Make every day Earth Day

✯ Hello Shiny Stars! ✯

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

"I cannot do all the good that the world needs. But the world needs all the good that I can do."

(Jana Stanfield)

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

Earth Day has been celebrated annually on 22 April since 1970, but here on the blog I want to extend it into a long green weekend this time.

In this post, and from tomorrow on my Twitter, I'm sharing with you some useful green tips to encourage you to get involved in helping the environment, because every little step counts.

🌍💚🌍💚🌍

Day 1: Save some energy 💚

🌍 Let natural light into your room whenever possible, and turn off the lights when you leave the room.

🌍 Also make sure to unplug your mobile phone, laptop and other devices when they are fully charged.

Day 2: Reduce waste 💚

🌍 Try to reduce your food waste, don't buy more than you will eat.

🌍 Use reusable cups and bottles for your drinks, avoid using plastic utensils.

🌍 Buy fruit and vegetables without packaging if possible and if you bought it in a plastic bag, reuse it, for example as a bin liner.

🌍 Use old jars to store food in the fridge or to make your own jams and pickles.

🌍 Use your plastic grocery bags for as long as they last before buying a new and preferably more eco-friendly bag.

🌍 Collect your rubbish selectively and make sure you put it in the right bin.

🌍 Also be moderate in the use of paper towels in the kitchen or toilet. 

🌍 In the office and also at home, print only when necessary and make it a habit to print on both sides. If you have printed on one side, use the back of old documents for notes and drafts. 

🌍 Use paper clips instead of staples, they can be reused. 

🌍 According to a study by the University of Southern Denmark, 3 million face masks are thrown away every minute. Most of these are disposable masks made of plastic microfibres, which, among other things, pollute water but can also harm wildlife. 

As these items are neither selectively collected nor recycled, replace disposable masks with reusable ones, such as cotton, whenever possible.

Day 3: Add greenery to your space 💚

🌍 Did you know that plants not only provide oxygen and purify the air by removing toxins, but also have many positive effects on your well-being?

🌍 They are said to help people feel calmer and more relaxed, reducing stress and anxiety. They can also help increase productivity, improve mood and boost creativity.

So if you don't have a houseplant yet, you should definitely invest in one for your desk.

Day 4: It's time for DIY 💚

🌍 Upcycling means creative reuse, turning something into something new by giving it a new purpose, limited only by your imagination.

For example, turn your stored jars into containers to keep pasta or rice in, reuse them as vases or organise your office supplies in them. All you have to do is remove the labels and you can just use them plain or paint them, decorate them with yarn and so on.

🌍 You can upcycle almost anything, for example in a post from a few years ago we turned an old T-shirt into a cut out tank top perfect for summer. (You can find it if you click on the link.)

🌍💚🌍💚🌍

I hope you could find some ideas here that might inspire you to live an even more environmentally conscious life. 

Follow me on Twitter for more green tips and information from 22 April until this Sunday.

If you have any tips or good habits to share, feel free to leave a comment here or get involved on Twitter. I'm happy to read those.

 I wish you a wonderful rest of the week. 😊

Lots of love,

E

A month in pixels - with free printable sheet

✯ Hello Shiny Stars! ✯

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

"Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else."

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

A few weeks ago I shared a free printable with you: A Year in Pixels. The sheet allows you to keep track of your mood during the year. It contains a colour code and based on that you colour in the individual days.

If you have enough perseverance, at the end of the year you will have a completely coloured sheet, that shows you, for example, which were your happiest, but also saddest or normal days.

I have created the document so that it can be used for any year and I think even the start date is up to you. If you decide to start in February or March, that's fine too. Just put an "X" in the days you didn't follow or continue colouring in the next year to have a fully completed sheet.

This time I show you the little sibling of the previous sheet: A Month in Pixels. I created it for those who just want to track their mood for a shorter time or simply want to try it out to see if this is something for them.

The monthly version is also free to download below and can be used for any month. If it doesn't consist of 31 days, just put an "X" at the end. The method with colouring is the same as with the year sheet: simply colour in the days using the colour code.

Whether you choose the monthly or the yearly one, I hope you have a lot of fun with it.

Simply click on the "Pop out" icon in the top right corner of the image and select "Download" on the newly opened page to start colouring.

 

I wish you a great start into February. May it be a happy and healthy month.  :)

Lots of love,

E

Cosy hoodies and more

✯ Hello Shiny Stars! ✯

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

"Baby it’s cold outside."

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

Like many others, I’ve been working mostly in home office since last spring and I have to admit that since it’s gotten colder, my office outfit has changed a lot. I now prefer some cosy, fluffy house suits because they are not only comfortable to wear but they also keep me warm.

Is a teddy hoodie and fluffy pants also something that you like? Do you have any in your wardrobe?

I bought one in December with my Mom in a local shop and I just love it. 

On the website of NewChic, you will not only find fluffy pullovers but also blanket hoodies. I haven’t heard of these before, but they look cosy too.

I have included some of my favourite designs in the picture above. Mostly they are in regular sizes, but if you need a bigger size, for example an xxxxl hoodie, it can also be easily found on the website. 

If you visit their homepage, you will also find some menswear there. The second image has been put together to show some favourites like cargo shirts. Colourful designs can be found as well as plain ones, so if you like the more eye-catching ones that aren't in the picture, that's no problem either, browse around a bit and you are sure to find something more to your taste.

Henley shirt men’s version is also available from them. The difference with button-down shirts is that they only have a few buttons. Do you or your partner like to wear shirts like these? 

In addition to the product categories mentioned in this article, the website also offers shoes, bags, accessories as well as various categories such as "mens long cardigan" and of course much more.

Have you ever bought anything from this online shop? What was your experience? 

As always, feel free to leave a comment below.  :)

Lots of love,

E

A year in pixels - with free printable sheet

✯ Hello Shiny Stars! ✯

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

"Make today worth remembering." (Zig Ziglar)

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

I have been absent for a while, but I hope you are all well and healthy.  :)

We just had New Year's Eve, but we are already at the end of the first week of January, so I might be a bit late with my post.

As a small gift from me for the new year, I created a free printable sheet for you.

It's called "A Year in Pixels" and it allows you to somehow track how your days have been throughout the year.

There is a colour code next to the day table that shows you which colour means which mood, and you can colour your table based on how you felt on that particular day.

This table has been created so that it can be used for any year, even leap years. So if the month does not have 31 days, just put an "X" in the field.

This is the first time, I am doing this, so if you haven't tried it yet like me, feel free to join in, I'm sure it will be nice to see how it turns out. Whether it becomes colourful or one colour dominates, maybe we can even realise something through it that we weren't aware of before. 

You can download your own sheet here.  :)

Let me know in the comments section if you are joining in or have already started, I am happy to see your pixels, so feel free to send them to me every now and then at my email address or share it with me on Twitter.

I wish you a lot of fun and also preservation with your pixel sheet and all the best and good health for 2021.  :)

Lots of love,

E

Get in shape

✯ Hello Shiny Stars! ✯

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

"Focus on the shape of your mind rather than the shape of your body."

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

I already wrote about shapewears here on the blog, presented their history and discussed the advantages and disadvantages of wearing them, so I won't go into that today. If you haven't read it yet or are curious to read it again, check out my "Shape it!" post.

Shapewear comes in different forms. There are a variety of styles, such as bodysuits, briefs, underpants, shorts and slips, so that everyone can find the model that suits them best. 

The high waisted shaper shorts are available in several designs, as you can also see on the picture. Most of them come in both black and nude colours, and a size chart is provided to help you choose the perfect size for you.

With shapewear it is important that you wear the right size and that your garment is not one size smaller than it should be. Remember that they are designed to accentuate your silhouette, according to your true size. 

On the other hand, please note that you should not wear them for long periods of time, 8 hours should be the maximum and not every day. 

Besides the shorts, the picture also shows some of the best bodysuit shapewear of the same company. 

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7

Keep in mind that shapewear has only a temporary effect, and if you want to achieve permanent changes, this should be accompanied by proper diet and exercise. 

The shown products are from FeelinGirl, an online store that specializes in shapewear. On their website you can find categories like waist trainers, bodysuits or thigh & arm trimmers and they offer a worldwide shipping for their products. 

Have you ever tried any kind of shaping clothing? What do you think about them?

Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Lots of love,

E

NewChic 6th Anniversary Sale 2020

✯ Hello Shiny Stars! ✯

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

"It’s not about design. It’s about feelings." (Alber Elbaz)

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

NewChic, the online shopping website was founded 15 years ago and offers a wide range of clothes, shoes, bags and accessories for both men and women. But also articles for home and garden can be found on the website. 

They are now running an anniversary sale, with presales starting tomorrow, 17 August, and ending on 7 September. As it is their 6th anniversary, they offer 6 savings tips for you and many ways to get a discount. In the first period (17-24 August) you can receive a free 20 USD, in the second phase you will benefit from free shipping and in the final one ( 29 August - 7 September) you can buy items starting at 0.99 USD. There is also a lucky draw where you receive 1 free round every day and can win vouchers, points or even other prizes. If you check in on the website on 7 consecutive days, you will also receive a surprise gift.

To find out more about the vouchers and the lucky draw, simply visit the NewChic 6th Anniversary Sale 2020 page. 

This post focuses on men's clothing, but there is also a wide range for women on the website. If you are a fan of color shirts, then you have come to the right place. I prefer the simpler pieces, but there are a lot of funny printed shirts for men on the site - from the really colorful ones to tropical prints and cactus designs. 

A cotton Henley shirt is very similar to this garment, except that it is originally collarless and usually comes with 2-5 buttons. It may happen that you see a Henley collar shirt, but as I mentioned before, it should be without. 

If my male Readers like to wear pajamas, or your friend, husband, male relatives do, then don't hesitate to have a look at both the faux silk pajamas and the silk two piece pajamas on the website. 

Do you like colorful and printed shirts for men or do you prefer simpler models? And what do you think about button-down shirts in general - for both men and women? Do you like wearing them?

As always, feel free to leave a comment below.

Lots of love,

E

Celebrating 8 years with 8 favourites

✯ Hello Shiny Stars! ✯

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

"No one is you and that is your biggest power."

(Dave Grohl)

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

ENGLISH

I know we say it every year, but time really flies and it's hard to believe that I started writing this blog exactly 8 years ago on this day. A lot has happened since then, but I still enjoy the process and I still enjoy writing my blog - even if my working life sometimes doesn't allow me to spend that much time on it.

To celebrate these 8 years, I've put together 8 of my favourite blog posts here, which somehow are closest to my heart.

I thank you for your continued support. I appreciate each of your comments, and your kind messages mean a lot to me.

Thank you for taking the time to visit and read my blog!  :)

DEUTSCH

Ich weiß, wir sagen es jedes Jahr, aber die Zeit vergeht wirklich wie im Fluge, und es ist kaum zu glauben, dass ich an diesem Tag vor genau 8 Jahren mit dem Schreiben dieses Blogs begonnen habe. Seitdem ist viel passiert, aber ich genieße den Prozess immer noch und ich beschäftige mich weiterhin gerne mit meinem Blog - auch wenn mein Arbeitsleben manchmal nicht so viel Zeit dafür zulässt.

Um diese 8 Jahre zu feiern, habe ich hier 8 meiner Lieblingsblogbeiträge zusammengestellt, die mir irgendwie am meisten am Herzen liegen.

Ich danke Euch für eure anhaltende Unterstützung. Ich schätze jeden eurer Kommentare, und eure freundlichen Nachrichten bedeuten mir sehr viel.

Ich danke Euch, dass Ihr die Zeit nehmt, meinen Blog zu besuchen und zu lesen!  :)

1. Kindness challenge for a happier You and a happier World – 40 acts of kindness & happiness

I celebrated my blog-anniversary last year with a special post that has a message that is still important to me. You can simply download your own checklist and start your challenge right away. Have fun, be happy, spread kindness.  :)

2. For a happy, peaceful year

Because I have received so much positive feedback on it, and it is nice to know that my writing could inspire others as well.  :)

3. Fluffy Pancakes

This blog post with the recipe always reminds me of the time when we celebrated Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Day, with my sister a few years ago.  :)

4. Almost Famous London

This article is also special for me, because it is about the first fashion event I have ever attended. We had a great time there.  :)

5. The Look of the Week with LeAnn Rimes Cibrian.

Because she thanked me on Twitter for being chosen as the Look of the Week.  :)

6. A dreamy haul

I am still in love with the small galaxy printed rug and also with the projection lamp, which is so dreamlike.  :)

7. A bunch of DIY-ideas

It would not have been easy for me to choose a single DIY project, hence this article, which summarises 6 of my favourites.  :)

8. Versatile Blogger Award

And last but not least an award, which is of course an honour, and besides that, it was very nice to get to know my Readers a bit better through the comments.  :)

I hope you enjoyed this nostalgic article and that we can celebrate together again next year. I wish you a wonderful week.  :)

Lots of love,

E