Category Archives: What to buy

Zero Waste Giveaway: Win BRITA Fill & Go Goodies

For those of you who have been reading A Lazy Girl Goes Green for a while, you may have detected a slight theme in the kind of new products which get me all excited and shouting to the hill tops; they are either made for zero waste living, or for eating and drinking. So when I find a shiny new gadget for zero waste drinking or eating, well, I’m in lazy green heaven!

You also may or may not know that I have in the past had an irrational distaste for tap water (very princess of me, I know…) and, as someone who carries a water bottle with me everywhere, I have found success in the past with the BRITA Fill & Go Water Filter Bottle as part of my Zero Waste Foodie Toolkit.

Interestingly, just like me, despite having very good quality tap water available in every home, a recent OnePoll research study by BRITA found that nearly 30% of UK adults admit to using bottled water at home. One third of those questioned also confessed that they bought bottled water but didn’t believe they contribute to pollution because they recycle! With the UK alone using nearly 7.7 billion single use plastic water bottles this year, this is seriously adding to the rising tide of plastic pollution.

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Well, my lovely lazy greenies, I’m very excited to inform you that in celebration of the success of BRITA’s plastic challenge month in June – as well as this month’s Plastic July AND Septembers Zero Waste Week – I have a BRITA Fill & Serve, and 3 BRITA Fill & Go’s to giveaway!

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Sustainable party planning

Whether you’re throwing a garden party or a children’s birthday bash, maintaining your own green standards can be a lot harder than you’d expect – as the sheer amount of things you need to get ready and cater for end up taking its toll on even the most well-natured environmentalist. From getting rid of waste, to cooking to please a group, here’s a guide to more sustainable party planning:

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A Lazy Guide to Buying Vegan Friendly Shoes

Being completely oblivious to the latest trends and fashions has its benefits. I spend very little money on clothes, happily avoid horrifying changing room mirrors (or at least my reflection in them) and I rarely have to upgrade my clothes and shoes unless they are literally falling apart. Win win!

I usually take the zero waste approach to clothing and either do swapsies with my friends or buy in charity and second hand stores, but every now and then I have to venture out and kit myself out with some new garments. This has been true over the last couple of months as I’ve had to transition from flip flop tie dye wearing traveller hippy, to semi professional city dweller as I settle into my new life in Sydney. 

Shoes in particular have been on my mind of late and – as anyone who has ever tried to navigate the world of ethical clothing will know – there is usually the choice between stereotypical ugly clunky vegan footwear or highly bespoke, beautiful but deadly expensive clogs. 

So what is the deal with footwear and vegans anyway? Whats ethical and whats not? and more importantly, where on Earth can you get some decent vegan footwear at a reasonable cost?!! Fear not my lovelies, I may have a couple of answers…

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Newtown’s Naked Foods Organic Bulk Store

It’s well documented that I love a good rant about the pointless amount of packaging that is sent home with us with almost everything we buy. From the familiar plastic bags full of salad, apples or seeds to the ridiculous cellophane wrapped broccoli or bananas; packaging represents a huge majority of what we collect in our shopping trolleys. But in most modern supermarkets, or indeed local health or farm shops, packaging is an unavoidable side effect of being a consumer and it has catastrophic implications for our planet.

This is why I am such a huge fan of wholefood stores which allow you to bring your own reusable container and scoop up exactly how much you want straight from the source. Not only do they save on packaging, they also help to reduce food waste as you can take away exactly how much you need; rather than buying 2 kilo bag of linseed which will sit in the back of your cupboard for 6 months before you have to throw it away because you didn’t seal the plastic bag  and they now smell weird…! If I need 4 cashews for a recipe, I can just pop in and scoop ’em up. No worries! Continue reading Newtown’s Naked Foods Organic Bulk Store

Staying cool with Royal Robins for an iconic royal visit 

The last two weeks in India has flown by in a magical, colourful blur and it feels like I have been here for years. I have seen sunrise ceremonies on the river Ganges in Varanasi, been serenaded by Indian army veterans on a steam train in Shimla and browsed through rainbow markets of fresh produce in Ragasthan. The sights, sounds and smells of India charm the senses and no day is ever the same. Well, there’s actually thing thing which stays consistent everyday: the scorching heat!   Due to an irregular monsoon this year (is this the effects of climate change?) India is experiencing higher temperatures than what is normal for October and we have been facing days of 36-40 degrees in most areas.   It’s almost impossible to walk around for long during midday and I spend every single day red faced and sweaty as I try to find yet another sweet lime stall to quench my thirst. 

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Vegan Life: Issue 8 Review

When, late last year, the introduction of a new vegan specific lifestyle magazine – Vegan Life – was announced, I think more than a few people cried a big veggie hooray! But little did I know that this monthly magazine would become such an important part of my plant based lifestyle, in more ways than one.

Mixing delicious vegan recipes, restaurant reviews and beauty product spotlights, as well as fantastic interviews and news from around the world, Vegan Life is fast becoming an invaluable source for connecting vegans with goings on around the world. Not to mention helping us to feel part of a passionate and diverse community.

In short, Vegan Life makes vegan living sexy, accessible and fun to be part of.

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Five essentials for a lazy green beach bag

Summer is slowly but surely coming to a close and, here in Cornwall, I’ve noticed an influx of last minute beach goers desperate to enjoy the last few weeks of the summer sun.

Even woodland fairies like me – who prefer a welly-booted walk through an enchanted forest – like the occasional day at the beach to soak up some sun, sea and sand. But before running toward the coast with our beach bags full to the brim, here’s my five essentials for a lazy green beach bag:

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