mouthwash option I’ve tried is the tablets from The Source. But, other options I’ve seen in supermarkets (Sainsbury’s etc) is mouthwash sold in aluminium bottles. I feel like I need to do a blogpost on trying out mouthwashes next…

I hope you found these reviews helpful and useful. I really enjoyed trying out different options to replace plastic packaged toothpaste. If you have found any other options that are better than these, please let me know, I’d love to try out more!

Lots of love,

L

x x x

CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS 2019

This year I’m all about the mindful purchasing, and I just think it’s great that everyone is jumping on the band wagon after all the awareness from this years campaigning for climate change. I thought I’d share what I’ve bought.

Every year my family and I get a stocking and as the years have gone by and my sisters and I have grown up, we have started contributing to each other’s stocking presents. So, in this list I’ve purchased stocking presents for my parents and two sisters. These presents re a mixture of stocking gifts, secret Santa gifts and a lil something for extended family members.

I find secret Santa the best thing for present giving during this time of year; It stops you spending outside of your budget and getting unnecessary items for everyone. The majority of the items I’ve purchased are from companies that are ethical, provide fair wages to their employees and are plastic free. I understand not everything I’ve bought is perfect but, I’m making the effort this year to buy what I believe to be useful to my loved ones as well as providing an example to them for what buying well looks like, if that makes sense?

Everything is between £10-£20.

Lucy & Yak

I am absolutely in love with this store and everything they produce, they are my favourite ethical clothing stores ever. If you’ve next heard of them, you really do need to get to.

1. Socks £7.50

2. Enamel Pin £7

3. Top £18

The Source

The Source is my local bulk food store on Turnham Green high street. They’ve recently opened one in my hometown, Brighton, and I cannot wait to go and visit this store as it looks so big and beautiful!!

1. Mulled Wine Kit £3.25

2. Epsom Salt £4.50

3. Loose Leaf Tea & Tea Strainer £2.27 & £3.50

TfL Museum Gift Store

I went into the TfL museum in Convent Garden during a trip to London on route to a friends Christmas party. I never really intended on going in here and buying anything, but after a look around the gift store, I couldn’t help but purchase these two items.

1. Kew Gardens Print £10

2. TfL Socks £8

Hope & Ginger

This store is run by the most beautiful woman, who I found through Instagram. Her store has everything you’d ever want for your Christian journey; prints, scriptures in tins, journals etc.

1. Psalms in a tin £8.50

2. Advent Devotional Journal £10

Charlie Mackesy

I was first introduced to this artist at Alpha last winter; his drawings are just so beautiful with the best message. You all need to go follow him on Instagram!! (@charliemackesy).

His book is currently Waterstones book of the year, and that’s exactly what I purchased when I went to his exhibition in London last week. (His book is £16.50)

Fara Charity Shop

Charity shops have some gems all year round which, are perfect for birthday and Christmas presents. Finding the right presents takes a lot of scouring through the wracks and every charity shop on your high street continuously; it’s definitely not easy but, worth it. For example, I found these cute earrings for only £2!!

I always enjoy reading what others have bought for Christmas so, I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about what I got. I also hope you’ve found it helpful with ethical and mindful gifts to get for you and your loved ones. Always think, would this be useful?, will I/ they love and cherish this?, will this just get re-gifted or eventually binned?, before buying your gifts.

Lots of love & Merry Christmas,

L

x x x

ELLIOT’S “FAMOUS” TOMATO SAUCE

Since living together, Elliot has master his “famous” plastic-free tomato sauce. Famous is in those hyphens as I guess this sauce is only really famous between Elliot and I. But, my goodness it is so very very glorious; so I have finally gotten round to sharing this recipe with you all.

It’s a sauce that can be spiced up to be whatever you want it to be or just what’s available in the fridge. Pizza and pasta is our favourite way of using the sauce however, I can imagine it being perfect for whatever you want. Let’s get on with the instructions…

What you’ll need:

Frying pan

Blender or hand-blender

Recipe:

Six loose tomatoes

One red pepper

Half a tin of tomato puree

Three sun-dried tomatoes

One chopped white onion

Two garlic bulbs

Dash of balsamic vinegar

Dash of olive oil

Salt for seasoning

Cooking time:

15-20 minutes

Makes:

0.7-1 litre of tomato sauce. Enough for 4-5 meals of pasta or pizza sauce.

Steps:

1. Wash the loose tomatoes and red pepper.

2. Roughly chop the onion, the garlic bulbs and the tomatoes into chunks and set aside.

3. Roast the red pepper on an open flame. Make sure to to keep turning the pepper until all the sides have been charred. (Try not to burn yourself, ha). Once this is complete, leave the pepper to cool down and then roughly chop.

4. Using a frying pan, heat up some olive oil on a medium heat. Once the pan is hot it’s time to fry the onions and garlic for one minute and then add the tomatoes and pepper until everything starts to soften up.

5. Add the tin of tomato puree and balsamic vinegar and fry everything on a low heat for around 5 minutes.

6. After everything has fried up nicely together, put everything into the blender or into a bowl to hand-blend, add the salt for seasoning and blend until smooth.

7. Now the sauce is ready to be used for whatever you desire…

I hope you enjoy the sauce just as much as Elliot and I do and if you don’t… well who cares.

Lots of love,

L

x x x

PLASTIC FREE SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER BAR REVIEW

I’ve been using Lush shampoo and conditioner bars for around 6 months now. I thought I’d give them a real go before writing up a review.

My hair type: Short thick curly hair that gets very dry.

Shampoo bar type: Honey I washed my hair - £8

‘Honey is renown for adding softness and shine to locks’.

Conditioner bar type: Sugar Daddy-O - £7.

‘It’s full of luscious linseed infusion and argan oil to nourish’

Shampoo bar review:

This shampoo bar is so easy to use! After wetting your hair under the shower you basically just rub the bar on your hair and it froths up so nicely. A little goes such a long way!!

Compared to shampoo in a bottle this does not dry your hair out or feel like its ripping every bit of moisture out of your hair. My hair honestly feels amazing after using it, especially since I need to keep all the oil I can get in my dry curly hair.

My hair also feels so clean after using this shampoo. 10/10 I would recommend this to any hair type and the smell is just amazing.

Conditioner bar review:

Compared to the shampoo bar this is a lot harder to use. The amount of times I dropped this in the shower and denting it while trying to get the conditioner to rub off onto my hands or hair was just ridiculous. It that sense, it is a lot harder to use than the usual conditioner in a plastic bottle.

After washing off the shampoo, they recommend you to basically rub the conditioner between your hands and then apply it onto you hair. However, I found it easier to just apply it straight onto my head and brush it through my hair.

The smell of this bar is my favourite, it smells just like those parma violet sweets and I love it.

My hair honestly feels so smooth and shiny after using this and my hair has never been so curly since I cut it above really short. Anyone with curly hair should definitely use this as it’s just magic.

These two bars just work wonders for my hair. I wasn’t expecting to find shampoo and conditioner that worked for my hair straight away so, I don’t think I will be trying anything else for now. But, then again, these bars have lasted so long! Six months down the line with one wash per week and they’re still not even half way used! I am so surprised how slowly these bars get used up (for sure worth the initial cost). 10/10 for these Lush bars for sure!

Lush have such an amazing selection so, I would definitely recommend going in store and having a chat with the guys and gals and finding one that’s perfect for you.

Lots of love,

L

x x x

HOMEMADE OAT MILK

Oat milk is one of my all time favourite milks and now I’ve finally made the time to make a batch. The recipe I used is from Emma Ross’ website (www.mamalina.co/ @mamalinauk) which, was so simple and easy to make.

What you’ll need:

Blender

Cheesecloth

Glass jar

Recipe:

750ml water

1 cup of organic jumbo oats (The Source)

2 organic medjool dates (The Source)

A dash of Madagascan vanilla extract (Sainsburys)

“Cooking” time:

20 minutes

Steps:

1. Fill your blender with 750ml of water. I used water straight from my kitchen tap however, if you prefer filtered water, use that instead.

2.  Add the pitted dates, oats and the vanilla extract.

3.  Blend everything together for roughly 3 minutes. Let it the ingredients sit and blend for another 3 minutes.

4.  Pour the blended liquid into the cheesecloth over a bowl. Make sure to hold the top of the cheesecloth shut and starting from the top push the liquid through the bag.

5. Once all the liquid is through the cheesecloth, pour it back into the blender and blend for another 3 minutes.

6. Repeat step 4 and pour the oat milk into a glass jar or container of choice.

7. In the cheesecloth afterwards, there are leftover oats and dates. According to your preference, you can either keep this to make overnight oats with or throw it away in your food bin.

Review

My initial taste test of the oat milk was surprisingly good. The texture of the milk is nice and creamy with an earthy oaty taste to it. The dates and vanilla extract gives the milk a lovely sweet flavour to it; I would thoroughly recommend adding these if you have a sweet tooth like me. I’m not normally one to go for the sweetened nut or oat milks but, knowing what I put in this milk makes it so much better. I cannot wait to add this to my coffees and morning smoothies.

I’d definitely recommend making this during a free period of your weekend ready for the week ahead. Making this is definitely a lot messier than just grabbing it from the store but, knowing how quick and easy it is to make is just so worth it! Especially since no waste is coming from this!! 

 ** Just a tip off, the oat milk will separate when left in the fridge. All you’ll need to do is just shake before use.

*** Just another tip off, don’t heat this milk up... it will start to turn into some kind of jelly oat milk! Which, is gutting as I was hoping to use this milk in the future for hot porridge! If anyone knows how to make oat milk specifically for heating?? 

Till next time.  

Lots of love, 

L

x x x

PLASTIC FREE WASHING - SOAPNUTS REVIEW

Plastic free washing has been something I’ve been researching for a while. There are so many different options out there and finding the right one for you is always trial and error. Soapnuts are a product I’ve seen on Instagram pages (@zerowastemum & @thekindstoreuk) and on a mooch around Chiswick high street, I found these in a shop like Wholefoods and As Nature Intended, Please forgive me, I’ve completely blanked on this shops name and the shop it’s not even shown on Google Maps, wahh.

Soapnuts are a natural laundry detergent which, are grown sustainably on trees in India’s Himalayan Mountains. These are organic nuts containing saponin; ‘a natural detergent used for centuries as a gentle cleaner for fabrics and silks’. How amazing!! 

The poach I purchased is from a brand called Green Frog Botanic and contains 500g of organic soapnuts, for £7.99. According to them, this bag will last for 50 washes. I think, £7.99 for the bag is a great bargain and, the same shells can be used for 2 to 3 washes! Compared to typical washing powders and fabric softeners costing £3-4 each, these soapnuts are well priced; I was expecting them to be priced around £12-15...

A tip they recommend is to add a few drops of scented essential oil to the soapnuts in the bag before washing. However, I asked the lady in the shop for her advice and she stated that she does not use essential oils in her washes as the soapnuts leave a nice fresh scent on the clothes and it isn’t needed. Which, stopped me from purchasing a lavender scented essential oil to go with the soapnuts. I‘ll let you know in my review at the end if essential oils are needed or not. I guess its just personal preference.  

Also, when it comes to stains/ extra grime on clothes they do recommend adding a spoonful of salt, a bleach-free stain remover or an eco-friendly whitener to the detergent tray in the machine. As I believe these soapnuts cant tackle big stains or restoring white clothes. Which, is the downside to these soapnuts as normal powder and softener are pretty decent without requiring another wash or applying stain remover before washing clothes.

Washing steps:

1. I placed 4 of the soapnuts along with 3 half shells (later added 4 more soapnuts) in the washing pouch provided. 

2. Place the soapnuts bag in with the washing in the machine.

3. Set your washing machine to whatever settings you desire. As I’m doing a dark wash, I’ve gone with the coloured wash settings, 30 degree heat and pressed start.

4. Let your clothes wash and then hang them once finished. 

My initial thoughts: 

If I’m being honest, my first thoughts weren’t the best.  I opened up the door had a few sniffs of the washing and was like “this seriously needs another wash”... So, I ended up putting in another 4 soapnuts and washing the clothes all over again!! 

The second wash load smelled A LOT fresher and more pleasant. So, I wouldn’t definitely recommend having no less than 8 soapnuts in the washing.  

One of the tips on the bag is about adding essential oils to the bag before putting it in the washing machine and this is definitely something I’m going to be doing on my next wash. The only issue is finding the right scent for both my boyfriend and I... if you have any recommendations please let me know! 

Would I recommend soapnuts? 

It’s a yes and no for me. The issue with the soapnuts is that by themselves you don’t get the “I want to shove my face in this fresh basket of laundry and smells for days” desire. That is honestly something I wanted from these soapnuts.

I also know it’s going to be a huge pain when it comes to stains on clothes and extra dirty clothing as you’ll need to treat the clothes beforehand to stain remover etc.. and that’s just something more to look into for plastic-free alternatives!! But, I’m going to have a search around for some extra cleaning products to go with these soapnuts.

But, finding alternatives for being plastic free is really all about that compromise... And, if I have to live without shoving my face in my fresh washing and smelling that good fresh linen smell, then so be it. Because I honestly believe it is so worth it in the long run. 

Sooo, for the time being, I’m going to stick with these soapnuts until they run out and if I find an alternative then I’ll definitely give that a go too.  

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this lil review. I am thoroughly enjoying finding plastic free alternatives and moving to Chiswick has been the absolute best for this. Having The Source, As Nature Intended and this ‘Wholefoods type store I can’t remember the name of’ are amazing, the range of products I’m able to get are just the dream. 

Till next time.  

Lots of love, 

L

x x x

SAVING THE PLANET BRICK BY BRICK #2

I thought I’d update you all on my EcoBricks adventure... 

I’m now famous at work for asking for everyone’s plastic... which, I’m not mad about. I’m glad people are starting to realise how much I bang on about saving the planet from plastic and I think I’m slowly starting to make an impact. However, all this plastic I’m gaining is amazing for my EcoBricks supply. Every day at work I bring home a small bag full of plastic and it’s seriously starting to take over a corner in my room... SO MUCH PLASTIC EVERYWHERE.  

I’ve managed to make 5 plastic bottles worth of crammed plastic goods and I’m loving it. I recycle everything that is accepted by the local Hillingdon Council and then use the rest to stuff into Dr Pepper or saved sparkling water bottles from work. Those are the two bottles I’ve decided to go with, as EcoBricks have mentioned on their site that you need consistent types of bottles to successfully build something. 

Here are my EcoBricks:

Anyone else doing this? 

Lots of Love,

L

x x x

PAGE TURNER #4

ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE, 

GAIL HONEYMAN  

Eleanor Oliphant is completely and utterly fine... just, fine.

She has a routine of work, pesto pasta, reading or a spot of radio, then sleep. She’s just fine with that routine, nothing different. Completely fine with the same job since graduating university and fine with not speaking to anyone from the time she finishes work on Friday till Monday morning.

Until one day, it all starts to change and new adventures start to unfold.

I received this book as a Christmas present from my boyfriend’s mum. I’ve seen so many Instagram gals I follow rave about this book a lot. So, I was very very excited to finally get my hands on it and see what all the excitement was about. Fast forward 2 months and on holiday, I have finally read this book. 

My oh my is Gail a wonderfully talented writer. For her first big publication, she has done incredibly well. I cannot express to you how well she has articulated Eleanor’s character across in her writing. She has made Eleanor into the most funniest, likeable and kind of relatable character, despite Eleanor being different due to her traumatic childhood and upbringing.

The read is just so easy, I quite literally did not want to put this book down; I needed to know what was going to happen next. When it came to the last quarter of the book, I stayed up till 2am finishing it. The story line just kept you guessing and I could not of imagined or even guessed that ending...

I think Gail has done such a wonderful job portraying how lonely life really can be. I never thought I needed a book like this, until I read it! It really has opened a space to talk about how crippling loneliness is and just being lonely and not even realising what you’re missing out on.

I don’t want to give away too much but there’s new adventures, she learns about her past and there is even a lil hint of real love for Eleanor...

This is so a MUST read. As soon as I got back from my holidays, I gave it to my sisters to maker them read it... I just need to chat this out with them!!

Let me know what you thought of the book! Let’s chat about it...

Lots of love,

L

x x x

PLASTIC FREE MEAL IDEAS #1

I mentioned a lil bit in my previous update about how hard it is to find completely plastic-free meal or snack ideas. Other this first month, I’ve failed but... I’ve also won at plastic-free meals. So, here’s a small collection of what I’ve found that I thought you’d all quite enjoy as much as I did.

If anyone else has good meal ideas, leave em in the comments!

I’ve decided to split these meal ideas into breakfast, meals and snack ideas! Otherwise I feel like this post will be too overwhelming and too much to read!

Breakfast

- Smoothies

These are my go-to for the breakfast time; yes, even throughout winter time. They’re quick, easy and great to have in the office. Getting those extra Z’s before work is essential.

Recipe:

1 ripe banana

2 handfuls of farmers market raspberries and strawberries, frozen or not (any fruit option works for this)

3/4 ice cubes depending on whether you use frozen fruit or not

Fill blender with dairy OR non-dairy milk with however much you need for your desired thickness (use either homemade oat/nut milk OR glass delivered milk)

1 tsp bulk bought linseed mix

1 tsp spiriting powder (from glass jar)

Blend that all up until no lumps and taadaa, you’ve got yourself a beautiful morning smoothies from zero plastic packaging.

I really love smoothies with a sour hit so, I’m currently in search of sour berries at the farmers market. I’ll keep you in the loop when I find these.

- Cereal

Within the store As Nature Intended, you can purchase bulk cereal. This is a great cheap alternative for breakfast time. There is actually quite a range: cornflakes, muesli, granola etc..

Then just add your milk of your choice; I’m sure you all know how to make cereal ;).

- Porridge

Again from As Nature Intended, you can purchase a wide variety of bulk organic or not organic oats.

These are peeeerfect for making overnight oats!

Recipe:

2 cups of oats

2 cups of dairy or non-dairy milk (homemade or glass delivered)

Optional add-ins:

4 tsp of bulk chia seeds

1 tsp cinnamon powder

3 tsp glass jar honey or maple syrup

Any fresh fruit on top of finished product

Mix it all up except the optional add-ons of fresh fruit, then leave in a glass jar or bowl in the fridge till the next morning. Fresh fruit to be added right before devouring the goodness. This can be heated up in the morning if you prefer it hot!

- Oat Milk

All 3 of these recipes involve making your own dairy-free milk. From following a lot of health accounts on Instagram, I’ve found the best recipe that I enjoy the most.

Before making this, you will need:

1. A cheesecloth

2. High speed blender

This recipe is so simple and only involves 4 ingredients!

Recipe:

1 litre of water (add more if you prefer more of a watery texture)

1 cup of organic oats  

2 dates (without seeds) 

dash of cinnamon and/or vanilla extract  

Blend all ingredients until smooth then, pour through cheesecloth into a jug. Squeeze the cheesecloth to ensure all liquid is out. 

If you’d like a creamy thinner milk then blend and pour through the cheesecloth as many times as you’d like.  

With the leftover oats, I use them for overnight oats or porridge!! Solves the wastage from making this milk!!  

That’s all for the breakfast ideas from me. If you have any more plastic-free ideas for breakfasts, please let me know!! 

Also, apologies for the lack of pictures... I’m currently on holiday and wanted to get this blogpost out there! Hopefully some of you were able to get through this without being bored... 

Lots of love, 

L

x x x