Figandpen |

October 15, 2018

eSalon

Is it possible to achieve salon-quality hair colour at home? For a long time, the answer was no. I’ve...

by elizabeth

Comments 0

August 9, 2018

Pacifica Devocean Lipstick

Since giving up eating meat a few months ago, I’ve been making an effort to ensure the cosmetics I...

by elizabeth

Comments 0

June 4, 2018

Cruelty Free Surprise

I was sad to discover my favourite day serum – the one I’ve been repurchasing for years – is...

by elizabeth

Comments 0

May 28, 2018

Vapour Beauty

Vapour Beauty products tick a multitude of boxes for me. They’re organic and ethical, which means I can use...

by elizabeth

Comments 0

Down, But Not Out

Published by elizabeth

I’ve neglected my blog for the past few weeks. Brexit Blues and middle-age health woes are to blame, and I’m fairly certain the former lead to the latter. Less...

October 8, 2018

Comments 0

General, Miscellaneous

Manufactured Chaos

Published by elizabeth

It’s official. UK manufacturing is in recession. If the UK leaves the EU with anything less than single market and customs union membership, it’s game over for manufacturing in...

August 10, 2018

Comments 0

General

New Hens

Published by elizabeth

After a couple of false starts, we were finally able to collect three new hens yesterday. We made the decision a couple of years ago to rescue battery hens...

August 8, 2018

Comments 0

General, Home & Garden, Pets

Rambling

Published by elizabeth

I used to write every day, usually in the morning and always after a pot of strong coffee and a cigarette or two. Nothing quite fired up my brain...

August 7, 2018

Comments 4

General

Lifeboats for All

Published by elizabeth

As a new recruit to Yes, I’m flabbergasted by the number of people on the other side who accuse all indy supporters of ‘hating the English’. This is ludicrous....

June 4, 2018

Comments 0

General

Grow Your Own Country

Published by elizabeth

The recently released Growth Commission report hasn’t had a universally positive welcome, with some critics arguing it isn’t radical enough. Fair enough – it isn’t possible for a document...

May 29, 2018

Comments 4

General, Miscellaneous

October 18, 2018

A Beefy No Bull Review

A while back, I wrote about being super impressed by Iceland’s No Bull Vegan Burgers. I still think they’re...

by elizabeth

Comments 0

October 11, 2018

Heavenly Chocolate

Every so often, I find myself eating too much sugar and have to cut back. I’ve gone so far...

by elizabeth

Comments 0

August 31, 2018

Vegan Chilli

I’ve been making this chilli for years, and it’s one of our favourite things to eat when it’s a...

by elizabeth

Comments 0

August 28, 2018

Good Gravy

I am obsessed with roast dinners at the moment. Maybe it’s the change of season, but I am seriously...

by elizabeth

Comments 0

I’m sure it was someone effortlessly stylish who said ‘fashions change, but style never does’. I imagine they were tall, thin, rich, and beautiful – and any advice they had didn’t apply to someone like me. I’m a skosh over 5’2″ and I’ve struggled with my weight since my mid-twenties. I have tried so many ‘looks’ but until recently, I’ve never been able to...

August 20, 2018

Comments 0

Accessories, Clothing, Clothing & Accessories, Minimising, Shoes

Goodbye, Facebook

by elizabeth

I’ve deleted my Facebook account. For years I suspected they’d been careless with data, and I knew they’d tracked my every move online, but when they helped deliver Trump and Brexit by passing data to nefarious companies and allowing them to target users with fake news and disinformation, it was a step too far. When I think of the misery of families torn apart...

May 21, 2018

Comments 0

Minimising

Stuff I’ve Stopped Buying

by elizabeth

Stage one of decluttering is complete! I was so tired of trying to organise and store things I was holding onto for daft reasons – the silliest being ‘I might use that one day’. If it’s been stored out of sight for more than six months, there is a good chance I’ve forgotten it, and if that’s the case, I certainly don’t need it....

March 30, 2018

Comments 0

Home & Garden, Minimising

Easy Online Minimising

by elizabeth

The Brexit vote kicked me hard. I’ve been deeply depressed about it since it happened, not only because of the suffering it will cause me and my family, but the awfulness it has unleashed on so many people. It’s horrible in every way, and it threw me into a dark pit. At the beginning of the year, I decided I couldn’t continue being so...

March 30, 2018

Comments 0

Minimising

Clothing Reduction

by elizabeth

It was unpleasant realising my clothing consumption was out of control. My wardrobe was full of things I didn’t wear, and I stood many mornings in my dressing gown thinking that today would be the day I finally went to work naked. How did it come to this? Why did I have have garments with the tags still on hanging unloved and unworn in...

March 27, 2018

Comments 2

Clothing & Accessories, Minimising