You’ve done it. You’ve made it to the end of 2020; Well, almost. Christmas is just around the corner and seems to be spreading its joy earlier this year. So, will it be different? Will you approach it with a new view?

Here at Vesta, we like to start slowing down and taking some time for ourselves and our families. Of course, there are still all the jobs to do and general day to day life to navigate, but if nothing else, 2020 has taught us to be kinder to ourselves, and surely we should extend this to our local community (If not even wider) and our environment.

To help you through this festive season, we have put together an easy Christmas guide for making festive sustainable swaps, an Indie gift-guide to help our amazing independent businesses, who – let’s face it have had an almighty tough run this year and deserve all the support we can give them.

 We will have a run down of our top Christmas picks, a Christmas playlist to get you in the mood and recipes to warm your soul. Find it here

Remember: Slow down, shop mindfully and enjoy the season.

We live in such a busy time with many stresses and strains placed upon us both emotionally and physically, that it’s important to create a safe space for yourself.

Think of it as your personal self care ritual and block it out in your timetable as you would for any other event. If you are the best version of yourself (In the sense that you have taken the time to check in with your mind and rest your body) Your ability to focus on work, family and social obligations will be much more balanced and focused.

Here at Vesta, we love the ritual of a bath with essential oils and herbs. Take the time to make yourself a comforting hot drink and maybe think about where you are and what you need. These conversations with ourself are very important. Perhaps write these down to reflect back on at a future date.

Burn your favourite candle and lie down with a relaxing eye pillow, or pull on your cosiest clothes and read your favourite book. Even at the end of the day, taking the time with your skincare routine can slow you down.

However you do it, remember to make yourself a priority even if just once a day. Your mind and body will thank you.

Shop our reusable teabags, relaxing eye pillows and face wipes here

We all know the feeling when we buy something new, it’s fun, refreshing and exciting. However, like many of you, we question where has this been made? When we are bored of this look where will it end up? Have I spent too much money on something I may only wear or use a couple of times? Who has made this and what life do they live?

Secondhand September is a fantastic starting point for those of us looking for the benefits of shopping second hand. Not only can you totally curate an individual style, but you are entering the cycle of sustainable and responsible shopping. You might even surprise yourself with the way your style develops when not shopping from uniform racks.

For many years it was believed that giving clothes and homewares to charity was the best thing to do for others and ourselves, but the real implications of this are so much further removed from what we had we once believed. Many clothes end up in landfill, and those that get shipped to developing countries are often sold to traders effecting the local economy.

So what do we do? Really consider your purchases, think about your current items and needs. Utilise social media, there are great finds on Facebook Market place and local selling groups. Ebay is full of items to enhance your wardrobe and home with the option to search for specific vintage items. Another great way to find key pieces and styling ideas is of course Instagram. Many second hand shops exist on there as well as pop up accounts from individuals having a clear out (Great for children’s clothes on a budget).

When shopping for the home, it’s great to mix old items with new, and often you can find gems right on your doorstep. If you keep your eyes peeled when out and about it’s amazing what people leave outside on the street that they no longer want. Use this as a chance to flex your creativity and attempt some upcycling for a truly unique piece, or simply clean it up and re-style.

Some useful tags to search are #secondhandseptember #slowfashion #sustainablefashion #sustainablestyle #buysecondhand #upcycle #vintagefurniture

Image courtesy of @consciousstyle

Whilst we have all been adjusting to our new way of living at home, here at Vesta we have continued with our product development and have some beautiful items in stock.

First up are our Bamboo silk scrunchies These are made from super soft bamboo silk. Keep your hair tied up in style this summer, whilst avoiding friction on your hair follicles which cause breakage and keep your hair smooth.

We also have our food wrap. Now that we are allowed out for picnics, what better way to store your sandwiches than in our re-usable wraps which have a food safe PUL lining and come in a variety of fun designs.

Our wheat bags are ideal for using hot or cold. Ease pains and discomfort by heating in the microwave or popping in the freezer before use. Ideal to soothe aching muscles, headaches and cramps. Designed to drape comfortably over any area.

Lastly is our beautifully hand made Cuban mop. Made from solid beech, this mop can be used again and again and really is a product to last for many, many years. With reusable cloths which wrap around the base, it will give your floors a thorough clean. Say goodbye to plastic mops and dirty old string mop heads!

Zero waste at home. If this hasn’t been on your radar too much previously, it may be something that has raised its head with the current situation we find ourselves in.

With many people struggling to find basics such as cleaning products, kitchen paper and toilet roll we have a few ideas which may help you around the home.

 Simple switches you can make which will see you through our time at home and beyond are items like reusable cleaning wipes. These can be used in place of cleaning cloths, washing up sponges, dusters and napkins. They can be washed and reused again and again, so you never have the worry of running out.

 A simple cleaning solution to keep your home naturally germ free and smelling fresh can be made by using some simple ingredients. 

o   white vinegar

o   Purified water (Easy to do, just use freshly boiled water and allow to cool)

o   A few drops of your chosen essential oils - we use Lavender, Thyme and Rosemary - they smell beautiful, but are also antibacterial. (Other antibacterial oils are: tea tree, geranium, lemon, orange, eucalyptus, peppermint, cinnamon and clove)

These may be items you already have around your house, but if not, they should be easily obtainable online.

Fill half of your container with white vinegar and then add the same amount of purified water.

Next, add your essential oils a drop at a time until you are happy with the scent. (Remember to add and mix gradually to obtain your perfect fragrance)

Give your bottle a gentle shake before each, spray onto surface and wipe clean. You can use your clothes dry with a spray, or soak them in the solution so they are ready to use.

Vesta baby wipes are smaller than the cleaning clothes and are great for replacing all of your regular disposable wet wipes. They are also fantastic as using in place of toilet roll if you find yourself low on supply. You can use them wet or dry. Keep clean ones in a basket in the bathroom and have a sealed tub or bucket with a lid for the dirty ones. Give them a rinse before they go in the bucket and then pop the whole lot in the machine on a 60 degree cycle.

For cleansing your face, removing nail varnish or using to wipe little faces; we have our reusable cotton face wipes which can be used in place of your regular cotton pads.

Check out our full range of wipes here

What is good for the mind and soul as well as your living space? An air purifying plant will remove harmful toxins whilst pumping out oxygen and looking beautiful.

For those wanting to brighten up their living space as we head towards spring, here is a list of pet friendly plants for you to choose from.

• Bamboo Palm

• Boston Fern

• Spider Plant

• Gerbera Daisy

• Palms (Areca, bamboo, ponytail, and parlour palms are fine for pets, but avoid others) 

• Money tree

• Moth Orchid

• Australian Sword Fern

• Rubber Plant

• Banana plant

• Succulents - Pet-safe varieties include echeveria, hens and chicks, and rosettes

Photo from @isherwoodandco