Press & Blog — Lifestyle

When was the last time you gave yourself a little pamper? We all need it from time to time. But equally, if you're able to treat yourself to good quality, dreamy products to use in the shower not just on pamper days, but every day, then why not right?

Barefoot Beauty is a brand we've only been stocking for a short time, but we love it. Designed and made in Britain, they're extremely on it when it comes to staying sustainable and using natural, ethical ingredients in their products. That includes being against animal testing, as well as boasting being free from S.L.S, T.E.A, and parabens. They also try to use as little plastic as possible in the packaging, so when you buy one of their products you really are supporting a company aiming to do good in the world (with the added benefit of treating yourself to a very nice new soap of course).

Outside of their wonderful values, Barefoot's products are always winners in the packaging department too. Just look at the fabulous messages you can choose from, along with their quirky, colourful patterns and prints. They're a lovely way to say thank you to someone special, or simply give them a little smile.

Barefoots tinned lip balms are ideal as a little something extra to throw into a gift, even if it's to yourself, as their compact design means that they slip into even the tiniest of handbags so can always be carried on the go.

There's even the odd gift set available if you simply can't choose what to get someone for a special occasion.

Now, pop a relaxing playlist on, grab yourself a glass or mug of your beverage of choice, get a bath running and light a candle, and you've got your pamper evening sorted. We suggest the Sensuality scented candle from St Eval for this scenario. Its warm, light, feminine scent is just perfect for sitting back and winding down for the day.

Pop in store to have a look for yourself, or find Barefoot under the 'eco friendly brands' or 'beauty' sections of our website now to buy online. 

If there's one thing this pandemic has done, it's that it's made us far more aware of our surroundings. Whether it's sparked a new found love for the beauty of where we live, or provoked a realisation that perhaps it's time for somewhere new, it's probably impacted us all in some way. And with that, it would seem that many of us are making moves to new homes and new areas perhaps more than ever.

Sound familiar to you? Well, if you know someone who has just moved house or is just about to, here is the blog post you might need to give some inspiration on what gift to get them. Throw in a card and you're good to go.

Trays

It can sometimes be difficult to know what homeware to get someone if perhaps they have a specific style or already have plenty of mugs, plates and dishes etc. But often a good tray can go overlooked and there are some really gorgeous ones available. Take the Asta Barrington ones for example, which are bright and beautiful and you can even choose one with their favourite drink or phrase on if you like. Or there's the Emma Bridgewater trays for those who love the classic country look, these are practical gifts too as they're a good size and sturdy.

Tins

Sticking to alternative homeware, tins are another brilliant option. Not only are they really useful (you can never have enough tins, right?), but again, there are also some really lovely designs out there - the Emma Bridgewater ones being an obvious choice. You can fill them with goodies to add to the gift too, for example getting some luxury crackers and popping them in a cracker tin, or filling a biscuit barrel with their favourites.

Candles

A common gift choice for a new home, but for a good reason. A good quality, delightful smelling candle can be a real treat as a gift. You could opt for the Country Candles New Home candle to mark the occasion, or instead go for their favourite scent, or a reed diffuser from St Eval that they can easily spruce up an empty shelf with.

Austin Sloan Signs

For those whose homes follow a more rustic theme and who like a bit of humour, an Austin Sloan sign will always go down well. They can be hung in any part of the house or garden, and are a great way to bring some extra personality to the place.

East of India

It wouldn't be a special occasion without some sentiment from East of India. If it's just a small token you want to give, or a little extra piece to add to the main present, a trinket might be perfect.

Gift Vouchers

If you're still feeling like they already have everything they need, or you're not sure on their style yet, sometimes a gift voucher is the best you can give. That way they can save it for when they might need it, or choose something they've had their eye on for a while.

Cards

And finally, you can't forget a card! The Emma Bridgewater one is one of our all time best-selling cards, so naturally had to get a mention, and it really is lovely. But there are other options too and all are gorgeous. Now your gift is complete!

Here at Daisy Park our range of eco friendly products is growing all the time. It's exciting to discover new goodies that not only bring some happiness to us, but also a little to the environment too. With Earth Day coming up on the 22nd April, we've been thinking about this more than usual, and thought it might be useful to put together a blog post on all things eco-friendly that we sell here in the shop so that if you're also feeling inspired to be even kinder to the planet, then you can start right here with knowing that when you buy one of these lovely products, you're playing a small part in a big movement towards a sustainable future - pretty cool right?

Blue Eyed Sun

First up we're starting with a little bit of newness. These fabulous Bioloco Loop bottles from Blue Eyed Sun are our newest style of fun, reusable drink bottles for your everyday use. Made from double walled stainless steel, these will keep your hot drinks hot for around 18 hours and cold drinks cold for about 12. They have a convenient silicone handle for easy carrying, and their gorgeously unique design means that yours will easily stand out.

We also have some beautiful decorative bowls from Blue Eyed Sun that are actually made from real coconuts! These lovely little things would be a handy and stylish way of storing all of those bits and bobs that are difficult to find a home for, like keys or spare coins.

Hinza

In recent years Hinza have increasingly been making their glorious bags from 'green' plastic - a material made from sugar cane which is a renewable source. These can also be recycled, so not only are they sleek, handy bags for all of your daily needs, but are also super smart and sustainable. It's a win win.

St Eval

All of St Evals wonderfully smelling candles are made from vegan friendly waxes and as of recently, now come in plastic-free packaging. They're made fairly locally to us in North Cornwall with planet friendly methods in mind and quite frankly, we just love them.

The English Soap Company

Cruelty free, vegan friendly, and plastic free packaging - need we say more? The English Soap Company is always one to be relied upon for sustainable products that will certainly leave you smelling far better than you did before. Plus, and the clue is in the name here, their lovely goodies are made right here in the UK so less carbon footprint which is always a big benefit.

Eco-Chic

Once again, the clue is in the name here with Eco Chic. We're big fans of their reusable face masks which have become such an essential over the past year. They're made from plastic bottles, as are the lunch bags, so they really are helping to make a difference little by little.

Atlantic Blankets

A blanket might not be something you'd expect to be connected to the planet, but Atlantic Blankets certainly make it so. They're made from ethically sourced wool which also happens to be a 100% organic material, and we now stock a couple of their recycled cotton blankets which are just as heavenly with the added bonus of also being sustainable. Not to mention that the timeless style of these blankets mean that you can keep them for years to come, and steer clear of the fast fashion industry.

Frugi

Finally, here's one for the kids. As the UKs leading organic children's clothing brand, Frugi provides reliable yet fun and vibrant products for your little ones that are kind to the planet. The bags are made with recycled plastic bottles and the clothes are all made from ethically sourced, 100% organic cotton that we must say, is super soft too. Frugi know how to make sustainability colourful with many beautiful designs that the kids will love to show off in the playground or in the park, you can't go wrong.

So there's some of our favourites of the brands we stock who really are doing an excellent job at being kind to our magnificent world. We're always working to do better ourselves, by reducing plastic in our parcels and in pre-covid times, providing a water filling station to top up your reusable bottles in the shop amongst other measures. But above all, we're a work in progress and learning along the way, as everyone is. So, if you're feeling inspired by the upcoming Earth Day and want to start shopping more sustainably, these are some wonderful gifts and treats that you can buy knowing you're doing exactly that.

Nothing says summer quite like a Great British picnic. Whether you like to go all out with disposable barbeques and Pimm's, or keep it simple with sandwiches and nibbles, there's just something about it that you can't beat. Now that lockdown is slowly easing and the weather is warming, many of us are probably going to be having even more picnics than usual this summer. So we thought we'd put together a little guide on all the things you might need so that all you need to add is the fun bit: food and drink!

Perfect Picnicware

Sturdy and easy to clean, the Emma Bridgewater melamine sets were made with picnics in mind. You can clunk them almost anywhere without having to worry about breakages, and their classic, beautifully British designs will compliment any view.

Something to Sit on

When it comes to the picnic blanket, we like to keep it stylish. Atlantic Blankets are an ideal choice here as not only will the ultra cosy wool provide a comfy alternative to scratchy grass, but the lovely designs will make you feel like you're having a luxury picnic in no time.

Stay Hydrated

As the weather heats up and we find ourselves out in the sunshine, it goes without saying that we need to drink plenty of water. So ensure the whole family is staying hydrated with a bottle for everyone. Frugi have fun designs for the kids, and for the adults these fabulous new bottles from Blue Eyed Sun are just gorgeous. Uniquely designed with practicality in mind, they're insulated so will be sure to keep your water cool all day. There's also Dopper bottles which are great for popping your favourite tipple in as they can be taken apart to become a little wine glass - perfect for the adults!

The Picnic Bag

Now, you'll be needing something to put all of these bottles and plates inside. We suggest a large Hinza bag for this as their strong, practical design means that they'd easily hold all of your bits and bobs. They're easy to wipe down in the case of any spillages, and their vibrant colours make them look splendid in the summertime. You can even buy a cover or inner bag to go with them for extra protection.

Keep the Bugs at Bay

Finally, this ones not an essential but might come in handy if you've got wasp haters in your family, or want to avoid mosquito bites if you're picnic is continuing into the evening. The Country Candle large fresh cut herbs candle will compliment the smell of the great outdoors whilst keeping those pesky little insects at bay so that you can keep your delicious food to yourself. Plus as the sun slowly goes down, it'll help provide a touch of ambience to your summer evening.

Though there are still restrictions on our life in other areas, isn't it wonderful knowing that we can at least enjoy being outside with the ones we love now? We hope this gives you inspiration for the many picnics we'll all probably be having this summer, and gets you excited for good times ahead!

Now that April has arrived and Easter celebrations have commenced, it's finally looking like Spring might actually be here. This year feels particularly special as that message of new beginnings seems to be one that rings true for all of us. Brighter times lay ahead and Spring is a hopeful reminder of that.

So in celebration of the new season, we've chosen some glorious goodies that we think captures all things Spring. From Tulip ranges by Emma Bridgewater, to fun Jellycat characters and even a candle to get your home smelling like fresh flowers.

A famous flower of Springtime is a Tulip, and the new Emma Bridgewater goodies in this design are simply lovely. Serve a spring salad in the gorgeous bowl, or use the jam jar for some very pretty storage, or even as a vase for some real tulips to add some colour to your home. We also love the Gisela Graham mini mugs & jugs in their Spring designs, they're simply yet so pretty.

Jellycat probably has a toy for all four seasons, so their characters need a mention here. Whether you stick to the tulip theme or go for something more along the lines of Easter such as a lamb or chick, they'll bring an extra dash of joy to your home that's for sure.

Get yourself smelling like Spring with one of the English Soap Company's glorious scents. Bluebells are another iconic spring flower, and the bluebell & jasmine soap is always a popular one here in store. Or perhaps stick to the daffodil theme and choose the narcissus & lime range for a fresh, zingy scent.

Whilst we're on the topic of scents, you can give your home a refresh too by making it smell like a spring meadow in the sun. St Evals Spring Flower collection is the obvious choice here, but there's plenty of sweet and floral scents from Country Candles, plus these new Gisela Graham candles will also add a touch of colour and pattern if you like your candles to look the part as well.

There you have it! With these fabulous bits your home will be ready for the new season in no time, forget the spring clean! Now all you need is some fresh daffodils and a supply of hot cross buns to see you through to summer and good times.