I don’t really like Black Friday. The cynic in me thinks it’s just an excuse for retailers to flog the crap they’ve not been able to get rid of throughout the year.
In fact, this time last year I wrote about how less is more on black Friday.
BUT I do appreciate that it can be a good way of getting some deals and I do love to save money. So here is my guide on how to buy BETTER gifts this Black Friday.
Shop local or buy from small makers.
Most of the Black Friday deals that pop up are from large organisations. Well, make it your new tradition to shop local or shop small instead. Most small businesses can’t afford to slash their prices, especially so close to Christmas. So you may not get a 75% discount by shopping local/small but you will find something unique and made with love.
YAY! It’s Friday! This week has felt LONG. I’m still working on my Washington guide, I can’t decide whether to do one long one or a couple of shorter posts. This weekend involves some lazing time and some DIY (is it even the weekend if you don’t DIY?). What are you up to?
Anyway, here are some great posts from across the web.
Starting with a Black Friday deal I can really get behind. Amazon is offering 50% off Audible for the first 4 months. So just £3.99 instead of £7.99 for FOUR months. I love audiobooks, they’re perfect for when you’re walking the dog, driving around, working etc. Click HERE for the offer.
Women! You’re working the rest of the year for FREE.
Waitrose is bringing back Victoria veg. Salsify sounds interesting.
Think your product is palm oil free because the words palm oil don’t appear on the packaging? Think again. Here are 25 sneaky names for Palm Oil.
Remember when American’s were eating Tide pods? Well, now Tide have uncovered their new packaging which looks just like a box of wine who knows what will happen with that.
I miss internet-free holidays. Good news is Whatsapp are introducing a “vacation mode” so you can switch off when you’re trying to relax.
Women get picked on for every little bit of their appearance when in the public eye. SO I don’t feel bad sharing this illustrated history of Donald Trump’s hair.
Kindness is defined as the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.
There are so many different ways to practice kindness. From helping out a stranger to being there for a friend in need. Kindness can make everyone’s lives better.
But being kind to yourself is often one kind of kindness that’s overlooked.
This week has whizzed by. As it always does this time of year.
Here’s a selection of interesting reads from across the web for you to enjoy this weekend.
Although, I’m going to start with a video. You may have seen this pop up on your social media feeds at some point today. Iceland have been told that they can’t air their Christmas advert this year because it’s too political. Well, saving the planet should be a bit more important in this case.
Watch the video. Palm oil is a real problem, the way that it’s harvested is causing utter devastation.
I whipped up a batch of coffee almond gummies last weekend. It’s a recipe from Sarah Wilson that I’ve been desperate to make for a while. But since I’ve had quite a few messages asking for the recipe I thought I’d share.
You don’t have to do these in a gummy bear mould, they work just as well in a baking tray and then cut into squares.
I’m so glad that the weekend is nearly upon us. I’ll be doing the bare minimum that I can get away with – what about you?
Anyway, here are just a few interesting finds from across the website this week (only a short one as I can’t fathom how to access the “bookmarks” section on Twitter, if anyone can point me in the right direction, please do so!).
Simplicity. A subject close to my heart. Don’t be afraid to be simple; as much effort you spend making things complex and interesting, you should spend making them simple and arguably uninteresting. If you do a good job, I think the work, or whatever it is you’re doing, will, in the end, still be as interesting as you wanted it to be. Only now it’ll be more accessible, and now people won’t turn away because it appears too complex from the get-go.
FACEBOOK. Love it or loathe it, most of us have an account. But have you thought about deleting yours? Or maybe you have. This article covers 4 stories from people who’ve said bye-bye to facebook and how it’s changed their lives. This blog has a facebook page btw http://facebook.com/rachaelphillips.me
This from BuzzFeed: 28 times vegetarians got the shit end of the stick. Makes me think of the last time I flew with United Airlines and the vegetarian meal was a pita bread with grated carrot. Nothing else. Carrot and pitta. Plus after the whole Waitrose magazine debarcle, is pretty apt this week.
I love reading about email etiquette. This from The Guardian: 9 passive aggressive email phrases that need to stop
Climate change is getting serious. Sarah Wilson has condensed all the info in to one cheat sheet. It’s shocking but important you read it.
I have to confess I actually like my bananas REALLY ripe, but there is a point at which I’ll turn them away. I also hate waste so I tend to buy things like bananas when they’re on the yellow sticker section (who doesn’t love a good yellow sticker?) and either throw them in the freezer or make them into something – like banana bread.
This banana bread is so simple even those who are time poor will have time to whip one up. My method of cooking is always quite messy anyway, I don’t have time to gently fold in ingredients, so my advice, just dump it all into your mixer and switch on.
I thought I’d start up my weekend reads again. So each Friday I’ll post a round-up of great reads to see you through the weekend. I’m going to try include at least one long read too, I’m really enjoying long-reads at the moment, I’m trying to train my brain to get OUT of the social media habit of quick reads.
I’m definitely a bit of a web sleuth. This is fascinating. A skeleton with a hole in the head found in 1975 is no longer just a ‘Jane Doe’ — thanks in part to Internet sleuths.
I love Instagram but there are some CRAZY people on there. So this is interesting news: Instagram is testing feature that allows public accounts to remove followers
I am all about packing light. My recent trip to Washington was the first time I’d travelled with a full-sized suitcase in YEARS! Check this woman out, she packs 50 outfits into a small tote bag. Seriously, this shit is magical.
Halfway through plastic free July, how are you going?
I’ve been trying to make small changes for a while. I think I’ve become so used to using single-use plastics, that I don’t always notice when I do anymore.
But a couple of months ago I made a BIG change. I ditched cling film, which of course can’t be recycled so when it comes to single-use plastics, its one of the worst; as it just goes to landfill and sits there for decades (centuries maybe?).
Each manufacturer will have their own methods but the premise is simple. It’s fabric that is coated in beeswax and then a carrier oil such as jojoba to soften them up a bit.
How do beeswax wraps work?
Just like cling film, only less fiddly. You use the heat from your hands to wrap or mould the wraps around the object you wish to preserve. Within seconds it will cool, Harden and hold its seal.
Beeswax wraps can be washed and reused again and again. Make sure that you wash them in COLD or very lukewarm water though as hot water may melt the wax.
Is it hygienic?
YES. Probably more so than cling film. Beeswax is anti-bacterial so it’s perfect to wrap your food in. So long as you make sure you wash them properly after use and let them dry, you’re pretty much good to go.
Other benefits of Beeswax wraps (aside from helping the planet)
They don’t tear when you’re trying to wrap your sandwiches
They smell divine when you first take a new batch out of the packet
They wrap things PROPERLY. By that I mean if you’re trying to wrap a wrap, they keep it tightly in place.
At the end of their lifecycle, they can be composted
Beeswax wraps come in a variety of sizes, from small which is ideal for wrapping lemons or avocados to extra large which will cover a large dish.
I’m trying to get a direct link for the lovely ones from the garden kitchen but in the meantime, there are a range of wraps on Amazon.
