Thursday thought by tuiss :: reusable weigh bags

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I must drive check out assistants barmy as I pretty much never use a plastic bag to put my fruit and veg in. I just can’t see the point of putting a head of broccoli or bunch of bananas  into a plastic bag. The only time I draw the line is if it’s pears which get bruised and dented so easily or if I have more than three of something!

I should probably invest less than a tenner in a set of one of these from Onya, tulle bags that are strong, see through and so lightweight that they won’t tip the scales ….

Onya Weigh Bag For Fruit And Vegetables

Onya Weigh Bag For Fruit And Vegetables

Other features include:

  • Ideal for washing fruit and veg – these ingenious little bags are also designed so you can use them as a colander too
  • Breathable storage prolongs life – most fruit ‘n’ veg types store better in a breathable net – not sitting in a plastic bag where they can sweat and bruise etc.
  • Simply hang the bags on a hook in the pantry and again the produce will last much longer
  • Just as useful in the Health Food shop for: nuts, grains, rice and lentils etc.
  • Can even be used as a laundry bag for small and delicate items
  • 5 mesh bags tuck into one little bag made from parachute material with karabiner hook.

If you want to look at our earlier blogs on reusable bags then just click here and here.

Elle Design Trend Forecast 2010

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Elle has nailed its colours to the mast and revealed the hot trends for 2010. The design shows from Milan, New York, Tokyo and of course London were flooded with products shot through with happiness and colour. Long may it continue we say.

Here’s the trends for the forthcoming year.

  • Illusion and Fantasy, think surrealist furniture and accessories, Lord of the Rings meets sofas…
  • Folding and Pleating, we have a brand new product out shortly that echoes this trend. Watch this space!
  • Handcrafted details, embellishments, stitching and embroidery give items a homely and personal feel.
  • Honeycomb patterns are going to be big, hexagons will be everywhere.
  • Turquoise, this is of course the Pantone colour of the Year, see our previous blog post with our great selection of turquoise blinds.

Unit 24 lamp shadePantone TurquoisePS HALLAR stool

Thursday thought by tuiss :: Yoyo Ceramic Notepad

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Saving paper. I could go on about using both sides of the paper, creating your own scrap paper book, writing very small….

or

I could introduce you to Yoyo’s Ceramic Notepad!

Ceramic Notepad has been sculpted initially from plaster, moulded and then made entirely out of clay. This smart jotter can be used to make those lists or leave little notes for your loved ones.

Supplied with a special pencil to write on the ceramic with, wipes or washes off easily, and believe me, it is most satisfying to write on the glazed surface with these waxy pencils (simple pleasures!) The hole through the top not only mimics a spiral jotter but also keeps the pen and pad together for convenient use.

Also for use with dry wipe markers or even permanent markers – they just wash off with water.

Ceramic notepad

thursday thought by tuiss :: recycling coffee grounds

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Are you guilty?

Did you know that coffee grounds and waste pipes don’t mix? Used coffee grounds block pipes, particularly if you add a bit of fat from your Sunday roast into the mix too!

Coffee grounds are far too precious to just throw away, here’s some great ways to benefit even more from your cup of coffee/nectar:

  • Sprinkle used grounds around plants for a great slow-release nitrogen fertiliser, the grounds are also a great way to condition the soil.
  • Add to compost piles to increase the nitrogen balance and don’t worry about the coffee filters they’ll break down in next to no time. If you have a wormery those worms love a bit of caffeine.
  • Dilute with water for a gentle, fast-acting liquid fertilizer.
  • Encircle the base of the plant with a coffee to repel pests.

I’ve tried all of the above, I can’t say from personal experience whether the following work!

  • After drying the grounds thoroughly, add them to an old stocking. Tie off the ends and then use in cupboards and your refrigerator as an odour absorber.
  • Rubbing your hands with used coffee grounds will remove strong smells such as onion or fish. (And be really messy!)
  • Grounds can be used as a scourer for greasy pots and pans. (As above! Messy or what?)
  • Dry out the coffee grounds in a warm (not hot) oven; then add equal weight of fresh coffee grounds and then use that mix to create another brew. (I’m afraid I like my coffee far too much to be brewing anything less than perfection.)

I have a red Grindenstein knock box at home, well worth it for that professional barista feel.

Grindenstein knock out boxThanks to Sustainable Enterprises and Green living tips for some of the ideas.

Thursday thought by tuiss :: Reusable water bottles

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Picture a bottle of ice cold water. Now imagine it filled a quarter of the way up with oil.

That’s about how much oil was needed to produce the plastic bottle. Makes you think doesn’t it? And that’s before we get onto the problem of recycling the empty bottle, it can take a plastic bottle up to 450 years to decompose in landfill. (The number of plastic water bottles sent to UK landfill sites each year would fill Wembley stadium twice over.)

So, to look stylish, save money and do your bit why not use a steel water bottle? Steel bottles are BPA free (whereas plastic ones may not be) and while the controversy over BPA rages stick to the infinitely cooler steel alternative. One Green Bottle has some gorgeous bottles, as has Cool Green Attitude.

Thanks to National Geographic and Which for the stats.

Superman bottle

The art of saying thank you

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It’s so rare in our fast paced world for somebody to take the time to say thank you, let alone take the time to hand write a letter of thanks. That’s just what one of our customers did though.

I am dropping you a few lines to say how delighted my husband and I are with our new made to measure blinds. It is always daunting to order what you cannot touch and feel, however both you and your company made it easy. My husband said they were easy to fit. From my first contact requesting samples your company have acted promptly and professionally.

The samples are a good size, beautifully packages and marketed. The website is excellent, easy to navigate with useful price guides and clear graphics. Phone contact with yourself was professional and easy. Delivery was with in two weeks of ordering – excellent, we will definitely recommend you to our friends, family and contacts.

We are only human and receiving such a nice thank you really put a smile onto our faces. By the way we think that the lady in question has excellent taste and how nice to see such lovely bright colours! Here for your delight is a selection of the blinds that so delighted.

Real Silk Hot Pink roman

Real Silk Hot Pink roman

Real Silk Chartreuse

Real Silk Chartreuse roman

Real Silk Claret roman

Real Silk Claret roman

Habitat Sunshine roller blind

Habitat Sunshine roller blind

Habitat Lollipop roller blind

Habitat Lollipop roller blind

Empire Red roller blind

Empire Red roller blind

Thursday thought by tuiss :: Lose the biro, get a fountain pen

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Just how many pens do we lose each week? Pens seems to have a mind of their own, they get carried off by others or occasionally even seem to walk off of their own accord.

The greener way is to invest in a fountain pen, and once more the greener way also turns out to be more stylish too! Try Webster’s Pen Shop, you can even go the whole hog and invest in a bottle of ink.

If the fountain pen isn’t for you then let me make a suggestion. Try taping your initials to the side of your humble biro, for whatever reason it won’t stray as often!

Fountain Pen

thursday thought by tuiss :: Smarter more fuel efficient driving

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Thursday thought is all about easy things we can do to be greener. They don’t come much easier than these driving tips from the Energy Saving Trust which guarantee to reduce your fuel consumption and the hit on your wallet.

  • Check Your Revs. Change up before 2,500rpm (petrol) or 2,000rpm (diesel)
  • Drive Smoothly. Anticipate road conditions so that you drive smoothly and avoid sharp acceleration and heavy braking. This saves fuel and reduces accident rates.
  • Step Off The Accelerator. When slowing down or driving downhill, remain in gear but take your foot off the accelerator early. This reduces fuel flow to the engine to virtually zero.

Visit Energy Saving Trust for more tips on reducing your car’s emissions. If you need a little more convincing then take a look at one man’s attempt to reduce his mpg, Can a petrolhead be an eco-driver?