Donate Your Bras To Charity!

After losing quite a bit of weight and working out daily I've found my usual bra size was starting to feel a bit lose on me so I decided to go get myself re-measured and yes my bra size has changed which means I'm left with a closet full of bras that no longer fit.

Quite a few of my bras have hardly been worn and are were in such good condition that it seemed a shame to just throw them out, so I did a little research and found a charity that you can donate you old unwanted bras to.

Sometimes we throw things out without a second thought and one of my goals is to be a lot less wasteful and to reuse and recycle as much as I can so when I saw the bra recycling campaign by Against Breast Cancer I just had to spread the word

"When you make a deposit at a Bra Bank, your illfitting or unwanted underwear will be whisked away to start a new life on the other side of the world, where traders support their families selling textiles locally. Successful ventures like this keep many families in developing countries out of poverty whilst providing employment for people at home in the UK."

Bra Banks can be found in various locations throughout the U.K. or you can do what I did and send them directly. By donating your unwanted bras you are not only helping the fight against breast cancer but supporting small businesses and families in poorer countries as well as reducing waste which is a win for everyone, so don't just throw those unloved bras away donate them!

Love & Life

Cate

xoxo

Inspirational Fashional Quotes #38

"I used to think I was the strangest person in the world but then I thought there are so many people in the world, there must be someone just like me who feels bizarre and flawed in the same ways I do. I would imagine her, and imagine that she must be out there thinking of me, too. Well, I hope that if you are out there and read this and know that, yes, it’s true I’m here, and I’m just as strange as you."
- Frida Kahlo

8 Eccentric Etsy Fashion Finds

Etsy is my favourite place to browse all things quirky and unique, I would quite happily buy my entire wardrobe from there. The best thing about buying from handmade/indie shops is that you're getting something that is not only unique but handmade with love, so here are some of my favourite geeky fashion finds.

The JOKER Dress

Batman: The Animated Series is one of my absolute favourite incarnations of the Batman world and this dress is the perfect embodiment of that. This design is perfect I love the bold colours and the use of onomatopoeia which reminds me of the always cheesy yet amazing 1960's TV series, this dress is 100% awesome and right at the top of my wishlist!

Pikachu Pokemon Glitter Shoes

PIKA~~~~ SHOES I CHOOSE YOU!!! Sorry I just couldn't resist a good pun but aren't these just the cutest things you've ever seen? If fact if you like these then you should go check out this shop as it's full of cute glittery shoes and I'm not kidding I would wear every single one of them!

E.T. Alien Mini Dress

Just as I saw this dress E.T. came on the TV it must be fate! E.T. is one of my all time favourite movies, I used to watch this all the time when I was a kid and totally blame it for my obsession with all things space related. This dress is the cutest and that image of E.T. is just adorable. 

Red Felt Dalek Purse

You guys know I love my quirky bags and this one is definitely quirky, I almost can't believe this is a bag it looks that amazing! I'm really impressed with this bag and all the other bags in this shop there is something for everyone here so even if you're not a Who fan be sure to check them out.

Marvel Super Hero Dress

This dress is just perfect for the Marvel fan, I absolutely love it! I'm so jealous that I don't have awesome sewing skills because I think if I did I would have a whole wardrobe full of dresses like this. There is a whole load of geeky dresses in this shop but this one is definitely my fave I would love to wear this as my birthday dress.

Gryffindor Waist Cincher

Ok so I'm not really a big Harry Potter fan but I really liked these House themed corsets and how they incorporated colours and the crest into them that I'm almost tempted to put on that Sorting Hat and it you're not a fan of Gryffindor then check out this shop for even more beautiful corsetry.

Star Wars Comic Book Apron

Cooking is one of my favourite hobbies, I love experimenting with new recipes but it can get messy so having an awesome apron would be very handy and this apron would be perfect to wear when making recipes from the amazing Star Wars Cookbook don't you think?

Lord of the Rings Inspired Skirt

Fun fact about me I'm pretty much obsessed with ancient maps especially maps of fantasy lands. The Lord of the Rings is one of my all time favourite movies and although I've already started a collection of Middle Earth clothing thanks to Black Milk I would love to add this skirt into my wardrobe to.

Be sure to share some of your favourite Etsy finds in the comments!

Love & Lemons

Cate

xoxo

Dornish Red Mountain Stew

Quinoa is one of those things I never know what to do with, I just can't seem to find anything really exciting to make with it so after a bit of searching I decided to use it to bulk up a stew in the place of meat. I don't usually use a lot of dried spices when I'm cooking but I wanted to go for a Mediterranean kinda taste for this with the days getting warmer and the result is something hearty yet fresh with a slight spice to it
and definitely something I will be making again.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup quinoa
• 1 cup water
• 1 red onion
• 1 tbsp fresh chopped garlic
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 sticks of celery
• 2 carrots
• 1 courgette
• 1 pepper (or 4 small)
• 10 cherry tomatoes
• 1 tin of butter beans
• 1 tin of chopped tomatoes
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp chilli powder
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 cup vegetable stock
• 1 bay leaf
• sprinkle of chopped coriander
• 3 tbsp Shaoxing rice wine

(Serves 4)

♥ Dice the carrots, courgette, peppers, garlic, onion, celery and cherry tomatoes.

♥ Heat the olive oil in a pan then add the diced vegetables and cook until soft.

♥ Once the vegetables are cooked add the vegetable stock, tinned tomatoes, butter beans, cumin, chilli, paprika, ground coriander, oregano and bay leaf and simmer on a low heat.

♥ Whilst the stew is cooking wash the quinoa thoroughly until the water runs clear then boil it in a saucepan with a cup of water.

♥ Once the quinoa is cooked and all the moisture has been absorbed divide it into bowls.

♥ Add the Shaoxing rice wine to the stew then divide the stew into the bowls with the quinoa

♥ Sprinkle a bit of fresh coriander on top.

♥ Eat and enjoy!

Good Luck

Cate

xoxo

Things That Make You Go Oooooo (April 2013)

Another month gone and another month closer to my adventure, I'm so excited (news on that coming soon!), April has been such a fun month for me and we're finally seeing signs of Spring! I really don't know how to sum up April it's definitely taught me quite a few things and made me realise a lot about myself I've had to work hard this month to keep a healthy mind and thankfully I've had a lot to help me get through it so I hope you find these links as useful as I did.

♥ 30 Day Positivity Challenge - I love this idea it's such a great way to practice self-love.

♥ How Your Office Space Can Affect You Blogging, And What To Do About It

♥ A Beautiful Ripple Effect: How To Save a Life - I always strive to be a better person and these are some simple things to practice daily which could make a difference however small to your fellow humans.

♥ Beat the Bullies - I've been thinking about my own experience of bullies lately and what a negative affect it had on me growing up, I think things are a lot worse for kids now but the best way is to not give them a voice and not let them affect you because in the end they simply won't matter.

♥ 20 Thoughts To Help Relieve Anxiety and Depression

♥ Maintaining a Healthy Brain While Working Online - Awesome tips and swapping out those sugary snacks and replacing them with fresh fruit and seeds definitely boosts your productivity power.

♥ How Do I Get Noticed? - Crochet extraordinaire Twinkie Chan shares some tips for small business owners, I often get asked this question and although my shop is nowhere near as popular as Twinkie's I believe if you work hard and don't give up that eventually you will find success.

♥ 10 Ways to Tank Your Traffic

♥ How Blogging Has Helped Open Doors To Friendship And Career Opportunities - Nubby shares her story on how blogging has affected her life and the amazing opportunities it has given her.

♥ 10 Lessons For Creatives From Lena Dunham - Awesome tips here for fellow creatives from the girl in the know Lena Dunham.

♥ Miyazaki for Kids: Using Animation to Promote Strong, Healthy Girlhood

♥ Never Stop Learning - I could not agree with this more and I believe if you have a dream you should do everything you can to achieve it.

♥ Five Staples to a Domestic Art Goddess's Day - Simple tips on how to keep a relaxed and creative environment.

♥ 10 Reasons Why The Addams Family is Awesome(ly Feminist)

♥ 10 Kind Ways to Deeply and Unabashedly Fall in Love with Yourself - "Self-love is the biggest gift you can ever give yourself. It’s the greatest freedom you’ll ever experience."

♥ D.I.Y. Kitty Ear Bowler Hat - I've been seeing these hats everywhere lately and I absolutely adore them, this is such a simple tutorial that will bring cuteness an old boring hat.

♥ 30 Creative Ways to Repurpose Photos

♥ D.I.Y Cloud Sweater - This is the perfect way to add a bit of spring to your clothes and absolutely adorable  I'm definitely adding this to my projects list!

♥ 10 Ways to Turn Around a Bad Day in 10 Minutes Or Less - The perfect little remedies for when life is getting you down, I use every single ones of these and they are an instant mood booster!

♥ Helen Mirren Confronts The Final Female Taboo

♥ 9 Things Everyone Should Try Alone - Everyone should try and do at least one of these things this month, there's nothing quite like getting over your inhibitions and enjoying your own company.

Love & Buttercups

Cate

xoxo