Ethical Gifts for Mother’s Day
Mothering Sunday, or Mother’s Day as we’ve come to know it, is a tradition dating back to the 16th Century. The celebration was actually an annual visit made by Christians to the ‘mother church’ within their community and when children who had been working away in service were reunited with their mothers.
During the celebration, children would bring a gift for their mother and the tradition has continued to this day. In the past, flowers and cakes were a common gift but now we tend to give a variety of different presents. This year, why not consider giving an ethical gift for mother’s day.
Mother’s Day ethical presents
Mother’s Day is an important time to show appreciation to your mum given the years she has spent loving and nurturing you. So, wouldn’t it be good to give a gift that lets her know how much you love her while also representing the same spirit of caring for the environment in which we all live.
An ethical gift is the perfect way to do this. Ethical gifts can be fairtrade, organic, natural, sustainable or recycled. There are many ethical brands producing beautiful gifts so you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Ethical & Sustainable Toys
As an eco-friendly adult you do all you can to ensure your green credentials are up to date – recycling, energy-saving light bulbs, fairtrade coffee and chocolate etc. But how about sustainable toys for the children in your life? How ethical are the toys you give to the kids? And would an ethical toy make it onto a child’s wish list in the first place? In this article we’ll discuss ethical toys and find out what makes a toy ‘green’.
The ethical toy debate
The toy industry, which is said to worth around £8 billion, has long been criticised for its lack of environmental awareness. However, that hasn’t stopped adults from splashing the cash. By the time the average British child reaches the age of 16, they will have owned around £11,000 worth of toys. It’s impossible for all those toys to have been made from sustainable materials or be ethically sound, so what’s being done to improve the situation?
The answer has, until recently, been very little. The mass market for cut-price toys lends itself to huge industrialisation leading to outsourcing and then questionable labour rights for the workforce who produce the products. Then there’s the materials used in manufacture.
Ethical & Recycled Silver Jewellery
As a society we are finally hearing the message about the importance of recycling. Sending waste off to landfill is no longer an acceptable practice and we are beginning to find ways of reusing perfectly good materials when the original product is no longer of any use. The same can be said for silver jewellery. The availability of recycled silver jewellery is increasing and as interest in all things recycling does too, the range of products will steadily grow.
How ethical is recycled silver jewellery?
Can recycled silver jewellery itself ever be truly ethical if we’re unsure of the original source. Well, as a metal, silver is ethical in that it is rarely thrown away because the silver industry has always recycled. Silver can be easily melted down and reused many times over and therefore it is deemed ethical by the industry because of this. The ‘ethical silver’ debate therefore moves to the process of getting the metal out of the ground in the first place.
Popular Fair Trade Gifts
It’s now commonplace to step into any supermarket and see the Fairtrade mark on food products. Coffee, tea, chocolate and bananas are some of the popular items on offer that proudly display the blue and green logo. Seeing the Fairtrade symbol is a guarantee that disadvantaged farmers and workers in developing countries are getting a better deal for their efforts. The great news is that these benefits extend beyond consumables like coffee. Fairtrade gifts are also available and increasing in popularity.
Do we pay over the odds for fair trade products?
The answer to that is ‘not necessarily’. If you go back a few years you may be right in thinking that Fairtrade equalled “expensive” as the market price was higher. Buyers and suppliers look to cover their own costs while making sure the farmers and workers receive the set minimum price for their work. Buyers can also pay money on top of the set minimum price to support social projects and improve education and health.
However, with the increased demand for Fairtrade goods, the market is now being flooded and more products are being sold. This is good for the developing countries who reap the benefits and good for the consumer because it places Fairtrade products on a level playing field with non-fair trade when it comes to pricing. And let’s not forget that Fairtrade gifts are often hand-made from quality natural materials which are beautifully crafted and long lasting. Not only are you paying a fair price, you’re often getting a superior product.
Girl’s Bikes
Searching for bikes would be a lot easier if their was a web site that just sold bikes for the selected gender, e.g. male or female. This would save the customer looking through hundreds of bikes when half of them aren’t suitable for your gender. Girls Bikes does exactly that. A web site just full of Girls bikes and Ladies’ bikes. It has also got pages of selected pages of bike sizes from 12" girls bikes and 16" girls bikes up to 24" girls bikes. This makes it easier to find a bike for your child’s age and height.
Are You Gaming Comfortably?
Are you gaming comfortably? The Pyramat Gaming Chair is a fantastic answer to the question of where to sit while playing a game, listening to music or watching a movie. Whether you are laid back and just want to relax after a long day at work or want to be in the middle of the action in your favourite game, Pyramat has the answer for you. The high quality designs of the game chair make your excursions into movies, music, or games simply extraordinary.
The Pyramat Sound Rocker is as comfortable as a luxury chair, with a home theatre-like speaker system built in. Providing heart-pounding bass with a 5.5 inch subwoofer and side speakers, the Personal Surround Sound of the Sound Rocker will allow you to relax with your favourite music, or submerse yourself in your favourite game after a long, hard day at work. With unequalled sound quality and extraordinary levels of comfort watching a movie, listening to music, or playing your favourite game will become an event instead of a daily occurrence.
Gifts For All Occasions
I hate being stuck for gift ideas. Whether it’s for someone’s birthday or anniversary, I am always at a loss when trying to think of what to buy. A wedding is especially difficult; I stand in the home wares section and wander aimlessly, dodging staff and offers of assistance. I usually leave empty-handed and close to tears. I dread announcements of engagements or the birth of a baby, as it means more stress (I envy those who love shopping for gifts). That was, until I recently discovered I had a Welsh heritage – and so did a few of my friends. This made it slightly easier, especially for the people closest to me.
Saving Money Online
I’ve never been known as a ‘girly’ girl. I don’t wear makeup, I don’t do my hair, and although my nails are always short and neat, they’re not painted. One of the reasons was that I could never find anything I liked at a price that didn’t set me back a week’s worth of disposable income. I’d rather eat than look good, frankly. So when I discovered I could find top quality branded cosmetics at a decent price, guess what – I became the best looking mum in my street. I’m almost ashamed to say it, but I wouldn’t leave the house without slapping on a little powder and lippie. Nights out saw me dabbing on eye shadow, and I even began a modest collection of fragrances. I got myself a natty little bag to carry all my bits in, and a lipstick holder with a mirror so I could touch up at a red light. Last but not least, I treated myself to a manicure and then showed my lovely new nails some nail polish. This then lead me to buying a bigger handbag, as my old one was too small for my new-found beauty regime. I grew into quite the makeup professional, and this turned into a new wardrobe and haircut. My husband was very pleased!
Boy’s Bikes
Searching for bikes would be a lot easier if their was a web site that just sold bikes for the selected gender, e.g. male or female. This would save the customer looking through hundreds of bikes when half of them aren’t suitable for your gender. Boys Bikes does exactly that. A web site just full of boys bikes and men’s bikes. It has also got pages of selected makes such as Raleigh and GT bikes. Also a good point of this web site is it helps your find the correct size of bike to suit your height and age.
Tips on Bathroom Lighting Safety
I hate my bathroom. I mean the ensuite – the back bathroom (the bathroom at the back of the house, closest to our girls’ bedrooms) is bearable. But the ensuite is my least favourite room of the house. I don’t like the colour scheme, and the fittings are a horrid cream colour. I am a traditionalist – bathroom fittings have to be white. The toilet, the basin, the taps all need to be white. The tiles should be something that goes with white. Same for the towels and the toilet tissues, and the accessories. Cream and brown is dated, dark and disgusting.