My Best Kept Vintage Fashion Secrets…

Ever since I set out to cure my fast fashion addiction late last year, I’ve fallen head over heels for vintage fashion. Gosh, there is just so much to love about it! There’s the beautiful tailoring, the timeless style, and, of course, the environmentally friendliness. I love that there’s pretty much zero chance that anyone else will be wearing the same thing as me. And I can’t help but wonder about the days a vintage dress has seen; about the women that wore it, the parties they went too, the lives that they lived. There’s no point denying it – vintage fashion is just a little bit magical.

Becoming a Dog Foster Carer

Pablo, our foster dog, with Banjo

About a month ago now, my boyfriend Mike and I made a serious commitment. No, it didn’t involve rings, or bended knees, or any of the other things you might be thinking. Rather, we made the commitment to become official doggy foster carers – providing a temporary home for distressed dogs in need.

Hakuna Matata – Volunteering with children in Kenya

With Esther, one of the brightest little girls I’ve ever met

We’ve all seen the photographs. And the ads on TV. The crying children with the skinny arms and bloated bellies, staring into the camera with their enormous eyes. That’s what I pictured when I signed up to volunteer in Africa. I’d seen alot of poverty whilst travelling overseas, but had never before stepped up and actually done something about it. My mum had always talked about wanting to volunteer as a teacher, but sadly, she passed away before she ever got the chance. So In August last year I headed to Kenya, and spent a month teaching children at a small preschool and orphanage.

Do your beauty brands use animal testing? Time to find out.

I did a little dance in my office last month when I found out that the European Union had banned the import and sale of beauty products that have been tested on animals. Hooray! Finally some progress! Millions (yes, millions) of dogs, cats, mice, rabbits and other animals endure tortuerous and unneccessary tests each year, all in the name of cosmetics and toiletries. But while it’s a fantastic step forward for the EU, there is no such ban in Australia or the US. It’s up to the individual consumers to determine which products and/or product indgredients have been tested on animals. And thats not always an easy task.

Eco Style Post: Autumn Vintage

Floral vintage dress – Ela Hawke Vintage / Pre-loved faux suede ankle boots – Ebay

Finally – another eco-style post! We’ve had so much rain in Brisbane lately, but this weekend we were blessed with two full days of glorious sunshine. I celebrated by heading out to breakfast in one my favourite vintage dresses. I snapped up this 60s/70s beauty a few months ago from the delightful Ela Hawke Vintage. It’s super effortlessy gorgeous - the perfect thing for those lazy days when I can’t be bothered with piecing together an outfit. I can see this thing taking center stage in my warbrobe through out each and every season. Ahh, vintage. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you!

Top 10 Eco-travel Bucket List – In celebration of Elephant Nature Park’s 10th Anniversary

Everyone has a travel bucket list, right? A list of exotic destinations that you simply must visit, or incredible experiences that you’ve always dreamed about. In celebration of Elephant Nature Park’s 10 year anniversary (which is today!) I’m taking part in their very special blogging carnival. Everyone is sharing their top 10 bucket list travel items. So below you’ll find mine – with an eco spin.

Organic Makeup Favourites

I’ve never been a huge make-up lover. Although I’ve always worn the basics everyday – a bit of concealer, light foundation, a swish of lipstick – I’ve never been one to experiment with eyeshadow or try out pretty new colour trends. The chemical smell and clogginess of makeup always put me off, and I didn’t want to overload my skin anymore than necessary. But all this is changing my friends! I few months ago I discovered the joy of lovely, pure, organic makeup, and now I’m going to share a few of my favourite new products with you.

Lunchtime on the go – the eco way.

I had a really busy week at work last week. Non stop meetings, never-ending interviews, and one hell of an overflowing inbox. I was a bit disorganized, and so I didn’t have time to pack my lunch in the mornings. Instead I just grabbed the nearest takeaway sushi rolls or salad, and quickly scuttled back to my desk. Standing in line, I got to thinking about the huge amount of paper and plastic waste that the busy lunch-time trade spits out. Coffee cups, plastic containers, disposable knives and forks… the list goes on. It’s not something you really think about when you’re in a rush, but the environmental impact of all this waste is HUGE.

The Great Wardrobe Clean Out

A few weekends ago, I decided it was time to do a major wardrobe clean out. In case you missed it, I wrote about overcoming my fast fashion addiction back in January, and a wardrobe overhaul was step number two. Unfortunately, when it comes to clothes and shoes, I am like one of those crazy people on Hoarders (minus the muck and rat infestation of course). I have a nasty habit of hanging onto anything and everything, just in case I might wear it again one day.

Eco Travel – Mountain Gorillas in Uganda

Over the weekend I happened to watch the 1989 movie ‘Gorillas in the Mist’ on TV. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s the film adaptation of Dian Fossey’s memoir, and tells the true-life story of her work with mountain gorillas in Rwanda. She fought tirelessly (although tirelessly doesn’t feel like a strong enough word) for the protection of mountain gorillas against poachers, and sadly, in the end it cost Dian her life.