Thrifty Thursday - part 1

So we have Mondayitis, Tight ass Tuesday, Hump day Wednesday and TGI Fridays but what's Thursday? Can someone enlighten me?

On Thursday, I set myself the task of operation clean out. Although I'm gradually converting to a minimalist lifestyle, having experienced life on limited funds I've also come to live with the "it might come good on a rainy day" rationale. But things are back on track and it's time to de-clutter with the new attitude of "why let it sit there when someone else could get some use out of it. I'll deal with it when I need it".

So I loaded up the car and took a trip down to Savers on Sydney Road for the big drop off.

I´ve heard good things about Savers but have never taken the time to pop in for a geezer until now. And boy was I charmed. From the young chap offering his help to lug the stuff from my car, to being given a Savers rewards card for donating, to finding a new skirt. And to top it off, staff are quite hard working and pleasant. It´s a shame you don´t get this kind of dedication at high end stores.

I could have bought loads but the goal was to de-clutter and not accumulate. So I just ended up with this skirt but in my eyes it´s more than just a skirt. Stay tuned for part 2!

Items that I had to exercise self control over were a pair of bamboo thrones and an ivory dress which would make an amazing modern day vintage chic wedding dress... where art thou Green Romeo?!

From this... to this

Such a rewarding day and for this I shall now refer to Thursday

as Thrifty Thursday!

Art itself is an ecosystem

Climate change is putting unprecedented pressure on the artist’s sense of public responsibility but as Miranda Wright from The Centre of Sustainable Practice in the Arts mentions, “Sustainability in the art world is a growing area of exploration”.

While the meaningful nature of the arts in society puts it in a position to take a lead on climate action, whether it is the role of the artist to make art about climate leaves much to be desired. Inspiration cannot and should not just come from climate. For if art was simply reduced to being about climate then art loses its value.However, much hope exists for artists to maintain artistic excellence and innovation through the development of sustainable practices. If Art players view the arts realm as its own ecosystem where internal and external activities are all interdependent parts, it may heighten the integrity of the arts during a time when climate change is at the forefront. Sustainable practice in art should not just be seen as looking at one’s carbon footprint but be also seen as looking at how we can contextualize our cultural shift with what we show our audiences, whatever the art form. It should not just be the artists but also the curators, directors and art directors who can use their power to affect such change. Alison Tickell, founder of Julie’s Bicycle, a not-for-profit company helping the creative industries cut their greenhouse gas emissions and create a low carbon future, proposes that by changing the infrastructure so that it is environmentally sustainable, it creates an ecologically sound basis from which the artists do their work. Much of that work will have nothing to do with climate change; some of it might inspire millions to think in a new way about the planet.

Melbourne Fringe will this year kick start their commitment to making the annual Melbourne Fringe Festival as sustainable as possible. It is an initiative that will see Melbourne Fringe as being if not the first in the world, then the first in Australia to tackle climate change in the independent art scene.

As Melbourne Fringe’s Green Intern, I hope not to be seen as the Green Nazi, for I accept that artists don’t simply ”do” climate but since they own their art, maybe they will be inspired to take some responsibility for it?

No soap, No probs

It was my friend Lisa who first introduced me to Enjo but it was at my sister-in-law recent Enjo party that ignited the excitement again. While many will shun from the idea of party plan buying (admittedly, I included), Enjo is one party I will willingly attend but just not participate. Why would I want to clean someone elses house when I don't even want to clean my own??!

The whole concept of Enjo is to eliminate the use of chemicals during our cleaning process. It's good for us as we don't inhale any toxic chemicals and it's good for the environment as less residue is washed into drains and less plastic bottles are added to our landfill.

microfibre technology + water = clean

It's seriously as simple as that. And surprisingly it actually works.

So added to my growing Enjo collection is the face mitt. I actually use it on my body as I like that it's small, which makes it easy to travel with, unlike the enjo body glove I currently have hanging in my shower, which just never dries and traveling with it is just not an option.

* Cleans skin pores and exfoliates all skin types. Removes body oil, dead skin cells and makeup residue and stimulates blood circulation

Note: Although I accept the cleaning with water concept, I still use a little soap on my Enjo mitt, which is welcomed and won't destroy the mitt. So should I need a thorough clean, I just add a little of my Sukin foaming facial cleanser and the job is done. I like how I smell and I like how I feel!

Mr Tulk Vic State Library - high 5

Not so generous with the volume but better than nothing!



Sent from my iPhone

goo goo over Gucci

Not that I would spend $4,055 on a piece of costume jewelery but if I so happen to be strolling down Fifth Avenue New York and was invited to select an item for keeps, I would go for something like this necklace from Gucci´s Bamboo collection.


The Bamboo collection came about in 1947 when Gucci craftmen had to muster all their powers of innovation to think their way around war-time shortages. The collection is now regarded as timeless and has found itself a place in design history.

eco fact: Bamboo is a perennial evergreen. It´s fast growing and is an easily renewable resource that is grown with little to no use of pesticides or herbicides.

Gucci Group & Sustainability

Gucci Group continues to retain their place as industry leader by being the first to team with Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design to develop the first Ph.D Scholarship in Sustainable Technology for future luxury. The group believes that cutting edge design, science and material innovation hold the key to developing new methods and processes that will assist in defining the future of craft and manufacturing, and help ensure the future for luxury brands that will take into account environmental concerns and climate change.

As to their current practices, the Gucci Group has change some of its own business practices permanently to include not using rain forest-destroying paper. This means the group’s many high-end fashion brands such as Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen will also have to switch over to recycled or FSC-certified paper products. By 2010 end, expect greener shopping bags, though byo reusable bags is still highly encouraged.

Green Chick is tickled pink!

It's been a good week. I am just luvin the comments ya'll been leaving on my postings but on top of that the little things friends and family have been doing have also put a smile on my face.

Thanks Chez of businesschic.com.au for thinking to invite me to Organics Wholefoods Food Inc movie night at Cinema Nova.

Dee, she's just fabulous for thinking of me when she saw her target socks had "think climate" on it's packaging! She's so gorgeous she actually sent me a picture!






I do love my mum! For someone who is so old school, she is slowly but surely catching on. You see my mother though she may carry a reusable bag, she also will accept plastic bags as "they make good garbage bags". So proud she was today to show me that she had gone for the biodegradable bag. Makes a good garbage bag and is good for the environment. High 5 mum! Now she can have her cake and eat it too!

Garbage Vortex

This is how the world could end up.
The scary thing is that it's already started...

(Great Pacific Garbage Patch)