All posts by A lazy Girl Goes green

A self-confessed dreamer and wannabe hippy; I’m passionate about living greener; for a happy, healthier body and planet. But unfortunately, I’m also passionate about lie-ins, catch up TV and convenience food! Can I change?
General ramblings, Green food, Green news, Sustainability, Vegan, What to buy

Ben and Jerry’s go Vegan!

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Today is an exciting day. I woke up to learn that Ben and Jerry’s have given in to millions of signed petitions and will be releasing a dairy free range next year. Vegan Ben and Jerry’s on a Friday night sounds like my idea of a lazy night in!

But my excitement isn’t just because I want to stuff my face with buckets of ice-cream (though that is certainly a contributor to my happiness right now…) I am also happy that the company, who pride themselves on caring about such issues as equal marriage, world peace, fairtrade and climate change, are finally putting their money where their mouth is.

Interestingly, Ben and Jerry’s claim they are passionate about climate change issues and have even joined forces with Avaaz to encourage people to sign a petition or action. In their own words they are “…calling on leaders of the developed nations and the United Nations to tackle climate change at the upcoming summit in Paris. Our goal is for international leaders to work towards 100% Clean Energy by 2050.” A heartfelt plea from a company whose very industry of mass exploitation and rearing of dairy cows is at the very core of our climates woes.

The WWF estimates that there are approximately 270 million dairy cows worldwide, all churning out babies they will never raise, simply to meet our growing dairy demands. Dairy cows and their manure produce greenhouse gas emissions which are greatly contributing to climate change. Poor handling of manure, which occurs in a large number of industrialised dairy farms, and their fertilizers degrade local water resources. Unsustainable dairy farming (in which standards are lowers and more land is needed) along with feed production can lead to the loss of ecologically important areas, such as prairies, wetlands, and forests.

vegan ben and jerry

But still, Ben and Jerrys have always maintained their passion for the planet. So their acknowledgement that dairy is not needed to make a successful and profitable business is very exciting indeed. Not just for vegans but literally for the whole planet!

Green food, Recipes, Vegan

Lazy Vegan Party Recipe: Trudi’s Thai Tartlets

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This weekend, for the 7th year running, millions of people all across the UK, got together and enjoyed with their neighbors in the name of The Big Lunch! The awesome campaign (in which I am lucky enough to actually be the Communications Manager for…yes shameful plug!) simply encourages people to sit down on the first Sunday each June and get to know people who live nearby. Some do it to help create more sustainable communities and make new friends, others simply to have a good laugh over some good food.

Yesterday, I popped down to an awesome plant-based Big Lunch nearby which was a 100% vegan friendly party, and full of a lovely mix of like-minded people from all across Cornwall. The event, which was organised by the lovely Sam Grady – a member of the Cornwall Vegans group –  enjoyed a great turnout of vegans and non vegans alike all enjoying the sun.

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The beautiful layout ready for lunchers

 

It was especially important to me, as (up until recently) I’ve been the only vegan in my group of friends, and actually don’t know many people in Cornwall. It was a pleasure to chat to others who enjoyed the same lifestyle, and be at a party where I could enjoy everything on the table without asking what was in it!

Everyone brought a dish to share, with everything from veggie Tagine, homemade dips, pulled vegan pork (jackfruit) sandwiches and raw salads, to vegan lemon cheesecakes and chocolate brownies. Heaven!  Continue reading Lazy Vegan Party Recipe: Trudi’s Thai Tartlets →

Green news, Recipes

Watercress: The most nutritious kid on the block

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Despite being a fairly health conscious vegan, who loves fresh produce and a variety of veggies, I’ve never been much of a salad fan. Actually, I tell a lie. I love pasta salads, rice salads and Mediterranean mezze salads. But green lettucy style salads aren’t really my idea of good grub.

However, I may have to reconsider my indifference to the green stuff, after recently discovering that salads most popular ingredient, Watercress, is one of the most nutritious things we can munch on. Despite consisting of over 90% water, and looking like a ropier younger brother of the more popular spinach, Watercress is in fact a bit of a vitamin power house.

watercress

It has more than double the vitamin C of Oranges, four times the vitamin A of Apples and Broccoli and contains high levels of vitamin K and flavonoid antioxidants. And when compared to such delicious produce as citrus fruits, Spinach, Broccoli, Tomatoes and Kale, Watercress also comes up in the top three most nutrition dense sources of Iron, magnesium, zinc and Calcium. In fact, some studies have found that those who eat more Watercress in their diet are also less prone to wrinkles!! Maybe this rabbit food has some appeal after all!

But what if, like me, a handful of Watercress on a dish sounds like a waste of plate space? Well, I’ve found these creative, easy and delicious Watercress recipes; which will help you to stock up on all the green goodness without becoming a walking salad!

10 Easy, Delicious Vegan Watercress Recipes

Continue reading Watercress: The most nutritious kid on the block →

Green Beauty, Green health, Green Living, Green news, Reviews, Vegan, War on waste, What to buy, Where to shop

Natural, Vegan, “designer” Perfumes

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Last weekend I was in vegan heaven, when I popped up to the annual Bristol Vegfest; an extravaganza in all things vegan friendly! I tried the yummiest Pad Thai, stocked up on way too much dairy-free chocolate, and met some awesome like minded people.

But the highlight of my day (aside the vegan ales which got me a little tipsy…) was discovering a perfume company, called Eden Perfumes, who make a huge selection of natural, vegan friendly perfume, which perfectly imitate designer favorites.

For years I have been in a perfume rut. I’ve long, and uncharacteristically for a “hippy”, been a Calvin Klein Euphoria wearer and have never quite found anything else I like. But a huge amount of designer perfumes don’t really hold green credentials, and even fewer are vegan friendly. You may find some perfumes are vegan, but as I’ve found, they are rarely the ones I want!rsz_img_3940-2

So, when I ran out of CK a couple of weeks ago, I vowed that I wouldn’t buy another perfume until I found a greener option. Here ensued 2 weeks of experimenting with essential oil spritzers, all which left me smelling more like a walking pharmacy than a sophisticated lady!

The discovery of Eden Perfumes, then, couldn’t come sooner. Their stall at Vegfest displayed a line of big refill units, and smaller bottle to fill with your chosen scent (of which can be sent back to be refilled!) and each were labelled with the “designer” version it was similar to. Everything from Armani, Marc Jacobs and Burburry, to your favorite Chanel can be found in a botanical and natural form!

Eden only use organic & vegan ingredients (jasmine, vanilla, passionfruit, musk, saffron, oud, sandalwood and many more) and contain no nasty synthetics, parabens or phthalates. The best thing is, by saving on fancy packaging and marketing, all the perfumes are just £15!

eden-perfumes

You can order online, but when I next get the chance I’d love to travel to their store in Brighton and stock up in person! Oh, and after 1 week of testing I can confirm its long lasting and smells just like the real thing 🙂

General ramblings, Green health, Green Living, Nature

Guest Blog: Activism, Meditation and Staying Optimistic.

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After receiving a positive response from my recent blog post about Activist Burnout – including some lovely personal messages of support and encouragement – I found great solitude and peace in my yoga and mediation practice. Sometimes, you just need to switch off, recharge and reenergise yourself; ready to continue pursuing your passions and good intentions. 

Here, the lovely Holly Ashby, from Will Williams Mediation, shares her thoughts on how meditation can be an invaluable tool for taking care of an activists mind: 

Activism, Meditation and Staying Optimistic.

Taking a stand and caring about something can sometimes be really, tiringly difficult. It’s hard to live in ways that differ from prevailing social norms, and the majority of people choose to ignore information rather than accept the responsibility of acknowledging it. This is not to make a moral judgement, rather to point out that the people who can’t ignore it, and attempt in their own way to change the world for the better, face challenges that other people can avoid.

This isn’t to say that as soon as you start trying to alter your lifestyle or campaign in order to help a cause that you hand your happiness over to a mysterious crone and spend the rest of your life in nun-like self-sacrifice. I’m sure even Mother Theresa let her hair down sometimes, and activism can bring with it community, a sense of purpose, fun and satisfaction that can be hard to find in other aspects of life.  You just have to remember to look after yourself, and to counter balance what you give out with some kindness directed back your way.

Meditation can be one method, along with other self care routines, to keep yourself in the best frame of mind for living life happily without compromising your principles. Here’s a few ways in which meditation can help in the life of an activist. Continue reading Guest Blog: Activism, Meditation and Staying Optimistic. →

General ramblings

Find the Positives in Monday Morning: My Walk to Work

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Happy Sunday! I hope you’ve all had lovely weekends so far, full of adventuress and relaxation?! I know the common feeling on a Sunday evening is to start gearing up for another week at work, and the preparation of the impending Monday blues. 

But I like to think the best way to prevent negative thoughts sinking in – especially when something is coming up that you can’t (as much as you want to…) avoid – is to concentrate on the one thing about the situation that’s really positive.

For me, my Monday blues are alleviated before I’ve even made it to my desk, simply by enjoying the stunning 40 minute walk to work. On days I’m in a hurry I can do the walk much quicker, but on a Monday I like to take my time and soak up the nature before I hit the emails. 

So I thought I would share some photos from my walk, to hopefully inspire you to search out the positives in your life tomorrow morning 🙂  Continue reading Find the Positives in Monday Morning: My Walk to Work →

Facts and Stats, Green Home, Green Living, renewable energy, Sustainability

Are new builds the smart choice for energy efficiency?

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Now, I am by no means in a position to be buying a home any time soon – I mean, I’m just about to give up all my worldly belongings and go gypsy for a while across the world! But I know many of my more sensible peers are increasingly looking to settle down and jump onto the property ladder. Most of them are going for the cheaper option, of something older which needs a little bit of work; then putting the hours and money in to make it their own. But when it comes to investing in your first house, is this approach really the most affordable, and green way to go?

My dream, if I’m honest, is to build my own Tiny House, Grand Design style. But If I had to purchase an existing home, I would always go for the old Victorian house full of character, over a shiny new build, with little history or soul. However – for the sustainably conscious – recent innovations are showing that new homes might actually be the smarter choice; not only for the pocket but also for the green credentials of your home.

In recent years there have been major changes in the way new build homes are designed, to make them more efficient for both the environment and the customer; resulting in hundreds of pounds being saved each year on energy bills. Continue reading Are new builds the smart choice for energy efficiency? →

Green food, Recipes, Vegan

Lazy pick me up breakfast smoothie

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This morning I woke up mega mega late. Since moving into my apartment a couple of months ago, I have been struggling to sleep through the whole night. Whether its due to the fridge freezer (which lives opposite my bed…) making funny noises, or the cat using the litter, or simply the early morning wake up call from the gazillion birds chirping in the trees which surround my home!

So, last night I decided to create a relaxing atmosphere to help me get into a deep, restful sleep. I massaged my skin in my favorite mix of sweet almond, patchouli and lavender oil, and covered my hair in coconut oil moisture wrap. I treated myself to a soy milk hot chocolate, and switched off from my devices an hour before bedtime. Finally, I completed a short yoga sequence and visualization meditation, before laying back on my pillow which I had sprayed with a subtle spitz of lavender oil. Pure relaxation…..

But I think I was perhaps a little too relaxed. Because when I finally woke up this morning at 8:30, a whole hour after my alarm had actually gone off, I was in a state of panic. No time for a coffee or a proper breakfast, I had 5 minutes to knock up something energizing, nutritious and filling enough to get me through a long day (and a very fast 40 minute power walk up the hill to work!!) The resulting mix and match of whatever I could find in my panic was actually so delicious I might even make it a daily ritual…well the smoothie, maybe not the mad crazy rush!

Lazy pick me up breakfast smoothie

Pick me up breakfast smoothie

Ingredients

  • x2 Bananas
  • A handful (literally) of frozen Blueberries
  • 1 tbsp. crunchy organic Peanut Butter
  • 1 tbsp. ground Flax seed
  • 1 tbsp. dried Goji berries
  • squeeze of Lemon juice

Method 

  1. Whiz up in a blender for 30 seconds or so (whilst you run around getting dressed and finding your keys…)
  2. Decant into a seal-able jar
  3. Drink straight from the jar or pour into a bowl with some extra berries as a Delicious smoothie bowl