It is puzzling how little thought and care is sometimes given to our skin. All through lockdown we had people worrying about not being able to visit the hairdressers in order to have their locks maintained. We go to manicurists to keep our nails in tip top condition, and visit the gym so our body is trained and toned. But our skin, which is, after all one of the first things people see that makes an impression, is often neglected. Think about it, everything from sun damage by not wearing SPF, to eating the wrong kinds of food, to sleeping in our make up, there are so many things we…

If you want to become a plant parent but you’re worried about the tiny space you have at home, you really have nothing to worry about. Because guess what, there are houseplants out there that are just perfect for tiny spaces just like yours! You don’t have to give up your dreams of becoming a plant parent just because you don’t have space for a garden. And we know because we’ve tried nursing little plant babies before in a tiny apartment. It turns out, some indoor plants don’t care that much about the space at all! Below are some of the little potted greens that you need to practice your…

May was a brilliant month for fans of Charity Shops. After reopening in April, it seemed like the whole world had sorted their wardrobes during lockdown, and so there were rich pickings in pretty much every department. I went on a few trips further afield to check out their charity shops, including Kings Heath, Harborne and Tamworth. There I was able to pick up clothes, books and accessories. Charity Shops are a great way of keeping your wardrobe sustainable, you are not adding to the piles of clothing waste that is made every year, but instead choosing something preloved thus preventing it ending up in landfill. If you donate your…

One of the best things about lockdown starting to lift is the re-opening of culture, including art galleries. I was one of the first people to return to The New Walsall Art Gallery last month, to once again have a wonder around the Garman Ryan collection, but specifically to see the new Anj Smith exhibition, ‘A Willow grows aslant the brook’, some pieces of which were created in lockdown, being seen in public for the first time in Walsall. The key piece in the collection is also referred to in the title of the exhibition and refers to Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and, more specifically the role of Ophelia in the tragedy.…