The Green Familia » Featured Posts

Design an Electric Renault Twizy and Win £9,000 off University Fees

Jo — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:07:12 +0000

Electric cars can be both fun and affordable and can offer students and younger drivers a safer method of getting around than two wheels,

Renault is giving one lucky student the opportunity to win£9,000 off their university tuition fees if they come up with a winning design for the new Renault Twizy, the 100% electric, two seater car that is due to hit UK showrooms in April. It is capable of up to 50mph and full charge takes three and half hours providing a range of up to 60 miles.

The competition is open to current Higher Education students as well as Further Education students making the step-up this autumn. The winner of the first prize will receive enough money to cover their tuition fees for a year. The second prize is a weekend for two in Paris, with the third prize winner taking home £250 in French Connection vouchers.

To promote the competition, Renault will be visiting four campuses around the UK with a Twizy:

University College London – Mon 13th February

Birmingham City University – Tues 14th February

Manchester Metropolitan University – Thurs 16th February

University of Glasgow – Fri 17th February

If you are a student, or know of a student with design flair, visit www.designatwizy.co.uk to download a template of the car, and get started! The closing date for submitting entries is 20th February and students can enter as many times as they like. Full entry details, including terms and conditions, are available on the website here.

A Renault-appointed judging panel, including the brand’s own Senior Vice President, Corporate Design, Laurens van den Acker, will whittle down all of the entries to find their top 10. It will then be up to the general public to cast their votes via Facebook to find the lucky winners who will be announced on 16th April 2012.

British buyers have already been pre-ordering their own trailblazing all-electric Twizy on www.renault-ze.com. There is a choice of three trim levels from just £6,690, plus monthly battery hire from £45 based on 4,500 miles per year, over three years.

So get designing and good luck!

Guest Post: Living Room Design Ideas – How to Make Small Spaces Work

Brenda — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:04:20 +0000

Many homes can offer you limited space for the living room. This is an important area in the home and provides a place where the family can come together to relax and socialise. It is important to design small spaces effectively so that you feel comfortable and can enjoy your surroundings.

Fortunately there are many ways in which you can maximise the space in your living rooms. This can help you to create dynamic rooms that look great and work well as sociable living areas.

1. Open up Spaces with Mirrors

Mirrors are a wonderful way to brighten up rooms and create an illusion of space. By positioning mirrors opposite windows you can make the most of the natural light in your living rooms. This is ideal if your room tends to be a bit dark and gloomy during the day.

The great thing about mirrors is that they really do work to open up rooms and make them feel more spacious. They don’t cost very much money either and you can buy a great range of mirrors in home stores. This can includes large mirrors to go over the fireplace or smaller mirrors to hang in alcove spaces.

2. Limited Colour Palettes

Too many strong colours in a small room can be overwhelming. This can make rooms feel more cramped than they really are. When you are decorating small living spaces it can be a good idea to choose a limited neutral colour palette. By using a light, plain colour for the large areas (carpets, walls and seating) you can create a feeling of more space.

You can always then brighten up the room a bit by choosing colourful drapes, paintings and cushions. A colourful rug can also be a great way of creating an accent in your rooms and this can be placed under your coffee table in the centre of the room.

3. Scale Down Furnishings

Try not to cram too much furniture into small living rooms. This can make the room look smaller and feel very cramped. You do need to measure the space you have available before you go out shopping for any furniture. Avoid wide sofas that have oversized arms and padding. Opting for something more streamlined can help to conserve space.

Choose narrow cabinets that can be pushed back against the wall for some additional storage and display space. Magazine racks can be tucked out of the way to keep papers organised. Nesting table sets are also very useful space savers.

4. Open Shelving

Open shelving creates a modern feel to rooms and also provides a way to display your books and ornaments. This can help you to create an organised, uncluttered feel to small spaces. If you have alcoves this open shelving can be a great way to make the most of these recessed spaces.

There are many different styles of shelving available. Wooden shelving is very traditional and can complement traditional homes. Glass shelves are also a good choice to help maximise on the feeling of space and suit contemporary homes.

This guest post was written by Hannah Ward who writes for the TH Services Blog on all aspects relating to home improvements and DIY.

TGF Rated Review: Jack n’Jill Children’s Toothpaste and Brush

erica — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:57:44 +0000

What is it? Jack n’ Jill toothpaste and toothbrush.

Who is reviewing it? My 4 year old son.

Set Up It’s an all natural, hypoallergenic toothpaste with organic ingredients, and with packaging that’s minimal, recyclable and BPA Free. It’s a similar story with the toothbrush as it’s made of primarily from cornstarch, so that it’s biodegradable and recyclable.

In Use The cute design of the toothbrush was popular from the outset. It’s easy for a young child to hold and use. My son has been using it for a few weeks now and it’s still looking good.

The first time he used it, my son found the taste a little strange, I think because he is used to minty toothpastes. However, since then it’s been popular and having tasted it myself I can say that it’s a pleasant strawberry taste (there are other flavours available too).

Any Negatives None. I haven’t tried recycling the toothbrush yet so can’t comment on this aspect. You need to snap off the head and compost the body of the brush. The bristles are made from nylon which is recyclable, but you’d need to check in your are to see whether their are local facilities for this in place.

Price and Availability Both products are available online with the toothpaste priced at £4.99 for 50g and the toothbrush at £3.49.

Overall A good quality toothbrush and toothpaste that my son has enjoyed using.

Rating 5/5

Hearts for your Valentine

erica — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:00:41 +0000

Valentine’s Day will soon be upon us and it’s worth organising your gifts now. Hearts are the traditional symbol of love and there are some beautifully designed items out there that would make welcome gifts.

This Silver & Recycled Aluminium “Fronds” Heart from Anna Clifton Jewellery caught my eye. It’s hand-made with a sterling silver frame which encases a recycled aluminum heart. To make the pendant, each piece of recycled aluminium is individually heat treated and cut from a recycled drinks can. The design is then scribed on by hand and set into resin. This seals in the design, making it colour fast and protecting it from knocks and scratches. You can choose between 16″ and 18″ sterling silver snake chains. It’s normally priced at £49.99, but it’s currently available for just £44.99.

This Hanging Heart makes a lovely gift. It’s quite large, measuring approx 20cm x 20cm,and it would look fabulous hung on a wardrobe door or on the bed frame. It could take it’s place amongst scatter cushions on your bed or sofa. It comes with 5 filling options: unfragranced, 3 choices of long-lasting aroma beads or traditional dried home-grown lavender. The ribbon loop is stitched in place and decorated with two large wooden buttons. It’s priced at £6.50 each.

Ladies Clothes from Pickled Green Clothing

erica — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:00:11 +0000

I’ve recently discovered the ethical clothing retailer Pickled Green Clothing. They choose brands that use only certified organic cotton, sustainable fabrics and recycled materials that are produced under Fair Trade conditions.

This Gypsy Sleeved Top is a favourite because it’s such a pretty style to wear. It’s made from organic cotton jersey in red or teal with an intricate floral print design and hand sequin work on the front. There are the distinctive, gypsy style gathered sleeves which are made from georgette and an adjustable drawstring neckline offers flexibility to adjust the neckline: you can choose to wear it off the shoulder, with a wide neck or as a round necked top. It was priced at £25, but it’s currently available at £12.50.

I love this Alfington Tunic top from Braintree. It’s a simple, but elegant, cable knit tunic is made from a mix of wool and organic cotton. A great layering piece for the winter season which would look great teamed with a long sleeved T and leggings or skinny jeans. It comes in 2 great colours: mustard and indigo and sizes run from 10 to 16. The price is £50.

Arash & Kelly The Genius Pads

Brenda — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:00:40 +0000

This year we are planning to take our environmental initiatives one step further by making our Genius Pads from non-tree, waste pulp collected from crop farms and turned into unbleached paper and using this paper to create the sticky pads.

AND you can be part being our first ever Founding Partners in this treeless story!

We have space for 500 people to invest from £20 in the Treeless Genius Pad to be able to create a batch of non-tree paper and turn this into Genius Pads selling at the same price as the equivalent tree based sticky note.

Each investor will receive 2 Treeless Genius Pads once they have been manufactured.

You will also be listed as the original Treeless 500 club founding member on the back of the treeless Genius Pads and on here.

Become one of the 500 investors and be involved in our journey to make sticky notes work with nature not against it.

Become a Founding 500 member from only £20. There are 433 spots left.

As a member you will:

> Receive 2 Treeless Genius Pads once manufactured.

> Be listed as the original Treeless 500 club founding member on the back of the Treeless Genius pads and on our website.

> Receive updated news sent to you via email.

> Be updated about what the profits achieve at Worldview Impact Foundation once you have received your Treeless Genius pads.

Top 3 Aloe Vera Skin Care Products from Wikaniko

Brenda — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:00:07 +0000

Over at My Eco Biz, we are highlighting our top 3 Aloe Vera Skin Care Products for January.

Aloe Vera Anti Ageing Cream – price is £16.
Aloe Vera Rosehip Oil Anti Ageing – price is £19.99.
Aloe Vera Muscle Relaxing Cream – price is £13.

Babies in Sheep’s Clothing Swimwear

Jo — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:00:26 +0000

Babies in Sheep’s Clothing is a UK based retailer specialising in the production and supply of ethically produced children’s and baby wear. The company has just released a high performance swimwear range.

Sun safety for children is paramount, and the dangers of sun exposure and keeping your children’s’ skin safe in the sun have been well documented. According to recent studies some children are more likely to have been exposed to the damaging effects that could later cause skin cancer well before the age of 10. Babies in Sheep’s Clothing pride themselves in providing the best choices for parents, and in helping to protect young children and infants from the harsh UV rays experienced during the summer months they are now stocking this adorable swimwear range carefully constructed in New Zealand.

The Babies in Sheep’s Clothing range of swimwear for kids feature eye catching 50+ UV protective swimsuits in a variety of different styles including tops, swim shorts, bathing suits and board shorts. The garments are available in classic nautical stripes or bold red and navy blue. They offer up to 4.5 times the chlorine resistance of ordinary elastane, are mildew resistant (which improves hygiene and longevity) and are super soft with a cool matt finish. The decorative designs on the costumes are uniquely woven rather than printed like many high street chains.

All Babies in Sheep’s Clothing products are handmade, and are built to last. Owner of Babies in Sheep’s Clothing, Lysette Parbhu, says “We are hugely excited to be stocking this wonderful range of UPF50+ swimwear for Spring Summer 2012. The classic styles of the range complement our cooler weather items, enabling us to provide great quality New Zealand made clothing to the British public all year round.”

If you are looking for quality children’s swimwear that offers sun protection and gives you peace of mind, then check out the range from Babies in Sheep’s Clothing, coming soon.

Spellbound Forest – A Family Fairytale Spectacular

Jo — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:00:59 +0000

The Forestry Commission and Wild Rumpus, the not for profit family arts organisation who produce the award winning Just So Festival, have come together to create a magical family fairytale spectacular arts event this May. Delamere Forest, Cheshire’s largest area of woodland, will transform into Spellbound Forest during the weekend of 19th and 20^th May, featuring a myriad of family friendly arts, music, dance, and theatrical performance events.

Spellbound Forest will bring together artists and performers who are pushing the boundaries and developing truly breath-taking work for families and children. The work will challenge the best writers, artists and organizations to be bold and create truly magical and fantastical works adapting fairy tales and capturing the imagination of the audience.

Twisting paths through the forest will tell the twisting tales of English Fairy Tales through theatrical performance, music, visual art and dance. Men will become birds, tears become rivers, and children whirl at the sylvan ball. The participants of Spellbound Forest will contribute to the creation of a new English Fairytale, and sculpt a marvellous creation to live on in the forest long after the magic has faded.

If you are looking for something truly extraordinary to enjoy as a family, and something to enchant the children, take a trip to Cheshire and embark on a spectacular, enchanted adventure through Spellbound Forest.

Vernon Stockton, Delamere Forest Manager, said “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Wild Rumpus to host this very exciting event in the Forest on 19th and 20th May. This fairytale spectacular is one of many events for 2012 to encourage people to come to Delamere Forest for new experiences and to enjoy the forest trails, splendid scenery and stunning views”

Tickets go on sale with a full programme release on Monday 13th February from Spellbound Forest here.

Ella’s Kitchen and TerraCycle Recycle Baby Food Pouches

Jo — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:00:55 +0000

Ella’s Kitchen is passionate about protecting our playground and helping little ones grow up in a healthy, happy world. In partnership with TerraCycle, the organisation that provides free waste collection programmes for hard to recycle materials, Ella’s Kitchen has successfully saved 100,000 used baby food pouches from UK landfill by recycling them into new products.

The Ella’s Kitchen Brigade was launched in the UK in October 2010 with a programme of recycling that has been embraced by families, schools, nurseries and baby and toddler groups across the UK as a perfect way to raise awareness of the importance of taking care of our environment whilst raising money for schools, charities and non-profit organisations.

Ella’s Kitchen Brigade participants across the UK have all done their bit to help reach this significant 100,000 collection milestone figure. For each used baby food pouch of any brand sent back to TerraCycle, two points is earned which can be redeemed for a two pence contribution to the school or charity of the collector’s choice. To date Ella’s Kitchen Brigade has raised over £3,400 for worthy UK schools, charities and non-profit organisations.

TerraCycle uses the waste baby food pouch material to make a wide range of recycled generic plastic products such as garden benches, watering cans or waste bins and upcycled lunch bags, pencil cases, place mats and more. Each month until the end of May 2012 every member of the Ella’s Kitchen Brigade who sends in 20 or more baby food pouches or packs in a single shipment will be entered into a prize draw to win 1 of 20 fabulous upcycled lunch bags, as part of the Ella’s Kitchen lunch bag giveaway.

Any interested individuals, schools and organisations can learn more about and sign up to the Ella’s Kitchen Brigade for free today at TerraCycle here.