The Cozy Corner

2020’s Best So Far

Series: I May Destroy You

I May Destroy You by Michaela Coel

Warning: The following post involves mention of sexual assault.

In the midst of the greatest Black Lives Matter movement in history, writer, director and actor Michaela Coel bought to life the series we did not realise we needed. I May Destroy You a HBO/BBC One series based in Camden, London captures the often silenced issues of consent, sexual assault, race, gender and more. Not only this, but alongside comedic gags, enviable wardrobe and a fantastic soundtrack, Coel has executed a streamless representation of the repressed in a time when it is needed most.

The topical issues we see play out through the narrative of Coel’s first season present a modern day British representation of inequality that winds beautifully around itself through a small collection of relatable and personable characters. Writer and Twitter famous Arabella (Bella) Essiedu, played by Michaela Coel herself, is a relatable yet controversial main character. She is loud, impulsive and sometimes ignorant, yet as she goes through her personal journey post being sexuall assaulted, she represents the irrational humane motives of each of us. She makes mistakes, loses friends and sometimes spends more time on social media than in the moment. This is what makes her character so fantastic. She is electric, yet ordinary and a perfect representation of a woman tired of being repressed and treated as less than her male counterpart.

Bella’s best friend Terry Pratchard and struggling actor is played by Reanne Weruche Opia, who for me personally captures the ideal best friend that anyone could need in Bella’s circumstance. She is more than supportive of Bella as she looks into how she personally can help to improve her friend’s mental wellbeing after a traumatic event. Despite her struggling career she is well-rounded and deserves more than she gets throughout the season. It is through this unrequited understanding that Terry experiences racial bias, racism and white privilege first-hand, being asked to remove her wig for an audition and even in a flashback scene as a child, she claims with no sense of child-like naivety that “white girl tears [are] of high currency” when witnessing white supremacy in their school.

The final main character of this eye-opening series is Bella’s gay best friend, Kwame played by Paapa Essiedu. Kwame is the gentler of the three best friends, often quiet and subdued he seems to be the ‘third wheel’ of the trio up until half way through the season. Without releaving any spoilers, Coel’s utilisation of Kwame as a representative of an incredibly marginalised black gay community, beautifully encompasses a perspective of sexual assault that had never crossed my mind. Although I am ashamed to admit this, Kwame’s character provokes further engagement and education into racism than I had previously realised I needed. Despite Kwame’s narrative not being the main one in this series, it was personally the most thought provoking.

Throughout the season, as Arabella desperately tries to write her second book, the narrative explores how being marginalised in multiple factors does not add to equate the same being marginalised due to one factor. Black, gay, women for example are over three times more marginalised than myself as a white, straight woman. The subconscious and societially accepted aspects of this concept are deconstructed throughout the series. However, just as these prejudices and inequalities slip through the moral cracks of society, they seamlessly mirror this subconscious stream through the fluidity of narrative and the context of I May Destroy You.

My ultimate nod of appreciation goes towards Michaela Coel herself. As someone that has previously seen her in Chewing Gum and Been So Long, I was pleasantly surprised to find her writing and playing an entirely different thematic genre. Her hilarious and goofy character of Tracey Gordon seems to have blossomed into Arabella, a journey most women of her age can relate to. However, I May Destroy You was obviously a personal depiction and therefore a sensitive work of art. As Coel has stated in interviews since the series debut, the plot line of sexual assault was based on her own personal experience in 2018 from which she is still recovering. The raw openness of this creative process is highly commendable and definitely rare to see, which is why I believe it was so transparent through the series. Coel has taken her pain and turned it into something fantastic, and for that I can only respect her.

If you have seen this series and have something to say, please let me know in the comments! I would love to get a discussion going. Thanks for reading.

Understanding The Power of White Silence.

A discussion on the power of white privilege and the importance of understanding when silence is key.

First of all, what is white privilege?

To have white privilege is to have unearned benefits in society due to the colour of your skin, and the oppression and racism that is a global pandemic and has been since the beginning of time. To have white privilege is not to say that a white person has not had a difficult life, but simply emphasises that their times of hardship were not due to the colour of their skin. This emphasises that fact that ‘A white person living in poverty still has white privilege, because being black and poor is harder.’ (Florence Given, 2020) White people such as myself have advantages in life due to the oppression of others, my voice is more likely to be heard, I will find it easier to get jobs, and I will be most likely treated with better respect throughout my life than if I was not white. This oppression based privilege is harmful to many, and recognising you have this privilege is the first step to understanding and constructing a way to try and counter this.

White privilege during the Black Lives Matter movement.

Throughout the past few months since the death on George Floyd on May 25th 2020, there has been an active change in momentum behind the BLM movement since it began in 2013. The horrifically unjust death of George Floyd sparked an awareness in local activists and people across the world to actively work and protest against anti-black racism and the violence inflicted on black people on an institutional level. An estimated 15-26 million Americans alone protested during this past month of June, resulting in America’s largest movement in history. Yes. In 2020.

Despite years of oppression and racism, it has taken until now for black people’s voices to begin to be heard. Why? This is because of white privilege. White people have remained silent for the first time in history to try and give way to the voices of black people. Thousands of black people have unjustly died at the hands of the police in the U.S and the voices of those most affected are finally being heard.

The social media act of #blackouttuesday reinforced the concept of recognising white privilege. On June 2nd 2020 millions of people globally paused in the production of white art, music, voices, and reflected on the importance of change to how black people are treated systemically. This movement forced white people to truly see the volume of their opinions and voices, and how this can often cover more important words that need to be heard.

White privilege gives white writers, artists and influencers an automatic fast pass to being heard, and is based on the silent choking of anti-black racism. This is why during such a movement, I remained silent on my blog. My social media activity decreased ten fold and I was silent on instagram for two weeks post hearing of George Floyd’s death. My voice did not need to be heard. As a cisgender white woman I am at an institutional advantage by coincidence and my voice is more likely to be heard than those without my privilege. So I actively chose to utilise my social media space to promote the voices and artwork of black people. I am now sharing daily work from black people and actively trying to educate myself and my followers on the aspects of anti-black racism that I have been blind to before now.

This is why white silence is essential during the BLM Movement. Not only do I feel my voice is not important in understanding racism, but I am attempting to use my white privilege to project the voices of black people. I am not saying white people should no longer create or post or share their work. Just as I am now sharing this blog, white people everywhere have the right to create and share work.

I believe that we should utilise this movement to recognise white privilege for what it is, and use it to project the voices of those that the system actively works against. Share more work by black people, shop from black owned business. So many of our current trends in fashion and art come from black people, it is time we recognise this.

Don’t be afriad to educate yourself and change during the process, and remember, it is easier to recognise racism and work against it, than it is to live in it daily.

A list of helpful places to educate yourself:

No White Saviours (@nowhitesaviours)
Layla Saad (@laylafsaad) Me and White Supremacy
Rachel Cargle (@rachel.cargle)
Check Your Privilege (@ckyourprivilege)
The Great Unlearn (@thegreatunlearn)
Reni Eddo-Lodge (@renieddolodge) Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race
Ibram X. Kendi (@ibramxk)
Angela Saini- The Return of Race Science
Robin Diangelo- White Fragility
Ijeoma Oluo- So you want to talk about race
Mumia Abu Jamal- We want Freedom- A Life in the Black Panther Party
Eric Williams- Capitalism and Slavery
Angie Thomas- The Hate You Give
Nic Stone- Dear Martin
Octavia E. Butler- Kindred

For more influencers, black owned businesses and brands, and more books written by black people, feel free to message me or leave a request in the comments.

Top 10 Positive Aspects of Lockdown

Full disclaimer: This is entirely based on my experience in lockdown and what I have personally perceived, this does not apply to everyone by no means and I do not attempt to capture anyone experience other than my own.

Covid-19 has caused a global change amongst all societies across the world, and here in the UK we are still not only socially distancing but in full lockdown for the foreseeable future. Everything changed in an instant, with the support and company of loved ones perhaps being limited, and the social aspects of human nature being restricted, this is a hard time for most people. So amongst all the loneliness, darkness and anxieties of isolation that I know we are all feeling to one extent or another, what is there to be grateful for?

Firstly, I want to establish my source in GurlTalk’s fantastic podcasts with Adwoa Aboah. These podcasts and GurlTalk as a community create a non-proft space in which women (and anyone that does not identify as a woman!) can feel secure and heard, which is more needed in isolation than ever. In one of their recent podcasts, Adwoa speaks with clinical psychologist Dr Ciara Dockery about the mental health implications of Covid-19 and how lockdown naturally has a negative effect on humans as social beings. If you have not listened to this, you need to go do this now.

For me personally, the news and constant reminders of the negatives of lockdown and Covid-19 have been something I have avoided for my own benefit. So after listening to this open-minded and fulfilling podcast on the topic of isolation, I felt comfortable discussing lockdown in my home. What I had envisaged (with dread) to be a negative conversation, turned into a wonderful discussion about all the benefits and positive aspects of lockdown both for the individual and for the community. So, after feeling much happier and more grateful for my situation, I wanted to share this feeling with others.

So, what are the positive aspects of the current lockdown?

1- Destigmatising mental health issues.

As previously touched upon, the mental health of the individual during isolation is expected to be very much impacted by the disadvantages of lockdown. Whether you have previous mental health issues or not, more people are experiencing higher level of anxiety to varying degrees, and feel lost and out of control in the current situation. Just through this first-hand experience of such feelings, more people have an awareness of what mental health issues actually are, destigmatising them to a further extent than previous to lockdown.

2- Technological awareness

A fantastic way that people are adjusting to lockdown is to keep in contact over Teams, Zoom, Skype and many other video calling platforms. This has given many of the elderly or just those with less experience online, a chance to understand and work with new technology. Overall, the understanding of the importance and power of technology is being truly appreciated in a time when it is so essential. A simple video call or virtual pub quiz can turn an evening around and provide company to those who need it.

3- Creative outbursts

This is the positive I personally relate to most. A beautiful benefit of the lockdown is that individuals across the community have more time to experiment with being creative in their own way. This outlet of relief and mindfulness is so powerful, additionally providing the world with new art, poetry, photography and more to celebrate! Those that once claimed to ‘not be creative’ are trying things outside of their comfort zone, in the comfort of their own home.

4- Positive social media

One of the personal benefits I have found of everyone being indoors, is that social media influencers all over the world are providing their fans with activities to do online. These range from poetry workshops, at home workouts, bathroom concerts and more. The biggest contributor to this has been through Instagram, where thousands of artists and skilled people are utilising their skills to provide free pockets of much appreciated activities. My favourites include: @holliepoetry performances, @meggangrubb workouts, @rupikaur poetry workshops, and @designmuseum Lunch and Learn.

5- Appreciative of one another

Leading on from this, not only are the influencers on our phones more appreciated now then ever, but additionally the people we know and love but cannot be with currently. This space in lockdown if anything has been a reminder to hold close the people you love, and keep in contact with those that bring joy to your life. I have never felt more loved than during lockdown and am immensly appreciative of all my friends and family for this.

6- Hygiene awareness

As a teacher one thing I have seen a massive improvement in during lockdown is hygiene awareness. Whether this is instilling four year olds with an urgent need to wash their hands for 20-30 seconds, or forcing grocery shoppers to question where their food as been before it is on their plate, the general public are much more aware of their personal hygiene and how this influences the people around them, which can only be seen as a positive.

7- Community spirit

A wonderful aspect of lockdown has been the sense of community that seems to have emerged during this pandemic. Whether this be socially distanced conversations with neighbours you have never got to know until now, or a phone box library contribution, community spirit has increased immensely throughout the UK. People are willingly volunteering their time and energy to help those at high risk or of disadvantage throughout this pandemic, without expecting anything in return. All I can hope for is that this will continue post lockdown.

8- At home workers

At home workers have on average, adjusted well to the new situation they have been thrown into. Despite having a usual workspace in an office or alternate building, many of the population are now working in their own houses and within the vicinity of their loved ones. I presumed that many people would struggle with this change, with many having little time to themselves alongside child care or alternate requirements in the home. However, an American survey taken last week, shows that 3 of 5 USA citizens prefer working from home and would prefer to continue working remotely post-lockdown. Better yet, nearly half (48%) of workers in a poll of 2,200 people claimed that they would be happy to take a pay cut and continue working from home rather than go back to work spaces post-lockdown. I personally take great consolation in knowing that the world is still functioning well for some, and even better than usual for most at-home workers!

9- Environmental impact

This takes me on to my next topic, which is the environmental impact of the lockdown. As you probably know, the planet is THRIVING without us. Waters are clearer, animals are returning from the verge of extinction, and the massive reduction in greenhouse gas production can only have a positive impact if any. I personally hope that post-lockdown, large companies and their workers can communicate this positive effect clearly and utilise the comfort of homes as work spaces in contrast to high functioning, environmentally unfriendly corporate buildings.

10- Environmental education

Finally, probably the most essential educational factor of the lockdown is the overall awareness and knowledge that the public seemed to have gained regarding their impact on the environment and the simple ways that they have altered their routines which have a huge impact! More people are shopping locally, less cars are on the roads, cruise ship journeys have been put on hold. (If you do not know the extent of the negative impact of cruise ships on the environment then you need to research this immediately). Overall, those that were dubious of their abilities to make a change in their day to day life without it causing personal issues, are realising that it is much more manageable than they expected. So despite the mythical belief that plastic is somehow cleaner than washable reusable products, please continue to reuse what you have, bring your own bags to the shop when you go, and stay safe!

A Caribbean Inspired Feast

A special occasion calls for a very special feast that is inspired by the delicious flavoursome dishes that originate in the Caribbean islands. Nothing sounds more like a party than a collection of delicious Caribbean tapas!

Recently it was my birthday, and despite lockdown I wanted to celebrate my birthday with the people I loved, whether this be with those in my home or virtually with other family and friends. When it came to my birthday meal, I wanted to try something new! So alongside my housemates I created an Irie Shack/ Caribbean inspired tapas fit to feed the entire UK! Read below for some tasty dishes to help spice up your life.

Jerk Haloumi Kebabs

This dish includes lots of popular flavours and takes roughly 20 minutes to prepare and cook.

Ingredients:

250g haloumi
2 Red peppers
1 large onion
10 chesnut mushrooms
Jerk marinade (you can make this yourself with an olive oil base and a mix of spices, but I personally used Dunn’s River Jamaican Jerk Marinade to save time as I was making lots of dishes at the same time!)
Wooden skewers

That’s all!! Simply chop all your ingredients into large chunks, marinate for 15 minutes in a bowl all together, add to your skewers and either grill in the oven or on a grill/BBQ. Complete. These kebabs with Dunn’s River marinade have a real kick and are a super easy and delicious side to any dish.

Jamaican Rice and Peas

This is another quick, cheap and easy way to make great tasting food.

Ingredients

225g of white rice
1 medium onion
1 pepper
1 chilli
2 garlic cloves
1 tablespoon of butter
1 can of strained kidney beans
1 teaspoon of ginger
salt, parsley, paprika and whatever else you fancy to season.

Method

Step 1- Part boil the rice in either water or vegetable stock

Step 2- Mix together the finely chopped garlic, onion, pepper, chilli and ginger in a pan with oil. Add the seasoning once almost complete.

Step 3- Add the rice to the vegetables, then add the kidney beans (known in Jamaica as peas, hence the name of this dish!)

Step 4- Add the butter and mix in whilst it melts, this will mellow the spice of the dish so be aware of this and add as you wish. Your second dish is complete!

Curried Potatoes

This was one of my personal favourite parts of the meal, as the potatoes for me really bought life to the rest of the dishes.

Ingredients:

2 medium onions
3 cloves of garlic
6 small to medium potatoes chopped into large chunks
3 carrots chopped into 2 inch chunks
3 chopped tomatoes
1 can of black beans
3 tablespoons of curry powder
1 teapoon of balsamic vinegar
Chilli as desired.

The method to this dish is surprisingly easy, simply fry the onions and garlic, adding the carrots, potatoes and curry powder once the onions have softened. Then add the rest of the ingredients including the liquid from the beans and a cup of water. Let this simmer for 45 minutes and then serve!

Fry Bodi (Caribbean Green Beans)

The only thing I would change about this dish is I would have made more of it! These measurements serve two as a side but personally I would have doubled this amount. I can never have enough greens!

Ingredients

200g green beans
1 finely chopped tomato
1 garlic clove
1/2 onion, finely chopped

Another simple dish, simply fry the tomato and onion for five minutes, stirring regularly. Then, add the garlic and beans, cover and stir occasionally until the beans are soft. This should take around 15 minutes. By far the simplest part of the meal yet this hint of green really adds life to your plate!

Overall, this is a lovely selection of dishes that I would really recommend to anyone. It does not require many complex ingredients and most people can achieve this in the kitchen. There is lots of flavour in each dish and definitely enough leftovers for lunch the next day. To make this meal perfect, we served this with Mojitos!

For more tips and a further insight into Caribbean cuisine and culture, please see the below influencers that know much more than myself!

Rashade St Patrick, @mrkingstonbelle
Cynthia- writer of Tastes Like Home
Suzanne and Michelle Rousseau- Two Sisters and a Meal

If you have any more recipe or influencer suggestions please let me know in the comments. Diolch!

The Best Banana Bread

A simple and easy banana bread recipe that anybody can achieve. This tasty desert makes enough for two 9 inch tins, and has the moist, light texture you didn’t know you needed. This recipe has been tried and tested throughout lockdown..and each time goes down a treat!

Read Below

Ingredients

1 teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 a teaspoon of salt
2 1/4 cups of self-raising flour
1/2 cup of softened butter
2 eggs
1 cup of granulated sugar
4 extremely ripe bananas, if you still want to eat it, it is not ripe enough.
1/3 cup of full fat filk
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Method

Step 1- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celsius.

Step 2- Grease two 9 inch cake tins both with greaseproof paper on the bottom, and butter around the edges.

Step 3- Sift flour, salt and baking soda into a large glass or metal mixing bowl and stir together.

Step 4- In a seperate bowl, mash the bananas and then add the whisked egg, milk, vanilla extract and sugar.

Step 5- Gently fold the liquid mixture into the dry ingredients. Overmixing this will potentially be detrimental to the rise of the bread.

Step 6- Pour mixture into the two tins equally and bake both in the centre of the oven for 40-50 minutes.

Step 7- Use a cocktail stick to check if bread is done, put both trays on a cooling rack for 15 minutes and then serve!

Simple! In my home this is often made alongside dinner as it is then baked and cooled in time for dessert an hour later!

Give this recipe a try and let us know your verdict in the comments.

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

A complete receipe for a gorgeous, gooey, delicious dozen chocolate chip cookies.

Read Below

During lockdown, one of the most popular past-time activities are taking place in the kitchen. Whether you have years of practise and bake regularly, or have turned on an oven, this recipe is for you. After baking these wonderful cookies you will never want store bought again!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of melted salted butter
3/4 cup of brown sugar (I used dark but light would also work)
1/2 cup of granulated sugar
1 teaspoon of salt (ideally sea salt)
1 large egg
1 1/4 cup of plain flour
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda/baking soda
200g of chocolate chunks (dark or milk, your preference!)

Method

Step 1- In a large glass or metal bowl, mix together the sugars, salt and melted better until it reaches a smooth, thin paste. Using a plastic bowl for this will reduce the air in the batter.

Step 2- Add the egg to the mixture and whisk into the batter until soft ribbons are created, this should take round 5 minutes.

Step 3- Sift in the flour, baking soda and baking powder. Fold these into the mixture gently. Do not overmix as this can cause the cookies to become dry and crumbly.

Step 4- Fold in the chocolate chunks, then refrigerate for 30 minutes. At this stage, preheat the oven to 180 degrees celsius.

Step 5- Add greaseproof paper to a flat tray, and scoop out 1 1/2 tablespoons of mixture per cookie. Using your hands, roll the mixture into a ball and put on the tray. I suggest not adding more than 4 cookies per tray to avoid the cookies blending together.

Step 6- Bake! Put the tray in the centre of your oven. This should take around 15-18 minutes depending on how melted you like the chocolate!

Step 7- Repeat until you have no mixture left.

Voila! There you have it, a wonderful batch of simply made, cheap and effective chocolate chip cookies.

If you try these yourself, please let me know what you think in the comments below!

Slowing Fast Fashion- Interviews with Cardiff’s Best Vintage Stores. (Part 1)

I interviewed the staff at some of the best vintage stores in Cardiff to find out their opinion on slowing fast fashion, and the perks of shopping second hand. Read on to find out how you can contribute to stopping fast fashion, whilst also finding some top fits that will last (another) lifetime!

Sobeys Vintage is probably the best known Vintage store in Cardiff, with it’s other three stores in Bristol and Exeter, they’re an well established second-hand store with up and coming trends. So why did they chose Cardiff? Why is second-hand shopping so essential in the 21st century?

What Inspired You to Build a Vintage/Second-Hand Clothing Store in Cardiff?

“Cardiff is a great city! The arcades are full of independent and quirky shops. We felt like Sobeys would fit right in, and being Welsh myself it seemed a no brainer!”- Katie and Andy, directors of Sobeys Vintage.

What Era Inspires Your Stores Most?

“I’d say the 90s- high waisted jeans, denim shrots, American tees and floral dresses, basically what Rachel Green would have worn! The 90s have come back in a big way, it’s a classic girl next door look.

How do You Recommend Second-hand Shoppers Go About Creating Their New Wardrobe?

“More than anything it’s about buying pieces that you love! But if you want to create a wardrobe that will last, it’s about looking for classic shapes, prints that suit you and are timeless.”

What are the Top 3 Benefits of Shopping Second-hand?

“You’re always going to find something unique, you’re helping the environment and slowing fast fashion, and you’re helping independent stores grow their business!”

How Does Your Store Promote Slow Fashion Rather Than Fast Fashion?

“Although we do sell some new pieces, most of our stock is vintage, it’s all dry cleaned before it comes in to the store as well as ironed and checked over for faults. If anything is faulty we will use the material and turn it into something else. For example, fault jumpers become cushions and bags. We also up-cycle lots of our stock, giving it a new lease of life!”

Do You Consider Second-hand Shopping a Movement?

“Yes I do, people are becoming a lot more aware of the damage fast fashion is having on our planet, a lot of people want to do their bit to help. Shopping second-hand and vintage is becoming cool, and there are so many reasons why- the fabrics tend to be better, with jumpers being made out of high percentages of wool, they were made to last, along with leather skirts that just get softer and better with age. Prints were bright and louder in the 80s/90s and you just don’t see that anymore. The fit tends to be better and more flattering, with high waisted jeans that suit most shapes, to figure hugging tea dresses that work for all shapes and sizes! Not only this, but you are going to find items that nobody else will have, and to me that plays a big part in shopping second-hand.”

Finally, What is One Key piece of Advice You Would Give to Someone Trying to Switch to Second-hand Shopping?

“It’s just about trying it, and if you don’t find anything the first time you browse, don’t give up! Vintage and second-hand stores get stock in all the time, and there is so much to be found, more colours, more prints and more fabrics. It won’t take long for you to switch your shopping habits.”

So there you have it! Help the planet, local businesses and your wardrobe by shopping in second-hand stores, and you can become the next Rachel Green. Have any great vintage outfits you want to share? Send them to me and I will feature some in the second blog post in this series on slowing fast fashion in Cardiff. Ps, don’t forget to give Sobeys a visit post lockdown!

Sustainable Creativity at Home

Ideas on ways to be be creative at home without excess cost or waste!

Ideas

As we continue to explore a temporary new way of living through lockdown, more and more people both at home and throughout the community are exploring their creative side. One of the greatest benefits of this extensive time we had been provided is the ability to create change, and for many in my own area, this has become an opportunity to create art without intention, to extend and discover their skills outside of their usual routine. There is no better place to do this than in the comfort of our own homes. So with most stores closed, and online delivery being high-risk priority, how can creativy be achieved at home without excess cost or waste?

Dating back to the 17th century regarding forestry in Germany, environmental sustainability and the maintence of the planet’s surface has been an evergrowing concept that continues to be implemented across the UK and further. As the Earth continues to be under threat due to habits of the human race, the simplest of actions such as shopping more consciously for craft supplies can contribute to a change in this. So take this moment in time to create new habits, shop less, shop local. Find some cheap and sustainable arts and craft ideas below.

Outdoor Materials.

During lockdown it is much easier to access an empty canvas than you realise! Pebbles, gravel roads and even brick walls can provide as a fantastic temporary or permenant canvas for chalk drawing or acrylic painting. Depending on your skill level (and patience!), pebble painting can be incredibly therpautic and provide a great small work of art to display in your home or garden.

Not only can you find your canvas outdoors, but also your utensils and paint! Crushed herbs, flowers and soil blended with water or a paste can provide cheap organic water colours for painting. Additionally, sticks, grass and leaves provide as fantastic instruments to give your artwork a more exciting sense of depth or line.

Top Teacher Tip!

Print beautiful designs onto egg shells with these three simple items: a boiled egg, onion skins and a flower. Simply press the flower onto the egg shell, wrap the egg in onion layers and leave to soak overnight. This is a lovely and magical activity to do with children and is easily achieved with small hands once the eggs are boiled!

2. Leftover Food Waste.

This takes me onto my next way to create sustainable art, using the leftover food in your compost. 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted each year, 1/3 of the average household grocery list goes into the bin. So save yourself some money and avoid extra waste by using what you can find in your cupboard to make something creative!

Playdough is a really quick and simple product that most parents spend so much more money on that needed. 1 cup salt, 1 cup flour and 1 cup water mixed together alongside some natural colouring can give a child in lockdown a fantastic new way to play. However, playdough is not just for children! Make an easy way to build and create with your hands with some home-made playdough. Some natural colourings I have used include coffee, paprika, tumeric, spinach and strawberries. Simply mix or fold the colouring into the dough and mold until coloured completely. Simple yet effective.

Another fantastic reusable item is a regular tin. A quick meal with baked beans or chickpeas can easily become a reason to create a wonderful new plant pot or stationary pot for your desk. Decorate the tin how you wish, paint, string, leaves, whatever takes your fancy. An additional bonus is that most tins are the same size, making a set very easy to achieve and really effective for plant pots.

A real favourite in my reception class was ocean arts and crafts from recycled materials. Each child came into school with their rubbish from home, which we then converted into a gorgeous under the sea picture! Nothing but glue and scissors contributed to the rubbish they used for their art, and they all came up with so many different creatures to create. This reusing of waste is a great way to encourage recycling and an awareness of what is considered ‘good’ art. Push your imagination and give this a go!

3. Online tutorials

Finally, I want to quickly mention the online sources that can contribute to creativity at home. Art does not have to involve paint and paper. It can be dance, poetry, gardening, decorating your bedroom. Anything that gives options to create something can be classed as art. So utilise the sources online! Many instagram accounts are hosting weekly poetry workshops, dance tutorials, gardening advice or computerised colouring pages. These are just to name a few. Give them a try! Be conscious of waste and ways you can reuse items, and remember that art does not have to achieve something or look a certain way. If you created it, it’s art!

Why You Should Make Your Bed

The best way to start your day and provide yourself with holistic motivation.

It’s 10am on quaratine day 137,857 (at least it feels like it), if you live in Wales like myself its probably raining yet again and the kettle seems so far away. As you roll out of bed you have a flashback of unexplainable acne, frizzy teenage hair and being asked to make your bed, as you hide under the duvet from another day of trigonometry and WW2 recaps. Once this terrible memory escapes your half asleep mind, you debate leaving your sheets in the tangled mess. STOP.

Make your bed.

This almost effortless task takes only a minute but is the best decision you can make all day. What better way to start your day then removing the creases of yesterday’s sleeping and making your bed? You have chosen to start a fresh. You have made the decision to have a positively impactful day from now. Whether or not this stops at your bed making skills is not the point. The intention for the day has been set, and as you sit at your desk and write your essay, or was the piles of dishes, or learn a new skill, you can know you have chosen to be proactive. You chose to start the day right!

So why do I think this matters so much? Right? You’re probably wondering why I am making such a big deal out of such a small act. For me, this emphasises the entire point. Making your bed is probably the easiest task on your to-do list for today, and if you’re anything like me it feels great to tick absolutely anything off that mental list of chores for the day. The first hurdle of your day and you are accomplishing it every day. For me, there is no better way to start your day.

Now for the best bit.

It’s now 10pm. You’ve completed probably half if not less, of your to-do list and are done with the day for now. All you want is some comfortable pyjamas and a few episodes or chapters of something pointless like Bob’s Burgers (give it a go, great bed time tv). You walk into your room with the weight of a chore-filled day on your shoulders. As you reflect negatively on all the things you did not accomplish (as all humans inevitably do for some annoying reason), you walk into your bedroom and what do you see? Your bed that you made that morning! Ok, it sounds strange but for me, walking in and seeing my sheets neat and tidy? There is nothing more inviting in preparation for a great sleep to wash away any troubles.

You accomplished this feeling for yourself and again, as you shuffle into the cotton love cave you have prepared yourself, it is impossible not to feel a little contentment with the decision you made that morning. Right?

Give it a go tomorrow and let me know how your day goes in the comments. Did your day feel a little brighter than expected? Were your sheets slightly more comfortable that night? I have no doubt.

Remembering Your Worth

Self worth is a term that is thrown around more and more as social media continues to provide power in society. ‘Self-care’ has become a underminded term for providing yourself small pockets of time and space in which to value your own ambitions, aims and needs as an individual. This is not what self-care is. Self-care is continuously and consistently providing yourself with a greater sense of worth, not having a bubble bath and painting your nails when you’re friends aren’t available for a pint. Christopher Mruk’s book Self Esteem looks at self-esteem as a two part concept, partially self-competence and partially self-worth. So if we are all talking about self-care, why do over 50% of people gloally suffer from low self-esteem?

As human beings we consistently improve ourselves. We reflect on mistakes and avoid making them again. We even are aware of our capabilities (to a certain extend) compared to others, most adults have a relatively clear understanding of their self-competence.

So why such low self esteem?

We as a generation have begun to understand mental wellbeing but are yet to implement positive actions on a daily basis to tackle low self worth and ultimate low mental health. This blog invites you to find ways to promote your own self worth, to improve your own self-esteem, and hopefully do the same for someone else as I am for you now.

So what is self worth?

Self worth is easiest defined as our understanding and belief in ourselves and our coalignment with our desired moral values. This is therefore, dependent on each person but can range from being powerful, kind, independent or intelligent. Imagine you are creating the pefect human personality. What traits do they have? These traits align with your moral values and are most likely to be the traits you aim to encompass as an individual. By actively working towards yourself and these values, you not only can better yourself in society, but massively improve your own self-worth! A win win.

The basic essentials:

In order to achieve this there are some essentials you need to cover before you see improvement. These are:

Consistency: you cannot just focus on your own self-worth once a month and expect change, sorry. Just as you would revise for an exam on a regular basis, you need to develop this part of your brain in the same manner. Work on yourself, again and again and again.
Mindfulness: This procress is not an uphill stride. It takes time and there will be moments where you feel you have achieved no progress. Be mindful of this and be gentle with yourself!
Positive outlook: This goes as expected. You will be doubtful sure, but overall, stay positive and keep the intention in mind. You are working towards yourself every day and that is a magical process in itself.

How do you measure your worth?

Your worth can often be described or depicted by others. Job interviews will judge your worth by your CV and perhaps reject you because of this. You might have lost a friend that deemed you unworthy of their time or space in their schedule. You might think a partner or person you care for really understands your worth best. This is not the case.

Only you know your worth.

I cannot emphasise this enough. Worth is an individual scale with specific units that change depending on your values. Therefore, no one except you can decide your worth. No matter how well they know you, or how confident they seem, no one knows your worth but you.

Ways To Improve Your Self-Worth.

Here comes the best bit.

Improving your self-worth is a wonderful, creative and experimental journey that comes partially as you mature, and develops even further the more you reflect on yourself and your values. The more often you do this, the greater your self-worth and the better you feel on an overall basis.

Practise your values: This is so important. How can you deem yourself worthy if you do not practise the things you preach? If you value kindness then go out and volunteer, help someone find directions, tell someone the time. Do you value intellligence? Take online courses, read more, involve yourself in discussions you enjoy. Small or big, any practise of your values adds up to an overall greater perception of yourself.
Stop people pleasing: This is a tough one for a lot of people. People pleasing comes so easy to some and is almost an instrincsic trait. If you have spent ten years seeing your worth as how others perceive you, there is no doubt you have been trying to impress them over yourself. Stop doing this. The most important lesson to learn: not everyone will like you, but you can ensure they respect you. Our actions do not define us in the eyes of others. People have their own minds and are completely allowed to have their own perception of you no matter how hard you try to alter this. Accept it. Continue to allign your actions with your values, this is a lifestyle worth respect. (For more insight into ignoring the perceptions of others, see @florencegiven).
Learn to love you: Alright, I admit it sounds very cringe BUT, loving yourself is a great feat for most and is essential to a positive self-worth. This does not mean that you never doubt yourself and believe yourself to be the complete bees kness. This is being content with who you are. Accepting your body and mind as it is and flourishing from there. No matter how toned your stomach becomes, or how many books you read, you will not have a greater self-worth until you learn to accept yourself for the wonderful individual you are. Do nice things for yourself, give yourself praise and be fair with yourself. Treat yourself like you would your best friend. No one has or will have ever stuck around as long as you have, so it’s about time you started acknowledging this.
Reflect on yourself: This is the most important part of improving self-worth. If we complete all these things but never reflect on them, how can we notice improvement? To see change you have to be open to noticing change. Reflect daily if you can, or as regularly as possible on what you are doing to improve your self. This can include journalling, taking photos or chatting to others about your movements. Maintain an open mindset and explore yourself. You will be so surprised at how you are already more than worthy of your own love.

The Ultimate Goal.

Ultimately, I can not tell you the ultimate goal. Self-worth is exactly that, a reflection of yourself. So continue to be yourself (you are the only one remember!) and act as you would like to see future you acting. Believe in yourself. Focus on yourself for a little while, and learn to enjoy the journey it involves.

“Living in the shadow feels like the safe place to be
No harm for them, no harm for me
But life is short, and it’s time to be free
Love who you love, because life isn’t guaranteed
Smile”