Jelly in the shower

Jelly in the shower? There I was browsing in LUSH some time ago, tempted by the smell that wafts out of the shop. I enjoy poking around inside, picking up the soaps and having a good sniff of all sorts of goodies on offer. Their philosophy is 'fresh handmade cosmetics' and I like that they don't test on animals or have any animal derivatives in their products. They  use Sodium Laurel Sulfate in their shampoos which surprised me, I thought they were chemical free and only used natural products. On their ingredients list they show natural products in green and 'safe synthetics' in black.  I guess that natural is a marketing term these days. Something to think about.

Anyway, there is more that I really like about LUSH so let's focus on that.

1. They don't test on animals. Big tick of approval there from me.
2. They have minimal packaging. Their pots can be recycled and if you bring back 5 you get a free face mask. Another tick for recyclable packaging.
3. Ethical buying - we like that

My favourite LUSH products at the moment are their shower jellies. These things are crazy, it really is like a slab of jelly in your shower. It lathers slightly, cleans your skin and its fun to use.

photo from lushusa.com

I'm using Needles and Pines presently and it's great. I LOVE the smell of a pine tree, it's Christmas, serenity and mindfulness all rolled into one. For me, the smell of pine trees evokes my childhood; I have memories of running around in pine forests, collecting cones and hearing the dead needles crunch under my feet.

 The jelly  refreshes your senses whether you use it to wind up in the morning or to wind down in the evening. It has grapefruit oil infused in it as well.

Photos are stock images

Frankie Magazine

I discovered Frankie magazine quite by accident. I like to while away some spare time in bookshops and the sheer range of magazines never ceases to amaze me. There is a magazine for every hobby, sport and proclivity known. I definitely appreciate a bookshop with a wide range of magazines on offer.

If I am honest it was the cover of Frankie that caught my eye. I was there, browsing, looking for something different. Sick of "celebrity: gossip, photo shopped models, perfectly styled food etc., I was looking for something different, a mix of everything I like in a magazine; interesting stories/articles, shopping, food, design, garden etc., and Frankie has it all, and then some.

The cover always has an interesting illustration on it and never screams what's inside on it. It lures you closer to have a flick through and see what takes you. The by-line under the masthead says:

design/art/photography/fashion/travel/music/craft/home/life.  What more could you want?

It hails from Australia and is produced bi-monthly. Now this mag ain't cheap at $12.50 a pop but they have never let me down yet. There is a very comprehensive website Frankie.com.au with all their social media links, digital issues and  free wallpapers. Speaking of wallpapers you get a free pull-out wallpaper with a monthly planner on the back. Often they have free postcards or just nice bits of paper for you to use as you will.

Here is just a sample  of some of the articles in Issue 76. As I said, it's full of interesting stuff that appeals to me enormously. I have a large stack of these which I like to peruse periodically, dipping back into old issues and usually finding something I may have skimmed over the first time.

Frankie Magazine - laudable